Chapitre 21: New Recruit
(A/N: With this chapter, I hope you guys feel the Light vs L or Dexter vs Doakes dynamics here — and in future chapters — as this chapter does set up a handful of interesting plot points that I do hope satisfy you all!)
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[3 Days Later]
[Narrator's POV]
The wind was cold, biting at Kramer's lips as he walked calmly towards the sounds of police sirens that surrounded the rusty and abandoned fishing building. He wore a black trenchcoat, fitting for the cold weather that could bring about snow at any second.
Tsukauchi was already waiting outside, wearing his signature tan trenchcoat as he stood beyond the yellow tape that cornered off the scene. Kramer had to almost push his way through to get to the detective, lightly pushing cameras aside before meeting the man.
Noticing Kramer approaching, the detective gave the shopkeeper a light, respectful nod. "Yuudai," Tsukauchi called out, offering a hand. "Thanks for coming. I appreciate you accepting the offer, though I'm sorry it had to be under… these circumstances."
Kramer took the detective's hand, gripping it firmly. "No need to apologize. This... is part of the job, isn't it?" Tsukauchi smiled faintly. "That it is." He then motioned toward the building. "I had hoped to introduce you to the department more formally — in an office, not at a crime scene. But given the nature of this case, I just couldn't wait."
Kramer moved his head to the side, taking a glance at the dilapidated factory behind the detective that only now was brimming with activity. "I understand. I'm grateful for the opportunity, Detective. It's good to be involved from the start."
'True.'
The detective hummed as he turned around, gesturing Kramer to enter the crime scene with him. "You ever think about doing this full-time? Being a detective, I mean. From what I've seen, you have the skills to be one. With your attention to detail, you'd be a great asset to the Police Force."
Kramer kept the expression on his face neutral but nodded as if considering the suggestion seriously. "It's crossed my mind a lot of times. Though I imagine that I have a lot to learn."
"That's why you're here," Tsukauchi replied, leading him through the creaky doors. "Consider this a learning experience. Get a feel for the work, and the environment. It's not glamorous, but it's rewarding. Officer Miyagi asked if you were new — I told him you're with me for now, learning the ropes."
As the duo walked further into the crime scene, they passed an increasing amount of people they passed. Crime photographers were taking photos of every detail, forensic teams were collecting evidence, and officers secured the area and taped off rooms.
Tsukauchi stopped in front of the largest pool of blood, which was only a few meters away from the empty metal chair, harpoon, and a puppet on a tricycle. "This one's different from the others, Yuudai. Nobody, but plenty of blood. It matches Naito Izumi, wanted for the murder of her former boss in the Seiji Fishing Corporation."
Kramer looked down at the bloodstains, crouching slightly to inspect the area. "She's on the run, then?"
"Seems like it," Tsukauchi agreed. "But it doesn't feel right. If she's injured — and with this amount of blood, she must be — she wouldn't get far. Yet there's no sign of her anywhere nearby…"
"Maybe she had help," Kramer offered, still observing the scene with keen interest. He could feel Tsukauchi's eyes on him, searching for something. "You think someone helped her get away?" Tsukauchi's voice was probing, yet his tone was almost casual.
"Possibly," Kramer answered, rising to his feet and meeting Tsukauchi's eyes. "There's no trail of blood leading out of the building. Either she was carried out, or she left in a vehicle."
'True.'
Tsukauchi nodded slowly, his eyes narrowing slightly as he processed the information. "What do you think happened here? Given your perspective, what do you make of this?"
Kramer turned his gaze back to the bloodstains, feigning contemplation. "It looks like a struggle. Though with how the restraints on the chair are opened, I'd argue that she was able to escape of her own free will. With the odd-looking blade contraption attached to a head brace on the floor, and the right armrest of the metal chair being a gauntlet — both of them having dried blood on them — I'm inclined to believe that Izumi sacrificed parts of her body in order to escape being impaled by the harpoon."
'True.'
The detective didn't say anything for what felt like an eternity, though only a couple of seconds passed as he absorbed all that was said by Kramer. "You're… precisely right," Tsukauchi said with a peculiar mix of surprise and pride.
"The message for Izumi, which was left in an old-fashioned voice recorder in that puppet, detailed its mechanics and how it operated. I'm surprised you got it right off the bat, haha!"
Kramer lightly humoured the detective's remark. "Perhaps you're right… maybe I am good with this thing, Detective…" Tsukauchi clicked his tongue. "There's no need for that, Yuudai. Just call me Tsukauchi."
"Very well then, Tsukauchi," Kramer slipped his hands into his pockets as there was a brief moment of silence between the two of them. It wasn't until Kramer turned to face the puppet on his tricycle that he spoke once more.
"That puppet there is really interesting, though…" Kramer began as the detective also turned to face the motionless doll. "Is its use in these traps a one-time thing, or…?" Tsukauchi clicked his tongue again before answering Kramer's question.
"Good question. From what I've gathered, no… the puppet's been in every trap. This one over here," he gestured to the puppet with his right hand, "marking this case as Jigsaw's 6th trap that we know of."
"On a surface level, it's clear the puppet is being used as Jigsaw's persona, delivering his messages to his victims so he can keep his identity concealed. But in cases like this — both past and present — there's always something more to it than just masking one's identity. It's symbolic of something… I just don't know what…"
Kramer mused at Tsukauchi's response as he rubbed his chin and gave a low hum. "Do you believe that the puppet has something to do with Jigsaw's quirk?" Tsukauchi could only shrug. "Could be, although it's far more likely that his quirk is related to constructing devices or a quirk that allows him to conceal himself with the lack of any notable clues to who Jigsaw is. The man's experience… he leaves no fingerprints or follicles of hair. He's like a ghost."
Kramer absorbed Tsukauchi's dialogue like a sponge soaking in water. But just as he was about to ask another question, an officer from around the corner called the detective's name and waved them over.
"Detective!" Officer Miyagi called out, his face red from running as he held a tablet in his hand. "You're going to want to see this." Tsukauchi and Kramer exchanged a glance before walking over to where Miyagi was collecting his breath as he got a video ready on the tablet.
The officer tapped a few keys, and CCTV footage flickered to life on the screen. The footage wasn't the best of quality, being only 480p, but it was clear enough to make out fine details that outdated building cameras couldn't capture.
It was early in the evening, with the CCTV footage being dated three days ago, courtesy of the date and time on the top left corner. Stumbling out of an old building in an oversized hoodie, the three people easily identified who the individual was.
"Naito Izumi…" Tsukauchi muttered under his breath. "Where was this video taken?" Reaching for his pockets, Officer Miyagi pulled out a paper card and gave it to Tsukauchi, who quickly read the address before tucking the paper in his own pocket. "Not too far from here… 20-minute drive at most…"
Miyagi took a deep sigh. "The media's going to freak out when they hear about this. I'm already imagining the headlines… they don't know about the other guy. To them, she's the first survivor… who knows what type of chaos will incur if they get a story outta her…"
"I take it the Pro Heroes have already caught been informed about the situation?" Officer Miyagi nodded as Tsukauchi mused. The air between Tsukauchi and Kramer was tense, though it remained masked by the dialogue between the detective and the officer.
As they both stared at the grainy CCTV footage of Naito Izumi, Kramer could feel Tsukauchi's eyes occasionally flicking towards him, as if the detective was waiting for something — anything that might betray the shopkeeper's calm demeanor.
Kramer didn't falter, maintaining his interest in the footage. "She's smart to cover herself like that," he remarked, noting the oversized hoodie Izumi wore to obscure her features. "But even in disguise, she's moving too erratically."
'True.'
Tsukauchi nodded, but his gaze lingered a moment longer on Kramer's face. "Yeah, she's on the brink. Her body appears to give out soon if it hasn't already. It takes several weeks to recover from blood loss, and it's only been three days," he said, his tone almost casual, but coated with an ulterior intent. "Makes you wonder why she hasn't turned herself in. Could it be fear... or maybe guilt?"
Kramer kept his expression neutral. "Guilt would imply remorse. I'm not sure she feels that" he responded carefully, making sure each word was calculated.
'True.'
Tsukauchi's lips curved slightly, a barely-there smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Interesting perspective. Maybe you're right... But what if someone's forcing her to keep running? What if she isn't alone in this footage?"
The detective's question was like fish bait, patiently waiting for a fish to tug at his hook before reeling it in and indulging in seafood for dinner. "Perhaps," he agreed easily. "But considering the amount of dried blood left here, it's only logical that somebody patched up her wounds. And as you said earlier, it takes a while for blood to naturally replenish, which would explain her erratic behaviour in this footage."
'True.'
Tsukauchi hummed in response, though his eyes were sharp, analyzing every syllable that left Kramer's mouth. "You've got a good read on these kinds of people, Yuudai. It's almost as if you understand them… like you can get into their heads."
Kramer smiled. "I try to see things from their perspective. It's how I lived my life," he replied. "But I suppose you'd know that better than anyone, Detective. After all, you're the one hunting people like Jigsaw."
"Yeah, well... Jigsaw's a special case. He's different from the usual criminals. He's calculating, doesn't leave clues, and has unique methods to get what they want. With those aspects, he does remind me of one individual that I know…"
He paused for a second before continuing. "You ever wonder why someone would go to such lengths to do what he does? If you think about it, it's not about the killing. There's always a message… always a test. That enough has been clear with all of the messages he leaves for his victims. What do you think drives a man like that?"
"It could be a wide range of things. From revenge to redemption. He probably sees himself as some sort of teacher… guiding his students to learn a lesson they otherwise wouldn't."
'True… though, that is a broad answer. Is there a reason for that?'
"That's an oddly empathetic way to put it," Tsukauchi noted, his voice holding a trace of suspicion. "Not many people would see it that way. With the unfortunate deaths of Pro Heroes like Manual, Ingenium, and Uwabami, the media thinks of Jigsaw as a villainous monster that needs to be stopped."
"It's just an observation. People don't usually take the time to understand why someone would do something of that nature. But there's always a reason."
'True.'
Tsukauchi nodded, but the cogs in his mind were clearly turning. He'd asked his questions and laid his traps, but Kramer had avoided them with the precision of someone who knew exactly what was at stake. Still, the detective wasn't ready to give up.
"It's unique how Jigsaw plays God, judging who lives and dies… it makes you wonder why Jigsaw came up with the system he follows, right? Just food for thought, that's all…"
"Yeah, he's a fucking psycho."
Officer Miyagi — who had been standing in front of the duo this entire time — tucked the tablet he was holding between his armpit, his arms sore from holding the thing up for so long. "I stand by what I said. Jigsaw guy gives me the heebie jeebies, that much I'll say."
Tsukauchi slightly chuckled at Miyagi's antics as Kramer lightly huffed. "But anyways, I gotta run some errands back in the office. I'll be catching you guys later." Giving his formal goodbyes, Officer Miyagi left Kramer and Tsukauchi to their own accords and left the crime scene, not before thinking about his senior's new intern.
'A shopkeeper of all people… how weird… something's off about him. Is he… nahhh. That's too much of a reach even for me. Gosh, I gotta stop watching these American crime shows…'
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1 · Jigsaw · Trending
Jigsaw Survivor
Trending with #Jigsaw, Villain
10,673 Tweets
jigsawLeaks @jigsawLeaks · 2h
GUYS I GOT SOME MAJOR JIGSAW LEAKS!!! Apparently, there's been rumours that the 6th Jigsaw victim is actually a survivor!!! This is all I have right now, so I'll keep y'all updated. But if this account gets banned, make sure to follow my alt in my bio! #Jigsaw
7:23 AM · October 13, 2260 · Twitter Web App
1.4k Retweets 8.1k Likes
ModernShakespeare @ModernShakespeare · 2h
Replying to @jigsawLeaks
By my troth, dost thou jest? I had thought this fiend, Jigsaw, did with cunning traps ensnare his prey, leading them to death most foul and certain. Yet lo, a soul doth survive his cruel design? 'Tis a twist most curious, for I had wagered none escape his bloody hand. #Survivor
7:37 AM · October 13, 2260 · Twitter Web App
456 Retweets 2.1k Likes
kebabLady @kebabLady · 2h
Replying to @jigsawLeaks
I don't buy this. I'll wait for the official police report to come out. But on a real note I'm sure that if this info is real, the public will be pushing the Police Force for answers never seen before. I'm really hoping news channels will be able to interview the survivor of that ever happens. Would definitely shed some light on an otherwise situation constantly kept in the dark, feel me? #Jigsaw #PoliceForce
7:47 AM · October 13, 2260 · Twitter For iPhone
250 Retweets 1k Likes
goofyGoober @GoofyGoober345 · 1h
Replying to @jigsawLeaks
Really? If that's the case then this changes… everything, right? Why in the world is there a survivor if heroes couldn't escape them? Was there a fault in one of his traps? Or is there more to his M.O. than meets the eye and the police have been keeping it under wraps?
8:47 AM · October 13, 2260 · Twitter For iPhone
175 Retweets 702 Likes
akirakira@Akira88 · 1h
Replying to @jigsawLeaks
This actually real? I doubt it given Jigsaw's history. But if this is true… then I don't know how to feel about it. In that case, there's something to Jigsaw that we just don't know about yet. Only time will tell. #Jigsaw #Hero #PoliceForce
8:50 AM · October 13, 2260 · Twitter For iPhone
60 Retweets 178 Likes
MisterHater@Misterhater · 2m
Replying to @jigsawLeaks
Don't really care. I hate Jigsaw like I hate those ni###rs! He's ruining the country just like those people and the illegal immigrants! Can't go a day without hearing his awful name!!!
9:48 AM · October 13, 2260 · Twitter Web App
3 Retweets 5 Likes
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"Mister Hater, what an interesting comment you left here…" Kramer, leaning back onto his chair behind the cashier register of his empty convenience store, clicked on the Twitter user's profile and scrolled through all of the man's tweets.
Kramer said nothing as he read the multitudes of racist tweets directed towards mainly immigrants and black individuals. "Your bio says that you're living here in Musutafu. Hmmm… it won't take long to figure out who you are… but I will find you…"
Turning off his phone and slipping it into his pocket, Kramer closed his eyes and crossed his arms as he thought about the online username for a moment. Racism — and discrimination of all types for that matter — never sat well with him. Opening his eyes, Kramer said to himself:
"A lesson can be made out of you. I wonder if this guy's ever heard of what happened to John Malcolm during the American Revolution…"
(A/N: With the next trap idea set in stone, all that's left is who the person behind the account of MisterHater! I wonder who he is, but I guess you're going to find out in the future! Other than that, how was this chapter? Share your thoughts with a comment and a review below!)
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