Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

Chapter 2186: Chapter 2184: You Should Resign

To Fang Zheng, those boring kidnappers were just a minor episode. He had already identified who on the public bus was part of the Black Organization. Yes, it was that doctor named Tomomi Shinchutsu. If Fang Zheng was not mistaken, she was likely Belmod in disguise.

Belmod, however, appeared not to recognize him—which was quite normal. Just like in the world of Conanology where criminals successfully execute their crimes, waiting for detectives to solve them, Fang Zheng’s 47 Soulstones had a similar effect. Even if he were to wreak havoc on site, once he escaped the police cordon, no one could remember what he looked like, at most only his clothes and attire.

Not even Belmod and Gin could, once Fang Zheng switched his Soulstone, they would only remember that the other wore a black suit, a white shirt, and a red tie, but would absolutely have no memory of his appearance.

It’s like in GTA where you are a Six-Star wanted criminal, then you wash your car and change the color to make friends with the police.

So Fang Zheng quietly placed a bug on Tomomi Shinchutsu, waiting for her to make contact with the organization, at which point he could trace the Black Organization’s hideout via the radio waves.

Meanwhile, while Fang Zheng was waiting to fish, the Metropolitan Police Department called him for a task. The reason was simple: the Phantom Thief Kid had issued a notice saying he would steal a sapphire known as the “Gem of Destiny.” Naturally, upon receiving the notice, the Metropolitan Police Department needed to send people to protect this gemstone.

Officer Megure then recommended Fang Zheng and………

“Brother Fang Zheng, let me introduce you.”

Officer Megure cheerfully led a youngster in front of Fang Zheng.

“This is high school detective Shinichi Kudou. He’s also joining us to capture the Phantom Thief Kid this time.”

“Hello, Mr. Fang Zheng.”

The “Shinichi Kudou” before Fang Zheng smiled slightly and extended his hand.

“I look forward to working with you.”

“Likewise, I look forward to your guidance.”

Fang Zheng silently glanced at the “Shinichi Kudou” before him, then shook his hand. He knew perfectly well that this could not be the real “Shinichi Kudou,” considering the real “Shinichi Kudou” was still staying at the Lan Family’s house. Therefore, the identity of this “Shinichi Kudou” was self-evident.

Really, stopping trouble for just three days, you come to challenge me face-to-face after I just spoke to you? Didn’t I tell you not to disguise as Shinichi Kudou anymore?

Looks like this kid really needs sorting out………

Looking at the excessively cheerful Shinichi Kudou in front of him, Fang Zheng narrowed his eyes, a glimmer of murderous intent flashing through them. But just then, a man’s voice came from outside the office, walking over quickly.

“Officer Megure, is there something you need from me?”

“Ah, Officer Nakamori.”

Looking at the incoming Officer Nakamori, Officer Megure also went up to greet him, laughingly said.

“I heard you’re going to arrest the Phantom Thief Kid this time, so I found two assistants for you. You see, I think you know one of them, and the other is the renowned Shinichi Kudou.”

“Ahem, Officer Megure, better keep this confidential.”

“Shinichi Kudou” also glanced at Fang Zheng at this point, hurriedly coughed and lowered his voice.

“I have matters to attend to on my side, not convenient to be too publicized……”

“That’s unlike you, brother Kudou.”

Officer Megure seemed surprised by “Shinichi Kudou’s” response, but didn’t mind, nodding.

“Rest assured, I won’t mention it.”

“That’s good……”

“Shinichi Kudou” breathed a sigh of relief now, gazed at Fang Zheng, and gave him a look. Fang Zheng naturally understood, it meant “I’m doing as you instructed, don’t bother me.”

Ha ha ha, really thick-skinned, never been beaten by your father? Think you can just escape like that?

Dream on!

I’ll settle the score with you later.

Confronted with “Shinichi Kudou’s” eye signals, Fang Zheng remained silent, merely giving a glance without further words. Meanwhile, Officer Nakamori frowned, looking at Officer Megure.

“What’s the meaning of this, having two kids work with me? What do I need them for? This time, I can definitely catch the Phantom Thief Kid!”

But right after Officer Nakamori shouted, suddenly, Fang Zheng spoke.

“Can you really catch him?”

“What, what do you mean?”

Hearing Fang Zheng’s inquiry, Officer Nakamori’s expression changed. He wanted to scold Fang Zheng but couldn’t muster the courage due to his failure in the Egg of Memories event where Fang Zheng safeguarded the Egg of Memories while Officer Nakamori was thoroughly defeated.

“Officer Nakamori, you always say that, don’t you? ‘Definitely catch the Phantom Thief Kid’…… So how many times has it been now? Hmm?”

Fang Zheng walked up to Officer Nakamori, coldly stared at him.

“If you can’t catch the Phantom Thief Kid this time, what will you do?”

“What… What will I do?”

“It’s simple.”

Fang Zheng looked at Officer Nakamori, let out a cold humph.

“If you don’t catch Phantom Thief Kid this time, resign. How about that?”

“Wha, what?!”

Upon hearing this, Officer Nakamori, Officer Megure, and “Shinichi Kudou” were all taken aback.

“You… What did you say…?”

“Isn’t that right?”

Facing Officer Nakamori’s glare, Fang Zheng’s expression remained calm.

“Tell me, who are you?”

“Me? You? What? Are you suspecting that I’m Kidd in disguise?”

“Idiot!”

Faced with Officer Nakamori’s retort, Fang Zheng snorted coldly and reached out to point at the badge on Officer Nakamori’s chest.

“Who are you? You’re a police officer! A police officer! Do you understand that you are a police officer?!”

“I… I of course…”

“What is your duty? To arrest criminals, uphold the law, protect social security and order. But look at you now, Officer Nakamori, do you look like a police officer? You’re always Phantom Thief Kid, Phantom Thief Kid, each time confidently claiming you’ll catch him, and what happens? You go to great lengths with nothing to show for it, turning the Metropolitan Police Department into a laughingstock for the media. Is this how you perform as a police officer? Hmm?!”

“…….”

“The Metropolitan Police Department isn’t your private army for revenge! If you have a vendetta against Phantom Thief Kid, then spend your money to hire a team of Bounty Hunters to chase him down! Is it so difficult to see him dead or alive? Do you think the massive police force you deploy every time to catch him comes for free? And what happens? You don’t even catch a hair of Phantom Thief Kid. I can’t understand, with your track record of repeated failures, what gives you the right and confidence to shout that you’ll surely catch him? Who are you telling jokes to?”

“You… You…”

At this moment, Officer Nakamori’s face flushed with anger, alternating between red and white, and Officer Megure beside him couldn’t bear to watch any longer, wanting to interject, but Fang Zheng interrupted with a hand gesture.

“Officer Megure, don’t interfere, I’ve had enough of him. Arrogant, stubborn, yet incompetent, and refuses to admit it. Of course, that’s his own problem, but just because of his own personal agenda, he drags the entire Metropolitan Police Department down, turning us all into a joke. Maybe you can’t say it due to colleague relationships, but I don’t care. Strictly speaking, I’m a taxpayer, there are taxes we Umbrella paid included in the police department’s budget. I’d rather my money be used to catch a few more thieves than wasted by such inept officers!”

“Incompetent?! You say I’m incompetent?!”

Hearing this, Officer Nakamori jumped up instantly, while Fang Zheng coldly stared at him.

“If not incompetent, then negligent! Your actions, the funds wasted on each operation, and the embarrassment left for the media—how do you dare to still show up at the scene to catch Phantom Thief Kid? Officer Nakamori, don’t tell me you’re his insider, does Kidd give you money every time he succeeds? Maybe we should let the inspection section check your accounts?”

“Nonsense!”

At this moment, Officer Nakamori finally couldn’t hold back.

“I’ve been chasing Phantom Thief Kid for eighteen years, catching Kidd is my only purpose in life. What do you understand?!”

“Then take off that uniform and chase!”

Fang Zheng suddenly swung his hand.

“Then you can chase for as long as you want! But since you’re wearing that uniform, remember your duty. You’re a police officer, not Phantom Thief Kid’s lackey! What does your value of existence have to do with the Metropolitan Police Department? Does the police department exist for your value?”

“Uh……”

At this moment, “Shinichi Kudou,” watching Officer Nakamori’s appearance, was also worried, somewhat regretting that he had played tricks on Officer Nakamori too often in the past. Indeed, from Phantom Thief Kid’s perspective, Officer Nakamori was just an amusing opponent, but from the police department’s perspective, a cop failing so many times continuously damages more than just the police’s reputation but wastes funds and manpower…

After all, Phantom Thief Kid is just a kid, he’s never thought society is that simple. But hearing Fang Zheng say this, he realized… playing with Officer Nakamori so much might have gone too far.

If Officer Nakamori really resigns…

Officer Megure beside him said nothing, only sighed and shook his head. Although he couldn’t express it verbally, in fact, everyone agreed with Fang Zheng’s view. Within the police department, there’s always been criticism of Officer Nakamori’s actions because he barely focuses on anything aside from Phantom Thief Kid’s cases, ignoring other cases entirely. Often, investigations for other cases must make way for Officer Nakamori, who at the end always gets nothing.

It’s said they’ve wasted extensive resources yet harvested nothing, ridiculed by the media time after time, making everyone present uncomfortable. But Officer Nakamori has seniority within the police department, and officers who joined later can’t speak out even if dissatisfied. In Japan’s hierarchical society, seniority is justice, so despite the discomfort, they dare not complain like Officer Nakamori.

The older officers like Officer Megure also feel Officer Nakamori is a bit obsessed, but they feel embarrassed to say it directly, preferring indirect means instead. If Officer Megure believed Officer Nakamori could catch Phantom Thief Kid, then he’d not have brought in Fang Zheng and “Shinichi Kudou,” would he?

Yet Fang Zheng couldn’t care less, mercilessly berating Officer Nakamori as he chose, seeing him as an incompetent parasite, lacking skill yet wasting resources, someone who never turns back from repeated failures. If Fang Zheng were Emperor, such people would have been sent home to farm ages ago!!

Having a sense of justice without capability is useless, worse than those cunning ministers—at least they know flattery and forgery. Those are skills too. What about you? Besides eating, what else can you do?!

Truly a waste of food, a salary thief!

Having been relentlessly reprimanded by Fang Zheng, Officer Nakamori now had a flushed face, clenching both fists tightly.

“Fine, I’ll take you on that bet. If I don’t catch Phantom Thief Kid this time, I’ll resign!!!”

“If you had any sense of shame, you should’ve quit long ago.”

Fang Zheng countered Officer Nakamori again, while the latter angrily glared at him before turning to leave.

Meanwhile, watching Officer Nakamori’s receding figure, Phantom Thief Kid also broke out in a cold sweat.

What now?

Do I really have to let Officer Nakamori catch me once?!