Although Suto was very interested in Cat’s Eye’s first operation, the time written on the notice was midnight.
That was too late.
Waiting until then would ruin the regular sleep schedule and daily exercise routine he had already planned.
He had no intention of staying up late just to wait for a result he already knew.
At ten o’clock sharp, he turned off the lights and went to bed.
Jinbo Art Museum.
Because tonight was Cat’s Eye’s first operation, the Metropolitan Police Department did not take the matter too seriously.
What if it was only a prank by someone?
Even so, after receiving the museum director’s report, the police still sent several officers over to patrol and guard the place.
As a patrol sergeant, Utsumi Toshio was currently on-site, directing and assigning the lower-ranking officers.
He stood at the museum entrance, looked up at the night sky outside, and felt rather gloomy.
“What Cat’s Eye?
Thanks to them, I have to work overtime tonight!
I already made plans to watch a game with my friends!”
He lowered his head and checked his watch.
There were still two hours before midnight, the time written on the notice.
But he could not lower his guard.
If a phantom thief really was planning to steal a painting, then the time written on the notice might just be a distraction.
The other party might act early, or they might act later.
Utsumi scratched his hair in frustration and sighed.
“I’ll buy a can of coffee to wake myself up.
Anyway, I can forget about sleeping tonight.”
There was a vending machine not far away.
He walked over, inserted some coins, and bought a can of coffee.
Just as he took a sip, the corner of his eye suddenly noticed a woman walking toward the museum from down the street.
“Hey, hey!
We’ve set up a police cordon here!
Outsiders aren’t allowed through tonight!
Please take another route!”
The woman ignored him and continued walking this way.
Utsumi quickly stepped forward to stop her.
“Hey!
Did you not hear what I said?”
The woman stopped and raised her head.
Only then did Utsumi clearly see her face.
Her features were delicate, her hair was silver, and her expression was as cold as frozen ice.
The woman raised her hand and showed an ID.
Utsumi instinctively looked at it.
Then his eyes shrank, and he immediately stood at attention.
“I’m sorry!
Section Chief Yukino!
I didn’t recognize you just now!”
The woman spoke flatly.
“The Special Cases Division is handling business here.
Please cooperate.”
“Yes!”
“What happened here?”
“The museum reported that someone would come steal a painting tonight.
“Steal a painting?”
The woman frowned slightly.
“I need to search the museum.”
A trace of difficulty and suspicion flashed across Utsumi’s face.
The woman did not make things hard for him and simply said, “You may call the station to confirm my identity.”
Utsumi gave an awkward smile.
“It’s part of my duty, so please forgive me!”
He quickly walked to the side, took out his phone, and made a call.
“Hello, Chief, it’s me, Toshio!
I have a situation to report!
…What?
Yes!
Understood!
I’ll handle it!
Please rest assured!”
After hanging up, Utsumi hurried back and bowed to the woman.
“I’m sorry, Section Chief Yukino!
I delayed your time!
You may freely enter and exit the museum!”
The woman said calmly, “If you’re still worried, you can act with me.”
Utsumi’s expression changed slightly, and he forced a smile.
“I won’t get in your way.”
The woman said nothing more and walked toward the museum alone.
Watching her leave, Utsumi couldn’t help letting out a sigh of relief.
Then he quickly picked up his radio and contacted the officers still inside the museum.
“All of you, get out immediately!
A superior officer from the Special Cases Division is going in to investigate!”
Although the officers were confused, they still obediently withdrew from the museum.
“Patrol Sergeant Utsumi, what exactly is going on?”
“Don’t ask!
Just wait here quietly!”
Utsumi glanced at the silent museum in the darkness, remembered what his chief had told him on the phone, and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
“That officer had better not tear the museum down…”
Inside the museum.
The woman walked alone through the brightly lit corridor.
Famous paintings hung on the walls on both sides.
At a certain moment, she raised her head and glanced at the ventilation ducts above.
Then she withdrew her gaze and continued walking forward.
After turning a corner and walking for a while, she stopped in front of a painting.
“Found you.”
…
Before long, Utsumi saw Section Chief Yukino walk out of the museum.
She seemed to be holding a painting in her hand, wrapped in a piece of black cloth.
Utsumi hurriedly went up to greet her, and his body suddenly felt a burst of cold.
“Section Chief Yukino!
Are you all right?”
“Mm.
Do you want to inspect it?”
“N-No need!
“It’s safe now.
You can go in.”
“Yes!
Thank you for your hard work!”
The woman said nothing more and left directly with the painting.
Utsumi felt the chill disappear as well.
He couldn’t help rubbing his arms, then turned and shouted at the officers.
“What are you all standing around for?
Hurry back into the museum!
Return to your previous positions!
Also, hurry and confirm that painting!”
The officers rushed into the museum in a panic.
Soon, a voice came from Utsumi’s radio.
“Patrol Sergeant Utsumi, the painting on Cat’s Eye’s notice is still here, but another painting is missing.
Also, it suddenly became really cold inside.”
“Don’t worry about anything else!
Just keep an eye on that painting!”
Utsumi put down the radio, picked up the coffee he had placed aside, and took another sip.
“Seriously… This is all Cat’s Eye’s fault…”
On the late-night street, Yukino Mifuyu walked alone while holding a painting.
A slightly hoarse female voice suddenly came from her bag.
“Tonight’s job was pretty easy.
Speaking of which, why didn’t you conveniently help them catch the thief hiding in the ventilation ducts?”
Yukino said flatly, “I’m not interested in playing hide-and-seek game with them.”
“You won’t even give them a warning?”
“If they need me to warn them before they can catch a thief like that, then they’re far too incompetent.”
“Heh, true.”
The night wind blew past, lifting the black cloth covering the frame.
One could faintly see a pair of hands frozen in ice, reaching out from the painting.
But they clearly were not normal human hands.
They were a pair of monster hands with sharp nails and black scales.
Or, to be more accurate, they were claws.
…
The next morning.
Suto got up at 5:30 as usual.
He brushed his teeth, washed his face, went out to warm up, and began his morning run.
Twenty minutes later, he once again passed by the entrance of that convenience store and saw the AE86 with “Fujiwara Tofu Shop” painted on it parked there.
Fujiwara Takumi really was punctual.
Takumi was carrying tofu when he looked up and saw Suto.
He remembered this customer who had given him chewing gum yesterday, so he nodded in greeting.
Suto also nodded and smiled at him.
After leaving the convenience store, he continued running.
Only after an hour did he return to the apartment building and take a shower.
During breakfast, Suto took out his phone and searched for news about Cat’s Eye.
Sure enough, Cat’s Eye’s crime last night had been successful.
It seemed the fusion of this mixed anime world had not affected Cat’s Eye’s plotline…
Looking at the news, Suto suddenly frowned.
“Wait.
Why does the news say Jinbo Art Museum lost two paintings?
That’s not right, is it?”