After Akuma Kuro vanished into the darkness, Ren Haruki and Nagato returned to the investigation center to review the events and plan their next move. The atmosphere in the office was tense as the two sat around the large table, surrounded by maps and photos pinned to the walls.
"Akuma Kuro is playing a psychological game with us," Ren said, studying the symbols found on the walls in the industrial area. "But if we can decode them quickly enough, we might be able to close the gap between us."
Nagato glanced at the Nagasaki map hanging in front of him and said, "The symbols we saw suggest something deeper, maybe a certain way of thinking or a specific system. But why is he leaving us these clues?"
Ren took a deep breath and replied, "Akuma Kuro wants us to follow him, but he also wants to gauge our intelligence. Every puzzle he leaves is a challenge for him, but it's also an opportunity for us to understand his mindset."
The two began analyzing the symbols again, trying to connect them to any evidence or previous events. Akuma Kuro was known for his love of puzzles and mental games, and it was clear that every symbol and hint had a deeper meaning.
While examining the symbols, Ren noticed a certain pattern in their arrangement. "These symbols aren't random. There's a specific order that links them to certain locations in the city. If we follow this order, it might lead us directly to the next place Akuma wants us to go."
Nagato looked at Ren and said, "So, he's not just trying to confuse us; he's also testing our critical thinking. If we can keep up with his pattern, we might reach him before he moves again."
As they spoke, Detective Kyoko entered the room, carrying a stack of documents. "We've received new reports from witnesses. Another person saw Akuma Kuro near the old port last night."
Ren took the documents and quickly began reading them. "The old port? It seems Akuma Kuro is moving between abandoned areas. But if his focus is now on the port, that might be the next target."
"But we can't assume he's just there based on this information. We need to be cautious and base our plan on tangible evidence," Nagato said cautiously.
"I agree," Ren said, pointing to the map. "But if we combine the information we have and link it to the pattern we've discovered, we might find a way to narrow down the place he's hiding."
They gathered their information, and instead of heading straight to the old port, they decided to check other locations that matched the pattern Ren had discovered. This approach demonstrated Ren's strategic thinking, as they tried to outsmart Akuma.
They first went to an abandoned building on the outskirts of the city, where the signs pointed to something suspicious. Upon arrival, they found a series of new symbols that hadn’t been present at previous locations.
"These symbols seem like new clues," Nagato said, examining them. "Maybe Akuma wants us to see this, but why?"
"Akuma thinks he's still a step ahead of us," Ren said with a faint smile. "But this time, we'll surprise him. Let's analyze these symbols quickly and see what they tell us."
After studying the new symbols, Ren discovered that there was an encoded message pointing to a specific location at the old port, but in an indirect manner. "He's hiding the truth in the symbols, making them seem like mere surface-level hints. But he's actually telling us his real location."
They decided to head to the old port, but this time they were better prepared. When they reached the designated site, the port was almost deserted, but there was something different. Marks on the walls and open doors indicated that someone had been there recently.
As they searched the area, they heard footsteps coming from inside one of the warehouses. They cautiously sneaked inside to find Akuma Kuro standing in front of a large board covered with symbols and papers.
"I didn't expect you to reach here so quickly," Akuma said with a mixture of surprise and amusement.
"You made a mistake by leaving those symbols," Ren said confidently. "We decoded them and realized you were trying to mislead us, but we didn't fall into the trap this time."
Akuma looked at Ren intently, as if reassessing him. "You're smarter than I thought. But the game is not over yet."
Before he could escape, Nagato quickly moved to block the only exit. "This time, you won’t get away."
Akuma knew his chances of escape were dwindling, but he showed no signs of concern. "If this is the end of the game for me, I’m ready. But I promise you, even in my defeat, there are lessons to be learned."
Ren glanced at the symbols on the board, then looked back at Akuma with a confident smile and eyes glowing with a challenging light that carried undeniable strength.
"Yes, and we will learn them. But you will understand that this game was not easy for any of us.
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