TBETW Chapter 7

Chapter 7 – Suspicious Assignment

Main Story 1, Chapter 3, Part 1

Novel Title: 獣はかくして囚われる (The Beasts are Ensnared This Way)

Author：風結子 沙野 (Fuyuko Sano)

Illustrator：小山田 あみ (Oyamada Ami)

Translator: K (@kin0monogatari)

Protagonists: 鹿倉 陣也 (Kagura Jinya -MC) & ゼロ (Zero -ML)

*Please read at freenovels.net, the original site of translation. TQ*

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When they entered the small conference room, Section Chief Takizaki was seated at the far end of a rectangular arrangement of tables.  

“What’s this about? Did we mess something up?”  

Following closely behind Kagura, Sanae asked in a nervous whisper.  

“No idea,” Kagura replied, though from Takizaki’s stern expression, he guessed it wasn’t something trivial.  

They were motioned to sit across the corner of the table from Takizaki, who appeared to have something confidential to discuss.  

With a deep furrow in his brow, Takizaki began to speak.  

“There’s a job in Macau for you two.”  

Sanae leaned forward on the table.  

“Macau? As in ‘that’ Macau? The casino kingdom?”  

“Yes, the Macau Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China.”  

If it were just a routine overseas investigation, the atmosphere wouldn’t be this heavy. Suspecting something deeper, Kagura asked,  

“Is this about the recent spike in Macau-related scams?”  

While casinos are the most talked-about aspect of Macau, the region thrives as an integrated resort hub, complete with hotels, shopping malls, theaters, and even theme parks for families. Recently, scams targeting Japanese investors under the guise of fictitious projects for new integrated resorts have surged.  

The increasing domestic interest in integrated resort projects and the waning public apprehension toward casinos in Japan likely contributed to the proliferation of such schemes. Cases of victims losing tens of millions of yen to these scams were far from uncommon.  

“That’s part of it,” Takizaki confirmed.  

“What else is there?”  

Takizaki narrowed his eyes.  

“There’s information from higher-ups that Japanese nationals are being trafficked in the Cotai Strip, Macau’s casino district.”  

“Is this connected to the unidentified body of someone who seemed Japanese, recently discovered in Macau?”  

“It’s highly possible. But whether it’s scam or human trafficking, we can’t launch a large-scale operation without concrete evidence.”  

Sanae lowered his voice to a near whisper.  

“So, we’re going for a covert investigation?”  

“That’s right,” Takizaki replied, though his expression remained grim, as if withholding something.  

“Was it your decision to assign me and Sanae to this?” Kagura probed.  

Takizaki’s cheek twitched.  

“No, it wasn’t.”  

“Was it an order from above?”  

Leaning closer, Takizaki lowered his voice further.  

“The directive came with your name attached from the start.”  

“Just me?”  

“Yes. Suspicious, isn’t it?”  

Someone wanted Kagura in Macau.  

The likely culprit wasn’t the higher-ups at the Metropolitan Police Department but someone holding leverage over them.  

The answer came quickly.  

Li Azhar, owner of the ‘Invincible Castle’, undoubtedly had dirt on certain police executives. Kagura had previously teamed up with Enwu to break through the security of the ‘Castle’ in pursuit of Toono Ryouji. It was only natural that Li Azhar had caught wind of it.  

Perhaps this was a calculated move to punish the ‘rat’ who dared to infiltrate his domain. Executing a Japanese detective domestically would cause too many complications, but in Macau, where Li Azhar controlled multiple integrated resorts, the cleanup would be easy.  

“There’s always the option of refusing,” Takizaki offered.  

Kagura shook his head.  

“If I refuse, they’ll just replace you with the former Division Chief of Organized Crime, won’t they?”  

The upper echelons had interfered in Eastern Alliance-related investigations before. Kagura had even heard that some executives opposed Takizaki’s appointment as head of the International Crime Division.  

“That’s hard to say,” Takizaki deflected, though the possibility was high.  

The former division chief was a sycophant, loyal to the higher-ups. If someone like that took charge, the International Crime Division would be rendered toothless.  

“I’ll go to Macau.”  

Kagura glanced at Sanae, whose face tensed with worry.  

“But I suggest assigning a different partner.”  

“What? Why?!”  

Sanae nearly jumped out of his seat in protest.  

“You’d stand out too much with age restrictions at the casinos.”  

“But I’m better at languages than you, Kagura-san. I’ll definitely be helpful.”  

It would be tough to ensure both their safety while dealing with whoever had orchestrated this.  

“You’re capable, but this time—”  

Takizaki interrupted thoughtfully.  

“No, it’s better if Sanae goes.”  

“Why?” Kagura asked.  

“Having Sanae with you will make it look like a standard operation. I’ll also send Aizawa and Somei to Macau.”  

This meant the main mission for Kagura and Sanae was ensuring their safety while the other team conducted the actual investigation.  

If this had happened earlier, Kagura might have rebelled against such a role. However, his experiences with Zero and Enwu’s members had taught him to see the bigger picture.  

―――If this helps the investigation, so be it.  

Sanae, who was familiar with Kagura’s patterns, would be a better defensive partner than someone new.  

“Understood,” Kagura agreed.  

Sanae, who had been half-standing, sat back down, beaming.  

“Lately, I’ve been learning shooting and judo from Aizawa-san. Believe it or not, I’m a fighter now.”  

Neither Kagura nor Takizaki responded to that.  

Kagura and Sanae were to enter Macau directly via Macau International Airport, while Aizawa and Somei would travel through Hong Kong before heading to Macau.  

During the five-hour flight from Haneda to Macau International Airport, Sanae was engrossed in his tablet, reviewing a compilation of the latest intelligence on Macau gathered by Aizawa’s network. Kagura had already read and memorized it beforehand.  

To avoid giving off a ‘police vibe’, Kagura opted for a business-casual outfit without a tie. Sanae’s appearance, on the other hand, made him look even more like a student.  

Kagura had taken a nap—he’d recently stopped having the nightmares that had plagued him for a time. In his dreams, he realized he was dreaming, crouched in place instead of taking the elevator, and simply waited for time to pass until he woke up. Upon awakening, he noticed his fingers clasping around something invisible in the inner pocket of his jacket and quickly withdrew them.  

He’d always kept the key to his Nakameguro apartment in that pocket, so he must have been reaching for it unconsciously.  

Ever since he had unilaterally told Zero that their sexual relationship was over, Kagura found himself gripping that key whenever he slept at home.  

Though he could create physical distance, his mind, paradoxically, clung even harder to his connection with Zero.  

As Kagura let out a bitter sigh and opened his eyes to glance at the seat beside him, he noticed Sanae hurriedly wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.  

On Sanae’s tablet screen was an image of a pot overflowing with seafood.  

“Were you drooling?”  

When Kagura asked in disbelief, Sanae immediately launched into a defense.  

“Macau was a Portuguese colony, so it still has a lot of Portuguese cultural influences—like the food and architecture. I thought I should familiarize myself with the local customs…”  

Kagura had repeatedly warned Sanae about the dangers of their trip to Macau, but it didn’t seem to have sunk in.  

Showing Kagura the tablet, Sanae asked enthusiastically, “How about this restaurant? Since the casinos are open 24 hours, this place is too!”  

They arrived at Macau International Airport a little after 8 p.m.  

After clearing immigration and stepping into the arrival lobby, a man in a casual suit quickly approached them, speaking in Japanese.  

“My name is Elio. You must be Kagura-san and Sanae-san.”  

Elio had distinct, well-defined features, with brown eyes and hair. Judging by his name, he likely had Portuguese ancestry.  

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*Translator’s Note: I think it’s Kiriyama who wanted him there. But well… we’ll see. -K

Next update: 2025.11.23

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