TBETW Chapter 4

Chapter 4 – Dependency

Main Story 1, Chapter 2, 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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“There’s been a surge in scam cases, likely orchestrated by overseas crime syndicates. Our department will take the lead in sweeping out this dirt.”  

The chief of the International Crime Countermeasures Division, Takizaki, delivered his booming rallying cry. Mid-level detective Aizawa followed up by presenting patterns of the recent wave of investment scam, gathered from an extensive network of sources.  

Sitting next to Kagura Jinya, Sanae Suguru nodded earnestly at the words of his ‘mentor’ while diligently taking notes.  

“Even with talk of economic stagnation and being left behind globally, Japan’s personal financial assets exceed 2,000 trillion yen. This makes it a prime target for scammers, filled with financial novices eager to jump on promising investment schemes for their retirement funds. Preventing capital outflow to foreign entities is a critical part of national security. Let’s approach this task with that mindset.”  

Sanae nodded so emphatically that his glasses slipped down to the tip of his nose.  

Catching this in his peripheral vision, Kagura’s mind, however, was elsewhere. His thoughts were consumed by the still-missing Toono Ryouji and the Eastern Alliance, which had gone eerily quiet like the calm before a storm.  

―――Am I just wasting time on a pointless detour?

To take down Toono Ryouji, he had believed joining the police, an institution of authority, was his only choice. Yet in practice, corruption ran deep in the upper ranks, and any attempt to act against Eastern Alliance-linked cases faced severe pushback.  

Working alongside Zero and entering the impenetrable stronghold of the ‘Invincible Castle’ had clarified the pervasive corruption infecting the nation at its very core.  

Being part of the Organized Crime Division gave him access to valuable information. Sharing this information with Zero had allowed them to work together effectively.  

―――But isn’t that only viable while the Eastern Alliance remains based domestically?

Toono, having strengthened his ties with Li Azhar, a casino king operating across the globe, seemed poised to elevate the Eastern Alliance into a far-reaching, untouchable organization.  

Worse, Japan’s top officials had their weaknesses exploited by Li Azhar and were under his thumb.  

Kagura’s frustration churned within him, going nowhere.  

“Our work is only going to become more crucial from now on, isn’t it? Crime is becoming synchronized globally, and borders are losing their meaning,” Sanae said excitedly, his face flushed, as the meeting ended.  

Kagura rose from his seat and replied, “Well, that’s why we’ve been restructured into the International Crime Countermeasures Division and strengthened accordingly.”  

Having been part of the reorganization for just over a month, it still felt unfamiliar, like wearing borrowed clothes.  

As Sanae tried to stand, a passing detective deliberately kicked the leg of his folding chair, almost sending him tumbling. Kagura caught Sanae’s arm to steady him, while the offender, Detective Akimoto, smirked and said, “Oops, sorry. Didn’t see you there, you’re so tiny.”  

Akimoto was from the former Organized Crime Division Section One.  

“Must be that terrible eyesight of yours that let you overlook so many cases of illegal immigrants,” Kagura quipped, referencing Akimoto’s previous assignment of cracking down on illegal immigrants. Akimoto’s square face turned red with anger.  

“It’s the country’s broken system that’s the sieve,” he shot back.  

On that point, Kagura agreed.  

Japan’s system of accepting foreign technical trainees allowed management organizations to proliferate unchecked, offering little support when trainees faced hardship. As a result, thousands of trainees disappeared annually, becoming unregistered immigrants. Cases of cruise ship passengers going missing after docking in Japan were also on the rise.  

“You people who chase flashy crimes and pat yourselves on the back wouldn’t understand,” Akimoto spat before storming out of the meeting room.  

Sanae sighed. “…Even though we were in neighboring divisions within the same police force, it’s so hard to get on the same page.”  

“Well, it’s probably because Takizaki-san’s appointment as chief rubbed them the wrong way,” Jinya replied.  

Takizaki, formerly the chief of the Organized Crime Division Section 2, had been promoted to lead the International Crime Countermeasures Division. Those from the former Section 1 likely felt they were being absorbed and were taking out their frustrations, sparking petty turf wars.  

It seemed the new system would take some time to function smoothly.  

***  

Instead of taking the subway, Kagura decided to walk from the Metropolitan Police Department headquarters through the government district back to his apartment in Kamiyacho. It was only May, yet daytime temperatures had already surpassed 30°C, with scorching sunlight. The night breeze, however, was refreshingly cool, as if nature itself was trying to restore balance.  

He realized his hand had unconsciously slipped into his suit’s inner pocket and clenched his fist with a bitter expression.  

Inside was the key to that apartment, the same one Zero carried with an identical strap attached.  

Feeling an uncomfortable itch in his heart, he quickened his pace.  

Taking the subway would tempt him to skip his stop at Kamiyacho and continue to Nakameguro. Walking home helped him resist the urge, though he still often woke from nightmares in the middle of the night and impulsively rode his bike to that apartment.  

Zero was almost certain to show up there.  

And Zero would offer him escape—not only from the nightmares but also from the reality of his own helplessness.  

Zero would pretend to take the bait of Kagura’s provocations and engage in the intense sex that Kagura so desperately sought.  

“How pathetic…”  

He muttered to himself as he trudged along.  

He thought he was making progress. But in reality, he was floundering, unable to even stand on his own two feet.  

Lifting his heavy eyelids, Kagura surveyed the government district.  

Undoubtedly, many of the upper echelons of Japan’s ministries were regular patrons of the ‘Invincible Castle’. The nation’s direction was not dictated by the collective will of its people but by the whims of those in power, who were being controlled by the likes of Li Azhar and Toono Ryouji.  

On a national scale, taking down Toono Ryouji wouldn’t change anything. Dismantling the Eastern Alliance wouldn’t change anything. Even if the ‘Invincible Castle’ fell, a new one would just take its place. The ‘Invincible Castle’ wasn’t unique to Japan; it existed everywhere in the world.  

Back when he had been fixated solely on avenging his cousin’s death, the enemy had been clear. But as his perception of the world expanded, the enemy’s form grew increasingly blurry.  

Where should he go from here?  

A wave of dizziness struck him, and he shook his head. Feeling a sharp pain in his palm, Kagura opened his clenched fist.  

At some point, he had pulled the key with its sasadango strap out of his inner pocket.  

―――This is dependency.

Alcoholism, drug addiction, gambling addiction, sex addiction—he had seen countless people succumb to such dependencies and destroy themselves in his line of work.  

Now, he understood that cycle of self-destruction as something personal.  

As he walked down Sakurada Street, nearing Kamiyacho Station, a black car pulled up by the roadside.  

A suited driver stepped out and approached him.  

“Please, get in.”  

Peering into the open door, Jinya saw a man with sharp, chiseled features wearing a three-piece suit, staring back at him.  

“What business does the Special Investigation Division Chief have here?”

Kagura Jinya asked bluntly. Kiriyama Shungo simply gestured toward the seat.

“I’ll give you a ride, so get in.”

The apartment was less than a ten-minute walk from here. Kiriyama knew that perfectly well when he said it. When Kagura remained silent, Kiriyama pressed further.

“Are you in a position to refuse my kindness?”

Kiriyama was aware of the existence of a group called ‘Enwu’, which even the Metropolitan Police couldn’t grasp, and that its leader was Zero.

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*Translator’s Note: *Sighs* Why is Kagura so afraid of depending on Zero? Just go with it, man… -K

Next update: 2025.11.20

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