Resuming the investigation?
He's doing his own thing like he always does!
Here it is.
Do you see this strange mark after the number of plants received?
I bet there's a large difference between the number written here
and the number that was actually received on that day.
Also, a large amount of it consists of rare species.
These shipments come in over a fixed period.
All of them disappear into the R&D lab.
I haven't seen any put on exhibition.
What's more, every time those shipments arrive,
so do those strange men that I'd mentioned.
Whenever they're here,
Kitagishi-san would kick out the other researchers on staff for some reason or other.
What in the world could be happening inside?
To be honest,
I tried to sneak into the lab myself once,
because I wanted to know, too.
But I couldn't open a single door.
I guess I have no skill at picking locks.
Where did you find that key?
Inside that trick box.
I thought it was just an art piece.
Kitagishi-san doesn't leave data in his computer...
...but maybe we can find some kind of illegal evidence at the R&D lab.
But I don't think going there right now is a good idea.
Kitagishi-san works late, so he should be coming back here soon.
Let's put the key back in its place.
We don't want him to get suspicious.
Did you find anything else?
Anything else?
Not in particular.
Blood?
It's stopped snowing.
But it's still cold.
Everyone has the night off tomorrow.
We should wait until then to go to the R&D lab.
Thank you for telling me so much.
If the plants really are being used for crime,
I could never allow that to happen.
Besides, it makes me happy to be able to help someone as brave as you
for trying to expose that all on your own.
I'm not brave at all.
I always keep dragging the others down.
That's what my partner always tells me.
If I tell him that you've helped me this time,
I'm sure he'll get mad again.
I can just hear him yelling about how I can't do my own work by myself.
Personally, I think it's a virtue to allow other people to help you.
Besides, I'm sure that despite what that person says,
he really worries about you a lot.
If you were someone he didn't care about,
he'd just ignore you without saying anything.
Don't you worry about him, too?
I worry about him a lot!
People don't spend time worrying about those they hate.
No matter how many times he gets angry at you...
...you still like him.
Who did you call on the phone?
That's none of your business.
Is it something you can't tell me?
Do I need your permission for making a single phone call?
We know that you've been snooping around for something!
Who do you trust more...
...me or these incompetent goons?
First Criminal
Investigation Division
The suspicious arrival of a large number of plants...
There's a disposal area inside the gardens that is specifically for plants,
so it bugged me a little why something like that
would be in his office trash bin.
It looks like some kind of root.
All right, I'll send it over to our expert substance analysts.
Also, about this man who provided you with information...
He's a university student who works part-time at the botanical gardens.
Can we trust what he said?
I was able to check on the contents of Kitagishi-san's account books based on his testimony.
All that's left, then, is to investigate the non-admittance R&D lab.
Apparently, he's gone M.I.A. since last night.
I put another investigator on tailing Kitagishi at the same time you went undercover...
...but he never returned home yesterday.
Could he still be inside the gardens?
We're searching for him right now.
If he hasn't left the gardens...
...he'd be at...
I'll go investigate the R&D lab right now!
We're thinking of suspending this undercover investigation for the time being.
Someone's figured out that we're investigating them.
Then, what about Hal?
Is Hal all right?
We can't reach him.
We can't make any careless calls, either.
I've got men keeping a watch on Asaya's surroundings...
...but we can't tell what's going on inside.
No way...I believe Hal-kun is acting so of his own intent...
...but his chances in this situation do not look optimistic.
Then let's get a search warrant for Asaya and go in there!
We have to save Hal!
We have no hard evidence.
Even if we've confirmed the place where F.A. is sold...
...that doesn't necessarily mean it's being stored at Asaya's hideout.
Kayama is one of Asaya's leaders!
What about his testimony?
He didn't speak a word about it.
If there was one person who could provide testimony against Asaya...
Hal-kun would be the only one.
Now that Kitagishi,
the only link we've got to Kuzuya, has gone missing,
this whole thing is out of our hands.
Kitagishi just has to be found, right?
There's something I need you to investigate for me right away.