For the weak to defeat the strong, it wasn't enough just to conduct thorough intelligence gathering beforehand; they also needed to formulate a practical, actionable battle plan.
If the situation was reversed, however, the best method was to simply crush them outright with overwhelming force.
But for Judgment officers, who emphasized lawful procedure, obtaining solid evidence of the opponent's crimes was far more important than relying on sheer power alone.
Swiping their ID cards expertly at the school garden's exit, the two girls walked together through the forest of towering buildings, the scenery around them visibly speeding past.
The gloomy weather hindered the sunlight, making everything look dreary, but in a way, it significantly boosted the combat potential of a certain bun-haired girl.
"Shirai-san, are we going to recheck the attack sites again today?"
A soft, somewhat uncertain voice floated from within a stable pocket of air.
Even though she was the one who had initiated this operation and had established her leading position in front of the armed Skill-Out group, Natsume Sonoko wasn't as decisively authoritative as the armed group believed. Right now, she was more like a follower.
Truth be told, Natsume Sonoko was considering whether she should reclaim the lead from Shirai-san. But just thinking about the hassle involved—and probably having to handle all the follow-up work—made her enthusiasm wane considerably.
Actually, according to the original plan of a certain bun-haired girl, after contacting the armed group, she intended to let Shirai-san take over. That would have fit her expectations perfectly.
The only difference was that Shirai-san had insisted on dragging her along, even going so far as to ambush her at the exit, completely ruining her little schemes.
Shirai-san was always finding fault with her normally, so why was she suddenly sticking so close now? It made one wonder what she was really up to.
"No, the number of attack locations we confirmed yesterday is sufficient."
"There are quite a few gray areas in District 7. Many of the narrow, out-of-the-way spots are only known to groups like Skill-Out themselves. With their help, the map of the attacker's active zones should be quite comprehensive now."
Silently observing her personal chauffeur and tool-for-the-job, Shirai-san fully utilized her advantages, making rational use of every available resource.
Not only did it make solving the case more convenient, but it also served to prevent a certain bun-haired girl from having too much free time and going off to harass Onee-sama.
The negotiations with the Skill-Out group had actually ended quite early yesterday. The rest of the time was likely spent verifying the identities of the attackers.
The information collected by the Skill-Out group was noticeably more detailed than what Judgment had, even including a partial list of the attackers—a significant achievement.
However, this list clearly didn't satisfy Shirai-san. She spent the entire afternoon digesting all the intel Skill-Out possessed, not only visiting some of the victims but also confirming the exact locations of the attacks, eventually compiling a map of the areas where the attackers were most active.
"The list obtained from Komaba Ritoku can only be used as a reference. We must investigate thoroughly before we can confirm its reliability."
"So, since yesterday, Uiharu has been cross-referencing the people on that list with the Bank and network records. So far, she's found some descriptions in their social media posts that match participation in the 'Ability User Game' targeting espers, basically confirming the list's credibility."
"Furthermore, from these individuals' social records and connected friends, Uiharu has already identified additional suspects worth investigating."
Pausing for a moment, Shirai Kuroko added with a hint of concern.
Now that they had a list of some individuals and knew their frequent haunts, gathering evidence of their attacks should be straightforward. However, these social media records couldn't be used as direct evidence; otherwise, resolving the incident might have been much faster.
"I see. If these suspects approach the areas where attacks frequently occur, we can predict whether they're about to launch an assault."
"Even though there are no cameras or satellite surveillance in the gray zones, those restrictions don't apply outside them. Surveillance cameras and satellites can be effective tools for monitoring their movements. This way, we can save a lot of wasted time and prepare in advance."
Nodding thoughtfully, a serious expression immediately surfaced on Natsume Sonoko's face.
Moreover, they could also review the relevant surveillance footage from near the attack sites at the times the incidents occurred. With the location and time of the attacks, they could further confirm the perpetrators' identities.
Shirai-san really had some skill, no wonder she was considered the most fierce Judgment member after all.
Although it was a relatively simple technique, it was unexpectedly effective. So, to prevent being shorthanded and stretched too thin, that must be why she prepared those grenades in advance.
As for the access permissions for the surveillance and satellites, that was probably the easiest part to solve. With a super hacker like Uiharu Kazari-san on their side, it wasn't an issue at all.
"Previously, because of the Daihasei Festival, Academy City increased its security level. The attacks on espers died down considerably."
"But now that the Daihasei Festival is over and classes have resumed normally, the security level has returned to standard. Those attackers are bound to become active again, especially after school and club activities end."
Frowning slightly, Shirai-san seemed to remember something else.
"But there's another problem. Because Skill-Out has gotten involved, the attackers might avoid these areas where Skill-Out members are now active, choosing more hidden corners for their assaults."
"Therefore, to remove this hesitation from the attackers, it's necessary to first take a few key figures from the armed group to Anti-Skill headquarters or somewhere else for isolation for a few days. We also need this group to announce they will no longer protect the esper students who are being targeted."
Shirai-san spoke quietly, her small face filled with seriousness.
This organized armed group was a significant latent threat, that much was certain. The more disciplined an organization was, the more clannish and stubborn it tended to be. Sooner or later, they would become a headache for both Judgment and Anti-Skill.
Most of them were delinquents, many with criminal records. If they lost control, they could easily become extreme. Even with their help now, Shirai-san's opinion of them hadn't changed much.
So, while solving the attacks on espers, Shirai Kuroko could also try to eliminate this potential threat simultaneously. The simplest method was to cut off their means of recruiting new members.
Without a steady stream of students seeking their protection, their influence and threat would naturally diminish significantly.
"Eh?"
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon!
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.