Chapter Twenty Four - Detective Debrief

  A few days have passed since that interrogation effort. Since then, the only thing on my mind was what the next move should be. Moreover, I started feeling like that is the only thing I think about. If there isn’t progress being made, I feel like I am failing at something. It’s like my head is living from handfuls of dopamine one after another. However, right now, progress is being made. I have met up with Detective Debrief to discuss the terms of the team, and the place where we decided to do so is a place called Couture Café. As one could imagine, Debrief was the one who invited me there. Yes, he decided to discuss confidential information in the middle of a crowded café.

  Debrief is a questionable person – he never does what you expect him to, and I was hoping to unravel and understand his thought process during this meeting. He holds some personal grudge against me, and elaborating on that could also help me understand him a bit more. Overall, the goal is to make sure he still isn’t trying to backstab me, and to get him on board on the team.

  “Detective Capleaf, how are you liking this place?” He said, gesturing to the surroundings of the café.

  “It’s… tolerable.”

  The interior is as stereotypically boring as it gets. There were fake plants, seats that look comfortable but aren’t, and all the lights were in weird and unusual shapes and sizes. Debrief himself had a cup of coffee in front of him, although calling it “coffee” may be a bit misleading. He said it was a “strawberry double affogato”, and as he was describing it, I could only think of how much sugar was packed inside that thing. The container was the size of a large pint, and several scoops of pink-colored ice cream decorated the top of it. A single straw was placed on top of the ice cream, which was the only clue that differentiated it from a milkshake.

  “I thought it would be wise to discuss this arrangement in someplace comfortable. And so, I brought you to this establishment that I like to visit in my off-time.”

  “What if someone is listening in on us?”

  Truth be told, we stuck out like a sore thumb. One man clad in a dapper suit in the middle of the day, and the other dressed in a rugged shirt, with nothing ordered in front of him.

  “No need to worry – our presence eludes the intrigue of others. No one would suspect two gentlemen like us to be discussing something clandestine.”

  “If you say so.”

  He was right to some extent. With how out of place we looked, the people around us would only focus on that – our standing out. It would allow the actual point of the conversation to go unnoticed. It may be smart thinking, but all of this would’ve been avoided if we just did this at the DPD.

  “It has been some time since we had a casual conversation, hasn’t it?”

  “Yeah, if only someone didn’t decide to turn tables against me,” I hinted at his actions.

  “Ah, you are still upset about that?”

  “You complicated everything for me.”

  “But in the end, it pushed you to strive for perfection.”

  Debrief does things in a very roundabout manner. He possesses a strange intellect for efficiency, as it differs from what others consider to be viable. It is the same with this café, he found a backwards reason to go here instead of something simpler. In other words, he tends to operate in a higher plane of concentration, allowing him to see things that others would overlook. It is the same thing as what he did to me – he had his own methods to both push me to succeed, and also accomplish his own goals. However, why would he do the former?

  “Speaking of that, why is that something you care about?”

  “As is said before, letting an asset like you go to waste would be a dire mistake. As the director of the DPD, it is my duty to hone my tools.”

  “So, you think of me as some kind of underling. Got it.”

  “An underling with outstanding capabilities that exceed my own,” he said with a solemn expression.

  “You’re jealous again, Debrief.”

  “That I am. I am envious of you, Detective Capleaf. In fact, it wouldn’t be too far from the truth to call it hatred. A simple being such as you has no right to exceed me.”

  His tone shifted to a more serious one, contrasting his previous manner, and also the flamboyant drink in front of him. He seemed to have no qualms telling me about his honest feelings in front of me, as if he wanted me to know that he resents me. He truly does believe he is better than me, and actively does everything in his power to make it so. That is why he attempted to get rid of me as soon as a chance appeared.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  He continued to express himself. “I want to prove to the world that Detective Debrief is superior to all, for they still remain ignorant of the truth. That is why, Detective Capleaf, I cannot aid you in good conscience for your benefit.”

  “Are you calling off the team creation?”

  “No. I am saying that there are certain conditions that you have to accept if you want my help on your case.”

  “Well, go on. What are they?”

  “First and foremost, you will have to relinquish the status of Head Detective of MC-13.”

  Those words had a weighty reasoning behind them. As he said it, it was now apparent that he isn’t interested in me, but the case itself. By transferring myself to a mere detective working on the case, Debrief would have the option to claim that he was the one who solved it, giving him all the fame.

  “Of course, you will still lead the investigation, as you are the most knowledgeable in that regard – that I cannot take from you. The only change that will happen is what the public will learn of this investigation.”

  “In other words, you want to soak up all the glory.”

  “It is only natural.”

  “I understand, then. Is that the only thing?”

  He stopped to think for a moment, sipping on his delightful drink. “Yes.”

  Everything about his intentions was transparent as day, yet I still felt uneasy. The simple truth is – Debrief is a cunning man who will work towards his own benefit. Him offering me his help is a ploy that will pave him the way to popularity in Misult City and the whole detective world. The atmosphere of where we were was the complete opposite of the tone of his voice. While the scenery and air were welcoming, he resembled more of a snake with those green eyes of his. This is a deal that only benefits Debrief, and me taking it would mean that I would lose all agency on the case. There is no telling that he would keep his word, as he demonstrated his methods before. All in all – there is no benefit for me to have, excluding the aid of a detective with ulterior motives.

  His status as director proved to be more formidable than I assumed at first. With a wave of his hand, he can easily turn any of my attempts into dust. If even the slightest thing I do upsets him, he can put MC-13 on the scale and win. He has the backing of the whole department, and it allows him to do as he pleases. Detective Debrief is a treacherous opponent of wits, and dealing with him might prove to be an uphill battle. He is no ally, that is the least I can claim.

  His key characteristic is dishonesty – he may seem transparent and predictable, but he is the exact opposite of that. He has his own agenda, and his power allows him to follow exactly that. However, I am not defenseless, either. My main weapon against him is my success. And as long as things keep working out in my favor during investigation, he will not dare to call me off. He may be immensely popular, but no one would dispute the fact that Detective Vince Capleaf is the perfect fit for MC-13. There is only one uncertain possibility – the end of MC-13. He could swoop in at the last minute to betray me, jeopardizing the whole thing. Debrief really was like a snake that coiled around my body and tightening around my neck. The harder you fight back, the harder the snake squeezes. And if you offer up the least bit of resistance, the snake matches your strength. As I gazed into his vibrant eyes, I noticed exactly that – him grasping me by the neck, just tight enough for me to feel the effects.

  No matter how I thought about it, Debrief had an iron grip around the whole DPD, including me. I was feeling very frustrated, knowing that I was pretty much stuck in a pit of snakes, and not just one. From all sides, there could be danger. A second accomplice to the Flawless is on the loose, Debrief is working his way to success, and either of them could strike at any moment. Even if you seem friendlier, Debrief, you are still the same scumbag as when you first put on the coat.

  Your first appearance down at the precinct was a little over two and a half years ago. That first encounter between you and the DPD still resonated to today, as your first impression was quite strong. I still remember seeing you enter the building, wearing no detective’s coat, and pointing to Detective Licht, upending him to the status of the culprit behind a case the precinct collectively struggled with. It took you less than three minutes to devolve him from a beloved detective to a filthy criminal. It all happened so quick, and I was just watching from a distance, holding a bag of chips I just got from a vending machine.

  Ever since that day, you continued to perform miracle after miracle, proving to everyone that you were no small-fry. Others started thinking that you are a true prodigy, and also someone capable enough to dethrone the king of detectives that no one likes. I watched with a keen interest from afar, but I never considered myself to be interested by you.

  In less than two years, you transcended the expectations of not only your fellow detectives, but also me. I watched you claw your way from a D-tier, to a C-tier, to a B-tier, and to an A-tier. That is where I thought your rise would end, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. Soon after, a third genius joined the ranks of the S-tiers – in less than three years, additionally. You took the DPD by storm, descending from the heavens as some kind of angel. Some considered you to be a divine gift from god to end the wrongdoings caused by humanity. The others who didn’t – they could only watch in amazement. No other detective rose to relevancy in such a short amount of time. You were by far the youngest detective to reach the rank of S-tier, and you weren’t even phased by your achievements.

  If one were to describe you with no prior knowledge, and no bias formed, what would they call you, Debrief? There are many characteristics you could be referred to. Fellow detectives would admire your skills. The public would admire your face and personality. Your friends would admire the warmth you provide. In other words, is there anything you lack? You are an exceptional detective beloved by the public – there is nothing wrong with you. You are simply perfect, even. You are…

  “Are you the Flawless?”

  Things went silent around us as we only stared into each other’s void. My question was impulsive and barely serious, but his calm expression resonated within me. My thoughts were simple – it would be convenient for him to be the Flawless. But just as it would be convenient, it would also be inconvenient. This exemplary detective, now director, is no one I can defeat with just deduction. If he was actually the Flawless, it could be said that MC-13 has sealed its fate as being impossible to solve, as the sole culprit can overlook the investigation at all times. Debrief only stared back, focused entirely on me, and I saw his lips ready to move.

  “If I was, I would have won already.”