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"Yeah… I've got some ideas."
Blake led a few girls into a deserted alley and began plotting.
"Talk alone isn't enough. If we want to bring that cat-abusing psycho to justice, we need solid evidence."
"People who abuse cats are usually twisted psychopaths. When they do things like that, they often record it on their phones so they can replay it later for their own sick enjoyment."
"So everyone needs to work together. First, we figure out whether there's any evidence on his phone or computer."
"Blake makes a good point." Anna Yanami crossed her arms. "I've watched a thousand episodes of Detective Conan. I'm basically a professional evidence collector. Based on my experience, there's a high chance he's got videos on his phone."
"So the target is stealing his phone?" Yamada Elf's eyes lit up. She raised her hand excitedly. "I'll go invisible and grab it!"
"Don't rush it." Blake grabbed the blonde loli immediately, his expression serious. "Even if you're invisible, people can still sense you. If he notices his phone is gone, it'll spook him. So…"
As he spoke, Blake's gaze slowly drifted toward the "angel."
So obviously… start with time stop!
You don't hold back your trump card just for the finale.
Against a small fry like this, there's no reason not to go all out.
"I'll handle it," Mahiru Shiina said softly, giving a small nod as she accepted the mission.
Once time stop activated, the entire world would freeze. At that point, taking the phone would be easy. Even beating the guy up wouldn't be noticed.
"We should scout the area first," Goko Ruri whispered. "Find out where he keeps his phone."
"Oh, oh!" Anna Yanami added quickly. "Phones might be locked. We'll need his passcode."
"And a lot of people hide stuff in hidden folders nowadays," she continued thoughtfully, resting her chin on her hand. Then she looked at Mahiru. "Mahiru, do you know how to unlock hidden folders?"
"Uh…"
Mahiru hesitated, a faint troubled look appearing on her delicate face.
After moving out, she had only recently gotten her own phone. She was still basically a beginner. The only things she knew how to do were take photos and send messages. Anything beyond that was completely unknown to her.
"I know how," Blake said calmly. "After we activate time stop, Mahiru will bring the phone, and I'll guide you."
"Eh?" Yamada Elf tilted her head. "Wait a second. Blake, even if you're conscious during time stop, your body can't move, right? How are you supposed to guide her?"
Blake answered with a straight face.
"I've gotten stronger."
"Ha?"
"Even if I can't move, I can talk during time stop now."
"..."
Mahiru's fair cheeks suddenly turned bright red.
She clearly remembered what happened on the train that Monday… that accidental contact. Her heart started beating faster without control.
(If Blake can speak because of that… then what if I bring the phone and he can't guide me?)
(Then… does that mean I'd have to…)
She quickly shook her head, forcing the embarrassing thoughts out of her mind, took a breath, and clenched her small fists.
"I'll go."
"Wait." Blake stopped her again. "We still don't know where his phone is. It's better if we make him take it out himself, so we avoid searching him."
Anna tilted her head. "How do we make him do that?"
"Simple."
Blake took out his phone slowly. "Back at the pet hospital, I memorized his number. We just call him."
The girls: "..."
A few minutes later, they quietly approached the dim area outside the pet hospital.
"That's him. The guy in the white coat with glasses," Ruri said in a low voice. "The cats at the pet shop told me. He's definitely the cat abuser. No mistake."
It was almost 8:30 p.m. The pet hospital was nearly empty at this hour. Only a few doctors and nurses were resting in the lobby.
"As they say, you can't judge a book by its cover," Anna muttered. "If Miss Ruri couldn't understand cat language, nobody would believe that guy is a villain."
She had a strong social personality, and in just a short time had already started casually calling her "Black Cat."
"Mahiru, it's your turn," Blake said, turning to her. "Go get the phone."
As for telling her to be careful… come on. Did they even understand the value of time stop?
Some blond guy once only had a seven-second time stop and already got arrogant enough to want to conquer the world.
Inside this domain, Mahiru was invincible. There was nothing to worry about.
Mahiru exhaled softly, her gaze calm. "Blake, make the call."
"Alright."
Blake dialed the number he had prepared.
Inside the clinic, the cat abuser heard the ringtone, reached into his white coat, and answered.
"Hello…"
The moment he spoke—
The world stopped.
The falling leaves in the air froze mid-drop. The phone call interface went still. Even the rustling insects in the grass and the smoke drifting from a distant barbecue stall were all locked in place.
Everything fell into absolute silence.
"Blake?"
Mahiru didn't rush toward the clinic. Instead, she turned back to look at him.
Blake was still conscious. He tried to blink, but his body wouldn't move at all, as if frozen in glue.
"So… I really can't speak, huh?"
Mahiru's cheeks turned slightly red. She bit her lip lightly, then turned and walked toward the pet hospital.
A few minutes later, she returned effortlessly with the man's phone in hand, like it was nothing.
The phone was unlocked. She checked it carefully, but it was completely clean. No cat abuse videos. Nothing at all.
"So… I'll have to make Blake able to speak again."
She shifted her gaze from the phone to him. Looking at his quiet eyes, her face grew warmer. After a brief hesitation, her expression quickly firmed.
"F-first… I'll try hugging him…"
Even though it was embarrassing, as a kind-hearted "angel," she wanted more than anything to punish the evil that harmed innocent lives.
"For the sake of saving more lives… I'll just have to sacrifice a little…"
"....."