Suga continued reading the next log.
“Investigation log, date: October 6, 1987
Case: 15 people have gone missing in Kagohara village.
On the second day of my investigation into Kagohara village, today I decided to check the area around Kagohara village. I checked the river area with the wharf that the villagers used to transport or fishing. Likewise, the swamp area also has a wharf to access it, which villagers commonly use for fishing. Then, there are dense wilderness areas with deep ravines and hills. I think that if hostile areas from the start surrounded this village, why build a village in this kind of place? Regionally, I have to be careful doing this investigation, or I will become the 16th person who goes missing.”
Suga continued reading the next investigation log.
“Investigation log, date: October 7, 1987
Case: 15 people have gone missing in Kagohara village.
On the third day of my investigation into Kagohara village, I finally got information if someone saw their missing relatives again at night. This is strange, considering that everyone is looking for missing villagers, but instead, one of the missing victims just appears and disappears again. I mean, why doesn’t the victim come back? I don’t know what’s happening, but something is clearly wrong here. I checked tonight and unfortunately found nothing. I’ll continue the following night.”
“Investigation log, date: October 8, 1987
Case: 15 people have gone missing in Kagohara village.
On the fourth day of my investigation into Kagohara village, I cross-checked the data with the Association database, and it’s still difficult to find out what Yokai might be involved in this case. I will name it the “Wandering Demon” for the time being because it is unknown how this Yokai acts, although the results of its actions are real. To make naming easier later until it is proven that this Yokai already exists in the Association database.”
Suga looked a little surprised.
“So, it was Hideyuki who gave the code name Wandering Demon to the Yokai who might be involved in this case."
Suga continued reading his investigation document; his expression turned curious.
"The Association also feel that this case might have something to do with the Wandering Demon. I’ve rarely seen the Association members flustered during their investigations….”
Nellson nodded.
“I don’t know what happened, but I also feel that this case has something to do with the case assigned to you, Suga.”
Suga looked at Nellson and nodded. Suga’s attention was again drawn to the document in his hands. Suga opened the next page of this investigation log book, but it was Hideyuki’s last investigation log, surprising Suga.
“What happened? The investigation log suddenly ended.”
This made Nellson look curious. Suga’s expression changed in astonishment; he then read the other part of the document.
“Investigation postscript, date: October 10, 1987
Subject: Missing in action (pending).
After several days of losing contact with Yokai Investigator Hideyuki, the Association assigned several additional members to find his whereabouts. The room at the inn where Hideyuki was staying showed nothing unusual. A search was carried out in the village and the area around the village, but to no avail. The search will continue.”
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Suga opened a note that suddenly became a report of the Association member missing in action.
“Additional investigative report, date: October 16, 1987
Subject: Missing in action (confirmed).
After more than a week goes missing and the search returned no results, with a heavy heart, Yokai Investigator Hideyuki will be declared missing in action. Continuing the investigation into the Kagohara village case also yielded no results. The investigation will continue indefinitely.”
Suga opened the following document, but it was the last part of this investigation document.
“Looks like this is the only initial lead we can get.”
Nellson nodded.
“What are we going to do next, Suga?”
Suga tidied up the documents he was reading while answering.
“Tomorrow morning, we will go to Kagohara town.”
Nellson nodded and looked curious.
The following day, the time is now 8:00 am. Suga was sitting in the back seat of his sedan, with a male driver accompanying him as usual, wearing a black suit and white shirt, peaked cap, and loafers. Suga wore trousers, a short-sleeved shirt, waistcoat, and boots. Suga sat while reading his investigation documents, with Nellson standing on the car seat beside him. The car where Suga was in drove through the outskirts of the city, with buildings around them outside the car window view.
Their car finally left the city sometime later, and the scenery on their right and left gradually changed to shady trees. The car sped down a wide four-lane road, then turned onto a smaller road only two lanes wide. The driver said.
“There are still a few more hours before we arrive, sir.”
Suga was operating his smartphone, then looked at the driver in the rearview mirror.
“Yeah, no need to rush, Uncle.”
The driver expression turned curious.
“What about your mission, sir?”
Suga replied.
“I still don’t have a clear picture of what happened, but there is a high probability that this case has something to do with Yokai.”
The driver’s expression turned serious.
“You need me to accompany you, sir?”
Suga smiled.
“No need, uncle, just watch me from different place like usual because I need outsiders to report my situation if anything bad happens immediately.”
The driver nodded.
“Okay, sir.”
Suga looked at the scenery to his right, which showed green land and shady trees.
On the way, Suga watched a news program from a Japanese TV station on his smartphone; two middle-aged men wearing suits were having a conversation about Black Star entitled “Fierce Battle at the Pentagon: A Sign of Chaos?” while the two men are talking, from behind them shows pictures of Black Star and the man in the cloak fighting each other (Note: Read G.O.DS novel chapters 17 to 22). The man sitting on the left said.
“We can no longer ignore this. Black Star was like an absolute power from the start because no one could match him. In a way, it is good because we have someone who maintains peace around the world. But who can be sure that Black Star will continue to look after us? Quoting the book I’ve read, “Tyranny always begins with absolute power.” I mean, if someday he turns villain, we will be done for. It has been proven that he is still holding the Pentagon hostage.”
The man sitting on the right crossed his arms.
“Let me clarify that; I guess everyone would have known he wasn’t really holding the Pentagon hostage. In fact, no harmful action toward the Pentagon has been reported in relation to him. The damage from his fight against the mysterious man in the cloak certainly doesn’t count.”
The man on the left smiled.
“I’d say he probably underestimated the Pentagon because it’s casual of him to do that. It doesn’t change the fact that he’s holding the Pentagon hostage. He clearly showed an attitude that could become a threat to the entire world.”
The man on the right looked surprised, then smiled.
“Don’t tell me you want Black Star to stop being a hero?
The man on the right smirked.
“Let me rectify what I’m saying; maybe you want to say, Black Star is better off being a villain?”
The man on the left expression turned serious.
“I just want to say someone or something out there has to be able to match Black Star. The mysterious man in the cloak showed himself for the first time and tried to stop Black Star; he was indeed strong, but unfortunately still couldn’t keep up with Black Star.”
The man on the left was silent momentarily, causing the man on the right to be astonished. The man on the left sighed.
“But the world is vast, or in the Black Star case, I would say if the universe is vast. The sudden appearance of the man in the cloak is something that is unexpected. That means there’s still a chance that someone out there can at least match Black Star.”
The conversation between the two men continued; Suga watched it focusly. Nellson, standing beside Suga, joined in watching the news program curiously.
“Black Star causing an uproar again?”
Suga came to his senses, then turned to Nellson.
“Oh right, I just can hardly believe there's someone so powerful that no one else can at least keep up with him.”
Nellson appeared to realize something.
“Maybe if all the heroes or villains help each other, they can match Black Star?”
Suga looked doubtful; this matter bothered him a little. The driver looked curious and occasionally glanced at Suga through the car's rearview mirror.
“Isn’t it a good thing, that Black Star is a hero?”
Suga’s was slightly surprised; his expression then turned deadpan.
“I can’t argue about that.”
Nellson nodded.
“Then, what about the continuation of our investigation?”
Suga took the investigation document next to him and read it while answering.
“I'm still trying to understand it.”
Nellson nodded.
The time is now 12:15 pm, and the sun is getting higher. Their car advanced further and then passed a large sign indicating that a few kilometers ahead, they needed to turn onto a two-lane road toward the hills leading to Kagohara town.