Namahage Brutus (4)

"We'll start from the beginning. The namahage we saw in the mansion is NOT Namahage Brutus. He's much smaller, and the costume is different. Chika recorded footage from both instances which is how we arrived at the conclusion. Molester, you're in kahoots with the skinny namahage," Reiju stated.

"Huh!? He tried to kill me!" Kawabozu fumed.

"No, it was all an act. For some reason, you wanted everyone to see the namahage. You also directly interfered with the apprehension of the culprit in order to prevent him from being caught. Considering they know the layout of your mansion well, they must be close with you."

"Layout!?"

"Yeah, we found the secret room that borders the hallway. Along with THIS."

Kaemi then presented the namahage costume. The culprit began to sweat.

"Now where's officer Okito Namura?" Reiju asked.

"He's at the station," Iishi glared.

"He didn't come today right?" Harada asked.

All the officer present from B-station nodded nervously in agreement.

"He was there when we left," a member from the hazmat team stated.

"He's over 2 meters tall yes?" Reiju asked.

"Bald, muscular, black goatee. Can't miss him. Clearly he wasn't here," Urara stated.

"Well in that case, why'd you pretend like he was here, Harada?"

"I never said he was here," Harada protested.

"Chika."

Chika rolled the footage of Harada calling out to Namura on the raido.

"You were the one who explicitly stated namura was here. You also deliberately ran past the bathroom despite being quite familiar with the place."

"I beg your pardon? I am not familiar with this place. It's true I've been here before for an investigation, but that was years ago."

"You were the one that escorted molester to the bathroom. You look pretty generic without your glasses and wearing a hat, but that also works against you. You weren't in any of the footage prior to when you showed up well after Kintaro had left to chase after the namahage. Your trick would fall flat if Kintaro was around, so you decided to lure him away. You hid in the secret room bordering the hallways and made it appear as if you came from behind us. That's the only way you could have appeared when you did."

"Nonsense! There is a passage to the west which connects back to the main room. I was simply patrolling the mansion."

"What happened to not knowing the layout? Sounds like you're pretty familiar with it. We also found strands of your hair in the namahage costume."

"Impossible! I used gel to- _!"

"Busted."

"Harada, you're fired. Take him away!" Iishi ordered.

"Hold up, I'm not done yet. You're also in on this murder Iishi."

"Slander!"

"No, you're the one that guided Oota into the bathroom in the first place. Though, I don't think he was the intended target. He just happened to be on the verge of cracking when He noticed the smokeball apparatus. Then Iishi had no choice but to off him. He pretended the door was locked, but all that banging was actually to activate the traps. Knockout gas, a stink bomb, and the yellow smoke ball. All to give off the illusion that it was a toxic gas. It wasn't though. It was all a distraction to lure us away so Harada could sneak back and kill Oota. As for why he was killed? Corruption. You're in cahoots with Molester too and rule the station with an iron hand."

"I'm not the chief of B-station you idiot. And enough of this rabble! Harada's the guilty one."

"Then why'd you ask Oota to see if Namura was in the bathroom? Chika's got it on tape."

"I have no motive!"

"Yes you do. You're the molester's inside man on the force.  You're not the chief, but you wield quite a bit of power. We also found some of the missing aide's DNA in that hidden room, indicating he was held there. As for why you did all this? It was giant smoke and mirror show to allow Namahage Brutus, or should I say Namura to get back to HQ and have a solid alibi so you could continue your corruption. I also believe a good chunk of the station knows this, but fears retribution and falls in line."

The sound of guns being drawn echoed throughout the room. The B-station officers minus Urara had all pointed their guns at Reiju and her group, while the other officers present all trained their guns on the B-station officers. Kintaro and Iishi each had their guns pointed at each other.

"Right on the mark, though why do this? We'll be ridding your station of the perpetrators blackmailing you," Reiju asked the B-station officers.

"O- Orders!" one nervously trembled.

"We have the numerical advantage. Surrender," Kintaro ordered.

"Nay, you all are nothing before me," a deep male voice rang out.

Everyone turned to see a large Namahage  wielding a knife. It bore a striking resemblence to Namahage Brutus from earlier.

"Oh good, kill em all, but spare the girls!" Kawabozu laughed.

As Brutus charged towards Reiju, Shiruka attempted to stop him, only to pass through him. However, it seemed to have some effect as Brutus stopped.

Kintaro then charged at him as the B-station officers fired at the two. The other officers quickly disarmed them as Urara kicked Iishi in the face, sending him flying and nearly killing him. Brutus managed to throw Kintaro off him and immediately charged towards Kawabozu.

"Get me out of here you-UGH!?"

Brutus had beheaded Kawabozu in a single slash as he charged towards the window.

"AFTER HIM!" Kintaro ordered as he phoned for more backup.

This time, Reiju and co quickly gave chase. Brutus was still fast, though he seemed a bit sluggish from before as he ran into the back woods.

"GET OFF ME!" he shouted as he began frantically swatting the air as he crossed a wooden rope bridge over a large chasm.

"Looks like we caught you Namura," Reiju declared as she arrived.

"You! Who are you!? Why is there a ghost haunting me!?" Brutus yelled.

"So you can see me too. Well, sucks for you, but this time I hitched a ride by grabbing onto your mask. Seems like there are some things I can ride on even as a ghost. And now, you're finished," Shiruka declared as he let go.

Brutus turned to see Fumiyo and an army of officer standing at the other end of the bridge as Chika, Kaemi, and Kintaro arrived to backup Reiju.

"Since you can see me, let me ask you. Are you connected to those Illumous guys that teamed up with Niles Thorndyke to kill me on February 29th 2000?" Shiruka asked.

"Illumous? Heh heh heh. Well, aren't you a deep digger," Brutus laughed aloud. He then threw off part of his costume and carved something into his arm.

"Your deduction wasn't half bad young detective, but you couldn't quite get why all this happened. Though I'll tell you one last thing. If an Illumous member is deemed a liability, they are disposed of. It is true though that us officers have been forced to do their bidding. And I suppose I'll confess before I die, I killed all those politicians per the order of my masters," Brutus declared as he jumped in the air and crashed through the planks on the bridge. 

As he fell, he removed his mask, revealing he was indeed Namura, and slit his throat.

Shiruka immediately floated down to the bottom as everyone contemplated what they just heard.

"Illumous? What did he mean?" Kintaro thought.