Chapter 179: Chapter 177:- Search Begins
The heroes wasted no time and quickly mobilized to cover all possible leads. They knew the clock was ticking, and every moment counted in their search for the black-clad man and the missing girl, Eri.
As they arrived at the scene, the devastation was even worse than they had imagined. The building that had once served as the Shie Hassaikai's headquarters was now a smoldering ruin. Firefighters were working to control the blaze, while paramedics attended to the injured.
Eraser Head led the charge in securing the perimeter around the explosion site. He coordinated with local police forces, setting up barricades and checkpoints to prevent anyone from entering or leaving the area without thorough inspection.
Officers and heroes worked side by side, their expressions tense as they scanned the crowds and questioned anyone who seemed suspicious.
"Remember, no one leaves this area without being thoroughly checked," Eraser Head instructed the officers. "We need to make sure that no evidence slips through our fingers."
Mirko, with her keen senses and agile movements, moved swiftly among the nearby civilians and residents. She approached a small group of people gathered at the edge of the cordoned-off area, their faces a mix of curiosity and concern.
"Excuse me, did any of you see or hear anything unusual before the explosion?" she asked, her tone urgent but calm.
An elderly woman stepped forward, her hands trembling slightly. "I... I saw a man in black. He was standing outside the building for a while before he went inside. I thought it was odd, but I didn't think much of it."
"Did you see where he went after the explosion?" Mirko asked, her eyes narrowing with interest.
The woman shook her head. "No, I didn't. After the explosion, everything was chaotic. People were running and screaming. I didn't see him again."
Mirko nodded, thanking the woman before moving on to the next group of bystanders, hoping to gather more information that could lead them to the suspect.
Gran Torino, known for his speed and experience, took the lead in checking local hospitals for any clues. He entered the emergency room of the nearest hospital, flashing his hero credentials to the staff.
"I'm looking for anyone who came in with burns or injuries that might be linked to an explosion," he said, his tone authoritative but respectful.
The head nurse checked her records and nodded. "We had a few burn cases come in recently, but most of them were from accidents or other unrelated incidents."
"Can you give me the details? Any unusual cases or patients who seemed suspicious?" Gran Torino pressed.
The nurse handed over the records, and Gran Torino scanned them quickly. One name caught his eye—someone who had come in with severe burns but had refused to provide any personal information or details about how they were injured.
"Where is this patient now?" he asked, pointing to the entry.
"They left against medical advice a few hours ago," the nurse replied. "They didn't give a reason, just walked out."
Gran Torino's eyes narrowed. "Did they leave any contact information or mention where they might go?"
The nurse shook her head. "No, they just vanished."
Gran Torino made a note of the patient's description and left the hospital, his mind racing with the implications. He needed to relay this information to the other heroes as quickly as possible.
Hawks, with his swift wings and keen eyesight, took to the skies to monitor the airports, train stations, and bus terminals. He hovered over the main train station, his eyes scanning the crowd below for any sign of someone matching the description of the black-clad man or Eri.
He landed near a group of station security officers and flashed his hero badge. "I'm looking for a man who might have been treated for burns recently. He may be traveling with a young girl. Have you seen anyone like that?"
The officers shook their heads, but one of them spoke up. "We've been keeping an eye out for anyone suspicious, as instructed. No one matching that description has passed through here."
Hawks nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Keep looking. If you see anything, notify me immediately."
He then moved on to the airport, where he repeated his inquiries with the airport security staff. They reported that no one with burn injuries had attempted to board a flight in the last 72 hours, confirming Sir Nighteye's information.
Back at the conference hall, the heroes and officials quickly devised a plan to divide the search efforts effectively. Nezu took charge of coordinating the different teams.
"Listen up," Nezu began, his voice commanding attention despite his small stature. "We need to cover every angle and leave no stone unturned. We'll split into groups to maximize our search efficiency."
He turned to All Might and Endeavor. "All Might, Endeavor, you two will handle the more prominent public places and high-traffic areas. Use your presence to gather information from as many people as possible."
"Understood," All Might said, his tone firm. Endeavor nodded, his expression determined.
"Detective Naomasa," Nezu continued, "Work with the police to gather all surveillance footage from public transport hubs and hospitals. Look for anyone matching the suspect's description."
"Got it," Naomasa replied, already making notes on his tablet.
"Sir Nighteye, continue monitoring the surveillance feeds and coordinate with our intelligence network. If the suspect is still in Osaka, we need to find him before he can leave the city."
"Of course," Sir Nighteye said, his face set with resolve.
Nezu then turned to Hawks and Mirko. "Hawks, cover the skies and monitor all exit routes from the city. Mirko, continue gathering information from civilians and search the surrounding areas for any clues."
"You can count on us," Mirko said, her fist clenched in determination. Hawks nodded, spreading his wings and taking to the air.
"Gran Torino," Nezu said, "you'll continue checking the hospitals and medical facilities. Look for any suspicious activity or patients who might have been treated for burns or other injuries."
"I'm on it," Gran Torino replied, already heading towards the door.
As the heroes fanned out across the city, they each followed their assigned tasks with relentless determination. Eraser Head and the police combed through every inch of the explosion site, looking for any clue that might have been overlooked. They questioned residents, reviewed security footage from nearby businesses, and followed up on every lead, no matter how small.
Hawks, soaring above the city, kept a vigilant watch over the highways and city exits, ready to swoop down on any suspicious vehicle or person. His sharp eyes scanned the crowds below, searching for any sign of the suspect or Eri.
Mirko continued her inquiries, talking to shop owners, street vendors, and anyone who might have seen something unusual. She moved with speed and precision, her ears perked for any snippet of useful information.
Gran Torino, visiting hospital after hospital, pressed the staff for details about recent patients with burn injuries. He left no stone unturned, determined to find the missing link that would lead them to the black-clad man.
At the train stations and airports, security personnel and heroes worked tirelessly, checking every passenger and bag, searching for anything out of the ordinary. They knew the suspect was still out there, and they were determined to find him before he could escape.
Hours into the search, Gran Torino received a call from one of the hospitals. They had a lead—an unidentified man with severe burns had been treated at a small clinic on the outskirts of the city. The description matched the suspect, and the clinic staff reported that he had left abruptly, leaving behind a blood-stained bandage.
Gran Torino quickly relayed the information to Sir Nighteye, who cross-referenced it with the surveillance feeds. The pieces were starting to come together.
Meanwhile, Hawks, scanning the outskirts of the city, spotted a figure moving stealthily through an alleyway. The man was clutching his side, clearly injured. Beside him was a small figure, a young girl matching Eri's description.
Hawks swooped down, his heart pounding. "Hold it right there!" he shouted, landing in front of the man.
The man, clearly startled, tried to flee, but Hawks was too quick. He grabbed the man's arm, pulling him back. "You're not going anywhere," Hawks said, his voice firm.
Eri looked up at Hawks, her eyes wide with fear and confusion. "Are you here to help me?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"Yes, I'm here to help," Hawks said gently, his expression softening. "You're safe now."
With Eri and the suspect in custody, the heroes felt a sense of relief, but they knew their work wasn't over. They needed to ensure that no one else was involved and that all the evidence was gathered to bring justice to those responsible.
However had they looked properly they would have realized that the smile Eri had on her face was a smile no 6-year-old can have.
The smile was very sinister, and Eri wasn't the only one but the man they had caught also had a very devilish smile on his face.
As if they took in not the convict and a hostage girl, but two accomplices who succeeded in what they had planned.
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