[She picks up her pen and writes something down, before continuing. The longer she spends here, the happier she is she stopped for coffee.]
Truth be told, there are those among the police who think the Phantom Thieves are the instigators of the Mental Shutdowns, as well as the change of hearts.
[She shakes her head.]
But if Kamoshida was truly their first victim, that doesn’t make sense. He didn’t bring the media attention that Ichiryusai Madarame or Junya Kaneshiro did, and by all accounts was never held responsible for his behavior. Why would a group of people who worked for the benefit of others cause such wanton destruction?
Right, I've heard about that viewpoint as well. To be honest, it just sounds to me like they're trying to link two mysterious events together without any proof just to make their job easier. Two birds, one stone without checking to see if one of them is even a bird.
[Ren's definitely...not exactly a fan of the police or the justice system, really.]
I'm no Phantom Thieves fanboy, and you probably have more information on them than I do since you're a detective and all, but I really doubt they're behind the shutdowns. Maybe it's a bit of naive hope saying this, but I really don't think a group like them, trying to help others, would go about hurting people.
[Naoto nods in agreement. For a detective, she certainly has feelings about the police and the justice system. Very, very strong feelings.]
Yes. I was once on a case where they ignored obvious evidence that the culprit was still at large, just so they could arrest a suspect. I don't doubt that something similar could be happening here--if the true culprit is difficult to catch, they very well might arrest an innocent man for publicity.
[She would like to say that such things wouldn't happen--but she's been in this field for far too long to have such delusions.]
That's the assumption I've been running under, as well. Legality of their actions aside, what do they gain from all of this? What's their motive?
[Well, at the least, she seems to be aware of that habit of the police. Find the easiest way to "fix" something, sweep it all under the rug as efficiently as possible without actually solving the problem.]
Maybe it's idealistic of me to say so, but honestly, I don't think there's anything that complicated behind it. I think they just want to help people. Save them from being victimized by corrupt individuals who the police and other authorities won't touch. Sure, it's a touch of vigilantism, but when we live in a world where the powerful get away with crimes, and innocent people keep getting more and more hurt and oppressed... We live in kind of a rotten society, you know? And I think they want to fix that.
A rotten society? I would like to say that's hyperbole, but there is some truth to it.
[There are aspects of society she would rather remain unaware of, but as a detective, she has little choice. She's worked with the police more than long enough to know how they operate.]
Perhaps it would be better for me not to say this, but I am not wholly convinced the Phantom Thieves are doing anything illegal. If it's true the murders aren't their doing, the only thing they would be responsible for is the change of hearts. If they had some way to enter a victim's psyche, it's possible they could do so without violence.
[Well, without violence to the actual person, at least. As for all the shadows in the Metaverse... Hoo boy, is Ren accustomed to battle now.]
That definitely makes sense. And...hey. If you don't mind me asking, do you have any deeper theories when it comes to these guys? I've had to hear so much about them thanks to the Kamoshida mess, I can't help be extremely curious about them. You seem to be have a great intuition, I mean, they call you the Detective Prince for a reason. Of course, if it's information you don't want to share with a random student, I definitely understand.
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no subject
[She picks up her pen and writes something down, before continuing. The longer she spends here, the happier she is she stopped for coffee.]
Truth be told, there are those among the police who think the Phantom Thieves are the instigators of the Mental Shutdowns, as well as the change of hearts.
[She shakes her head.]
But if Kamoshida was truly their first victim, that doesn’t make sense. He didn’t bring the media attention that Ichiryusai Madarame or Junya Kaneshiro did, and by all accounts was never held responsible for his behavior. Why would a group of people who worked for the benefit of others cause such wanton destruction?
no subject
[Ren's definitely...not exactly a fan of the police or the justice system, really.]
I'm no Phantom Thieves fanboy, and you probably have more information on them than I do since you're a detective and all, but I really doubt they're behind the shutdowns. Maybe it's a bit of naive hope saying this, but I really don't think a group like them, trying to help others, would go about hurting people.
no subject
Yes. I was once on a case where they ignored obvious evidence that the culprit was still at large, just so they could arrest a suspect. I don't doubt that something similar could be happening here--if the true culprit is difficult to catch, they very well might arrest an innocent man for publicity.
[She would like to say that such things wouldn't happen--but she's been in this field for far too long to have such delusions.]
That's the assumption I've been running under, as well. Legality of their actions aside, what do they gain from all of this? What's their motive?
no subject
Maybe it's idealistic of me to say so, but honestly, I don't think there's anything that complicated behind it. I think they just want to help people. Save them from being victimized by corrupt individuals who the police and other authorities won't touch. Sure, it's a touch of vigilantism, but when we live in a world where the powerful get away with crimes, and innocent people keep getting more and more hurt and oppressed... We live in kind of a rotten society, you know? And I think they want to fix that.
no subject
[There are aspects of society she would rather remain unaware of, but as a detective, she has little choice. She's worked with the police more than long enough to know how they operate.]
Perhaps it would be better for me not to say this, but I am not wholly convinced the Phantom Thieves are doing anything illegal. If it's true the murders aren't their doing, the only thing they would be responsible for is the change of hearts. If they had some way to enter a victim's psyche, it's possible they could do so without violence.
no subject
That definitely makes sense. And...hey. If you don't mind me asking, do you have any deeper theories when it comes to these guys? I've had to hear so much about them thanks to the Kamoshida mess, I can't help be extremely curious about them. You seem to be have a great intuition, I mean, they call you the Detective Prince for a reason. Of course, if it's information you don't want to share with a random student, I definitely understand.
[Yeah, he wants to just...feel this out more.]