In this case, Senichi only remembered one crucial point: Takagi narrowly avoided getting caught in the explosion.
Although this was the only information he retained from the case, it was exceptionally vital. Even if he forgot the overall plot, relying on this single piece of information was enough for Senichi to intercept the case in advance.
After all, to explode Takagi, you naturally had to install a bomb.
With such critical information, there was no need to know the entire plot. Senichi could just apprehend the person installing the bomb in advance, and everything would be resolved.
So, while Sato Miwako and others were dealing with things on their side, Senichi, on the surface, appeared focused on their affairs. However, in reality, the corner of his eye was always watching the police car parked on the roadside across from them.
Because the car was not parked on the parade route, the crowd on this side was only slightly larger and not overly congested.
Before long, as Sato Miwako left and Takagi looked bewildered on the side, Senichi saw a man on the opposite side of the road turning his head to look around. Then, he leisurely walked towards Takagi's parked police car.
Shortly after, seeing that there was no one around the sidewalk, the man immediately squatted down, and the car body blocked Senichi's line of sight, preventing him from seeing the man's next actions.
"Something's happening!"
Senichi immediately spoke as he saw the man squatting down, "Someone is lingering near Detective Takagi's police car. He's crouching down, seemingly installing something. It can't be ruled out that it might be a bomb. Stay alert!"
As he finished speaking, Senichi's leg muscles tensed, and he swiftly rushed across the road. Shiratori hesitated for a moment but promptly followed with a serious expression.
Afterward, Takagi also realized what was happening and quickly joined them.
By the time Yumi heard and got out of the car, Senichi had already rushed to the front of the police car.
Although the police car blocked the man's figure, it also obstructed his view. So even though Senichi had already circled around from the back of the car at this point, the man remained unaware.
Seeing Senichi's actions, Shiratori instinctively ran towards the front of the car.
It was only at this moment that the man, who was still crouching under the car, tried to stand up.
When his head raised, he saw two men in suits looking down at him with a "killing intent."
"You seem to have... placed something extraordinary!" Without waiting for the man to stand up, Senichi and Shiratori each grabbed an arm and pressed him against the car window without hesitation.
"It hurts, it hurts, it hurts!!!"
Because subduing him didn't require much physical force, and considering that the guy had a high-risk item like a bomb, Senichi had no sympathy whatsoever.
The right hand pressed on the guy's shoulder like a vise, immediately eliciting a scream reminiscent of a pig being slaughtered.
"Detective Takagi, check under the car. I smell the scent of a bomb."
Due to his super-smell ability, Senichi had already confirmed that the bomb was placed under the car. He immediately shouted to Takagi, who was running over.
"I got it!"
Takagi, who originally wanted to go around to Senichi's side to see what was happening, changed his expression immediately upon hearing this.
He crouched under the car, pulled out a handbag from below, and saw the dangerous object inside with a blinking red light.
After surveying the surroundings and finding no suitable open space to detonate the bomb, he shouted, "Don't come over!!"
Upon seeing the bomb inside the bag, Takagi immediately ran toward Yumi, who was coming behind him, and a few others who were following out of curiosity. He yelled, "Hurry and evacuate the crowd! There's a bomb here!"
"Tell me!! How do we defuse the bomb!?"
While Takagi was stopping Yumi and the others, Senichi, still holding the thug, rudely tossed him onto the car and flipped his body over.
Gripping the thug's collar, Senichi's right arm wedged between his neck, and with a cold gaze, he said, "You don't want to be blown up into the sky, do you? If you don't want to die, quickly tell us how to defuse the bomb!"
"B-blue, blue wire..." Under Senichi's intimidation, the man reluctantly uttered two words.
"Detective Takagi, take out the bomb!" Senichi shouted, looking at him threateningly. "I'll defuse it right in front of you. If it's a lie, get ready to be blown up!"
"N-no way..." The thug gulped nervously and quickly assured, "It's the blue wire!"
At this moment, Shiratori, who was beside Takagi, took the bomb from him, and Senichi also saw the appearance of the bomb.
Overall, the bomb was very rudimentary, a simple timed explosive. There was only a basic timer on top, and the red and blue wires on the side were exposed.
Because the advance notice of this case resembled the one sent by the bomber in that incident years ago, as a precaution, the police cars were equipped with bomb disposal tools. After opening the trunk, Takagi immediately took them out.
Seeing Takagi about to defuse the bomb with the wire cutters, Senichi delivered a precise "gentle" punch to the thug's stomach. Ignoring the guy doubling over and vomiting, Senichi swiftly took the bomb from Shiratori's hands.
After grabbing the bomb, Senichi attempted to take the wire cutters from Takagi, but he wasn't willing to yield. "Let me handle the bomb disposal."
"Give it to me!" Senichi snatched the wire cutters, saying, "I'm confident that even if this guy tries to fool us, we'll walk away unscathed. Don't complicate things!"
After that, without paying attention to Takagi, Senichi turned and placed the bomb on the back of the still vomiting man. "Kid, if you dare to deceive me, whether I live or die is uncertain, but your fate is sealed!"
"Detective Senichi!"
Sato Miwako, who had rushed over due to the commotion, couldn't help but shout upon seeing Senichi defusing the bomb. However, she was quickly rebuffed by Senichi. "Stay back, everyone! I'm confident I'll get out of this alive. Don't drag me down. Now, quickly evacuate the crowd. This is an order!"
Hearing Senichi's authoritative command, in this urgent situation, everyone had no choice but to obey. They began to work on moving the surrounding crowd away.
Normally, Senichi and the others interacted on equal terms, treating each other as colleagues. As working partners, there wasn't much deference to Senichi based on his position.
However, in crucial moments, Senichi's position as a police inspector proved useful. At least, on the scene, only Shiratori was on equal footing with him in terms of position, but Senichi couldn't command him either.
The reason Senichi acted so recklessly was not that he was fearless. Although Senichi lacked bomb disposal skills, he had a cheat!
During a previous incident that he prevented, Senichi obtained a "Magic Pliers (wire cutter)."
With this kind of cheat, even if he cut the wrong wire, Senichi could calmly cut another one, effectively pausing the already activated bomb.