"If you knew I hadn't eaten yet, why did you call me this early?" Niel replied coldly, and Nakajima's fork, which had been about to tear the egg, stopped. Ahaha, he laughed like that, then dropped his fork onto the plate, grabbed a napkin, and tapped his own lips, wiping off the remaining oil.
"Yeah, I wonder why I chose to call you early on your day off."
"Just spit it out. I want to go back to sleep after this."
Captain Nakajima— although he was a captain at IHPS Australia— rarely followed a schedule that required him to appear in front of the soldiers here. He spent most of his time buried in documents, and sometimes handled matters with other IHPS headquarters that required frequent travel.
From the perspective of the soldiers here, who felt Captain Nakajima almost never showed up during scheduled meetings, they would think the man was lazy and just drawing a paycheck. Maybe that was why many members here hated him. But Niel knew he worked harder than anyone else in this place.
Seriously, it was only half past seven, and today was his day off. Niel was really going to lie back down on his bed after this.
"Giovanni Syke. You know that guy, right?"
"Is this some kind of joke?"
Seeing Niel's expression instantly turn cold with a murderous glare made Captain Nakajima quickly straighten up, while Farrukh seemed ready to move closer to their seats. Even though Niel hadn't even moved to hit the man if he wanted to.
"Woah, listen to me first."
For some reason, Captain Nakajima suddenly uttered that name. Niel had expected their conversation wouldn't be pleasant, but he never thought he'd hear that name on an empty stomach this early in the morning.
"He sent a request for you. He wants you to check the bomb threat being sent his way in Milan."
"You know damn well I would reject that offer. No matter how much he pays, I will never agree."
"Hm, you say 'I know damn well'? I know? I don't know that's why I asked you."
Captain Nakajima tilted his head, pointing at himself as if Niel's words were absurd. Niel sharpened his gaze further— this guy acted like he didn't know, even though he knew everything.
Captain Nakajima was one of the few who knew Niel wasn't a descendant of Arkan. So when he heard that name, he should have known it was the name of someone Niel would never want to interact with.
Besides, how many times was this already?
Giovanni had come to visit the leader of IHPS in California multiple times, and Niel kept rejecting him. Until now— it seemed that knowing Niel was in Australia, the man contacted Captain Nakajima instead.
It was a shame Niel couldn't block people like blocking phone numbers.
Wasn't he tired of constantly asking about him with a thousand different excuses? And now he wanted Niel to work with him to defuse a bomb? Niel couldn't even laugh at that. A bomb in Milan? That's a bit ridiculous.
"You know, Niel, there's going to be an inter-European celebration soon, and after that the Final Supper event. So actually, there are many clients requesting you, and we're sorting them by who's paying the most. Do you want to know the other men besides Giovanni who sent requests?"
"Who else?"
"Logan Frederick Arkan, Calvin Arkan, Benedict Arkan, Arnold Charleston, Vadim Korolyov, Liam Rosewell... ha, interestingly, they're all important people. But the one who dares to pay the highest is Giovanni Syke."
"I refused all."
"Can you even listen to the conditions?"
Niel shrugged nonchalantly. From the corner of his eye, he saw Farrukh offering him a beer at a safe distance. Niel, who initially wanted to take it, shook his head, remembering his empty stomach and how beer in the morning wasn't exactly a wise choice. Farrukh seemed to realize his own carelessness and then offered an unopened bag of potato chips instead, which Niel promptly accepted.
Seeing that Niel hadn't stood up and was instead nibbling on the chips bit by bit, Captain Nakajima smiled as if this was a sign that Niel might be thinking over his decision. He continued,
"Starting with Logan, you probably already know what he's asking for— the guy's persistent. Calvin Arkan, your own cousin, wants you to crack the new cyber virus that just targeted the Arkan branch in Russia. Benedict wants you to work with him for only three months on a new project he's developing in France. And Vadim Korolyov— you can guess, right?"
"What, he wants to hire me as a servant for the Korolyov family anniversary in Moscow? Or their secret mafia gathering? Or what? That sounds ridiculous, since their security can't be that weak."
"Yeah, you're right, but no one can defuse a bomb faster than you. Lately, there have been many cyber and very complicated bomb attacks— that's also why you've been called in so often recently, right?"
"Still, I'll go if there really is a bomb threat, but if they want me to go just as an accessory, I'll refuse."
"Hm, about Vadim, he also seems interested in making you a permanent employee of the Korolyov. I mean, isn't this your chance to get rich while easily avoiding that persistent family or families, heh, of yours?"
Niel fell into silence.
"Though of course, it would be a shame for someone as talented as you to leave. Maybe they know it won't be easy to pull you out, which is why the money and contracts they're offering are enough to sting the pockets of even men as rich as them. If I were you, I might actually consider working with the Korolyovs."
Captain Nakajima went on. He cracked open a soda, took a sip, then wiped his lips and looked back at Niel, who remained silent.
It wasn't the first time a slew of offers had come his way. There were so many at one point, he'd regretted ever standing out in his youth. He blamed it all on that one time he managed to defuse a bomb in Japan during the Final Supper. Somehow, the elite security personnel spread the word that it was him who'd done it. Even though the story never made it to mainstream media, whispers had a way of reaching the right ears.
Come to think of it, what Captain Nakajima said made sense— his life would be easier if he worked somewhere far away from Logan and Giovanni. He had done it once before, two years ago in Noir and even took a chance to work in oil rig, before eventually returning to IHPS.
But Niel had his own reasons for staying. This institution was the safest choice to keep himself in a neutral position, away from the political conflicts brewing within each elite family across various countries. Not to mention, tensions between the U.S. and Russia had been running high recently. He had even heard that the Russian branch of Arkan had almost gone under— but apparently, Calvin had been clever enough to resolve whatever internal conflict had broken out there.
"Then…" Captain Nakajima paused. In his nervousness, he licked his lower lip. "What about the offer from Giovanni Syke? You'd still be working under the name of IHPS, of course. And the sponsorship he's offering… it's much higher than anyone else's. I was honestly shocked…"
Niel could see the hesitation in the way Captain Nakajima opened his mouth only to close it again. It was clear he knew the words he was about to say might anger Niel. But this was Nakajima, after all— the kind of man who never kept thoughts to himself. He cleared his throat.
"Maybe … work with him. He said he wants to be close to you … and also… maybe this is your chance to finally make peace with your biological brother."
As expected, the moment those words left Captain Nakajima's mouth, without the slightest hesitation— and even if both Farrukh and Nakajima had anticipated some sort of reaction— no one could have predicted how swiftly Niel moved, hurling the bag of potato chips with brutal force.
The loud smack of plastic slapping bare skin echoed through the room, landing squarely on Nakajima's face. Farrukh had tried to stop Niel but was just a moment too late.
A red mark instantly bloomed across Captain Nakajima's entire face. Niel didn't say a word. With a cold, cutting stare, he turned, opened the door, and slammed it shut behind him.
Left alone in the room with Captain Nakajima, Farrukh was the first to break the silence.
"Why did you have to say it like that, Captain?"
Though his face still stung, Captain Nakajima simply rubbed it, brushing off the remnants of chip seasoning that clung to his skin and uniform. Then he laughed— loud and deep— as if even he couldn't blame Niel for reacting the way he did.
"I mean, Giovanni's father has been dead for a long time, so there really shouldn't be any reason left for him to avoid meeting his biological family," Captain Nakajima said as he picked up a can of soda— then added with a sigh of relief that, thankfully, Niel hadn't chosen this to throw at his face. That would've been unpleasant.
It'd be a shame if his handsome face got ruined and he had to get plastic surgery. His face was far too valuable for that.
"Captain." Farrukh let out a long breath at Nakajima's ignorant remark. "You wouldn't speak so easily like that if you were in Niel's position."
"Hm? If I had a successful, wealthy sibling, I'd latch onto them and take full advantage."
"Hah, you're not even that type."
"…And besides, it's not Giovanni's sin. He couldn't have known his father had a child with another woman. Even so, Giovanni seems kind and sincere… I guess I just feel a bit of sympathy for Niel."
"Sympathy? You're capable of that?"
Farrukh shut his mouth immediately when he caught the sharp look Captain Nakajima shot him. His tense shoulders finally relaxed once Nakajima turned his attention back to the can in his hand.
"If he stays alone, the alpha prime will devour him. Wouldn't it be better to have blood relatives you can actually rely on? Giovanni seems gentle and kind, so much different than his rotten dad. Ha, even I still can't wrap my head around the fact that Niel is also the child of that monster."
Captain Nakajima swirled the can in a slow circle, then took a small sip to wet his throat. He added quietly, "Besides, the one who sinned is already dead anyway... The sin should've died with him when he left this world."
*