Ding.
The notification sound of a newly delivered email rang out, and the dim interior of the car was briefly illuminated by the glow of the phone screen.
Rather than checking the email immediately, Ritsu first adjusted the reclined driver's seat back into a proper driving position. Only then did he pick up his phone and read the message.
[???: My child, proceed with your plan. However, when dealing with the rat, if capturing him alive is impossible, execute him immediately.]
[Augier: Understood, sir.]
[???: I've already had Gin burn down the research institute. Until Sherry is captured, suspend the APTX4869 project.]
[Augier: Yes, sir.]
As he'd expected, that person had approved his proposal.
After all, Akai escaping unscathed had undoubtedly been a slap in the Boss's face.
Ritsu stared at the email for a long while before slipping his phone back into his pocket.
There was still one thing he couldn't understand.
The Boss had always been obsessed with the progress of the APTX4869 research, so why had he suddenly lost interest in it?
'Did something happen?'
He frowned and pondered it for a moment, but came up with no answer.
In the end, he set the question aside and focused on carrying out his own plan.
...
Because her rent had gone up, Akemi had recently moved to 30, 9-chome, Haido Town.
It was one of the cheaper neighborhoods in Haido, and public security there wasn't particularly good.
Driving his luxury car into a narrow alley, Ritsu parked beneath the apartment building and looked up at the aging structure.
He couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
The salaries of lower-ranking Organization members really were pitifully low.
According to his investigation, Akemi was currently working under the alias Hirota Masami at the Teito Bank in Beika Town.
She had even altered her appearance with some light makeup.
'Women really were naturally talented when it came to cosmetics.'
Closing the car door, he climbed the creaking staircase to the fourth floor. After confirming the room number was 402, he knocked on the door.
The building was so old it didn't even have a functioning doorbell.
Sounds came from inside.
About two minutes later, the door finally opened.
As expected of a woman living alone, Akemi was cautious.
However, the moment she recognized the visitor standing outside, she immediately unlocked the security door as well.
"You're Officer Onizawa, aren't you? May I ask what brings you here?"
She recognized him as the MPD's famous young detective, so she lowered her guard without hesitation.
Disguised as Onizawa, Ritsu put on his signature gentle smile.
"Excuse me, are you Hirota Masami-san? I've come because there was a murder nearby. Surveillance footage happened to capture you passing through the area, so I'd like to ask whether you remember seeing anything."
Only after hearing the name HirotaMasami did Akemi remember she wasn't wearing her disguise at the moment.
Turning around, she took out a spare pair of slippers and smiled awkwardly.
"Of course. Though I don't usually have guests over, so I only have women's slippers. I'm sorry."
"That's perfectly fine, Hirota-san. It's me who should apologize for disturbing you so late."
"It's no trouble at all. Please, come in."
Ritsu quietly looked around the apartment.
Although it was small, it had everything one would need. There were also quite a few handmade decorations scattered throughout the room.
As expected, she still faced life with optimism.
"Officer Onizawa, would you like some juice or tea?"
"No, thank you. I'll be leaving shortly."
Scratching his cheek with an embarrassed expression, he asked, "Um... Hirota-san, would it be alright if I borrowed your bathroom?"
Akemi blinked in surprise before nodding.
"Of course. Please help yourself."
There weren't any personal clothes inside the bathroom anyway.
After watching Onizawa hurriedly enter, she sat down on the sofa and began thinking.
'When could I have passed by the murder scene? I don't remember seeing any police tape...'
While she was lost in thought, the bathroom door opened. She instinctively turned her head.
The person who stepped out wasn't Onizawa.
The white hair remained the same, but the aura surrounding him had completely changed.
The cross-shaped scar...
Her pupils contracted.
'Augier...'
The Organization executive Shiho had once mentioned.
'Wait... The person who was just talking to me was definitely Onizawa.
Does that mean... Onizawa and Augier are the same person?!'
"It seems introductions won't be necessary."
Narrowing his eyes slightly, Ritsu drew the compact pistol hidden behind his waist. As he slowly approached the now-standing Akemi, he spoke calmly.
"Good evening, eldest daughter of the Miyano family."
"May I ask what brings you here, Mr. Augier?"
Noticing the calm expression she was forcing onto her face, Ritsu quietly withdrew the killing intent he had deliberately released.
He casually sat down on the sofa, crossed one leg over the other, and smiled.
"Sit down. I'm here because I need your cooperation."
Knowing there was no possibility of escape, Akemi quietly sat back down. She waited for an explanation.
She couldn't understand why someone of Gin's rank would seek cooperation from her. She was merely an ordinary lower-ranking member.
She didn't even possess a codename nor had she ever participated in any of the Organization's real operations.
"Your younger sister escaped from the Organization. You didn't know that... did you?"
Akemi's eyes widened.
'Shiho escaped...?'
Even in her shock, she carefully studied Augier's expression. Only after confirming he wasn't lying did she ask,
"I really didn't know. So... the Organization believes Shiho will come looking for me?"
"More or less."
He leaned back lazily.
"But your value isn't limited to drawing out the traitor Sherry. Two years ago, an FBI agent managed to leave the Organization alive after killing one of its codename members."
"And judging by your relationship... the two of you were rather close."
Akemi froze.
Being as intelligent as she was, she immediately understood what he intended.
The Organization hadn't killed her after Shiho's escape because she still had value as bait.
"How do you want me to cooperate?"
"I want you to enter a fake... marriage with me."
'A fake marriage?!'
She had expected many things. That wasn't one of them. She was about to refuse when she noticed something strange.
Augier's ears had turned bright red.
An executive of the Organization... actually blushing just from saying those two words?
"If you refuse..."
His tone remained calm.
"I'll have no choice but to threaten you with your life."
"So..."
Akemi asked evenly, "Will I be marrying Onizawa... or Augier?"
Ritsu hadn't expected her to agree so quickly.
For a moment, he sat still. Then he hurriedly turned his back to her.
'As expected of someone who's actually been in love... How can she say the word "marriage" so naturally without getting embarrassed?
No... don't blow your cover.'
He pinched a lock of his bangs between his fingers and answered stiffly,
"Naturally, you'll be marrying Onizawa."
"And the bride won't be Hirota Masami. It'll be Miyano Akemi."
Even with his back turned, those bright red ears remained impossible to ignore.
'He's so easily embarrassed...Why does he remind me so much of Tōru?'
Besides...
Based on how the Organization usually handled things, they should have executed her immediately.
Using her as bait to lure out Shiho and Dai, it somehow felt less like they wanted to capture them.
And more like, they were trying to protect her.
'Could he be...'
"I accept. So do I leave with you now?"
Hearing those words, Ritsu couldn't help curling the corners of his lips. Everything had gone exactly according to plan.
Turning back around after suppressing his smile, he gave her an unexpectedly gentlemanly invitation.
"Yes. From now on, you'll be living in my safe house and there's no need to keep using the alias name."
He smiled faintly.
"Once I've finished making the arrangements..."
"You'll be Onizawa Akemi."