He asked tentatively.
“No need.” The Silver-haired youth's refusal was as crisp and decisive as always. He glanced at the eyes of the other man, which were the same color as his own. “I've called Vodka.”
Akai nodded.
It should have been notified before the meal. He thought.
Gin's departing figure was just like his usual style, never lingering or being indecisive.
Akai stood up to see him off. There seemed to be no need for words during the journey, yet he still casually tossed out a few half-hearted remarks, only to be met with a meaningless "Oh" and the remaining silence.
He stood at the entrance of his apartment building, arms crossed, lazily watching the Silver-haired youth get into that eye-catching Porsche. The engine roared to life shortly after, in just a few moments, the car sped off into the distance.
The car's shadow gradually shrank until it became nothing more than a tiny dot, then it vanished completely.
Akai Shuichi returned to the Apartment, paused as if lost in thought, then snapped out of it to tidy up the tableware.
Green eyes stared fixedly at the small trace of red remaining on the dining table.
After a long silence—
"So vigilant indeed." A low male voice rang out in the silent Apartment, so soft it sounded more like a mutter to himself.
He extended his thumb and wiped away the remaining bloodstains on the dining table.
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Author's Note: When Akai says at the end that Gin is very vigilant, he is referring to the fact that Gin had Vodka pick him up from the very beginning. Akai does not know where Gin lives, Gin does not want to reveal his home address.
I thought I had already sent it..
In a few more chapters, I will definitely make Touko appear, definitely!
Chapter 45: Chapter 43 Takao Haruki frowned and tapped..
Some people try so hard to make their presence felt in your life every single day, yet you continue to ignore them just as you always have.
Some people rarely show their faces, yet they leave a deep impression on you, causing you to think of them from time to time.
Then there is another kind of person, someone who has been missing for a while, only to suddenly pop up out of nowhere and give you a massive shock, before you realize with a sense of belatedness—oh, so he hasn't managed to work himself to death yet.
The third type refers specifically to Takao Haruki.
The Mobile phone screen flickered with a faint light. A slender, pale Finger tapped the Screen, black Characters were reflected in the Green eyes illuminated by the dim light. The obscure and indecipherable expression in his eyes was like the layered emerald waves rippling across a deep, dark blue lake; his long Eyelashes trembled slightly, then concealed the tiny Ripples on the lake's surface.
He pursed his lips slightly, a hint of indifference rising from the corners of his mouth, his lip color a cold, pale shade.
Gin was somewhat surprised to receive a communication from Hell Puppeteer; they usually didn't contact each other much, only reaching out when something particularly special occurred.
At first, Gin put in more effort, Takao Haruki would also do certain things, but Gin was unwilling to carelessly expose his connection to him, since he had no demands for the time being, his attitude was quite laid-back.
The tall but exceptionally slender youth gave a half-truthful smile, making it impossible to tell how much of it was probing and how much was curiosity: "I hate to admit it, but I can't help but feel that you're the one coming out at a loss in our cooperation."
Gin's reaction at the time was to cast a cold glance at him, his tone flat and as chillingly indifferent as morning dew: "There will be a time when it is paid back, just not now."
So the black-haired youth shrugged, no longer pursuing the topic.
Afterward, he packed up Shimabukuro Kimie and tossed him to Takao. Aside from a few complaints from the Hell Puppeteer during those first few days of taking over the Miko, he said no more.
Although they had never made any formal agreement, a certain unspoken understanding had formed between them.
The Silver-haired youth found it somewhat amusing; Takao Haruki had been quite close with that young detective lately, the two of them were having a grand time playing their little game of cat and mouse. He wondered if it was a twisted sense of humor or if he truly believed that having a rival was a good thing.
By the way, the antics of the two of them had certainly caused trouble for many people. Setting aside the distant ones, just looking at how many times Takao Haruki had escaped prison, the prison guards were beginning to question their very existence.
He blinked, while he made his own calculations in his heart, he couldn't help but wonder what kind of matter could have caused the Hell Puppeteer to contact him.
It is not difficult to find out; just go to the meeting.
Gin moved his fingers, typing out a series of characters with moderate force, clicked send.
The light outside the window was dimming, a faint scent of moisture hung in the air with every breath. Gin lifted his gaze to the heavy, gathering clouds in the sky; the gray mass loomed over the city like a ferocious beast, a storm brewing on the horizon.
He frowned, letting out a faint, impatient "tsk."
It looks like it's going to rain.
..
Takao Haruki was certainly not so lacking in social awareness as to invite him out directly in such heavy rain—how could the Hell Puppeteer ever do something so inconvenient and pointless for both of them?
This rain lasted for two full days, fluctuating in intensity like a musical composition played by God—and a jazz one at that. The rainwater poured tirelessly from the heavens into the mortal realm, forming an endless curtain of rain, like a waterfall connecting heaven and earth.
Gin couldn't be bothered to go out. Listening to the rhythmic dripping and pattering of the rain, he leaned against the soft cushions of the sofa, aimlessly flipping through the pages of a book; the hardcover edition of On War felt excellent in his hands. There were many books in the house, some he had read and some he had not, spanning a wide variety of styles and genres; for this reason, he had even set aside two rooms to serve as studies. Sometimes he would watch movies, browse the internet, play games, or listen to CDs—and by the way, the surround sound effect was quite good.
Food expenses and such could be handled through takeout; even on a rainy day, as long as the tip was generous enough, someone would always scramble to come.
Capital is not omnipotent, but it is certainly all-powerful—and these words are no lie.
By the way, he engages in battles of wits and courage with his own pet.
To be honest, the treatment this Owl receives would make outsiders turn red with envy; not only does it enjoy fine food and comfortable living, but it can also do whatever it pleases, even neglecting its own primary duty—acting cute.
And Gin invested far more energy into it than he did into some "unimportant" people. For example, regarding those Public Security departments that were obsessed with catching him, the International Organization, various Undercover agents, Gin wouldn't even bother with those lacking any real ability; he would simply hand them over to his Subordinates to deal with, likely without even knowing their names.
NEVER CARE
Zhenjun, with both his looks and his martial prowess, is being as willful as ever today.
But even the heaviest rain must eventually stop—in fact, if it continues to fall like this, the meteorological observatory will have to issue a warning.
On the third day after the rain stopped, Takao Haruki issued an invitation.
Although a heavy rain had fallen just two days ago, there still seemed to be residual moisture dancing in the air, but the temperature had not changed much. Combined with the bright sunlight shining from above, it created a fresh and pleasant atmosphere.
Gin did not want to attract attention, so he changed into relatively casual clothing. With both hands tucked into his coat pockets, his long hair was loosely gathered twenty centimeters from the ends with a golden hair tie, resting lazily against his back. Wearing a dark gray beret, a sense of indolence seeped from his very bones as he strolled along.
The meeting place was an open-air matcha shop, where blue and white striped sun umbrellas were scattered across the green brick pavement, looking like vibrant flowers blooming ostentatiously on the grass.
—Or perhaps a blue and white patterned mushroom?
Around the handle of the parasol was a simple wooden table, its edges faintly etched with patterns of lush mountains and clear waters. A natural and rustic rattan chair was placed casually beside the table, Takao Haruki chose the best seat to sit down.
To his left was an unfamiliar Woman, appearing to be about twenty-seven or twenty-eight, with long black hair and a blue long dress. His skin was fair and soft, his features were charming with eyes that held a smile; she clearly possessed the grace of a mature Woman, yet his gaze was clear and bright, carrying a gentle temperament.
Takao Haruki saw his figure, his eyes lit up, he raised his voice to call out, "Over here!"
He even gave a small wave.
Gin raised an eyebrow, but he didn't think Takao Haruki would be so lacking in discretion as to bring a random strange woman to meet him, so he walked over decisively.
He casually pulled out a chair and sat down, before speaking, he cast a glance at that girl.
Gin was certain—or rather, not entirely certain—that he had seen that woman before. What puzzled him was that the moment the Black-haired woman saw him, his eyes brightened for a split second, becoming increasingly clear and bright; she had clearly seen him before.
Takao Haruki looked them over with interest for a while, his gaze shifting between the two with an unreadable expression. Gin certainly had his doubts, but on the surface, he remained completely composed, appearing perfectly calm.
The youth stared at him for a while, scrutinizing his expression, before finally giving up: "Don't you have anything to say?"
Gin raised his eyelids upon hearing this. "I'll get it from you anyway, whether I ask or not."
Ah.." Takao Haruki let out an ambiguous sound, lowering his head as if lost in thought, before looking up to admit with a serious yet somewhat helpless expression, "It really is.
The weather wasn't cold, so Takao Haruki wore only a thin knit sweater. Under the loose neckline, his collarbones were faintly visible, their sharp angles becoming even more prominent with every breath.
Gin glanced at his thin arms, thinking to himself that this guy was truly excessively thin.
The youth picked up his own thread: "You know this person too."
Gin did not look at him, his gaze sweeping across the tabletop: "What?"
Takao Haruki did not call him out directly, instead playing vague games to keep things mysterious: "Why don't you ask the person themselves?"
The youth revealed an ambiguous smile, but Gin did not pay it any mind. He shifted his gaze toward the woman; although he did not speak, the slight doubt revealed in his green eyes made his attitude clear.
The Black-haired girl ignored Takao Haruki, who was watching the drama unfold from the side, said without a second's hesitation, "I am Shimabukuro Kimie."
Caught completely off guard by his teammate's sudden defection, Takao Haruki..
Gin finally revealed a look of genuine surprise.
"A disguise?" he guessed.
After all.. the change was simply too great.
His mind surfaced the image of Vermouth; disguise was no easy skill.
The reason Vermouth's title, "Thousand-faced Witch," is so renowned is not only due to his own strength but also because of such a versatile skill.
However.. he remembered that Absinthe's disguise techniques seemed to have been learned from someone.
It's not Disguise." While Gin was still pondering, Takao Haruki spoke up to provide a negative answer: "It's makeup artistry.
Although it's a bit different from ordinary makeup skills.. well, I think it's quite amazing too.
Gin raised an eyebrow, carefully observing Shimabukuro Kimie.
Indeed.. Although the change was significant, from a professional perspective, one could still faintly discern the original shadow.
Still, achieving this level was quite an accomplishment. Gin thought of Shimabukuro Kimie's mother when she disguised herself as the Long-lived woman, recalling the Plot, he felt she was quite talented in this regard as well.
"Not bad." He nodded toward Shimabukuro Kimie, speaking in a flat tone, though his words carried a hint of satisfaction.
The Black-haired miko smiled, even though she did not look like her original self, the clarity and softness in the Woman's eyes remained the same as always: "Thank you."
Seeing this, Takao Haruki tapped the table in dissatisfaction and spoke with a smile, a hint of displeasure in his eyes: "I put in a lot of effort!" What was there to praise? It was just that his makeup skills had improved a little.
—Who was just saying it was impressive?
Gin rarely praised people, though he could be quite sarcastic. However, Shimabukuro Kimie was originally just an ordinary girl; when he had left his with Takao Haruki, he hadn't expected his to be of any use in the future, so this could now be considered an unexpected joy.
However, Takao Haruki did not see it that way. He glanced at Shimabukuro Kimie, who looked completely bewildered by the sudden change in atmosphere, decisively shifted Gin's attention.
I've come across some quite interesting things lately. I feel.. perhaps you might be interested.
He hadn't originally intended to bring Shimabukuro Kimie, but he had recently come into contact with a certain secret that appeared and disappeared intermittently. Although he had keenly sensed the danger, his curiosity or perhaps the arrogance in his very bones prevented him from pulling back in time, as a result, he had overplayed his hand.
Fortunately, it didn't seem serious for now, but he intended to lay low for a while, naturally, he couldn't bring along a burden.
Gin raised an eyebrow at that. Just as he had hoped, his attention was no longer focused on the black-haired girl.
It's some kind of human experimentation," Takao Haruki tilted his head slightly, his gaze fixed on the blue-green eyes of the person opposite him. "It seems to be related to 'Crow'—
"Related?" Gin frowned. He knew there were human experiments within the Black Organization, but since Takao Haruki had specifically brought it up, it likely wasn't a routine drug experiment.