Everything that happened afterward was much like what he had imagined; the Silver-haired killer who fell from the high platform was saved by Mori Ran, the innocent and kind girl gripped his hand tightly, gazing into his eyes.
In that stubborn, naive, determined gaze was an obsession to reach him; in those innocent and pure green eyes, his figure was all she saw.
Those eyes seemed to see through his disguise, seeing through the disguise to the soul he had hidden.
At this moment, the people making eye contact were not merely a passing girl and a disguised murderer.
It was also a clean girl and a soul that had already fallen into the abyss.
The Angel grabbed his hand.
A thought suddenly flashed through Vermouth's mind.
Meanwhile, Gin, who was watching everything from a distance with cold indifference, found it laughable.
The Silver-haired killer falling from the high platform does not need to be saved; he can survive on his own. Instead, by reaching out like this.. what Vermouth will face is an even deeper crisis.
Mori Ran's actions were, in their own way, pushing him into an even deeper abyss.
Light was something that, to them, was no different from drugs.
—But that's not necessarily true, after all, things like Protagonist Aura do exist, to some extent.
—And those without Protagonist Aura.. is death the only way out?!
But he did not believe it.
He does not believe in fate. Nor does he believe in Fate.
Whether it be Yomi or Hell, or the Sanzu River or the River of Forgetfulness, he will, he absolutely must, turn the "impossible" into the "possible."
"I don't need an Angel," Gin said to himself.
Then he turned his head and spoke to Vermouth, who had already removed her disguise, her blonde hair disheveled and looking quite disheveled; she kept her head lowered, making her expression and thoughts impossible to read. He declared coldly, "Your mission failed."
Vermouth hesitated for three seconds before looking up in a daze. The confusion in the man's beautiful face vanished in that instant, turning into his usual enigmatic smile, yet a few traces still lingered within those blue eyes.
He nodded, a faint sigh rang out. "I understand," she said in a voice that was either weary or exhausted.
Gin gave Vermouth one last look and did not respond.
He simply picked up his Sniper Rifle.
..
Akai Shuichi evacuated the crowd.
Although he was not entirely clear on the Black Organization's specific plans, he could guess quite a lot based on the current actions of the Silver-haired killer.
After all, he had stayed there for a very, very long time.
His green eyes grew sharp as he turned his head to look at the young girl who bore a resemblance to Miyano Akemi, said in a low voice, "Leave this place."
Although the situation had been brought under control, the main culprit had still escaped, and..
As for whether "he" had an accomplice.. he wasn't even sure himself.
He did not intentionally speak with coldness or sarcasm, but his own personality prevented him from offering any gentle advice to this Stranger girl—even though she looked similar to Miyano Akemi.
However, what surprised Akai Shuichi was that he received unexpected intelligence from this girl, whom he had thought would never have any further connection with him.
..
“What did you say?” After a pause, the FBI elite agent confirmed once more, “What does he look like?”
This urgency was so far removed from his previous composed and calculating demeanor that Mori Ran took a small step back. In an instant, the young girl actually felt she saw something similar to the silver-haired man within those green eyes.
“A.. a silver-haired man.” Ran paused, struggling to recall, attempting to use his own words to piece together a complete picture: “Long hair, wearing a black trench coat.. His aura.. His aura was terrifying.”
Akai Shuichi's pupils suddenly contracted: "Was he also wearing a black hat?"
Yes." Ran answered instinctively, then followed up with a belated question, "Do you know that gentleman?
Akai Shuichi did not answer.
More than just knowing him?
He didn't expect.. that this time, he would actually come as well.
Not just because of some particular thought, Akai Shuichi suddenly felt a strange emotion. She raised her head subconsciously and gazed toward the east.
Not far from here, there was an abandoned building—the kind that was being demolished—which the night had coated in a layer of profound mystery, casting over it a chilling aura that refused to blend into the darkness.
The black-haired FBI agent looked up, his gaze focusing on a certain window, his green eyes filled with a hint of inquiry and contemplation.
He shouldn't have been able to see anything.
Gin thought.
Through the lens of the sniper scope, the Silver-haired man could clearly see his former partner's expression, he could even slightly guess a thing or two from the indistinct lip movements.
Even at a distance of several hundred meters, he was clearly still within Gin's sniping range.
His sniping skill was top-tier within the Black Organization; at this distance, there was no possibility of missing.
Gin's hands were steady, his heart was steady as well.
Lowering her gaze, her green eyes darkened slightly, Gin's finger moved, pulling the trigger.
The flying bullet carried an unstoppable momentum, letting out a sharp hiss from friction the moment it sliced through the air. In the next second, the bullet grazed Akai Shuichi's right shoulder.
The FBI agent instinctively took a step back, raising his hand to cover the wound.
The shot didn't even pierce through his shoulder; it merely tore the fabric of his right shoulder, the heat of the gunpowder grazing his flesh and leaving a wound of moderate depth.
For a sniper like Gin, this shot could be considered a mistake.
But Gin knew that he had not made a mistake.
He maintained his shooting stance for three seconds, assessing the opponent's injuries and the situation across the way through his sniper scope. Her experience as a Sniper told him that the right thing to do at this moment was to deliver a finishing shot.
A distance of several hundred meters was more than enough for Gin to leave calmly after shooting Akai Shuichi.
His brain analyzed all the pros and cons clearly. Through his sunglasses, he saw the expression on the other man's face as he gazed at him.
Akai Shuichi shouldn't have been able to see anything at all.. yet Gin was inexplicably certain that he was looking at him.
A few seconds later, Gin nonchalantly put away his Sniper Rifle.
Forget it, it wasn't time to kill him anyway.
This time.. let's just consider it a way of saying hello.
..
Hundreds of meters away, amidst the panic of his Colleague, amidst the cries of the Girl beside him, amidst the Subordinate who rushed over to check his injuries.. Akai Shuichi lowered his head.
He used his left hand, which was covering his wound, to gently pat the wrinkles on his right shoulder, then looked down at the bloodstain remaining in his left palm, dazed as he recalled an event that was not too far in the past.
This memory, which had not faded, arrived at a most inopportune moment. The young FBI agent remained silent for a moment, then, with continued composure, assigned his Colleague to examine the Crime scene.
Since it has been this long without another move, I expect the next bullet won't be coming.
He thought about it calmly.
—That person truly is.. a man of his word. (1)
After thinking calmly, a thought flashed through his brain—one that he wasn't sure could even be considered a complaint.
Then, after the people calmed down from the sudden attack, he quietly found an inconspicuous corner that allowed him to observe everything.
Akai Shuichi stopped in his tracks. He lowered his eyes, then took a Necklace from his collar.
Calling it a necklace might not be quite appropriate. After all, it was merely something strung together with a Silver chain.
Akai Shuichi stared at the object—a cleaned, discarded Bullet.
A slight ripple flashed through his green eyes. He paused, a tiny curve appeared at the corner of his mouth.
-----------------------
Author's Note: (1) Before Gin and Akai parted ways, Gin said something like he wouldn't let him off easy the next time they met.
Although he still held back.. but Gin stated that if he said he would do something, he would do it.
And—
Gin: I have my own special way of saying hello.
..
This chapter is actually from yesterday.. I forgot to set the time..
Hmm.. there will be one today too.. but you'll have to wait until the evening.
..
Thank you to the Little Angels who voted for me with Overlord Tickets or provided Nutrient solution~
Thank you to the Little Angel who provided Nutrient solution:
Weihuan Jihe YY 3 bottles;
Thank you all so much for your support, I will continue to work hard!
Chapter 125: Interlude Seven: Her face was burned by the flames..
Nana stopped in his tracks.
Today's sunlight was very bright—one could even say it was excessively bright.
She carried a blue and white shoulder bag, her medium-length black hair tied up in a simple small bun with a blue hair tie. The young detective slightly tilted her head to avoid the overly dazzling sunlight, her green eyes watching the youth running and swinging a racket on the tennis court, as she revealed a faint smile.
After Shimabukuro Kimie's swapped identity lasted for several months, Gin halted the Probing Plan after finding a clue.
Although they stayed in her Boyfriend's dormitory for a few days because they couldn't find a house at first, both Nana and Gin were highly efficient, they had secured a new residence in less than a week.
What is frustrating is that the rent can only be paid on a yearly basis, so after the plan was halted, Shiratori Nana, who had already signed the contract and paid the rent, expressed.. could it be that he has to sublet?
Forget it, I might as well just move.
Although the current house isn't as good as the previous one, the original Address has been exposed after all.. I'll just have to make do with this for now.
As for the previous house.. I'll naturally sublet it! Oh, right, I'll have to inform the original landlord beforehand.