There was no other reason; it was simply because the System, which had remained motionless for many years, had suddenly updated with a new Message.
The young Gin of many years ago never believed in the System; the Gin who grew step by step over the years never relied on the System.
But it must be admitted that the reason Shiratori Midori, who was certain to die back then, was able to maintain a nearly ethereal spark of life was because of that unreliable System.
This is probably why Gin has tolerated its existence for all these years.
Gin hoped that the so-called "System," which had accomplished almost nothing, would not disappoint him.
—Otherwise, he would definitely kill this thing.
The Silver-haired man lowered his head slightly and said in a nearly gentle tone to the girl, who was looking up at him with her clear green eyes, "Don't worry."
Soon, you will be able to see her.
Soon, I will be able to see her too.
..
This "soon" was not something that would happen overnight.
After the solution was injected, the Sleeping Beauty, whose vital signs were nearly non-existent, finally showed a glimmer of life.
Ignoring Pino's eager gaze, ignoring the expressions of those researchers who looked as if they wanted to devour the Brown-haired girl, Sheila was actually the first one to breathe a sigh of relief.
Okay.. at least for now, she can say she has given Gin an explanation.
A faint smile appeared on the pale face of the Beautiful woman who had just recovered from her illness. The corners of her lips curled slightly, like a breeze blowing through flower buds on a branch, her expression carrying an indescribable sense of Shiran and blessing.
You, who are missed by so many.. it would be better if you would wake up soon.
The Sleeping girl, whose vital signs were being strictly monitored by a Researcher, naturally had no idea what was happening in the outside world. After receiving definitive information from Sheila, Gin, instead of visiting Shiratori Midori, chose not to go.
On one hand, it was naturally because his current identity was sensitive, appearing abruptly might bring danger to Shiratori Midori.
Given Shiratori Midori's current state, if anything were to actually happen to him, even a Space Migration would be inconvenient.
On the other hand, it was because Gin himself had an indescribable, complex emotion regarding this.
—Perhaps, it was a case of being nervous about returning home?
So, after agreeing with Sheila that he would notify him if anything happened, Gin continued to stay peacefully—or rather, not so peacefully—at the Kudo residence, living as a Salted fish who had lost his Target.
But clearly, even if he wanted to enjoy some peace and quiet, things would not go as he wished.
That afternoon, Gin received an SMS from Heine.
Madra is dead.
..
Madra is dead.
He died very peacefully; a faint smile appeared on his face, which had remained calm and undisturbed. If one were to ignore the fatal gunshot wound on his body, she looked almost as if she were having a beautiful dream.
This matter caused a massive uproar within the Black Organization.
Not to mention that Madra's own status within the organization was not low, but even just the subordinates left to his by Brandy after his death were enough to make people imagine a grand drama surrounding his death.
But while the insiders were all buzzing with discussion, Heine did not participate.
Madra committed suicide.
In the SMS he sent to Gin, Heine described Madra's cause of death like this.
Many times, Madra always maintained an attitude of being perfectly polite, yet remaining detached.
It is difficult to find any offense in his every movement or every smile; likewise, it is equally difficult to discern any sincerity in his nearly mechanical actions.
Every one of her movements, every one of her smiles, appeared so impeccable; however, beneath everything, this "impeccability" was actually a different kind of indifference.
In Gin's memory, he rarely saw Madra show any real emotional fluctuations.
—Except for that one time when Brandy died.
Gin was completely unaware of the grudge between Brandy and Madra, so naturally, he could not empathize. However, it must be said that when that woman, who was usually as emotionless as a robot, pulled the trigger with tears in her eyes, he was actually somewhat moved.
So much so that at this moment, when Gin received the news of Madra's death, he didn't actually feel much of an Accident.
He only felt a slight sense of regret.
He raised his head, gazing for a while at the layers of magnificent sunset glow staining the Horizon outside the window, as he recalled his past encounters with Madra.
Then Gin discovered that, in fact, there really wasn't much overlap between the two of them.
He never understood this woman, nor did he care to understand him.
Just as Madra, after doing everything he should do and completing the Mission he was meant to finish, calmly chose to face death without telling a single person.
He had no lingering attachment to this world.
He had no lingering attachment to this world without Brandy.
As for the always cold Gin, it was merely a slight stir upon hearing this news, along with a bit of pity and regret from an outsider looking on.
Gin snapped out of his thoughts, took one last look at the afterglow of the sunset beyond the sky, then raised his voice to ask Akai Shuichi, who was sitting in the Study reading a book, "How about having some Madra today?"
The Study door was not closed; from Gin's angle, he could easily see Akai Shuichi tilting his head back; likewise, Akai Shuichi could see Gin's expression.
The FBI elite put down the book in his hands, stood up, looked toward his former Nemesis.
He asked, "What's wrong?"
Akai Shuichi's voice was very pleasant.
Low, mellow, carrying a hint of curiosity, magnetism, coolness, his voice drifted through the Villa, as if someone had uncorked a long-sealed bottle of Rye.
Gin slightly lowered his green eyes, but raised the i Phone in his hand.
His voice was low, echoing with moderate weight through the empty Villa, lingering in Akai Shuichi's ears and bringing a slight, tingling sensation.
Information I just received," he said. "Madra is dead.
..
Madra's death seemed to have changed something, yet it also seemed to have changed nothing.
But it must be said that the death of such an important figure caused quite a sensation within the Black Organization. At least for a considerable period afterward, everyone who knew Madra had their own speculations about it.
However, as the saying goes, once a person is gone, the tea grows cold.
Although everyone was deeply unsettled by the various rumors regarding Madra's cause of death, when faced with her remaining influence, they all stepped forward without hesitation to attempt to annex it, with very little spirit of concession.
Heine was essentially one of those staying out of it.
Before Madra died, the two had reached a Secret agreement. A portion of the loyalist forces had already been transferred to Heine, he had no Plan to pursue the remaining ones.
On the surface, he maintained an air of indifference. However, as everyone carved up the power Madra had left behind, that portion of loyalists had become a series of time bombs planted beside them through their own efforts.
Sheila turned her head to look at her Brother.
The Black-haired woman's appearance remained as breathtakingly stunning as a gift from heaven. Resting her chin on one hand, her slightly pale lips curled into a faint, enigmatic smile. Within her blue eyes lay a misty, ethereal quality like a misty rain on a clear sky; even a mere playful expression from her was enough to ignite delusions in others.
“Brother—” she called out to her brother, her Voice not as casual as when she was joking, her clear and bright eyes filled with seriousness, "Have you decided?"
Have you decided?
Heine looked at her sister. This sister who had followed her since childhood, holding her hand and sweetly calling her "Sister"; this sister who had gradually grown, like a piece of jade meticulously carved by a craftsman, revealing her dazzling brilliance; this sister who could now stand on her own and could protect her Sister with a beaming smile.
Perhaps because she was just recovering from a serious illness, Sheila's face was still pale. But as time slowly passed, a bit of color had returned to his delicate face.
Vibrant blood-colored.
Heine curled the corners of her lips, a hint of a smile appearing on her handsome face.
In her blue eyes, which were just like her sister's, there was the same seriousness: "Yeah. I've already decided."
I have decided.
Decided to no longer run away, decided to make peace with the Past, decided to develop his own power, decided to protect Family.
This does not mean compromise, I still cannot forgive that man.
But I think I should try to adopt a different attitude to face all of this.
..
Gin arrived at the Ward just as dusk was falling.
The curtains in the ward were opened slightly, allowing the dim sunlight to seep through the small gap, casting a faint haze over everything.
Dusk fell heavily.
The sunset glow on the horizon remained gorgeous, as if the most skillful painter had used bold and intense pigments to smear wildly across a white canvas, depicting stunning colors.
The girl on the hospital bed still had her eyes closed; everything about her seemed frozen more than ten years ago, frozen in that Night.
The only difference from before was that, at this moment, she had his brows slightly furrowed, as if trapped in some frantic nightmare, his sleep restless and uneasy.
Is she about to wake up?
Nana sat on a chair by the hospital bed, watching her Sister with a gaze of almost serene calm.
Her hair seemed to have grown a bit longer than it was a while ago, just barely reaching her shoulder. As it hung down around her head, stray strands covered her eyes.
It was not because she wanted to grow his hair long, but because she was so busy that she had no time to take care of himself. Thus, his short hair, which was originally just slightly longer than his ears, had quietly grown long, she had not even had the time to tend to it until now.
Gin stood quietly in a corner far from the hospital bed, watching this scene without making a sound.
After a long silence, he suddenly spoke, her voice neither heavy nor light: "Sheila told me that she had woken up once before?"
The Silver-haired man had no intention of disturbing the scene before her, but in such a tranquil environment, that sudden, low male voice was so distinct that Nana's shoulder twitched.
Nana turned her head, her green eyes meeting Gin's gaze, her lips curled into a faint smile. "Zhenjun.."
After softly calling out to Gin, the girl's gaze returned to the Sleeping Beauty on the hospital bed.
She explained softly, "Sister opened her eyes before, but she fell back into a coma after only a few seconds.."
Nana sighed, a hint of gloom coloring her once vibrant expression:
“They said this doesn't count as 'waking up.' However, it is good news; Sister will likely regain consciousness within the next few days.”
'They' naturally refers to those medical personnel.
It was indeed good news.
Nana's face showed a near-fragile paleness, her eyes and brows filled with exhaustion. She had not rested properly for many days, her green eyes, like sprouts after the rain, were streaked with thin red lines of blood, looking quite terrifying at a glance.