Chapter 11
Legal aid is a system where the state provides free consultation and defense to those who meet certain criteria.
Asuka Kazuya recited the information he had memorized back in the Special Abilities Division, imagining the scene.
He didn’t mention other people, but Vodka would definitely be speechless upon seeing a lawyer, then explode, “Kazuya—are you sick, Kazuya?!”
Although it seemed fun, he only wanted to mess with the organization, not drag innocent people into this.
“No need,” Asuka Kazuya politely declined. “Although my money has been confiscated, such opportunities should be left for those who need them more.”
…Why did that sound even more tragic?
Matsuda Jinpei, who had personally checked his ID a few minutes ago, was speechless, suddenly feeling a strange sympathy.
“So let’s play a deduction game!”
Completely ignoring Matsuda Jinpei’s feelings, Asuka Kazuya, busy pushing the plot forward, unfolded a map.
“There’s still an hour until midnight. Since none of us have any clues, maybe if I catch the culprit first, Daddy will think I’m a genius, and then I won’t have to report to him when I go out.”
Matsuda Jinpei: “…”
Having to report when going out, just who was his father?
The curly-haired officer opened his mouth, his expression unreadable.
“Aren’t you going back to the First Investigation Division?” Hagiwara Kenji glanced at the plainclothes police officers patrolling around, wondering why they were all ignoring his colleague.
“Today is my first day on the job,” Asuka Kazuya pretended, closing his eyes solemnly. “I accidentally knocked off Chief Adachi’s wig when I boarded the ship. He said I’m good for nothing but trouble, so I shouldn’t cause any.”
…Wasn’t he quite self-aware!
Matsuda Jinpei held back his words. On one hand, he wanted to persuade him that being a police officer wasn’t that easy, but on the other hand, he remembered how this guy had approached him silently and couldn’t bear to shatter his career dream.
At least he had potential. Moreover, the bomb disposal unit didn’t have the authority to intervene in this case. Matsuda Jinpei hadn’t planned to leave with the yacht anyway, and “Kato’s” words gave him a legitimate reason to stay.
“If you were the culprit, where would you hide?” Looking at the map on the table, Matsuda Jinpei asked.
Asuka Kazuya shook his head.
But he didn’t really care about the culprit. The organization’s order was to capture Tanaka Saichiro’s son, Tanaka Shota, alive. The reason Asuka Kazuya was wasting time here was because he believed that the so-called “culprit” was Tanaka Saichiro himself.
Even if the respected councilman had silenced many people for his reputation, it didn’t change the fact that his son was antisocial. Regardless of what Tanaka Shota had done before, once he died in this incident caused by the councilman himself, Tanaka Saichiro would become a “father who lost his son for the public good” in the eyes of the public.
It was precisely because that guy cared about face more than anything that the organization had to keep Tanaka Shota, this crucial chess piece, alive.
In this case, the usual “where is the culprit” thinking wouldn’t work. He had to think along the lines of “where is the person who not only orchestrated this but also wants the GSS to disguise themselves as criminals and kill his own son.”
That being said, Asuka Kazuya had other reasons for approaching the police.
He had noticed since boarding that this damned ship had an ability nullification device installed. Asuka Kazuya’s luck had plummeted, everything he tried failed, and he would bump into walls every few steps.
Scotch absolutely couldn’t know about this. If Scotch told Bourbon, Bourbon might swim for miles to assassinate him in revenge.
No, more seriously, maybe 80% of the organization’s members would come looking for him for revenge, freestyle swimming.
There it was! The shark version of the organization’s great migration!
“Anyway, let’s rule out the restrooms first.” After reorganizing his thoughts, Asuka Kazuya marked an X on the map.
Hagiwara Kenji: “…”
Unexpected yet reasonable, Hagiwara Kenji looked at his serious expression, seeing a clear kind of stupidity.
Asuka Kazuya: “Didn’t your team leader give you any key areas to investigate?”
“There’s a theater on the second basement level,” Matsuda Jinpei suppressed his urge to retort. “But it won’t be open until tomorrow. I didn’t find any trace of anyone when I checked.”
“What about the upper deck?” Hagiwara Kenji suddenly pointed to the rear of the ship. “Behind the sundeck, not many people go there.”
There was an information gap between the First Investigation Division and the bomb disposal unit, and according to regulations, members of the bomb disposal unit, who weren’t allowed to carry guns, didn’t have the authority to intervene in this matter.
“That’s too far from where people live.” In this situation, Matsuda Jinpei thought for a moment and replied, “There’s no shelter behind the sundeck. The First Investigation Division wouldn’t let the councilman go there. The culprit hiding there would only be wasting time.”
No one = suitable for disposing of a body.
Asuka Kazuya thought it was reasonable, then stood up, excusing himself to go to the restroom.
Bullying others by relying on good luck would backfire. As soon as Asuka Kazuya took a step, someone bumped into a nearby champagne tower, and it crashed down on him.
Matsuda Jinpei: “…”
Hagiwara Kenji: “…”
In the deathly silence, Asuka Kazuya, covered in shards, shuffled back.
“I’m not going anymore.”
He said.
“I have a feeling I’ll fall into the sea.”
Scotch hadn’t actually gone far. He was worried about Calvados harming Matsuda and the others, and also worried that Matsuda and the others would discover something wrong with Calvados and be silenced. So Scotch changed his disguise and kept watch on Calvados’s every move from a safe distance.
“You mean he not only got hit by glasses but also acted like he was about to die from fragility?”
Vodka, who had only wanted to ask about Scotch’s mission progress, was incredulous.
“Kazuya’s luck is so good that enemies get sent flying ten meters before he even makes a move. Big Brother shot him ten times, and he still did a backflip. He’s acting fragile?!”
Cunning! So cunning!
Vodka, who had recently learned he had been deceived, felt heartbroken. He didn’t dare complain to Gin about this, so he could only vent secretly at this opportunity.
“Forget it, let it be.”
Before Scotch could speak, Vodka looked at the starless sky, seemingly coming to terms with it.
“Anyway, the more he acts like this, the less suspicious the police will be. Who would think that a guy who climbs onto Big Brother’s car to dance when he’s drunk is a mafia member… Just like that, Scotch. If it doesn’t work out, you retreat first, don’t die. Ireland just went back to Europe, if you die, Kazuya will come and torture me again.”
…He actually used “it.” Was Calvados not even considered human in their eyes anymore?
Scotch remained silent. He listened to the dial tone, thinking that with Calvados’s efforts, the organization’s future might really be doomed.
Even if he reported Calvados to Public Security, they would probably re-evaluate his mental state. Scotch sighed deeply, glanced at the information Calvados had sent on his phone, and slowly walked towards the sundeck.
Zero too, he said he would go back and investigate Calvados’s background before joining the organization, but he still hadn’t returned.
…That was fine too. If Zero saw Calvados hanging out with Matsuda and the others, he would probably smile, beat Calvados up, and take him back.
Scotch stopped.
The famous orchestra was playing on the deck, but the scent of blood came from behind the building on the top deck. Their voices weren’t loud, barely audible during the pauses in the music.
“How did the police get up here? The plan wasn’t like this.”
“Of course, it’s more convincing right under their noses.”
“Ha, even willing to sacrifice his own son, you guys aren’t any better than us.”
“Cut the crap, I’m not paying you to talk.”
The man holding the gun in the moonlight turned around, a green tattoo peeking out from under his expensive suit. In front of him was Tanaka Shota, his mouth covered, the young man shot in the shoulder, kneeling resentfully on the ground.
Tanaka Saichiro glanced at him indifferently, not denying it.
“Hurry up,” he said. “The First Investigation Division should have discovered the double I prepared in my room by now.”
The man in the suit snorted disdainfully. His finger was on the trigger, about to shoot, when he caught a glimpse of a shadow in the distance.
“Who’s there!”
Another firework bloomed, and the man instantly turned his gun.
“Who’s there!”
The firework’s ascent changed the light source. Scotch, knowing he had been exposed, was about to step out when something fell from above.
It was Asuka Kazuya, trying to take a shortcut. He lost his balance and landed right between the murderer and the victim.
The mafia member with the gun was stunned.
Tanaka Shota, bleeding profusely, was stunned.
Even Councilman Tanaka, who had orchestrated everything, was stunned.
Scotch reacted, thinking this was Calvados’s unique entrance.
“C-Calvados?”
After a strange silence, the first to call out Asuka Kazuya’s codename was the previously composed Councilman Tanaka. Tanaka Saichiro had provided a lot of convenience to the organization over the years and had also eliminated many people through them, so he naturally knew this pervert.
He was very aware of Calvados’s ability, so he instantly felt unsafe everywhere. Tanaka Saichiro’s muscles tensed, paranoid to the point of thinking that the GSS’s bullets would curve and hit him in the face.
“Why is it you? That person clearly said Gin would send…”
“Send the Whiskeys?” Asuka Kazuya glanced back. He got up from the ground, his face bearing some scratches from the glass.
Then, Tanaka Saichiro watched him dust off his hands.
“You’re well-informed. Who told you, Jack Daniels?”
The change happened quickly.
A strand of Calvados’s long hair was grazed by a bullet. He instantly lowered his body, approaching the man who had shot at Tanaka Saichiro with incredible speed.
—This guy wasn’t a police officer at all!
Just as the man realized this, Asuka Kazuya, who had successfully approached him, also seemed surprised.
The gun landed on the wooden planks with a heavy thud.
Asuka Kazuya looked at his fist, surprised that he wasn’t completely unlucky, then flung his hand in disgust, kicking the tooth on the ground to the side.
Tanaka Saichiro nervously glanced at the unconscious man beside him.
He had ordered the installation of the ability nullification device precisely to prevent interference from ability users like Calvados. But according to the reactions of ability users in previous experiments, Calvados shouldn’t be able to stand up straight now.
…Could it be that the organization was also involved in this research? Was Calvados’s ability completely unaffected?
“How about we make a deal?” Seeing that he had no chance of winning, Tanaka Saichiro generously raised his hands. “I was wrong before, I’ll continue to invest in the organization. As for the information leak, Jack Daniels instigated me to do it. Why don’t you ask Gin? If you let me off the hook, I’ll pay you twice the previous reward.”
Asuka Kazuya, who had been immersed in his own world, turned his head upon hearing this and pointed at Tanaka Shota beside him.
“What about him?”
“This kid was adopted by me.” Tanaka Saichiro, unable to discern his attitude, hurriedly explained, “He’s caused me a lot of trouble, and now is the time for him to be useful. If I can be re-elected through this, the organization will also benefit more.”
Asuka Kazuya thought for a moment, feeling that according to Tanaka Saichiro’s words, there was indeed no need to take Tanaka Shota back.
“Alright then.”
Bang.
Scotch watched as Asuka Kazuya raised his hand and mercilessly knocked out Tanaka Saichiro, who had just regained hope.
“Who are you kidding?”
“If you just give me the money, wouldn’t it make my meticulous plan seem useless?”
Although he didn’t know what had happened, seeing his father collapse, the semi-conscious Tanaka Shota saw hope. He struggled and squirmed, making muffled sounds.
Asuka Kazuya didn’t spare him either.
“Scotch, I know you’re watching, think about where to hide them for transport later.”
It was supposed to be a two-person mission, but the weapons Scotch brought had no chance to be used. He stepped forward with a headache, his figure exposed under the moonlight.
“You’re a bit too reckless,” Scotch reminded. “If they had screamed just now…”
“Tanaka wouldn’t do that.” Asuka Kazuya didn’t mind, casually throwing the unconscious Tanaka Shota to his partner. “Last time he screamed in front of me, a flock of seagulls happened to fly by. The next day, reporters publicized photos of him accidentally eating something unknown. For a face-saving person like Tanaka, that’s worse than killing him.”
Scotch: “…So why do you have the reporters’ contact information?”
Asuka Kazuya, who was crossing an obstacle, paused.
“Oh,” he laughed awkwardly. “What are you talking about? I didn’t contact them. Am I that petty? It must be his own bad luck.”
After saying that, he tripped over the unconscious Tanaka on the ground. Asuka Kazuya sometimes felt like a prophet. The cruise ship shook due to a sudden wave, his back hitting the railing, and under Scotch’s “what kind of scheme is this” look, he fell off the ship at a strange angle.
Life was truly full of surprises.
Although the entire free fall probably only lasted a few seconds, a few seconds were enough for Asuka Kazuya to think about many things.
For example, now, he spat out a few bubbles, belatedly realizing that there was a loophole in the organization’s training—
He learned sniping, close combat, and how to infiltrate buildings, silently killing a person in ten minutes.
But then again…
Why didn’t anyone teach him how to float and swim?
