94: Chapter 94: This is Part of the Plan

"Big Brother, looks like that guy gave up on the woman."

Vodka sat in the driver's seat, eyes fixed on the road ahead, speaking gruffly to Gin in the passenger seat without turning his head.

"Only to be expected."

Gin placed a cigarette between his lips, slowly lit it, took a deep drag, and then sneered coldly.

Eliminating Miyano Akemi was part of the plan.

But his plan extended far beyond that.

Besides securing the ten billion yen stolen from the bank, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠he had also intended to lure out Akai Shuichi, who had defected two years prior.

However, even after Miyano Akemi was killed, Akai Shuichi never appeared.

It seemed he had overestimated Akemi's importance to Akai.

But it didn't matter.

The ten billion yen was secured, Miyano Akemi was eliminated. Catching Akai Shuichi would have just been a bonus.

Truthfully, he never really expected Akemi to successfully lure Akai out anyway.

"Looks like that foolish woman was just a tool to be used from beginning to end."

Vodka nodded knowingly.

"Boss, where to next?"

"First, let's retrieve the ten billion yen."

Gin pulled the safe deposit box key from his pocket, scoffing,

"After all, this is that foolish woman's final 'contribution' to our organization."

Soon, they arrived at a city hotel called ENJYU.

Pulling into the parking garage, Vodka expertly parked the car.

But just as they both opened their doors, preparing to head into the hotel to retrieve the ten billion yen,

an explosion suddenly erupted from the trunk of the Porsche 356A.

KABOOM!

BOOM!

A ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠violent blast rocked the garage, instantly engulfing the Porsche 356A in flames.

Clearly, the timed bomb planted by a certain mischievous individual had detonated.

A few seconds later.

Gin opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was the star-studded night sky above.

He shook his throbbing head, struggling to sit up.

Looking around, the area surrounding the Porsche's parking spot was now a ruin.

Even several nearby cars had been blown to pieces.

And the Porsche 356A, at the epicenter of the blast, had naturally suffered the most.

The frame of the classic car was twisted and mangled from the intense explosion. The black convertible top was ripped off. Peeking through the ruined roof, Gin could see the car's interior seats engulfed in raging fire.

'If I had gotten out a second later, I'd probably be dead right now.'

Staring at the devastating scene, Gin felt a pang of fear.

But after a moment, he calmed himself, his gaze towards his beloved car turning icy cold.

He already knew who planted the bomb.

Akai Shuichi!

It had to be him.

No wonder that guy seemed indifferent to Miyano Akemi's death.

So he anticipated my plan, turned the tables, and used Akemi's death as an opportunity to plant the bomb?

Just like you, Akai Shuichi!

Gin scoffed, having constructed his own version of the 'truth'.

But his composure quickly shattered.

As the adrenaline faded, searing pain erupted throughout his body.

Looking down, he realized he was seriously injured.

The black coat he wore was torn and ragged. From beneath the tattered fabric, crimson blood seeped out constantly.

Not from the impact, but from shrapnel wounds.

Similar to a fragmentation grenade, while the initial shockwave of the Porsche explosion hadn't harmed him significantly,

flying debris from the car had embedded itself throughout his body.

Those fragments were the real danger.

"Damn it."

Gin felt a wave of dizziness wash over him, cursing under his breath.

Acting decisively, he pulled out his pistol and shot himself in the arm.

BANG!

The sharp pain instantly cleared his fuzzy head.

Now more alert, he limped over to Vodka's side.

Vodka wasn't looking too good either.

Even his sunglasses were shattered...

Meanwhile.

Following the address on Miyano Akemi's driver's license found in her wallet, Fujino, clad in the Assassin's Robes, rode his motorcycle to an apartment building.

"Kamen Rider charm, truly convenient."

Hopping off the motorcycle, Fujino glanced at the matte black Batcycle, marveling aloud.

He didn't know the exact principle, but when wearing the Assassin's Robes, riding the motorcycle also seemed to grant the [Passing Assassin] effect.

Although the skill effect largely made his motorcycle undetectable,

he still used the Kamen Rider car charm's ability to disguise it slightly.

The Batcycle was the result of this disguise, closely resembling Bruce Wayne's bike – sleek and minimalist.

Of course, it lacked the twin heavy machine guns mounted on the front and the built-in missile launchers.

The Kamen Rider charm was purely cosmetic; it couldn't conjure weapons out of thin air. Besides, disguising it with such weaponry would undoubtedly cause a commotion in Beika Town.

Miyano Akemi's apartment door was unlocked.

Fujino pushed it open. A simple, tidy apartment lay before him.

"Looks like that key really was taken by someone else?"

Fujino stood up slowly from checking a hidden compartment near the desk, sighing.

Originally, he'd considered keeping the ten billion yen for himself...

Afterward, Fujino conducted a thorough search of the rest of the apartment.

Besides a small amount of cash, he only found some everyday women's clothing, stockings, and a few... unmentionable items.

Naturally, Fujino had no 'collecting habits' and remained indifferent to those things.

"This is..."

Opening a large drawer in the bedside table, Fujino paused, staring at the contents.

Inside, there was nothing strange.

Just a photo album and a gift box.

He opened the photo album.

Most of the pictures inside were of Miyano Akemi with a brown-haired beautiful girl.

The brown-haired girl was none other than Miyano Shiho.

Fujino ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠deduced these photos likely documented Miyano Shiho's growth over the years.

Though few, there was at least one photo from roughly each period.

At the very end of the album was a family photo.

Judging by its aged and yellowed condition, it was taken a long time ago.

"The Miyano family photo?"

Fujino took a deep breath, instantly recognizing the people in the picture.

Miyano Elena, Miyano Shiho, Miyano Akemi, and the head of the family, Miyano Atsushi.

Taken before they passed away?

After a moment's thought, Fujino carefully put the album away.

He then turned his attention to the other gift box.

It was blue with faint speckles, tied with a red ribbon.

Fujino untied the ribbon and opened the box. Inside lay a deep red scarf.

Beside the scarf was a small postcard:

[To my little sister, Miyano Shiho. By: Miyano Akemi]

Fujino stared at the red scarf for a moment in silence, then put it away.

After ensuring he hadn't missed anything, he grabbed a few items of clothing from the closet, walked out of the apartment, and lit another White Wolf cigarette.

The white wolf gradually materialized, circled a few times in the sky, then let out a howl that echoed through the night.

"White Wolf, take me to Miyano Shiho."