Then……

Kill him...

Now, Akemi Miyano is leaving.

In other words, Mr. Hirota has already...

Yoruichi Toyama suppressed the unease welling up inside her and jumped out of the taxi as soon as it arrived at her apartment building.

Following the apartment number Taro gave him, he found the unit door and kicked it open before he could even call the building manager.

These cubicle-like rental apartments have a square living room right inside the entrance.

At this moment, above the living room, in the area decorated with a Japanese-style wooden ceiling, a thick hemp rope is hanging.

Hanging from the rope was a short, stout man, somewhere between middle and old age, with a few drooping strands of hair on his balding head.

The man's eyes were wide open, bulging out, clearly indicating that he was no longer breathing.

Because he didn't hang himself, but was strangled to death and then hung from the ceiling.

Yoruichi Toyama recalled the plot and clenched her fists tightly.

"Hey, sir, you... Ahhhhh, murder!"

The security guard who rushed over upon hearing the noise, an elderly woman, also saw the body and screamed.

For a moment, I couldn't think of what to do.

Yoruichi Toyama suddenly turned around and strode out.

"Madam, let's call the police."

As he spoke, he walked out of the apartment building.

A taxi that hadn't been paid for was waiting outside, while Taro was still slumped in the back seat, seemingly trying to signal to the driver that "he'll be back."

Yoruichi Toyama climbed back into the car and grabbed the cat, placing it on her lap.

"...Please go to the XX Hotel."

After finding out Taro Miyano Akemi's current location, Toyama Yoichi said to the driver.

"Hurry up, I have something urgent to do."

...

Akemi Miyano stayed in a hotel in the center of Beika City, a very impressive high-rise building.

Yoruichi Toyama had barely stepped into the lobby when she saw her and a tall man pushing a luggage cart toward the elevator.

The luggage cart was piled high with aluminum suitcases, which looked quite heavy.

It must be stolen money from the bank.

These guys are really bold. They just robbed a bank and then openly checked into a hotel in the city center with such a huge pile of suitcases.

However, the police are still checking vehicles leaving Tokyo on the highway, and they never expected the robbers to be so blatant.

It can be considered a case of "blind spots under the lamp".

Thinking it over, Yoichi Toyama caught up with Akemi Miyano, who was about to get on the elevator.

"Oh, Ms. Hirota, what a coincidence!"

That's what they say, but greeting someone in the elevator doesn't seem like a "coincidence" at all.

Miyano Akemi and the tall man turned their heads at the same time, their expressions somewhat stiff.

Yoruichi Toyama stared intently at the two people's hands, a slight chill running down her spine.

Logically, they wouldn't pull out a gun in a place like this over such a trivial matter... right?

The tall man seemed to move first, but was immediately patted on the arm by Akemi Miyano.

“Excuse me, sir,” Akemi Miyano replied with a hint of innocent confusion, “have you mistaken me for someone else?”

Yoichi understood her implication to the tall man:

It's a small matter; just deal with it casually and don't make a fuss about it.

This is exactly what Yoruichi Toyama wanted.

If the other party were to recklessly open fire in a public place, he would have no way to control the situation.

Now that there's still room for negotiation...

"Aren't you Ms. Hirota Masami?" Yoruichi Toyama continued to speak loudly with a pure enthusiasm, as if she wanted the people around her to judge for themselves. "I just saw you at the bank a few days ago."

Upon hearing the word "bank," both Akemi Miyano and the tall man's expressions changed simultaneously.

Yoruichi Toyama was gambling that they wouldn't dare let her continue saying those things.

Just days after the bank robbery, two guests carrying a large number of suitcases, coupled with the keyword "bank"...

It will definitely attract the attention of onlookers.

How will they stop themselves? ...

To be precise, what will "she" do?

With just a simple gesture, Yoruichi Toyama realized that the mastermind behind the robbery was Akemi Miyano.

Therefore, both of her accomplices, whether it was the murdered Mr. Hirota or the tall man in front of her, had the intention of keeping all the stolen money for themselves.

They didn't belong to the Black Organization; they were just social scum that Miyano Akemi had temporarily recruited.

Akemi Miyano was the leader of this trio, and the robbery was likely planned by her.

She is indeed guilty, but...

We can't let her die at the hands of the distillery.

As Yoruichi Toyama pondered silently, Akemi Miyano put on a knowing smile, let go of the stroller, and stepped forward.

"I remember now, it's Mr. Toyama!" she said as she walked up to Yoruichi Toyama, appearing completely at ease.

"I didn't recognize him at first... By the way, why is Mr. Toyama here?"

"I came to visit a friend, but it seems he's out on business," Yoruichi Toyama said casually.

Moreover, I believe the other party can probably see through my ramblings.

Those things are irrelevant.

The important thing is...

"Since we've run into Ms. Hirota so coincidentally, would you mind if I bought you a coffee?"

Yoruichi Toyama struck a pose befitting a playboy from a TV drama, and winked at Akemi Miyano with a smile.

Akemi Miyano seemed to hesitate for a moment, then smiled and nodded.

“I know Mr. Toyama,” she explained to the tall man, turning to him. “You should take your luggage and go back to your room first.”

Then, quite naturally, she took Yoruichi Toyama's arm.

"Sure, I'd love to."