Chapter 31 I bumped into someone with white teeth!

Bourbon was sitting in the restaurant, elegantly and skillfully cutting the steak on his plate into uniform sizes with his knife and fork.

The melodious violin music masked the conversations of the diners without feeling abrupt or disturbing, adding a touch of elegance.

Of course, it also effectively masked some voices that were out of place with the environment.

"The target person has left their seat and is moving towards the elevator."

The blond youth wore a well-tailored white shirt and a gray fitted vest, with the top button positioned perfectly at his Adam's apple, but the cuffs were unbuttoned, revealing a section of his beautifully shaped forearm.

A tap of the fingertip on the table.

Two responses came through the headset.

"Received, Lei has arrived at the sniping position."

"Received, Scotland has infiltrated the target room."

This mission does not involve silencing witnesses; the target is the president of a medical device company that the organization needs to win over.

Although the other party had shown signs of cooperation several months ago, they have not fully reached a cooperation agreement with the organization due to the price they offered, and even showed an intention to use other partners to drive up the price.

Since bribery failed, the organization resorted to its most effective method: coercion.

Bourbon spent a week gathering some of the president's dark secrets, which he then had Scotland put into the man's room. After the man read the evidence of his crimes, he had Rye fire a shot to intimidate him.

"If your bullet misses, I'll make sure you get a proper burial from Gin, Ray."

Having confirmed that the target had entered the elevator and was about to return to the room, Bourbon, having completed his mission, stood up to leave, speaking with extreme sarcasm.

The man who was lying on the top of the building across the street, aiming at the target room, remained silent upon hearing this, but simply pointed his gun at the window of the restaurant.

The blond youth appeared in the crosshairs of the scope.

As if anticipating his actions, the other person looked over precisely the next moment, their gaze sharp.

"You two should fight amongst yourselves until the mission is over," the Scottish voice in the earpiece said eerily, tinged with a dark aura. "You can fight however you want."

He left the target room, pulled up the hood of his hoodie, and hid his face in the shadows.

The elevator made a ding-dong sound.

The young man's expression remained unchanged as he brushed past his target, and he stepped into the elevator that was about to close.

He turned around, watching the target walk unnoticed into the room, and glanced at his watch.

When he looked up again, his face was still expressionless.

"The Scottish mission is complete."

On the rooftop, the black-haired man turned his gun back on and said in a deep voice, "Received, Ray."

...

The mission was completed very smoothly. If we ignore the few minor frictions that occurred between Ray and Bourbon, the report submitted to the organization would be perfect.

Subsequent negotiations are no longer their responsibility.

After receiving confirmation, the three of them finished work at the same time.

Bourbon and Scotland, who were also at the hotel, naturally went back to the safe house together, while Rye, who was in another building...

Who cares?

"Isn't this a bit too obvious?" Sitting in the white Mazda that Furuya Rei had driven, Morofushi Kagemitsu hesitated, a rare sight on his face. "Isn't this a little too obvious?"

They're teammates, after all.

Rei Furuya clearly had a different opinion from his childhood friend: "I'm Rum's man in the intelligence group. Ray was recommended to join the organization by the research group and works under Gin. The latter has recently had a conflict of interest with Rum. I'm surrendering to my superior."

There's nothing wrong with ostracizing him.

Morofushi Kagemitsu clearly didn't fully believe this reason: "What about me?"

Without a second thought, Rei Furuya replied half-jokingly, "A cunning and wicked information broker trying to form cliques and ostracize newcomers?"

“Sounds good,” said Morobuchi Kagemitsu after seemingly pondering for a moment.

The two childhood friends exchanged a knowing glance and burst out laughing at the same time.

After openly enjoying the pleasure of excluding his teammates, Mazda's tense atmosphere due to the organization and the two's situation eased.

Although it increases the risk of exposure, having a completely trusted partner by your side is indeed beneficial to the mental and physical health of an undercover agent.

Thinking this, Furuya Rei started the Mazda, stepped on the gas, and got back to the main topic: "The organization has recently been in contact with a Russian bomber, and it seems that he intends to recruit him into the organization."

"Hmm?" When talking about the bomber, Morofushi Kagemitsu immediately thought of his two classmates from the bomb disposal unit, and frowned slightly: "Did you reach an agreement?"

“No,” Furuya Rei said, gripping the steering wheel and looking straight ahead. “I heard that they’ve recently become interested in a Japanese criminal who developed a signal bomb and are busy looking for him in Japan.”

It would be great if we could eliminate this dangerous individual before the organization recruits him.

“I will keep an eye on the news with the Public Security Bureau on behalf of the organization,” Furuya Rei said, making the atmosphere quiet for only a moment, not at all dejected: “That second-year student has been going to Poirot Cafe to show his face from time to time lately, I’ll see if I can remind him and Jinpei.”

When it comes to dealing with the bomber, Morofushi Hiromitsu has complete confidence in the abilities of his two contemporaries: "That's all we can do. I've also received quite a few sniper missions recently."

There are many skilled fighters in the organization, but those who can snipe are extremely rare and highly sought after in every squad, giving him more opportunities to interact with other members of the organization.

After exchanging messages, the Mazda came to a steady stop downstairs at the safe house. Furuya Rei didn't get out of the car: "I have to go to work this afternoon. You go back first."

Zhu Fujingguang stared at him silently for a long time, wondering where his childhood friend got this habit of working odd jobs everywhere. He could only nod and say, "Be careful."

"The same to you."

*

Same ward, different fates.

Kenji Hagiwara lay lazily on the bed with his legs slinged, surrounded by flower and fruit baskets that the members of the Explosive Virginity Squad had come to "pay tribute" to him for his miraculous survival.

Kitagawa Ryusei also had a fruit basket beside him, but most of them were just extras. Since he had been lying there all afternoon, more than one group of people had come to him for work-related reasons.

The most outrageous of them was a police officer with strange glasses, a stuffy suit, and a weathered, old-fashioned face. He came in and immediately "invited" Kenji Hagiwara out, saying he had something to discuss with Ryusei Kitagawa alone.

They completely disregarded the fact that Kenji Hagiwara is now paralyzed on one side.

Not only that, but the police even stood guard on both sides of the door, leaving Kenji Hagiwara, who was so bored at the other end of the corridor that he was pulling out his bandages, completely dumbfounded.

The police officer, his face weathered by time, confirmed once again in the hospital room: "Was this truly an accident, and had nothing to do with that organization? Did Kitagawa-kun receive any threats before the bomb was dropped?"

It's no wonder he overthinks things. When he heard that a bomb had been found at Kitagawa Ryusei's doorstep, Kazami Yuya's first reaction was that the organization had taken notice of the special investigation team, and this explosion was a warning to them.

“So far, we haven’t posed any real threat to them,” Kitagawa Ryusei said calmly, as if he wasn’t the one who got bombed today: “I’m more inclined to believe it was a coincidence.”

He recounted the events of the day and the suspicious person he had seen earlier in detail: "The Metropolitan Police Department's Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit and the First Investigative Division are investigating the murderer. Why don't we wait for the results?"

Upon hearing this, Kazami Yuya, who already understood the general process, closed his work notebook and nodded: "I understand. Kitagawa-kun, please take good care of yourself. The Special Investigation Team still needs you for their work."

He finished speaking in a serious tone, then straightened his back and walked out of the ward.

Kitagawa Ryusei was lucky she didn't ruin her image by giving that middle finger to the person from behind.

Yes, of course he has to keep things under control, otherwise he'd make you experience summoning dragons in seven different colored sacks every week.

The police's departure did not give Kenji Hagiwara the chance to return to his ward. Before he could even move, he saw a group of men and women rush into his room.

One of the men, carrying a stack of documents, shouted, "Boss!! Who is it?! Who dares to touch our people!"

"..." Kenji Hagiwara pulled his outstretched foot back, considerately leaving space, and continued to harass Jinpei with text messages on his phone.

He's going to complain! Xiao Liusheng is clearly one of their people!

Kitagawa Ryusei: "..."

He raised his uninjured hand to cover his forehead: "Why are you all here?"

Even Seiichi Okabe, the SIT infiltrator who is usually elusive, has come.

You should know that unless there is a task, they can't get together even once every two weeks, and simple work is done online.

Nakajima Yuma changed the subject, saying, "I heard you were injured, Kitagawa."

Asahina Yugo's gaze kept wandering, as if he was looking for someone: "...I've found some clues."

Chisa Kawashima succinctly stated: "They've come to ambush the Zero Group."

“Those who have work, stay here; leave the flower baskets and fruit,” Kitagawa Ryusei said, tucking a pillow behind his back, already used to it: “Kazami-kun just left; you can catch up with him if you turn left after you go out the door.”

"Haha, how could that guy be more important than you, Kitagawa?" Upon hearing this, everyone quickly pointed to the sky and the ground, indicating that they didn't mean it that way, and then turned to talk about the work at hand.

They recently split up and made some progress on the two cases they were working on. If nothing unexpected had happened, they were supposed to come together to consolidate their efforts.

It's just a change of location now; it doesn't matter to them anywhere.

After briefly recounting his findings, Asahina approached the hospital bed, considered for a moment, and then decided to report: "Kitagawa, didn't I say last time that Moroboshi-kun looked familiar...?"

Kitagawa Ryusei perked up and gestured for him to continue.

"When I got back, I looked through the files, and he wasn't an international fugitive I'd ever met. Then I remembered that I'd overheard some seniors talking about a mixed-race international investigator with black hair and green eyes who liked to wear a knitted hat—an FBI ace investigator."

He raised his hand to gesture: "But not long hair."

Because the knitted hat was so eye-catching, and the fact that the other person was of mixed British and Japanese descent but worked in the United States was so memorable, even if he only overheard it while passing by, it left a deep impression on him.

"But after checking the records, I found that the other party had no recent records of being extradited from our department."

"It might just be a coincidence."

In fact, Kitagawa Ryusei also found it incredible, his light-colored eyes filled with disbelief.

—If I remember correctly, this person is Rei and Hiromitsu's current teammate.

If he really is the FBI, then what is this organization?

A sieve!?

He was greatly shocked, and even a slight immersion in the situation sent a chill down his spine.

However, he did not rush to a conclusion, but said, "Let's put aside Asahina and my side for now and find out the truth about this issue."

Their departments have overlapping jurisdictions, and both can connect with overseas police, but it's more convenient to investigate the FBI through Binay.

It's not surprising that an organization of this size has spies from other official agencies.

However, this information cannot be provided to Furuya Rei before it is fully investigated, to prevent them from being misled and making incorrect judgments.

"I'm inexplicably happy to think that we're ahead of Group Zero," Seiichi Okabe said, leaning back in his chair with his hands behind his head. Even though he was traveling all over Japan for work, it didn't stop him and his colleagues from being united in their hatred of the enemy.

They didn't bother Kitagawa Ryusei for too long. After finishing their important business, they left, all promising to stay with them even if Kitagawa Ryusei couldn't work recently.

Kitagawa Ryusei waved his hand helplessly, indicating that it was unnecessary.

The ward finally quieted down.

"Wow, Rukawa is really busy!" Kenji Hagiwara finally found an opportunity to push his wheelchair in, saying with a sigh, "One good news and one bad news. Jinpei caught the bomber; the bomber was knocked unconscious by him with a brick, so we can't interrogate him for the time being."

Taking the initiative to pick up the computer brought by the special investigation team for processing, Kitagawa Ryusei looked up, puzzled, and asked, "What's the bad news?"

Kenji Hagiwara thought of his childhood friend's explosive temper, and was about to speak but then closed his mouth, finally smiling and saying, "That's right, there's no bad news."

*

As night fell, the nurse finished her final rounds and turned off the lights in the ward before leaving.

Although he mentally accepted that his companion was an ability user, Kenji Hagiwara spent the entire afternoon suffering from the aftereffects of the intense pain and immediately fell asleep when the lights went out.

Kitagawa Ryusei lay on another hospital bed but was not very sleepy, staring blankly at the shadows cast by the tree canopies on the ceiling outside the window.

The doorknob of the ward creaked.

The door opened a crack.

Then, the wind slowly pushed the door open, revealing the hospital's dimly lit corridor.

Hearing the noise, Kitagawa Ryusei turned his head and stared at the door for a moment.

No one came in.

Kenji Hagiwara, who was fast asleep, probably sensed a breeze and pulled the blanket tighter around himself.

Kitagawa Ryusei threw off the covers and got up without waking the person beside him. He put on his coat, grabbed the fruit knife from the fruit basket, put it in his pocket, and walked out without hesitation.

Before leaving the hospital, remember to close the ward door.

The corridor was deserted, but he thought there might have been a figure flashing by in the fire escape. He was worried it was a diversionary tactic, so he stood in the corridor and didn't chase after them.

"Come out," Kitagawa Ryusei said in a deep voice.

The figure paused and slowly turned around.

He didn't wait for him to say it a second time.

The heavy fire door was pushed open, and a young man wearing a cleaner's uniform appeared.

His golden hair was hidden under his hat, and his face was ashen.

His greyish-purple gaze was hidden in the shadows.

Kitagawa Ryusei froze, paused, released the fruit knife from his pocket, and looked away in the silent exchange of glances.

Teeth white...