Chapter 63 Colluding with each other: You can't sleep in the same bed with two kinds of people. ...
Kitagawa Ryusei rarely found himself speechless in front of his work colleagues, and Akai Shuichi was the first in this regard.
He said seriously, "You must have had no friends when you were in the organization."
"..."
Shuichi Akai remained silent, then attempted to retort: "Scotland..."
Kitagawa Ryusei exposed him mercilessly: "Kagemitsu can maintain a friendly facade with anyone, but that's just one of his pretenses."
Shuichi Akai, who couldn't think of anyone else, scoffed.
It's confirmed, Kitagawa Ryusei was deliberately seeking revenge.
The FBI was amazed by the pettiness of the Japanese police.
—Isn't it just a joke about bourbon?
After several interactions, Shuichi Akai realized that he could only talk about work with the young man; otherwise, he would be like Bourbon possessed, and nine out of ten sentences would be at odds with him.
So he changed the subject: "I'm curious, how did you come up with the idea of starting with the lower-level members of the organization?"
Sure enough, Kitagawa Ryusei's attention was immediately diverted to work: "Do you know how many people have defected from this lousy organization recently?"
Shuichi Akai raised an eyebrow and asked suspiciously: ...Should I know?
The FBI has always focused its attention on core members who could undermine the organization, which is why it allows some members to run rampant right under its nose.
Compared to these people, the organization's lower-level members are like ants in a nest, too numerous to catch, and they will scatter and flee if disturbed.
"Numabuchi Kiichiro, Hara Yoshiaki, Okakura Masaaki..."
At this moment, Kitagawa Ryusei listed out some names he had never even heard of: "As long as you pay attention to Gin's movements, you will find that since Rum's arrest, the number of low-level members who have defected from the organization has been increasing."
“Not everyone will be loyal to a ‘gentleman’ they’ve never even met. Most members are just following their superiors around, picking up scraps, and at most paying attention to the person in charge. With Rum gone, his men are naturally living in fear and looking for other opportunities.”
"You should know that even an ant can shake a tree."
"And so, the little traitor became a super nuclear bomb that blew up the organization."
After saying that, Kitagawa Ryusei leaned back, and the chair tilted back as he did so, covering his face with the FBI's collected data.
The young man's voice came from under the paper: "Kosugi Shin is a piece of fat meat that can run away now, a pitiful little thing trembling with fear... so pitiful."
The sound grew softer and softer, sounding like she was falling asleep.
Seeing that he really intended to close his eyes and rest, Shuichi Akai felt it was unfair.
He offered to drive his car, saying, "You can drive at the service station later."
Driving is fine, but it's not okay for someone to sleep next to him while he's driving.
Kitagawa Ryusei remained unmoved.
That night, they first went on a mission, then got into a fight with Rei Furuya. They chatted for so long that they didn't even get to have a late-night snack before being called out again.
With dawn approaching and the night drawing to a close, Kitagawa Ryusei just wanted to rest.
"It would be stupid not to use a free driver," the young man said, not even bothering to show his face, refusing with his eyes closed. "No. It's just Tokyo to Kanagawa. Zero can make two round trips. Are you not capable?"
Is that how you use bourbon?
Shuichi Akai slowly typed out a question mark.
It must be admitted that using reverse psychology is shameful but very effective.
Throughout the journey, Shuichi Akai never mentioned changing drivers again.
However, the fact that the vehicle was so bumpy that it was impossible to fall asleep was not a consideration for him.
A black Chevrolet sped along the highway.
Its owner didn't intend to let any speed bump go unchecked; several times when turning, the rear of the car was pulled and swung over by the front.
The sky was just beginning to brighten.
Shuichi Akai pulled the brakes, and the car came to a smooth stop on the side of the street: "We're here."
"Our informant reports that Kosugi Shin last entered this hotel."
Kitagawa Ryusei opened his eyes, lifted the documents covering his face to block out the light, and there was no trace of the confusion of someone who had just woken up.
He didn't ask Shuichi Akai where his informant came from; instead, he looked around at his surroundings.
It's nothing special, nothing particularly noteworthy, but if you go further south you'll reach Yokohama.
He couldn't figure it out: "Are there any well-known gangs here? Or are there any conglomerates that are on par with the Karasuma Group?"
Shuichi Akai remained silent for a long while: "...As far as I know, there isn't any."
Kitagawa Ryusei was completely baffled: "Then why did he choose to hide here?"
He didn't believe the Black Organization couldn't find this place, even the FBI could.
Could it be that this Kosugi Shin has some kind of trump card?
Shuichi Akai could answer that question: "I met Shin Kosugi once before I got my codename, and it seems like this is his safe house."
Faced with this explanation, Kitagawa Ryusei's face went blank, his expression indescribable: "...I should have thought of that sooner. These people are so naive it's heartbreaking."
They've already defected, why don't they hurry up and hide abroad or find another place to go? They're actually staying obediently near a safe house.
For a moment, it was impossible to tell whether he wanted to die or live.
Having previously deceived these people several times, Shuichi Akai, as one of the beneficiaries, nodded in agreement.
The two exchanged a glance and, unsurprisingly, saw the "scheming" in each other's eyes.
Kitagawa Ryusei pulled out his police ID from his pocket, while Akai Shuichi slung his instrument case over his shoulder.
They basically didn't need to discuss plans; they all left in different directions without prior arrangement.
Since Kosugi Shin's identity was currently unusable, he could only hide in an unofficial hotel that didn't require identity registration. Kitagawa Ryusei entered and easily obtained the other party's room number and key card simply by showing his police ID.
When we went upstairs, the receptionist was still gesturing wildly to the sky and the ground, insisting that she absolutely did not serve minors.
...
The hotel corridor has only two small windows at the beginning and end, and the light that comes in is barely enough to illuminate the path on the ground.
As soon as you step out of the elevator, you can smell a pungent aromatherapy scent. The dark red carpet feels stiff underfoot, and you don't know how long it has been since it was changed.
Upon finding the corresponding room, Kitagawa Ryusei opened the door directly with her room card without saying hello.
He then kicked the door open so fast that the person inside didn't even have time to draw their gun.
The young man shouted, "FBI raid on prostitution! Everyone, put your hands on your heads and squat down!"
Kosugi Shin, who had just drawn his gun to retaliate, was taken aback.
He was in a state of extreme anxiety, his pupils contracted and his eyes widened like ping-pong balls.
What is that??
Shuichi Akai, wearing a tactical headset: "..."
When Shuichi Akai first saw Ruki Kitagawa, he realized that this person was like himself.
It has its bottom line, but it doesn't blindly follow the rules.
Working with such a person requires no worry about being bound by their overly high moral standards; as long as the goals are aligned, the relationship will be very comfortable.
But right now, Shuichi Akai desperately wants the other party to know some manners.
First of all, the FBI does not crack down on prostitution.
Secondly, he listened carefully, and when spreading rumors, he avoided targeting the person in question.
The single room was filled with the smell of smoke, and cigarette butts overflowed from the ashtray and fell onto the table.
The bed curtains were drawn tightly shut. The middle-aged man with a mustache, who had been huddled in the shadows of the sofa, sprang to his feet upon hearing the door open.
Upon recognizing the person, he neither fired immediately nor lowered the safety. He pointed at Kitagawa Ryusei, his voice filled with rage: "You...you're not an FBI agent! I've seen you on TV!"
"Police officers!!"
Because of his outstanding appearance, Kitagawa Ryusei has been invited to appear on television several times, and he is now quite well-known.
He wasn't ashamed of his failed attempt to impersonate an FBI agent, raising an eyebrow and saying, "Knowing who I am makes things even easier. You should know why the police are looking for you."
“As far as we know, Gin is on his way,” Kitagawa Ryusei said bluntly, without mincing words, despite the risk of being held at gunpoint: “Give us the list, and the police will save your life.”
In fact, the plan should not have been made so hastily.
If making a plan is like building a house, then what Kitagawa Ryusei is facing now is practically a large thatched hut dug out with his feet.
But right now they're racing against time with Gin.
Negotiation and finding things take time, but silencing someone only takes the time it takes to shoot them with a single bullet.
He lowered his voice, then subtly quickened his pace: "You need to know that now that the police have found you, Gin will definitely be here soon."
“We can provide you with protection, but we can’t linger here for too long.”
Shin Kosugi clearly understood this better than he did.
During the few hours he hid, his courage to defect had been worn away by wild thoughts and threats to his life, and the organization's cruel methods of dealing with defectors constantly filled his mind.
He still gripped the gun tightly in his hand; it was his only source of security.
The man stubbornly tried to negotiate: "I don't want to go to the police station. Give me some money, and I want to go abroad."
Kitagawa Ryusei frowned slightly, pressed his earpiece as if listening to the other end of the line, and after a long while replied, "Okay, but we need to get the list first."
The words "list" clearly touched a nerve. Kosugi Shin cautiously took a step back towards the window, pressing his back against the curtains: "How do I know you're not lying to me?"
Kitagawa Ryusei readily offered kind words: "In fact, before we find evidence of a crime to convict you, you are still a citizen of our country, and as police officers, we have an obligation to provide protection for our citizens."
"I need to go to the airport first, and then I will hand over the things to you when I get there."
He knew that the list in his hand was both a death warrant and a life-saving charm, and he had to hold on to it tightly until he was truly safe.
"They've finally gotten their brains working now..." Kitagawa Ryusei cursed inwardly.
The young policeman still seemed easygoing: "We can arrange it immediately, but time—"
As he spoke, his expression suddenly changed when his gaze fell on the window behind the man: "Be careful!"
Almost the instant the words left his mouth, Kosugi Shin heard the sound of something shattering.
The bullet shattered the glass window and grazed his neck!
Kitagawa Ryusei swiftly pounced on the person and pinned them down.
Sniping to eliminate witnesses is a common tactic used by Gin.
Kosugi Shin was so frightened that his face turned ashen, and he couldn't catch his breath, gasping for air in small, rapid gasps.
He crouched by the window, trembling and clutching his head, not even thinking of running away, gritting his teeth as he kept uttering, "He's here...he's here!"
Kitagawa Ryusei was greatly impressed.
How did this coward even muster the courage to stab the organization in the heart?!
Through the earpiece, Shuichi Akai said calmly, "Lift him up a bit, we're about to fire the second shot."
At the best sniping spot in the distance, the black-haired man lay prone on the ground, sniper rifle resting on his shoulder, patiently waiting.
There was no clear target in the scope; only a blurry shadow could be seen through the curtains.
Kitagawa Ryusei, dressed in dark clothes, stood out more as a blurry figure under the scope than the other person.
He had just finished giving his instructions when, through the scope, the young man in black lifted up a human figure, carrying something in his hand.
Without any hesitation, Shuichi Akai pulled the trigger the instant the two figures separated.
--Bang!
The bullet shattered the glass, which cut Kosugi Shin's shoulder clothing, and blood seeped out of his coat.
"I've been shot..."
Seeing that the man was still staring blankly at the bloodstains, Kitagawa Ryusei grabbed him and pulled him to the sofa, shaking him violently to bring him back to his senses. His terrified face was filled with suspicion: "Why would Gin act directly? Has he already found the list? Or do you not even have it at all!"
"impossible!!"
The approach of death sent his adrenaline soaring, but Kosugi Shin seemed even more agitated, biting his nails until they bled, screaming in protest: "They can't possibly find it... impossible!"
"You didn't have anything on you..."
Kitagawa Ryusei's eyes darkened where no one could see them. He decisively grabbed the man and walked out, each word exploding in the man's ears: "We can't just sit here and wait to die. Kosugi Shin, didn't you steal the list to get revenge on the organization?!"
"The organization has suffered no losses, but you are about to lose your life."
"The police are in the coffee shop in the building across the street. You can be saved if you just close your eyes and run over there."
"Tell me where the list is and I'll come get it!"
"I want to take revenge on the organization..."
His chest heaved violently, and Kosugi Shin was basically being pushed around to move. Only at this moment did his gaze focus and his lips move.
The dimly lit hotel corridor seemed to conceal an unseen danger, and the sound-absorbing carpet diligently worked its magic, ensuring that no one could walk past without making a sound.
No matter which direction, in Kosugi Shin's eyes it seemed as if an undercover assassin with a gun could stroll by at any moment.
"The list is in my safe house... The memory card is wrapped in plastic wrap and hidden in the faucet."
Kosugi Shin impatiently rattled off an address and then grabbed Kitagawa Ryusei's hand.
The bond forged through shared hardship during the two gunfights had briefly given him a sense of trust in the police officer before him.
He has no other way out right now.
Kosugi Shin's eyes were bloodshot, his nails digging into Kitagawa Ryusei's wrist. He could barely hold his gun steady and desperately needed another source of support: "I'll survive! I can stay in the same prison as Rum! They can't kill me, right?!"
"..."
Once he was certain that he wasn't lying, all of Kitagawa Ryusei's expressions vanished at that moment.
The sudden change in expression startled Shin Kosugi, causing him to release his grip. He gasped, his rationality returning like a tide, and cold sweat beaded on his back.
I shouldn't have said that...
After staring at the man for a long time, Kitagawa Ryusei finally spoke: "Next to the coffee shop in that building is a local police station, and the policeman on duty today is named Nakazawa."
"Go and turn yourself in. Tell him the special search team is after you and someone wants to silence you. Don't say anything else."
“I promise to put your cell next to Rum’s.”
After saying that, Kitagawa Ryusei left without looking back.
...
After witnessing Kitagawa Ryusei's entire process of using and discarding her after deceiving her, Akai Shuichi actually felt a little uneasy about his conscience.
A sliver of goodness remained in him: "Don't we need to settle this person in a safe place?"
Kitagawa Ryusei's answer was very straightforward and realistic: "Time is running out. The local transportation department spotted the Porsche and Mazda on their surveillance cameras ten minutes ago. Gin's Porsche is driving this way."
He said he didn't have time, but his tone remained calm and unhurried through the earpiece: "Mr. Akai, do you know why I'm traveling with you?"
A sense of foreboding welled up from the bottom of his heart. Shuichi Akai suddenly felt that instead of feeling sorry for Shin Kosugi, he should feel sorry for himself who was about to be hurt.
He hesitated for a moment: "Because I have exceptional abilities?"
As expected, Kitagawa Ryusei immediately denied it: "No, it's because of your unparalleled attraction to Gin."
FBI ace sniper Shuichi Akai received this evaluation for the first time: "..."
I understand, he was just bait.
After hailing a taxi at the hotel entrance, Kitagawa Ryusei earnestly instructed, "Get in, here's a sweet and soft little cake."
You absolutely must keep Gin entangled.
"..."
On the rooftop across the street.
As Shuichi Akai put away his sniper rifle, feeling the cold wind blowing from the rooftop, he realized with absolute clarity what it meant to be unable to sleep in the same bed with two different kinds of people.
Why did he think Kitagawa Ryusei was easier to get along with than Bourbon?
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