Chapter 80 Celebrity Host
Around noon, Akai went to a quiet spot outside the rehabilitation center and started smoking. Logically, he shouldn't have abandoned his post at this time. However, staying in that smoky hospital was making him feel restless and anxious, so he quietly slipped out for some fresh air.
Last night, prisoner Carlo was shot and wounded by his accomplices during the prison break.
Although the bullet did not hit any vital organs, it is still dangerous if it remains inside the body.
Warden Catherine then displayed her wisdom, adhering to the principle of not offending either the FBI or the CIA, and arranged for the prisoner to be sent to the Hayama Rehabilitation Center, a hospital that was not under the jurisdiction of any police force.
“I called all the medical facilities, and the hospital closest to the prison with the most available beds was the one that could admit patients,” the warden argued vehemently when questioned by both the FBI and CIA. However, what she didn't know was that other nearby hospitals weren't lacking capacity; their phone numbers had simply been hacked.
Caro was a target coveted by both the FBI and the CIA. The FBI got there first, and the CIA was naturally furious. Now that they saw the FBI had failed to protect the prisoner, the CIA certainly wouldn't let this easy opportunity slip by. They immediately jumped in and said that since the FBI was in such a predicament, they should hand the prisoner over to the CIA!
And so, Akai and the CIA chief argued from late at night until noon. The two engaged in a protracted debate over issues such as the rotation of guards at the ward entrance, the screening of medical staff, the arrangement of medical surgeries, and the provision of meals. By the end, Akai was exhausted, and the two sides still hadn't reached a complete consensus.
"This must have been Bourbon's terrible idea," Akai thought, exhaling a smoke ring. "They never really intended to break into the prison; they just deliberately injured the prisoners to force the police to transfer them to the hospital. 'Why bother with the tough ones when there are easy targets?' That's probably what Bourbon was thinking."
If Akai had any doubts about Bourbon's relationship with Scotland before, he was now completely free of them. In his view, the honest and kind-hearted Scotland could never be on the same side as the treacherous and cunning Bourbon.
In fact, most of Akai's speculations were correct. However, this "bad idea" did not come from Bourbon, but from a junior detective.
"If the enemy has a large number of soldiers, you cannot defeat them. Instead, make them exhaust themselves and weaken their strength."
Jingguang remembered his brother telling him that the "Chain Strategy," as one of the more complex strategies among the Thirty-Six Stratagems, was very deceptive in its very name. The so-called "chain" was just the surface; the real core lay in "tiring up the enemy": inducing the enemy to restrain each other, making it difficult for them to exert their full strength.
Specifically, in this operation, the goal was to induce the FBI and CIA to pass the buck to each other, with the warden acting as a mediator.
The difference between a prison break and a hospital raid is self-evident; it's like lowering the game's difficulty level from hell to beginner's trial. Therefore, Bourbon's suggestion was immediately adopted by the organization.
However, last night's operation took an unexpected turn: Kiel was injured and arrested.
Adhering to humanitarian principles, the prison breakers and inmates were sent to the hospital for treatment together.
But what followed took an increasingly different turn from the original plan. While it couldn't be said that one wrong step led to total failure, it certainly made many people nervous. The biggest fear in a complex scheme is that the chain breaks; if it's not repaired properly, the entire plan is ruined.
A nurse at the hospital recognized Kir as Rena Mizunashi, a female host from Nichiuri TV. The nurse posted about it on her social media, which was then seen by Mizunashi's fans and sparked a heated discussion. Soon, a reporter with a keen sense of opportunity saw this as a good opportunity.
With only two clues—"Japanese female host" and "gunshot wound"—the imaginative reporter went on to write a lengthy news report that subtly hinted at concerns about the recently amended gun control law.
This sparked a huge discussion, with many people expressing concern for the Japanese female host's injuries. Eventually, Nichiri Television had to issue a statement confirming that Rena Mizunashi was on leave and that staff were unable to contact her. This further confirmed the rumors.
More reporters flocked to the scene, only to be blocked by police at the entrance of the rehabilitation center. And then came an even more troublesome person.
Carmel rushed over; "Mr. Akai, over by the door..."
"What happened? What demands did the CIA make this time?"
"Oh, no, there's a child outside the door."
The high school student, who claimed to be Rena Mizunashi's younger brother, was named Eisuke Hondo. He was also stopped by the police outside.
“Please let me in! I am a direct relative and have the right to visit someone in the hospital!” Yingyou shouted. “Look! This is a photo of me and my sister.”
The police wouldn't let this kid of unknown origin in just because of a photo. They could easily make any photo look like that with Photoshop.
However, Yingyou attracted the attention of many reporters and fans. A large group of people surrounded him, asking him all sorts of questions.
Yingyou was completely bewildered, eagerly answering all sorts of strange questions. But no one promised him he could visit his sister in the hospital, and he couldn't help but feel disappointed.
"Didn't the CIA send anyone to look after this child?" Akai found the scene before him unbelievable.
However, this is not the fault of the CIA officers. Who would have thought that a boy who would trip and fall even when walking would slip away right under their noses and find his way here? Furthermore, the CIA officers guarding this place did not know Yingyou's identity.
Just as Akai was about to step forward and take the child away, a soccer ball hit Eisuke in the back first.
"Ouch!" Yingyou exclaimed, bending down to pick up the ball, only to see a small, furry, deep golden head peering over.
"I'm sorry, big brother," the little boy said obediently and sensibly.
"It's okay, I'm not hurt."
"Big brother, is that your sister in the photo?"
"Yes, but the police won't let me in," Yingyou sighed in frustration.
“I can take you in!” the little boy said casually as he juggled the ball.
"real?!"
"Shh—" The little boy made a shushing gesture and said in a low voice with a serious expression like a little adult, "Keep it a secret."
Yingyou nodded knowingly, and, influenced by the other person, lowered his voice and replied, "Definitely!"
"Mr. Akai, that child?"
"Never mind, this isn't our jurisdiction." The man in the knitted hat turned and left, his curiosity growing. Who was this child? How could someone so young be a Scottish assistant?
Akai entered the kitchen under the pretext of checking the kitchen security, and met the head chef who was busy preparing lunch.
"Hello, Officer." The head chef greeted Akai.
"It's alright, you guys go ahead with your work. I'm just taking a look around." Akai strolled around the kitchen for a bit before returning to the head chef's side.
"Would you like to try some freshly baked egg tarts?" the head chef extended a warm invitation.
Akai thanked him and accepted the egg tart without any hesitation.
One bite reveals a crispy exterior, a smooth interior, and a rich milky flavor!
"Scottish cuisine is absolutely wonderful!"
Akai silently praised.
"It seems he's not so easily fooled," the head chef whispered in Akai's ear.
Akai understood that the other person was referring to Gin's discovery of Kusuda Rikudo's identity the previous night. Akai hadn't originally planned to fake his death, as he felt it was unnecessary. In the two years since his identity was exposed, the organization had tried to eliminate him several times but had never succeeded. He wasn't afraid of being hunted down by the organization, so why make things so complicated?
But Scotland misled him, saying, "Akai, have you considered this: as long as you don't die, the organization will relentlessly hunt you down. This is a huge security threat not only to you but also to those around you. Moreover, the organization believes that this rat incident is directly related to you. If you die and the organization can't find any clues, wouldn't Kir be able to escape unscathed?"
Akai thought this made sense, so he agreed.
However, while the specially made "hand warmers" from Scotland could fool the infrared thermal imager, they couldn't fool Gin's eyes. In fact, considering last night's unexpected events, Kiel seems even more suspicious.
"What are your plans for the next step?" Akai asked, taking another bite of the egg tart.
“I think you should have died more realistically,” the head chef said with utmost sincerity, blinking his eyes.
Akai then realized that Scotland had never intended to fake his death in one go. The body from last night was just a decoy. Scotland had other plans, but he hadn't told him in advance.
The other party's meaning was very clear: he needed to "die" a second time, the kind where he had to personally go into battle.
Akai suddenly realized that Scotland might not be as innocent as he had imagined.
Akai glanced down at the egg tart that had been bitten twice, and for no reason, he remembered a saying that adults often told him when he was a child: Don't eat food given to you by other people.
Akai silently added in his mind: "Especially avoid eating the food served by the Scots, or you might lose your life."
This FBI ace ultimately demonstrated remarkable strategic composure, calmly finishing his egg tart. Facing the head chef's expectant gaze, he slowly said, "Thank you for your suggestion. I will consider it carefully."
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