Chapter 55 The First Player

The cell phone suddenly rang, and Haruto Nishimi took the phone out from his coat pocket. It was a call from Shiho Miyano.

"Is it a mission from the organization? Did you do that? What on earth were you planning to do on the Ferris wheel?"

Miyano Shiho's voice was hesitant and filled with obvious fear, and her tone was dry. Saikai Haruto could almost imagine that her face was probably pale and her heart was full of unrest, like a frightened bird.

If you think about it carefully, it is normal for her to have such a guess - after all, the explosion happened nearby, and it was Saikai Haruto who took the initiative to suggest riding the Ferris wheel. Whether it is the organization or Cointreau, neither of them is a good thing in Miyano Shiho's heart. It is only natural that she would link this sudden explosion with the organization and Cointreau.

If you think about it more deeply, even the fact that Jundu suggested that she meet her sister today might be for this mission?

Miyano Shiho on the other end of the phone shuddered and suddenly felt a little chilly. She suddenly woke up from the sweet atmosphere of reuniting with her sister today and stepped into the cold reality.

"...You really wronged me, Shirley."

Saikai Haruto defended himself, and it was a bit hard to say - did he look like the kind of person who would take the initiative to add extra work to himself during the holiday? Obviously not! What kind of person did Miyano Shiho think he was?

But he also neglected this point... He only remembered how calm and composed 17-year-old Miyano Shiho was a few years later, and forgot that 14-year-old Miyano Shiho was still a little girl. Even though she was more mature than many people, she rarely came into contact with a bombing at such a close distance, so it was normal for her to feel scared.

After reflecting on himself for two seconds, he patiently comforted Miyano Shiho: "This explosion has nothing to do with me, and I also found a time bomb in the cabin I'm in now. It can only be said to be a coincidence. But you and Miyano-san don't have to be afraid. With me here, at least nothing will happen to you and Miyano-san. What are you afraid of?"

"Of course, I think this matter has nothing to do with the organization... Because the bomb I have here is an old model that has been eliminated in the organization two years ago and will not be used. If it is really a mission from the organization, it is impossible to use this kind of bomb."

"Bombs, you have them there too?" After hearing his words, Miyano Shiho's voice became more nervous: "Where is it? Is it dangerous? Did you see them outside - those are the police, right? And if it's not a mission from the organization, then who is doing this?"

"Xueli, you have so many questions." Xi Haiqingdou couldn't help but complain.

"The bomb was under the seat, but it was not dangerous and could be easily dismantled. The explosion lasted a long time, so there was no danger at all. I guess it was done by a bomb freak who wanted to attract the attention of the police. After all, the police came so quickly. This speed was obviously abnormal. It was obvious that they had received the news in advance."

Complaining as he might, he still answered her questions honestly one by one, and then suddenly reminded her as if he remembered something: "Ah, although I think it is unlikely that you will be so unlucky...but you can also check if there is a bomb under the seat over there?"

"Even if there really is one, it's nothing. After all, at the speed the Ferris wheel is descending, you should be able to get down in a minute or two, right? I guess even if there is a bomb, it won't explode now. It's not you who planted the bomb, so why are you afraid of what the police will do?"

11:47.

The Ferris wheel is still turning, cabin No. 67 is about to approach the ground, and cabin No. 72 is still descending.

"Are you kidding?!" Miyano Shiho's voice was tense and panicked, as if she was frightened - after all, no matter how precocious she was, she was only fourteen years old.

There was a scream from the other end of the line first. Nishimi Haruto recognized it as belonging to Miyano Akemi. Then, after a rustling sound, Miyano Shiho's somewhat weak voice came through the receiver: "...No, I didn't find any bomb under the seat on my side."

"That's good. Don't be afraid."

Nishimi Haruto continued to comfort her, his voice soft, "You and Miyano-san should be close to the ground now, right? Then go down directly now. You can stay nearby or go a little further away to wait for me, but don't go too far. Do you see those policemen on the ground? You can even stand next to them if that makes you and Miyano-san feel safer. But remember not to expose the existence of the organization in front of those policemen, can you do it? I know you are very brave, you can definitely do it, right?"

Cointreau's voice came through the receiver a little distorted. His tone was clearly gentle and soothing, but to Miyano Shiho's ears it sounded indescribably cold - just like the feeling his somewhat inhuman golden eyes gave her.

Is this a threat? This must be a threat, right?!

Miyano Shiho held the cell phone tightly in her hand and followed Miyano Akemi down the Ferris wheel in a somewhat mechanical manner. While Saikai Haruto was talking to her, cabin No. 67 had already begun to approach the ground.

The little girl with short brown hair looked extremely pale. It was January and the air was still chilly, but beads of sweat oozed out of her forehead, and even the hair on her forehead was wet.

"Are you crazy?!"

It seemed that she had exhausted all her strength to say this short sentence. Miyano Shiho subconsciously put the phone tightly to her ear and dared not move again. At the same time, she looked out.

Maybe because they had learned some information in advance, the police arrived very quickly. After the explosion of the Ferris wheel, she and Miyano Akemi looked outside from the cabin window and clearly saw the police car parked nearby, and then quickly rushed to the Ferris wheel.

She was held tightly in Miyano Akemi's arms and they jumped off the Ferris wheel together. Miyano Akemi was obviously scared herself, but she was still trying her best to comfort her, "Don't be afraid."

Two policemen were standing next to the Ferris wheel. When they saw the two sisters coming down from the wheel with frightened looks on their faces, they didn't think much about it and simply comforted and guided them to a safe place nearby. After all, an explosion had just occurred here, and it was normal for the two girls to feel scared.

Miyano Shiho pursed her lips, trying to maintain her composure in front of the police, but her heart was actually beating wildly. She didn't know what was wrong with Cointreau, why would he say to her "Stand by the police"? And in such a situation! She didn't know if his words were heard by others...

This guy is really too brave.

Miyano Shiho once again confirmed that Cointreau was indeed a complete lunatic.

Or is this guy so suspicious by nature that he still hasn't forgotten to take the opportunity to test her and her sister?

Fearing that the person on the other end of the line might say something outrageous, Miyano Shiho hardened her heart, pretended to have shaking hands, and hung up the phone. Then she and Miyano Akemi found a place a little way away from the Ferris wheel, the control console, and the police, but where they could still see what was happening over there. They waited for Saikai Haruto to get off the Ferris wheel before leaving together.

"...Ah, he hung up? He didn't even say thank you or goodbye. What an impolite kid."

Haruto Nishimi sighed as he held the hung up phone and put the phone back into his coat pocket, feeling a little aggrieved - he was called "crazy" for no reason, and he hadn't said anything yet, but Miyano Shiho hung up the phone directly... Was she afraid that if she was a step slower, he would scold her?

It's as if he is some kind of dean of studies.

After waiting in the cabin for a while, cabin No. 72 soon came close to the ground. Before Saikai Haruto could take any action, the door of the cabin was opened from the outside, and at the same time, a somewhat urgent voice came:

"It's dangerous here, hurry up..."

Looking at the familiar curly-haired face in black uniform and sunglasses who opened the door, Nishimi Haruto showed a look of surprise and a little happiness on his face, interrupting him and saying, "Hey, Officer Matsuda? What a coincidence, I didn't expect you to be here."

"...Yuyuan?"

Apparently, Matsuda Jinpei's memory was also quite good, as he quickly recognized Saikai Haruto. His originally frowned and serious expression relaxed a little, revealing a hint of surprise. Apparently, he also did not expect to meet him here by coincidence.

"Why do I always run into you guys in such unlucky places..."

Jinpei Matsuda was a little shocked, but now was obviously not a good place or time to reminisce, so without saying a word, he jumped on and simply and roughly pulled him out of the Ferris wheel.

He squatted down and looked at the bomb under the seat, then quickly turned around and asked Xi Haiqingdou: "Someone has installed a time bomb here, did you move around?"

"Eh? Time bomb? Is it here? Is it dangerous?"

Xi Haiqingdou's eyes widened, but he didn't look nervous or scared. Instead, he asked him with a little curiosity, "Wow, I didn't expect that I would stay with a bomb for fifteen minutes..."

"You seem a bit scared!" Matsuda Jinpei couldn't help but complain about him - would a normal person be as calm as him after hearing such news? Is there something strange about this guy?

However, he still understood from his words that the guy in front of him, who looked confused, probably didn't notice that there was a bomb hidden here, let alone made any movements, and he felt a little relieved.

Although I don't know whether this guy is too natural or too calm, I have to say that his calm and unhurried attitude does make people feel at ease.

"Bomb?! Matsuda, you come down first!"

After hearing the word "bomb", several policemen outside the Ferris wheel reacted with obvious surprise. A female police officer immediately stepped forward anxiously and tried to persuade Jinpei Matsuda to get off the Ferris wheel.

The Metropolitan Police Department received an anonymous fax half an hour ago, setting up a mystery to provoke the police. After Matsuda Jinpei deciphered the location as cabin 72 of the Ferris wheel in the Beido shopping mall, they rushed over. It was not until now that they learned that the criminal had planted the bomb here, and they did not even have time to notify the bombing team...

Jinpei Matsuda was just transferred by his superiors to the violent crime unit of their investigation section a few days ago. Even though he had been working in the mobile unit of the security department before and was not familiar with their case handling procedures, his actions were still too reckless in the eyes of Sato Miwako.

This is not the time to be a hero.

"Ah, it's okay." Matsuda Jinpei smiled and ignored their advice. He took off his sunglasses and smiled with a unique Matsuda Jinpei style of calmness and confidence. He then closed the cabin door and said, "For things like this, it's better to leave it to the experts."[1]

Bomb disposal is his real job.

"But wait!" The female police officer with short black hair stretched out her hand, but was still a step too slow. An anxious and worried expression appeared on her face: "Officer Matsuda!"

"Oh, so Officer Matsuda is a bomb disposal expert?"

Xi Haiqing Dou stood aside and interrupted at the right time with a smile, and said with a look of sudden enlightenment: "It's a really cool speech that makes people feel safe."

"Hey, can Matsuda defuse bombs?"

Sato Miwako recovered from her anxiety and was stunned for a moment - yes, she was too anxious just now and couldn't react for a while. Matsuda Jinpei's move just now didn't seem to be out of arrogance, but more like out of confidence.

But... she had never heard that Jinpei Matsuda knew how to defuse bombs before he was transferred to the First Investigation Division?

"In fact, Matsuda had always been in the explosive ordnance disposal team of the mobile group, so it is not wrong to say that he is an expert in bomb disposal."

Inspector Megure, who was standing behind Sato Miwako, explained.

"This is too coincidental. If this is the case, then this bomb should be defused by Officer Matsuda soon, right?"

Saikai Haruto clasped his hands together and his eyes lit up, looking relaxed and speaking in a brisk tone, as if he firmly believed that Matsuda Jinpei would be able to defuse the bomb successfully.

"This bomb is lucky to have met Officer Matsuda."

He raised his head and looked at the slowly rising cabin No. 72 on the Ferris wheel. He seemed to be able to see Jinpei Matsuda defusing the bomb inside, and suddenly he raised the corners of his lips and smiled slightly.