Chapter 60 The Choice: You Can Only Take One Person With You
Research Institute No. 11.
Chinatsu was taken to the control room, while her three subordinates were locked in separate cubicles.
On the large screen in the control room, the surveillance footage of the three people was being played simultaneously in split-screen mode. Vermouth adjusted the image to a suitable size, then turned back and gave her a deep look.
Takanashi Chika didn't speak, but her fingers nervously gripped her clothes, trying her best to remain calm.
She was unable to contact her brother.
This was the first time Vermouth had seen through her little trick.
In the past, Takanashi Chinatsu often played tricks on Vermouth, and she didn't think Vermouth hadn't noticed, but the other party never exposed her. This time, however, it was different.
The unease gradually increased from a faint, subtle feeling, and her breathing became heavier. Even though the temperature in the control room wasn't high, fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.
The challenge she faces this time may be no less significant than the previous genetic test.
"Black cherry".
It was Karasuma Renya's voice.
Facing the camera, Takanashi Chika couldn't see the other person, but she knew perfectly well that Karasuma Renya could see her clearly.
She tried to appear nonchalant, but her sweat betrayed her, and her rapid breathing revealed her panic.
“Father.” Her voice was tinged with a hint of grievance. Since she couldn’t appear calm, she simply showed extreme grievance, glaring at Vermouth resentfully, but her words were an accusation directed at Karasuma Renya: “You scared me.”
Vermouth sighed and turned to leave.
Chinatsu Takanashi panicked even more and almost wanted to catch up with Vermouth immediately, but was stopped by Renya Karasuma.
"Did calling you over suddenly make you feel uneasy?" Karasuma Renya asked.
The voice was gentle and calm, and the deliberately slowed tone was even more effective in soothing people's anxieties.
He's used to this tactic.
Chinatsu Takanashi did not relax. Karasuma Renya was indeed very gentle, but his gentleness did not prevent him from being cruel.
Even though she had never met the other person, Takanashi Chika still felt a heavy shadow looming over her. The sharp beak of the scavenging bird, its sharp feathers, and its wings that seemed to blot out the sky all gleamed with a cold, metallic light, a chilling coldness that erased all emotions.
Do you know how to train assassins?
Takanashi Chika shook her head, not understanding why Karasuma Renya was asking this.
"To erase a person's humanity, to make a person's heart completely cold, you must kill what is most precious to them."
Through the loudspeaker, Karasuma Renya's voice remained gentle.
On the large screen, Bourbon, Scotland, and Rye are curiously observing the room's environment, completely unaware of the impending danger.
Chinatsu's heart leaped into her throat.
"Have you been getting along well with those three lately?"
“That’s not true, Father!” Takanashi Chinatsu immediately denied, cleverly replying, “Father is the best person to me, and I love him the most. They are just useful tools in my hands.”
"Haha, you're still as lovable as ever." Karasuma Renya laughed.
A glimmer of hope rose in Chika's heart, and she was about to offer a few more words of praise, but Karasuma Renya's next words plunged her into despair.
"But they are still important to you."
A final decision, leaving no room for argument.
Sensing the subtle change in Karasuma Renya's tone, Takanashi Chinatsu opened her mouth in bewilderment, but then closed it silently.
"However, I don't intend to train you into a cold-blooded killer, but only to train you into a qualified manager with an iron fist, so you don't have to kill them all."
In an instant, the clouds parted and the sun shone through, and Chizuru's eyes brightened slightly.
"Of the three, you can keep one."
The thick clouds pressed down, layer after layer, but in the end, they were still obscured by the dark, heavy clouds.
A strong wind suddenly rose, and a torrential downpour was about to begin.
Someone pushed the door open at that moment.
Chika Takanashi turned around sharply, but her eyes dimmed when she saw who it was.
He's not my older brother.
Rum slowly entered the room, carrying a wooden tray in his hands. On the tray were three buttons labeled with numbers, corresponding to the three rooms where Bourbon, Scotland, and Rye were located.
"Can you tell where they're being held?" Karasuma Renya asked.
Takanashi Chika didn't answer, but she already knew the answer in her heart: those three cubicles were the research institute's poison gas laboratory.
In fact, the organization does not often experiment with poison/gas, nor does it conduct specialized research in this area, not because it is inhumane.
An organization that does not need large-scale wars and has no dream of world domination has virtually no use for weapons of mass destruction and therefore has no need to research them.
Gas chambers were more often used to imprison and execute traitors to an organization. With four walls and no windows, the fear of being in a confined and cramped space, where one could face death at any moment, could make the strong weak, the arrogant submissive, and the faithful shattered.
“The numbers on the buttons in your hand correspond to the monitoring numbers. Pressing them will activate the corresponding gas chamber execution procedure,” Karasuma Renya explained to her, her voice extremely slow. “You will have to undergo this training eventually. Actually, Rum reminded me about it a long time ago, but I always felt that you were too young, having only just begun to get involved with the organization. I hoped you could have more time to grow.”
fraud!
Takanashi Chika felt a surge of anger in her heart, even though it was because her bond with the three of them wasn't deep enough back then.
Over the past six months, her relationship with the three men has evolved from strangers to acquaintances, from indifference to closeness. Although the three men are at odds with each other, they always show their most approachable and outstanding side when facing her.
Karasuma Renya watched helplessly from the sidelines, and only when she finally accepted the three of them and formed a friendship with them did she suddenly strike, forcefully extinguishing her feelings for them.
Karasuma Renya is forcing her to become an executioner.
He kept saying he wasn't training assassins, and that he could let her keep one, but this was precisely the most cruel thing he did.
Three people came in, and one person left alive. What would she think? What would the person who left alive think?
They will inevitably drift apart and go further and further away.
To prevent the news of her ruthless killing of her own people from getting out, she might even have to use every means to control or kill the living person. This test of humanity was pushed to an even more cruel level by Karasuma Renya.
elder brother……
Gin.
Because Vermouth stopped her, she couldn't send that message, so Gin won't come, and her brother won't come to help her this time.
She has to get through this on her own; this is a battlefield that only she can handle.
Staring at the three buttons in front of her, Chinatsu's mind raced. What if she destroyed all three buttons at the same time...? What if she cried, screamed, broke down, and threw a tantrum at Renya Karasuma...?
“I won’t force you, Black Cherry.” Karasuma Renya’s words came first. Through the altered sound of electricity, his voice had a raspy quality, erasing some of his human emotion: “Of course you can destroy the button, I don’t care. This test can also be postponed, after all, I don’t want to force you to kill so soon. But you can’t keep these three people. I will be the executioner. The poison gas will be released at the same time to take their lives. They are just three codename members. In our eyes, they are nothing more than disposable expendables. I can send you better subordinates.”
Even though Chika Takanashi had touched the button, the warmth was slowly being absorbed by it, leaving her hand cold and stiff, as if it had frozen into an ice cube.
She was unable to move, unable to advance or retreat.
Even though Karasuma Renya's voice was calm and unhurried, without any anger, it was precisely this lack of emotional change in his tone that made Takanashi Chinatsu feel even more terrified.
He can do it.
Karasuma Renya is absolutely capable of doing something as cruel as that.
She looked up blankly and saw Rum's lips slowly curving upwards.
The curve of his lips was as sharp as a blade, cutting into her body and taking away the remaining warmth from her.
“Black Cherry, I suggest you choose one. At least you can save your life.” Rum’s hunched back straightened up at this moment, and he seemed to grow half a head taller. His chest also puffed out, and his eyes were like the stinger of a killer bee.
That gleaming, cold light chilled the heart of the black cherry.
"Father..." Takanashi Chinatsu instinctively cried out for help, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Don't be willful, my child, you are the one who will take over the organization."
"No..." She didn't want it anymore.
She didn't want any of the organizations or Karasuma Renya's trust.
She didn't want it in the first place. Whether it was joining the organization or becoming its successor, it was all forced upon her by Karasuma Renya. She never had the right to choose.
She wanted to escape all of this. She just wanted to live a peaceful life with her adoptive father. Even now, all she had was the obsession with taking her brother away. She only wanted these small satisfactions. She didn't want to kill anyone.
Bourbon, Scotland, Lyon.
These three people are very good.
Although she used to hate Lai, it was because Lai lied to Mingmei. Isn't it normal for her to look down on her best friend's boyfriend? Her best friend is so good, how could she date a devil from the organization? No matter how good-looking he is, it can't hide the truth that he is a devil.
But Rye is actually an FBI agent. Although he also deceived Minmei, they have now broken up, and everything is clearly getting better in the direction she hoped for.
Scotland, such a gentle person, was the first of the three to whom Takanashi Chinatsu developed feelings, and also the first person Gin sent to her side. Gin must have spent a long time choosing before selecting a docile wolf from among a pack of vicious wolves. Even though Scotland was cold-blooded and ruthless towards its mission targets, sometimes even making her wary and suspicious, it never showed her any coldness.
And then there's Bourbon. Even though everyone knows he comes from an intelligence background and his words and actions are driven by a strong purpose, who could resist a sweet-talking little bee? Bourbon put in far more effort to please her than the other two.
Justice and evil may be incompatible, but she walks in the gray area, and there are three people she wants to bring into her territory, and there have always been three people.
"Chika, if you don't want to choose, I can help you choose." Karasuma Renya was extremely considerate.
Rum's expression changed slightly: "Sir!"
“Shut up, Rum. I don’t need you to teach me how to do things.” Karasuma Renya’s decision was unquestionable.
"Father, please spare them. I can give up the heirship, as long as you let them go..."
"Shh-"
The voice was so soft that Chinai dared not speak again.
Karasuma Renya's voice sounded like a sigh, yet also like a soft narration: "Chika, you never learn. Aside from hurting you, when has my decision ever changed?"
harm……
harm……
Chizuru Takanashi's eyes slowly regained hope.
"If you die, Bourbon, Scotland, Ray, Gin, Vermouth, Sutton... there are too many people to count. But I can tell you, everyone who has ever been in contact with you, whether inside or outside the organization, even if they've only met you once, will die. Your classmates and teachers from childhood, your lovely neighbors, they will all be buried with you. They will mourn for you with their lives, so please don't be so reckless, okay, Chinatsu-chan?"
Despite her gentle voice, she spoke cruel and heartless words.
Chinatsu Takanashi stumbled, suddenly realizing that she was pleading with a demon.
With so many lives hanging in the balance, she couldn't risk her life for three subordinates; Karasuma Renya knew her weakness very well.
Whether it was Takanashi Chika's imagination or not, her body was getting colder and colder, but only her earlobes were getting slightly hot, and getting hotter and hotter.
"Do you want to choose? Or leave here?"
The door was opened.
Vermouth stood at the doorway, quietly watching Takanashi Chika, extending an invitation with her eyes.
But Takanashi Chika did not leave. She stared at the screen, quietly watching the three wary figures on it.
She cannot leave.
She can save three people, and those three people are her responsibility.
She can only save one person, and that person is her responsibility.
In any case, she couldn't just turn around and leave without doing anything; that would be irresponsible and would maximize the losses.
“Just press it, and the poison gas will be released.” As if he had seen through Takanashi Chinatsu’s plan, Rum smiled and moved the tray closer to her.
Chizuru lowered her head.
Three buttons, three numbers, three lives lost.
It's a difficult choice.
If it were her brother, if it were her real adoptive father, he would definitely spoil her and indulge her, and would never let her face such a choice.
But Karasuma Renya was pressuring her.
Those warm, happy, and unforgettable memories have always been the driving force for Chika Takanashi to keep living.
Undeniably, her three subordinates also gave her many positive memories.
'Feel sorry'.
She apologized in her heart.
With trembling fingers, Chinatsu Takanashi stared at Bourbon on the screen and slowly pressed button number one.
Bourbon...
She was killing Bourbon.
The young man who would bring her flowers and ice water to cool her cheeks, the young man who was always smiling and had a bright smile, would die because of her ruthless choice.
In the footage, poison gas begins to be released from the bourbon room.
The gas was colorless and odorless, but it probably made a sound, because Bourbon's expression suddenly changed.
Almost immediately, he drew his gun and pointed it at the gas release mechanism.
"Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!"
Several shots were fired in succession, but to no avail.
He covered his mouth and nose with his clothes and quickly ran to the door.
That was a room specifically used to imprison and execute traitors.
Indestructible, with nowhere to escape.
The effects of the poison gas were rapid; from the initial staggering to the subsequent loss of consciousness, only half a minute had passed.
The birdsong felt like an eternity.
As she watched Bourbon fall to the ground, her fingers even began to spasm.
My chest felt heavy, as if a huge rock was pressing down on it, and tears had already welled up in my eyes.
But she didn't close her eyes, nor did she back down.
She stared intently at every second on the screen, watching Bourbon's every struggle.
Bourbon died because of her, and she had an obligation to remember it all.
No one should be sacrificed.
Every single one of them!
Bourbon gradually lost consciousness, his body slumped against the door, face down, his expression unreadable.
Chinatsu Takanashi stared at him for a long time until Rum let out a cold snort.
A cold gaze instantly pierced Rum's face like a knife. Her fists clenched tightly, as if she wanted to devour the person in front of her alive.
This is Rum's reply.
No, this is not just Rum's retaliation.
Two thoughts clashed and struggled in his heart, eventually turning into deep resentment.
For Rum, for Mr., and even for Vermouth.
This is an organization rife with evil, and everyone in it, including herself, is filled with evil.
Now things are really messed up; the man has completely dragged her down with him, staining her with Bourbon's blood.
"Sir, am I now the person you expected me to be?" Takanashi Chinatsu gave a desolate smile to the camera.
She wanted to kill the man.
She has to destroy this organization.
She's going to drag everyone down to hell with her.
Resentment gradually accumulated in her heart, and her anger grew stronger and stronger.
Karasuma Renya brought up another matter: "Gun or knife? I hesitated before, after all, you've never killed anyone. Blood is terrifying, and human instincts abhor and fear blood. Although I hope you can become a qualified successor, I'm also worried that you'll be left with too much psychological trauma, so I chose this method."
"You're so considerate." Takanashi Chinatsu didn't even realize that her voice was already laced with sarcasm.
She would never have spoken to Karasuma Renya in such a tone before; she would always try her best to please her, using flattery and coquetry to obtain the benefits she needed.
"Will you resent me, China?"
meeting!
It's not just resentment, it's hatred, it's resentment.
Her tone became even more sarcastic: "You always seem to have everything under control, so why ask this question?"
Have you finally realized that something has slipped out of your control?
"Sir, I have already killed one person. May I take my other two subordinates with me?" Takanashi Chika stared intently at the camera.
If Karasuma Renya still cared about her even a little bit, if he still had even the slightest pity for her...
“No.” Karasuma Renya refused.
Chinatsu's expression tightened.
He didn't care.
He was a high and mighty boss. Although he adopted her as his daughter, it was only on a whim. How could he possibly care about her?
No, that's not how it works.
Where exactly did things go wrong?
Chinatsu Takanashi didn't understand. She had indeed punched Rum, and she knew that Rum would definitely retaliate, so she was always on guard.
That shouldn't be the case.
She had rehearsed it in her mind many times, and Gin had also analyzed it with her many times. No matter how fierce Rum's retaliation was, it would never cause such a fatal consequence. Even if she made a mistake, would Gin also make a mistake?
But what exactly happened this time? Why did the master indulge him this time?
What did she reveal? What did she do to upset Karasuma Renya? This is definitely not a simple test.
Could it be...?
Lei?
The closer you are to a desperate situation, the clearer your mind becomes.
Rye is an FBI agent.
Rum's determination to win her over suggests he may have discovered Ray's identity. Is that why even Karasuma Renya has gone to such lengths to harm her this time?
No, it's not just about discovering Ray's identity; Rum and Karasuma Renya are questioning her stance.
Curaçao, gas chambers, a life-or-death decision.
Everything connects together, and it all seems to make sense.
So she was wrong?
My eyes started to hurt from crying so much.
She should kill Ray; only by killing Ray can she dispel Karasuma Renya's suspicions about her and save Bourbon and Scotland.
But she killed Bourbon.
Rye, kill Rye. Only by killing Rye and Scotland can you be saved. If you kill Scotland, Rye will die anyway, and you will also lose your life.
She should have killed Ray; she should have targeted Ray.
Her hand slowly moved above the button on Lei's phone, hesitating.
“You need to think this through, Black Cherry,” Vermouth couldn’t help but say.
“You kill one, and you can take another with you. The sir will compensate you for that,” Rum sneered from the side.
“No matter who you kill, you can take the other person with you.” Karasuma Renya’s voice became kind and indulgent again.
Her earlobes started burning, which slowed down Takanashi Chinatsu's pace, but it also allowed her to hear what the three were saying.
"Is that really true?" Takanashi Chinatsu looked up and stared at the camera.
A gentleman's word is his bond.
But Karasuma Renya is not a gentleman.
Chinatsu Takanashi doesn't believe he's a gentleman.
If she makes the wrong choice, will Karasuma Renya really allow her to live? Will he allow Rai to live?
Even if she made the right choice, Ray would still die.
Under no circumstances should the undercover agent die; that's the only teammate she can truly unite with.
No matter what, I cannot allow the people around me to get hurt, even if it means sacrificing Ray.
Torn and agonizing.
Comparing the two, which is more important, and how should one choose...?
I'm sorry, Lei.
Just as her hand was about to strike, a burning pain shot through her earlobe, making it unbearable.
Her hand trembled, her momentum swerved, and she slammed hard onto the number two button representing Scotland.
Oh no!
Chinatsu Takanashi stiffened, the burning pain leaving her, replaced by endless regret.
She made the wrong choice; she should have chosen Lei.
Karasuma Renya is no gentleman. Even if he allows her to take Lai away, he will kill Lai afterward, and she will not be spared.
Everyone around her will be implicated by her.
As the poison gas was released, Chinatsu's heart was almost frozen, as was Rum's expression.
"I won, Rum." Karasuma Renya suddenly burst into laughter.
What? Takanashi Chika looked blankly at the camera, but her eyes couldn't leave Scotland.
She was just about to organize a team-building activity, she was just about to resolve the feud between the three of them, but now...
At the same time, the poison gas in Lei's room was also released silently.
-----------------------
Author's Note: Black Cherry: Believe it or not, I'll just "snap" and die right in front of you!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com