Volume 4
Chapter 3: The Double Jokers
I should have known something was wrong.
February 13th, 2027. 9:30 PM.
I was standing outside waiting for a taxi.
The winter air was cold. Not unbearable, but enough to make me regret not bringing a heavier coat.
A few minutes later, the taxi arrived.
I got in without a second thought.
That was my first mistake.
The driver didn't say much. He had reddish-orange hair and wore a mask over his face.
At first, I assumed he was sick.
The car began moving.
I spent the first few minutes staring out the window.
Then I noticed something.
The route was wrong.
I frowned.
"Isn't this the wrong way?"
The driver didn't answer.
Instead, he slowly turned his head.
Then he removed the mask.
My blood ran cold.
Reddish-orange hair.
Sharp eyes.
A smile that immediately made me uneasy.
I recognized him from photographs.
Not because I had met him before.
Because I had been warned about him.
"Y-You're..."
My voice caught in my throat.
"The Serpent of Tokyo..."
The young man grinned.
"Ren?"
I had read countless reports mentioning him.
A criminal.
A troublemaker.
A walking disaster.
Every report described him differently.
Yet they all agreed on one thing.
He was dangerous.
Ren's grin widened.
Then he pressed a button near the steering wheel.
A second later, he pulled a gas mask over his face.
My eyes widened.
Gas began filling the vehicle.
I reached for the door.
Too late.
My vision blurred.
The last thing I saw was Ren laughing.
Then darkness swallowed everything.
---
A sharp smell assaulted my nose.
My eyes snapped open.
I immediately tried to move.
I couldn't.
My hands were restrained behind a chair.
Ropes bound my arms and legs.
A gag filled my mouth.
Panic surged through me.
The room was unfamiliar.
Dim lighting.
Concrete walls.
No windows.
Then I saw him.
A man sitting casually across from me.
Blond hair.
Relaxed posture.
A smile that somehow felt more dangerous than Ren's.
He looked completely at ease.
As though this entire situation was amusing.
The man stood up and removed the gag.
I immediately took a deep breath.
"What the hell is this?"
The blond man smiled.
"Wakey wakey."
I stared at him.
Reports.
Photographs.
Descriptions.
The pieces fit together.
Another name.
Another warning.
Kenzo.
My stomach sank.
This was worse than I thought.
"That's impossible."
The words escaped before I could stop them.
"Toshiro told me Tetsuya wouldn't resort to methods like this."
Kenzo burst out laughing.
"Oh?"
He leaned back.
"Story time already?"
I stared at him.
Why was he acting like this was some kind of game?
Kenzo crossed one leg over the other.
"Well, since we're talking about Tetsuya..."
His grin widened.
"Ten days ago he collapsed."
I blinked.
What?
Kenzo scratched the back of his head.
"Honestly, I still don't understand why he's such a workaholic."
His tone was casual.
Far too casual.
"He's currently recovering in a hospital."
Kenzo laughed.
"Got sent back to America."
That didn't make sense.
Tetsuya Tadashi was supposed to be the biggest threat.
The one even Toshiro paid attention to.
And now he was hospitalized?
Kenzo continued speaking.
"You know what's funny?"
I remained silent.
"Tetsuya was smiling."
Kenzo looked genuinely amused.
"He said chasing Toshiro Sobu was one of the most enjoyable things he's done in years."
The room grew quieter.
"I haven't seen him that interested in a case for a very long time."
Kenzo shrugged.
"He'll probably be back within a few days."
Then his smile returned.
"But enough about him."
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
The playful attitude remained.
But something colder hid underneath.
"Tell us about the project."
I immediately understood.
This was an interrogation.
I laughed bitterly.
"What is this?"
I glanced around the room.
"Some kind of good cop, bad cop routine?"
Kenzo pointed at me.
"Exactly."
He sounded genuinely impressed.
Then he pulled out a recording device.
I looked directly into his eyes.
"I won't say a damn thing."
Kenzo sighed dramatically.
"You know, if I bring Ren in here, your day gets significantly worse."
I said nothing.
"I'd rather not do that."
He leaned forward.
"So tell us everything."
I laughed.
A dry, exhausted laugh.
"You don't understand."
Kenzo raised an eyebrow.
"Toshiro sees me as a pawn."
The words felt disgusting to say.
Yet they were true.
"If I betray him..."
I lowered my head.
"My son is on the line."
For the first time, Kenzo's expression softened.
Only slightly.
"Oh right."
He nodded.
"Shinko."
My eyes widened.
Kenzo noticed immediately.
Of course he did.
"I hear he recently entered the NIFL."
I stared at him.
How much did they know?
Kenzo answered before I could ask.
"I've been planning this for over a month."
His smile returned.
"Of course I researched your family."
The room became silent.
I clenched my fists.
"As long as Toshiro lives..."
I swallowed.
"I can't say anything."
Kenzo remained patient.
Almost annoyingly patient.
"We can protect you."
I laughed.
"No."
Kenzo tilted his head.
"We can place both you and Shinko in witness protection."
"No."
I shook my head again.
"They'll never stop."
Kenzo's smile disappeared.
For the first time, I saw something serious beneath the carefree act.
I leaned forward.
"You don't understand."
My voice grew quieter.
"If you capture Toshiro Sobu..."
I hesitated.
"The entire project collapses."
Kenzo didn't react.
"The investors will panic."
Still nothing.
"The United States will find out."
The room felt smaller.
"And then a war begins."
Kenzo remained silent.
I looked directly at him.
"If that happens, it'll be your fault."
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then something changed.
The smile vanished completely.
The relaxed posture disappeared.
The easygoing persona cracked.
And beneath it was something far colder.
"Your fault?"
Kenzo repeated.
The words sounded almost offended.
"Was I one of the founders?"
His voice was calm.
Dangerously calm.
"Was I one of the investors?"
I didn't answer.
"No."
Kenzo stood.
The room suddenly felt much more threatening.
"You helped create this mess."
Each word landed like a hammer.
"And now you're telling us to ignore it because you're afraid of the consequences?"
His eyes narrowed.
"No."
The smile was gone.
"This isn't our fault."
He pointed directly at me.
"It's yours."
The words hit harder than I expected.
"You don't get to create a disaster and then blame everyone else for cleaning it up."
Silence.
Kenzo turned toward the door.
Then stopped.
Without looking back, he spoke one final time.
"Take responsibility for your own actions."
The door opened.
Then closed.
I was alone.
For about five seconds.
The door opened again.
Another figure entered.
Reddish-orange hair.
A grin.
Ren.
My stomach dropped.
He looked even worse in person.
No.
Not worse.
More unpredictable.
More dangerous.
Like a wild animal pretending to be human.
He walked over without saying a word.
Then placed something over my face.
I tried to struggle.
It was useless.
The last thing I saw was Ren smiling.
Then everything went dark again.