Yuu Hoshimiya quickly located the cabin where Curacao was, leaped into the air, traced a perfect arc, and landed steadily on top of it.
CRASH!
Inside, Curacao, who had been staring blankly at the white dolphin in her hand, had a sudden change in expression and instinctively took a defensive stance.
Just then, the sunroof was shattered by Yuu's elbow. He poked his head in, a smile hanging on his face.
"Shiro-chan, why did you run off to ride the Ferris wheel alone without saying a word? You had me worried for so long!"
Curacao's sky-blue eyes went wide instantly, filled with total disbelief.
How did he track her down?
And he appeared on a moving Ferris wheel in such a dramatic fashion.
Curacao felt like a little girl caught while trying to run away from home; she was suddenly at a loss for words.
She hurriedly stepped forward to help Yuu climb down into the cabin.
Yuu brushed off his sleeves and asked, "Shiro-chan, did you get your memory back? Why else would you sneak out here by yourself?"
Curacao froze for a second, then guiltily averted her gaze before putting on a facade of an innocent smile. "No, silly. The Ferris wheel is just so pretty, I wanted to ride it one more time."
Her acting was subpar at best; Yuu could tell it was fake with a single glance.
It seemed the blood clot in Curacao's brain had finally dissipated. She was doing this because she didn't want to involve him; she intended to return to the Organization!
"Wow, look! It's so beautiful! Yuu-kun, come look!"
The guilty Curacao immediately grabbed Yuu's arm and pulled him to the window, pointing at the five-colored light pillars and the fountain show below, desperately trying to distract him.
Wait, why am I the one feeling guilty toward this big pervert?
This jerk took advantage of my amnesia to do so many outrageous things to me. Now that I've remembered, he's the one who should be terrified.
He stole my first kiss and called it 'oral therapy.' He said my chest felt congested and needed to be 'kneaded' out. He even said I had toxins in my body that required 'deep radiation therapy' via raw sex—he made me look so pathetic.
Recalling what happened in the treatment room earlier today, Curacao's face turned a fiery shade of red.
Thinking about how proud and smug she had been while he was using her body, she wished she could travel back in time and beat her past self to death.
I get it. This pervert must be afraid that I'll sue him for sexual assault now that my memory is back. That's why he followed me. How detestable!
Thinking this, Curacao relaxed slightly. Her sky-blue eyes couldn't help but glare at Yuu.
Hmph. For the sake of the white dolphin charm you gave me, for how much fun we had this afternoon, and for how you protected me and took care of those kids...
I'll be the bigger person and overlook the shameful things you did to my body. I'll forgive you for now.
At that thought, the corner of Curacao's mouth curled into a slight arc.
She leaned her head against Yuu's arm, her eyes full of lingering affection.
In truth, within the Organization, even though Rum treated Curacao as a confidant, he was still very wary of her.
After all, Curacao's brain was different from normal people; she possessed hyperthymesia, and her physical stats were at the human limit.
She was a double-edged sword; if she weren't controlled properly, she would hurt her master.
Therefore, after Rum rescued Curacao from the execution block, his brainwashing and control over her were extremely strict.
He hadn't just painstakingly established the unique link between her left eye and her brain; he also strictly controlled every aspect of her life.
It could be said that Curacao never left the base except to go on assassination missions. She had no private life at all.
Over a decade of this had trained Curacao into a heartless killing machine.
If her life had continued on that track, she would never have changed.
After all, "enlightening" a cold-blooded killer and making them lay down their blade was almost an impossible task.
But fate dictated that she fail her mission, hit her head, and lose her memory.
Curacao had become a blank sheet of paper, encountering people and events anew.
Meeting those children and meeting Yuu Hoshimiya had allowed her to feel mysterious and beautiful emotions.
These were feelings she, as an assassin, could never have perceived!
Curacao still remembered the physical comfort of being healed by Yuu's touch.
The joy of receiving a gift for the first time.
The racing heartbeat during her first kiss.
The innocent confusion when she nodded while being misled by him.
The inexplicable shame when she was stimulated by his "wicked hands."
The thrill of standing atop a Beluga whale and riding the waves.
The secure comfort of being held in Yuu's embrace.
The delightful happiness of being surrounded by white arctic foxes.
The absolute sense of security watching a man stand in front of her as a shield...
There were too many moments—emotions Curacao had never experienced, or perhaps emotions she had long since forgotten.
If Curacao's previous world was in black and white, today had been a vibrant, kaleidoscopic masterpiece, as brilliant as the light refracting through the fountains.
Curacao gripped Yuu a little tighter.
For the first time, she felt like a human being rather than a machine.
Had she never seen the light, she could have endured the darkness.
But now that she had tasted the light, she instinctively loathed the darkness and hated the thought of killing again!
Curacao did not want to return to that Organization, and she definitely didn't want to go back to Rum's side to keep taking lives.
She could have chosen to run away alone, but because she had fallen for Yuu, she couldn't make such a selfish decision.
After regaining her memory, she was confident she could escape on her own, but the Organization already knew Yuu and the others had made contact with her.
If she simply vanished, Yuu and his family would surely be purged by the Organization.
Curacao didn't know Yuu's true identity. She didn't know about his superhuman strength or the powerful factions behind him.
That was why she chose to respond to the Organization's signal. Following the instructions on the business card, she had boarded the Ferris wheel to reach the apex at seven o'clock, waiting for the Organization to extract her.
Curacao looked at Yuu's face. They had only known each other for a day, but she had completely succumbed. She really didn't want to leave this man.
She whispered to herself in her heart: Maybe this is what they call love.
The fireworks show outside began.
Vibrant bursts of color blossomed before their eyes, lighting up the entire world.
"Shiro-chan, look. The fireworks have started."
Hearing the pet-like nickname, Curacao felt a wave of wordless exasperation.
However, the appointed time was almost here. She didn't complain and instead spoke up: "Yuu-kun, can you kiss me one more time?"
As she prepared to leave, Curacao wanted a farewell kiss.
Unexpectedly, Yuu's brow furrowed with suspicion, his tone doubting once again.
"Shiro-chan... did you get your memory back?"
Curacao was speechless, struggling to suppress her rising irritation.
Luckily, she recalled the scene in the treatment room. She organized her words and spoke again: "No, Yuu-kun. My mouth feels a bit 'injured' again. Can you help treat it?"
At this, Yuu let out a sigh of relief as if his mind were at ease. He cupped Curacao's face and leaned in for a deep kiss.
Curacao stood on her tiptoes, wrapping her arms around Yuu's waist, responding with passion.
Mmm... it feels a bit different than this morning!
But Curacao quickly tossed the thought aside, immersing herself in this parting kiss.
Amidst the countless blossoming fireworks and the continuous rotation of the Ferris wheel, the man and woman leaned against the window, kissing with total abandon.
Time seemed to move both incredibly slow and incredibly fast.
The lost Curacao eventually regained her senses, an unnoticed tear-track staining the corner of her eye.
Her small hand slowly rose, forming a blade-hand gesture.
She gently pulled her lips away from Yuu's and spoke softly, "Sayonara. I'll come back to see you in the future!"
She used the same words she'd said to the arctic fox, but saying them to Yuu made her heart ache inexplicably.
Her hand chopped down, striking the back of Yuu's neck.
Curacao intended to knock Yuu unconscious so she could slip away quietly.
To her shock, Yuu took the strike—which carried power far beyond a normal human—without even flinching. He even had the leisure to speak.
"Shiro-chan, why did you hit me? And what's with all this 'goodbye' talk?"
Curacao's eyes went completely round in utter disbelief.
At that exact moment, darkness suddenly descended.
The main power switch for the Touto Aquarium had been cut. The entire amusement park on the island went pitch black; only the newly rebuilt aquarium used a separate circuit, so its lights remained on.
The fireworks stopped abruptly. The rotating Ferris wheel ground to a halt.
Below, Vermouth's eyes flashed with anxiety. This was definitely the Organization's doing.
The Public Security officers conducting the search also stopped in their tracks. Tooru Amuro's eyes were filled with dread; he knew the Organization had made its move.
Soon, as if he had figured something out, Amuro turned and sprinted toward the Ferris wheel.
Inside the dark cabin, Yuu held Curacao's waist to steady her. "Shiro-chan, don't be afraid. I've got you."
His gaze moved upward, waiting for the Falcon fighter jet to descend.
Yuu intended to board the jet and deal with everyone on board—preferably by capturing them all.
Especially the leader, Fusae Campbell (Marsala). He wanted to haul her back to his base for some thorough "discipline."
As for his betrayal being exposed...
First of all, if he controlled everyone and had the cover of Chianti and the others, the Organization wouldn't find out.
Even if he was exposed, it was no big deal.
To use a gaming metaphor, the difficulty would simply jump from "Easy Mode" to "Normal Mode."
Yuu had been developing in secret for a long time—contracting women, building a power base, and maxing out his personal strength. He already had everything he needed to beat the game.
For him, whether the difficulty was Easy, Normal, or Nightmare, winning was just a matter of time.
He hadn't stayed in this cabin just to flirt with Curacao.
He was waiting for the helicopter to extend its mechanical arm so he could counter-attack and wipe out the entire unit.
However, the next event caught Yuu completely off guard.
BOOM!!!
A colossal explosion erupted from the central axle of the Ferris wheel.
A C4 charge at the hub had detonated. Tongues of fire and shockwaves expanded outward, engulfing the entire wheel.
The glass of Yuu's cabin was shattered instantly, and both occupants were thrown back by the blast.
In the moment of crisis, Yuu grabbed Curacao and shielded her in his embrace.
Tsk. A pity I can't teleport other people yet. I'll have to tank this with magic.
A thought flashed in his mind, and Yuu's entire body began to radiate a faint golden glow.
Protected by his mana, neither of their clothes were even torn.
After tumbling several times, Yuu's body slammed heavily against the cabin wall with a metallic thud.
Although Curacao, a mere mortal, was also protected by the magic and was largely uninjured, the sheer force of the shockwave knocked her unconscious.
Yuu himself was a bit bewildered.
What the hell happened? The explosion maniac Gin isn't even here!
And they were about to successfully recover Curacao. Why would anyone plant a bomb?
Meanwhile, on the Falcon fighter jet, the Organization members were in the middle of an internal conflict.
The bomb had been planted by the Canadian agent, Aquavit.
While he was sabotaging the amusement park's power grid under Marsala's orders, he had figured out her plan.
Intending to silence Curacao forever, he had taken the opportunity to plant a bomb on the Ferris wheel's axle.
The moment the power was cut was the moment the jet would descend to rendezvous with Curacao. Aquavit knew he couldn't wait any longer.
So, he pressed the detonator and simultaneously launched a violent assault.
Once the bomb exploded, Aquavit's cover was blown.
Aquavit had the same idea as Yuu: he wanted to neutralize the team members and capture all three people in front of him to claim the merit.
But he was too greedy. He fired at all three at once, dividing his attention, and he had vastly underestimated Marsala.
Caught off guard, Stout and Chianti were both hit.
Fusae Campbell, however, was unscathed.
Her reaction speed was staggering. As if she had an instinctive sixth sense for danger, she stepped aside and dodged the incoming bullet.
Then, leaning her body back, she delivered a high-flying kick that caught Aquavit square in the face, knocking him back several steps.
Fusae's expression was ice-cold. No one even saw her move her hand, but a silver handgun suddenly appeared in her grip.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Aquavit didn't have the ability to dodge bullets. All three shots hit home, causing him to scream in agony.
But Aquavit didn't stop resisting. He pressed the remote button he had been clutching in his right hand.
BOOM!
The cargo door of the jet was blown off, and violent wind roared into the cabin.
The fighter jet instantly lost balance. Everyone scrambled to stay low to avoid being sucked out.
Aquavit took the opportunity to dive straight out of the aircraft.
The sniper rifle in his guitar case had long since been replaced with a parachute.
Fusae barked, "Chianti! Stabilize the plane!"
Chianti, her shoulder bleeding, gritted her teeth against the pain and grabbed the controls.
Thanks to her dual cultivation with Yuu, Chianti's physical constitution had improved significantly.
Though she was shot, it wasn't a vital area. Stabilizing the plane was well within her ability.
Fusae slid toward the open doorway, hooking her feet onto the frame, and leaned out.
The power below was out, and the sky was dark. The world was a void of pitch black; there was no sign of Aquavit.
Fusae seemed to be sensing the wind speed with her body. She aimed her silver pistol into a specific patch of darkness and fired until the magazine was empty.
Seconds later, several screams of agony echoed through the dark.
A cold smirk touched Fusae's lips as she retreated back into the cabin.
The entire exchange had taken no more than five seconds.
Back inside, Fusae turned to Stout and barked, "I need Curacao's location, now!"
The fallen Stout clutched his abdominal wound, forced himself up, and grabbed his laptop, fingers flying over the keys.
Soon, a thermal imaging display appeared.
The heat from the explosion at the axle had not yet dissipated, showing a massive red blur. However, there was no human thermal signature in the surrounding cabins.
Stout spoke up: "Curacao had just boarded the wheel. Given the power of the C4 charge and the lack of a human thermal signature, she was likely killed in the blast."
Fusae's face turned incredibly ugly. "Detestable traitor!"
Chianti couldn't help but yell, "Marsala! The side rotor was damaged in the blast! This plane won't hold out much longer!"
Hearing this, Fusae had no way to further confirm Curacao's death. She could only say with resentment, "Retreat! Find a place to land!"
When the explosion erupted from within the Ferris wheel in the darkness, Vermouth froze. Her pupils trembled as she stared in total disbelief.
The shockwave from the bomb reached the ground, knocking Vermouth off her feet.
Then, countless shards of glass began raining down.
With an explosion of that magnitude, how could Yuu Hoshimiya—who had just run into the Ferris wheel—possibly survive?
Grief instantly overwhelmed Vermouth. Her expression beneath the mask broke completely; tears blurred her contact lenses.
How is this possible? How could you just die like that?
You bastard... you just finished bullying me. How can you die before I even get my revenge? How can you die!
I told you not to go! I told you! Why didn't you listen to me!
At this moment, Vermouth lost all control.
Ignoring the fact that the dual-wheel giant was about to collapse and fall, she sprinted forward, wanting to see the truth with her own eyes.
Inside, Tooru Amuro, who had only just reached the boarding platform, managed to escape with great difficulty, looking utterly disheveled.
He dodged falling steel girders left and right. Seeing Vermouth recklessly charging toward the base of the wheel, he rushed forward, grabbed her wrist, and hauled her back to a safe zone.
"Are you crazy? Do you want to die?!"
The distraught Vermouth shoved Amuro back with raw force.
"Leave me alone!"
Just then, the southern wheel groaned and dropped several meters. A deafening roar echoed; the support axle had clearly snapped.
Another series of explosions was triggered within the wheel, and the entire structure caught fire, turning into a massive, flaming wheel of death.
The Ferris wheel let out a bone-chilling screech as it hit the ground. Instead of stopping, the momentum and fire seemed to give it a new source of kinetic energy, and it began to roll slowly.
Amuro's pupils constricted. The massive object was rolling straight toward the Touto Aquarium.
This is bad. The aquarium is packed with guests. They won't be able to evacuate in time.
Yuu Hoshimiya had left his cabin long before the second series of explosions.
He had kicked the deformed cabin door open, picked up the unconscious Curacao, and—taking advantage of the blackout and the fact that no one could see—used magic to fly down.
While they were airborne, he saw the chaos on the helicopter and its subsequent retreat. He couldn't help but feel it was a pity.
He was quite interested in Fusae Campbell, that glamorous blonde Western beauty.
Since he hadn't caught her this time, he supposed he'd have to wait until his final showdown with the Organization to take her alongside the other two "fully ripe" beauties.