A Few Days Later  Bunokura City, the Entertainment District

– I feel like the city is quite noisy somehow.

Koshino of the Futsuku group was walking around town by himself when he was attacked by a strange feeling. Somehow, compared the usual he felt a harsh air drifting through the city. However, Koshino had an idea about the one cause of it.

Kazuhisa Adamura and Nana Kiyojima had disappeared. That impactful truth was being spread around. But it was difficult to say if they had left the city.

As the rumors stand, after both subordinates of Kiyojima and Adamura have begun a lookout for them at the entrances and exits of the city as there were eye-witness reports of the two. Although the two were not walking around together, it indicated that both were still in the city and alive. It was likely they were proceeding with their preparations to leave the city or they had taken notice of the lookout around town were being cautious. It was not only the people working at the train stations. They seemed to have taken measures to contact even the taxi company within the city and distributed photographic portraits of the two.

He had thought it would be just a matter of time until they were caught, but- perhaps they were being shielded by someone but no one knew their whereabouts and the days of occasional eye-witness reports continued.

– Kiyojima is making a ruckus saying some Adamura kid deceived him, while the young master Ryuuji is making a fuss saying "Kazuhisa is a traitor! Crush him!" Seriously, they really are giving us more excessive work at this kind of time.

– Well, circ.u.mstances are circ.u.mstances. I can understand the feeling of wanting to run away from this kind of town.

Walking around town while giving a sigh, he caught the face of someone he knew.

It was the corrupt detective Sasazaki.

"Hey, sir."

"A-, aah. It"s you, huh."

He thought Sasazaki averting his gaze was suspicious, but he unconsciously squinted when he caught glimpse of two children around elementary school age in front of him. After the children realized he was looking at them and departed saying, "well then, see you later! Mister!" Koshino questioned Sasazaki.

"…..Who are they?"

"Hm? Ah……Those children are a relative"s kids. Those kids skipped school again today and were wandering around town when I was about to tell them off."

That"s a lie, Koshino confirmed.

The behavior of the man in front of him was suspicious, but early he had been dragged somewhere by the two in the first place. Besides he clearly remembered he did not see him "tell the relative"s children off."

"…..Is that so?"

However, without pressing into the matter deeper he asked another question on something else.

"Somehow the town seems a bit tense, but do you have any idea why that is, sir?"

And then Sasazaki after he exhaled an exclamation of understanding answered in turn.

"There"s that redevelopment plans for this town, right? It seems the quarrel over the concession rights has gotten pretty intense. Guess there"s suspicious guys from other cities like the yakuza and religious cult groups gathering around."

"…..I haven"t heard of it."

"You guys on the bottom have not been told yet. Even I was unaware until I heard from the chief. Actually, Kiyojima and Adamura were told from the chief, so you guys should hear about it soon."

"…..The boss of the police protecting the public order of the city is just a big opportunist then?"

Sasazaki shook his head seeing Koshino"s shocked att.i.tude.

"That"s just the wise thing to do. For the young chief it"s a seat until he gets promoted and returns to headquarters. It"s the right answer to sell connections without causing discord on both sides."

"Having a wise chief protect the town makes me so happy I could cry."

"Don"t say that. That chief is currently in a dilemma with another matter….Ah, that"s right, I remember."

While turning aside the cynical joke, Sasazaki cut into another topic.

"I"ll ask just to make sure, but……Have you heard any rumors involving the case of Ryuuichi Adamura"s death?"

"What is this so suddenly? I have heard harsh rumors it was the work of that Kiyojima though."

"……Well, this is restricted information, but since I"m getting some pocket money from you I"ll give you a touch of the content."

While patting the shoulders of a doubtful Koshino Sasazaki drew close to his ears and said.

"The culprit who killed Ryuuichi Adamura may turn up soon."

"Haa…..Haa!?"

Koshino"s eyes widened in surprise.

He thought that was going to be treated as a suicide instead of a case and left unsolved. On top of that, he only knew the chief was an opportunist. He did not understand the reason to make waves like this.

– No, wait a minute.

At that point Koshino made a guess.

Perhaps they confirmed the culprit had no connection to Kiyojima or Adamura and it was the work of a crazed killer or something? If that is the case, I can take that.

However that conjecture was turned down by Sasazaki"s next words.

"…..If you don"t want to get pulled in you should run from town today. It"ll get crazy."

Sweat was dripping from his cheeks as Sasazaki said this, and he kept an eye on the area around them, cautious of having this conversation heard by others. In contrast to what he was saying, he deduced it was something serious enough for him to not care of them talking together.

"You got it? The chief by all rights should have erased that. It seems the culprit will be leaked to the media. If we don"t arrest him before that it"ll become something where the closeness between the police and the influential powers of this town will be questioned. I won"t say more than that. I just gave you a warning."

Watching Sasazaki departing after saying that quickly, Koshino"s face conforted as he muttered.

"What the h.e.l.l…..Just what is happening in this town? ….."

Evening – The royal suite of the Bunokura Grand Palace Hotel

"I guess it"s about time. I have a good feeling for today."

Izaya said while looking over the city, fidgeting like a child. Looking at Izaya watching out the window from his wheelchair, Sozoro spoke in chastise.

"For Izaya-dono "a good feeling" for you would mean h.e.l.l for other human beings."

"In that manner of speaking, it would be a bit rude in the instance of a murderer who takes pleasure in killing."

Shrugging his shoulders, Izaya faced Sozoro and started talking of himself.

"For me, Sozoro-san. I like to see the sight of a human happy from the bottom of his heart when he wins the lottery. I really enjoy seeing that happiness when until that point that person just had a mediocre life and then suddenly changes to the extraordinary. However, I like seeing those with that ordinary life and those who ruin themselves with money both equally. It"s just I only occasionally get to see those times where one takes the path of their own self-destruction."

"And of those occasions, I think you are quite the devil."

"In that case, there is occasionally a time where one will be shown the way towards happiness, you know? Well, objectively speaking there is no way to measure happiness, so perhaps there are people who enjoy seeing others" lives in ruin. I can respect those type of humans too. I can also accept a lot of perversion. If that is part of how humans behave."

"Not loving anyone means the same thing as not loving anybody……that is what someone has said before."

Sozoro continued in indifference and sarcasm. Haruto spoke up, standing from behind him.

"Sozoro-ojiichan! Are you bullying Izaya-san?"

"Now-now, I"m not doing that sort of thing. It"s just that you, Haruto, must not become like the type of human Izaya-dono is, alright?"

"Why?"

Tilting his head in disapproval, Sozoro answered plainly.

"The ones who can become like Izaya-dono is just Izaya-dono. You are free to look up to him, but if you try to impersonate him it will only lead into destroying yourself. Even if you sought a path without loosing yourself, you will simply just stop being human. You would become a monster."

"That"s fine! If it"s to become like Izaya-san, even if I was no longer human, I-"

"No."

What interrupted Haruto was the rare, stern voice from Izaya.

"I-Izaya-san……"

"Haruto-kun, the reason why I can love you, Himari-chan, Sozoro-san, and all other kinds of people is because you are all human. I don"t like people who threw away their humanity and their self. Still, I prefer monsters who try to be human than that."

Whether there was some sort of existence like that he was thinking of, Izaya stared off distantly as he said that.

"But I……I just want to be like you."

"Why is that?"

Without breaking his smile – a broken smile – Haruto said to Izaya,

"If I become a person who knows everything like you, I think I would have been able to help have Himari"s dad get back along with dad."

"When mom started acting strange……I didn"t know what to do……But if it was you, I think you would have known what to do. So if I become like you! Become a person who knows anything! If I can do that, then I will know how to make everyone get along!"

The young boy said while smiling.

Izaya knew. That while it seemed that the boy"s heart was open, it was indeed closed; blindingly believing in him, trying desperately to support his own broken heart.

From the corner of the room, Himari quietly listened to Haruto"s and Izaya"s conversation. When she looked at Izaya, there were times she looked at him with a cold gaze, and sometimes she would look at him with killing intent.

"Himari-chan, you come too. The town looks great."

"……Fine."

Himari said with the cold att.i.tude she usually took.

Unlike Haruto, she internationally kept a far gap between her and Izaya. Izaya knew. That she was aware of everything. But while knowing everything, while knowing he was in the place to stop her father"s murder, Izaya did nothing. And that young girl, Himari, knew all that. Because he considered him as his best friend, the man was murdered by that best friend. That was Himari"s father. Izaya just offered the desired information, even though he knew everything.

If Himari"s father were to say, "I want to know why my best friend did such a thing," Izaya would have told him why without hesitation. The compromise of the friend"s dispute – that would be what Izaya would call a beautiful outcome. But that did not happen. That was all there was to it.

Izaya left it on that, and he enjoyed that part of the outcome from beginning to end. He just respected the other party"s chosen path and did no more than push his back. The one who made that choice was Himari"s father.

Naturally, Izaya understood that from an ordinary person"s perspective he would be seen as evil. Even so, Izaya would not change his stance in regards to it. For Izaya, he could accept hatred towards him and acts of faith towards him like words of love. And so, it could be said it was the same for this city.

"Say, Sozoro-san. Do you think there will be a day sometime when I can move around freely?"

Izaya suddenly asked Sozoro standing beside him. After giving Izaya a glare, Sozoro said,

"If Izaya-dono desires so, you probably could, right? Have the doctor"s said the same?"

"……Again, they said if the day comes when I want on my own will to move around."

"I have not been told anything, and I am quite completely indifferent on the matter. However, from those who have no hope of an expected recovery, you can decide on your next course of action depending on your mood, so there is nothing to talk yourself into accepting the blasphemy of medical treatment."

While giving the uninterested Sozoro a bitter smile, Izaya continued speaking, half to himself.

"I wonder about that, after all what I need to get healed isn"t my legs. It"s probably a mental illness."

"My, could it be you just figured that out?"

"Don"t say it like that. I quite understand that I"m not normal. But even so, I can"t quite stop it. I at least accepted this much, but the next time I slip up……I have a premonition that I will probably lose my life."

As Izaya looked out on the city, he was reminded of his home town in Tokyo.

"It"s so ironic. I talked about the monster-like person I lost to, right?"

"Yes, I have heard one of Izaya-dono"s specialty, sinister plans fully rebounded, and you lost miserably."

"I won"t deny it. What"s so ironic is that I lost to that monster"s humanity."

Although he stated it as though reminiscing the past, his expression held no anger or smile; he was just completely expressionless.

"If that monster killed me, then he would truly become a monster. To me that was my win. I, who loves humans, would be killed by a monster. That in of itself should have been a satisfactory end. But that didn"t happen. Thanks to the monster"s habits, the monster was able to make human friends. Really trustworthy friends. And those humans, stopped that monster. And so……I lost."

As though somewhere the evil spirit had fallen, Izaya continued to speak.

"Because I never tried to look at the human parts of that monster, I lost."

Watching Izaya laugh of his own self derision, Sozoro began to speak after giving it a bit of thought.

"I think that if you can heal your body, you will be able to do the same things as before."

"……Perhaps."

"However, I do not think that the result will be the same. That is being the case that Izaya-dono can really look at people in the real sense."

"No way, Sozoro-san. Isn"t that like saying that I"m not looking at people in the real sense?"

He replied with a joke, though Sozoro added nothing in return.

After shaking his head in disappointment, Izaya slowly began to move his wheelchair. And while looking at the mansion at the base of the mountain – the Adamura residence – he spoke. He stated with a cold smile that seemed to lower the temperature of the area around him without feeling the fragments of his human nature (weakness) that he just showed previously.

"Now, let"s be heading off now. To watch the end of this town."

The Police Station, the Chief"s Office

The time goes back slightly.

"There"s no way that…..the Adamura guys are protecting them, right?"

"Ha- …..no, I do not think they are that quick tempered."

While wiping off the sweat with a handkerchief, the police chief answered the visitor sitting on the couch, Munenori Kiyojima.

"Then why have you not found my daughter yet?"

"If you send in a disappearing notice we would be able to move as according to the investigation….."

"I can"t do something so shameful! For the daughter of Kiyojima to elope with that Adamura"s kid! If I could put it out as a kidnapping I would give a damage report right away."

"Th-that is quite……"

It was certain that with his daughter disappearing Kiyojima"s composure was cracked.

"……Actually it is possible for Adamura to have used unyielding methods, and I can think of the reason for that. They may pretend to have eloped and kidnapped Nana."

"The reason is?"

"…..Guarantee this conversation is kept to only this place."

"N-naturally!"

Kiyojima said to the nodding chief.

"Adamura"s mine is drying up. I already have a grasp on the evidence and collected it just a few hours ago."

"Wha……"

Kiyojima fearlessly smiled at the surprised police chief.

"I plan on making an announcement and hint at that today during the greeting at the gathering. I can"t wait to see how Adamura will come out from that. If he moves in a hurry that"ll be good. If he doesn"t make a move, then I only have to proceed in repainting the influential chart following that."

The gathering.

It was a party with the corporations related to the redevelopment plans taking place in the banquet hall of the city"s largest hotel the Bunokura Grand Palace. As a place to exchange information it was open once a month, but- the get-together this time would be a third year anniversary of launching the project plans, and so it would open with a slightly larger scope than normal.

There was also the possibility of the media from local newspapers or local television stations to be there. Kiyojima did not look that far into it, but he at least thought them being there would be beneficial for him.

– I want to clearly declare that the "mine is dried up," but it"ll be a problem if they question how I gained the evidence.

While thinking that, Kiyojima thought of one other issue that was troubling him.

"…..By the way, chief. Do you know anything about a man called Izaya Orihara?"

"It seems like he is hiding in this city, but….right now it seems the Adamura side are in a frenzy looking for him, but they are coming up short-handed."

"Is that so. After all he is the villain who kidnapped and confined my son. For the peace of the city you better remove him as soon as possible."

"Yes?"

The chief tilted his head, confused.

"You will not send a damage report?"

"It"ll depend on the value of its use. If I can eliminate Adamura or make him a p.a.w.n, then what is an ordinary informant worth? There"s no way I should leave someone with the possibility of knowing my secrets out and about. Depending on the amount of coin involved he"ll leak my information to others. It"ll be a problem for someone to solicit my son"s scandals."

"That may be the case."

Kiyojima said to the chief while averting his gaze.

"Tell me when you know where he is. Tell me if he has found even me. Either way, I plan to send out a damage report once I know his whereabouts."

"…….Once again another "accidental death" will be added to the list in this town."

"…..It"ll be troubling to mix it up, but even if the "accidents" with those reporters were "cases" the culprit was part of the Adamura"s side. You understand?"

Kiyojiima said to emphasize it.

The various accidents in the past were incidents that happened during the previous police chief"s run. He did not know what this new police chief thought of those, but it was not necessary to verify that. He was certain this man was already his dog.

"Of course. Although eradicating the accidents means it is unavoidable that the humans lived."

The chief answered with a pathetic smile mixed with a bit of fear as he pat down his cheeks with a handkerchief.

Kiyojima confirming that, without showing it on his face, snickered.

Kiyojima told one lie to the chief. He already knew the whereabouts of Izaya Orihara.

He had told the chief, "it seems my son was taken somewhere blindfolded," but in actuality he knew he was in the suite room of the Bunokura Grand Palace where the gathering would be held today.

– According to Douma an old man named Sozoro was some kind of monster, but……

– Well, naturally that is the talk from young kids of a gang. They are no match against a professional.

There was already someone left on watch on the floor of the hotel"s suite room. It was possible to kidnap him after pushing out Adamura when Izaya Orihara left the hotel or when the man Sozoro opened the room. If there was any indicator of them trying to escape before that time he had made instructions to hold them there.

In the case they did not leave he could utilize the police. It would be fine for Douma to testify that the old man set fire to a facility. Naturally the old man would not be so much of a fool to make an enemy of the police.

Kiyojima thought that and chuckled in his mind, then stood slowly from the sofa.

"Now then, I"ll be going now. Adamura"s face will be a sight to see."

Munenori Kiyojima acknowledged that the informant Izaya Orihara was skilled.

But that was it.

Certainly his abilities to have grasped the circ.u.mstances of the Adamura mine is considerable, but he did not think of appointing such a rootless man moving on his own personal interests after this. If someone considered the possibility of those superior skills being used against him it would be better to further proceed with his elimination sooner.

A simple, superior informant did not frighten him. That was what Kiyojima thought. And that informants were sneaky-thieves concealing themselves while infiltrating other"s computers and steal their data.

And so he headed towards the Bunokura Grand Palace boldly.

Towards the place an unfamiliar informant was at in the suite room overhead.

Evening  Adamura Residence

"We know Izaya Orihara"s location."

"Finally."

Ryuuji Adamura lifted up his face happily at Isozaka"s report.

Ryuuji underwent various information exchanges while taking the call with Izaya Orihara, but perhaps the man Izaya was surprisingly cautious but he did not make a move to meet with him face-to-face. However, Ryuuji immediately following the exchange of information had become more watchful of the dangerous existence that was Izaya Orihara.

"That guy knows way too much. It wouldn"t be strange whenever he comes over to demand something."

"You have the choice to wait until then and leave it to the police though?"

"You saying I should owe the police? The current chief is a guy who is fine to jump on any opportunity to even work with Kiyojima. More than that, where is that Izaya guy?"

Ignoring Isozaka"s proposal Ryuuji pressed him for the crucial report.

"That is a bit problematic."

"Problematic?"

"Yes, currently he is in the suite room of the Bunokura Grand Palace."

"Haa!? Isn"t that the tallest place in the city!?"

Isozaka continued, mentioning to the doubtful Ryuuji plainly.

"Yes, there was a report from Tokyo saying, "he likes high places," but I cannot believe he chose such heights to hide himself at."

"…..Wait a sec. The Bunokura Grand Palace….Isn"t my father going there today?"

"Yes. The gathering should begin soon. Since it is such a crucial juncture Kiyojima should be attending as well."

"So that"s the "problematic" part. Just what would that old guy Sozoro or whatever do to my old man?"

Ryuuji thought mainly of his father, but brushing aside his feelings it was the selfishness of "if I lose him now I"ll be in trouble." Consequently it would be a problem if something happened to a third party. He did think with so many influential people gathered in one place like this get-together no one would not attack anyone, but he could not definitely state that for certain upon hearing Isozaka"s and Nec"s report now.

And then as though to back Ryuuji"s anxiety, Isozaka informed him.

"No, the problematic issue is another matter."

"What?"

"Starting from the floor of the suite room there are countless numbers of people working under Munenori Kiyojima around the premises of the hotel."

"……Aah?"

Kiyojima had Izaya Orihara under watch and had people stationed to kidnap him depending on the circ.u.mstances. However looking at it from the Adamura"s perspective it was taken as a completely different meaning.

"So he really is teamed up with Kiyojima then. If they are just guards that"s fine, but if they are p.a.w.ns to attack my dad…..?"

"I do not think mister Kiyojima is that foolish."

"He"s enough of an idiot to oppose the Adamuras."

Ryuuji"s words were not sarcastic; they were serious.

Isozakan sensing that he hid his true feelings, nodded with an affirmation with a simple, "that is true," while thinking in his mind "at any rate when he takes over it will be the end of the Adamura family."

"Have Usubara head to the hotel. …..Well, he stands out though. We can"t have him enter the a.s.sembly hall where the gathering is held, so have him wait in the parking s.p.a.ce."

Ryuuji gave the orders while thinking of what he should do next, but then there was someone calling his name.

"Um, Ryuuji-sama."

Turning around there stands one of the maids.

"Ahh……Was it Niimura or Niiyama?"

"It is Niiyama. I am Azami Niiyama."

The maid quickly bowed and lowered her head.

"What is it? We"re a bit busy here."

Since the maids usually did not talk to him Ryuuji tilted his head in confusion.

Azami made an anxious face and spoke to Ryuuji with her voice half shaking.

"The truth is…..I had a call from Kazuhisa-sama on my cell phone."

"……Kazuhisa did? Why would he send that to a maid like you?"

Azami told Ryuuji, frowning.

"Yes……Since Kazuhisa came to this household I took care of him on a day-to-day basis, so, um….I think I am trusted by Kazuhisa-sama……"

Azami cast her eyes downward as she hesitantly said this. It looked like a declaration of intention that she would betray that trust.

"Since he is hiding the young lady of the Kiyojima family, he said he wants me to bring a change of clothes from his room and…..his bankbook and seal for the bank to their hideout……"

"……You really turned on him. I give you credit for that."

"Y-yes."

The maid turned her head downward in fear of Ryuuji who was giving her a crude smile.

"So? Where is their hideout?"

"It is the former tunnel in the Bunokura mountain. It seems they are waiting for the chance to slip out of the city through there."

After that Ryuuji decided to call for several members of the Futsuku group to head over to that place directly and stop his brother. Usubara would head to the hotel. He had the disposition to think he himself was enough to immobilize Kazuhisa.

Isozaka addressed Ryuuji preparing to depart.

"Please be careful. You do not know what cornered people would do."

"The mouse would bite the cat back, you mean? Unfortunately I"m not a cat but a dragon. I"ll thoroughly burn that b.a.s.t.a.r.d mouse to nothing."

After Ryuuji briefly glanced back at Isozaka not saying anything before he asked curiously.

"Where"s that gothic girl? She"s Inari Sushi, right?"

"If she herself heard that, she would have killed you."

"I"m just beating her at her own game. It"s fun to see what face that tiresome woman would make if I smashed that laptop she types on to pieces in front of her."

Sending a cold stare at the guffawing Ryuuji, Isozaka gave the answer to his question disinterestedly.

"She is currently in the middle of working on another job. It is a request from Jingorou-sama."

"From dad….? Well whatever. Either way, I"m going to crush Izaya too. That"ll be the end of your job."

For Ryuuji that was his intent in wanting to end the job with Candiru as soon as possible. Without a doubt they were efficient, but he felt they fell inferior to Izaya Orihara, and more importantly their daily pay was absurdly high. To the extent of wasting and throwing away money.

Ryuuji thought that and announced the end of their contract orally then left from the estate with the Futsuku group men.

Isozaka, left behind, returned to his car, and while starting the engine he took out his cell phone and made a call to somewhere.

"…..h.e.l.lo, is it the president? ……Yes, the job went smoothly. I will collect Nec and leave the city."

After reporting to his superior he said with a bitter smile.

"Yes, I was lucky to not have been asked to go along to the former tunnel."

"I do not want to die yet after all."

In Hagane City  An Internet Cafe

"Hahahaha ho~. Hahahaha ho ho~"

In the Hagane city – a neighbor to Bunokura city with little intermingling.

In a private room of an internet cafe at a corner Nec typed away on her laptop while slightly humming. Looking at the countless pieces of information moving on the screen she nodded in satisfaction and laughed.

"Thank goodness~. The preparations are done in time."

"After that it"s just waiting on the actual person to decide their resolve. Hee hee. How exciting~."

Bunokura Grand Palace, the Underground Parking s.p.a.ce

In a s.p.a.cious underground parking lot below the hotel. The parking garage was a ma.s.sive underground s.p.a.ce with a three layer structure to park hundreds of vehicles on the first floor probably since the entertainment district and nearby hotels both utilize it.

In the corner of such a place Izaya and Sasazaki met up.

"……This is the last information I"ll give you. Confirm that."

While Sasazaki cautiously looked around the area he handed Izaya the micro data card.

"Honestly, I crossed a pretty dangerous bridge, you know? If it gets out that I took and leaked out data on investigations I won"t be just hired……at worst I"d go to prison."

"That"s why you"re running away right?"

"W-well yeah……But what will you use it for? That investigation data is such an old case……"

"There"s many ways I can put it to use. Well, it"d be great for you to not pry into it very much, so here"s the amount for that."

As he said this Izaya handed over multiple thick envelopes. Behind him there were two children and an elderly man waiting, and perhaps they did not have interest but they did not add anything into the conversation.

Confirming the contents, Sasazaki saw there was roughly a few hundred million in them.

"Heh, heh……Thanks."

It was a cheap price for him where it would not cover spending his money freely for life, but either way if he did not run away his life itself would be in danger.

Sasazaki put the envelopes in his pocket and then tried to leave from there, but upon seeing a large van parked near the entrance of the parking s.p.a.ce he concealed himself by a nearby pillar.

"What"s wrong?"

At Izaya"s question Sasazaki answered while turning pale.

"Th-that van……I remember it."

Peeking around silently while holding his breathe, the face of a large giant appeared from the van.

"Oh, that"s impressive……He is a head or two taller than a Russian I know."

Sasazaki said to Izaya saying that with a easygoing tone.

"Listen, quickly hide! It"s the Futsuku group"s Usubara!"

Since they were still far off they appeared to have gone unnoticed. Sasazaki proclaimed it in a small voice at Izaya, then a boy behind him cheerfully pushed his wheelchair and all of them concealed themselves behind the pillar.

"I know the rumors. He is the "feudal lord"s pet whale," right?"

"Yeah, that guy is bad news. He"s a monster able to lift a vending machine."

"……A vending machine?"

Hearing that term Izaya stiffened.

Sasazaki saw that behavior and frowned, thinking it was a rare reaction for the man.

– Yeah, well, normally no one would believe that sort of talk.

He came to a conclusion on his own, but then Izaya asked him with an apprehensive expression.

"Picking up the vending machine…..how far can he throw it?"

"Eh?"

"Like I said, I"m wondering how far he can throw it. If it was from there to here, do you think it would reach?"

"No way, no, no. There"s no way it would reach! He would just drop it roughly where he is!"

What is this man thinking? Sasazaki answered with that att.i.tude.

At that Izaya whispered as though he was provided sudden relief.

"That"s good…..so within the category of humans then."

"Sorry, this is a personal trauma of mine. Please don"t pay mind to it."

It was impossible to do so even when told not to worry, but Sasazaki looked around the area more concerned with just Usubara at the moment. Usubara was slowly walking towards the entrance of the hotel. In short he was heading towards where they were.

– This isn"t good. Did he come to look for Izaya Orihara? If that"s the case being seen with him would be no…..good…….?

In the middle of thinking that Sasazaki noticed.

From another direction there were ten others moving towards them.

– The Futsuku group……?

– N-no, I feel like the mood is different…..

– Who are they……?

Before the answer would arrive for his question the men surround them.

"You"re Izaya Orihara, right."

"No? I"m Nakura. I"m a retired person from a chirimen crêpe textile store."

"You messing with us?"

"I"m relatively serious. I want an appeal of a harmless existence…..but well, I guess that"s impossible."

And then one of the men caught sight of Usubara walking on the opposite side.

"Usubara…..?"

As though he waited for that timing, Izaya yelled.

"Usubara-sa~n! Thank goodness! Over here, over here!"

Each person in the area widened their eyes in surprise and alternate between looking at Izaya and Usubara.

– Wh-what is this idiot!?

Sasazaki looked over at Izaya in shock, but then he realized.

– ……What.

– Where did the two kids go?

The boy and girl disappeared at some point.

Sasazaki searched around and then saw two children peaking around from behind a pillar. They were grasping the lever for a small fire extinguisher and sprayed the mysterious group and Usubara in white, fine powder.

"Gwaaa!" "You…..what…..Hey!" "My eyes! My eyes! Geha….."

Usubara covered his eyes with his hand while the men surrounding Izaya were hit in the eyes or throat and stood where they were writhing.

At that moment, Izaya yelled.

"Ahahaha! Did you think I moved alone? Thinking I am a lone wolf with no one backing me! Right, Usubara-san! It"s laughable!"

Sozoro was already pushing his wheelchair and moved him to a place away from the mist of the fire extinguisher.

Sasazaki noticed.

The meaning of the contents of Izaya"s yell just now.

From Usubara"s perspective he would hear those words of provocation towards himself. He should not realize the men that came after also being sprayed with the particles of the fire extinguisher.

On the other hand, from the perspective of the men they would take it as Izaya was well-acquainted with Usubara and would hear those words of provocation as though directed to themselves.

And just like that the situation was easily in Izaya"s palm.

"You b.a.s.t.a.r.d….Where are yooou!"

It seemed one of them finally recovered his eyesight and was proceeding forward with his hands outstretched to wipe away the smoke.

And then a ma.s.sive hand reached out from within the white smoke and took a hold of the man"s head.

"U-Usuba……raaaaa!?"

He then was hurled away with one hand and collided into several of his comrades before hitting the floor.

"d.a.m.n! Call for reinforcements!"

"It"s the Futsuku group! The Futsuku group made a move!"

"Kill him! It"s just Usubara! Surround him!"

The men who regained their vision fully let out a cry.

Usubara gave a roar like that of a beast, seized the heads of the men individually and threw them.

In the midst of the haphazard scene growing before them, Izaya and his group being the cause of it quickly got on the elevator in the parking s.p.a.ce.

He made eye contact with Sasazaki who was trying to get away from there.

The man in the wheelchair gave a soft smile and waved at Sasazaki.

– Aaaaah! This isn"t good, this isn"t good, this isn"t good!

Sasazaki did not spare time to curse Izaya but instead made a run for the entrance in haste.

In the middle of doing that he pa.s.ses the van on the side that Usubara rode in, but he saw a man likely belonging to the Futsuku group in the driver"s seat making a call with a pale face.

He was likely making a call for reinforcements.

– d.a.m.n! It"s over! This is it!

It may have been just pure coincidence. Or it may have been Izaya"s calculations.

With the fire extinguishers, did he tell the kids to use them beforehand? Or did the boy and girl use their quick wit independently?

However, everything no longer mattered to Sasazaki.

– I have to run.

He would be chased by the police, but now was not the time to worry on that.

At this place, the trigger for the conflict – it was already readily pulled.

Bunokura Grand Palace, In the Elevator

"Now then……"

Izaya was sending the information from the micro data card somewhere via a wireless computer. The same time the transmission finished the door opened and a hallway continuing to the gathering entered his vision.

"I sent the last information the person wanted already too…..so my job is all done."

While being pushed by Haruto and Himari, Izaya began talking to Sozoro walking alongside him.

"I can finally rest. I only have to observe everything thoroughly later."

"…..The destruction of others, you mean?"

At the expressionless Sozoro looking over at him squinting in distaste Izaya shook his head with a snicker.

"Who knows. The structure of the current town may end, but you don"t know how people will be. I only gave information everyone wished for."

"Information is the same as a blade. It is up to humans on how they use it."

Sozoro said to Izaya shrugging his shoulders while still remaining expressionless.

"You may not have noticed, but the blade you speak of is the same as that of a demon blade."

"What do you mean?"

"Normal humans could not resist. Offer a curse and then saying "it is up to how you use it" is slightly selfish until it blunders. I would be careful to try and not receive a counter hex."

After Izaya thought for a bit on the elderly man"s warning, and he said with a somewhat desolate smile.

"Isn"t that fine? If that curse is the work of humans even if my heart was pierced by that blade isn"t that blade like love? Well, this is if you did not protect me though."

Sozoro knew this was not a show of courage or from intoxication but that Izaya was seriously saying it. And so Sozoro as the body guard hired by Izaya returned back without any lies.

"You should try your upmost not to forget. When the contract is finished I will turn into that cursed blade foremost."

The Former Tunnel

"……It"s just up ahead."

Ryuuji Adamura whispered in front of the former tunnel. There was a padlock on the no trespa.s.sing signed fenced door, but it was destroyed by someone. If they proceeded further in, there should be a rest s.p.a.ce for the workers. It was likely that Kazuhisa and Nana were there.

It was old tunnel reinforced by wooden frames. They probably drove in cars from there. As a tunnel it had been dug in pretty widely with the path a.s.sembled with trolley rails.

Having proceeded down into such a tunnel after ten minutes Ryuuji noticed something off and stopped where he was.

"…..Wait, was there some kind of noise from the direction towards the outside?"

Standing still, he heard a faint sound from the direction of the entrance. It seemed someone was heading towards them.

When he looked he saw several lights heading to where he was. While shouting something it ran over.

"What…..?"

He thought it was backup from the Futsuku group, but he was immediately corrected that it was not.

Moving his light in that direction, the other gave a shriek. Hearing that voice, he realized who the person was.

"Douma…..?"

Closing the distance, their faces were illuminated by each other"s flashlights. It seemed Douma Kiyojima brought members of the Oukarengou and came here.

"You guys! Why are you here?!"

Ryuuji yelled back at Douma"s yell.

"That"s what I mean to say!"

"Tch…..So, you guys are really the ones nabbed Nana then!"

"Aah?"

Ryuuji threatened, but the elder Douma undauntedly glared back.

"Don"t play dumb! Nana finally sent me a text….said she was eloping, but thanks to her turning on her phone after having it shut off for so long we saw where her whereabouts are….which should be in front of this tunnel here!"

Douma, having found the transmission from around the mine, used the family service search function and walked around with the Oukarengou on the lookout thinking she should be at this mine somewhere.

"So you came to set here quietly to greet us……What did you guys plan on doing to my sister? Aah?"

"Shuddup…..We just came to finish the trash your wh.o.r.eish sister tricked. If you like, I can bury you all together?"

"Just you try…….you b.a.s.t.a.r.d."

At this point they did not plan on discussing. In the middle of the tense atmosphere their next number of words decrease.

And then the moment the temperature in the tunnel cooled down –

From the entrance and from the inside of the tunnel there were the sounds of explosions that swept through at the same time.

The Large Banquet Hall

"Now then, continuing on……The president of the Adamura group, Jingorou Adamura, will give a speech."

In sync with the chairman"s words, Jingorou Adamura walked onto the platform. His gait was rather strong as though he was not feeling his age affecting him, providing him with the impression of the ruler of the town.

– Hmph, he is completely bluffing.

From the corner of the a.s.sembly hall Munenori Kiyojima only gave the form of an applause but gave him a cold stare.

Waiting for his turn after this, he planned on making a speech to hint at the secret of the Adamura tunnel. If he did that, then the people with good intuition in the a.s.sembly hall would catch on. Then he could leak out the evidence around the area.

Kiyojima chuckled in his mind imagining the sight of Adamura"s fl.u.s.tered face.

"Now then with the redevelopment operations continuing, I first want to give my thanks. To the residents of this town and to the politicians who brought new winds to this city."

– Saying such insincere things.

Since it is his last speech Adamura continues listening while thinking ill of him.

Then at the edge of Kiyojima"s field of vision he saw a black shadow crawl in. When he briefly looked over he saw a man in black clothes sitting in a wheelchair accompanied by an elderly man and two kids in the corner of the party hall.

– …..?

It"s a face I don"t know.

Kiyojima thought that.

– A wheelchair?

– No, it can"t be.

According to what he heard from his son Douma the man Izaya Orihara was in a wheelchair. The elderly man standing next to him was related to it.

However, why are they here? Without receiving an invitation from someone they should have been able to enter.

Who invited them?

Is that really Izaya Orihara?

While more questions appear in his head one after the other Kiyojima heard the dignified voice of Jingorou Adamura.

"And so, I think I will give an important announcement for you all today."

What is this important announcement?

Though suspicious and without having the time to imagine the contents, Jingorou Adamura brought up the answer to it.

"The Bunokura mine has shut down today."

– ……..What?

For a moment, he could not understand what he was saying. It appeared it was the same for every person at the gathering as well, and a commotion began to arise among them at the sudden announcement.

"The cause is the drops in profits continuing on from the dried up resources. It is unfortunate for the history of this town which started as mining town to come to a close, but with the redevelopment process we can take the first step into new history as-"

The speech continued, but it did not reach Kiyojima"s ears.

– What is this?

Kiyojima felt sweat seeping out every pore on his whole body.

– It can"t be. Why? Why at this time!

While watching Kiyojima"s confused face from far away Izaya nodded in satisfaction.

"Wow, such a nice expression. It"s a very human-like expression. It"s amazing."

"……You mean as you expected?"

Izaya smiled at Sozoro"s comment and shook his head.

"Not at all! It was beyond what I expected! For it to become like this was completely out of my expectations!"

And then looking at Jingorou Adamura on the platform, he sent honest words of praise.

"He is different from the people who made a fortune in their generation."

What came to Izaya"s mind was a past memory.

One from just a few days prior – the contents of the phone conversation he had on his cell phone.

A Few Days Ago – Bunokura Grand Palace, the Suite Room

[You"re Izaya Orihara, right.]

Hearing the voice that had suddenly called him, Izaya gave a smirk with a slight surprise.

"Who are you…..would be impolite to ask. You are the same voice I heard on the TV news or the corporation CM."

Right there he cut off, and Izaya said after he correcting his posture on his wheelchair and his mindset.

"…..It is a great honor to talk with the feudal lord like this."

For Izaya it was unexpected for the other to call this number. This meant he had more information collecting ability than Izaya. Jingorou supplied the source of the information readily.

[When I re-examined it just in case there were traces of the leaked information on the dried up resources in the mine. When I pressed the person in question and followed the information trail thoroughly this cell phone number came up.]

"Was that first "you"re Izaya Orihara, right" a way to get me to confess?"

[When I looked into the main holder of this number from the back it was someone registered on the black list even in the black market lending companies. I thought it was a cell phone to just be thrown away.]

Izaya shook in delight at Jingorou citing of the details plainly and said in return.

"I see……So, what do you plan to do to me, who knows the secret of the mine? Will you eliminate me?"

[You already leaked the contents over to Kiyojima right? There is no meaning in having you taken care of now. At first I thought to pull you out, but it seems you are a bigger idiot than I imagined. I decided it would be best to not get involved with you more than necessary.]

"You don"t resent me?"

[Even if I did it"s not like I"m getting any money. It would be useless effort. Although if Ryuuji knew he would be that way. Well no, even if he didn"t know he would still try to get rid of you. He"s a coward. Sooner or later wouldn"t he get the impression you are deceiving him?]

After having spoken up until that point, Jingorou paused for a slight period of time before changing the subject.

[This is quite frank, but is this town already coming to an end?]

Izaya cheerfully answered the "feudal lord" – Jingorou Adamura – as he asked that blatantly straightforward.

"Who knows. I think it will depend on everyone"s dedication and efforts."

[If that"s the case, then at the least the "Adamura and Kiyojima town" will already end. There isn"t anyone with the dedication to continue that balance or anyone who would make the effort in this town.]

"You"re here, though?"

[If I have to clean up all the mess from this situation, there is worth in starting something new instead. I"ll conceal my money and retire. I plan to start up again when the excitement dies down.]

Having stated that "his well being is most important," Izaya asked Jingorou with a favorable impression towards him.

"Then what? What business does the "feudal lord" abandoning his domain have with me?"

At that, Adamura brought up an issue with an att.i.tude as though asking how the weather would be tomorrow.

[Do you know who killed Ryuuichi?]

And Izaya answered with an att.i.tude of telling how the weather would be tomorrow.

"Yes, I know. I heard from the person who did it."

[……Kazuhisa?]

"Close. I"ll only say that. I would have to receive information corresponding with that value or money for more than that."

[Is that so? If so, then it"ll just be me soliloquizing then.]

After Jingorou put that out on the table, he began to discuss of his son who died not too long ago in a composed manner.

[Ryuuichi had a loan for a lifetime. I think the one who killed him did it in revenge related to that, but…..there"s too many I would know. Besides, if they were involved with that they would reasonable want revenge against myself and Kiyojima as well.]

"If you tell me about the loan, I would be fine telling you the culprit, you know?"

[……I can"t do that. This isn"t about the feelings of the family. Hiding the contents is the loan. Even if I gave a hint saying in straightforwardly would lower my price. Even if it is something already found out. Even I think it is a worthless sense of value though.]

Hearing Jingorou"s conversation Izaya nodded in satisfaction.

"No, it is truly a human-like answer. I"m satisfied."

Jingorou then considered Izaya"s disposition he had looked into earlier and said sarcastically.

[……You would say that no matter what I answered with, wouldn"t you?]

Present, the Large Banquet Hall

Jingorou Adamura had moved off the platform, spotted Izaya Orihara and approached him.

There were plenty of persons concerned in the operations that tried to talk with him, but he ignored all of them and walked up to him.

"Well, well, thank you for the invitation. And nice to meet you, Jingorou-san."

"I honestly didn"t think you would show up. Didn"t you think you could have been killed?"

"Just a bit ago they tried to kill me. Not you, but I think it was the p.a.w.ns of that guy glaring in that corner over there."

Briefly glancing over he saw Kiyojima trembling all over and turning pale and red in the face. Jingorou Adamura said nothing except for a "is that right?" He then averted his gaze from Kiyojima, uninterested. Having decided to abandon the city, Kiyojima was already a presence he could care less about for him. Rather, he seemed to currently have interest in Izaya and with no concern over the eye-witnesses present he boldly asked him.

"I can deduce who you are connected with in the underground, what position you have as well as other things. But there is one thing I can"t understand. Who told you to come to this town in the first place? It was not myself or Kiyojima. There should have been someone who gave you the first information as a basis."

"It is unfortunate, but I cannot tell you my clients and information providers."

"That right? Then, Kazuhisa is….."

Seeing Izaya shake his head Jingorou tried to ask about Kazuhisa and Nana. However.

At some point Udagawa entered the a.s.sembly hall, ran over to Jingorou and whispered something in his ear. The moment he heard what he said to him Jingorou"s eyes narrowed.

"……There were explosions at the mine?"

With more to add, Udagawa mentioned another truth.

"The young masters Ryuuji and Kazuhisa as well as some of our own and the Oukarengou were caught in it."

Izaya had heard of that information, and as he sat in the wheelchair he muttered, "that is more than I expected," and his eyes shone brightly.

The next moment when he tried to say something there was a cry from the corner of the a.s.sembly hall. Everyone including Izaya moved their gazes over there, and there was the face of someone they knew.

Even for Izaya Orihara, even for Jingorou Adamura, and even for Haruto and HImari it was a face they knew well. The moment they saw them the two children individually said.

"…..That"s why I said it though."

Himari looked at the figure in pity, while Haruto raised his voice as though he remembered who it was.

"Ah! It"s the lady from the park!"

Where Haruto was pointing his finger towards –

was Azami Niiyama pressing a knife to Kiyojima"s throat.

Entertainment District

"What the h.e.l.l!?"

Koshino"s eyes widened as he saw the scene. He saw flames rising across town along the clear evening.

Hearing the report from a member under him that "Sasazaki ran off somewhere in a hurry," he was doubtful, but then he received a shocking report from another member.

"Around town……There"s fire around town!"

"What!?"

"Furthermore……there"s smoke rising from Adamura-san"s estate, Kiyojima"s household, the Oukarengou"s meetup place, and the work place at the mine!"

"What"s going on!?"

Moving out onto the rooftop of the building, he saw the smoke rising from several places around the city. Furthermore he heard the occasional sound of explosions.

While still confused, there was another report from his subordinate.

"The internet is going crazy….. It looks like the fact Bunokura is closing down the mine is being posted unbelievably fast!"

"It"s being posted on the town"s community network and SNS one after the other……"

When Koshino took out his smartphone to confirm it in haste he saw the information being posted at a terrific rate.

As though someone was spreading the information on purpose.

"False rumors!?"

"It says it was announced at the gathering, but whether that is true or not is….."

On top of being a member of the Futsuku group, Koshino whispered as he wiped away the cold sweat.

"c.r.a.p……this town is coming to an end……"

The Large Banquet Hall

"You"re Azami."

Jingorou Adamura said to her with an indifferent att.i.tude

"You"re quite calm, master. No, Jingorou Adamura."

Ignoring the guests running away trying to escape, Azami and Jingorou faced each with only five meters separated from each other.

The surreal scene unfolded in the area while Izaya told Haruto, "how about moving me to a spot for me to see both of their faces more," in which Haruto replied, "Yes! Izaya-san!" And with a smile he started to push the wheelchair.

Azami moved back to the side of the wall while threatening Kiyojima with the knife and turned her hateful gaze towards Adamura.

Jingorou asked Azami straightforwardly.

"You killed Ryuuichi?"

"Yes, that"s right."

Hardly any clearer Azami confessed to her crime. Her eyes were filled to the brim with anger, but no guilt or repentance could be felt in them.

She briefly looked over at Izaya, who had moved to a spot to see their faces bettern and gave her thanks.

"Thank you, Izaya-san. Thanks to the information you gave me I was able to break through with a lot of things."

"I"m glad to hear that."

"But it"d be better to run from here quickly."

Azami turned over the bag that was on her shoulder with the hand not holding the knife, and several dynamites fell out from it. They were explosives used in the Bunokura mine. One out of the bunch had a small incendiary device attached to it.

"Whoa, you brought out something quite dangerous."

Jingorou gave a bitter smile thinking of the naïve security of his company. He thought perhaps there were obscene amounts of complications that came forth to hide the drying up of the mine, but for the meantime there was one thing he clearly understood.

Jingorou spoke up upon seeing the activation switch the woman took out.

"If you set them all off with that amount here, myself, you, and Kiyojima (that trash) would die all together."

"Yes, I know. I don"t really care."

With a dark flame burning in her eyes Azami declared.

"If I can take vengeance on this city that killed my sister, then the price for my life is cheap."

If it can be called a simple revenge tragedy, then that was what it is.

Azami Niiyama had a younger sister.

Since their parents pa.s.sed away early on they were taken under separate foster parents. Azami continued to watch over the young girl taken into Bunokura city secretly. Her sister was raised soundly, but one day marked the end of those days.

The distorted body of her sister, who was only sixteen at the time, was discovered. No matter how one looked at it the body could only been seen as a victim of murder. However, the verdict from the police was that it was a suicide.

The police chief of Bunokura concluded it was a suicide and dropped the investigation, completely disregarding that her mouth was stuffed with leaflets and that her throat was cut with a cutter knife thirty times .

It was clearly a suspicious situation, but no one in the city tried to press into the matter. Even her foster parents in the beginning sued the police many times, but having steadily received pressure from those around them they ended up leaving the city.

For the seventeen-year old Azami at the time she was also able to understand it was suspicious. She distributed the posters with her sister"s foster parents, but she easily recalled even now how the mood of the town was cemented with the idea to "not do anything rash."

What stood in their way of searching for the truth was the city itself. Despite that she quietly and secretly continued to look into the case.

Now that ten years had pa.s.sed, she became aware that the ones who had created the town"s atmosphere were the two big authorities: the Adamura household and the Kiyojima household. She knew of the many cases of undetermined deaths from the past in the vicinity of the town, but most of them were treated as suicides or accidents. Since they were dead writers who had looked into the state affairs of the town it was rumored as a tacit understanding it was either Kiyojima or Adamura who eliminated them.

In short, there was the possibility her sister"s death also had something to do with the two families.

Azami had thought that and to get close to both families she hid her lineage and did several tasks. As a result she managed to slip in as a maid of the Adamura household and continued to make deeper connections. And there she suddenly came to know.

One day Ryuuichi had nearly lost his senses for indulging in dangerous drugs and tried to a.s.sault Azami as she was working in the estate. With hollow eyes Ryuuichi spoke to her as she attempted to get away.

– "Y-yoooouu, you want leeaflets shoved in yoour mouth toooo?"

You want leaflets shoved in your mouth too?

The face of her sister appeared in the front of Azami"s mind.

The situation of the body was generally not publicized even by the police and was information only the bereaved family knew of. So once she found a helper who held a grudge against Ryuuji, she decided to try it out.

After having confined him for a few days, she quietly whispered in Ryuuichi Adamura"s ear. That she was the sister of the girl he killed.

The change was dramatic. Seeing Ryuuichi turning pale before her eyes she believed he was the bad guy. Drag out the confession, announce it on the internet and send him to the police – that was the kind of arrangement she made with her "helper."

However at the point she concluded he was the culprit her reasoning suddenly flew from her mind. The cutter knife became a murder weapon instead of a tool to threaten with.

Her "helper" had come afterwards, and at first they trembled in fear but then said,"let"s make it look like a suicide." They grabbed the knife and threw Ryuuichi"s body over from the building.

Ironically that was extraordinarily a very similar scenario with the deformed body of Azami"s sister. Her sister"s death that was concluded as a suicide.

However her feelings did not lighten up.

What is missing? Why is her anger not clearing up?

They were not feelings of guilt. But her revenge did not satisfy her heart.

When she was bearing those heavy feelings – Azami met a strange man called Izaya Orihara. He was an informant surrounded in a mysterious air, boasting he could grasp any weakness of others.

The second time she made contact with the informant was when she was given the cell phone. The informant knew she was looking into the case with Ryuuichi Adamura. And that it seemed her helper was being suspected instead of her.

She told him what she thought in the end.

[I want to know the weaknesses of the Kiyojima household and Adamura household. If possible, anything related to a case ten years ago.]

In exchange she told him. That she was the culprit behind this case.

She thought it would not matter with this. Rather she thought it would be fine for it to become a big arrest scene for her. Even if she was discovered and beaten to death by the Adamura family, that was why she requested her helper to release her testimony to the public.

From the start it was pointless. Without anything progressing she would give herself up and end everything. However, if there was more to it she would realize the continuation of her revenge.

The truth was cruel.

What she heard from Izaya was that the case at the time was apparently a case erased by both the Kiyojima and Adamura families.

Ryuuichi Adamura was under the influence of drugs and had attacked Douma Kiyojima"s sister Nana. Afterwards, Ryuuichi was driven away by Douma at the end of their violent brawl, but on his way back he happened to see Azami"s sister pa.s.sing by. He had tried to a.s.sault her but received unexpected resistance and thus had killed her.

There were no other marks of violence other than cuts, so that at least was a relief to Azami, but her feelings for revenge for everything against Kiyojima and Adamura – no, all of it was directed to something larger than that.

And then just previously she was sent the data from Izaya on her cell phone.

The last trigger to give herself up to vengeance was on there: the data of the investigation at the time that was supposed to be sealed away and the memos from the police chief at the time and the legwork. It was information she understood with one glance that the case was forced to be kept under lock and key.

She felt she was permitted. That the revenge she would incite was just.

If it could be called a simple revenge tragedy, then that was what it was.  And yet, the grudge of the vengeful was deeply rooted and heavy. Enough to be determined to accomplish such a large scale revenge as compensation for her life.

The target of her vengeance was this town itself: the puppet city controlled by the authority of Adamura and Kiyojima.

She would not forgive any of the puppets on their strings that discarded her sister.

And now back to the present.

Azami utilized the timing and wireless detonation equipment and blew up places around town especially places with deep connections with Adamura and Kiyojima.

"Right about now I wonder if it is burning all over? Even your children should be crying in the middle of a hole."

When Azami mentioned this, her eyes conceived of madness, while still having a knife pressed against his throat Kiyojima yelled.

"Wha……What was that!? What do you mean!?"

"Do you know where Kazuhisa and Nana were hiding? It was the old tunnel of the Bunokura mine."

"So I told him. To that idiot Ryuuji. Then I pretended to be Nana on her cell phone and sent that worthless Douma a text."

And then they were thoroughly pulled in.

"I set explosives at the entrance and inside, so right now they should be buried alive or they are awaiting suffocation for the airs.p.a.ce made between the rubble to dissipate, perhaps? Yes, if Kazuhisa and Nana-chan were in there then they are surely buried alive."

"Y-you biiiitch! …..Hee!?"

Kiyojima raged, but having the knife pressed against the base of his neck he withdrew his anger readily.

Jingorou on the other hand focused on Azami and asked expressionlessly.

"How do you know Ryuuji and everyone all entered?"

"Eh?"

"According to Udagawa"s report the explosion that ha