The same day and moment where we left off in the previous chapter...
"What do you really want from me? Hurry up — I don't have time for this! Just tell me: where is Don Romano? Is he safe?"
Skyler's voice was sharp and urgent. She slammed her cuffed fist hard against the desk, the metal links clinking loudly against the wood.
Usui only watched her, calm and unmoved. A faint, cold, arrogant smirk played at the corner of his lips. He crossed his arms over his chest, then slowly leaned forward until his face was only inches from hers.
"Let me make one thing clear…" he whispered, his voice low and chilling. "You aren't in any position to ask questions here. You'll get to speak only after I'm finished with you."
His fingers brushed lightly against her loose hair — slow, deliberate, and threatening.
"Do I make myself perfectly understood?" he asked, his tone heavy with expectation and menace.
Skyler could only look away, her jaw clenched tight and her bound fists trembling. She clicked her tongue sharply, letting out a sound of pure frustration.
"That's a good girl!"
Usui laughed mockingly, clapping his hands slowly and sarcastically. After a moment, he cleared his throat and smoothed the lapels of his expensive blue coat, his demeanor shifting instantly into something colder.
"Tell me what happened at the Fish Port Battle. I want every single detail — everything you remember about your encounter with the Harmony Duo."
His tone carried a false lightness, but his eyes burned with predatory intensity, fixed unwaveringly on her.
"Fine… I'll tell you, if that's what you're so desperate to know."
Skyler spoke reluctantly, tapping her index finger sharply against the desk.
"Don Romano was completely outplayed by the Harmony Duo. They turned his own plan against him — accurately predicting every move he made, and using it all to their advantage. That's how they defeated him."
Frustration creased her forehead, and her voice trembled slightly as she continued.
"They're far too clever… and far too terrifying. Even you wouldn't stand a chance against them." She let out a shaky, defeated breath.
"What exactly do you mean by 'predicting his approach and turning it against him'? I need the full context — tell me exactly what he did."
Usui remained perfectly still, his expression unreadable, his tone steady and serious.
Skyler let out a long, weary sigh.
"Don Romano's plan was simple: he wanted to use the Duo's own strengths against them. He waited until the real Harmony Duo released their usual video clue. Once it was out, he directed all our men to prepare explosives. I decoded the hidden message in the video for him, and he then ringed every entrance and corner of the location mentioned — surrounding the entire place with his own bombs."
"And at first, it went exactly as he expected — the Harmony Duo took the bait. But then the one in the black mask, 'Harmoni', revealed they had foreseen his every move. They'd come there on purpose: to carry out their own bombing plan, while using our setup against us. Well… at least the first part is certain. The rest is only what I suspect."
Skyler spoke reluctantly, turning her gaze away and letting her eyelids fall slowly shut, as if trying to block out the memory.
"I'd bet fifty million yen that the two of them could never pull this off alone. Two people standing against an entire crime family? That's not a battle anyone wins fairly."
Usui's voice carried unshakable confidence as he slowly swept a hand back through his neatly styled hair. His demeanor shifted, sharp and demanding.
"So tell me, Skyler — who else was involved? Who helped them win… and escape?"
His eyes hardened to a glacial, piercing coldness — calm, but radiating unspoken threat.
"In actuality, you've got it completely wrong," Skyler said, shaking her head gently. "If anything, it was the Harmony Duo who helped them win against us—and slip away right under our noses."
Usui tilted his head, curiosity flickering in his sharp gaze, a faint, self-assured smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. "What do you mean? And who exactly are these people?"
"Are you familiar with the Robin Hood Foundation—led by that mysterious philanthropist, Granger?" Skyler asked, meeting his eyes steadily.
A low, knowing chuckle escaped Usui. "I know of their operations. In fact, I'd bet a hundred million yen that she and her small team of three are the ones you're referring to. But why them, of all people?" He leaned forward slightly, fingers steepled together, his expression a mix of intrigue and genuine confusion as he waited patiently for her to explain.
"You're as perceptive as always, Usui," Skyler said, a faint, confident smirk tugging at the corner of her lips—before it faded, her expression turning sharp and serious once more. "Their philanthropy is little more than a front… though interestingly enough, it's also a core part of their philosophy. But make no mistake—they started out as bounty hunters, and they came here specifically to claim the bounties on the Harmony Duo's heads." Her tone dropped, cold and sharp as steel.
Usui's eyes lit up with genuine excitement, a low whistle escaping him before he slammed his clenched fists lightly against the table's surface. "Wow—that's a reveal I never saw coming!" He leaned forward, energized and eager. "So then—how on earth did they end up getting help from the very people they're trying to kill?"
Skyler let out a slow, heavy sigh—one that carried the weight of a lost advantage—before straightening her posture and regaining her composure.
"When we first arrived here, we had two clear agendas," she said, her eyelids drifting shut for a moment as if recalling the plan they'd laid out long ago. "The first was to capture the Harmony Duo: to step forward as the heroes who brought down those mass terrorists, and collect the bounty. But beyond that, our true goal was to expand our influence—grow our fame, our power, our empire, and polish our reputation until it shone beyond reproach."
Usui leaned back fully into his chair, steepling his fingers behind his head, curiosity sharp in his gaze. "And the second objective?"
Skyler's eyes snapped open, cold and hard as ice. Her hands curled into tight fists atop the table, knuckles whitening slightly with suppressed frustration.
"To eliminate Granger—and remove her from our path forever," she said, her voice dropping to a sharp, biting edge. "Time and again, that woman has stuck her nose into our business and ruined our deals. We swore we'd use this chance to kill two birds with one stone."
"We had them completely cornered at first," Skyler said, her knuckles whitening as her fists tightened. "But then the Harmony Duo stepped in—they devised a brilliant, ruthless strategy, using their own explosives to split our forces right down the middle. Half our team was wiped out by Granger and her three associates, while she led the rest straight into the Duo's trap. The moment we drew near, they triggered the blast. We were thrown back, broken and badly wounded—but alive. That's exactly why I stand here now, along with what's left of my people."
She drew in a slow, steady breath, holding it for a heartbeat before letting it out in a long, controlled exhale, forcing her fraying temper back under control.
"I see… now I'm starting to understand how they work," Usui murmured, his fingers stroking thoughtfully along his jawline as he pieced the picture together.
"Is that all?" Skyler pressed, impatience making her voice tremble slightly. Her nails scraped lightly against the side of her neck, restless and eager to get answers of her own.
Usui's gaze flicked down briefly to the gleaming yellow-gold watch on his wrist, glinting softly under the room's light. He rolled his neck once, releasing a faint crack.
"Now then," he drawled, a playful lilt curling in his tone, followed by a low, amused hum. "Tell me—what else have you learned about the Harmony Duo themselves?"
"You've no doubt read the news reports: what kind of explosives they use, and how they always stick to that signature style—maximum destruction, zero innocent lives lost. And you've probably also seen their little habit of posting cryptic video clues, hinting at where the next blast will strike. Am I right?" Skyler tilted her head slightly to the side, her gaze sharp and searching.
"I'm well aware of all that," Usui replied with quiet certainty. "And I also know what the papers claim: that they're just teenagers—sixteen or seventeen years old." His expression shifted, the amusement fading as his eyes turned cold and piercing. "But I can tell you're still holding something back. Spit it out, and we'll be done here."
A faint, exasperated huff escaped Skyler, edged with a hint of dry amusement. "You really don't miss a thing, do you? I only asked to confirm you weren't working off outdated information." Her tone dropped, growing heavy and serious. She leaned forward just a fraction, her hands—bound at the wrists—clasped firmly together beneath the table.
"During the incident at the Fish Port… I heard Granger call them by name. Arata… and Shinji."
The words hung thick in the air. A long, heavy silence settled over the room, neither of them breaking the intense, unwavering stare they held locked on one another.
"So I suppose it's finally my turn to ask my question, isn't it?" Skyler leaned forward slightly, her expression bright with curiosity and quiet anticipation.
"Indeed. I shall do my part and answer yours now," Usui replied with easy confidence, smoothing the lapels of his rich, tailored blue coat.
"Where is Don Romano?" The warmth vanished instantly from her face; her voice turned sharp and icy, wariness flaring clear in her eyes. She swallowed hard, her throat bobbing—nervousness slipping through her composure the moment the words left her lips.
"I regret to say… that unfortunately—" Usui let his eyelids drift shut, his tone carefully modulated to sound heavy and sympathetic, though it was nothing but an act. He let out a long, slow sigh, as if burdened by the memory of the gamble he and Don Romano had once made.
"Time's up!"
The command cut sharply through the air. The heavy metal door swung open with a loud, harsh screech, revealing a uniformed officer standing rigid in the frame.
But before he could step away, Usui leaned in close, his lips brushing just beside her ear, his voice dropping to a cold, private whisper:
"He was caught in the crossfire… that very same day at the Fish Port."
A faint, arrogant smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth—hidden from view—before he straightened and walked calmly out of the room alongside the officer.
The door clicked shut behind them with a final, heavy thud.
Skyler remained frozen in place, her face draining of all color. Her eyes glistened and welled with tears, her lips parting but no sound coming out—shock and grief leaving her utterly silent and broken in the empty room.
"How did the interrogation with Skyler go, Sir?" Komachi hurried to catch up, falling into step beside Usui as she asked, her tone careful and watchful.
Usui let out a short, amused breath, a faint, proud smile tugging at his lips. "Always quick to the point—no wonder you make such a fine secretary, Komachi!" He stretched lazily, covering his mouth with a polite yawn. "It went well enough. I got less than I'd hoped for, but… I still walked away with exactly what I needed to know." A hint of arrogant satisfaction laced his voice as he rolled his neck, releasing a soft crack. "We'll discuss the details properly inside the limousine."
He spoke with quiet authority before turning and striding straight toward the waiting car.
Internal Monologue (Usui): Well, at least I've lessen the suspect list even for a bit. I'll find you both soon enough and we'll have a nice and long game to play...Arata and Shinji, you're it.
Komachi exhaled a quiet, resigned sigh, then hurried after him without a word.
Inside Arata and Shinji's Apartment…
ATCHOO!… ATCHOO!
Both boys sneezed in unison, rubbing their noses.
"Ugh—what was that all about?" Shinji grumbled, rolling his eyes and putting on an exaggerated act of irritation.
"Doesn't matter," Arata said, adjusting his glasses as he spoke with quiet authority, then let out a tired yawn. "Listen, Shinji—we've finally gained a powerful ally in Granger. Even though she's headed back to Brooklyn now, that doesn't change things. We still have to stay on guard every single second."
Shinji studied him closely, a playful yet concerned glint in his eyes. "You haven't slept at all, have you?" He stepped forward and rested a hand lightly on Arata's shoulder.
Arata immediately swatted his hand away and rolled his shoulders in a stiff stretch.
"None of your business," he muttered, turning his face slightly to the side and scratching the back of his head.
"Come on—you need proper rest," Shinji pressed, shifting to a tone that was cautious but earnest. "You won't be able to keep up with classes or your part-time job tomorrow if you run yourself ragged. And don't forget—our sixth operation is already being planned. We'll need every bit of energy we have left."
Arata fell silent for a moment, then finally relented with a small nod. "…I know. I'll lie down for a while."
He turned and climbed the ladder up to his top bunk. "Send word to Kaori—tell her we'll pick things back up soon. We'll go over all the details tomorrow during lunch break at school." His voice carried that familiar firm edge before he slipped off his glasses and settled back onto the mattress.
"Got it—consider it done!" Shinji replied with bright enthusiasm, letting out a quiet breath of relief once Arata was settled. He reached for his phone right away, already typing out the message.
Internal Monologue (Arata): Granger might be out of our way now, but there is still Takahiro, Haruko, and MPD behind their back also Angeline and her CIA squad, we can't take some time to relax yet.
"We still have a long way before we end this game."