The scheduled transaction time was 3:30 PM.
Sitting on the ground, Ritsu idly played with his phone. Less than ten minutes remained before the deal, yet Gin still hadn't sent any messages.
Could it be that the fearless company president had really brought backup?
Three minutes before the transaction, Ritsu finally received a message from Gin.
There were only one word,
[Retreat.]
Rising to his feet, Ritsu said, "We're pulling out. Looks like the target came alone after all. His life is spared."
"Tch, what's this supposed to be? We didn't even get a chance to do anything."
Chianti pulled the chocolate-flavored lollipop from her mouth in dissatisfaction.
Before leaving today, she had even bragged to Calvados, who had been stuck on the bench and unable to participate in the mission, that she'd finally gotten an assignment.
Clicking her tongue, she looked at the still-seated Korn and reminded him,
"Korn, let's go. Mission's canceled."
However, Korn didn't stand up and follow her as usual. He remained seated in silence. Both Ritsu and Chianti found this strange.
Following Korn's line of sight, they looked ahead and discovered what had completely captured his attention.
The Ferris wheel.
The classic attraction that every couple rode as long as they weren't afraid of heights.
Chianti crunched her lollipop loudly before swallowing and asking casually, "What, don't tell me you want to ride the Ferris wheel?"
It was meant as an offhand remark.
Unexpectedly, she had hit the mark.
Korn, who was roughly the same age as Vodka, actually blushed. The shy, awkward expression on his face was fully visible to Ritsu, who had moved around to stand in front of him.
And then...
Ritsu shivered.
'No way.'
A professional Organization sniper not only liked duck-shaped food, he also liked Ferris wheels? No one would ever believe it.
It was about a hundred Gins away from the image of a cold-blooded assassin.
Glancing at the time on his watch, Ritsu sent a message to Gin. The reply he received nearly made his eyes pop out of their sockets.
[Augier: Where are you?]
[Gin: Roller coaster.]
'So Gin and Vodka had taken their couples tickets and, instead of properly working, gone to ride the roller coaster?'
Ritsu pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation, trying his best to erase the mental image from his head.
After a long sigh, he said, "I never thought you workaholics still had a childlike side."
"Huh? What are you talking about, Augier?" Chianti asked in confusion.
"Nothing."
Ritsu's gaze landed on Korn's face.
Even though his expression barely changed, the anticipation practically radiating from behind his sunglasses was impossible to miss.
"One ride only. Then you're going straight back to the base for training."
"Okay."
Chianti blinked in surprise.
'He was actually going to accompany Korn on the Ferris wheel?'
Personally, she had absolutely no interest in rides like that. If given the choice, she'd rather ride the roller coaster. Or go into the haunted house and scare the ghosts instead.
However, the moment the three of them joined the queue, Ritsu's phone rang.
[Gin.]
Could he somehow see them lining up at the Ferris wheel?
The instant the call connected, Gin spoke.
"Someone lost their head."
Ritsu's heart skipped a beat. Lowering his voice as much as possible, he whispered, "Whose head? Why is the wind so loud over there?"
"Please don't tell me, Gin, you decapitated someone on the roller coaster?"
"I didn't do it." Gin's eyes rested on the headless corpse ahead of him, still spraying blood from its neck.
Disgust filled his gaze.
"The police will probably arrive soon. Find a way to get over here."
Hearing that Gin wasn't the killer, Ritsu breathed a sigh of relief. "Got it. I'll head over now."
"Did something happen?"
Chianti had been shamelessly eavesdropping beside the phone but hadn't managed to hear clearly. The only thing she caught was a woman's scream.
"Something came up. You two ride the Ferris wheel and then head back. Got it?"
"Oh. Sure."
After hanging up, Ritsu couldn't help thinking, 'Were Gin and Vodka's real objective just riding the roller coaster?'
There was literally an observation tower in the amusement park from which they could have monitored the target and checked for ambushes.
He decided not to think about it any further.
Placing both hands on the railing, he vaulted over it effortlessly. Fortunately, he had studied the amusement park map beforehand.
At his pace, running from the Ferris wheel to the roller coaster would take less than two minutes.
...
When he arrived at the roller coaster entrance and was about to enter, a familiar voice sounded from behind him.
"Make way! Police!"
Holding up his badge and dressed in casual clothes, Wataru pushed through the crowd while shouting, "Everyone not involved, step back! Do not interfere with the police investigation!"
'What a coincidence.'
Ritsu had originally intended to greet him. Then he remembered that he was currently wearing Augier's face. The step he had taken forward immediately shifted direction, allowing him to brush past Wataru.
At the same time, he discreetly attached a newly developed bug to him. It was an improved product from the Organization's research division. After one hour, it would automatically dissolve.
There was no chance the squad leader would ever discover it.
"Natalie, you shouldn't go inside."
Wataru paused, swallowing the details of the case he had been about to mention. In a gentler voice, he said, "Wait for me at the dessert shop nearby. Once the case is closed, I'll come find you."
"Mhm~ Do your best, Dear."
Natalie had always understood her boyfriend's profession. In fact, she was proud of it. Standing on her tiptoes, she planted a quick kiss on Wataru's cheek and smiled.
"I'll be waiting for you~"
"N-Natalie...!" Wataru's face immediately turned red.
"Just wait for me!"
Then he hurried into the roller coaster area.
The surrounding crowd barely noticed the public display of affection. Only Ritsu, hidden in the shadows, both saw it and clearly heard the sound of the kiss.
Grabbing his ears, which had turned red against his will, he gritted his teeth.
"Flirting right outside a murder scene... As expected of you, Class Leader."
Watching Natalie enter the dessert shop, Ritsu rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Come to think of it, it's kind of strange. Every time Class Leader goes on a date, something happens."
"Last time he got dragged into a bombing case."
"This time it's a murder."
...
Meanwhile,
Wataru had no idea someone had planted a listening device on him. His only concern was solving the brutal homicide as quickly as possible.
After all, the crime had occurred inside an amusement park packed with visitors. Photos could easily spread online and trigger a media frenzy.
"Everyone, please move back! Don't come any closer!"
The employees in green uniforms struggled to maintain order. None of them had expected to encounter something like this on their very first day of work.
Several unlucky passengers from the same roller coaster car had blood splattered on them to varying degrees.
Most of the female passengers were crying uncontrollably.
Only three of the male riders remained relatively calm.
The moment Wataru entered, he saw a teenage boy wearing a green tracksuit drape a white towel over the headless corpse that nobody else dared approach.
When the boy turned around, Wataru's eyes widened in surprise.
"Kudo-kun? What are you doing here?"
Hearing his name, Shinichi turned around. Upon recognizing Wataru, whom he had met once before, he lit up.
"Officer Date? You're fast! I only just finished calling the police."
"Uh..."
Wataru coughed awkwardly. "I just happened to be nearby. Never mind that. Help clear the crowd while I examine the body."
"Got it!"
Shinichi immediately nodded and moved to assist.