Chapter 198
Maybe Blade had made thorough preparations, handled the evidence properly, and thought about what his reaction should be and what to say if investigated, but he couldn't withstand Usuha Izuki's masterstroke that disrupted his plans. His acting instantly couldn't keep up, and Judy spotted the flaws.
Judy didn't handcuff him—that was already considering human rights. Anyway, first drag him back to their own territory to discuss, other matters could be dealt with later.
Just in case, just in case... she and Samukawa Shinryu had both misjudged...
Judy glanced at Samukawa Shinryu and felt despair. Even if she really had misjudged, Samukawa Shinryu didn't look like someone who would misjudge.
Especially declaring so confidently in front of so many people that the other party was the criminal... If this was wrong, it would become an international joke. Samukawa Shinryu couldn't possibly let himself become a joke. Since he could say it out loud, he must be confident.
"Need help?" Usuha Izuki asked proactively for once, quietly pressing the record button in his pocket.
Even Hagiwara Kenji couldn't help but glance over.
Usually Little Shinryu wasn't this enthusiastic. Basically whenever he actively said anything, it was to say something strange. What was going on today?
Judy immediately said: "No need. This is our FBI's internal matter—we don't need others interfering."
Usuha Izuki was satisfied to get the answer he wanted: "Mm, remember what you just said."
Judy, who didn't yet know she would travel to Japan in the future and interfere with Japanese police investigations in various ways: "...?"
Although the FBI had a suspect, the previous arrangements weren't completely canceled. After all, everyone didn't want to admit the criminal was one of their own, so the FBI still harbored concerns about "if the criminal is someone else and they arbitrarily canceled plans leading to deaths," continuing to persuade everyone to accept FBI protection.
Everyone had also reverse-engineered that code based on the answer—it was indeed [GUILTY]. So those recruited experts had to be well protected, while others could be more casual.
With things like this, the atmosphere was completely ruined. Even if Blade really was the criminal, the conference couldn't continue. Everyone would definitely be absent-minded. Since that was the case, better to end early!
So Usuha Izuki's group entered the free activity phase.
Judy had already stated they didn't need Samukawa Shinryu's help. They weren't suspects either, so as long as they claimed not to fear death, the FBI had no reason to restrict their movements—unless they did something illegal, but there really wasn't that necessity currently.
Back at the hotel, Matsuda Jinpei, who particularly loved this conference, was still furious about its early ending: "What's he doing? Does he think he's a righteous messenger?"
"Because some countries don't have the death penalty. After killing people, as long as you have money, suspended sentences and reduced sentences mean you can get out in a few years and even grandly become an expert..." Hagiwara Kenji said helplessly. "It's indeed unfair to the victims, but there's nothing we can do..."
Usuha Izuki: "There is a way—just encounter people like Blade."
"Hah?" Matsuda Jinpei looked at Usuha Izuki with an indescribable expression. "You're not going to approve of him, are you?"
"To police, judges and others, he's a criminal, but to victims and their families, he might be a righteous messenger. It's just that deciding whether someone should die based on personal judgment is prone to errors... Didn't you also wish that bomber would die?"
Hagiwara Kenji held his forehead. Why bring up that bomber again when he was already dead: "For Little Jinpei's case, I'd rather he didn't take action... I believe if that bomber committed crimes again with his own hands and was caught by him, he would restrain himself from killing."
Matsuda Jinpei was silent for a moment: "...I don't even dare believe in myself that much."
"I understand Little Jinpei well." Hagiwara Kenji looked at Usuha Izuki. "But if Little Shinryu encountered that situation..."
Usuha Izuki revealed a chilling smile: "I would kill him without hesitation. I could find appropriate excuses if needed."
"...Don't do that. Even if there are reasons, killing is killing. Once you take action, you can't go back to the past."
"Got it."
Answering so casually, Hagiwara Kenji suspected Usuha Izuki hadn't listened at all.
Matsuda Jinpei felt the topic was getting heavy and tactfully changed it: "We still have a week of vacation. The conference ended early—what now?"
Usuha Izuki: "I feel like being with you guys always leads to incidents. How about we split up? It's rare to come to America—I don't want to encounter strange things again."
Matsuda Jinpei: "...???"
I never said that! Where do you get the nerve! Aren't there more cases around you?!
Seeing Matsuda Jinpei shocked speechless, Hagiwara Kenji couldn't help laughing: "Fine, we're not elementary school students who have to play together when going out."
Only then did Matsuda Jinpei find his voice: "...Just be careful. Don't make us come bail you out."
Hagiwara Kenji also advised: "Call when you're free to report you're safe. The gun ownership rate here is a bit unsettling."
This was America. With Little Shinryu's aura, what if some gun owner shot him in "self-defense" while walking on the street? How unfair would that be...
Though worried, he felt Little Shinryu was probably afraid of trouble. The FBI might look for him later, and he didn't want to deal with it, so avoiding them was normal.
Hagiwara Kenji was actually very interested in this case's aftermath and wanted to stay to wait for news. It wouldn't be good to make everyone wait with him, so the other party's proactive suggestion to split up was just right.
Usuha Izuki also knew that using Samukawa Shinryu's identity made it easy to be stopped and questioned by police on the street. This wasn't Japan where he could directly prove his identity—abroad would always be more troublesome.
So from the moment he suggested splitting up, he'd already figured out how to enjoy his American tourism.
"...Botanist?" Vermouth was surprised to receive Usuha Izuki's call. "You're in America now?"
"Yeah, I remembered you're also in America, so I thought I'd visit." Usuha Izuki's tone was cheerful. "How about it, busy lately?"
Vermouth laughed: "Not really busy, just preparing to guest star in a movie. I'll probably be around the film crew for the next few days... If you don't mind being bored, you could come watch."
Usuha Izuki cheered: "Yes! I've never been to a film set!"
Though knowing Usuha Izuki was already an adult, hearing this lively, cheerful voice, Vermouth couldn't help wanting to spoil him: "Alright, where are you now? I'll have someone book you a ticket."
"Seattle."
"Oh? What a coincidence—the crew is filming in Seattle right now. I'll have someone drive to pick you up."
This naturally wasn't coincidence. Although Vermouth as the star Sharon was very privacy-conscious, rarely appearing in newspapers with mysterious whereabouts—convenient for occasionally disappearing to do organization missions—Usuha Izuki had [Universal Navigation]. Searching for nearby organization members would show who was there.
To avoid wasting uses, he'd searched for other things these past few days, like which nearby restaurants were good...
Compared to Samukawa Shinryu with his "Black Screen Aura," Usuha Izuki walking American streets was much more at ease.
Seattle had more cultural and artistic atmosphere. Plus America's culture was... diplomatically speaking, open and inclusive; honestly speaking, it had all kinds of demons and monsters. Anyway, however he dressed looked normal to passersby, leaving no traces. The person Vermouth sent to pick him up had to search a bit to find him.
The driver even complimented his fashionable outfit.
Usuha Izuki: "..........."
Stop complimenting—he actually didn't like this outfit much. It mainly added evasion and luck...
Usuha Izuki took the private car and soon arrived at Vermouth's location.
Vermouth currently used the identity of the star Sharon—a blonde, middle-aged woman wearing glasses. Though her face showed wrinkles, you could still see her youthful beauty.
She'd disguised herself this way when taking Usuha Izuki to meet Kudo Yukiko before. After all, her true form stayed eternally young, and even celebrities had limits to good maintenance. Staying unchanged would easily cause controversy.
When alone together, Usuha Izuki curiously asked: "Regular disguises are one thing, but acting while disguised... aren't you afraid makeup artists will notice problems?"
"I do my own makeup." Vermouth smiled. "At my status level, being a bit willful is acceptable to everyone. But doing this constantly is indeed troublesome, so I plan to fake my death in a couple years."
Usuha Izuki asked knowingly: "Fake death?"
"Right, my other identity is this identity's daughter." Vermouth was even smoother at switching identities than Usuha Izuki. "So if you're curious about celebrity life, take advantage of these two years. After I fake my death, you won't get this treatment."
"Understood." Usuha Izuki made an OK gesture. "Speaking of which, who else is in America now?"
Vermouth thought: "People you know... Gin and Vodka. What, want to find them?"
"You can tell them to avoid me—seeing them annoys me."
Vermouth was puzzled: "I understand about Gin, but what's with Vodka? Weren't your relations decent?"
"I kindly went to help, but he found various excuses not to let me interfere. Plus that Plamia thing—he actually had the nerve to blame me..." Usuha Izuki sighed as he picked up his phone. "But since you mentioned it, I'll go make peace with him."
Vermouth: "...?"
What did I say? I didn't say anything!
It should be that Usuha himself wanted to make peace with Vodka, right? After all, in Usuha's heart, Vodka seemed like a friend, which is why he'd throw such tantrums...
Thinking this way, Vermouth felt Vodka was being inconsiderate.
The child was so pitiful, and you had a bad attitude? Not only that, but constantly spreading rumors! Is this how friends behave? At least pretend for her sake—don't disappoint Usuha, okay?!