...

Jinpachi Asanuma wanted to run away.

He quickly began to pack his things.

From the first day of working as a broker in the underground world, he had anticipated what to do if the tasks he introduced failed and he got implicated by either the employers or assassins.

Asanuma had prepared three escape routes in advance, each leading to a different country.

United States, China, Russia.

He had relevant national identification documents and just needed to undergo cosmetic surgery at the underground black market hospital. He would transform into whoever matched the chosen route.

He couldn't arrange more routes due to financial constraints.

This time, he really acted recklessly.

His mind had become unclear after being bombarded with a lot of money, and Emily was also to blame.

Suddenly, things became unable to proceed smoothly.

Everyone thought it was a good opportunity.

But as reality proved, even if a Treasure User was a powerless soft shrimp, it wasn't something that a mere mortal like him could casually observe.

Jinpachi Asanuma vowed never to take on any tasks related to Treasure Users again.

He packed everything, took his suitcase, wore a black round hat and mask, pretending to be someone with a cold, and left home with large strides.

He didn't drive his own car, fearing it would be tracked by others.

How long can the Vulture and Black Widow hold out?

Asanuma wasn't sure.

But surely not long enough for him to drive out of Tokyo smoothly.

Rather than that, he decided to take a taxi directly to the underground hospital he knew.

He chose to change his face to an American one and then enter the United States through Haneda International Airport.

He had already transferred a batch of assets to this U.S. identity document in advance.

If he lived frugally, he could survive in the U.S. without working for a lifetime.

Moreover, he had some connections in the United States, so he wouldn't starve there.

Asanuma dragged his suitcase, and it wasn't long before he saw a taxi parked at the intersection ahead.

Someone got out of the car and walked toward a nearby yard.

Feeling lucky, Asanuma waved to signal the taxi driver to come over.

The car stopped beside him.

The dark car window lowered, revealing a gun barrel with a silencer attached.

Pew, a faint sound rang out.

Asanuma wanted to speak, but the strength seemed to be drained from the part of his body hit by the bullet, and his brain became muddled.

This wasn't a normal bullet; it should have been soaked in poison.

In a short time, Asanuma lost the ability to speak and resist, instinctively retreating two steps backward, leaning against the wall, and slowly sliding down to the ground like a drunk person.

Head bowed.

Completely lifeless.

A sturdy hand reached out from the car window, pulling his suitcase into the taxi.

The driver then quickly drove away.

The customer who got out of the car walked out of the yard again, with black hair and black eyes, all disguised with Bruno's wig and colored contacts.

Otherwise, his blonde hair would easily alert Asanuma.

Knowing time was urgent, he quickly rushed into Asanuma's house, searching through all potential hiding spots for items.

Bruno ensured he didn't leave behind any information about himself before swiftly leaving.

He always acted cautiously.

Even if he was confident that he left no evidence, he still needed to search through everything to feel completely assured.

He trusted his intelligence but wouldn't assume everyone in the world was dumber than him.

Even the wise can make a mistake.

Bruno didn't want to experience the feeling of being caught off guard.

He hurriedly left Asanuma's residence, with faint screams drifting in the wind.

It seemed that Asanuma's corpse was discovered by passing residents.

That also meant the CIA was close to learning of Asanuma's death.

Bruno let out a soft sigh.

He enjoyed working with the other party quite a lot.

Unfortunately, Asanuma didn't bother to give him any notice and just ran straight away.

Such behavior clearly didn't treat him as one of their own.

If they're not one of us, then only death can ensure he doesn't leak secrets.

This time, Bruno was following orders from above, aiming to stir up conflict between Emily and the U.S.

So he deliberately didn't provide enough firepower to kill Emily, ensuring that if she investigated, the clues would gradually point toward Institute No. 47.

Emily's relationship with Morimoto Chiyoda, among those Treasure Users, was quite good.

By itself, this wouldn't be enough to cause them to face off completely.

But if similar events happened more repeatedly, he naturally had a chance to make Emily return to Russia's embrace.

After all, Russia was Emily's motherland.

Bruno left the area and went to a van on Kita-Senju's street.

...

The sunset resembled fire.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows on the fifty-third floor, the buildings at the very edge of sight seemed to have the evening glow placed on top.

The cold towers made of reinforced concrete had warmth at that moment.

"Ah."

Aozawa exhaled deeply, leaning forward, gently lifting his sweaty black bangs with his hand to reveal his slightly red ears, "Shouko, let's stop for today."

He could feel Hojo Shouko was at her limit.

Continuing would make the body unable to feel any pleasure.

Not everyone possessed the innate holy body like Morimoto Chiyoda.

Morimoto Chiyoda could play with him all night, not because of self-training but due to natural talent.

Ayatsuki Ayaka and Hojo Shouko clearly didn't have that talent.

Aozawa's Marvelous resurgence could extract pain, like previously relieving Morimoto Chiyoda's muscle aches, but couldn't make a dry well gush with water again.

That's already beyond the ability's scope.

"Mhmm."

Hojo Shouko made a nasal sound of agreement, feeling her usually strong legs now seemed to barely support her body.

With Aozawa leaving, the emptiness felt stronger, making her wildly crave the sensation of being filled with safety again.

But she knew she couldn't bear the treasure of Aozawa-senpai.

Hojo Shouko turned around, looked at the unoccupied Aozawa behind her, understanding somewhat why Aozawa-senpai dated several girls at once.

With only one person, Aozawa-senpai couldn't possibly be satisfied.

His ability didn't allow it.

"Let's go have something to eat."

Aozawa wiped away her sweat and struggled to redirect his gaze to the view outside the floor-to-ceiling window, letting his bodily reactions gradually weaken.

If he continued to stare at Hojo Shouko, he feared his heated blood couldn't disperse.

Noticing Aozawa diverting his attention, regret quietly bubbled within Hojo Shouko.

Unable to fully please Aozawa-senpai, she knew she had a long way to go and needed to try harder.

Although thinking this way, Hojo Shouko didn't know how to improve herself.

She turned and entered the master bedroom, took her backpack to the bathroom.

Hojo Shouko quickly showered, towel-dried her body, and changed back into her school uniform.

As for the sharkskin outfit, she didn't discard it, merely washed it briefly, folded it along with the whip, and placed it into the backpack.

The candles were already spent.

She changed her clothes and walked out.

Aozawa also exited the other bathroom, wearing his original school uniform, "Let's go."

"Sorry, Aozawa-senpai, I can't be home too late."

Hojo Shouko shook her head.

It was an excuse not to have Aozawa be out too late.

If that happened, Morimoto Chiyoda might question where he'd been.

Instead of pondering how Aozawa-senpai would answer, it was better to cut off the question entirely.

Going home now could easily be considered the end of a typical club activity, so nothing would seem suspicious.

Of course, they couldn't take the subway home now. She needed to use Heavenly Lock to teleport them back to Adachi District, Ayase Street.

Then Aozawa could walk home along the road.

Hojo Shouko calculated all those things in her mind while taking the elevator to the bottom floor and leaving the building.

She held Aozawa's hand and walked toward a secluded corner.

"Shouko, this isn't the way to the station."

"Aozawa-senpai, I'll use Heavenly Lock to send you back."

"No need, taking the train is better."

Aozawa shook his head, sensing Morimoto Chiyoda's Defense Barrier in the sky.

Going above wasn't wise at this time.

"Heavenly Lock."

Hojo Shouko thought he was trying not to trouble her and decided to show her determination, directly unleashing her Noble Phantasm, wrapping both of them and ascending to the sky.