HA2 2.2 – Tie Up Loose Ends
In downtown of Nichiko, Chikara Tower stood majestically. In total it had 45 floors, some were being preserved for café, bar, or restaurant, while the rest could only be rented as office.
In casual steps, Hide entered Chikara Tower’s through back door. He wore a soft cap, neutral glasses, a flue mask, and thick jacket. His appearance was rather suspicious actually, but the security didn’t stop him. After 20:00, people could only enter the tower through lobby, unless they had key tag that the management had issued.
Wasting no time, Hide walked past the security desk, entered one of the lifts for cargo, and went straight to 3rd basement. On the surface, 3rd basement was being rented as storing facility by auto-workshop that had specialty in customizing second hand car. But in truth, it was just illegal parking lot that worked fully automatic.
As he exited the lift, Hide took out a car key. While continued his walk, he pressed the button with Zubaru’s logo on it. In an instance, the lamp on a Black Zubaru sedan model 2026 blipped a few times.
The Black Zubaru was a little too far from his position, but Hide didn’t complained. It was already good enough that he could get his hand on a good sedan for free.
‘Thank’s, Old Bastard Moruyama. I will take care of this baby well.’
Hide immediately accelerated his steps. A few moments later he already took the Black Zubaru out of the basement and hit a small and empty road behind Chikara Tower. Hide destination was a bus stop one kilometer to the east and he arrived in a blink. Takeo and Shizuka who had been waiting for him immediately entered the sedan. Shizuka took the passenger seat, while Takeo took the back seat.
“Hide, I thought you will take the Green SUV.”
“It seems you fall in love with that Jeep Cherokee.”
Shizuka nodded and admitted, “Yeah, it’s a nice car.”
“Well, this is Bastard Moruyama’s car and it’s a good chance to move it into our workshop.”
“Our workshop?” Shizuka curiously asked.
“I will explain it later. For now, let’s put our mind on tonight job.”
“Okay.”
Hide then looked at Takeo through rear view mirror. In a glance he could tell that Takeo was not in his game. His face was pale and he seemed in pain.
“Takeo, are you okay?”
“Not really,” Takeo replied weakly. “Today basic training is harsher than what I anticipate. Now, I almost can’t walk.”
“What is the menu?” Hide curiously asked.
“Sit-ups, squat, push-ups, 60 reps each, but I can’t even finish half of it. Follow up by 8 km run but I had to walk after the first few hundred meters. In a month, I must also be able to do six pull ups and 100 meters sprint in 15 seconds.”
“No worry, as long as you don’t give up you will be able to handle it, sooner or later.
“Hide, I saw you completed the 100 push up and squat with ease. I also heard you did a good job for a beginner in Uruba Hill.”
“Basically, I have started my training since weeks ago and it helped me a lot in today training.”
“Do you have some advice for me? I really need it.”
Hide casually replied, “Suck it up, keep calm, and move on.”
“Hide, I ask you for serious advice.”
“That’s a serious advice. The training under Shizuka and me will be harsher. When shaping physical fitness, there is no such thing as easy way or shortcut.”
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
“Okay, if it’s for our job, I will give my best.”
“And don’t forget, after our first job, you ask me to prepare you if I have to. Now, I will do it as best as I can and it won’t be nice experience.”
Takeo gulping hard, but a moment later he managed to strengthen his resolve, “I will pass it no matter what.”
“I believe you will.” Hide then turned his gaze towards Shizuka, “How about you, what is your menu today?”
“It was pretty similar to Takeo. I managed to complete it with ease, after that Sayaka taught me about basic rock climbing and we have some test using wall in the back yard. However…” Shizuka stole a glance on Takeo as she continued, “I felt Sayaka emit some hostility to me?”
‘Love triangle huh..’ Hide muttered as he took a casual glance on Takeo. Then, he turned his gaze towards Shizuka, “I will root for you.”
“Thank’s.”
“No problem.”
After a slight pause Shizuka asked, “Hide, can you help me to remember kit and equipment for rock climbing?”
“I can.”
“Good.” Relief was clearly visible in Shizuka’s eyes. “This afternoon Sayaka showed me lot of kits and explained its function, but I can’t remember it. Not even a single kit stays in my head.”
“I’ll make sure you become a far better climber than Sayaka, and destroy her pride in next Hakka Outdoor,” Hide firmly replied before stepping on the gas.
Vrooooomm!!
In an instance the Black Zubaru accelerated. A few minutes later, it arrived in a quiet and dark alley one block from Kibo Hospital, and the hunt was begun immediately afterward.
Takeo stayed in the car with his laptop. Shizuka stood by in bus stop in front of Kibo Hospital, ready to give Hide some assistance if he needed it. As for Hide, he directly entered Kibo Hospital under Takeo’s guidance.
---
Like any other days, Kibo Hospital was calm and quiet at night. In casual steps, Hide walked through the employee parking area. Apart from wearing doctor coat and fake ID card in his chest, he also wore neutral glasses and a fake mustache. Most of all, without touching it no one would know he had silenced Sieg P365 under his left armpit, along with extra magazines, small tube containing neurotoxin, and flashbang in his waist.
As he walked the quiet parking lot, in one corner Hide spotted two men in an old creamy Korolla. They wore sport jacket and T-shirt, but Hide was very sure they were member of metro police. Takeshi Torumada was the only survivor from incident in Villa Tigera, so metro police treated him as important witness.
And member of metro police was not the only presence that Hide had to watch out. In other corner, five men with black suits gathered around two luxurious SUV. With ease, Hide could tell they were member of Toruma Mafia.
Hide didn’t know how member of metro police and Toruma Mafia could park their car and stood by in the employee parking area. He only knew it was not a good thing for him. Now, he couldn’t use the employee parking area as his exit if shit happens.
‘This exit is burned,’ Hide muttered as he arrived before the staff entrance. It only took a few seconds before he opened the locked door and entered the staff office.
Before he continued his walk Hide radioed Takeo in whisper, “Apple to Orange, actual.”
[Loud and clear, Apple, go ahead.]
“Marked people in creamy old Korolla in east corner, and two luxurious Black SUVs in south corner.”
[Who are they?]
“Metro police and Toruma Mafia.”
[Received and understood, I will mark them.]
“How about Otsu? Do you spot her?”
[Her name just appeared in the system. She used her key tag to enter lab building next to VIP ward.]
“Copy, let’s proceed to next phase then.”
[Okay, I have your back, Orange over and out.]
Without delay, Hide went to VIP ward. He took a detour around TDRC Lab and entering VIP ward from a hallway that connected to main lobby. To reach Takeshi’s room in third floor, Hide also used elevator that was specifically being prepared for hospital staff in emergency case.
Ping!
As soon as the lift opened, Hide calmly stepped out. He smiled to the nurses on standby desk, and showed a small clipboard that indicated he came for a scheduled check on the patient. The nurses on standby didn’t stop Hide, but they still looked at him wonderingly as this was their first time seeing him.
One of the nurses, the one with scary expression, also reached out for desk telephone and made a call, but Hide calmly continued walking. Takeo had blocked all cable networks to 3rd floor of VIP ward, so no one would answer the scary nurse’s call.
Hide next obstacle was two metro police’s officers who sat in a bench in front of Takeshi’s room. They were not only young and fit, but had Haka VP9 in their waist. In Nikko, most members of national police would carry revolver as their personal weapon. Only police officer with adequate firearms training could carry Haka VP9, so a firefight against them was bad idea. Not to mention killing police officer would put Hide as one of highest priority in Metro Police’s shit list.
The two police officers gave Hide a deep and careful gaze as he came closer. But fortunately, they didn’t stop Hide from entering Takeshi’s rooms.
*****