HA3 13.1 - Return to Nikko
After 17 hours of flight, Hide and Takeo landed in Pisa Airport. Then, they got a very delicious welcome pizza, which being said was a way to ward off evil intention. After that, Takeo went to and stayed in a rural town called Rada, while Hide went to and stayed in a border town between Switzerland and Germane.
For the whole week, the two tried their best to ingrain their second ID to their heart and mind, and learned the craft to maintain it. It was not easy and just two days before their return flight, unforeseen circumstance occurred. They had to help their host killed a few intruders.
But overall, everything went according to the plan. At Friday night the next week, Hide and Takeo returned to Nikko using two different business flights. It took another 17 hours before Hide arrived at Karita Airport, one of the biggest airports in Nikko and located about 30 minutes from downtown Nichiko.
Now, Hide calmly stood in the line, waiting for his passport to receive the stamp that would authorize his stay. He wore a jeans, grey T-shirt, and suits, along with short-curly wig and neutral glasses. The wait took a few minutes, and finally his turn arrived. Wasting no time, Hide handed over his passport to female immigration officer behind the locket.
After checking his name and taking his picture and fingerprint, the immigration officer said, “Mr. Asahi Otto, may I know your purpose of visit?”
“Work,” Hide casually replied. “I’m a massage therapist and I receive a contract from Nirvana.”
“Nirvana,” The immigration officer said. “Isn’t that VIP massage parlor that specialized themselves in service to deliver sexual pleasure?”
“Correct.”
“How long is your contract?”
“Two years.”
“What is your plan for your place to stay?”
“Nirvana helps me rent a lodging house.”
“Other than people from Nirvana, do you know anyone in Nikko?”
“Nope.”
“Does Nirvana send someone to pick you up?”
“They send me a driver.”
“I see.” After giving Hide’s passport arrival stamp, the immigration officer said, “Mr. Asahi, welcome to Nikko and we wish you good fortune with your work.”
“Thank you.”
While having a smile in his face Hide took back his passport. A moment later, he was already walking among the people who would leave the airport. Then, he saw a middle-aged man holding a sign board with his name on it. He immediately walked over to the man.
“Are you Driver Ren from Nirvana?”
“I’m,” The middle-aged man politely replied. “Are you Mr. Asahi Otto?”
“I’m.” Hide gave Driver Ren a slight bow as he continued, “Nice to meet you, Driver Ren, and thank you for coming to pick me up.”
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“Nice to meet you too, Mr. Asahi, and please don’t be too courteous. It’s my job to come and pick you up,” Driver Ren said while returning Hide’s slight bow. “And honestly, I never thought you can speak like local so damn good.”
“Well, that’s one of main condition to get contract from Nirvana, so I work very hard learning how to speak and read like local.”
After a smile Driver Ren said, “I see.”
Wasting no time, Driver Ren took Hide to a White MPV with Nirvana’s logo, and drove him to his lodging house.
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About 15 minutes from Karita Airport, stood a lodging house called Hikone. It had three floors of 12 rooms each, and most the rooms were still empty. There were a few shops, dinner, and one office complex for logistic company around Hikone, but most of the area was still undeveloped and empty.
With swift steps, driver Ren took Hide to a room in Hikone’s second floor. Then, while putting Hide’s luggage in middle of the room he said. “This is your lodging. You already paid it for one full year, but if you want to move to other lodging near the downtown, Ms. Akari can arrange it.”
“Can I check it first?” Hide casually said.
“Sure.”
Hide immediately checked the bathroom. It was located just next to entry door. It had sitting toilet with shower and was very clean. The water also flowed vigorously. After that he checked the kitchen. It had small electric stove, small sink, and small dish rack. While in the mid-size compartment under the dish rack he found a frying pan, small stock pot, three mugs, and three sets of eating utensils.
‘I only need to buy a microwave and laundry machine later,’ Hide muttered. ‘As for the fridge, I don’t think I will need it. I will sleep here only in occasion.’
Hide then went to check the living room. It had 24” LED TV and a foldable table. They were not new, but they were still in a very good condition. Hide also found brand new sleeping mat, a blanket, and a pillow was being neatly folded near the TV. It meant the living room was also the sleeping room.
Last but not least, Hide checked the small balcony with three clothes line to hang his laundry. Then, he went back to Driver Ren.
“This lodge is more than sufficient,” Hide firmly said.
“Are you sure about that? This place is like a tinny shoe box. Only backpacker will rent it on daily rate.”
“I plan to sleep in my customer’s place a lot. Small lodge will ease my effort to maintain its hygiene.”
“I see.” After a moment of silence Driver Ren said, “I mean no offense, but if I may say, you give me an impression of a Hitman character straight from detective-thriller novel.”
After a small chuckle Hide said, “I’m honored, but I’m only a massage therapist.”
“Seriously, Mr. Asahi,” Driver Ren firmly said. “Your demeanor is too fit the character.”
“What demeanor?”
“Very calm, read and speak as good as local, easily blend in with situation around you. Most of all, you rent a cheap lodge near the airport for a year, but who know if you will only use it for a month or two before leaving the country.”
“I see.” After lightly nodding his head a few times Hide said, “That will be very cool if I’m really a Hitman, but like I said, I’m just a massage therapist.”
Then, Hide’s smartphone suddenly buzz off. He checked it and found it was Shorimachi. Hide immediately turned his gaze to Driver Ren.
“Can you give me a moment?” Hide politely said. “My father calls me to check my situation.”
“Sure, I will leave the key hanging in the door.”
Wasting no time, Driver Ren left the room and Hide waited until he reached the stairs before taking Shorimachi’s call. He made the conversation as short as possible, but he managed to figure out that Shorimachi wanted to use him to fatally hurt Toruma Mafia’s financial power, most likely by robbing them.
He would think about it when he received the detail of his offer. As for now, he used his smartphone to check the latest news about Villa Tigera, and he instantly took a deep breath full of relief after finding out that the metro police already discovered the unfortunate little girls that being buried under the purple orchid garden, and took proper measure for them.
In his previous life, metro police learned the Toruma Elder’s habit of burying little girl he killed under the purple orchid garden from an interrogation to one of his bodyguards. But in this life, Hide already killed every single of his bodyguards.
When he realized that he almost made the remains of the unfortunate girls would be undiscovered for eternity, cold sweat instantly drenched his back. But now, he had remedied his error so he could take a deep breath of relief.
‘That was close,’ Hide muttered as he recalled his carelessness.
Then, after drinking a mouthful of water from the sink Hide immediately left his lodge and leaving behind his entire luggage. A moment later, he already resumed the drive with Driver Ren.
*****