Location: My Safehouse

Time: Tokino-48 year (2108), Feb. 14 (Tue) 15:36

After finishing my discussion with Alexis I went back to my safehouse in Velstand. On foot, the trip took longer than I’d have liked. At least I had a talisman that could increase my speed.

The first thing I needed to do was report what I learned to Kanon’s father.

Well, he was her biological father, but he was just as much of a father to me. He was a father to everyone in the group.

His reaction to the news was as I expected it to be.

He didn’t care.

Results had value.

Until either Kanon or I successfully brought Hassan back to Japan, he didn’t care about how things developed.

I called him knowing that would be the case. Even if he didn’t care, I figured it was my job to keep him updated on such a large development.

And he did have one thing to say to me. It was a reminder.

To say nothing of Alec, Kanon was disposable, and so was I. All that mattered was getting Hassan back to Japan. If it came to it, I shouldn’t hesitate in letting either of us die.

How cold.

Not that it bothered me.

I already gave my identity to the group. This life was his to use. Anyone who decided to bow their head to the boss understood that.

My concern was regarding Kanon. She might have been a half baked yakuza, but that doesn’t change her lineage. Even if the man himself no longer gives her special treatment, there are still plenty of veteran members who have been speaking to her respectfully since before I even joined.

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Could I really let someone like that die? Wouldn’t that be the greatest failure I could commit?

I’d rather not find out.

And before anyone asks, yes, I did remember to talk up Alexis.

The boss didn’t react much, but I’m sure he was interested in the person who wrote that letter.

The next call I needed to make was to Kanon. The two of us needed to come up with a plan to capture Hassan.

At least, that’s what I was hoping for. Kanon seemed to have a different idea.

“No, we shouldn’t do anything. No plan, no trap, nothing that could alert Hassan.”

“Come on, what’s the problem? I've already got that woman’s word that he’ll show up tonight.”

“What if she was wrong?”

“Do you honestly think that’s possible?”

Kanon had met Alexis already. She should have recognized that she wouldn’t be wrong.

“It doesn’t matter. It’s not worth it either way. I’ll be able to handle him on my own.”

Ah. So that’s what it was about.

Kanon’s failure caused this whole problem, so she has a misguided sense of responsibility. She wanted to clean up her own mess.

In most cases that kind of attitude is respectable, but we’re not in a respectable business. All that mattered was results. The romantic idea of people like us behaving with any sense of honor was nothing more than a bad joke.

Get the job done. That’s it.

Kanon didn’t understand that.

That wasn’t too surprising. She wasn’t suited to this industry.

Too much pride. She wasn’t willing to drag her enemies into the dirt, knowing she’d have to be in deeper herself. She kept clinging to the fake ideal we pretend to be.

“Alright, I’ll leave this to you. Contact me if you need support.”

And that pride was why I didn’t bother arguing with her. She wouldn’t listen to me. My best bet would be to play along.

Of course, I wouldn’t actually do what she wanted.

First, I’d leave a warning for Alec. I doubted that Kanon would ever let him know that he was being targeted, and that felt unnecessary. His personality was questionable, but his skill as an augmented was genuine. If he was given advance notice, he would be a more valuable partner in subduing Hassan.

After leaving that message, I planned on tailing Alec for the rest of the day. I wouldn’t let anyone notice my presence, but if it ever looked like things were getting out of Kanon’s control I’d step in immediately.

Actually, I’d probably reveal myself before things even started getting out of control. If he was distracted by Kanon and Alec, I’d have a pretty easy time sealing any relic he tried to use.

Assuming it didn’t start to rain again.

I made a mental note to check the weather after getting off the call with Kanon.

“I will. Although I’m sure that you’ll be following me anyway.”

Oh? Maybe there was some hope for her after all.

“Probably, yeah. I can’t have the group’s princess dying on foreign soil.”

“No, don’t worry about that. If I die, so be it. You should prioritize capturing Hassan. I would gladly give my life to accomplish our goal.”.

Why did she have to take after her father in the worst ways?