At 8:45 a.m., after a busy night, the ransom was finally ready. Diamonds and gemstones worth 500 million yen were packed into two small bags and, together with five kilograms of gold, placed into a top-quality black briefcase.
The bank, insurance company, and jewelry store staff left to rest. Hoshitsu Chiho watched over the briefcase, worriedly tending to her young daughter and shedding silent tears once again, while Yoshikawa Tomota sat beside her, offering gentle words of comfort and encouragement, urging her to pull herself together and be strong through this ordeal.
Michii Toshihiko was also by her side, but Hoshitsu Chiho seldom engaged in conversation with him, which made him appear somewhat sullen. It seemed that his refusal to contribute financially to his niece's situation had greatly damaged the sibling relationship.
