[Author Note]
Disc: HrPrTeam
Toji was pretty based.
He's a homeless bum that is still better written than Megumi.
__________
2 Days Later: Soichi Amo P.O.V.
I'm currently reassembling a Nagant M1895 on my office desk.
I've done it a thousand times, but it helped ease my nerves.
The amount of work I've gone through due to the invasion of the JCC has been tremendous.
Not adding on the loss of trust in the JAA.
Thankfully, there were only a few deaths, given the strength the invaders showcased.
The staff ultimately repelled and killed the invaders, allowing the JAA and me to save some face.
The timing was perfect for the JAA.
We would've suffered more losses if we had not had the forces we did.
The group chose the worst time to attack the JCC since most of the Order and Takamura himself were on the island.
However, there was someone else on the island.
Toji Fushiguro.
When Yotsumura returned from the island, he explained that it was the group he was investigating. He mainly mentioned that Toji was most likely not involved in the attack and that a third party was involved.
This is tedious.
It's been a few days since the attack, and Toji hasn't been seen since he fought against Takamura.
I still haven't seen Toji in person, so I was baffled that he defeated Takamura.
Now that I know he can defeat our strongest assassin, I've accepted a few possible outcomes.
*sigh*
If he comes for my head, I can't do much.
Given how Sei described him, he will most likely take revenge on the JAA. Without sacrificing myself, the most I can offer him is money.
If he asks for the database, I'm as good as dead.
He's more important than the chairman.
The chairman can always be replaced, but the database can't.
...
*WOOSH*
...
A gust of wind flies past me.
Speak of the devil.
I lean back in my chair and speak up to seemingly no one. "You could've knocked...Toji Fushiguro."
A voice speaks from behind me. "Had I done that, I wouldn't have been able to avoid your goons."
I glance behind me to see him sitting in one of the chairs next to the window.
Spinning my chair to face him, I sigh once more. "What can I do for you?"
His tone deepens. "I came here to talk."
I roll my eyes. "If you're here to kill me, make it quick. I'd rather not do this paperwork."
Toji crossed his hands. "Nah, nothing like that. If anyone could answer my questions about the JAA, it would be you."
I rested my fist on my chin. "Ask away, but I'll tell you right now that there are some things I can't disclose."
He nodded. "Who put the hit on me?"
I calmly reply. "I put a hit on you to be neutralized. The situation was fishy, so I asked the Order to bring you in alive."
If he's the man Sei says he is, I'm dead.
Instead of attacking, Toji kept a neutral face. "I'll make this short since I hate this place as is. Remove the hit on me, cut my connections, and leave me alone. I don't want to associate myself with you guys again."
My face stays still, but my thoughts paint a different picture.
What is he playing at?
This situation feels too calm.
Was Sei lying?
I rub my forehead. "I can easily do that, but the problem is the other assassins. Removing the hit and cutting connections won't stop assassins from approaching or hunting you. The JAA has very loose rules with our assassins."
He was most likely well aware since he was in the Order, but I still need to tell it to him straight.
Toji rested his fist on his cheek. "I don't have the same say to people that you do. The solution is easy."
You don't have to be an assassin to pick up what he is hinting at.
He yawned but continued. "Give them the warning that if anyone comes for me, I'll kill them. Most goons in your organization don't know much about me, so explain it to them."
This is strange.
Is that all he wants?
We attack, threaten, and contain him on an island, and all he wants is to be left alone?
No, there has to be a catch to this. He wouldn't visit me personally if there weren't something else he needed.
Any notable member of the Order could have enough influence to remove the hit and cut his connections like Kindaka or Yotsumura, even if I ordered it.
My face turns serious. "What else do you want?"
It went silent for a moment.
Toji sat up and looked into my eyes with his hands crossed, covering his mouth.
...
He spoke. "My forty million."
...
I blinked. "Huh?"
Toji continued. "I was supposed to have eighty million in my account already since I was contracted with you guys. Problem is that I have only been given sixty million in total. The original contract was one hundred million, so I want the rest of my contract. The missing forty million."
It went silent for a minute as I processed what he said.
A smile appeared on my face, and I let out a laugh. "*pft* Hahahahaha. If that's all you want, then sure."
I looked back at him, and he didn't seem offended.
It seems like Sei was lying about him.
He was just an assassin looking for money.
I've finally got a read on this man.
Toji just stretched as he stood up and started walking out. "Alright, send it and remove my bank account from your system so you can't access my money."
He was about to leave, but I spoke up. "What do you think of working directly for me? I'll pay you more money than you've ever seen."
Turning around, he raised an eyebrow. "I would think you didn't listen to what I just said."
Hmm, what an interesting guy.
I shook my head with a smile. "Fair enough."
Returning to the stack of papers, I started writing to finish this damn paperwork.
However, he stopped at the door.
Looking up, I saw him staring at the ceiling, most likely thinking to himself.
He opened the door. "As a parting gift, I'll tell you something. Work with Kindaka and keep away from Sei Asaki."
*WOOSH*
Before I could ask anything else, he vanished.
Sei, huh?
I immediately reached for my phone and dialed Kindaka's number, saved in the JAA's registry.
I'm not overly familiar with the man; I only know him as a founder of the Order. We've only met once, and even then, it took a while for it to be set up.
It didn't even ring once before he picked it up.
He spoke. "I've been trying to reach you for a while now. Meeting up with you is always annoying."
I speak tiredly. "Well, I've been dealing with an attack on the JCC."
Kindaka also sounded tired. "I've been trying to meet with you for months. We need to talk about Sei Asaki."
My eyes narrowed. "What is it about him?"
Kindaka sounded serious, and I knew why based on his following words. "He's going to kill you."
...
...
...
Well, shit.