The train ride from Tokyo to Kyoto felt like an eternity to Osborn. The rhythmic motion of the train did little to settle his racing thoughts. Everything had started to fall into place, yet the pieces of the puzzle remained distant, just out of reach. The Tengu mask. The kidnapper's strange obsession with it. The idea that this wasn't just a series of random abductions, but something far more deliberate, far more sinister.
Mari sat beside him, flipping through a small notebook, while Aya had taken a seat a few rows ahead, deep in conversation with a local contact who might be able to help them get access to the shop in Kyoto. Osborn had a feeling they weren't going to find answers easily. This wasn't going to be a straightforward investigation. Nothing about this case had been straightforward.
As the train pulled into Kyoto, the change in atmosphere was palpable. The bustling energy of Tokyo was replaced with the quiet charm of the ancient city. Temples and shrines dotted the landscape, and the air was thick with history. The streets were lined with wooden houses, narrow alleys, and small shops—many of which sold traditional crafts, including masks.
Osborn wasn't here for the tourist attractions, though. He was here for something far more elusive: the rare masks. The shop that Aya had mentioned was located in a secluded area of Kyoto, not far from a Buddhist temple. It was known to deal with masks of historical significance, and from the look on Aya's face when she had spoken about it, he knew they were dealing with something important.
They took a taxi to the location, the car weaving through the quiet streets of the old city. As they approached, Osborn noticed a wooden sign hanging above the door of an unassuming building. It looked like any other shop, but there was something about it that felt different, almost like it was hiding something.
Aya led the way inside, her presence confident but careful. The door creaked open, and the cool air inside smelled faintly of dust and wood. Shelves upon shelves were lined with masks, each one unique in its design. Some were delicate, others imposing, but every single one had an air of mystery about it.
The shop owner, an elderly man with thin spectacles perched on his nose, looked up from behind the counter. His eyes darted to Aya, then to Osborn, before narrowing slightly. There was a guarded look in his eyes, as though he knew something but wasn't ready to share it just yet.
Aya spoke first, her voice smooth and respectful. "この店は非常に珍しい仮面を取り扱っていると聞きました.特に「天狗」の仮面に関心があります."
("I've heard that this shop deals in very rare masks, especially the Tengu masks.")
Mari quickly translated for Osborn. "She says she's heard your shop deals with rare masks, particularly Tengu masks."
The shopkeeper's eyes flickered slightly, then he nodded. "はい,確かにそのような仮面を扱っています.しかし,私の店では,それを簡単に見せるわけにはいきません."
("Yes, we do carry such masks. However, I cannot show them to just anyone.")
Mari relayed the translation to Osborn. "He says they have such masks, but he can't show them to just anyone."
Osborn stepped forward, his tone steady but insistent. "We're not here as tourists. We need information about a specific mask. A Tengu mask that may have been used in recent kidnappings. People are disappearing, and we need answers."
The shopkeeper looked at him for a long moment, as if weighing his words. Finally, he spoke again. "そのような話は聞いたことがありますが,私には関係ありません.私の店には,歴史的な価値があるものしかありません."
("I've heard such stories, but I am not involved. My shop only deals with historically valuable items.")
Mari translated, but Osborn could see the subtle tension in the man's posture. "He says he's heard those stories, but he's not involved. His shop only deals with items of historical value."
Osborn didn't let up. "We believe the people using these masks are involved in a much larger operation. We need to find out where the masks came from. Who's been acquiring them?"
The shopkeeper's expression hardened slightly. "私はあなたを助けることはできません."
("I cannot help you.")
Aya, who had been silent up until now, stepped forward. She said something in Japanese, her voice firm but respectful. "この仮面はあなたの店にとっても大切なものです.しかし,何か悪用されているとしたら,それは問題ではないですか?"
("These masks are important to your shop. But if they are being misused, wouldn't that be a problem?")
The shopkeeper's eyes widened slightly at her words, and for a moment, he looked taken aback. He stared at Aya for a long time, then turned to Osborn. There was a shift in the air, a subtle change in his demeanor.
"もしあなたが本当にそれを知りたければ,特定の人物に会わなければならない.彼はこの地域に長年住んでいて,仮面の真実について知っているかもしれない."
("If you truly wish to know, you must meet with a certain person. He has lived in this area for many years and may know the truth about the masks.")
Osborn leaned forward, his heart racing with anticipation. "Where can we find him?"
The shopkeeper hesitated, then gave him a piece of paper with an address written on it. "この住所に行ってください.彼があなたに教えてくれるかもしれません."
("Go to this address. He may be able to tell you what you need to know.")
Osborn took the paper from him, his eyes scanning the address. It wasn't far from here—just a short walk through the winding streets of Kyoto. He turned to Mari. "Let's go."
Aya nodded and smiled faintly. "気をつけてください.この町には,他の仮面の持ち主がいるかもしれません."
("Be careful. There may be others who own masks in this town.")
Mari translated. "She says to be careful. There might be others who own masks in this town."
With that, the three of them left the shop, heading out into the humid Kyoto afternoon. The weight of the address in Osborn's pocket felt heavier now. Whoever this person was, he might hold the key to everything.
As they walked through the streets, Osborn couldn't shake the feeling that they were about to enter deeper into a world that had been hidden from them for far too long. He was getting closer to the truth, but with every step, the danger seemed to grow.
The path ahead was shrouded in mystery. And for the first time, Osborn wondered if he was ready for the truth he might uncover.