"What are you talking about?" Ireland turned around with a look of disbelief on his face. Hayashi Yoshiki had lost all patience. He suppress
"What are you talking about?"
Ireland turned around with a look of disbelief on his face.
Hayashi Yoshiki had lost all patience.
He suppressed his murderous intent and stared at Ireland coldly. Although his appearance was handso, the murderous aura emanating from him was terrifying.
"So, in your eyes, I'm that stupid?"
"..."
"If you want to fool , you'd better ask yourself if you're worthy, Ireland."
"I really don't know what you're talking about."
Although he said that, sweat began to bead on Ireland's face beneath his mask.
Cointreau's reaction was far more intense than he had imagined.
Even with a physical advantage—and a gun in hand—the murderous glare in Cointreau's eyes made Ireland feel deeply insecure.
Hayashi Yoshiki was so angry that he laughed.
He felt speechless and looked up at the ceiling. After sighing softly, his expression returned to a terrifying calm.
"I've always been extrely protective of my identity."
"Besides Gin, Vodka, and Tequila, the only one who knows who I am... is you, who followed in Osaka."
"Don't tell I just accidentally revealed myself. There's a limit to playing dumb. I can't stand being treated like an idiot, Mr. Ireland."
At that mont, the last glimr of hope in Ireland's heart vanished.
He had taken a gamble when he sent that letter.
He bet more people knew Cointreau's identity.
He was wrong.
"I never intended to make an enemy of you, Cointreau..."
After a long silence, Ireland removed the human-skin mask from his face, revealing his true identity.
Hayashi Yoshiki waited.
"I want to work with you, Cointreau."
Ireland opened his hands, pleading.
"I looked into your history. You once attacked that woman... Vermouth, didn't you? You planned an accident and sent her to the hospital."
"Why didn't you finish her off?"
"Hmph... That woman's position in the Organization is untouchable. Because the Boss favors her, her authority always surpasses ours."
"Even when she sses up, she walks away untouched. But Pisco? He made one mistake—just one!—and he was executed, then burned to ash at Beika Hotel!"
"I want revenge."
"Co on, Cointreau, let's kill Vermouth together. All I need is for you to plan one more 'accident'. I'll handle the rest. If the Organization finds out, I'll take the fall!"
Ireland's tone grew more impassioned.
He truly believed Cointreau also wanted Vermouth dead—why else would he have attacked her?
But even as Ireland's voice rose in excitent, Hayashi Yoshiki's face remained unchanged.
"So you slipped the threatening letter under my door... gambling that if I couldn't identify you, you could use that as leverage to force into your sche?"
"...I admit that."
Ireland didn't deny it.
"Pisco was like a father to . I only want to avenge him... So please, let's work together. Once Vermouth is gone, I'll follow your orders, Cointreau."
"Pisco was a veteran—he left his contacts, intelligence, and resources. Working with will benefit you."
What Ireland said now was sincere.
Pisco's death had shattered his loyalty to the Organization.
If Cointreau could really help him get revenge, he'd give up everything else.
But Hayashi Yoshiki only responded with chilling calm:
"I've always been very clear about what I want, Mr. Ireland."
"What I want is absolute peace of mind."
"To have everything under control. To live as I please. That's my goal."
"Do you understand?"
"Social status. Connections. I won't sacrifice those for anything."
"Anything that threatens ... must be eliminated."
"Over all these years, day and night..."
"...Only last night, for the first ti, I felt the kind of fear that kept awake. My heart was racing—over 100 beats per minute... and I hated that feeling."
Hayashi's calm, emotionless voice made Ireland sweat profusely.
This man...
Cointreau was different from any other assassin in the Organization.
His ambitions, his principles—his spirit—were alien to Ireland.
Yet, Ireland was no fool.
He had once deduced Kudo Shinichi's identity. He dared to challenge Gin himself.
He forced down the unease in his gut.
"So... the negotiation is over?"
Yoshiki's tone dropped:
"If you're showing your cards, then I assu you've already set up so kind of 'accident' for , haven't you?"
Hayashi stared into him.
"If that's the case, I suggest you stop."
Ireland replied:
"You're an extrely dangerous man. I even considered the possibility that you'd see through ... so I've made preparations."
"If I don't disable a certain password in ti, an email containing all your secrets will be sent out automatically. You don't want that, do you?"
He studied Hayashi's face.
"And even if you use the Organization's resources to intercept the email, it won't help. I've set up multiple redundancies."
That was Ireland's trump card.
It's a guaranteed escape.
A way to force Cointreau's cooperation.
But sothing unnerved him.
Hayashi didn't react at all.
No anger. No fear.
Instead, he calmly pulled a notebook and pen from his pocket.
What's going on?
Why isn't he furious?
Why is he calmly... writing?
That ominous feeling crept deeper into Ireland's chest.
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