Chapter 13: 12

Since I'll be in the Netherlands from this upcoming Wednesday to Sunday, Lesley invited me to go shopping and hang out. I agreed, not just because I wanted to, but because this was the perfect opportunity to ask her questions and learn more about her cousin.

As we strolled through the busy shopping district, the sound of chatter and the rustling of shopping bags filled the air. The late afternoon sun casts a warm glow on the streets, making the city feel alive.

Turning to Lesley, I decided to strike while the iron was hot.

“So, Lesley… can you describe your cousin?” I asked casually, though every fiber of my being was focused on her answer.

She glanced at me for a second before shrugging. “Well, Ruby is someone who keeps everything to herself. I mean, whether it’s something good or bad, she never really shares what’s going on in her life.” Lesley sighed, as if remembering something distant. “I used to hate her a lot.”

That piqued my interest. “Why?”

“She was always the favorite, Nana and Grand dad adored her. Even my mom and dad liked her a lot.” She paused, shaking her head. “I guess as a kid, it annoyed me. It felt unfair, like she got everything effortlessly. But as I grew older, I realized… she wasn’t as lucky as I thought. There was no reason to hate her.”

I raised a brow. “What changed your mind?”

Lesley smiled softly. “She’s actually really kind. Sweet, even. If it weren’t for the dangerous, complicated world she got herself into, I think she would’ve lived a completely different life. A simple one.”

A dangerous and complicated world, huh?

“And what exactly do you mean by that?” I asked, feigning curiosity.

Lesley hesitated for a moment before answering. “She kills, Sanae. Not out of pleasure, but out of necessity, to protect the world's database.”

I stayed silent, letting her continue.

“The world revolves around technology. Every government, every corporation, every system relies on data. And as a member of the World Federation of Technology, it’s her job to protect those data systems. If they fall into the hands of hackers or rebel organizations, the consequences would be catastrophic.”

Lesley spoke as if Ruby was some sort of hero. As if what she was doing was noble.

I scoffed internally.

Your cousin isn't doing this to protect people, Lesley. She’s doing it for money, for power.

But I didn't say that. Instead, I played along.

“And why did you suddenly get curious about her?” Lesley asked, tilting her head. “Wait…” Her eyes narrowed slightly. “Don’t tell me—”

“Don’t worry,” I cut her off with a smirk. “I won’t tell Ruby that you told me all this.”

Lesley let out a breath of relief. “Good. She wouldn’t like it if she knew I was talking about her.”

She has no idea that she, too, is already a pawn in my game.

I took a deep breath, preparing myself for what I was about to say next.

“I’m interested in your cousin.”

Lesley blinked. “What?”

“Believe it or not,” I continued smoothly, “we kinda have a thing already.” I shrugged. “I want to know her more.”

A knowing smile appeared on her lips. “Oh, we already know,” she said with a chuckle. “Especially me. I can feel it. I’ve seen the way you look at her.”

I smiled back, but for an entirely different reason.

That look she’s talking about?

It’s not one of love. It’s the look of someone who wants to utterly destroy Ruby Espinosa. It’s the look of someone who wants revenge.

Lesley had no idea that the person she was encouraging was the same one who was planning to take down her cousin.

“Sanae.” Her voice softened, and I almost rolled my eyes at how genuine she sounded. “She’s been through a lot. She may seem cold, heartless even, but I can assure you, when she loves, she loves deeply. She will protect you, fight for you, and give you everything.”

I stared at her, pretending to consider her words.

“Just don’t break her,” she added, her tone almost pleading.

I bit my lip, suppressing the urge to laugh.

Sorry, Lesley. Sorry, not sorry.

I can’t guarantee you that.

Because from the very beginning, my plan has always been to ruin her.

Lesley is talkative, someone who answers without hesitation the moment you ask her anything. It’s not surprising why Ruby doesn’t rely on her too much or confide in her. She probably knows that Lesley, with her loose lips, could easily spill something crucial, something that could put everything at risk.

And yet, despite that, Ruby still chose me to guide during the internship instead of Lesley.

Interesting.

It only proves my point, Lesley is a liability. Someone who, if given access to the classified data that Sedes Quantum Empire protects, could accidentally leak something without even realizing it.

She’s easy to deceive. Easy to manipulate. Gullible.

She doesn’t know that every single word she’s saying to me, I will use it. I will twist it. I will make it a weapon against Ruby and bring her empire crashing down.

Just as I was thinking, Lesley excused herself to go to the restroom. I simply nodded, watching as she disappeared into the crowd.

Now alone, I leaned back on my seat, sighing. But before I could even let my mind drift, my phone suddenly vibrated.

A message.

From an unknown number.

I frowned as I unlocked my screen and read the text.

"Whatever you’re planning, stop it. Don’t be so relaxed.You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into."

I felt my grip on my phone tighten.

A warning.

A threat.

A smirk tugged at the corner of my lips.

So, someone finally noticed.

I glanced around the café, scanning every person within my line of sight. My heart pounded,not out of fear, but out of exhilaration. Who was watching me?

Was it someone from Ruby’s side?

Or someone else entirely?

My pulse quickened as possibilities ran through my mind. Whoever they were, they thought a simple warning would be enough to scare me off.

Too bad for them, I don’t scare easily.

I cracked my knuckles, my determination solidifying even more.

If anything, this only made things more thrilling.

Whoever sent this message, wherever they were watching from, they would soon realize—I don’t back down.

I am already in this game. I have already set things in motion.

And I will not stop.

I will dance with death if I have to.

I will walk straight into the fire if it means getting the justice I seek.

Because this isn't just about revenge anymore.

This is about finishing what I started.

________________

Detective Fiasco's POV

Ruby is a great friend of mine, someone who has helped me in countless ways. Because of that, when she called me, her voice laced with urgency, and asked me to investigate what had happened to Akio, I didn't hesitate for even a second. I agreed immediately, knowing that whatever had occurred must have been serious enough for her to seek my help.

It has been three months since I started this investigation, and piece by piece, I have been gathering leads. Clues have surfaced, though not all of them have provided clear answers. However, my suspicions have narrowed down to three possibilities.

First, Akio may have been killed, murdered by someone who had the motive and the means to do so. The second possibility is that he was indeed attacked, left for dead, but somehow managed to survive. If that is the case, then the question remains: Where is he now, and why hasn’t he reached out to anyone? The third, and perhaps the most unsettling theory, is that Akio faked his own death. If this were true, then it wouldn't just be a simple disappearance, it would mean that this was premeditated, carefully orchestrated to deceive everyone, including Ruby. And if his goal was to mislead and manipulate, then what was his ultimate plan? Was it revenge? Was it a power move to take down Ruby?

I have met Akio twice before, and those brief encounters were enough for me to form an impression of him. He struck me as a man with a jealous streak, someone who kept a tight grip on the things and people he considered his. And yet, I cannot judge him solely based on that. From what I’ve seen, he and Ruby shared a close bond. Whether that bond was one of genuine affection or something more complicated, I cannot say for sure. But I do know that something about his disappearance doesn't sit right with me.

Right now, I find myself in Japan, standing in front of a house that may hold the answers I seek. This is the place Ryouta, a close friend of mine and a Yakuza member, told me about. According to him, he saw someone who looked exactly like Akio, alive and well. But I need to see it with my own eyes. I need to confirm the truth.

If Akio truly is alive, then everything I thought I knew about this case will be thrown into chaos. And if he isn't… then I must continue my search for the truth. Either way, I won't stop until I uncover what really happened to him.