“My father? Yeah, I hate the man who killed my dad. Obviously. But, Four-Eyes—”
Dazai suddenly speaks up. “It looks like some hacker was reading my e-mails, huh?”
What?
Dazai…I thought you said you e-mailed the real culprit?
Just then…
A gunshot.
A large hole opens in Rokuzo’s chest.
Fresh blood sprays from the wound.
“”
Rokuzo collapses forward with his mouth open as if he was trying to tell me something.
He’s been shot.
I automatically look at Dazai, but his gun is at his side. His expression is cold as well. I hear a voice coming from behind Rokuzo’s body at the entrance.
“Detective Kunikida… I apologize.”
A shadow appears before the doorway.
Long black hair. Delicate lips. A white kimono. A faintly smoking pistol in hand.
She walks over Rokuzo’s body as she approaches us.
It’s strange.
She was so…beautiful.
“So you’re the Azure Apostle.” My voice echoes in the room as if it belongs to someone else.
“Yes.”
Her dignified tone, clear as a bell, causes my heart to skip a beat.
“So, Miss Sasaki…you admit you’re the mastermind behind all this?” Dazai asks.
“Detective Dazai, I beg of you. Please…drop the gun. If you don’t…”
She points the muzzle at him.
“How ’bout this: I’ll get rid of the gun if you answer a few questions for me. Deal?”
“Certainly. Ask whatever you like.”
“All right, I’m dropping the gun now.” Dazai casually lets the gun fall to the floor with a clatter.
“Miss Sasaki, why did you target the detective agency?”
“I believe you know why, Detective Dazai.”
“I’m impressed. You tried hiding it when we were around, but you’re sharp. I can see why you’re such a celebrated criminal psychology researcher at your age.” He continues resignedly, “There are two things you wanted to do: one, punish criminals, and two, get your revenge on the detective agency. Am I right?”