In front of Umigami, Uhaku slowly reached out her hand towards Umigami's mother's clothes.

Umigami clenched his fists tighter and tighter, so tight that his fingernails dug into his flesh, piercing the skin and causing blood to flow.

Perhaps in the next second, when Uhaku got close enough, Eiji Hayamizu would lose control, rush forward regardless of the consequences, even if he were shot dead, he would not stand by and watch his mother be insulted.

But at that moment, Uhaku's phone rang.

"So soon...?" (Uhaku)

Uhaku's hand was left hanging in midair because of the phone call.

"Hmm, what bad timing." (Uhaku)

She rolled her eyes, withdrew her hand, and then answered the call.

Umigami let out a sigh of relief and relaxed.

No one knew what would have happened if that phone call hadn't come, what kind of situation would have evolved.

"Hello, it's me." (Uhaku)

"Mhmm... Is that so, that's great." (Uhaku)

It seemed like good news came from the other end of the phone, making Uhaku smile.

—It seems that Uesugi really hid Kuroda Soitiro at the baseball batting center...

Umigami speculated based on Uhaku's expression.

The person Uhaku contacted over the phone had indeed found Kuroda Soitiro at the baseball batting center following her instructions, which was why Uhaku was so happy.

For him, this piece of news was neither entirely good nor entirely bad, just somewhat acceptable.

After all, it was the result of choosing the lesser of two evils, a compromise.

But what Umigami didn't expect was that Uhaku's expression would suddenly turn from happy to angry and fierce in the next moment.

"What?" (Uhaku)

"Escaped??" (Uhaku)

"There are so many of you, yet you can't catch a high schooler, are you all useless?!" (Uhaku)

"Damn it! You're all worthless... Just stick to the plan and don't screw up again!" (Uhaku)

"If there's another problem, Mr. Bai's methods are a thousand times harsher than mine... You know what I mean!" (Uhaku)

After a barrage of angry shouts, Uhaku ended with a chilling threat and hung up the phone.

Then, she glared fiercely at Umigami.

"Where do you think that Uesugi Chongzong would run off to, do you know?" (Uhaku)

Eiji Hayamizu's conscience was tested once again.

He knew the answer in his heart. Based on his understanding of Uesugi Chongzong, prioritizing going home to check on the safety of his family in this situation was most likely.

But Umigami didn't want to continue like this anymore.

He wanted to search, even create a loophole for this woman, in order to seize that loophole and turn the tables.

The biggest threat on this woman is the loaded handgun she's carrying.

- What should I do to make her drop the gun...?

For a moment, Hayami couldn't come up with a solution.

But the woman's problem couldn't wait.

"Based on what I know about him... there should be three or four places that are... more likely." (Hayami)

Hayami deliberately slowed down his speech within a reasonable range, pretending to recall, but actually buying himself time to think.

"Quit dilly-dallying. Where are those places, speak up!" (Uhaku)

Uhaku impatiently urged, but Hayami intended to delay a bit more.

However, at that moment, Hayami's phone on the table rang at an inappropriate time.

Someone was calling Hayami.

In this situation, both Hayami and Uhaku immediately thought of the same person.