"Boy, aren't you just speculating? If someone instructed them, it could have been anyone, even people from other countries."

"Well, you're not entirely wrong. They were indeed manipulated, but the whole situation isn't so simple."

"Isn't it just a typical hijacking incident? Boy, are you overthinking things?"

Fioris smiled and narrowed her eyes.

"Well, I hope I am overthinking things, but unfortunately, reality doesn't always go as we hope. You should remember what I said before, they didn't take you as a hostage by chance."

"Boy, are you suggesting... that I'm an accomplice with those two men, and that being held hostage was all part of an act?"

"What if I say yes?"

Upon hearing Ryuto's words, Fioris laughed.

"Boy, I didn't expect you to figure that out. It seems there's nothing you can't see through."

Ryuto replied with a hint of impatience.

"Even if you're trying to flatter me and hide the truth, it won't work."

"Oh, come on, boy, what are you talking about? I am their accomplice, did I get it wrong?"

"Well, it's not entirely wrong."

"Boy, your words are quite ambiguous."

"After all, I don't want to say it like that, but... the fact that you're working with them is only true for you."

"Oh, boy, your words are amusing. Is there really any difference?"

Although she smiled, Fioris' voice lacked warmth.

Despite the unexpected pressure in her smile, Ryuto remained unaffected. He calmly continued.

"Of course there's a difference. On the contrary, to them, you are not their accomplice at all because they don't even know you."

"It's not good to make random guesses, boy. Do you have any evidence?"

Facing Fioris' question, Ryuto brought up another topic.

"By the way, do you remember when I asked you something while you were controlling the flight attendant?"

"?"

She seemed to recall the incident, but she couldn't understand Ryuto's intention behind the question. A rare expression of confusion appeared on Fioris' face.

"It seems you can't remember. Let me tell you then. I asked you, 'Did they find anything else on them?' And I remember you answered 'no.'"

Still unaware of Ryuto's true intention, Fioris furrowed her brows with impatience.

"Is there a problem?"

"Of course there is a problem because you didn't know that when they had me captive, they took my phone."

"So you're saying..."

"That's right. My phone should have been on them, but you said it wasn't found. Do you know what that implies?"

"Who knows? I can't understand the meaning behind your words, boy."

Are you still not going to say it?

Since she wouldn't say it, Ryuto had to say it himself.

"It only implies that you didn't search them. So, the question is, why didn't you search them? Because you knew them well, so you didn't think it was necessary. And the way you gave your answer with such certainty is the most compelling evidence."

Upon hearing this, Fios squinted her eyes again and responded sharply, "....boy, setting traps for others like this is not a good approach, you know."

"Well, it may not be honorable, but it's actually quite effective, isn't it? At least you can't deny that."

"Well, the boy sure knows how to talk. No wonder he's so popular."

Facing Fios' teasing, whether intentional or unintentional, Ryuto immediately denied it.

"No, those two things are not related, and besides, I'm not popular at all."

"Although the boy says so, the fact is... your words are not very convincing, you know."

"......"