Though dusk had fallen just after dinner time, the park saw few passersby due to its remote location. Only an occasional car or pedestrian passed along the street outside.
Gangmen Yanzuo sat on a park bench, legs crossed at the knee. Beside him sat a half-empty can of beer. His eyes, dark and vicious, tracked the sparse pedestrians on the street. He gripped his phone, the screen displaying a text thread with Hiru Kawakami.
After fleeing the bookstore that day, shaken to his core, he’d called Tanaka Kenta to investigate the girl with the surname Yueci who’d been with Hiru. To his shock, Tanaka’s tone turned icy at the name "Yueci." He’d dismissed her as just another scholarship student—newly enrolled.
Damn it. Another lowly scholarship student, just like Hiru Kawakami!
All that time he’d feared her… fucking embarrassing!
The memory of Yueci Porcelain’s intimidating presence in the bookstore made his teeth grind. His hand trembled slightly as he gripped the phone.
Worse, Tanaka had raged at him over trivial matters. Gangmen had just been bailed out of juvenile detention after a fight. Tanaka had called him useless, good-for-nothing… and worse. Clearly, Tanaka was desperate to vent his fury.
That day, he’d called his sworn brother to deal with Yueci Porcelain. He’d waited eagerly for Nakamura Haruhiko’s good news. But hours passed. Then Nakamura’s phone went dead.
Worse still, he’d suddenly learned the yakuza backing his family had withdrawn support!
Panicked, Gangmen called Nakamura’s subordinate using the number he’d been given. The man had screamed accusations: Gangmen had colluded with police and rival gangs to trap the Seiryu Group!
Tanaka had never felt so wronged. His rage boiled over.
He couldn’t believe a penniless scholarship student like Yueci Porcelain posed any real threat. The yakuza must have backed out and invented an excuse!
Tanaka always twisted reality to suit himself.
News of the yakuza’s withdrawal would spread quickly among their social circle. His family might be forced to disgorge everything they’d gained. Their current projects would collapse without yakuza backing.
Once word got out, the Tanaka family would become prime targets—vultures circling fresh meat.
Just minutes ago, his father had cut off his allowance for months to prop up company finances. How could a spoiled heir like Tanaka endure that?
Gangmen’s ill-timed call had hit Tanaka’s raw nerve. He’d barely tolerated the conversation—until Gangmen asked about *that bitch* Yueci. Tanaka unleashed his fury on Gangmen.
Gangmen swallowed his own anger. Unaware of the yakuza withdrawal, he didn’t dare retaliate. He hung up with false sweetness, then immediately texted Hiru Kawakami. He’d take his rage out on Hiru.
He didn’t have Yueci’s number. So he threatened Hiru through her uncle, demanding she meet him here by a set time.
This time, he’d teach that piece of trash a lesson!
He’d use the video he’d shot today to show Tanaka Kenta. Maybe it would please him enough to earn Gangmen a reward.
What did he care what Hiru Kawakami thought? Just a poor scholarship student.
Even if she died, no one would care.
Gangmen jiggled his crossed leg on the bench, scrolling mindlessly through short videos to kill time.
Would Hiru stand him up?
Heh heh heh. Gangmen never considered the possibility.
Even with a hundred extra guts, Hiru wouldn’t dare.
But as minutes ticked by, the sun dipped below the horizon. Crimson twilight bathed the empty park.
Half an hour past their agreed time, Hiru was nowhere in sight.
Was he actually being stood up?
How *dared* Hiru Kawakami!
Furious, he kicked the bench. The impact jarred his foot.
He suddenly felt the need to pee. The beer and long wait made it inevitable.
Glancing around, he spotted a public restroom in the distance. Cursing under his breath, he headed inside.
After relieving himself, he bent over the sink to wash his hands. Faint footsteps echoed behind him. Absorbed in washing, he ignored them.
The footsteps stopped right behind him.
Frowning, Gangmen glanced up at the mirror.
A slender figure stood there—wearing a white mask, a black baseball cap pulled low, and blue work overalls. Gender indistinguishable. A cleaner? The cap’s brim shadowed their face completely.
"What the hell are you looki—"
Before Gangmen could turn and snarl, a sharp electric buzz filled his ear. Agony ripped through his chest.
He clutched his heart and collapsed to his knees.
Zzzt—
Zzzt—
Zzzt—
As if one shock wasn’t enough, the figure delivered several more jolts to his heart. Efficient. Ruthless.
Gangmen’s body convulsed violently. Foam gathered at the corners of his mouth as he slumped to the floor, paralyzed.
He was then dragged roughly across the tiles—toward the women’s restroom.
A hard kick to his stomach shoved him into the farthest stall, where cleaning supplies were stored.
The men’s restroom partitions only reached waist-high. The women’s stalls had full-height doors. That was likely why he’d been dragged here.
The stall door locked. Cold water from a freshly filled plastic bottle splashed over Gangmen’s face.
He groggily regained consciousness—but terror seized him. His muscles were locked, useless from the electric shock!
*Help—!*
He tried to scream, but his throat refused to work.
The attacker crouched beside him, pulling tools from a bag: scissors, a hammer, an axe…
Each item amplified Gangmen’s terror. He strained against his paralyzed limbs. Useless.
Footsteps suddenly echoed outside.
Someone had entered!
Water splashed into a toilet.
Hope flared in Gangmen’s eyes. He strained to make a sound.
Finally, he slammed his head against the stall partition.
*Thud—*
A dull, muffled sound.
"Hmm?"
A woman’s voice, laced with curiosity.
Gangmen heard the outer door open.
Footsteps approached. Stopped outside his stall.
He stared desperately at the door.
*Call the police! I’m being held by a killer!*
The crouching figure froze, axe in hand, listening intently.
"Is everything alright in there?" the woman asked politely, tapping lightly on the door.
Relief washed over Gangmen. *Two men in a women’s restroom? They’ll think we’re perverts! Perfect—that’ll get me rescued!*
"Fine," the attacker replied. A low, raspy female voice filled the stall. "Just organizing supplies."
"Sorry to disturb you. Carry on."
The footsteps faded away.
Gangmen’s blood ran cold. His captor was a *woman*?
A dull thud sounded. A faint, sharp pain pierced his thigh.
Trembling, he looked down.
An axe, slick with blood, was buried deep in his half-severed leg.
Gangmen tried to scream in agony—but his paralyzed throat betrayed him.
He looked up.
Straight into his attacker’s eyes.
Crimson-rimmed. Burning with hellfire—
—
After leaving the bookstore, Yueci Porcelain had wandered nearby shops and eateries, using the card Nishikino An had given her. Unconsciously, she’d drifted into a quieter area.
A park.
The sun nearly kissed the horizon, casting long orange shadows across the grounds.
Yueci crouched by a flowerbed. Delicate purple blooms glowed softly in the twilight.
"*Xisun*…"
She recalled flipping through a botanical encyclopedia back at the manor. This flower was in it—*Iris sanguinea*.
It was getting late. Time to head back.
She stood up, turning to retrace her steps.
And froze.
An unexpected figure was walking straight toward her.
