Chapter 62: The Bodyguard Has Arrived

The bodyguard sent by the organization had finally arrived.

Gin was merely a hired muscle for the organization, while Rum was its second-in-command, and there were clear reasons for this.

That blockhead didn't even know how to protect the safety of important members; how could he ever hope to climb any higher?

Even if he worked the "996" schedule until every hair on his head turned white, he would still never make it to the top.

"Shoichi Sumitomo."

"Curaçao."

Curaçao's most distinctive physical feature was her heterochromia—one eye was deep blue, while the other was amber.

"That codename certainly suits you well," Shoichi said.

He pulled two drinks from beneath the table: one blue and the other orange. Beverages named after Curaçao typically came in these two colors.

"Which one would you like?" Shoichi asked.

Curaçao did not reply, merely staring blankly at Shoichi with a completely expressionless face.

Shoichi spread his hands in a helpless gesture. "Don't be so cold, will you? From now on, I'm practically entrusting myself entirely to you. You could say you are the person closest and most trustworthy to me."

To these remarks, Curaçao still offered no extra expression.

She was as cold as ice, seemingly devoid of any human emotion.

"Speaking of which, how did Rum ever agree to let you become my bodyguard?"

"He was afraid that anyone ordinary wouldn't catch your eye," Curaçao said.

Shoichi nodded. That made sense.

There were truly very few capable agents the organization had deployed in Japan.

Of course, Shoichi was excluding those undercover agents and double agents from the count.

"Rum gave specific instructions: you are not to meddle with Bourbon for the time being," Curaçao said.

Curaçao's eyes locked onto Shoichi, a slight ripple of emotion crossing her face.

"Oh? But I haven't done anything," Shoichi said.

The person he wanted to pull into his corporate empire as an overworked corporate slave was Rei Furuya; what did that have to do with Bourbon?

Besides, since Rei Furuya had declined, he hadn't pursued the matter further. He had even sent Ran to support Rei's café business—how could that possibly be considered meddling with him?

Taking Curaçao with him, Shoichi returned to the Sumitomo family estate.

Momiji was still there, keeping Ai company. Ai was forced to put on a look of profound interest, awkwardly fiddling with the ragdoll Momiji had given her.

Suddenly, the world-weary Ai stiffened from head to toe, inexplicably sensing a chilling draft. Her primal instinct of fear left her utterly frozen, unable to move an inch.

Shoichi walked over and gave Ai a light flick on the forehead.

Having lived with him for so long, her organization radar was still as sensitive as ever.

"Who is she?" Momiji asked, glancing at Curaçao.

"Hmm~ you can just call her Curaçao. She's my new bodyguard," Shoichi replied.

"Why is your bodyguard a woman?" Momiji asked.

Could someone with such a slender figure possibly be a match for Shoichi in a fight?

Let's just hope Shoichi doesn't end up having to protect her instead.

"She could take down ten of you with just one hand," Shoichi said with a smile.

Momiji shot Shoichi a glare, finding him utterly crude and barbaric.

Ai sat trembling on the sofa, her stiff neck turning slightly to give Curaçao a cautious look.

That aura—there was no doubt she was an organization member, and a remarkably dangerous one at that.

Curaçao?

He even used her codename right out in the open; Shoichi truly had zero fear of exposing the organization.

Ai's heart grew heavy.

In the future, she would undoubtedly have to interact with this Curaçao quite often. How on earth was she supposed to keep her identity hidden?

Just thinking about how to assassinate Shoichi every day was already an immense challenge.

Now that Shoichi had a bodyguard, it would be even harder—especially since the bodyguard was an organization member, requiring her to be extra careful to conceal any abnormalities.

Shoichi walked over, gently rubbing Ai's cheek, and said soothingly, "Curaçao just looks aloof on the surface, but she's actually very easy to get along with."

...

The Justice Daily newspaper office in Osaka had officially been established.

Its sales for the past few days had been decent, but it still posed no real challenge to the local Osaka Daily News or other major national newspapers.

Even after sacrificing a celebrity idol in the entertainment industry yesterday, the impact had still fallen somewhat short.

Therefore, they were currently preparing to break a massive news story.

"Are we really going to hold a protest?" Xiaochi asked the editor-in-chief, a hint of fear in his eyes.

The editor-in-chief remained entirely calm, replying, "Right now, through our media reports, we not only fail to sanction Shoichi, but we can't even curb his influence in the slightest.

As a newspaper with a strong sense of social responsibility, we naturally have to take alternative measures to fight for justice."

Xiaochi swallowed hard.

A street protest... the only time Xiaochi remembered so many protests happening was before World War II.

Such events had practically vanished in Japan nowadays.

If they were to launch a protest, it would undoubtedly become a nationwide sensation.

"Xiaochi!"

The editor-in-chief slammed his hand onto Xiaochi's shoulder.

"Justice is the lighthouse of the soul! Furthermore, we are journalists; we naturally bear the sacred mission of justice! Are you telling me you're scared already?"

Xiaochi's cheeks flushed under the editor-in-chief's questioning gaze, and he shouted loudly, "I am not!"

The editor-in-chief nodded approvingly. Clenching his right fist, he struck a heavy blow against the left side of his chest and proclaimed passionately, "Justice forever!"

"Justice forever!"

Xiaochi left with his blood boiling with fervor. The editor-in-chief patted his own chest and returned to his office to sip his coffee.

He intended to write the editorial about the protest himself.

Glancing out the window to see Xiaochi leading a crowd of citizens, the editor-in-chief wore a knowing smile.

In Japan, third-rate journalists went out looking for news.

Real journalists manufactured the news.

This time, the Justice Daily would not only make a resounding name for itself in Osaka, but it would also instantly catapult its reputation across the entire nation.

Meanwhile, sitting inside a car, Ai also looked out the window.

"What are they doing?" Ai asked softly.

Shoichi shook his head. "Probably holding some kind of event."

Neither of them paid it much mind as the car drove toward the airport.

Today, they were leaving Osaka to return to Tokyo.

The God of Death had already headed back to Tokyo, and with his reliable crutch gone, Shoichi had no reason to linger in Osaka.

Besides, the purpose of this trip to Osaka had already been achieved.

The newspaper office had successfully expanded into Osaka, and with the artificial news storm they had just created, breaking into the national market was just around the corner.

It was just that the local police were probably going to have a headache.

The incident this time was quite sensitive, and Shoichi's uncle was bound to give him grief over it, which was why he had to leave in advance.

Whatever storm was brewing in Osaka, what did it have to do with him back in Tokyo?

"Why are you going to Tokyo?" Shoichi asked Momiji.

"The Suzuki Group's 60th-anniversary celebration is coming up soon, and I'll be attending as the representative of the Ooka family," Momiji replied.

"Isn't that still quite a while away?" Shoichi remarked.

Still, it was a perfectly reasonable excuse.

Conglomerates often held cross-shareholdings and maintained frequent interactions, and for an event as significant as the Suzuki Group's 60th anniversary, Momiji's visit was entirely appropriate in terms of etiquette.

Watching the chaotic crowd outside, Momiji asked Shoichi, "Why aren't you flying back in a private jet?"

Shoichi replied calmly, "My villa in Tokyo is quite small; I haven't built a helipad yet."

That was a lie.

The real reason was that his helipad was currently occupied by the organization's armed helicopters.