Chapter 48: Tricked into a Stupor
"Let's reintroduce ourselves. My name is Shin'ichiro Ishigami."
As the conversation deepened, the man on the phone finally stopped concealing his face. He removed the cat mask and switched off the voice synthesizer.
A pale complexion, heavy dark circles under his eyes, bloodless lips, and hair that looked like a toilet plunger—if one had to find a single highlight, it would likely be those wolf-like, ferocious eyes.
Hikaru Hoshino nodded silently.
*Perfect. He fits the stereotypical image of a psychopathic killer to a T.*
"You... I assume you still count as Kamiki?"
Ishigami squinted, asking in a raspy voice. Hikaru could almost smell a thick scent of tobacco wafting through the screen.
"Of course." Hikaru flashed a bright, refreshing smile. "Has Brother Shin'ichiro ever heard of the concept of the soul?"
"I am a firm warrior of idealism; I have always believed in the existence of the soul. I believe a person's essence is never limited by a mere mortal coil. Only a clear and free soul can represent one's true self."
"While it's true I have amnesia, 'man is born evil'—that is to say, a person's nature is not tied to experiences or memories."
Shin'ichiro Ishigami licked his lips. "Meaning?"
Hikaru's voice was resonant and powerful: "Without a doubt, I am a natural-born 'bad seed.' Even amnesia cannot change my essence! Brother Shin'ichiro can simply treat me as Kamiki."
"Then why did you change your name? Why didn't you kill that idol?" Ishigami began to grow suspicious.
"That, naturally..." Hikaru worked his brain cells to the limit. "Naturally, it's because I have found a higher pursuit!"
"You should be quite familiar with the old me, right?"
"Yeah." Ishigami nodded.
Hikaru continued with practiced ease: "Though I don't know exactly what thoughts the old me harbored, from the moment I woke up, I understood a simple truth!"
"Killing is an art! Robbery, lust, or simple revenge—those are all low-class! True slaughter, from the selection of the target to the methods used, requires careful deliberation. First, one must satisfy their own desires; one must be clear about their motive for murder."
"Cherry blossoms are only beautiful at the moment they wither; birds only achieve freedom at the moment of their fall. To me, letting beautiful things wither before my eyes is the internal demand that drives me forward."
Ishigami's eyes lit up. "That sounds cool. So that was the conviction deep in Senior Kamiki's heart?"
He furrowed his brows deeply, muttering to himself: "What is my conviction? What is it that I truly want?"
"Ahem, you can think about that yourself after you go back. Everyone's motive is different. As long as you find your true heart, even the smallest motive can become great."
"That makes so much damn sense!"
"Starting from this motive, the reason I gave up on killing Ai is naturally obvious." Hikaru guided him patiently. "Come, think about why."
Ishigami thought painfully: "Is it because it wasn't her time to 'wither' yet?"
"A student worth teaching." Hikaru nodded with relief, but immediately changed his tone: "Unfortunately, that's not it."
"Ai is at her most radiant right now; withering at this moment would surely produce a perfect work of art. However, I have found a target that interests me even more. For that target, I can even temporarily give up on Ai!"
"Then Senior, exactly what target could make you make such a sacrifice?" Ishigami asked like an inquisitive child.
"Ai's eldest son, Aqua. Within him lies even more dazzling value. Precocious, intelligent, sentimental, and cold—I look forward to his future growth. I also look forward to personally harvesting this most perfect fruit in that future."
Ishigami found it hard to believe. "But he's only four! You're going to wait over a decade?"
"That's right." Hikaru nodded, his expression instantly becoming cold as ice. "So until then, don't contact me. I'm afraid Aqua might misunderstand."
"If you delay my grand design, I'll hold you personally responsible!"
"Then where does that leave me, sir?! Is my business that unimportant?"
Hikaru's expression softened once more. "You might as well think over what I've said and interrogate your own heart first. What is your motive for killing? Does killing those targets truly give you inner satisfaction?"
In an instant, a raging fire ignited in his eyes, and black hexagonal stars rotated silently within them, captivating and soul-piercing.
"When you possess eyes like mine, come back and find me."
Hikaru hung up the phone.
"Finished talking?" Rin Futamichi, who had been keeping watch at a distance, stepped out to ask.
"Yeah." Hikaru popped the colored contact lenses out of his eyes.
"Why do you carry those things around with you?" Rin was incredulous.
"Because I'm a denizen of the 2D world. Contacts give me energy; tattoos give me strength. Carrying them gives me a sense of empty, fleeting happiness."
"I don't get it." Rin shook her head.
"Then we're on the right track." Hikaru pocketed the phone and gestured for Rin to shoulder the blonde mannequin from the gazebo. "Pick up the bear traps too; they're valuable evidence."
"Was that person an acquaintance of yours, sir?"
"No, I don't know him. Just a psychopathic killer." Hikaru kept his hands in his pockets. "I'll send you a clear photo of him later. If you see him, neutralize him immediately. Don't hold back."
"Should we call the police?" Rin asked proactively.
"He has dirt on me. If it gets leaked, Xini Entertainment's reputation will suffer too." Hikaru shook his head. "We can't be too hasty; we need to plan this out slowly."
Soon, the two returned to the hotel with their spoils. Hikaru began to review the day's confrontation.
The harvest was significant. First, he knew the culprit's name and face. He also understood his stance and motives; he was no longer in the dark.
*Shin'ichiro Ishigami. Kamiki's accomplice. Psychopath. Fond of props. Young. Miyazaki local. Lives alone... and a bit of an idiot.*
Since Kamiki had committed plenty of crimes himself, and Ishigami held information that couldn't be exposed, calling the police was ruled out for now. This had to be solved personally.
Though he had tricked the guy into a stupor today, there was no guarantee he wouldn't snap out of it later and come back to harass him. He couldn't stop now; he had to strike while the iron was hot and eliminate this threat permanently.
Ishigami: A loner, no influence, broke.
Hikaru Hoshino: Rising star, savior of the industry, modest assets, rich connections.
The advantage was his.
The key to solving the problem lay in finding his hiding spot. In the game of cat and mouse, the moment the mouse is found, the game is declared over.
Intelligence. He needed more intelligence on Shin'ichiro Ishigami.
With that thought in mind, Hikaru Hoshino boarded a flight back to Tokyo that very afternoon, without notifying anyone from the film crew.
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