115: Chapter 115 The Akai Family Returns to the Island Nation

In an apartment in a district of Washington, the curtains were drawn tight, leaving only a sliver of a gap to let in the faint daylight.

The air was filled with the smell of instant noodles and disinfectant. Akai Mary sat on the sofa, clutching a modified micro-pistol tightly in her hand. The muzzle was pointed downward, but it never left her reach.

This was the third safe house since she had been rescued.

From Japan to the U.S., every relocation was like dancing on the edge of a knife—

She knew all too well what the secret of 'shrinking' meant; it was not only the target of the Black Organization, but also the 'key to immortality' in the eyes of countless Zaibatsu.

'Mom, do you want to eat something more?'

Sera Masumi walked over with a bowl of hot noodle soup and carefully placed it on the coffee table.

There were heavy dark circles under her eyes; clearly, she hadn't slept well these past few days. Ever since they heard the news of Akai Shuichi's arrest, neither mother nor daughter had been able to rest easy.

Akai Mary shook her head, her gaze fixed on the security monitor by the door.

The screen showed an empty corridor, the voice-activated lights flickering on and off. Every flicker kept her nerves on edge.

Just then, the doorbell suddenly rang—a 'ding-dong' that sounded piercingly loud in the silent room.

Sera Masumi instantly tensed up, instinctively shielding her mother.

Akai Mary was faster than her, raising a hand to press on her daughter's shoulder, signaling her to go to the bedroom: 'Get in there, lock the door, and do not come out without my orders.'

'But Mom...'

'Go!' Akai Mary's voice was low, yet carried an unquestionable authority.

Sera Masumi bit her lip, turned, and rushed into the bedroom, gently closing the door.

Akai Mary took a deep breath, adjusted her breathing to make herself sound like an ordinary little girl: 'Who is it?' As she asked, she pressed the zoom button on the monitor.

A strange man's face appeared on the screen.

He was wearing a gray hoodie, the brim pulled low, obscuring most of his face, revealing only a taut jawline and thin lips.

He was tall, standing in the hallway like a silent wall. He carried a black canvas bag that looked unremarkable, yet it made Akai Mary's heart rate accelerate suddenly—this aura was definitely not that of an ordinary person.

Was he from the Black Organization? Or a killer sent by the U.S. Zaibatsu?

Her finger quietly hooked the trigger, her fingertips turning white from the force.

Just as she was about to order the person to leave, the man on the monitor suddenly raised his hand and made a strange gesture—his right index and middle fingers pressed together, tapping his temple twice, then drawing an arc downward, and finally clenching his fist against his chest.

Akai Mary's pupils contracted sharply, and her hand holding the gun instantly relaxed.

This gesture... it was their family's secret!

When Shuichi first joined the FBI, she had personally designed this set of gestures to facilitate secret communication.

Tapping the temple with the index finger meant 'danger,' the downward arc meant 'safe,' and the fist against the chest was the most crucial confirmation signal—'It's me.'

Except for her, Shuichi, and Sera Masumi, no fourth person knew!

'Sera Masumi, come out, it's one of our own.'

Akai Mary called out, her voice carrying an imperceptible tremor.

The bedroom door opened quickly, and Sera Masumi poked her head out. When she saw the man on the monitor, she was still a bit hesitant:

'Mom, are you sure...'

'I'm sure.'

Akai Mary put down the gun and stood up. 'Go open the door.'

Sera Masumi walked quickly to the door, took another look through the peephole, and then carefully opened the door.

The man walked in and closed the door behind him. He took off his hoodie, revealing a familiar face—it was none other than Akai Shuichi.

But now, he was thinner than in her memory, with dark stubble on his chin and heavy fatigue in his eyes, yet his gaze remained sharp, like a sword with its blade hidden.

'Brother Shuichi?!'

Sera Masumi's eyes instantly turned red, and all her worry and fear erupted in that moment. She lunged forward, tightly hugging Akai Shuichi's waist, tears falling like beads from a broken string.

'You're really back! Mom and I were scared to death when we heard you were locked in the Black Prison! Did they do anything to you? Did they hit you?'

Akai Shuichi was a bit at a loss from his sister's sudden embrace.

He had never been good at handling such situations and could only stiffly raise his hand, gently patting Sera Masumi's back. 'I'm fine, don't worry.'

'Like I'd believe that!'

Sera Masumi looked up, her teary eyes examining him. 'Look how thin you've become! You must have suffered a lot!'

Akai Shuichi smiled helplessly. Just as he was about to speak, he heard a light cough from behind him.

He turned around and saw Akai Mary sitting on the sofa. She was still in the form of a little girl, yet her back was straight, and she looked at him with a complex expression.

Sunlight fell on her face through the gap in the curtains, and one could clearly see the bloodshot eyes—traces left by staying up late and anxiety.

'Mother.'

Akai Shuichi stepped forward, his voice low and solemn. 'I'm back.'

Akai Mary looked at him for a long time without saying a word.

In the living room, only Sera Masumi's suppressed sobbing remained; the air seemed to have solidified.

After a long while, she finally spoke slowly, her voice carrying an imperceptible tremor: 'It's good that you're back.'

Those four short words seemed to have exhausted all her strength.

Sera Masumi finally realized the atmosphere was off, quickly wiped away her tears, and pulled Akai Shuichi to sit down:

'Brother Shuichi, tell us, how did you escape? We heard from Uncle James that you were ambushed on the way to the Black Prison, and we thought...'

Akai Shuichi picked up the water glass on the table, took a sip, and slowly began to recount:

'The convoy transporting me was intercepted halfway by John Wick.'

'John Wick? That legendary assassin, the "Night Demon"?'

Sera Masumi's eyes widened. 'Why would he help you?'

'I had James notify him. I've dealt with him before and helped him out.'

Akai Shuichi explained, 'He took out the escorting SWAT team, but when he opened the prisoner transport, someone suddenly ambushed us from behind—'

He paused and looked at Akai Mary, his eyes becoming complex. 'That person was Father.'

'What?!'

Akai Mary and Sera Masumi exclaimed at the same time. Sera Masumi even jumped up from the sofa. 'Dad? Dad is still alive?!'

Akai Mary's face turned pale instantly. She gripped the armrest of the sofa tightly, her knuckles turning white.

'Explain clearly, what exactly is going on?'

Akai Shuichi nodded and recounted the encounter with Akai Tsutomu on the road in detail—the reason for his father's faked death to escape, the founding of the "Nightingale" organization, and the reason for risking his appearance to save him this time.

'...He said he has been secretly investigating the Black Organization all these years and has also been keeping an eye on our news. When he heard about what happened to me this time, he came specifically to help.'

After finishing, Akai Shuichi looked at his mother's expression. 'He also said he would draw the attention of the Zaibatsu away so we can relocate as soon as possible.'

The living room was deathly silent.

Sera Masumi opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but was stopped by her mother's cold gaze.

Akai Mary's fingers tapped lightly on the sofa armrest, making a rhythmic "tap-tap" sound. Her eyes grew colder, like a frozen lake.

After a long while, she finally spoke slowly, her voice carrying suppressed anger: 'He talks a good game. Living incognito for twenty years, watching us struggle in a sea of fire, and now he thinks one word of "keeping an eye on us" can cancel everything out?'

Her voice was not loud, but it carried a bone-chilling coldness: 'Shuichi, you have his contact information, right?'

Akai Shuichi hesitated for a moment, then nodded. 'Yes.'

'Give it to me.'

Akai Mary's tone was unquestionable. 'I need to have a "good talk" with him.'

The determination in her eyes made Akai Shuichi and Sera Masumi dare not say anything more.

Akai Shuichi took the encrypted satellite phone from his pocket, pulled up Akai Tsutomu's number, and handed it to his mother.

Akai Mary took the phone and gripped it tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force.

Sera Masumi looked at her mother's tense profile and asked cautiously: 'Mom, what do we do next? Dad said we need to relocate, where are we going?'

Akai Shuichi took over: 'I want to return to Japan.'

'Return to Japan?'

Sera Masumi was stunned. 'But most of the Black Organization's members are active around Japan! Wouldn't we be walking right into their trap by going back?'

'The most dangerous place is often the safest.'

Akai Shuichi's gaze sharpened.

'The U.S. Zaibatsu have their attention focused overseas now; they won't think we'd dare to return to Japan. And...'

He paused and continued: 'Father also said that he and his organization, Nightingale, are mostly active around Japan to deal with Gin and the others.'

'If we return to Japan, with the help and cover of Father and the Nightingale organization, it will be much better than staying here.'

Akai Mary looked up at her son: 'Are you sure that so-called Nightingale organization is reliable?'

'Rest assured, Mother. The Nightingale organization was founded by Father. Father is smarter and more reliable than we imagined.'

Akai Shuichi recalled all that Akai Tsutomu had told him about the performance of the Nightingale organization's members, his tone certain.

'Moreover, most of the members of the Nightingale organization have deep grudges against the Black Organization; our goals are the same.'

Akai Mary was silent for a moment, then finally nodded:

'Fine. Returning to Japan will at least put us further away from those Zaibatsu.' She looked at Akai Shuichi. 'When do we leave?'

'The sooner, the better.'

Akai Shuichi said, 'I've already had the "Nightingale" people arrange a boat for us to sneak out. We leave at midnight tonight.'

'Then I'll go pack!'

Sera Masumi immediately stood up and turned to walk toward the bedroom.

The living room was left with only the mother and son again.

Akai Shuichi looked at his mother, still in the form of a little girl, and felt a pang in his heart:

'Mother, your body...'

'I'm fine.'

Akai Mary interrupted him, her tone flat.

'I'm not going to die anytime soon. It's you—you probably paid a heavy price to escape this time, didn't you? Someone like John Wick doesn't help for free.'

'It's fine, Mother. I've helped him before, so this counts as him returning the favor.'

'And... I reckon he's not having an easy time right now, either.'

Akai Shuichi didn't elaborate; he didn't want his mother to worry.

Akai Mary saw through his thoughts and snorted coldly:

'Hmph! What kind of favor is worth him risking his life to save you? Don't think I don't know; you must have agreed to some condition.'

Akai Shuichi didn't deny it, only saying:

'The most important thing now is to survive. Everything else can wait.'

Akai Mary looked at him deeply and ultimately didn't press further.

She picked up the encrypted phone, her fingertips hovering over the dial button, but she delayed pressing it.

Scenes from twenty years ago flashed through her mind—the words her husband said before leaving, "Wait for me to come back," the headline in the newspaper about "Akai Tsutomu's accidental death," the hardship of raising two children by herself... Hatred and longing were like two venomous snakes, repeatedly entangling in her heart.

'Mom,'

Akai Shuichi said softly, 'Dad... perhaps he had his own reasons.'

Akai Mary didn't speak, just put the phone in her pocket, stood up, walked to the window, pulled back a sliver of the curtain, and looked at the city night scene outside.

Neon lights flickered, traffic flowed, seemingly prosperous, yet everywhere hid murderous intent and darkness.

'Let's go.'

She said, her voice having returned to calm. 'Let's go to the port.'

Akai Shuichi nodded and picked up the black canvas bag containing the weapons and documents he had brought out of the safe house.

Sera Masumi came out of the bedroom with a backpack on. There were no more tear stains on her face, and her eyes held a hint of anticipation and nervousness: 'Ready!'

The family of three didn't say anything more, opened the door, and disappeared into the shadows of the corridor.

The night was like ink, covering their tracks. In the direction of the port, an unremarkable cargo ship was waiting.

What they didn't know was that after they left, on the roof of the building across from the apartment, a man in a black trench coat put away his binoculars—it was none other than Akai Tsutomu.

He looked in the direction where the three had disappeared, took out his phone, and dialed a number:

'They have set off. Proceed according to plan.'

A voice came from the other end of the phone: 'Rest assured, I have already notified our people.'

Akai Tsutomu hung up the phone and turned to blend into the night.

He knew that this escape, spanning two countries, had only just begun.