Suspicious Guests

After the Elite Man entered, he headed straight for the registration desk.

"Welcome." The female receptionist greeted him.

"I'm here for the Takemura and Izumi families' wedding. I didn't bring my invitation." The Elite Man said. He had clearly come from out of town, so it was normal that he had not brought it.

"All right. May I have your name?" The receptionist asked, giving him an extra look.

"Setoguchi." After the Elite Man gave his name, the staff checked the list and confirmed that he was indeed on it. She then led him into the venue. "All right, this way, please."

The moment he entered the lounge, Setoguchi suddenly stopped and walked toward a bespectacled man in the crowd. "Hey, Anato. Long time no see."

As he spoke, Setoguchi reached out and gave Anato a friendly pat on the shoulder. Faced with this initiative from his senior, the bespectacled Anato said nothing. He merely nodded politely in response, seeming rather introverted.

Other friends nearby who knew him well complained, "Senior Setoguchi, you're really late."

"Sorry, I haven't been back to Tokyo in a long time, and I got held up on the way," Setoguchi said helplessly.

"Senior, you even brought a suitcase. Are you going somewhere afterward?" someone asked.

Setoguchi sighed. "Well, I'm leaving tomorrow."

"Are you that busy, Senior?"

"Of course. I specially came back from Singapore for Takemura's wedding today."

"As expected of Senior! You're amazing!"

Everyone chimed in with praise for Setoguchi. For some reason, Anato's expression turned rather unpleasant. He stood up and gestured to everyone. "Excuse me, I'm going to the restroom."

Gen and Yamada, standing nearby, clearly noticed Anato's abnormal behavior. Based on the information Yamagishi had provided, Setoguchi and Anato were both friends of the groom. Setoguchi was merely supposed to arrive