As he thought, Dr. Tanaka worked his facial muscles.
Keeping a friendly smile, he stepped out from behind the rocks and looked at Kasuga Teruhiko. "You..."
Bang—
The gunshot came without warning. Kasuga Teruhiko shot him in the head. The immense force snapped Dr. Tanaka's head back. His eyes widened in disbelief, and he fell to the ground with a slap, dying with his eyes wide open.
An old-fashioned gun slipped from his pocket, rolled down the slanted rocky bank, and plopped into the lake.
"...Heh, idiot."
Looking at the gun, Kasuga Teruhiko instantly broke out in a cold sweat.
But his mouth remained stubborn. He looked down at the corpse as though he had expected it all along. "Don't think I don't know what you were planning."
...That was a lie.
Kasuga Teruhiko truly had not known that Dr. Tanaka had also planned to silence him. He had dealt with Tanaka first only because he had intended to kill everyone here anyway. Dr. Tanaka was the only adult man present, likely the hardest to subdue, and he would not be restrained by hostages. That was why Kasuga Teruhiko had targeted him first.
Who would have thought...
Kasuga Teruhiko had inadvertently eliminated a crisis. He did not wipe away his cold sweat. Instead, he casually withdrew his gaze and prepared to point the gun at Mouri Ran's head again.
But then, Mouri Ran raised a hand and grasped his wrist.
"Heh, you want to compete with me in strength?" Kasuga Teruhiko could not help laughing. There were always hostages who overestimated themselves, thinking their delicate little hands could stop a kidnapper's gun.
Thinking this, Kasuga Teruhiko exerted a little force...
"..."
...Then more force.
"...?"
With all his strength!
"...!!"
His face turned red.
...Yet he could not, as he