The good news was that Akai Shuichi had not left yet.
The bad news was that with the gunman gone, Akai Shuichi's attention had returned to "Dr. Araide," and he was giving off Apple-Scented Killing Intent again.
Jiang Xia: "..."
It would not have been impossible to add some more apples to his stock, but Colorless Killing Intent was far more versatile—he could use it to balance out Sweet and Sour Fish, for instance. That flavor of Killing Intent was very popular with him... very popular with the Ghosts, and there was not much left now.
But things had come to this, and there was no way to revive that gunman who had so heroically exploded into a cloud of Colorless Killing Intent. Jiang Xia sighed inwardly and stopped dwelling on it, silently praying that Akai Shuichi would encounter more wonderful scenes that made him give off Colorless Killing Intent.
In any case, with the comparison in mind, Jiang Xia's gaze toward Vermouth, the source of those apples, could not help becoming somewhat complicated.
Vermouth: "..." What kind of look was that? Was he disgusted by me? So he really did not want Ran and me acting onstage together... Wait, could all those twists, turns, and Murder Cases we encountered during rehearsals have actually been Uzo tactfully trying to discourage me, and I simply failed to understand?
While Vermouth warily reviewed the situation.
Nearby, a certain Organization Cadre had already blended perfectly into the group of police officers.
"If Maeshima's phone hadn't suddenly rung, he definitely would have successfully launched a sneak attack on that criminal."
The branch manager pointed at a phone sealed inside an Evidence Bag and said sorrowfully to Jiang Xia and Inspector Megure, "But unfortunately, the ring tone exposed him. The criminal shot and wounded him.