Jodie's expression changed instantly.
Rikimichi Kusuda—that was the name of the disposable organization pawn whose death had been confirmed yesterday, the name used to register for admission.
The malice behind this package was obvious. It was a provocation meant to declare that they already knew their information.
"Leave it to me." Jodie remained composed as she took the hot potato of a package. She forced a natural smile at the nurse. "It might be from a friend who doesn't know the room number."
It felt heavy in her hands. The lower half had a hard texture, while the upper half was wrapped in opaque plastic. She could feel what seemed to be some kind of plant, but she couldn't tell exactly what it was.
Unwilling to make a decision on her own, Jodie took it down to the parking garage and handed it directly to James.
—After today's operation began, James had moved into a previously prepared vehicle and was using it as the command center.
"Would this count as a provocation from the organization?"
Holding the already opened flowerpot, James looked at the plant in his hand and frowned in thought.
It wasn't a dangerous species, just an aquilegia. Delicate purple-and-white flowers dotted its branches, looking gentle and harmless.
"You didn't open the package and inspect its contents beforehand?" Shuichi Akai focused on the package, which had still been intact when it arrived.
Something whose source was already known to be unsafe shouldn't have been brought to the command center so casually.
"Packages entering the hospital should all have gone through security checks. And it felt like a plant... I opened it and checked." Jodie clenched her palm, instinctively growing tense at Shuichi Akai's question. "Should we send it for another inspection?"
"Without a doubt."
"Hm?" James, who had