Even Naomi herself, who still couldn't get Shiho Miyano out of her mind, hadn't noticed anything amiss. Naturally, Vodka and the others had even less chance of spotting the problem.
Naomi's feeble protests and cries while tied up changed nothing. She could only watch helplessly as the man left the room, lowering her head and sobbing soundlessly.
At that moment, their earlier conversation kept replaying in her mind.
Could that be it? After leaving America, Shiho had stayed in Japan, seen the program Naomi had appeared on with Director Makino on television, then come to Hachijōjima Island to warn her that she might be in danger?!
If that was true, if that was true... then wouldn't she be the one who had brought this upon her...?
While Naomi was lost in thought, Rena Mizunashi, who had taken over her watch, casually saw Vodka off before sitting back down across from her and turning on the laptop.
Before long, she pulled up the image found on the USB drive.
"According to our investigation, you used to be classmates with the person on this screen. Have you gotten back in touch with her?"
In theory, with Vodka gone, she had to take over most of the conversation and continue using threats and inducements to make Naomi Argento promise to hand over the system—or agree to their demands, continue developing and optimizing the algorithm, then give it to them.
Half out of curiosity and half to keep up appearances, she asked Naomi to confirm her relationship with Shiho Miyano.
Tears streaked down Naomi's cheeks as she instinctively glanced at the screen. Then her expression froze.
It wasn't because the woman in front of her had guessed correctly. It was because the photo being displayed wasn't the one she had put on the USB