Cooperation

The city was steeped in a bone-chilling cold late at night. The streets were still brightly lit, but they were so empty that an eerie silence hung over them.

There was something about the loneliness wrapped up in all that splendor, a feeling that was impossible to put into words.

A black sedan drove alone along the road. Ayanokōji Atsuomi leaned against the window, quietly watching the city at night.

He had only just left school, and his thoughts had yet to fully move on from Narimori.

He was still thinking about the mysterious organization Narimori had mentioned.

"Sir, ever since we turned at that intersection, this car has been following us."

At the driver's words, Atsuomi glanced casually behind them. Seeing nothing but an ordinary-looking gray-and-white sedan, he said without a care, "Probably just some idiot with road rage. Lose him."

With that, Atsuomi closed his eyes and sank back into his thoughts.

He had great confidence in his driver's skills. It wouldn't take long to deal with this.

"S-Sir..."

The driver spoke again before long. Atsuomi easily sensed the tremor in his voice.

He opened his eyes again. His thoughts had been interrupted one time too many, and he was beginning to lose patience. "What is it now—"

Before he could finish, Atsuomi realized with a start that their car was surrounded.

At first, there had only been one car following them, but while his eyes were closed, the situation had changed. Four cars were now boxing them in from every direction.

The four cars precisely matched their speed, steadily squeezing the space in which Atsuomi's car could maneuver.

There was no doubt about it: they meant to take control of him.

"Oh? A gang, or something?"

"Do you have any idea who you're messing with?"

Atsuomi felt no panic, only curiosity. He really wanted to know who these idiots were.

All it would take was one phone call, and someone would make them regret this.

Just as Atsuomi took out his phone, the driver's trembling voice came again. The man had clearly lost all ability to organize his thoughts; his words came out haltingly and out of order.

Atsuomi could only just make out what he was trying to say.

"Sir... the license plates on these cars... they have the letter Y..."

"The U.S. military stationed in Japan!"

Atsuomi arrived at the answer almost instinctively. As a politician, he couldn't possibly be unaware of the U.S. military's standing in this country.

"But why use soldiers' private vehicles for something like this? They could have met me openly."

Watching the cars outside, Atsuomi couldn't help wondering.

"Sir... they're signaling us to follow."

"Oh? Then let's see where they're taking us and what they want." Atsuomi finally perked up, speaking in a calm voice.

The convoy wove through the city. It was obvious they were wandering aimlessly for a long time.

At last, the convoy entered a U.S. military base.

In an instant, a barrage of searchlights mercilessly illuminated Atsuomi's car.

Atsuomi didn't hurry to get out. He simply closed his eyes and waited quietly for the other side to approach.

Sure enough, beneath the searchlights, a burly soldier carrying a gun strode over and knocked on the window.

"Get your commanding officer," the driver said in fluent English.

The soldier smiled faintly at his words, motioned for his companions to come over, and began forcibly breaking open the door.

The driver's threatening shouts were drowned out by the commotion. Before long, he was dragged out of the car, and several soldiers began beating him without a word of explanation.

Despite the driver's screams, Atsuomi remained unmoved. "Trying to make me speak first so you can gain the upper hand in the negotiations?"

"Do you think I'm some nobody?"

As Atsuomi tried to guess their motives, the searchlights around them suddenly went out all at once. A tremendous noise followed from above—the unmistakable sound of a helicopter.

Atsuomi opened his eyes and looked up. A Chinook helicopter was slowly descending.

As the cabin door opened, Anderson stepped out with leisurely strides. Atsuomi still didn't get out of the car. He looked at Anderson without a word or change in expression.

Anderson didn't hurry to speak, either. He merely waved his right hand, and the soldiers beating the driver immediately stopped and stepped away.

A red dot appeared on the driver's lower leg.

Without warning, there was a sharp whoosh, and the driver's lower leg exploded. Blood and flesh sprayed in every direction.

His screams rang out, but no one paid them any mind. Two more red dots appeared, aimed at the foreheads of the driver and Atsuomi.

"Do you know who I am? You dare kill me?" Atsuomi was finally unable to sit still. He rolled down the window and spoke in a grave voice.

"Of course I do, Mr. Ayanokōji Atsuomi."

Anderson replied casually, "But do you know how many enemies you've made with the way you do things?"

"They'll be more than happy to carve up your assets after you die."

"So you're here to kill me on behalf of my enemies? I doubt they have the power to command the U.S. military."

The threat of death had clearly not yet shattered Atsuomi's reason. He spoke calmly. "Who are you people, and what do you want with me?"

"The Web!"

"I assume you've already heard about us from Sakayanagi Narimori."

"Then, Mr. Ayanokōji, are you willing to work with us?" Anderson asked confidently, as if he had no doubt that Atsuomi would agree.

"This is how you ask people to work with you?"

"Are you not afraid I'll agree now, then break the deal as soon as I leave? I'm confident I have some influence in this country."

Anderson seemed completely unconcerned by Atsuomi's warning. "You'll agree to work with us, and you won't break the deal."

"Oh?"

Atsuomi sounded puzzled. He was even more curious about what this man wanted to work with him on.

"Do you want to become the highest leader of this country?" Anderson asked with a smile.

Inside the base, Snow Spider and Wolf Spider were watching everything closely.

"I really don't get it. Aren't missions like this usually handled by someone higher-ranking? Why are we the ones doing it this time?"

Wolf Spider held a glass of red wine as he looked at Snow Spider, who was seated in a chair, and asked.

"Something seems to have happened on Lord Kato's end, so these investment missions have been temporarily handed to us."

"As support, Lord Kato specially authorized us to use Eighteen's power. He's the one who made it possible to mobilize the U.S. military stationed in Japan."

"Can you imagine it, Wolf Spider? If this investment succeeds, the highest leader of this country will become our new umbrella—the Nineteenth Umbrella!"

Snow Spider said excitedly.