Chapter 23: The Transaction
Since both locations were in Beika Town, the taxi quickly arrived at the Beika Library.
The Beika Library had five floors and was the largest public library in Beika Town. However, because it was a weekday afternoon, there weren't many people inside—only a few scattered visitors browsing the shelves.
As soon as he entered, Natsukawa spotted a familiar face. Frank had included this person's information in yesterday's documents.
This person was none other than Tsugawa Hideji, the library director. His distinctive simian-like features made him easy to recognize.
He was carrying a cardboard box that appeared to contain books, though it remained unopened. The man headed toward the elevator, and Natsukawa quickly moved forward, stopping the doors from closing with his hand.
"Excuse me!" Natsukawa said with a polite smile as he entered.
Director Tsugawa nodded in acknowledgment. "Which floor, sir?"
Natsukawa glanced at the elevator panel. The button for the fourth floor was already lit—that must be Tsugawa's destination.
"Perfect. Fourth floor for me as well."
Inside the elevator, Natsukawa stood behind Director Tsugawa, his eyes repeatedly scanning the books in the man's box.
These were sealed children's encyclopedias, probably recently delivered.
The drugs should be hidden inside.
He still vaguely remembered the library drug case from the original series, so when Frank mentioned Tamada Kazuo's disappearance, Natsukawa immediately understood the reason.
Tamada Kazuo was probably already lying dead on top of the elevator shaft by now.
However, Natsukawa didn't let it concern him. The plan would proceed as scheduled—he just needed to scout the location beforehand.
Ding.
The elevator stopped on the fourth floor. Director Tsugawa nodded politely and headed into the adjacent office.
Natsukawa entered the reading area.
Time passed, and it was six o'clock in the evening—just one hour before the deal between Tequila and Director Tsugawa.
Over the past few hours, Natsukawa had thoroughly mapped out the entire library's layout.
The library closed for the day.
Natsukawa calmly entered the restroom, applied the Tamada Kazuo disguise mask he'd prepared beforehand, removed his outer clothes, and changed into Tamada Kazuo's typical work attire.
After studying himself in the mirror for a long moment and confirming no details were overlooked, 'Tamada Kazuo' slowly walked out of the restroom.
These preparations took about ten minutes, and by now the library lights had already dimmed.
Looking down through the windows, he could see staff members locking the library doors and leaving for the day.
Natsukawa pressed the button for the fourth floor, entered the elevator, and carefully opened the ceiling hatch.
The panel was clearly loose, likely because Director Tsugawa hadn't closed it properly.
The moment it opened, a putrid stench wafted down from above.
Tamada Kazuo must have died last night. In the sweltering heat of summer, trapped in such a confined and stifling space like the elevator shaft, the smell was inevitable.
Natsukawa held his nose and climbed onto the elevator roof, replaced the hatch, and stood up.
Tamada Kazuo's body lay curled on the floor, completely stiff, his exposed skin mottled with postmortem lividity.
His mouth hung open, eyes wide in death, and there was a noticeable stab wound on his neck.
After confirming Tamada Kazuo's death, Natsukawa was about to descend back into the elevator when the doors suddenly opened below.
Was it time for the transaction already?
Was it Tequila or Director Tsugawa who'd entered the elevator?
His question was quickly answered as Director Tsugawa's voice echoed up from below.
"Don't worry, they've all gone home. Please drive your vehicle directly to the back entrance."
He was clearly on the phone, and the person he was speaking with was undoubtedly Tequila.
The elevator finally stopped on the first floor.
After confirming the other party had left, Natsukawa descended from the elevator roof.
By this time, all the lights in the library's first-floor lobby were dimmed, with only faint illumination coming from the back entrance—the direction Director Tsugawa had just headed.
Natsukawa stealthily followed, finding a shadowy corner to observe the back entrance.
He was currently wearing Tamada Kazuo's face, and his gaze toward Tsugawa—enhanced by the surrounding darkness—appeared distinctly eerie.
If Director Tsugawa were to turn around and see him now, he'd probably faint from sheer terror.
A short while later, the rumble of a truck engine came from outside. A small delivery truck reversed into the back entrance. Its exterior was identical to the truck Natsukawa had seen during the day.
Bang!
The door opened, and Tequila's cold expression emerged from the darkness.
"Here's the merchandise you requested. Everything's been pre-packaged in the books." Tequila looked around to ensure the coast was clear, then pulled out a cigarette and lit it.
"Thank you very much, Tequila-san. This is the agreed-upon amount."
Director Tsugawa acted somewhat subservient before Tequila, obsequiously producing a briefcase. His hands trembled slightly as he carried it, indicating a substantial sum of money inside.
"Hmm." Tequila accepted the briefcase, and only after finishing his cigarette did he open it for a cursory glance. He sneered, "I trust you wouldn't dare deceive me. You know the value of your own life. By the way, the next transaction time is to be determined. I'll contact you."
Tsugawa, who'd been unloading the merchandise, stopped upon hearing this. He remained silent for a long moment before asking hesitantly, "These supplies will probably only last a month. If—"
"If you want to keep breathing, listen to me. Take what you're entitled to, and don't get greedy for what isn't yours. Otherwise, you'll end up with a nice spot in Tokyo Bay."
"Yes, yes, I understand."
Director Tsugawa immediately wiped the sweat from his brow, remembering the terror this black-clad organization inspired.
Although he'd killed someone just yesterday and possessed a certain viciousness, he was as docile as a trained dog in front of Tequila. The oppressive aura Tequila emanated felt like a crushing weight.
The number of people who'd died at his hands was probably in the double digits, possibly even triple digits.
Moreover, there were others behind him in that organization. He'd seen one of them once from a distance, and just a single glance from that person had nearly made him lose control of his bladder. How many people had they killed?
A dozen minutes later, Director Tsugawa finally finished unloading all the book-filled boxes.
Fortunately, they were all packed in cartons, making them relatively easy to move.
However, for someone nearing sixty, it was still quite exhausting.
It was all that damned Tamada's fault! Wasn't it perfectly fine being an assistant?
Yesterday, he'd had the audacity to demand fifty million yen! If it weren't for that, there'd have been no need to kill him.
He'd already given the man a considerable cut, but that greedy bastard had not only wanted more—he'd threatened to report everything to the Metropolitan Police Department if he didn't receive the money.
Damn him!
"Where's your assistant?" Tequila didn't help with the unloading, simply tossing the briefcase onto the passenger seat while glancing back into the library several times.
Usually at this time, Tsugawa's assistant Tamada would come out to help with the cargo, but he was absent today. Strange.
"Heh, it's just me today." Tsugawa chuckled darkly, a twisted smile spreading across his simian features. "He won't be coming anymore."
Tequila understood Tsugawa's meaning, but his expression remained unchanged. He said coldly, "Clean up your tracks and don't leave any loose ends. If you get caught by the police, you'd better keep your mouth shut. You know our methods. Even inside the Metropolitan Police Department, we can easily eliminate you and your entire family."
With that, Tequila opened the car door and climbed in.
"Tequila-san, please take care. Contact me immediately when you have more cargo."
Only the truck's exhaust fumes responded to his groveling.
Damn it!
If that organization weren't so powerful, he might have actually considered killing Tequila too. Ever since murdering Tamada Kazuo yesterday, the darkness in his heart seemed to have been completely unleashed, and his homicidal urges had grown considerably.
They even threatened his family?
Ha! He was a drug trafficker—what did family matter? All he cared about now was securing his financial future.
As for getting arrested? He'd never even considered that possibility.
[End of Chapter 23]