Bab 274: Councilmen Takedown (1)
A few days had passed since Yasushi had attended the meeting with the Gyudo Homeless Association. So far, there had been no updates of any importance. Nandini had assured him that she and the others had stayed behind to file the necessary report with the police, emphasizing its urgency. She had even mentioned that the Cheng and Yang families were backing the matter.
In a city where the police held strong ties with these families, their involvement typically ensured serious attention. Cases carrying their names often bypassed bureaucratic delays, receiving priority treatment. This knowledge had kept Yasushi cautiously optimistic, but the absence of any response left an uneasy silence in its place.
Sitting in his lecture hall, Yasushi attempted to focus on the instructor's words. His phone, silent for days, suddenly vibrated in his pocket. The movement caught his attention, but before reaching for it, his gaze shifted toward Nandini. She was seated across the room, staring at her phone, her expression betraying shock. The reaction stirred a sense of urgency within Yasushi, prompting him to check his own device.
The message came from Kyousuke Zensu, the Gyudo Homeless Association Director. It was short and to the point.
"Three out of the four councilmen have been arrested. The last one, Hiyama Kageyama, is on the run and reportedly has a katana with him."
Yasushi's face hardened as he scrolled down, revealing another message. This one was from his father. The words made him go pale.
"One of the councilmen seems to have lost it. They've made it into our front yard and are trying to get in, using some kind of weapon to hit the windows. Thankfully, the windows are a good foot higher than they can reach and are reinforced, so they won't break easily. We're all fine, but we're stuck inside."
Yasushi stared at the screen, his mind racing. For a moment, it felt like everything around him faded into the background. Then, without warning, he bolted upright. The sudden movement startled the people around him, including his professor, who was about to ask what was wrong. Yasushi didn't wait.
"Family emergency!" he shouted, already halfway to the door. Nandini, wide-eyed, followed close behind.
Yasushi and Nandini jumped onto his motorbike, the engine roaring to life as they sped out of the college grounds and headed straight for his home. The tires screeched against the pavement as they wove through traffic, moving faster than they probably should have. The closer they got to the destination, the more patrol cars and police lights appeared along the way, marking the intensity of whatever was unfolding.
When they arrived at the gated entrance, the security personnel recognized him immediately and let them through without delay. Yasushi gave a quick nod of appreciation, and they drove up the long driveway towards his house. Once there, they were met by a scene swarming with law enforcement officers. The house was surrounded, and officers stood in clusters, assessing the situation.
One of the policemen noticed them approaching and, instead of barring their way, gestured for them to come closer. Yasushi and Nandini stepped off the bike, their focus drawn to the raised voices coming from the other side of a police car. Hiyama Kageyama's shouting was impossible to ignore — he was unleashing a torrent of slurs, profanities, and violent threats directed at anyone within earshot.
Yasushi clenched his fists, his voice carrying the frustration he felt but kept in check. "Why the hell haven't you done anything yet? There's plenty of you, and it's just him causing all this!"
The chief, standing nearby, maintained a composed demeanor and replied, "We're trying to handle this in a way that avoids unnecessary harm. We've also been in contact with Yinhaie inside. She confirmed they're secure, and the building is locked down from within."
"Then send me in. I'll take him out right now," Yasushi said, his tone calm, but the way his words cut through the air left everyone around him tense.
The look in his eyes held nothing but the intent to kill. This new family, the one he'd come to love after years of effort in this second life, was everything he'd ever wanted after the struggles of his first. It hadn't been easy for him to let them in, but once he did, they became the center of his world.
The household staff, loyal members of Xinyi and Jingliu's extended family, had become part of that circle as well. His mother's recent childbirth and his baby sister Himari being caught up in the danger only stoked the fire in him. His anger simmered just below the surface, demanding release.
The Chief stepped closer, resting a hand on Yasushi's shoulder. "I can't do that," he said. "But trust us. We'll catch him soon and get your family out safely, alright? We're waiting for some specialists to arrive — you saw them before, didn't you?"
Yasushi tightened his lips and gave a firm nod. He understood exactly who they were referencing. The memory of their encounter a few years back, during that tense event involving the SAT, flashed briefly in his mind.
If those individuals were being called in, it was almost certain that this situation would be resolved swiftly. Yet, with each passing moment, Yasushi found himself grappling with a creeping unease that refused to subside.
For the first time, a faint ripple of apprehension stirred within him, though he worked to maintain a composed expression. He inhaled deeply, exhaling slowly to steady his nerves. The sharp crackle of the chief's radio, however, pulled him abruptly from his attempts at self-control.
A male voice crackled through the device. "Another suspect has managed to slip through. Their associates rammed one of our vehicles while we were transporting them to the station. Koudo Ryuke is the one who got away, while the other two remain in custody. Over."
The announcement caused the chief and everyone around him to halt in place. A tense silence gripped the group. The implications of Koudo Ryuke's escape were unsettling. Whether he would disappear into hiding or make a brazen move to target Yasushi, his family, or his friends was impossible to predict.
The chief walked away and started speaking to a few others, his movements purposeful as he gestured and nodded. Nandini stayed close to Yasushi. They crouched, their silence stretching, both waiting for something — anything — to break the tension that had settled between them.
Yasushi took out his phone, the faint glow lighting his face. He opened a text and typed a message to his father, trying to distract himself or at least feel some semblance of control.
"How are things there?" he wrote, his fingers tapping out the question.
A response came quickly.
"Good. We stocked up on food yesterday, so we're fine. Don't stress about us. Oh, and we upgraded the place recently — no katana-wielding psychopath is getting through that easily." His father had added several emojis, an attempt to lighten the tone.
Yasushi sighed, his chest loosening slightly. That kind of calm reaction was typical of his dad, and it wasn't surprising. Yuji Futakao had likely dealt with situations far worse than this thanks to his work in quantum tech.
The two exchanged texts for a while longer. Nandini watched, her eyes flicking between Yasushi's phone and his face. The lines of worry on his forehead softened a little as the conversation continued, though it didn't seem like he was fully at ease yet. She didn't say anything, but her gaze stayed on him, quiet and steady, as if waiting for his next move.
However, he unexpectedly received a new message. It was from Yinhaie, and it stated that Koudo Ryuke, along with several others, was heading toward Yasushi's home. To Yasushi, it felt like the people they had targeted earlier were now after him or perhaps all of them, seeking revenge for shattering the illusion of their so-called "perfect" life.
Yasushi scowled, his expression darkening further as he processed the news. Without wasting a moment, he called over both the chief and Nandini, gesturing for them to look at the text. The chief approached, his initial irritation giving way to something more serious once his eyes scanned the message. His own expression hardened.
"Haa... it's always you, huh? Seems like people just can't resist the idea of taking you out. You kept things quiet after high school, stayed out of sight, but somehow trouble finds you anyway," the chief said, shaking his head before smirking.
"I'm not trying to stir things up," Yasushi muttered, his voice low. "I just wanted to help the homeless here in the city. I didn't think it'd turn into... this." His words trailed off, but the chief chuckled, his reaction laced with something like exasperation.
"Whatever. I'll inform the others," he said, his tone carrying an urgency that cut through the room. "We'll try to intercept them before they make it here. But if the SAT handles them, that leaves us to face Hiyama Kageyama on our own."
"I'm going," Yasushi declared, his voice rising with frustration. He stood, his movements sharper than necessary, irritation seeping into every step. "No way I'm letting that psycho have his way. If anyone here thinks they can stop me, you better be ready to hold me down yourselves." His outburst caught the chief off guard, leaving him momentarily at a loss for words.
Nandini reached out and grabbed his wrist, halting him before he could storm off. "That's reckless, Yasushi," she said, her voice carrying the weight of her worry. "He has a weapon, one that could kill you outright. Charging in without a plan isn't bravery — it's suicide." Her grip tightened briefly, a silent plea for him to understand.
The unspoken truth hung between them, heavy and undeniable. He couldn't rely on anything beyond human capabilities — not when doing so could expose their hidden reality to the authorities. To stop Hiyama Kageyama, he'd need to think carefully, every step considered and deliberate. Rashness would only lead to failure, and Yasushi knew it.
"Hang on," the chief said, his tone leaving no room for argument as his eyes fixed on Yasushi. "There's no guarantee he's actually lost it. He could be putting on an act, trying to bait you into coming closer. If he's armed, he might decide to use that to his advantage."
Yasushi had thought about the possibility, but sitting around wasn't something he could bring himself to do. Letting his family and friends stay cooped up inside while a situation like this played out felt wrong.
He turned his attention toward the house, focusing on the familiar layout he had come to know over the past four, almost five, years. It wasn't just a building to him — it was a space he understood better than anyone, and certainly better than Hiyama Kageyama.
The older man moved back and forth across the front yard, his pacing deliberate. He made no attempt to venture toward the back of the property. The fence separating the two areas wasn't especially tall, but climbing it required effort.
Yasushi figured Kageyama might be avoiding it to avoid exposing himself further. Whatever the reason, the man remained in plain view, his movement restricted to the garden's narrow confines.
A smile crept across Yasushi's face, subtle but unmistakable, drawing the attention of both Nandini and the chief.
"What harebrained idea have you cooked up now, Futakao?" the chief asked, his expression skeptical as his eyes locked onto Yasushi.
Yasushi returned the look with an almost mischievous grin. "It's stupid, I'll admit, but it's a surefire way to get him. Let me explain, and you can decide for yourself." His voice projected a quiet confidence, urging them to hear him out.
Nandini and the chief exchanged quick glances, their unspoken agreement clear as they leaned in to listen. As Yasushi began laying out his plan, the chief's face morphed between annoyance and something resembling reluctant intrigue. Nandini, on the other hand, focused intently, her expression turning more serious with each point he made. By the time Yasushi finished, both of them leaned back, their responses clearly divided.
"That's reckless," the chief said, pinching the bridge of his nose and exhaling audibly, "and stupid enough that it might actually work."
Nandini's attention remained on Yasushi, her tone firm. "You'll have to execute this perfectly. Can you manage that?"
Yasushi's grin widened slightly, his voice remained constant as he replied, "Who do you think I am?"
+-+
"Chief!" another officer called out, scanning the area before noticing Yasushi's absence. "Hmm? Where did that young man go?"
The chief's brow furrowed at the sudden question. He had given clear instructions to relay Yasushi's plan to everyone, ensuring the officers would provide support from their current position. They had even equipped Yasushi with an earpiece to report on Hiyama Kageyama's locations.
"I sent word about the plan to back him up. You didn't get the message yet?" the chief asked, his tone tinged with confusion.
The man shook his head, stepping closer. "I just got here, sir. I was assisting the SAT. They've captured the other man, Koudo Ryuke. The only one left now is Hiyama Kageyama, and half of the SAT is en route to this location."
The chief nodded, processing the update. "That's good to hear. But if I know that young man, he might handle this before they arrive. If not, at least we'll have additional reinforcements to ensure Hiyama Kageyama is stopped."
"Are you certain about leaving this to a civilian? Won't we get in trouble for it?" The man asked, his voice carrying a hint of unease.
The chief kept his focus fixed on Hiyama Kageyama, who was frantically waving his katana and shouting disjointed phrases as though putting on a bizarre performance.
"Yasushi Futakao went ahead with his idea after presenting it to us and being turned down. He managed to subdue the suspect on his own," the chief explained, his tone calm yet purposeful. "Afterward, we reprimanded him for acting without authorization, then we cuffed Hiyama and brought this strange episode to an end."
The younger officer listened, catching the chief's quick glance in his direction. The unspoken message was clear. They would spin the narrative to give Yasushi the room to execute his plan. If it failed, they could claim no involvement; if it succeeded, no one would face serious backlash.
"All that's left is to let him carry it out," the chief said, keeping his eyes fixed on the house, waiting for Yasushi to make his move.
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
Haruki_Murakami
Haruki_Murakami "Asa por lo largo, que lleva lo corto" - Chilean proverb
"Do the long part first, it will carry the short part."
Meaning: Handle the difficult or lengthy tasks first, as they will make the easier tasks seem faster.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone