While spilling the red wine, Gouyoku rebukes himself, telling himself not to panic.
Calm down. It’s unlike you to fall so disgracefully.
The opponent is a Dungeon. This is your home.
The one being cornered is undoubtedly the enemy, and besides, you have the trump card, the “Sniper.”
He sits back on the sofa, maintaining his silence.
“So, you’re keeping quiet, huh? I can sense your intention to keep your identity hidden.”
Of course.
If they find out who’s behind the attacker, I’ll be in danger. They might be recording, too.
Gouyoku isn’t foolish enough to let them get a hold of his tail—
“Though I doubt it’ll do much good. Re:Trys President, Gouyoku Hoshio-san.”
“…!?”
“As for why I know, let’s just say there are bigger idiots in this world than I imagined.”
The figure of Kazamidori floats in the corner of his mind.
But even he wouldn’t be stupid enough to blab about my identity after I helped him out.
Still, what happened to Devil? Did he already get taken out?
The opponent is just a B-Rank Hunter. What’s taking him so long?
“By the way, since we have this opportunity, let me give you a piece of advice.”
“…………”
“You currently believe you’re in a safe position.
Indeed, I don’t know if you’re at home or at your company right now. But judging from the fact that you’re watching this conversation and the video, it’s clear you’re observing me with余裕.”
Kageichi gently pushes up his glasses, like a professor delivering a lecture.
…That’s right. I have余裕.
I was definitely startled just now, but there’s no way he can capture me.
“Or so you think. That I have no means of laying a hand on you.”
Cheap threat.
I’ve heard plenty of that kind of abuse. Spouting abuse is just a weakling’s way of averting their eyes from their own incompetence.
But Gouyoku is different.
He has connections with the Gyokuryu Society, has amassed a considerable fortune himself, and is a man who does what he decides to do.
Don’t get cocky with your strong words, you mere freelance Hunter.
“I’m going to demonstrate right now that your safety is a false one. I hope you’ll enjoy the show.”
…Even so, it’s unpleasant.
Unpleasant.
The man on the monitor shouldn’t be able to see me.
But the chilling gaze from behind his glasses, as if he’s got a firm grasp on Gouyoku, grates on my nerves—!
【Do it, Sniper】
He sends the command on his Smartphone.
“Roger,” a reply arrives on Gouyoku’s Smartphone.
“Sniper,” as the name suggests, is a master of assassination who wields a rifle in the Labyrinth.
His weapon is, of course, a Sniper Rifle—a specially ordered item that was smuggled in, exclusively found in American-produced Dungeons.
Long-range shooting, which is hardly ever used in Japan.
For some reason, it doesn’t have the same power as a real rifle inside the Labyrinth, but even so, there’s no way to defend against a surprise attack from a blind spot hundreds of meters away.
Gouyoku’s lips twist.
He eagerly anticipates the sight of the earnest Salaryman’s forehead being blown out without knowing what’s coming—
*
Kageichi didn’t even try to dodge.
To be precise, there was no need to.
Just by pretending to be a normal, clueless Hunter—
“Bend!”
The deadly bullet warps.
While confirming the bizarre phenomenon of the bullet veering upwards, …Kageichi gently smiled at the woman who rushed in, as if surprised.
“Are you alright! Are you hurt!? I made it in time…!”
“Thank you for your assistance. I didn’t expect Torako-san herself to come.”
“It’s only natural for the Labyrinth Agency. You contacted us, after all!”
The reason Torako rushed over was simple.
Kageichi brazenly fiddled with his Smartphone in front of Champ and contacted them.
He requested assistance, saying he was being attacked by a suspicious person.
(Even so, to notice the rifle shot and make it evade. As expected of a person with real ability.)
Goto might have the edge in terms of simple ability, but Torako, like Kiraboshi-san, has good eyes.
Furthermore, her unique Skill, which inflicts debuffs on targets with just her words, is nothing short of amazing.
While thinking that she too has a rather twisted “Origin,” he wonders about the future developments.
*
“Huh? Wait… what’s going on?”
Faced with the unbelievable sight, Gouyoku muttered, forgetting his silence.
Not because of the fact that the bullet curved and embedded itself in the wall—
No, Gouyoku couldn’t possibly see the trajectory of the bullet, so he doesn’t even understand what happened.
That’s not the problem.
The reason he’s trembling and stunned is… the black-suited woman who appeared next to Kageichi, her very existence—
“Hey, Sniper. Isn’t Kageichi doing a Quest solo!? That’s what Kazamidori said!”
“Don’t know. I just carried out the request. If a man named Kageichi Futsuu enters the Dungeon, follow him and take him out. Is there any other information you need?”
“Of course there is, you idiot!”
There’s no one involved with Dungeons who doesn’t know that uniform.
Directly under the Japanese government, a regular member of the Labyrinth Agency.
The triangle and shield mark imprinted on the shoulder is the emblem of the Public Safety Division—Japan’s elite public safety officers.
In other words… could it be that this guy…
“You sniped… in front of the Labyrinth Agency…?”
Accidents in Dungeons work because of their extremely high concealment performance.
But there’s a limit to everything.
No matter how much of a Dungeon it is, there’s no way the excuse of “I shot someone in front of the police, but it was an accident” would work—!
“Sniper, retreat! Don’t do anything else!”
Regrettably, he’s one step ahead.
In the first place, he should have been on a solo Quest—damn it, what exactly did Kazami report—
“I refuse.”
“Huh…?”
“That woman, she warped my bullet. How dare she underestimate me. A sassy woman like that needs to be taught a lesson.”
Unbelievable.
The sound of the Sniper re-aiming his gun echoes in his ears, and Gouyoku is enraged, but it’s too late.
Idiot. Stop it. Stop right there.
Even Labyrinth Agency officials are human.
There’s a world of difference between simply arresting a suspicious person and…
Having a comrade sniped and charging in, consumed by rage—!
Such screams of Gouyoku are drowned out by a single bullet.
The bullet, pregnant with madness, is unmistakably fired at Torako.