Taiju rushed toward Manabu and turned him around. "Manabu?!" His eyes scanned Manabu's body anxiously, searching for injuries, but Manabu was unharmed—alive.
"Blood on your—" Taiju's realization dawned too late.
Manabu's hands were shaking. His white sweater was stained crimson. He had shot Daima. Unintentionally, he had repeated a past mistake. What he'd done hit him like a freight train. His stomach churned, and he couldn't hold back, vomiting. His breath hitched, his voice shaky. Then he noticed Leon standing before them, unfazed.
Manabu was guilt-tripped, his conscience tormented. "Leon—Leon, I didn't mean to—I didn't do it on purpose! It was a mistake—Leon, it was a—" His words trailed off, his mind spiraling. Trauma overwhelmed him; he had done something horrible, once again. Terror seized him—he had killed Leon's father in front of him. His lungs tightened, his breathing ragged.
Leon had brought an inhaler on purpose, which came in handy. He tossed it toward Manabu. Taiju grabbed it and pressed it to Manabu's mouth, helping him inhale.
Even Taiju hadn't known Manabu had asthma. He acted instinctively, assuming it was the right move.
Leon stepped into the room, his eyes fixed on the blood staining Daima's chest. Silence hung like a noose. Then Leon reached into his pocket and switched off his camera recorder. His lips curled into a sadistic smile.
Taiju spoke on behalf of Manabu, "Leon, it's not his fault. Your dad tried to shoot us."
But Leon said nonchalantly, "Don't worry, this guy isn't my father anyway."
They fell into a void of unthoughtfulness. Shock hit them. Manabu's expression shattered into confusion, his face locked on Leon.
Leon stepped closer, his voice cold and precise. "I made that clear, didn't I? Daima isn't my father, nor am I his son. So don't worry."
Then he hid his face, giggling at a sudden realization. "Oops! Maybe you should worry a little." Before anyone could react, Leon smoothly drew a gun and pointed it at Manabu, his posture relaxed, hands out of his pockets. He stood tall and said, "You all have to come with me—to Lafiaza."
As Mion regained her total consciousness, she stood up. Leon waved at her, warning her not to move. Mion still didn't understand any of the situation. Manabu's mind raced, a chaotic whirlwind—*Hojo killed Naomi, Mion avenged her and killed Hojo, then went missing. Daima is Santa's serial killer; I just killed him, but Leon doesn't care. Daima isn't his father? What is going on?*—he whispered to himself, lips barely moving. As Leon's gaze met his, he answered Manabu's unspoken question. "I am Mr. Santa," Leon clarified.
He tilted his head. "You wanted to know, didn't you? I am Mr. Santa Claus." Taiju's anger flared. He clenched his fist, glaring into Leon's emotionless eyes. "Stop fucking around!" he screamed. But Leon didn't blink, repeating, "I am Santa." With a furious growl, Taiju swung at Leon. In a flash, Leon twisted Taiju's arm, sending him crashing to the floor. Taiju's hand landed on shattered glass, a sharp piece piercing his palm. Blood spilled as he screamed in pain. Mai rushed to him, holding his hand, whimpering as Leon loomed over her, his dark eyes reflecting no guilt. He smirked and said, "I've been aggressive since childhood. I'm far stronger than you. No one in this room can outmatch me, so obey me!"
Mion staggered to her feet, starting toward Leon. "Why? You said it was for Naomi. Why do you have a gun?" Her voice was desperate. She remembered nothing but coming to the hospital with Leon and falling asleep after eating the food he provided.
As she started walking toward Leon, Manabu grabbed her wrist and shook his head, urging her to stay back.
Leon clarified he meant no harm, just doing his job, with explanations to come. "Mion, step back. I don't want unnecessary harm."
Taiju gritted his teeth and smiled. "Fuck you, Leon!"
Leon's expression didn't change. Taiju smirked despite the pain. "My phone's been recording everything. The police will be here any second."
But Mion shook her head, pale. "It's no use," she murmured; she knew what would happen next.
As Mion predicted, a voice from the dark confirmed her fears. Kenzo walked into the room, sweating heavily. "Sorry, Taiju, you called the department. But sadly, only I heard you, since both were my phone numbers," he said, holding up his phone with a sarcastic smile.
Taiju's eyes drowned in horrified disbelief.
Leon glanced at his watch—3:45 AM—and fixed his gaze on Manabu. "It's time to come with me. Kami has requested your presence, Manabu, and my task is to deliver you to him. I assure you, cooperation will ensure your safety." He aimed his gun at Mion, his voice hardening. "Resist, and I'll have no choice but to act decisively. I possess evidence proving Mion killed Hojo, guaranteeing her conviction in the DSH-Murder case. Furthermore, I can implicate her as an accomplice to Mr. Santa's crimes. Alternatively, I could end her life now and frame you all for her murder and Daima's. With Kenzo's assistance, I can ensure you're all entangled in these crimes, destroying your lives in an instant. Ask no questions and follow me."
Taiju gritted his teeth. "Being cocky, huh? You think you can fucking get away with this?!"
Leon didn't acknowledge him. Manabu was silent, terrified, feeling trapped. There was no escape. They all were trapped. Leon stepped outside and told Kenzo, "It's time; get them in the ambulance. Take their phones. Break their SIM cards."
Kenzo drew a gun and pointed it at them. "Move! Now."
Manabu exchanged a helpless look with Taiju, then Mion, who looked devastated.
They had no choice. Questions swirled—*What's going on? Who's waiting for us? Who is Leon?*
Around 4:05 AM, they were herded into the ambulance. Leon lingered, changing into a black suit with white stripes and a neat tie. He returned to Daima's lifeless body for one last hateful glance, drew his gun, and fired several shots into the corpse. The bullets tore through flesh, releasing his frustration. He had wanted to kill Daima for a long time, but each time, luck was on his side. Each shot was cathartic, not grief. Kenzo watched in discomforting silence, then nodded. Everything was set.
"A doctor is inside," Kenzo told Leon as they approached the vehicles. "He'll treat Taiju's wounds and leave on the highway. Taiju's hand will be fine. The ambulance will go straight to the airport. No one will stop it. Feropian law forbids stopping ambulances without suspicion, but we've placed an officer in the front seat to ensure no delays. Our men are waiting at the airport. Everything is perfect."
Leon listened impassively. He handed Kenzo photographs and said, "Keep these. They show Daima murdering criminals. Use Taiju's phone records, where Daima confessed. Make it official. Prove him to be Santa. Report Manabu and the others as missing."
Kenzo nodded, glancing at the pictures. "Our men have likely broken into their homes by now. They'll destroy everything—make it look like a kidnapping. In a few months, this case will be closed. They'll be missing forever in Feropia's history."
Kenzo stretched and sighed in relief. "Hey, Leon… did you plan all this? Why didn't you tell me beforehand? I thought Daima was up to something again. I was damn scared."
Leon laughed. "I didn't plan everything. I planned to kill Daima myself, but Manabu pulled the trigger instead. Either way, the job's done."
Kenzo shook his head, then pulled Leon into a brief, firm hug, like an older brother. "Our job is finally done. See ya, Leon. Call me anytime. Your brother's always by your side."
Leon nodded. "There's still one thing left. Stay ready."
Kenzo watched as Leon got into his car. The driver shut the door, and the vehicle vanished down the road.
Kenzo stood, staring at the empty street, then dialed the investigation department to relay his report.
He smiled. "Everything went as planned. I just hope things don't go south. Indeed, greater dreams demand greater sacrifices. Be careful, Leon."
The ambulance sped down the highway, sirens off, a 1.5-hour journey to the airport, set to arrive around 5:35 AM. The doctor inside stitched Taiju's wound, bandaging his hand before advising rest. He got off midway.
The ambulance continued. Manabu sat silent, staring at Mion. Once the doctor left, he spoke. "Mion, explain everything. From the beginning."
Mion stiffened, her breath hitching. Shame spread across her face, her fingers moving to her nails. She bit them anxiously—but Manabu grabbed her hand, tightening his grip. "Mion, talk…"
She couldn't meet his eyes. Her shoulders trembled. After a moment, she spoke. "A few days ago, I received an email about Naomi and Futaba's deaths. It was from Leon. He told me Hojo Tetsuya killed them and why."
She explained that night's details, then revealed something unknown. "Two days later, early in the morning, Leon visited my house with Kenzo."
Manabu's eyes widened. A realization hit like a punch—*Leon knew Mion's address before Hojo was killed. From the beginning.*
Mion continued: "Leon looked serious. I asked if I could help. And then—"
Her breath hitched. She heard his voice again. *Mion, should we kill Hojo?*
A shiver ran down her spine. Leon had looked at her—calm, unreadable. He revealed a secret: they had killed criminals before. Mion bit her lip, suppressing tears.
"He believed some criminals deserve to die," she whispered. "He asked if I could help. He said we could avenge innocent lives. Avenge Naomi."
She shook, unable to hold back. "I didn't know what to do! I was under so much pressure!"
Her voice cracked. "I wanted justice for Naomi, but I was terrified. What should I do? What should I do?!" Her hands clutched her head, trembling.
"Calm down, Mion!" Manabu gripped her arms. Taiju leaned forward, worried. "Mion, take deep breaths—"
But she wasn't listening. Her mind spiraled to Leon's words:
'Some criminals deserve to die.'
'Humans find salvation in revenge rather than redemption.'
'Mion, sometimes the law can't punish criminals. They roam free committing crimes again. If we don't stop Hojo, more will suffer. More will die.'
Mion pressed her forehead into her palms, paranoid, rocking back and forth. I was trapped...I couldn't think straight...
'For Naomi! For Futaba! For everyone!'
She screamed, scratching her head. After a moment, Mion's breathing slowed. Manabu pulled a water bottle from his bag and handed it to her. She drank it all. After wetting her throat she continued. "When I was at my limit, unable to decide, Kenzo interrupted him. He grabbed Leon and pressed down on his head. 'That's enough, Leon.' he said, ' You don't get to talk anymore,' , dragging him outside. 'I told you it's not possible. Sorry, Mion, for disturbing you.' But something inside me refused to let them go. I stood and grabbed Kenzo's arm. I wanted to avenge Naomi. I wanted to avenge those innocent people. I made my decision—I will doit."
Kenzo expression shifted angry, or perhaps false concerned. "Mion, this isn't a joke. You know that, right?"
"I'm not joking. I made up my mind," she whispered. "For justice."
Leon had smiled then, a soft, eerie smile. He held her hands and whispered, "For justice!"
But justice, Manabu realized, had no meaning to Leon. He trembled with rage, looking at Mion. She was broken, not herself anymore, all because of him. "Among all, he did the worst to you."
"He toyed with us." Mai gestures.
He had deceived them all, fooling them from the start. They were sheep—fed, torn, and sacrificed—for Leon, the shepherd...
A few hours later, under a brooding morning sky heavy with slate-grey clouds and oppressive mist, they reached a private airport in a war-ruined restricted area. Manabu and the others, guns pointed at them, were told to walk out by the old driver. He shoved Taiju from behind, pointing at a distant black Velo Giraffe car, and told them to hop inside. The old man was bald, his white skin etched with oldage lines, and his posture strikingly upright for his age.
Taiju didn't resist; the old man's gun made "hop in" a threatening command. Resistance would only trigger the gun, and they could do nothing but be kidnapped and exported. Manabu noticed two Black men in a nearby plane garage walk out, carrying a heavy dead body. Taiju couldn't tear his eyes away. The two men threw the body into the same ambulance they'd ridden in and locked it. The old man placed his hands before their faces, blocking their view. "It's adult business," he said, then introduced himself as the owner. "This whole area's mine—just mine."
He kept talking, took out a cigarette, lit it, and started smoking inside the car. Mai couldn't handle the smoke and coughed loudly, her chest tightening in the locked windows. Manabu and the others stayed silent during the ride. The old man kept spilling his thoughts, ranting as he smoked and drove, but talking alone felt hollow, like a news general's monologue. He yelled at them, "Don't ya have a fucking tongue? Or do I gotta pull it out?"
Suddenly, a loud ringtone interrupted the fearsome old man. He answered, placing the phone on the car's dashboard in speaker mode. Leon's voice came through. "Have they arrived?"
The old man lowered his head to the phone and screamed his response. "No worries, boss! They're with me. I promise, no fucking messin' around!"
Mai's coughing caught Leon's ears. Leon realized, reminding the old man of the last promise to avoid cigarettes. The old man quickly rolled down all windows and tossed the cigarette. Leon's voice was stern. "Smoke again—whether I'm there or not—and you'll regret it."
The old man apologized. The call disconnected. He looked upset for a moment, then burst into a loud laugh. "Don't worry, kids! Boss is just concerned about me! He doesn't smoke and doesn't let anyone else. You're his friends; you know him!"
That hurt. They could neither get to know Leon properly nor satisfy Mion's mental health, failing as friends. Mion must have been alone, despite shared moments. They hadn't seen her pain, and her mental state had worsened. Looking back, Leon was always odd but had qualities they admired—a sparring partner for Taiju, a helper for Manabu, emotional support for Mion, a funny pal for Mai.
Minutes later, they reached the old man's runway. A lavish private plane stood ready—their final ride to Lafiaza, to Kami. Being exported had never looked so fine, at least not beyond their endurance. They were escorted from the vehicle and transferred to the aircraft. The old man, restless without cigarettes, lit another, claiming it was his last.
Manabu and Mion sat together; Taiju and Mai took opposite seats. The interior was luxurious, far beyond anything they'd seen. The seats were plush, the air scented with wealth.
Taiju glanced outside. The old man waved, signaling five minutes. Mai was losing it. In the last few hours, she'd faced a near-death fight with a six-foot sonless bastard, barely saved a dying friend, and now was being kidnapped by plane to an unknown place, cut off from parents and friends, owing to the likelihood that their phones had been destroyed and vaporized completely.
A car pulled onto the runway. Manabu watched the old man toss his seventh cigarette. He waved at the car. It stopped, and Leon stepped out, tall in a black suit and loafers, with two middle-aged men in tailored grey shirts with an avocado-green textured weave, reminiscent of a Hugo Boss linen-cotton blend. The old man extended a handshake to Leon, gestured collegially toward his shoulder, and indicated the aircraft with a nod.
Leon boarded, sitting across from Manabu and Mion. The old man joined as pilot. The door closed. A black cat sprinted out of another room and took over Leon's lap. Leon stroked its fur and said casually, "Moon—our pilot's cat. Cute, isn't she?"
Taiju and Mai stared daggers at Leon, while Mai was terrified and Manabu was a question mark. "Now talk. Who are you? Why'd you do this? What do you want? And who's Kami?" Taiju demanded.
Leon, overwhelmed by the barrage, just said, "Relax, buddy. We've got time. I'll explain—one by one."
The plane taxied and lifted off. They leaned back. Leon eyed their clothes and said, "I'd recommend getting clean first. There are clothes and a pantry in the next room."
They refused, demanding answers. Leon sighed and began. "First, the Santa case has nothing to do with you. It's personal—a task from the Lafiazian government and CPUS-Intelligence. You're a different matter. Mion, I'm sorry about Naomi, but I swear it was Daima who murdered her just to bait me."
"That's a lie!" Mion snapped. "You, Kenzo, and Daima planned it!"
Leon raised a finger; he wasn't done. After a pause, he continued. "In October, I came to Feropia to investigate and hit criminals who'd fled Lafiaza. I can't say more. Daima wasn't my partner; he was on my list, the most lunatic guy I've faced. Kenzo, a distant relative, helped me get close to him. It was risky. Daima was a sadistic psychopath who loved fear. With Kenzo's help, we allied with him to kill those criminals. At first, he didn't object—probably enjoyed it. But he soon realized I was up to something. That's when he acted."
On December 25, Leon was set to meet Daima, watching Manabu and Mion talk on a footpath without their knowledge. Then Daima called, redirecting him to DSH Children's Park. When Leon arrived, he saw two bodies—Naomi and her father. Shocked, he asked, "Why'd you do this?"
Daima smirked. "Couldn't handle my urges." He stared at Leon and added, "Someone saw me, but he escaped. Couldn't see his face."
Leon froze, sweating. Daima was lying, acting deliberately. Leon realized Daima was scheming. Daima whispered, "Do something fast, or we're getting arrested, right, Leon? People'll gather soon."
Leon couldn't respond, staring into Daima's amused eyes. Looking down, he saw Naomi still breathing, tears in her eyes, her hand reaching for help. He called an ambulance and Kenzo, but she didn't make it. They were in a mess. Who saw Daima?
Daima thrived on the tension. Leon continued, "Reading Daima became impossible. I set my task aside and focused on Manabu. Luckily, my first day at school, Kenzo got a call from Hojo, who'd seen Daima that night. Hojo told Kenzo everything. Kenzo ensured Hojo's silence, saying, 'If they know you saw him, he might kill you. Without proof, stay quiet, Mr. Hojo.'"
Leon's plan was cruel yet necessary. He framed Hojo, broke Mion, used Manabu, and orchestrated deaths to execute his scheme.
Mion's tears fell. She'd killed an innocent man, believing Hojo murdered Naomi. The person she trusted most had manipulated her all along.
Leon kept speaking. "Realizing Naomi and Futaba were your closest, I got close to you. But you were so paranoid, you wouldn't talk. So I took major steps—approached Manabu, celebrated your birthday, reminded you of Naomi daily, became your friend, gained your trust, and the biggest lie: Hojo's so-called intentions. I framed him, twisting his past until you believed he was guilty. It was imperative, Mion."
Mion's eyes widened, each word a dagger. Hojo had abandoned revenge, but he saw something he shouldn't have. He had to die.
Tears welled in Mion's eyes. She pressed her palm to her face. The person she'd trusted had used her as a pawn. She was never his friend—just a tool in his twisted plan.
"Manipulating you to kill Hojo was enough. Your murder became my leverage. Then I needed to take Manabu for my final task, so I used you to drag him along and kill Daima to close the Santa case."
Mion's breath hitched. Leon had watched her kill Hojo, taking pictures from behind. When she finished, he'd put his hand on her shoulder to console her. She erupted into anguished screams, tears streaming in torment. Leon used those images to deceive Manabu, dragging him into this nightmare. When Manabu killed Daima, Leon recorded it, solidifying his control.
Taiju and Manabu sat in stunned silence, falling into a void of unthoughtfulness. Leon waved casually, his voice light. "I know, I sound insane or evil, but my goal was simple. Mion, I'm sorry for hurting you. I had no choice."
He reclined and said, "A sacrifice was necessary. Forget Naomi and move on."
Mion's fingers curled into fists, rage filling her at the sight of Leon. Because of him, Naomi and her father were dead. He'd framed Hojo, an innocent man, to erase his sins. Worst, she'd killed Hojo, silencing the only witness who could've brought justice.
"A sacrifice?" she muttered, voice shaking. "What do you think human lives are?" Her face twisted. "You monster! You'd do anything for yourself."
Leon met her glare, unfazed, slightly annoyed. "A monster? Don't be ridiculous. None of this was my fault." Pointing at Taiju and Mai, he said, "I never planned to bring those two—just Manabu. Taiju overheard us, then dragged Mai into this. Was that me?" He scoffed. "I knew things could spiral. Daima wouldn't go down easy. Things could go from south to west. But don't act like I'm the only one to blame. Since they're here by their own will, I can't let them go. If necessary, I'll kill them too."
Manabu stayed silent, questions racing, knowing Leon wouldn't answer fully.
Leon had crafted a strategy, manipulating their emotions. He fed Mion a false tale of justice to push her to kill Hojo, used pictures of her crime to trap Manabu, leaving them only his choices. So precise, it blurred truth and lies. *When people are uncertain, they'd rather accept a false reality than live in uncertainty.*
Leon weaponized their fear of uncertainty, shaping their fates. He wasn't just playing them—he was writing their story.
Stroking the cat, Leon sighed, feigning exhaustion. "I've explained for hours. I'm tired. More questions?"
Manabu spoke, his voice carrying the weight of someone guilt-tripped, his conscience tormented. "No. We've got our answers. You kidnapped us for Kami. Nothing personal." His calm unnerved Leon, who'd expected anger. Leon wanted to justify himself, but he glanced at the two silent enforcers at the plane's edge, watching him. He wasn't as free as he seemed.
Mion's fists folded, her red-rimmed eyes filled with unexpressive rage. Taiju and Mai were silent. Manabu looked unclarified. Leon thought to rest, but Mion spoke. "Naomi's death was your fault. You made me kill an innocent man for vengeance, dragged my friends, made them sad. It's your doing."
Leon looked down. Things were worsening, as expected. Taiju seemed ignorant, Mai no threat, Manabu neutral, but Mion, a killer, was different. New enemies emerged. Daima's voice whispered in his mind:
'Head and tail, right and wrong, good and evil, win and loss, peace and war—they're two sides of the same coin.'
Mion, Taiju, Mai, and Manabu were no longer collateral—they were his problem. If Kami found out, things would worsen.
'Once the coin is tossed, it's a bet.'
Leon watched Manabu, amused yet uneasy. This wasn't over. But he couldn't abandon his goal, no matter the cost.
'Either you win or lose, live or die; it doesn't matter. You must never compromise.'