The same day as the previous chapter—ten minutes after the game of Which Hand—inside the police station's interrogation room.
"The officers are taking far too long, don't you think?" Komachi paced back and forth across the floor, her patience wearing thin. "I'm growing restless just waiting here."
"Don't worry about it, Komachi. I know for certain the officer will be back—so sure of it, in fact, that I'd bet you a billion yen they'll return within the next few minutes." Usui spoke confidently, a slight smirk playing at his lips as he sat perfectly still, waiting calmly.
"Why don't you step outside and see for yourself? I'll wager five million yen he's already here—along with the prisoner I'm to speak with any moment now."
Usui didn't hesitate. His voice cut sharp and clear through the quiet room, each word carrying the weight of a command. His eyes were fixed on the door, hard and unyielding, no trace of doubt in his steady gaze.
"Fine, alright then."
Komachi let out a long, heavy sigh, her shoulders slumping slightly as she turned toward the door. Her hand found the metal handle, twisting it with deliberate slowness before pulling the door just far enough to peer through the gap.
Master's always so full of himself… She pressed her forehead lightly against the door frame, her eyes tracking movement in the hallway beyond. And yet he's never once been wrong. The way he sees how things will play out—how precise his judgment is… A quiet flicker of awe crossed her face, her lips parting for just a moment before she straightened her posture, still watching the corridor.
"They're still not here! Looks like you've got it all wrong this time!"
Komachi called out from the doorway, her voice laced with playful mockery. A wide grin spread across her face as she leaned against the frame, her eyes gleaming with mischief as she looked back at him.
A sly fox like you—capable of making mistakes after all? She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, fighting down a small surge of surprise. Even as she teased him, a part of her was already wondering if she'd missed something in the hallway.
"You think I'm capable of error—that's why you couldn't even spot the most obvious sign of their arrival."
Usui's voice was flat and cool, but a sharp laugh cut through it moments later—arrogant, self-assured. His fingers snapped together with a crisp crack.
The door slammed open the instant the sound faded, thrown back hard enough to rattle in its frame. The officer stepped through first, his jaw set and shoulders rigid, while the prisoner stood just behind him, head bowed and hands clasped in front.
"We're here. I've held up my end of our agreement." The officer's words were clipped, his eyes fixed on Usui with a cold, unwavering stare. "Every detail of this stays between us—do I make myself clear? And know this: you have exactly ten minutes to speak with her."
He paused, his gaze hardening further as he waited for a response, not a single muscle in his face shifting.
"Yes—you have my word. Feel free to wait outside if you wish. Now, if you don't mind?" His hand rested against his chin, fingers tapping lightly as his gaze fixed on the officer—icy and sharp, carrying an unspoken command. "I have no intention of wasting another moment. This needs to be done quickly."
The officer let out a heavy sigh, his shoulders slumping just enough to betray his frustration before he straightened again, shaking his head in obvious disbelief.
"Alright, fine. I'll return the moment your time is up. Use every second wisely." His voice remained flat and steady as he spoke, then turned and walked toward the door, his movements deliberate and calm as he stepped out and pulled it closed behind him.
Komachi released a sharp breath of exasperation, her hand coming up to rub at her temple as she shook her head. "Looks like I was way off the mark after all," she murmured under her breath, her eyes already drifting toward the figure standing by the door. Then her brow furrowed, recognition flaring across her face. "Wait a minute—isn't this…?"
"Seems you're unlucky enough to be one of the fools who ended up in the authorities' hands." Usui's voice was cold, edged with a sharp mockery as he locked eyes directly with the prisoner. "Skyler—secretary to Don Romano."
"Don't you dare look down on me—or on us, Usui." The words were ice-cold, each one sharp enough to cut through the quiet room, though her voice barely rose above a low growl. "Son of that bastard Kashima."
Rage blazed raw and unfiltered in her eyes, burning like wildfire behind a mask of perfect composure. Not a muscle in her face twitched, not a single line betrayed the storm churning beneath—but the way her knuckles whitened as she clenched her hands at her sides told its own story.
Usui met her words with nothing but cold indifference, his expression giving away no hint of reaction—until a sudden burst of sharp laughter tore through the silence.
"Apologies for that." He cut off mid-chuckle, his demeanor shifting in an instant. Turning his full attention to her, his eyes had gone as cold and hard as shards of ice, fixing her with a stare that seemed to pierce straight through. "It's just that… your words carry no weight with me. That man is not my father."
His voice was flat and steady, laced with a blunt calm that only amplified the uncanny, intimidating aura that settled over him like a shroud.
Some bad memories from his early life resurface for a moment putting a deep scowl on his face and instantly switches back to his calm demeanor.
"Fuck you—what in the hell do you want from me, you bastard?!" Skyler's voice cracked with raw fury, her hands balling into fists at her sides. Her shoulders tensed, every line of her body coiled like a spring ready to lunge forward.
Usui merely let out a short, cold laugh, waving off the threat as if it were nothing more than a nuisance.
Before he could move, Komachi stepped in front of him, her stance wide and fists raised—already poised to fight.
"No. Go outside, Komachi." Usui placed a firm hand on her right shoulder, his voice carrying absolute authority.
"But what if she—"
He cut her off, his expression softening for just a moment into a confident, reassuring smile.
"You don't need to worry about her laying a finger on me. She won't do it. I can handle this on my own, and we'll leave the moment we're done." His tone was sharp with a hint of annoyance, yet under it all lay a rare note of sincerity. "Trust me on this—stop being so stubborn."
Komachi's shoulders drooped as she let out a long sigh of defeat.
"Whatever." Without another word, she turned and walked out, pulling the door closed behind her with a quiet click.
"Now that you've gotten rid of Komachi," Skyler said, finally calming down after the tense exchange. She turned her gaze directly to Usui. "Tell me—what do you want from me? And do you know if Don Romano is safe?"
"First of all, have a seat." Usui's voice carried quiet authority as he gestured to the chair across from him. "Second, I should be the one asking questions here. You can have your turn once I'm through." He stood still, his posture rigid and patient, waiting for her to comply.
Skyler's jaw tightened into a hard line. With a sharp scowl that carved lines into her forehead, she lowered herself into the chair anyway.
"Good." Usui stepped forward, his expression flat and cold as he fixed her with an unwavering stare. "I won't beat around the bush. I've come here personally to ask you about two things—the incident at the port, and the Harmony Duo."