"Heh-heh, Mr. Kaji, you've misunderstood. Tell me—do you still remember the Black Dragon Gang?"
"The Black Dragon Gang? Don't tell me you mean that gang funded by the Japanese military?" Upon hearing this, Ryōji Kaji frowned and said, "Why? Don't tell me Kitazawa-kun has obtained some extremely secret intelligence from the Black Dragon Gang?"
"Heh-heh, not quite that," Ryōta Kitazawa replied mildly. "It's just that I happen to know that the society's boss, Yamamoto Takeo, is currently in Moscow."
"What?" Kaji was genuinely startled this time. He knew exactly who Yamamoto Takehito was—the leader of the Black Dragon Gang, a man who had played a major role in assisting the military in its previous attempts to kill Kitazawa.
However, ever since Yamamoto had been more or less threatened by Kitazawa, he had quickly fled to Europe to escape trouble. After that, his whereabouts were unknown. So how could Kitazawa know that Yamamoto was now in Moscow?
Naturally, seeing the look of puzzlement on Kaji's face, Kitazawa only smiled without further explanation. Finding someone was easy enough; besides all the modern methods available, immigration records were one of the most reliable sources.
Before drawing up his plan, he had deliberately checked up on Yamamoto Takehito, confirming without a doubt that he was in Moscow.
After all, Yamamoto wasn't stupid. The man he'd crossed swords with was none other than NERV Headquarters' ace pilot, Ryōta Kitazawa. Among the five major European nations, Russia was the only one that, for political reasons, was on less than friendly terms with NERV Headquarters. That was one reason Yamamoto had chosen Moscow as his refuge.
In contrast, the other four—Britain, France, Germany, and Italy—each had deep, tangled ties with NERV Headquarters. If he were snatched away in the night by agents from one of those countries, it would be a loss far too great to risk.
As for why Kitazawa's first thought was Yamamoto Takehito—well, the answer was simple. Organized crime always has a web of connections. Since the Nevada explosion was tied to the EVAs, and Yamamoto happened to be in Japan at the time, there was a chance the incident was somehow linked to the Japanese military.
Of course, this was only speculation. Kitazawa and Kaji soon left the hotel together once more.
Meanwhile, in a certain villa in Moscow—
Yamamoto Takehito was lying stark naked on the bed, panting heavily, sweat pouring from his body. Beside him lay a white-haired Russian beauty, her delicate figure all the more striking in the dim light.
"Mr. Yamamoto, you really are incredible. I never expected—though your physique isn't quite like that of other Russian men—that you'd be so outstanding in bed." The Russian woman teased with a laugh, shifting her position so that the curves of her body were fully displayed before Yamamoto's eyes. The sight sent a fresh rush of heat through him, stirring every nerve in his body.
"Heh-heh, if I couldn't even conquer you, how could I have conquered the tens of thousands of members in the Black Dragon Gang?"
Yamamoto chuckled darkly, pinching the beauty's chin.
"Oh, Mr. Yamamoto, you're so bad—you mustn't tease me like that." The woman's coy smile and every graceful movement radiated a kind of allure that made it hard for Yamamoto to hold back.
If there was such a thing as a true enchantress, this was it—a woman who could be both a man's undoing and his ultimate temptation.
With a turn of his body, Yamamoto was ready to pounce again. A woman this dangerously alluring—how could he not enjoy her a few more times after all the effort he'd put in?
However, just as he was about to "get back to work," a voice suddenly rang out beside his ear.
"Mr. Yamamoto, you're certainly in high spirits—but tea time has already arrived."
The voice was crisp, not deep, and carried no overt menace—only a calm tone. But that was enough to send a jolt of fear through Yamamoto.
"Who? Who's there? Show yourself! Don't you know who I am?"
Yamamoto shuddered violently, shouting into the room. This villa had been purchased long ago as a place to hide; no one should have known about it. For someone to come here now, and to speak as if they knew him well—everything about this sent a wave of dread through his heart.
Whoever they were, they were no friend.
"Heh-heh, Mr. Yamamoto, you really are enjoying yourself. Have you forgotten even me?"
At that moment, Ryōta Kitazawa stepped into view. The sight made the beauty at Yamamoto's side scream in fright, while Yamamoto's face shifted from shock to ashen despair.
How could he not recognize the man before him? Who else but Ryōta Kitazawa?
In fact, not only Yamamoto—almost the entire world knew Kitazawa. NERV had once held him up as a model figure in their propaganda, which ironically had also made Kitazawa's current movements far more inconvenient.
"So… so it's you, Ryōta Kitazawa! How… how are you here?"
Yamamoto stammered, eyes wide with terror, his whole body trembling—not from the cold, but from fear.
"Heh-heh, the reason I'm here isn't important. What matters is that I have a question for you, and I hope you'll answer me truthfully." Kitazawa's tone was light.
"Of course! Please ask. If it's something I know, I'll tell you everything—no holding back."
Swallowing hard, Yamamoto patted his chest in earnest promise.
"I want to know—here in Moscow, has anyone been involved in the Nevada explosion? And the Carson City disappearance incident—how much do you know about that?"
"This…" Yamamoto froze at the question.
"What? Is it difficult for you?" Kitazawa's eyes narrowed slightly, his tone unreadable.
"N-no, not at all. I wouldn't dare…" Yamamoto laughed nervously, then hesitated before speaking again, a troubled look on his face. "It's just that… our Black Dragon Gang doesn't know much about those things. Our activities are mostly confined to Japan. As for events abroad, we really don't have much information."
"Oh? Is that so?" Kitazawa said mildly, standing up. The simple movement made Yamamoto flinch in fright.
"But… but I do know of someone whose business spans Europe, Asia, and North America. He might be able to help you."
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