A gnawing unease gripped them — as though they had stumbled into the heart of a vast conspiracy.
The matter was far too grave for either of them to dismiss.
"Give me your phone," Kaji said sharply.
Ordinarily, a head of state would never carry a personal phone. But to their surprise, when the President heard Kaji Ryōji's words, he obediently handed one over. Kaji switched it on, then produced a tiny scanning device. He keyed in a particular number from the call log and began analyzing.
Moments later, Kaji exhaled and shook his head.
"The President was telling the truth. The account that number is registered to… is in Japan."
It was confirmation. The President's claim was genuine.
The leak of Unit-04's crucial technology likely had originated in Japan.
Kitazawa Ryōta and Kaji exchanged weary glances. Both wore the same look of bitter disappointment. They had thought reaching the Russian President would give them the final piece of the puzzle. Instead, the trail had looped back, inexorably, to Japan.
And with that realization came another — something far more alarming.
Asuka.
By now, the transfer of Unit-03 to Japan was imminent.
If the traitor was indeed in Japan, then unless he returned immediately, the danger to Asuka would be dire. Once she boarded Unit-03, someone could very well use it to kill her.
The thought made his blood run cold.
Ryōta's expression hardened. He darted a meaningful glance at Kaji and Mari, signaling it was time to leave.
They understood at once. Mari Makinami beamed with her usual mischief and said sweetly:
"Mr. President, I'm afraid we must trouble you once more. Would you be so kind as to escort us out of the Kremlin?"
"What? What are you planning?" The President's face darkened. But in the end, he held his tongue. He knew perfectly well that they wouldn't dare kill him — because the moment he died, they too would be annihilated.
Outside, the Kremlin was surrounded by layer upon layer of armed security. If the President so much as suffered a scratch, the order to fire would come, and Kitazawa's team would be reduced to nothing but corpses.
Any sensible man could see the logic.
Still, the feeling of a gun pressed to his skull was unbearable.
"Heh. Mr. President, as long as we walk out safely, I promise you'll be released unharmed," Mari said with a playful smile, the corner of her mouth quirking upward.
There was a glint of pride in her eyes — not everyone could boast of taking a head of state hostage.
The President, however, found no humor in it.
As they emerged into view, lines of soldiers and security agents immediately raised their weapons, eyes blazing with tension. When they saw who was in front, their fury spiked.
"Release the President immediately, or we'll open fire!" one commander shouted.
"Go ahead," Mari sneered, jamming the muzzle more firmly against the President's temple. "The moment you shoot, I guarantee his brains will decorate the pavement."
"Stand down!" the President barked, helpless. "Let them through. If you provoke them, they will pull the trigger."
The soldiers exchanged uneasy glances. At last, they parted to clear a path — though their weapons never wavered, fingers taut on their triggers, ready to unleash death at the first betrayal.
"Haha, much obliged, Mr. President. Now, if you'll walk with us," Mari mocked, giving him a sharp shove forward.
Step by step, they moved through the cordon, with security forces following at their heels, tense and watchful. Every man knew the stakes: if the President came to harm, the political fallout for Russia would be catastrophic.
But the three moved quickly. They reached a vehicle, piled in, and the car roared out of Moscow at breakneck speed.
Within minutes, Russian police, defense forces, and intelligence agencies scrambled into action, throwing up roadblocks, dispatching reinforcements, and sealing off every major exit from the capital.
Yet on the highway, Kaji twisted the wheel with sudden precision, outmaneuvering the pursuers with ease. He then veered in the opposite direction, leaving the chasers far behind.
"You'll gain nothing from abducting me," the President said coldly, forcing composure. "Even if you succeed, the world will never believe Russia was responsible for Carson City."
"Heh. Mr. President, you misunderstand," Ryōta replied with a calm smile. "We said from the beginning — we don't intend to harm you. Nor will we spirit you away to another country. All we ever wanted was to leave Moscow. Nothing more."
Looking at the President's grim face, Ryōta knew he didn't believe a word of it. But that didn't matter. There was no need to take him hostage; he would be of no use beyond this point.
The car sped deeper into Russian territory. Soon, no trace of pursuit remained. The President, however, grew increasingly unsettled.
They had reached the outskirts of Moscow. Ten kilometers further, and they would be beyond the city entirely.
"You swore not to harm me!" the President shouted suddenly, his voice tinged with panic. "You will keep that promise — or I'll take my own life!"
"Calm yourself, Mr. President," Kaji said lightly. "We've left Moscow now. And as promised… you're free."
He braked to a stop, flung the car door open. Mari wasted no time — with a swift kick, she sent the President sprawling out into the dirt. Then the car accelerated again, vanishing into the horizon in a cloud of dust.
Coughing, spitting earth, the President staggered back to his feet, his expression thunderous with humiliation.
But all around was nothing but wilderness. Not a soul in sight. No one to witness his fury, nor to bear its weight.
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