CAST

Case 1: The Young Lady's Assassination

In an island.

A gleam of light flashed in the middle of the darkness as the long knife descended on the body of the young girl lying on top of the altar, unconscious.

The man's eyes went wide as he pushed away the woman restraining him. He reached out his hand as he ran towards the altar, expending all his energy to save her.

"Mio-channnnn!"

Everything went in a slow motion as the knife reached the young girl's chest. Bright red blood was spilled on the floor of the cave, the rustic and fishy odor mixed with the salty smell of the sea and the leafy odor from the trees of the dense forest outside the cave.

3 days ago.

“It’s not about the – “

“Money~ money~ money~” I sang along the song playing from my phone.

“We don’t need your – “

“Money~ money~ money~” I said as I moved my shoulders and glide across the floor, reaching my table. “We just wanna make the world dance~” I sang and sat on the table. I crossed my legs as I cross my arms on my chest, raising my right arm holding a wad of paper money, fanning myself. A grin plastered on my face, smug. “Forget about the price tag~”

Ding dong.

“Ain’t about uh – ah?” I said and stopped when I heard the doorbell rang. I turned to look at the door.

Ding dong.

I pressed the pause button of the music player app on my phone, then put the authentic paper bills inside the brown envelope on the right side of my table. I fixed my clothes and straightened the look on my face, then walked towards the door and opened it. I was greeted by the sight of two female students standing outside the door. “You are?” I said.

They turned, revealing the anxiety painted on their face. “Are you the owner of this company?” one of them asked.

I nodded, then opened the door wide for them to come in. “Please come inside.” I told them.

“Thanks.” The two of them went inside.

I didn’t bother looking at the black car parked across the street, nor the bodyguards standing around it sharply gazed at me. I closed the door and followed the two girls inside.

Large letters C, A, S and T were pasted on the wall of the two-story building in the middle of countless high-rise buildings of A City, making it look out of place – like an ant in the middle of the towering elephants. The small building was designed modernly, but looked plain compared to the neighboring buildings, making the two female students think if they went the wrong place.

The two female students are now inside and looked around the not too small but not too big space. Like they thought, this ‘company’ is a ruse. Instead of an elegant office, the inside of this dubious ‘company’ is just like an ordinary house of an ordinary salaryman.

The walls and the ceiling are pastel-colored. Not too bright that it hurts the eyes, but not that monotonous it’ll resemble the Purgatory Office. The furniture is simple. Just a couple of sofas and a coffee table at the center on the left side near the windows. There’s a flat screen T.V. showing the lunch time news in a low volume hanging on the wall at the corner. The curtains are giving shade from the bright sunlight passing through the floor-to-ceiling glass window. There’s a kitchen at the back, and a corridor leading to the bathroom on the side. A shelf full of books by the wall with a table and two chairs on both sides at the right side. A spiral staircase leading to the second floor are in the corner of the small library.

The atmosphere is cozy.

I saw the two students finally sat on the sofa after doing an inspection of my office. The moment their butt touched the soft sofa did their expression and stiff shoulders relaxed. “What can I do for you?” I asked as I went to the kitchen to brew the coffee. “Is coffee fine?” I asked as I pour the coffee beans.

“Yes.” One of them stiffly answered.

I nodded and continued my work.

“I made an appointment through e-mail.” I heard them said after a few minutes, as if organizing their thoughts.

I turned as I poured the coffee on three cups. “I saw.” I said as I took the tray containing the coffee and three cups as I walked to the living room. “Have a sip.” I told them as I put the cups in front of them, leaving one for me as I sat opposite them.

“Thanks.” They said as they took the cup. The other girl waited for the other one to sip her coffee before she took a sip on her cup.

This girl is plain-looking one. She has a short hair and full bangs. She may be plain-looking but her eyes have their smartness. She waited for the other one before she drank the coffee.

The other one is the one who made the appointment. She is taller than the other and wore a low-heeled black shoes. She has a long, curly black silky hair and side bangs clipped on the right side of her pretty face. Her skin is smooth and fair, a slight blush from the heat outside is tinted on her cheeks. Her eyes are round and bright, and looked like slightly misty. Her eyelashes are long, and her nose are rounded at the tip. Her lips are thin and pinkish. There’s no need for her to apply makeup. The only jewelries in her body are pearl earrings, necklace and a wristwatch. She looked like she’s trying to look as simple as possible.

You can clearly see the difference in their status.

“Suzuki Mio, the only child of Suzuki Masamune – the CEO of Suzuki Company and Chiaki Sagiri – the former Film Empress. In your eight grade in Seiken Academy. What can I do for you, princess?” I asked and gave her a kind smile.

Suzuki Mio took a deep breath before placing her cup on the table. Her face became serious and looked at me. “I am being assassinated.” She told me.

“The usual for every heirs.” I commented and took a sip of my coffee.

The other girl’s eyes narrowed as she glared at me, frowning. “How dare you – “ she told me, full of hostility.

“Aria.” Suzuki Mio called, no anger in her voice from what I said. There’s only a dead calmness. She looked at me. “It’s as you said.” She said. “I am the heir of our company. Even if I have a mature mind, but I am still young. ‘Nip the problem while it is still a bud.’, they say. If I die, no one will inherit the company, and the Suzukis will be no more.” She said, her eyes full of wisdom.

How tough did this girl live her life? I thought and drink my coffee, not commenting on what she said.

“I want to hire you as my bodyguard.” Suzuki Mio continued.

I looked at her as I put down my cup. “You’re not afraid I might kill you, too?” I asked. “You must already have heard, I work for money.” I said and smiled handsomely.

Aria’s hostility grew. She was about to speak when Suzuki Mio raised her hand to stop her. “I heard, but also heard.” She said and looked at me in the eye. “You work for money, but doesn’t kill for money.” She told me.

I stared at her before I took my cup and sipped my coffee. “Yes.” I said.

Suzuki Mio sighed in relief. She looked at me, her eyes full of sincerity. “My father’s friend told him about you.” She said. “Thus my father sent me here.” She explained.

It must be Rei. I thought. Just what is that man? I blew out air. “Yeah.” I answered. “So, what’s the job?” I asked as I lazily drink my coffee.

Finally, Suzuki Mio gave a real smile. “I want to hire you as my bodyguard.” She told me. “You will disguise as my cousin.”

Before I could speak, she added.

“A female cousin.”