This dream cast a lingering shadow over Naga's heart.
He was certain he didn't know the man, and he only had a vague impression of the woman, but couldn't remember who she was at all.
He had no idea why his energy had been wasted in exchange for such a spying.
Judging from the realism of that dream, it's very likely an event that actually happened. So... it must be a murder and dismemberment case related to Naga.
Therefore, he specifically summoned Kaoru Oshima to inquire whether any of his artists had recently been involved in a dismemberment case.
The answer is, of course, no. If it had really happened, it would probably have been all over the news by now.
He had no choice but to stop thinking about it for the time being.
For Naga, the day started terribly. On the way to work with Yui, she told Naga that she didn't need to wait for her to go home together after get off work, because Hoshina was going to take her to see the venue for their engagement party. The two of them naturally ate out and went on a date.
Not only could he not show any jealousy, but he also had to maintain the image of his elder brother, showing concern and thoughtfulness by reminding them to be careful while they were away.
This really annoyed him.
This slump lasted until after lunch, when it finally came to a slight end.
The reason was Kotone Miura. The tall office lady had finally found a happy love life again. Seemingly still having lingering fears about Ami, she simply submitted her resignation letter and compressed the handover time to the shortest possible three days.
So Naga locked the office door and had a passionate, sweaty farewell with her on the sofa.
A man whose desires are satisfied will always feel a little better. After his mood improves, even his afternoon work seems to go much more smoothly.
Hoshino was in a hurry and arrived at the company building early, so Yui had no choice but to leave early.
Standing by the window watching the two ride away on their motorcycle, staring at Yui's arm wrapped around Hoshina's waist, Naga felt even the saliva in her mouth taste bitter.
Before leaving get off work, Miku called, sounding a little nervous, and said, "Wh...what should we do? My in-laws have suddenly come to visit. Should...should you come home early?"
For some reason, upon hearing this news, Naga didn't want to go home too soon. He glanced at the schedule on the table, hesitated for a moment, and replied, "I'm sorry, darling, I haven't finished dealing with the things that piled up during my trip, and I can't put it off any longer tonight. But I won't be eating out, so you guys wait for me at home, and I'll get back as soon as possible."
He wasn't avoiding meeting his parents; he simply wanted the couple to stay a little longer in his home, to learn about his current life, and to understand his impeccable wife, letting them know that he was absolutely no less capable than his younger brother. Absolutely.
After making a few simple decisions, he glanced at the clock and then at the sky outside the window; it was about time to set off.
I had just finished tidying up the documents on my desk when there was a rather urgent knocking at the door.
The person who entered was Kaoru Oshima. For once, her professional smile was gone, replaced by a very serious expression.
"What's wrong?" He frowned, his half-worn coat sleeve dangling comically.
"It's so good that you're still here," Kaoru Oshima reported crisply. "I hope that from today onwards you will pay close attention to the safety of yourself and everyone around you. I have just spoken with three security companies, and starting in an hour, they will be responsible for the 24-hour personal safety of your company, your residence, and your parents, respectively. I hope you can prepare yourself mentally in advance."
"Wait, what... what's going on?" Naga looked at Kaoru in surprise. "Are you saying someone wants to kill me or my family?"
Kaoru nodded calmly and handed him a document. "This afternoon I received news that the police found the body of Ms. Sudo, the entertainment editor of XX magazine, in an abandoned warehouse a few days ago. The body was chopped up and boiled. After on-site investigation and identification, the prime suspect is Ryosuke Hikita, a retired employee who went missing earlier."
"Ryosuke Hikita?" Naga was even more confused. "Ms. Sudo?" Then, he suddenly remembered the dream he had glimpsed yesterday, and cold sweat quickly covered his back.
As he expected, Kaoru answered him: "Ryosuke Hikita is Yoshimi Mizuhara's boyfriend. Ms. Sudo is the head of the entertainment section of the magazine that had the most influence in that incident. I think you should be aware of the current situation. You'd better keep yourself under protection until Ryosuke Hikita is arrested."
Naga nodded. "I understand."
"Well then, I'll take my leave. For your safety, please wait at the company for one hour. Once security personnel arrive, they will escort you home."
"And you?" Naga asked with some concern.
Kaoru Oshima's face returned to a professional smile. She bowed slightly and said calmly, "Please rest assured, I will not be one of their targets of hatred, and I will be extra careful."
Before closing the door, Kaoru seemed to remember something and said, "Oh, by the way, the police mentioned that Ms. Sudo's parents in her hometown received a package containing dangerous goods yesterday. Fortunately, it was discovered in time, preventing a tragedy. So, if there are any close relatives or friends who might need protection, please let me know immediately."
Naga shook his head, then his heart skipped a beat as he suddenly remembered that when Hoshina's motorcycle drove away, a silver-gray sedan seemed to have immediately followed.
He swallowed hard, took out his phone, and dialed his brother's number.
One call... two calls... three calls... no one answered.
His heart felt as if it were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand. He took three or four deep breaths to stop his hand from trembling as he held the phone. Then, he dialed Ai's number.
Each sound seemed to last for five or six minutes.
Soaked in cold sweat, Naga gripped her phone tightly, praying silently, "Answer the phone, answer the phone quickly, answer the phone!"
"Hello? Mr. Strange, what's up?"
Like golden sunlight shining through a cloud-covered sky, the moment the call connected, Nagato's legs went weak. He quickly sat down in a chair, barely managing to remain calm, and asked, "Where are you? Where's Hoshina? Why didn't you answer the phone?"
A strong wind and car horns came from the other end of the line. Ai answered loudly, "We're on the road, and Hoshino can't answer the phone right now. It's so windy here. I'll call you back later if there's nothing else!"
"No! I have something very important to say..." He had just said this when he heard Ai scream in panic from the other end of the phone.
"Ah...how...how...ahhhhhh..."
The loud crash was the last sound Naga heard before the static from the disconnected wires.