Chapter 541 - LEAVING HIM SPEECHLESS

In an interrogation room within the CAB, Kristian looked at Akira across a metal table. The woman looked right back at him without fear or hesitation in her eyes. She did not look fazed by the situation. It was like she was prepared for everything he would throw at her. 

"You are affiliated with the ministry of defence, correct?" Kristian asked. 

He knew that Yamazaki Akira was listed as an affiliate of the government branch, but the truth behind her employment was unclear. If his people had not looked deep into the web of the government database using a few nefarious techniques, he might not have discovered the connection so early. 

However, he did not know the capacity in which she worked. He thought it was probably related to hacking, considering the minister brought her in to help in the intelligence division during this crisis. 

"Agent Larsen, is that really what you would like to discuss during our limited time together?" Akira asked with a smile playing on her lips. 

Kristian pursed his lips together at the reassurance in her voice that she would escape the room. "What do you think I should ask?" 

"That is your job. You should have been well-prepared when you brought me here for questioning." Akira shifted on the chair in discomfort. The metal seat was designed to maximise discomfort and prevent criminals from relaxing. 

Kristian noticed the problem and hesitated before messaging one of his officers to bring in a more comfortable chair. He did not like Akira's casual attitude, but he was also not going to torture her. He just wanted to learn a few things about Kaito. 

"How did you meet Kaito?" He asked after a long moment. 

Akira's lips stretched into a real smile when she recalled the shameless fox she met in that place in Mountain Ridge. Moonpoint… The antique store with a mysterious owner and unknown treasures splayed on shelves. 

He remembered how the pretentious guy approached her without a care. He knew that she would figure out that he was a suspicious character, but he still appeared before her. He probably wanted to perk her curiosity and ensure she remembered him. 

And it worked. 

It felt like countless aeons ago because so much had happened. The fall of the harmonious Yamazaki family, the kidnapping of Kaito by Martial Island, learning more about her adoptive mother's history and meeting Hu Lei and Zhong Feng…

"It was a meet-cute. We were in a store, he approached me and gifted me with a beautiful charm bracelet." Akira replied. 

"Did you think that he approached you on purpose at the time?" Agent Larsen said meaningfully, hoping to put suspicion in Akira's heart about Kaito. If he could make her realise that Kaito planned to use her from the beginning, she might expose his secrets. 

Akira looked at Kristian flatly. "I do not think he approached me by accident if that is what you are asking. It would be very bad if it was not on purpose. I would never be with someone who did not know what they wanted." 

Agent Larsen's lips twitched. It seemed that Akira was aware that Kaito had a contrived motive when he showed up before her. But she did not care. He did not know how else to deal with her. 

Fortunately, one of his officers knocked on the door and brought in a chair for Akira. It gave Kristian a moment to think about his next move. Once Akira became more comfortable, she sighed in satisfaction. 

"You are a pretty nice guy, Agent Larsen," Akira said. 

"Then, why don't you help me?" Kristian asked. 

"You are not asking the right questions. I am not enough of an idiot to offer incriminating information to you. I am aware that your goal is to lock up my fiancé. I cannot allow that to happen." Akira did not fear speaking her thoughts directly. 

"He is not a good person," Kristian said. 

"Are you a good person? You are an officer of the law, but can you say you are a genuinely good person?" Akira countered. 

Kristian was frustrated. "We are trying to stop an explosion that could blow up Tokyo and cause countless injuries and fatalities. Why don't you work with me to find the culprits and make the city safe?"

Akira laughed. "Agent Larsen, I was working to prevent the bomb. As for you, I am unclear about what you are doing. From my side, it looks like you are holding me, hostage, here and engaging me in useless chatter. I will make it clear right now. Questioning me will not bring us any closer to finding Bonnie and Clyde." 

Agent Larsen stared down at Akira, and Akira stared back. After a long moment, Kristian stood up and left the room. Akira smiled to herself as she was left alone. 

She sat more comfortably. It was a matter of time before she got the location of those people. It did not make a difference if she spent a little more time in the stark white interrogation room. She closed her eyes and rested. 

In another interrogation room, Kaito was tapping on the cold metal table before him at a slow rate with his index finger. The sound had a hypnotic effect, but it also caused endless irritation to Director Deguchi. 

"Could you stop that?" Director Deguchi asked. 

"No," Kaito responded directly. 

"You! I have already treated you in the best way possible. Can you give me clues as to where Bonnie and Clyde could be?" The old man asked. 

Kaito lifted his brow. "Why would I know about their location?" 

Deguchi's face was red like a tomato. "Because they are your people. Are you going to sit here and pretend not to know them? Let me tell you. If a bomb explodes in Tokyo today, I am going to make sure that you are held accountable." 

Kaito remained silent and kept tapping on the table. His dark eyes did not betray anything. Deguchi roared in frustration before leaving the room and slamming the door. He could not bear looking at Kaito for another moment. 

In the hallway outside the interrogation rooms, several officers were standing guard. It was an extra precaution in case the people they were holding turned against the interrogators. 

Director Deguchi looked at three foreign officers outside one of the rooms talking with interest. He saw them when he brought in Kaito, but he did not think much about it. It was unusual to see strangers, but it was not unheard of. 

One of the foreign people nodded at his two companions before walking towards him. 

"Director Deguchi, I have heard much about you," Kristian said politely. 

Actually, he was not familiar with the random man. But he had just learned that this person was holding Kaito in an interrogation room. Kristian only planned on taking in Kaito after talking to Akira and finding a probable cause. 

This Deguchi had spared him the effort of going to look for Kaito. 

"You have me at a disadvantage." Director Deguchi tried to appear dignified and composed. 

"I am a small agent from Interpol. I am here helping with the Bonnie and Clyde case." Kristian replied humbly. 

"We can use all the help we can get. I cannot believe that these animals are targeting our beloved city." Deguchi said with unconcealed fury. 

"Indeed. Perhaps, I could have a word with Kaito. We have had some dealings in the past. I believe that I can reach him." Kristian said.

He could use his authority to gain access, but he did not want to alienate the local officers. Interpol always prioritised working with the personnel at their sites of interest. It would not look good if he used forceful means. 

"His head is as hard as a rock. He is nothing good, I tell you." Deguchi vented. "You can take a crack at him. If you can find out anything, I will be eternally grateful." 

Director Deguchi was just being polite. He did not think that the young man would be able to change anything by talking to Kaito. However, it was not a bad thing to have someone to blame if they were not able to interrogate Kaito effectively. 

"Thank you." Kristian did not know about these petty thoughts. 

"Who do you have in there?" Deguchi looked at the other room. 

"No one important. We are just trying to follow all leads." Kristian said with a nod before entering the interrogation room. 

Kaito was looking at the door when Agent Larsen entered. His dark eyes showed amusement at seeing a familiar face. The last time he had seen the man was after they rescued Hu Lei from the ship. It was not unpleasant to see him again. 

"If it is not my old friend, Kristian," Kaito exclaimed. "You are a sight for sore eyes. How have you been?" 

Agent Larsen's lips twitched at the warm greeting. Like Akira, Kaito did not have the awareness of a suspect being held for interrogation. He even looked comfortable and unaffected. Kristian could not deny that the couple had a way of making him speechless.