October 1st - Monday, Around 9 A.M
The streets of the city are bustling with activity. Pedestrians walk past storefronts and cafes. Cars move along the roads, their engines purring in the background. But amidst the hustle and bustle, a sense of unease lingers in the air. It is as if something sinister is brewing, a storm that looms on the horizon. Unknown to the oblivious city-dwellers, a silent war is already brewing. The members of Naoya's crew are scattered throughout the city, each one working on their assigned tasks. Jun walks down a quiet street, his eyes vigilant as he observes the passing vehicles and pedestrians. Jun eventually meets up with Naoya around the corner. "How's it going?" Jun asks, his voice hushed. "Pretty good so far, nobody seems to be following or looking out for us. Do I look good fat?" Naoya shows that his appearance has been shifted into a male fat adult. Jun squints, studying Naoya's new appearance. "Hmm... you look convincing enough. Like some rich businessman out for lunch." "Can't forget the glasses with golden frames." Naoya says with a smile. "And the cigar." Jun quirks an eyebrow, a hint of dry humor in his voice. "Gotta maintain that businessman image." "You nailed the errand boy look once again huh? You don't look like the Jun they are searching for." "Stealth isn't a problem when you know how to blend in," Jun replies with a wry grin. "They'll be looking for a young man in a suit. Definitely not a delivery boy.""Everyone is set in position right?" Naoya asks just to be sure. "Yeah, everyone is on their positions. Just waiting for your signal, boss." Naoya looks at the watch on his wrist and sees the time showing 9:05 o'clock. He looks at Jun one last time before getting into role.
"Let's begin." he says and the operation commences. The both of them begin to casually make their way to the target location, mingling with the crowd. As they approach the building, Naoya takes a moment to scope out the surroundings. "Looks like there's a lot of security. We need to be careful. Jun answers right after, "We just gotta act like we are different people. Simple enough for me." Naoya chuckles softly, a hint of amusement in his tone. "That's the spirit. Just be cool and collected. We got this." The two of them continue their approach, their eyes keenly observing their surroundings. The entrance to the building is guarded by multiple securities, but they seem to be focused on checking IDs and monitoring the incoming personnel. "Alright, here goes nothing," Naoya whispers to Jun before approaching one of the security guards. The guard glances at the both of them, his eyes briefly scanning their appearances. "Good morning, sir." Naoya says with a nod. "Good morning," the security guard replies, eyeing the both of them curiously. "May I see your IDs, please?" Naoya and Jun hands their I.D's to the security guard. The security guard scrutinizes the IDs meticulously, taking a few moments to compare the images with their faces. Finally, he returns the IDs to them and gives a curt nod. "You're cleared to go in. Enjoy your day." "You too, thank you." Naoya says and they enter the building.The moment they step into the building, the opulence and luxury of the surroundings hit them like a wave. The sleek architecture, the tasteful decorations, the subtle yet expensive fittings...it all exudes an aura of wealth and success. "It really is hard when you are walking around with a fatass." Naoya says with a slightly sweaty face. Jun cracks a wry smile, his eyes scanning the surroundings. "Well, who knew impersonating a businessman required having a built-in sauna feature?" The both of them continue to explore the building, weaving through the maze of corridors and offices. Everywhere they look, they witness scenes of opulence and extravagance. "We're probably worth less than the decorations in this room," Naoya remarks, amused by the sheer display of wealth. As they navigate the labyrinthine corridors, they pass by numerous staff members and employees. Most of them carry a sense of urgency and busyness about them, focused on their own tasks. One of them in particular catches Jun's attention - a young, nervous-looking man who seems to be avoiding eye contact with everyone. Jun's instincts kick in, his gaze locking on the nervous man. There's something about him that seems out of place, something that sets off an alarm bell in Jun's mind. He leans towards Naoya, speaking softly. "Hey, you see that guy over there? The one who's acting all jumpy?" Jun murmurs, nodding slightly towards the nervous man. "He doesn't look like he fits in here." Naoya observes the man discreetly. "Good eye. I see what you mean." His trained eye quickly scans the man's features, his body language, even the way he's dressed. "Definitely doesn't look like he belongs here. Not to mention, the others are giving him a wide berth." Nodding in agreement, Jun moves to intercept the nervous man. He approaches with a casual gait, his demeanor relaxed yet friendly.
"Hey there, haven't seen you around here. You're new, right?" The nervous man startles slightly, clearly taken aback by Jun's sudden approach. "H-Huh? Oh, I'm just here for a job interview..." He stammers, his furtive gaze darting around. Jun asks, "Oh? Which floor?" "Third floor..." The man replies nervously, his eyes constantly darting around as if in fear of being overheard. "Isn't third floor for special business? Which job are you getting interviewed for if you don't mind me asking?" The nervous man pauses for a moment, as if deciding whether to answer or not. "It's...a research position." He mutters, avoiding eye contact. Jun asks, "For?" The man hesitates again, seeming reluctant to disclose further information. "It's um... a confidential project. Can't really talk about it..." Jun picks up on the man's guarded responses, his suspicions growing. The man is clearly hiding something. "Listen here mister. You are overly nervous for no reason at all. Mind if I learn why?" The man's eyes widen slightly at Jun's forthright question, his nervous demeanor shifting visibly. There's a flicker of uncertainty mixed with relief in his gaze, as if he's finally found someone who's willing to listen. "It's...this place," he stammers, glancing around furtively. "Feels like they're watching us the whole time. Everything we do, every word we say..." Jun responds, "Isn't that the entire point this place? It's a building for hitmen."
YOU ARE READING
Outbound
ActionOutbound is a novel series written by Ryu Hidetaka. The story revolves around Naoya Koji, a famed gangster who was killed from a gunshot to the liver. Or so they thought. He survived the gunshot. However, instead of taking revenge, he decided to lay...