Tokyo: I'm really not a killer

"What's your name?"

"Shota Iguchi".

"Who sent you?"

"I only know the matchmaker, not the employer."

Who was the matchmaker?

"I don't know his name. Money and information all go through a middleman. People in the underworld call him 'Earbag'... Nobody knows his true identity, but everyone believes there's nothing he can't find out."

How can I contact him?

"There's a number you can call him, but if it's not someone you know, he'll hang up."

"Who are you kidding? Would a matchmaker not have a pager number?"

"...Yes, but you didn't ask."

"Where's your pager? Take it out and send him a message saying the task is complete and you need to collect the final payment."

"What final payment?"

"You kill someone and don't collect the final payment?" Yuan Zhensheng was taken aback.

"Isn't it all about paying the full amount upfront?" Shota Iguchi retorted, his expression a little strange.

"...You all take money first and then do the work?" Yuan Zhensheng was starting to get angry.

"Yes." Shota Iguchi nodded.

Grass.

Hara Masaki hadn't expected the Japanese industry to be so different, and he couldn't help but question, "What kind of logic is it to pay first and then provide the service? Aren't they afraid you'll run off with the money?"

"Don't worry, I have a guarantor. If I run away with the money, the guarantor will compensate the client, and then hire hitmen to hunt me down."

Who is the guarantor?

"It's an ear bag." Shota Iguchi couldn't help but ask, "You're in this industry too, how come you don't know what an ear bag is?"

"I'm new to this industry," Yuan Zhensheng said honestly.

"No wonder." Shota Iguchi said knowingly, "Can you loosen your grip? It's really not a big deal. I can introduce you to Mimibukuro... as long as you can afford the price, Mimibukuro also sells the employer's identity information."

Genshin Shin searched Iguchi Shota's body and found a gun. He then released his grip on the knife and distanced himself to avoid attracting attention.

Shota Iguchi bent down to tend to his wound, seemingly without hostility. He spoke to Masaki Hara in the tone of a senior, explaining the unwritten rules of the industry:

For example, ranking lists aren't publicly available, but they circulate within certain circles.

Generally, it's not about who kills the most people; that's too low-level. It's about the difficulty of the mission, the degree of completion, the stealth, and the significance of the target.

Being on the list means a higher price tag, and it also means coming into the sights of certain powerful figures, becoming a tool, or a potential threat that needs to be eliminated.

For example, Shota Iguchi, who is ranked forty-sixth on the list, is codenamed Night Owl—assassins are all called by codenames, which are both nicknames and brand names.

Furthermore, the assassin community is divided into smaller cliques. Those employed by the government are special agents, those employed by the underworld are cleaners, and the unorganized lone wolves are collectively known as "lone wolves"...

Recently, "Numa-o" has become famous, breaking records in the industry by killing Kenkichi Kuwata and managing to retire successfully. He is now on the list—probably outside the top 100. Some people think that luck played a part; if it weren't for the Inagawa-kai's truck attack, Numa-o wouldn't have been able to infiltrate the agency.

In short, Shota Iguchi has heard quite a few rumors about Masaki Hara lately.

He messaged Earbag, admitting the mission failed and offering a 50% refund, adding that Swamp Man was sitting right next to him and he wanted to contact him.

Earbag replied with just one sentence: "Have him call this number."

Yuan Zhensheng wrote down the number, got up to leave, and before leaving, he couldn't help but ask, "How much did that guy pay you to kill me?"

"Twenty million," Shota Iguchi said truthfully.

"Tsk." Yuan Zhensheng was quite displeased.

"You didn't get the money, did you?" Shota Iguchi, though injured, showed a sympathetic expression. "Assassinating Kenkichi Kuwata was incredibly difficult. I heard there was even a fire at the scene... How much did that guy pay?"

"A deposit of 20 million, a final payment of 80 million, totaling 100 million." Yuan Zhensheng paused, unable to hold back any longer: "I only received the deposit."

"It's widely acknowledged within the industry that Kenkichi Kuwata's head count is 1.5 billion," said Shota Iguchi.

"Damn it." Yuan Zhensheng blushed.

Shota Iguchi's expression was a little subtle. He was in the same line of work and could empathize with the situation: "As a thank you for sparing my life, I'll give you some information for free... I heard that the employer originally planned to hire two people, but because of budget constraints, he only hired me."

"What a fucking stingy person."

Yuan Zhensheng didn't want to talk any longer and turned to leave.

Shota Iguchi shouted from behind, "Next time you take a job, remember to give your name, and collect payment before you do the work!"

Yuan Zhensheng ignored him, thinking, "Is the Japanese assassin circle really this harmonious? Shouldn't assassins usually just draw their guns and start shooting when they meet? Why is this guy acting like a senior and giving a beginner's tutorial?"

Never mind, none of that matters.

He found a roadside phone booth, dialed the number in Mikuroku, put on the hood, switched to "Stand's Throat," and said in the voice of Shota Iguchi, "I'm Numa, and I want to make a deal with you."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, then a voice said, "This joke isn't funny."

Yuan Zhensheng said, "I used the sound of an owl. He is still in the park treating his wounds."

Ear Bag said, "I don't believe you can imitate it so well. Try using a different voice."

Yuan Zhensheng switched his voice again, this time becoming Erdai's voice, and said to Erdai, "Now? Do you believe me?"

"...I believe you." Earbag asked, "Are you trying to find out the employer's identity?"

"How did you know? Did Night Owl page you again?" Yuan Zhensheng asked.

"I was the one who connected you with that Kuwata Kenkichi deal. Telephone Club has a partnership with me. You thought there were no middlemen, but actually I was the one who introduced your phone number to the client," Michibukuro said.

"...How much did you earn?" Yuan Zhensheng asked.

"Not much, five million, in full," Earbag said.

"Fine, fine, fine." Yuan Zhensheng sneered, thinking that the guy was going to renege on his debt, and directly asked, "How much do you want?"

"It's not convenient to talk over the phone, can we meet in person?" Erdai asked.

Yuan Zhensheng had long wanted to make contact with information brokers, as it would benefit his future orders, so he agreed: "Okay, but I'll decide the location."

"Okay, go ahead," Ear Bag replied cooperatively.

"Two hours later, Shiba Park in Minato Ward, directly below Tokyo Tower, the third bench." Hara Masao paused. "Don't bring weapons or anyone. I only want to talk business."

"No problem, I'll set off now." Ear Bag seemed very interested in him.

Yuan Zhensheng hung up the phone, took a taxi back to the port area, and waited at the convenience store near the bench.

An hour and a half later, a middle-aged man with a red nose arrived. He was wearing a brown trench coat, and his hair was messy, making him look like he hadn't woken up properly.

Yuan Zhensheng waited for half an hour, observed his surroundings, and made sure no one else was following him. He then got up, changed his position, and walked to the corner of the convenience store where he could not be seen from the window. He then paged Erdai and asked him to come into the convenience store.

This is to prevent the presence of snipers.

Four or five minutes later, Erdai walked in, looked around, and sat down on the stool behind Yuan Zhensheng as instructed.

"I'm a swamp man," Yuan Zhensheng said. "Just name your price."

"You can't afford it. According to industry practice, selling information about an employer costs at least double the commission." Earbag paused, then turned around and said, "But I can give it to you for free, as long as you agree to one condition."

"What?" Yuan Zhensheng asked.

Miura Tomo, nicknamed "Ear Bag," felt his heart pounding. He thought, perhaps this was an old friend he didn't want to acknowledge. Filled with hope and a sense of wishful thinking, he stated his request:

"Let me see your true face."