As Rui descended into the tunnel, she immediately noticed the young boy below.
Akashi was engrossed in playing with various firearms, seemingly lost in his own world.
Glancing around, she confirmed there was no one else in the room. Her brows furrowed, and her voice rang out sharply:
"Why is it you? Where's Bacardi?"
The sudden voice startled Akashi, and his reflexes kicked in—he raised the pistol in his hand, aiming it toward the sound.
But as soon as he caught sight of the figure and the familiar cat-eye mask, recognition dawned on him.
It was none other than Rui.
Quickly lowering the weapon, Akashi spoke in his youthful, shota voice:
"Ah, Big sister Rui! Brother Bacardi isn't here—he hasn't been for some time. It's just me!"
---
Hearing this, Rui relaxed her stance. Seeing only a harmless young boy before her, she reached up and removed her cat-eye mask.
Beneath the mask, her elegant and dignified features were revealed.
Her face was graced with a touch of exotic charm, her brown eyes deep and mesmerizing, like whirlpools that could draw anyone in.
"And yet, you aimed a gun at me?" she teased, her voice tinged with amusement.
Akashi quickly stowed away the pocket pistol in his hand.
"Big sister Rui, why are you here?" he asked, his tone feigning innocence.
Rui descended the remaining steps gracefully and replied:
"I came to see if that scumbag Bacardi had returned. I had planned to lay an ambush for him."
"But instead of catching him, I ran into you—a little guy playing with guns," she added with a smirk.
---
Akashi's smile faltered slightly at her words.
So she had come to ambush him?
He silently thanked his quick thinking for not revealing his true identity; otherwise, the situation could have turned disastrous.
---
Rui, however, remained suspicious.
"And what about you?" she asked, her gaze sharpening. "How did you, of all people, manage to enter Bacardi's home? And how do you know about this weapons stash?"
Her brown eyes bore into him.
"A kid your age shouldn't even be near guns, let alone touching them. There's definitely something strange about you."
Akashi's heart raced. Did she suspect his true identity?
Her next question caught him off guard:
"Are you Bacardi's son?"
For a moment, Akashi froze, but then relief washed over him. Her assumption was completely off-track.
"No way!" he quickly retorted, shaking his head. "How could I be his son?"
"I met Brother Bacardi in the orphanage, that's all!"
---
Rui burst into laughter at his response.
"That's more like it. There's no way that scumbag could father such a handsome child!"
She crossed her arms confidently and added, "If you really were his illegitimate son, I'd shoot him myself the next time I see him~"
Hearing her bold declaration, Akashi felt a cold chill run through him.
Silently, he vowed to remember this moment.
'Just wait until I've regained my full power, ' he thought darkly. 'You'll see how quickly the tables turn. '
---
Before he could dwell on his thoughts further, Akashi suddenly felt a soft embrace.
Rui had wrapped her arms around him, holding him close.
Despite her aloof demeanor, even she couldn't resist the charm of the young shota.
The proud, confident female thief was no exception.
But her embrace didn't mean her doubts had been completely dispelled.
"Are you sure Bacardi isn't here?" she asked, her tone serious.
"I saw a Mazda drive into the villa earlier. Don't tell me you were the one driving it?"
Her sharp instincts were still on point.
Akashi's mind raced, quickly piecing together a plausible explanation.
Then, an idea struck him—a way to secure Akemi's safety while also deflecting suspicion.
He remembered the Cat's Eye Café, a place under the influence of the Kisugi family.
Run by the three sisters—masters of disguise and subterfuge—it was the perfect place for Akemi to lay low.
If she could learn their techniques, Akemi might even be able to live openly without fear of discovery.
---
Akashi looked up at Rui and spoke with an air of innocence:
"Big sister Rui, the person driving the car was Sister Akemi!"
"She's the woman Brother Bacardi rescued from that organization. The people from that organization are still after her."
"Big Brother said she should stay here for her safety."
Hearing this explanation, Rui frowned deeply.
This villa had been a shared haven for her and Bacardi in the past.
Everywhere in the villa—on the floor, the sofa, the bay window, the stairs, even the bathtub—held memories of their time together.
Now, another woman was about to call this place home.
The thought unsettled her. Rui felt a surge of unhappiness. Could it be that this woman named Akemi was also one of Bacardi's confidantes?
Rui voiced her thoughts decisively.
"Take me to see this woman!"
Akashi, who knew her temper well, chuckled inwardly but complied with a nod. Leading her to the villa, the two stepped inside.
The interior was nothing short of magnificent and elegant. They climbed the spiral staircase to the second floor, where Akemi, hearing footsteps, came out quickly.
"Ah, Shi, how do my pajamas look?" Akemi asked brightly before her gaze landed on the unfamiliar woman by his side. Her expression changed instantly, shifting to guarded wariness.
The two women locked eyes, an inexplicable tension hanging in the air.
Akashi, still in Rui' arms, took the opportunity to introduce them.
"Sister Akemi, this is Big Brother Bacardi's good friend, Sister Rui!"
Akemi's sharp mind quickly picked up on the situation. This woman likely didn't know Akashi's true identity yet. If so, their relationship might not be as close as hers with Akashi.
The realization put her at ease. For now, she had the upper hand.
"Brother Bacardi's weapons come from Big Sister Rui's support," Akashi added, aiming to bridge the gap.
Turning to Akemi, he continued, "And this is the Sister Akemi I told you about. She's being hunted by her organization and needs to stay hidden, so Big Brother arranged for her to live here temporarily."
Seeing Akemi, freshly showered and radiant, Rui felt a sudden and intense sense of crisis.
Letting her live here? That was like placing fresh meat before Bacardi. There was no way he wouldn't take a bite.
Would their cherished memories in this villa be replaced by this woman's presence?
No. That couldn't happen. She wouldn't let it happen.
Despite her inner turmoil, Rui maintained a calm and kind smile.
"Ms. Akemi," she began, "have you recently left that organization?"
"Bacardi's villa isn't entirely safe; too many people know about this location. It's risky for you to stay here."
She added pointedly, "As one of Bacardi's closest friends, I'd be happy to arrange a safer place for you if you'd trust me."
Her real intention, of course, was clear—she couldn't stand the idea of Akemi staying here.
But before Rui could say more, Akashi, sensing the tension, intervened.
"Big Brother mentioned before that the Cat's Eye Café is incredibly secure," he suggested. "And Big Sister Rui is an expert in disguise. If Big Sister Akemi learns this skill, she could completely change her appearance and wouldn't have to fear the organization's pursuit!"
Hearing this, Rui frowned slightly. The café was never part of her plan; she had plenty of properties where Akemi could be relocated. But with Akashi's suggestion, she had to adapt quickly.
Seeing the potential rival in front of her, Rui forced a smile. "Of course. You were saved by Bacardi, which makes you one of us. The café is an excellent idea—it's safe, and no one would dare act recklessly there. And if you'd like, I can teach you the art of disguise myself."
Akemi smiled politely, her voice calm yet unreadable. "Thank you for your kindness. I'll think about it."
She then pulled Akashi aside, whispering something in his ear, leaving Rui to wonder about her true intentions.