p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"At the front of the locked door, the two squatting men could dimly make out the sound of stifled crying and wheezing. Beside Scorpion the other man stood up, making a gruff sound. It had been 4 hours since they were tasked with guarding the hotel room. Every individual who had passed through the hallway was victim to fierce stares and suspicion, Kuai Liang had been stewing his rage quietly, memorizing the steps he had been given by law enforcement. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Scorpion was currently serving 2 masters, and although he would rather put a swift end to Imagawa's terror himself, Takato was still in a dubious legal position. There were no definitive claims of his illegal activity and immorality, except for a few quiet settlements he'd reached with some women over sexual assault. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Even now, as the two men were watching this group of girls before their transport, the motel security was complicit in Imagawa's section of this prostitution ring. Another girl started crying again, causing one of Imagawa's men to slam his foot repeatedly into the door. The cries faltered and the room became silent once again./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true""Those bitches are always fucking crying. It's unbelievable." Kuai Liang turned toward him with an expression of sincere disgust. The other man cringed slightly before regaining his composure. He spat on the moldy carpet floor, an action that made Kuai Liang slowly stand up. There was a fierce intention behind his eyes as he spoke. "You're truly depraved." The man laughed before lighting his cigarette. "You're here just as I am. What, you have a daughter or something? Talk about a worthless conscience." Kuai Liang squinted in genuine confusion. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true""I do not, but what does it matter?" His partner laughed again, but this time it held a sense of cruelty. "Don't feel sorry for them. Those little whores deserved it. A little sex won't kill them..." Scorpion vaguely remembered the faces of the girls when they had first been given their mission in the room. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Many of them were very young, with faces wet from crying and nails dirty from trying to escape. They had been in party attire, with sparkly mini skirts and sequin dresses that seemed to be over two days old on their bodies. Kuai Liang assumed they had probably been drugged and kidnapped from the club scene. A bitter taste began forming in his mouth as he tuned back into the other man's rambling. " - besides, women are all the same. It's in their nature." He grinned cheekily in Kuai Liang's direction. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Scorpion had had enough. "Your mother." His companion's face grew tony in an instant. "What the fuck did you say?" Despite the sickening situation, a small smile began forming on Kuai Liang's face. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true""Your daughter." /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true""You little bastar- !"/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"As the man advanced upon him, Kuai Liang slammed him right across his jaw./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"-/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"em style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;""You got it? And remember, we'll be watching you." Tomas was standing so straight that he towered over the two Imagawa men. They briskly walked off, as briskly as they could, considering they didn't want to draw attention to themselves in the large dining hall. Once they had left for their positions, Smoke felt a wave of calm wash over him. Amidst the blazing chandeliers and sea of white tables, Tomas began to focus. He had been placed at the back of the hall, near the double doors where servers made their way in and out of the kitchen towards the buffet stands. He was tasked with luring out Dr. Hirayama, a professor turned minor politician who had recently "crossed" Imagawa. After this dinner party, he was supposed to meet with some investigators and police to seal his plea deal. Instead, Smoke would need to convince him they intended to quickly meet with him now, without security. Once outside, Tomas would hand him over to thugs that would take his life. He had no intention of following their orders - at least, not in a way that was beneficial to them. /em/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"It had been an hour since then, and the white-haired European still hadn't made a move. They steeled themselves to turn on him at any moment. However, just as the clock churned toward 9 PM, Tomas began to make his move. Scanning the room diligently, Smoke searched for a pen. Naturally, the elites in the room would not be carrying stationary, but luckily the hall was teeming with service staff. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Although Tomas had initially taken three confident steps forward, he now appeared to falter. In their positions the men shifted towards him, preparing to corner him if he attempted to flee. /spanem style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"Damn, they won't let up. /emspan style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"The moment he was waiting for came. As the main speaker left the stage and the space became lively again, the moment Tomas was waiting for finally came. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Dr. Hirayama's bodyguard briefly leaned in to tell the professor something before heading to the bathroom. Simultaneously, one of the waiters whom Tomas had been watching finally finished his rounds of clearing dirty dishes. Two silver and black ballpoint pens glistened in his tight vest pocket. Tomas leisurely increased his pace again, intercepting the server as he neared the kitchen entrance. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true""Sorry, do you mind if I borrow your pen?"/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true""Listen, I'm in a bit of a hurry - "/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true""Don't worry I've got it."/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Tomas maneuvered his hands above the multitude of plates that distanced him from the server's torso. After successfully retrieving the pen and concealing it in his sleeve, Tomas fixed the server's tie and flashed him a brilliant smile. "Thanks." The waiter gave him a quizzical look before briskly moving away from him and through the double doors. One of Imagawa's disguised thugs began closing in on him from across the hall. His walk was brisk and fast, and Tomas understood why. By intercepting and speaking with anyone at that moment, he had aroused suspicion. Step one was complete, but now he had to act fast. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Tomas confidently changed directions, this time heading towards the approaching surveillant. Bewildered, the man slowed his pace. At that very moment, another server headed to Tomas' position. /spanem style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"Order 55, Table 4. Thank God. It took them long enough! /emspan style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" Their order had been placed 20 -30 minutes ago, and their food choices were quite varied, with different soups and noodles. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"While surveying the hall, Tomas had already memorized the table numbers and positions from their glaring symbols embedded on the tables' flowery centerpieces. Table 4 was situated close to the center of the hall whilst bordering the East exit doors and spiral stairs. The left entrance was the position of one of Imagawa's men - the one who had initially begun approaching Smoke. The waiter held his two trays of orders and food with great dexterity. Tonjiro sup, miso soup, niku udon, yakisoba, etc. would be a nightmare if not handled correctly/spanem style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"./emspan style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"As the waiter began to pass him, Tomas lurched forward, before slightly extending his leg and then lurching the heel of his heeled shoes into the waiter's retreating ankle. The sharp pain from Tomas' agile and merciless thrust brought the young waiter falling forward with a /spanstrong style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"em style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"CRAASH /em/strongspan style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"his hands extended helplessly. Numerous cups, utensils, napkins, and of course various soup bowls and their contents went crashing all over the floor and Table 7 in various directions. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Screams from women in cocktail dresses and the grunts and angry shouting from their male guests filled the now deafened hall. Two more servers rushed over, and immediately Tomas turned around with a gasp, feigning shock as he fell to his knees and helped the man scramble to pick up and clean the chaos. Tomas couldn't help but feel a burst of glee as he stuffed two napkins in his breast pocket./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"em style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"Perfect!/em/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Scorpion was currently serving 2 masters, and although he would rather put a swift end to Imagawa's terror himself, Takato was still in a dubious legal position. There were no definitive claims of his illegal activity and immorality, except for a few quiet settlements he'd reached with some women over sexual assault. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Even now, as the two men were watching this group of girls before their transport, the motel security was complicit in Imagawa's section of this prostitution ring. Another girl started crying again, causing one of Imagawa's men to slam his foot repeatedly into the door. The cries faltered and the room became silent once again./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true""Those bitches are always fucking crying. It's unbelievable." Kuai Liang turned toward him with an expression of sincere disgust. The other man cringed slightly before regaining his composure. He spat on the moldy carpet floor, an action that made Kuai Liang slowly stand up. There was a fierce intention behind his eyes as he spoke. "You're truly depraved." The man laughed before lighting his cigarette. "You're here just as I am. What, you have a daughter or something? Talk about a worthless conscience." Kuai Liang squinted in genuine confusion. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true""I do not, but what does it matter?" His partner laughed again, but this time it held a sense of cruelty. "Don't feel sorry for them. Those little whores deserved it. A little sex won't kill them..." Scorpion vaguely remembered the faces of the girls when they had first been given their mission in the room. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Many of them were very young, with faces wet from crying and nails dirty from trying to escape. They had been in party attire, with sparkly mini skirts and sequin dresses that seemed to be over two days old on their bodies. Kuai Liang assumed they had probably been drugged and kidnapped from the club scene. A bitter taste began forming in his mouth as he tuned back into the other man's rambling. " - besides, women are all the same. It's in their nature." He grinned cheekily in Kuai Liang's direction. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Scorpion had had enough. "Your mother." His companion's face grew tony in an instant. "What the fuck did you say?" Despite the sickening situation, a small smile began forming on Kuai Liang's face. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true""Your daughter." /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true""You little bastar- !"/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"As the man advanced upon him, Kuai Liang slammed him right across his jaw./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"-/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"em style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;""You got it? And remember, we'll be watching you." Tomas was standing so straight that he towered over the two Imagawa men. They briskly walked off, as briskly as they could, considering they didn't want to draw attention to themselves in the large dining hall. Once they had left for their positions, Smoke felt a wave of calm wash over him. Amidst the blazing chandeliers and sea of white tables, Tomas began to focus. He had been placed at the back of the hall, near the double doors where servers made their way in and out of the kitchen towards the buffet stands. He was tasked with luring out Dr. Hirayama, a professor turned minor politician who had recently "crossed" Imagawa. After this dinner party, he was supposed to meet with some investigators and police to seal his plea deal. Instead, Smoke would need to convince him they intended to quickly meet with him now, without security. Once outside, Tomas would hand him over to thugs that would take his life. He had no intention of following their orders - at least, not in a way that was beneficial to them. /em/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"It had been an hour since then, and the white-haired European still hadn't made a move. They steeled themselves to turn on him at any moment. However, just as the clock churned toward 9 PM, Tomas began to make his move. Scanning the room diligently, Smoke searched for a pen. Naturally, the elites in the room would not be carrying stationary, but luckily the hall was teeming with service staff. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Although Tomas had initially taken three confident steps forward, he now appeared to falter. In their positions the men shifted towards him, preparing to corner him if he attempted to flee. /spanem style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"Damn, they won't let up. /emspan style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"The moment he was waiting for came. As the main speaker left the stage and the space became lively again, the moment Tomas was waiting for finally came. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Dr. Hirayama's bodyguard briefly leaned in to tell the professor something before heading to the bathroom. Simultaneously, one of the waiters whom Tomas had been watching finally finished his rounds of clearing dirty dishes. Two silver and black ballpoint pens glistened in his tight vest pocket. Tomas leisurely increased his pace again, intercepting the server as he neared the kitchen entrance. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true""Sorry, do you mind if I borrow your pen?"/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true""Listen, I'm in a bit of a hurry - "/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true""Don't worry I've got it."/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Tomas maneuvered his hands above the multitude of plates that distanced him from the server's torso. After successfully retrieving the pen and concealing it in his sleeve, Tomas fixed the server's tie and flashed him a brilliant smile. "Thanks." The waiter gave him a quizzical look before briskly moving away from him and through the double doors. One of Imagawa's disguised thugs began closing in on him from across the hall. His walk was brisk and fast, and Tomas understood why. By intercepting and speaking with anyone at that moment, he had aroused suspicion. Step one was complete, but now he had to act fast. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
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p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Tomas confidently changed directions, this time heading towards the approaching surveillant. Bewildered, the man slowed his pace. At that very moment, another server headed to Tomas' position. /spanem style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"Order 55, Table 4. Thank God. It took them long enough! /emspan style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" Their order had been placed 20 -30 minutes ago, and their food choices were quite varied, with different soups and noodles. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
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p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"While surveying the hall, Tomas had already memorized the table numbers and positions from their glaring symbols embedded on the tables' flowery centerpieces. Table 4 was situated close to the center of the hall whilst bordering the East exit doors and spiral stairs. The left entrance was the position of one of Imagawa's men - the one who had initially begun approaching Smoke. The waiter held his two trays of orders and food with great dexterity. Tonjiro sup, miso soup, niku udon, yakisoba, etc. would be a nightmare if not handled correctly/spanem style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"./emspan style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" /span/p
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p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"As the waiter began to pass him, Tomas lurched forward, before slightly extending his leg and then lurching the heel of his heeled shoes into the waiter's retreating ankle. The sharp pain from Tomas' agile and merciless thrust brought the young waiter falling forward with a /spanstrong style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"em style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"CRAASH /em/strongspan style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"his hands extended helplessly. Numerous cups, utensils, napkins, and of course various soup bowls and their contents went crashing all over the floor and Table 7 in various directions. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
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p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Screams from women in cocktail dresses and the grunts and angry shouting from their male guests filled the now deafened hall. Two more servers rushed over, and immediately Tomas turned around with a gasp, feigning shock as he fell to his knees and helped the man scramble to pick up and clean the chaos. Tomas couldn't help but feel a burst of glee as he stuffed two napkins in his breast pocket./span/p
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p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"em style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"Perfect!/em/p