Chapter 1969: Chapter 1114: Succeeded (Part 2)
Before she arrived, Yang Xiao and the team had established a new code, so she could confirm the guy hiding in carriage No. 3 wasn’t one of their own.
Without hesitation, Takagi Reina immediately returned to carriage No. 1, signaling Kato Shinjiro about Yandeta Chiyoda’s hiding place through gestures.
After confirming the understanding, she returned to carriage No. 2, found Sakai Misaki, and first communicated the code, informing her of Kato Shinjiro’s location with precise details, before handing over the ticket and Half Ghost to her.
Since each person can only be selected once per night on the electric train, Takagi Reina wasn’t worried about Sakai Misaki turning on her and returning the ticket and Ghost; it was impossible.
After getting rid of Half Ghost, Takagi Reina was nearly completely safe that night, unless she actively provoked the ghost passengers.
She wasn’t that reckless yet.
Sakai Misaki didn’t need further instructions, she strictly followed the plan, immediately returning to carriage No. 1, delivering Half Ghost to her good brother, Kato Shinjiro.
Seeing Kato Shinjiro reveal his true form with hollow, white eyes, Sakai Misaki couldn’t help but feel anxious for him.
She didn’t care about Chu Xi and Takagi Reina, but Mr. Katou absolutely can’t have any accidents; he was her benefactor, a man worthy of reliance.
After obtaining the ticket and Half Ghost, Kato Shinjiro immediately took action, not having wasted any time earlier, he confirmed that no one was lurking in carriage No. 1; he was the only one.
Arriving at carriage No. 2, after a brief observation without finding any issues, he proceeded to carriage No. 3.
He didn’t rush to verify the identity of the suspicious candidate but focused his attention on a middle-aged woman sitting in the corner.
The woman had dark skin, a blank expression, very wide-set eyes, dressed plainly as if she came from the countryside, with mud on her shoes and pant legs, and sleeves uneven in length, the left being longer, and the right noticeably shorter.
Previously, Kato Shinjiro matched as a passenger observed this strange woman in carriage No. 3.
The woman seemed no different from the other passengers, but upon careful, prolonged observation, it was apparent her longer left sleeve conveniently covered most of her left hand, only revealing a bit of a white fingertip.
The woman’s fingertips were bandaged, evidently injured.
Even on the swaying train, such details might not have been noticed, but it was very coincidental that last time in carriage No. 3, Kato Shinjiro was seated on the woman’s left side.
The woman also seemed affected by Kato Shinjiro’s attention, as the left hand tucked in her sleeve slightly trembled.
Kato Shinjiro knew, from then on, the woman would completely retract her left hand into the sleeve, presenting an opportunity for him.
A bold plan flashed in Kato Shinjiro’s mind as he approached the middle-aged woman, keeping a distance, presenting his profile to the suspicious candidate.
From the suspicious candidate’s perspective, it was clear Kato Shinjiro suspected the middle-aged woman, moving closer for reconnaissance.
However, a few seconds later, as the woman’s fingertip retracted into the sleeve, Kato Shinjiro abruptly turned, as if receiving some sort of signal, focusing his gaze near the suspicious candidate.
Kato Shinjiro precisely gauged the situation; just when sight landed on the suspicious candidate, he swiftly diverted his gaze, leaving as if nothing was discovered, proceeding to carriage No. 4.
Honestly speaking, he didn’t find any fatal flaw with the suspicious individual; it was mostly just unprovable suspicions, but the other party concealed it well.
Entering carriage No. 4, upon seeing Ghost morph into Kato Shinjiro, Yang Xiao felt somewhat relieved yet chose to continue disguising, monitoring the situation.
After a brief search, Kato Shinjiro left, moving to carriage No. 5, where he unearthed Xiao Lin Zhengyan disguised as a young man.
Following an exchange of glances, he confirmed Xiao Lin Zhengyan’s identity, nodded towards him, and left.
As time ran short, with the electric train already decelerating, the search of carriage No. 6 was hastily concluded.
On the train, at least two identities were not yet confirmed: one being Chu Xi, the other presumably Watanabe Gou.
Both were hiding well, not yet exposed.
As the train gradually slowed, Kato Shinjiro initiated his plan; he didn’t directly return to carriage No. 3 to capture; instead, he retraced steps, standing by the door connecting carriage No. 4 and carriage No. 3, observing through the glass the movements inside carriage No. 3.
He knew standing there exerted more pressure on the opponent than directly entering.
And indeed, as expected, the booted man in the old military suit was internally frantic, though sustained by a strong psychological fortitude.
He was aware of his exposure; Kato Shinjiro was making final confirmations, ready to confront him.
Besides, he knew precisely why he was exposed; not discovered by Kato Shinjiro, he was betrayed!
Betrayed by the woman with uneven sleeves, the foolish-looking of her hanging like that!
Kato Shinjiro hadn’t directly looked at his position upon entering but proceeded straight towards that woman.
From his angle, the woman seemed to have made a subtle motion, though he couldn’t confirm it due to observing only with his peripheral vision.
Yet, the outcome validated his suspicion; after the woman’s slight movement, Kato Shinjiro immediately turned around and targeted him.
The man’s mind raced; capable of such a thing among opponents, there was likely only one: that bastard Chu Xi!
His luck was unfortunate, being assigned the same carriage as Chu Xi, sealing his fate.
Now it seemed Chu Xi indeed cooperated with Kato Shinjiro; Watanabe Gou began regretting boarding Yandeta Chiyoda’s treacherous ship.
But it was too late for words now; all Watanabe Gou could do was bite his lip, awaiting that slim chance.
By then, the train had decelerated drastically, with about half a minute left before halting.
At this moment, the connecting door between carriage No. 3 and carriage No. 4 opened, Kato Shinjiro strode in confidently, looking down at Watanabe Gou’s position, one step, two steps... Each step not rushed yet inflicted on Watanabe Gou an agony akin to dismemberment.
This was revenge, blatant revenge, intending to deliver the utmost torment; Kato Shinjiro resolved to take action at the final moment, just before the train stopped.
But now, ecstasy surged in Watanabe Gou’s heart; he knew his opportunity had arrived, the only chance for a turnaround.
At the instant Kato Shinjiro closed the distance, mere steps away, Watanabe Gou suddenly sprang into action, leaping unexpectedly, lunging at Kato Shinjiro, exerting the body’s energy to its utmost.
Although he tried hard, the same nearly rigid body hindered him, causing him to stumble after a mere step, falling forward.
At the last moment, he desperately reached out, hoping to snatch the ticket from Kato Shinjiro’s hand, as passengers disturbed by him would otherwise kill him.
Perhaps scared, or not expecting such boldness, Kato Shinjiro made no evasive motions, even slightly extending the ticket-holding hand, allowing Watanabe Gou to seize the ticket.
"Got it, got it!" Watanabe Gou, sprawled on the ground, stared at the ticket in his hand, thrilled to tears.
As the ticket left his grasp, the identities swapped instantly, with Half Ghost appearing behind Watanabe Gou, the train yet to stop completely.
Hope surged; Watanabe Gou couldn’t even stand, biting his lip, desperately clutching the ticket and crawling on the ground.
A second before the door opened, he stuffed the ticket into the middle-aged woman’s pants:
"Hahaha, I made it!! Die, you!"
