Though it seemed clear that Near had wanted this, Spiderkiller felt exquisitely embarrassed to dial the number. This was a patent game of "telephone" - and it was a case where he trusted Near's contact far more than he trusted Bigwiggins.
This is Yoshito Katsu. I'll pick up my order a little after 14:15.
Good afternoon. We look forward to seeing you! Your friend will be here too.
It was a completely unnatural, professional tone, used only for answering calls. Nothing suspicious, but nothing at all lively either. It seemed like a young man was working at the café, but his voice sounded unfamiliar.
At 14:00 PM, the café was still occupied, but most were picking up their orders in large bags and leaving. There were also groups of teenagers who had only grabbed a small amount but were still taking up space. Sugawara entered at 14:10 PM, through the back exit. He sat against the wall at the very back of the café, pale as paper. His face was covered by a mask, but he was so sweaty that the fabric was stuck to his forehead.
It wasn't as if he looked even slightly secretive, given not only the mask but also the very expensive suit. However, it didn't seem like the cashier was paying him any attention. There were cameras in the establishment, but none were flashing a red light.
A nervous young man in an aviator helmet entered the coffee shop with a phone extended in his hand. He spotted Sugawara in the corner.
Sorry, this is a little above my pay grade. I guess... I guess you get a free phone. And I hope you can help.
He hurried off, leaving the phone on the table.
The number on the line is private.
Sugawara's shoulders rose in alarm. It was impossible to judge his facial expression, but his mask had shifted, indicating his facial expressions were overactive. He wanted to say something, but even when he opened his mouth, no words came out. After waiting a couple of minutes since this semblance of conversation, Sugawara frantically moved his lips a few times, trying to rehearse at least a few words. But when he finally checked his phone, he still couldn't speak.
Spiderkiler spent the awkward silence picking out a choice diagnostic phrase. He settled on:
Thank you for calling Near Automotive. Are you parked in a safe location?
Yes.
Sugawara's voice trembled slightly, not only from nervousness but also from the fact that he was trying to lower his voice. What was happening now seemed the furthest thing from Kira's trap, but he still felt like he was in danger, though he didn't understand why. Sugawara glanced at the cameras, then at the cafe worker, but everything remained the same. He knew this man. He knew this place. Everything had to go well.
What do...What do you need?
The man's voice was already like an out-of-tune E string. Accurate read on the Bigwiggins situation, then, probably, but what he needed to hear right now was more confidence than Spiderkiller could claim to have. Fine. In contract work, you learn to project that.
I need to know the precise extent of your control over the airwaves. Global and localized. Are you reasonably free to act?
I can act through other people. Therefore, my life won't be in danger unless Kira directly attacks me. The position I occupy is too high-ranking to really mean anything in modern politics. In other words: I can help in any way I can, and I hope that suspicion will fall on me last.
Sugawara took a deep breath. He had to put the situation into perspective for a moment to assess it beyond his endless paranoia. But everything he said was true. Largely because the very idea of participating in conspiracies arose from the logic that "no one would suspect such important people."
I think... he's saying Near's already intervened for him. That he's safe, or at least...
No. Wait... we saw this coming. Only we were self-centered. As who isn't. But that's why you should always adjust for that...
Uh, just a moment, that's important to discuss. This celebration... it's a test of loyalty. Sort of a given.
So, "Kira's triumph"... how much audience participation do you think is going to be involved here?
Loyalty isn't tested by things like that. It’s more likely he wants to show others that everyone is loyal to him. But, um, if you want my opinion...
Sugawara flinched at the sharp sound, but it turned out a café worker was just closing a window.
...If you want my opinion, everyone who received an invitation is guaranteed to survive. But those left without one? They’ll be there to entertain the audience. Nobody likes spoilers. Kira doesn't like them either. You see what I mean?
I think we're basically driving at the same thing. But once you account for the photo wipe, and the masks...
Be somewhere unexpected on the thirteenth, is my advice.
If you've got to go through intermediaries, that's a problem, though, even if hijacking local transmission is a part of your portfolio, which is mainly what I was asking. Presents a substantial risk, whether you're talking about stoppering Big Sight or getting information to Near.
The problem is that the "third parties" in this matter aren't my allies. I'd be equally at risk if I took on the task while wearing a mask as if I started giving orders in my own name. But I'll do everything I can if you give me a concrete plan.
Sugawara wiped his face with his palm again.
Unfortunately, there's no guarantee I'll survive the thirteenth. I'm also afraid that Kira is using me for larger goals unrelated to the NHN. When we talk about this holiday, we perhaps forget that he can crush anyone anywhere in the world with a single finger. So if I were you, on the day of the holiday, I'd be more wary of my allies than my enemies. I'll do the same, but being my own enemy is a hundred times more unpleasant.
Perhaps on the day of Kira's return, he'll have to put someone else in his place. That would be a hundred times safer for the entire world. The fear around this issue still lingered; Sugawara felt almost nauseous right now. But when the paranoia became a conscious chain of events, it became a little easier.
Before I hear the details from you, I'd like to say that I need protection, but I'm not quite sure what kind. I have security, I have a place where I can hide if I need to. But Kira doesn't need to be nearby to kill me. You know that yourself.
At this point, whoever isn't wary of certain of my allies has swapped out their brains for giardiniera. There is some Kira capacity that's disabled, and Yagami can't activate it of its own accord, but his behavior - it's like that friend who always needs saving from himself. You know the kind, don't you - though normally, the worst they could sink to is dead in a trench somewhere.
In case it needs spelling out: Bigwiggins is young and idealistic and he's never had a friend like that before, meaning his brains are well and truly...
...No, never mind. On the thirteenth... I understand what you mean now.
He means tier three. Say this much for Bigwiggins' ideas of strategy: that won't be much of a problem.
Oh, with the minor exception of the woman he's taken on as a personal attendant. Dammit, Bigwiggins, why is it always the smart ones who get themselves to previously-unreckoned depths of stupidity?
Thank you, we'll take that advice into consideration.
I... I don't have a plan. I thought the specs might turn up something, but...
This isn't the emperor, but it's someone from the Japanese royal family, right? I'm fairly sure that's what he's saying. I'm not risking that on no plan.
If you think you may become a danger to others, I'd take a leaf out of Tanakabara's book and place myself somewhere where that would be inconvenient. Keep the emergency system on standby, but rest assured: we won't use it unless we have to.
If I could just reach Near...
I'll do it. But you seem to have forgotten what happened with Tanakaba? Consider that I'm already having nightmares about Kira peeking out from behind me.
Not that those nightmares ever stop. Sugawara sighed, resting his forehead on the table for a moment. Or rather, it took longer than five seconds, but he still held his phone close. Apparently, the word "protection" in this context implies saving everyone around from someone who's gone crazy. It's like shouting "Run!" when a man with a bomb on his stomach is discovered in the middle of a shopping mall. Only Sugawara wanted to save himself. He was the man with the bomb. And the bomb was Kira, damn it.
And don't forget that with powerful people, even words matter. Words or videos. The fact that Tanakabara didn't give the final interview is only because Kira thinks he's a terrorist, and terrorists usually keep quiet. And I'm certainly... not a terrorist to Kira. I'm a talking mouth that can perform publicly, and even better when I do so ostensibly of my own free will. I don't know what the deal is with this Yagami, but his songs are similar to mine, if you look at them from a certain angle. I...isn't there some way to guarantee my salvation?
I haven't forgotten Tanakabara, said Spiderkiller quietly. And Yagami's not a caged canary. He was there.
There may be a way. I don't know what it is. That makes it essential for me to reach Near, and it doesn't sound like you'll be able to help me do it. I'll text you my number. Keep the phone - Returner will be able to get me in touch with you if something better turns up.
Don't give up hope. And don't go to the party, if you were considering that. I play virtual D&D in my spare time, and let's just say there are plenty of evil exploits I might tailor up for that one if I were GM.
He hangs up, leaving you a number with a +61 prefix.
