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“You can drop the act, Kazue-san,” Tachibana said.

Kazue laughed. “What?”

“You wanted me to sneak off with Itsuki-san so you can look into the business card yourself, didn’t you?” Tachibana asked. “I was wondering why you were so quick to help me…it was to get that business card from Itsuki-san, wasn’t it? The man you sat with last night, you must have thought he was Tojo Clan, too, but he didn’t have anything significant on him. Somehow, Itsuki-san acquired it, so you had me distract him in your place.”

“Hm…so what if I did?” Kazue asked.

“Is there even a mole Nishitani-san is investigating, or is he on this too?” Tachibana asked. “You did call him at the casino, so I can’t imagine he isn’t.”

Kazue stared at Tachibana for what felt like ages. Then, she started to laugh, as if she just understood the joke he made. “Oh, Tachibana-han…I think you’re starting to reach a little bit!”

Tachibana stepped forward. “I want that business card back.”

“Oh yeah?” Kazue raised her brow. “What are you gonna do with it? Are you just gonna waltz in there? It’s a pretty fancy restaurant, y’know. They’re booked up for months. Getting a reservation now would require some strings being pulled.”

“I don’t care, hand it over—”

Tachibana gasped when Kazue suddenly grabbed his arm.

“Tachibana-han…I thought you and I were on the same page.” Kazue shook her head in disappointment. “Give me one reason I should still work with you.”

Tachibana scoffed. “Same page? I’ve been on a tight leash since I asked for your help.”

“Right…since you asked for my help,” Kazue repeated, as if to ensure that Tachibana understood what he just said.

The realization hit Tachibana like a bullet to glass, shattering the illusion he had that he had any sort of control over the situation. Kazue had mentioned seeing Xiao Qiao’s face on one of Nishitani’s documents, but she never mentioned when she had seen it. She may have only been Nishitani’s ‘girlfriend’, but her influence was apparent.

“You…how long have you planned this?”