Chapter 45 Helsinki, 60° 10′ 15″ N, 24° 56′ 15″ E Haartman Hospital

Cecilia froze in confusion. She was happy to see Akiko's excitement to see her father, but puzzled to see Andalas's shocking expression.

"Andalas!" Hitoshi Nakamura sounded soft but no less fiercely. His hand touched his waist. A Wakizhasi was there.

Andalas did the same. His hands were also in his pockets. A short mandau was also there.

"Hey! What's wrong with you two?" Akiko shouted in confusion. Did they know each other? It appeared that way. Probably they had not met under pleasant situation.

Hitoshi took a deep breath then approached his daughter. Akiko hugged her father tightly. It had been a while since she last saw him before she joined the Hantaa 01 crew a few months ago.

Hitoshi returned the hug of his only daughter then checked her injured shoulder. He took out a bottle of ancient Japanese traditional medicines. He gave two pills to Akiko along with a glass of water. All done in silence while occasionally glancing at Andalas warily.

Andalas was keeping his distance from Hitoshi. His icy face was unreadable. But his gesture showed that the man was also wary.

Akiko sat and looked at her father with a beaming face.

"How do you know I'm here?"

Hitoshi glanced back at Andalas.

"I will take you back to Japan. With your condition, we can leave tomorrow." Akiko suddenly stiffened.

"Chotto Iidesu Tou-san! I still have things to finish with Cecilia and Andalas."

Hitoshi Nakamura's face was hardened hearing Andalas' name. He knew that she had always been very stubborn. He wouldn't be able to force her to do something against her will.

"I don't mind you being with this gaijin. But with him….?" Hitoshi looked at Cecilia and nodded his head but avoided eye contact with Andalas. The atmosphere was tense again.

Akiko frowned. Considering their background, the introduction of her father and Andalas wasn't only unpleasant, but may had been violent.

"Tou-san, I am on a mission with Cecilia and Andalas. I don't care whether they are gaijin or not, because this mission won't be completed without them. We started this together and we will end this together."

Hitoshi looked into his daughter's eyes affectionately. Really stubborn!

"You may continue, Akiko. But next time you must be careful. The woman who threw the bomb was part of the One World Consortium network. A global terrorist group who wants the establishment of a new order."

Akiko, Cecilia, and even Andalas gasped in surprise. One World Consortium? What?

Hitoshi continued his explanation.

"They just declared themselves a few days ago. The consortium consists of various terrorist organizations around the world. Except for a few who don't want to join, like the Chechens, the IRA, and the Taliban."

Andalas recorded everything in his mind. This was new information. One World Consortium? He couldn't imagine how powerful this new organization was. Fortunately, the three other organizations mentioned earlier weren't part of the consortium.

"Do you know why they attacked us? Their actions were quite careless! They threw bombs in an airport!" Akiko frowned, feeling stupid and unwary.

Hitoshi Nakamura grabbed his daughter's hand.

"I don't know why. Maybe there's something they want from you. Guns, drugs, or something like that? Don't worry Akiko. I have men looking for Helda. No one is allowed to touch Hitoshi Nakamura's daughter!"

The Yakuza boss clenched his fists while glancing at Andalas. The voice of the threat sounded icy cold. Cecilia was shaken.

While Andalas' face had no expression. But he knew that those words were also directed to him.

"Very well, Akiko. I won't force you to return to Japan. But can I ask Isamu to escort you?"

Akiko shook her head. Isamu was his father's most formidable and trusted subordinate. Isamu always took care of her father wherever he was. Akiko was sure that Isamu was behind the bedroom door.

Hitoshi Nakamura knew exactly what his daughter's answer would be.

"Mister Nakamura, do you have any connection with the Organization?" Cecilia refrained her tone to avoid being accusatory.

Hitoshi widened his narrowed eyes. He didn't like this question but couldn't help but answer.

"Back then yes. Now no."

Cecilia and especially Andalas frowned. Could this Yakuza boss lie because his daughter was present? Cecilia didn't continue her question out of courtesy to Akiko, neither did Andalas. He would find the answer himself.

Akiko gestured for Andalas and Cecilia to leave the room.

The two of them got up and walked down the hall of the hospital to the reception area. Andalas didn't want to take his eyes off Akiko's room door.

In the hallway not far from the door, they saw two tall Japanese men standing. They were Hitoshi's bodyguards. Andalas recognized one of them as Isamu. But Isamu didn't recognize him.

"Tou-san, Is it true that you have nothing to do with the Organization?" Akiko glared at her father's eyes.

Hitoshi Nakamura took another deep breath. Dealing with his daughter was never simple.

"Yes, to thwart Doctor Aslan's mission. But certainly not to hurt you."

Hitoshi Nakamura's answer was making things more complicated.