Chapter 277 A Leap

A security guard named Ota Shoichi had been working at the luxury apartment complex with the 'A' prefix for over two years.

Where there was an 'A'," there were naturally buildings labeled B, C, D, and so on. The surrounding skyscrapers were all part of a government-backed project completed years ago by the Taisei Construction Group.

Shoichi still remembered memorizing these details during his interview, though they had little relevance to his current duties.

"Good afternoon, Kishimoto-san. Heading out for business?" Shoichi greeted the man stepping out of the elevator with a friendly smile.

"Good afternoon." The other party replied with a nod, "I've got some matters to attend to at the manga company."

Without further comment, Kishimoto walked toward the main entrance, where a car waited for him.

Shoichi watched with a trace of envy as Kishimoto got into the car and merged into the city's bustling traffic. Just as he sometimes envied most of the elite residents of this apartment, Shoichi knew Kishimoto was the creator of a very famous manga that even his nephew loved.

A few minutes earlier, several assistants had come downstairs, which is helpers for Kishimoto's manga work. It was something Shoichi found fascinating, 'Even drawing manga required a team. Fame truly brought about a different lifestyle.'

A little further away, the skyline was dotted with countless skyscrapers and billboards, showcasing Tokyo's legendary busyness. At times, Shoichi thought that people like Kishimoto were truly immersed in the grandeur of living in the capital's sprawling metropolis.

As Shoichi gazed out at the sky beyond the doors, reflecting on life choices, particularly the day Haruko had distracted him in the study hall… his thoughts were interrupted by a young man stepping into the lobby.

"Good afternoon." The young man said courteously.

Shoichi quickly glanced at the newcomer, who appeared to be a high school student with a clean, youthful face. The boy gave a polite bow but continued walking toward the elevator without pause.

Shoichi followed the young man with his eyes, and while the exchange was unremarkable, for Shoichi, something about it felt off.

"Excuse me! Wait a moment..." Shoichi called out, stopping the young man. Instinctively polite, Shoichi asked tentatively, "Um, are you a resident here? You seem unfamiliar."

Though Shoichi might not know every single resident perfectly, he had a rough impression of the regulars after two years of working here.

At that moment, Hattori had already pressed the elevator button and stood at the door as it opened with a soft chime. He walked in without any panic, and then turned back to look at the other person, "Oh, I'm delivering food."

"What?" Shoichi blinked in confusion. Something still didn't feel right. But before he could react, the elevator doors closed with a quiet ping.

"..."

Shoichi stood there, his face darkening slightly. The young man's smooth and confident actions had left him a step behind.

Still mulling over the young man's excuse, Shoichi reached for the intercom on his desk but paused for a few seconds before letting out a resigned sigh and putting it back down.

'Forget it. He's probably just a kid trying to sneak into the gym on the second floor. The elevator's security is keyed, and without a resident card or permission from a unit owner, no one can access floors above the third.'

Reassured by this, Shoichi sat back down and gazed outside once again. He recalled how, when he had first started working here, he had been ambitious enough to visit the gym regularly, come rain or shine.

As for what happened later… well, it was better to think about Haruko in the study hall instead.

…

Inside the elevator, Hattori watched the doors close. While his demeanor had been bold and unassuming, he wasn't too worried about Shoichi chasing after him. He had thoroughly studied the building's details over the past two days… his reconnaissance hadn't been for nothing. And the odds of the guard taking any serious action were low.

"Still, I guess I was a bit rude back there..." Hattori reflected, pressing a button while waiting, "But as a shadow clone, what choice did I have? Better than knocking the guy out, I suppose."

When it came to infiltrating the Manga Author's apartment, Hattori had meticulously planned his approach during his stakeouts. Entering through the window would be the best route, but scaling 17 floors of glass and walls wasn't feasible… especially with a dense crowd below.

But infiltrating a place without advanced security hardly required intricate methods, so Hattori opted for the simplest approach.

The elevator steadily ascended, bypassing every floor as it made its way to the top.

The brightly lit, spacious elevator had a security system requiring keycard access to floors above the third. However, aside from the second floor, there was one exception: the rooftop.

[Authorized personnel only.]

When the doors opened, a rusted sign greeted him. Ignoring it, Hattori stepped out and climbed one more flight of stairs to an unmonitored area.

At the next corner, the stairway ended, but Hattori forcefully opened a nearby iron door.

Whoosh.

A gust of wind greeted him as he emerged onto the rooftop of the luxury apartment building.

The cold air bit at him, and the open space was deserted. Breathing out a faint cloud of vapor, Hattori walked toward the edge of the rooftop.

From this vantage point, the afternoon sun illuminated a panoramic view, a mix of awe-inspiring architecture and the sprawling city below.

Hattori cross-checked his bearings against reference points he'd memorized, confirming he was facing the correct direction.

Without hesitation, he stepped onto the rooftop's guardrail.

His field of vision instantly cleared and nothing obstructed his view. The sound of rushing wind filled his ears, mingled faintly with distant car horns. Standing at the edge, he felt suspended in midair.

The apartment building was officially listed as having 20 floors, approximately 60 meters in height. As Hattori scanned the surroundings, he saw structures both shorter and taller, extending into the horizon in solemn defiance of gravity.

People in the black spots were hurrying on the roads Below, the streets were filled with the frenetic activity of black-dotted figures scurrying across intersecting roads.

"Tokyo sure is big."

Hattori mused aloud. Then, he leapt into the void.

The sound of wind roaring past his ears grew deafening, and the icy air lashed his face as he plunged downward. The exhilarating freefall ended quickly, as his destination was only the 17th floor.

Channeling Chakra to his hands and feet, Hattori arrested his descent, clinging to the sheer wall some 50 meters above ground. Feeling his way downward, he located an unlocked window. Flipping nimbly, he slipped inside.

Once inside, Hattori landed lightly and scanned the area. It was a well-lit balcony made of glass and railings, a few articles of clothing drying on a rack.

He turned to face the opposite building and spotted the window of the storage room he had called home for the past two days. A sense of relief washed over him.

Sweeping his senses through the apartment, he confirmed that no one was present. Sliding open the glass door that led to the interior, Hattori stepped into the quiet living room.

The room was modestly decorated: a gray-and-white sofa, a low coffee table stacked with blank A4 paper and a fruit tray, a Sony flat-screen TV mounted on the wall, and even a LoveLive! figurine displayed in a cabinet.

These details, once distant observations from his perch in the opposite building, were now within arm's reach.

Hattori held his breath instinctively, though it wasn't necessary. After steadying himself, forcing his nerves to settle, he began methodically searching the rooms one by one.