Chapter 83: Revenge

"It's so scary. Why does someone have to die again?"

Agent Itakura Misaki couldn't help but complain to Akikawa Kyousuke as they left the banquet hall.

She truly hadn't expected to encounter two deaths within just over a month.

"Yes, it is frightening," Akikawa Kyousuke agreed calmly.

"Why doesn't Mr. Akikawa seem very scared?"

"Because I've seen deaths far more horrifying than this."

"Really?"

Itakura Misaki didn't know anything about Akikawa Kyousuke's past car accident, so she assumed he was referring to the last case at the Imperial Theater.

"Speaking of which, Mr. Akikawa was the victim last time and almost died."

Itakura Misaki realized her words might have brought up bad memories for Akikawa Kyousuke, so she changed the subject.

"By the way, Mr. Akikawa, you went with Ms. Yoko earlier to greet some big names in the industry, right? Who did you meet?"

Akikawa Kyousuke listed Souma Miho and Ohga Takao but dismissed the rest with vague memory excuses.

"I've never heard of Dr. Ohga before. I don't know much about plastic surgery. But as for Director Souma, she's really powerful too!"

Itakura Misaki nodded, sighing after hearing Akikawa Kyousuke mention Souma Miho's mockery of Okino Yoko.

"Speaking of which, who's more talented between Director Hotta, whom we met earlier, and Director Souma?"

Akikawa Kyousuke recalled meeting Hota Yoshitoki at the second table, chatting with Ohga Takao.

From their interaction, it seemed they had a good relationship.

"Director Souma is older than Director Hotta, but her skill doesn't match his," Itakura Misaki said.

"But Director Hotta seems older than Director Souma. How could he be younger?"

"Oh, that's because Director Hotta didn't start as a director. He began as an actor," Misaki explained, pulling out her phone.

After a moment of scrolling, she showed a photo of a handsome man to Akikawa Kyousuke.

"Guess who this is, Mr. Akikawa?"

"Could it be Director Hotta?"

"Ding, ding, ding! You got it!"

Itakura Misaki laughed at Akikawa Kyousuke's surprised expression.

"Don't you think it's obvious? Director Hotta was once a capable actor with good looks and acting skills, just like you, Mr. Akikawa!"

"But I heard he later had a car accident that left scars on his face. Then, during a cosmetic surgery, something went wrong, leaving one side of his face paralyzed."

"His entire face? But when I saw him today, only one side was paralyzed."

"Yes, after the paralysis, he underwent nerve transplant surgery with the same doctor, restoring most of his facial mobility."

"So, there's still a small part of his face that couldn't be healed?"

"Exactly," Misaki nodded, a look of regret crossing her face.

"Although Director Hotta was an actor, his face was his most valuable asset. After the accident, he quit acting altogether.

"But when he transitioned to directing, he discovered a great talent for it. His very first film made him famous."

"The only pity is that, as he grows older, his facial paralysis worsens.

"But now he no longer relies on his appearance to make a living," she added, gazing intently at Akikawa Kyousuke.

"As an agent, it's frustrating to not even connect with other artists for my own clients. But if possible, among the directors we met today, I hope you can build a good relationship with Director Hotta.

"If you can land a role in his work, your chances of gaining fame will multiply compared to your previous stage productions!"

"Alright, alright," Akikawa Kyousuke nodded repeatedly at her enthusiasm.

After Misaki finished speaking, he asked:

"By the way, do you know the name of the doctor who operated on Director Hotta?"

"I don't recall. It's not publicly known," Misaki said after a moment of thought.

"But the hospital that treated him would have it on record—Tokyo University Medical School Hospital."

Hearing this, Akikawa Kyousuke pulled out his phone and searched for [Hotta Yoshitoki] and [Ohga Takao].

Aside from finding their seemingly good relationship, he couldn't uncover the information he wanted.

He then searched [Takao Ohga] and examined his personal background.

Soon, he learned that Ohga Takao owned a prestigious cosmetic surgery clinic and graduated from Tokyo University Medical School.

"It seems my guess is correct. The doctor who caused Hotta Yoshitoki's facial paralysis was likely Ohga Takao."

"But judging by how they were chatting earlier, they still maintain a friendly relationship on the surface."

"This doesn't mean Hotta Yoshitoki didn't harbor resentment toward Ohga Takao for what happened back then."

"Or perhaps this is all an act by Hotta Yoshitoki to conceal his true purpose—revenge."

Akikawa Kyousuke found it hard to imagine someone remaining friendly with a person who had caused an accident that could ruin their life.

If the incident had been a genuine mistake, that would be different.

But if it became evident that the incident was premeditated, the ties wouldn't just break—they'd shatter entirely.

"If Ohga Takao was indeed Hotta Yoshitoki's attending physician back then, my current judgment might be wrong."

"Even if Tsunekazu Kosaka's death was caused by internal suffocation, it could still be murder."

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(End of Chapter)