"Cocytus -Ballerina Under the Moonlight" Episode 12

"Cocytus. A river in the underworld of Greek mythology. A frozen hell that spares no traitors."

Izumi had a difficult delivery.

When she went into labor during the day, Shunka was by her side. Since Izumi's husband was at work and couldn't rush over, Shunka accompanied her in the ambulance all the way to the hospital.

Having spent nearly the entire time awake with Izumi’s family members who arrived at the hospital, Shunka had dark circles under her eyes. Finally, that dawn, they heard the sound of a newborn's cry. A healthy baby girl—Izumi looked exhausted, but her recovery was good.

Once things settled down, Shunka finally began to walk around her hometown. She headed to the ballet studio she attended as a child.

“Teacher”

“Shunka! It's been a while!”

Her teacher was as gentle as ever, with bright hair and graceful movements. Like a fairy from a fairy tale, she possessed the elegance characteristic of ballet dancers.

“I’m glad to see you’re doing well!”

“You too, teacher. Oh, here’s a souvenir from Italy.”

“Oh, how lovely! Did something good happen?”

With a bright smile, she pinched Shunka’s cheek. To her teacher, Shunka might still look like an elementary school student.

“My friend had a safe delivery.”

“Really? That’s wonderful!”

After chatting for a while, as Shunka was about to leave, she said to her teacher, “Um… I’m thinking of starting ballet again.”

“Really! That’s wonderful! You were always such a hard worker, and you had great expressiveness. I’m so happy to hear you’ll dance ballet again!”

“Yeah, but it might just become a hobby.”

“That’s fine, that’s fine. As long as both the dancer and the audience enjoy it, it’s enough. Oh, since you’re back, do you want to participate in the soirée… or should I say the spettacolo serale?”

“The spettacolo serale?” Shunka asked, intrigued.

“It’s happening in October. Even though it’s called a soirée, it’s free admission. If you start practicing now… that’s about three months. You’ll definitely make it!”

“Where will it be held?”

“In Tokyo. I’ve been invited, and everyone is looking forward to it.”

Shunka hesitated for a moment, but her true feelings were that she wanted to participate. This ballet wouldn’t be about showing off; it would be about entertaining the audience. It felt like returning to her roots.

“…I’ll do it. Thank you, teacher.”

“I’m so happy! You can choose your own piece, but be sure to send me a video. I’d like to confirm it. What do you want to dance?”

Shunka thought for a moment, resting her finger on her chin. Then she said, “Beatrice.”

Returning to Tokyo, Shunka resumed hers work by overseeing the final stages of the exhibition. Ayaka tried to talk to Shunka, but their timing was off, and they ended up separated in the venue.

A message arrived on his computer from Ayaka, who was heading to Osaka.

"Do you know which Beatrice you won at the auction?"

Since the identification numbers and titles had been swapped, it seemed they had lost track somewhere along the line. With many similar works, it was easy to get mixed up. Shunka copied an image from the catalog and sent it, saying it was the painting used during the proposal, but that might not be definitive.

Ayaka replied, "So that means it's in Nagoya. Got it. Thank you. I’ll need to borrow it for a while, so please don’t sell it if someone wants to buy."

Curious about what was happening, Shunka thought it was odd, but orders were orders.

On the final day, buyers arrived, and the sales contracts were lively. With many big clients gathering in Tokyo, Shunka was focused and energized. Several contracts were signed, and the clients who organized the exhibition looked satisfied.

Shunka had emphasized not to sell the Paradiso, resulting in a refusal of offers. That piece had to be transferred to the appropriate place someday; it couldn't just be sold for money.

Among the clients was a strikingly beautiful woman. Her black hair was sharply cut at the forehead and shoulder blades, and her cool, emerald-green eyes drew attention. Her unique and artistic makeup harmonized beautifully with her black suit and the deeply slit tight skirt.

Her neckline was daringly open, giving the impression she wore nothing beneath… and a long necklace seemed to guide the gaze to her cleavage. She wore thin pin heels, and a silver anklet sparkled modestly.

While Ayaka was also called a "walking work of art," this woman was no less impressive. Her appearance and figure could easily pass for a model.

Holding a crocodile clutch bag, she walked straight toward Shunka with a commanding presence that was hard to look away from—an alluring beauty reminiscent of a dahlia, full of vibrance and sensuality. As she walked, a sweet fragrance wafted through the air, evoking the night with hints of rose, jasmine, musk, and a mix of spices.

"Buongiorno."

Her voice had a captivating resonance that made even another woman feel a flutter.

"…Buongiorno."

It seemed she was a guest from Italy, and Shunka responded in Italian.

"You’re a beautiful young lady."

"Thank you. I’m not exactly young anymore, though..."

"Beauty doesn’t depend on age. In fact, there are things that shine more as you grow older."

"…I think so too."

"I’d like to talk a bit. I’m interested in purchasing some works."

"Then let me show you."

The stunning woman, introducing herself as Livia, began inspecting the displayed works. She particularly seemed fond of the Beatrice painting, asking for explanations about several pieces. Shunka obliged.

When Livia stopped in front of the painting that held deep significance for Shunka, she exclaimed, "…This is wonderful. Real gold leaf, right?"

"Yes, it’s genuine, not a fake or painted gold."

"I’ve never seen anything like it. Where has it been hidden?"

"It was found in a private collection about 60 years ago by an estate appraiser. It hadn’t been publicly revealed, and the artist’s name is still unknown…"

"It’s quite a rarity."

Livia gazed intently at the painting, her expression reminiscent of a snake sticking out its tongue in front of a frog, more like a predator than an art connoisseur.

"Is this a copy?"

"Yes, it’s not the original."

"The original must have even more impact."

"Yes… the three-dimensional quality of the gold leaf is different. The shading changes the expression. I tried to replicate it as closely as possible, but…"

"Wonderful. I want it in my office. How much? Honestly, I’m not concerned about the price. I’d pay anything."

Before Shunka could remember Ayaka’s words and say "no," she felt uncomfortable. Livia viewed this piece almost like prey. Her instincts told her something was off. Fortunately, Ayaka had also said not to sell it.

"…I’m sorry, but there’s already a prior customer."

Livia’s gaze turned toward Shunka.

She was indeed like a snake—beautiful, yet somehow unsettling.

"I see."

Livia's cold voice echoed ominously.

Nathan was in the grand hall of Rocca di Luce.

A marble table was in front of him, with the laptop resting on it.

"It seems the police have noticed the whereabouts of the password..."

Augusto's voice was icy.

"What?"

Nathan replied as calmly as he could. There were only a few high-ranking officials present—those Augusto particularly favored, his close aides, and bodyguards.

The sparse attendance made the room feel even colder.

Vittorio stood silently behind Augusto.

"The guys watching the gallery noticed. They said the police were asking about where the paintings were sold."

"We need to act quickly."

One of the officials spoke up, but Augusto's stern gaze silenced him.

"That's right. But we can't leave the country."

When Nathan said this, Augusto nodded.

"Yeah. We're being watched."

"Let's move whoever we can."

"Even if it's someone lower down who's not on the blacklist..."

"If we contact the Yakuza in Japan..."

"That's a bad idea. Contacting the Yakuza to get the password? That would put us at their mercy."

Augusto snorted.

"What about Livia?"

When Nathan mentioned her name, Augusto turned to him with interest.

"Livia can act. She can go to Japan. If we give her a portion of the casino bar rights and allow her to expand her business... In the long run, she can profit, and so can you, Augusto, and all of us."

"…That’s true. It’s a good idea."

Augusto placed a smartphone on the marble surface—it was Shunka's.

"Nathan, I’ll overlook your lies this once. It seems you’ve had quite a comfortable time, but I’ll consider it a vacation advance."

Augusto pointed to the smartphone, displaying part of the messages exchanged between Shunka and Nathan.

Nathan's heart froze for a moment, but he nodded without showing any emotion.

Once he was alone, Augusto crossed his legs and looked at the laptop.

Nathan left the Rocca di Luce without changing his expression.

Had he finally moved on from Shunka Aono?

He had a good poker face, remaining unshaken by minor disturbances.

Livia was already on the move. Reports had come in that she was spotted at the airport. It was unclear when she had arrived, but she had likely already made contact with the target.

"You are a double agent?"

He spoke to a figure lurking in the shadows of a pillar.

"Who is your master? Who has brought you profit and given you the strength to survive? Think carefully."

As Augusto's words finished, the shadow vanished.

"Tch, everyone is the same..."

Augusto glanced at the laptop.

—If only he could break it, all the evidence would disappear.

But that would also destroy the trust in business. Restoring that would require a long time and effort.

Augusto reached for the landline phone.

"I don't care whether Shunka Aono is alive or dead. I can pay any amount of money; just make sure to get the painting before Livia does."

He issued the command and stood up, wiping the sweat from his forehead, adjusting his tie, and exhaling deeply.

At that moment, Augusto was anxious.

He had made a mistake.

A small, easily made mistake.

He had forgotten to lock the key to the shelf where the laptop was stored.

Nathan entered a café under the Clan Gelo umbrella and contacted Leonardo. Disguised, he sat two seats away from him. Nathan wrote a note by hand and showed it to him.

“So, Livvia has left the country, right?”

Leonardo wrote back on a note and showed his response.

“That's correct. Thanks to your information, we have a mark on her.”

“A mark won't be enough. Not just the painting, but Shunka Aono's life is in danger.”

“What happened?”

“Augusto learned that the Italian police have discovered where the password is. You never know what a cornered person might do. Why would the police take such obvious action?”

“Sorry. I kept quiet. It’s an excuse, but someone was too eager. We can’t overlook the prostitution angle either.”

Nathan let out a deep sigh, pressing his forehead.

“Vittorio's family is secure. This place hasn't been compromised, so rest easy.”

“We need to hurry with the laptop retrieval. Also, contact a man named Arata Shindo.  Aono’s painting are our priorities... an assassin will probably be dispatched. Make sure to protect them.”

“An assassin?”

"Do you think Augusto trusts anyone? He doesn't even trust Livia. He always tries to stay ahead of her. That leaves him with limited options."

“...I see. Got it.”

Nathan stood up and left the café. He had no choice but to trust Leonardo and Shindo. He still couldn’t return to Japan.

Now, Augusto's thoughts were becoming clearer to him. Perhaps he and Augusto were originally similar. There was a tinge of pity in Augusto, something akin to sympathy. Nathan felt disgusted with himself for this.

—Know your origins. The answer is always within you.

Suddenly, a familiar voice and words echoed in his mind.

“People are not born to become beasts... Trust your conscience...”

Recalling “his” words brought back memories of the past.

—All difficulties can be overcome with patience. Time may fly away, but neither I nor you will ever disappear from the memories of time.

A trembling, blood-stained hand grabbed Nathan’s hand.

“Listen, what’s important to me is to protect those who need to be protected with this body and life. So don’t worry about me. Move forward. The answer is always within you. As long as you have that, you will never lose your way.”

That was a vicious act aimed at Nathan. But he had been unfortunate enough to be there.

"It's for the best. It's better that you, young and vibrant, survived over an old man like me. Right? I've known love, but you haven't yet. This is for the best."

Why did he have to go through this? Nathan was injured at the time and being treated in the hospital. He had taken his place. As a result, he lost his life.

When he arrived at the scene after receiving the call, he found him stabbed in the abdomen with a knife.

He lifted him, and the blood-stained hand clutched Nathan's hand tightly, and he uttered his last words before drawing his last breath.

That memory suddenly resurfaced.

Unending regret.

Guilt.

He said it was for the best, but Nathan couldn't feel that way.

Looking back, the sunset was sinking into the sea.

In the brilliance, there was warmth in the sunset.

"I'm not like Augusto, am I......?"

That whisper fell into the shadows created by the sunset and vanished.

The exhibition had ended, and the process of sorting the artworks for their owners, clients, and new buyers was underway. Ayaka had been looking quite busy lately, as she had received a new direction request for an exhibition from a major client. However, she seemed rather sleepy.

"Um... you look tired. Why don't you take a break?"

"Oh, uh... no, I'm fine. It should settle down soon."

"By the way, have you lent out the painting of Beatrice yet?"

"Not yet... Honestly, having so many works on display is a bit of a headache..."

"Um..."

"There are so many similar ones that I can't keep up with the confirmations. Plus, it seems like they're busy over there too, and time is limited... But I think it will be soon..."

Ayaka yawned widely. Shunka felt the urge to yawn as well but managed to hold it back.

"Please take a little rest. You've been working too much lately."

"Really? Well, maybe I'll take you up on that just a bit..."

Saying this, Ayaka lay down on the office sofa.

There were indeed many paintings of Beatrice, but Shunka could recognize them immediately. She just needed to open the package that had arrived from Nagoya and check inside. The works were packed securely and carefully, making it a bit of a struggle to open, but Shunka was familiar with the sizes of the paintings.

She pulled out what she thought was the right one and began to unwrap it.

On the ninth piece, she finally revealed the eyes of Beatrice adorned with gold leaf.

(Long time no see, Beatrice...)

The eyes, shimmering with light, were gentle yet strong. They sparkled like fire.

Flipping it over, she checked the unusual number. It did indeed look like a series of nonsensical letters written in ballpoint pen. This remained a mystery...

That night, after finishing work, Shunka was walking alone. She contemplated whether to stop by the supermarket for groceries or go to a deli for a bento. Just then, something cold was pressed against her back.

"!"

Her waist felt as if it had lost its warmth, and her body shook. She thought she should flee, but confusion stopped her feet—she didn’t know what might happen if she ran.

Yet she distinctly recognized the fragrance—sweet flowers combined with a sensual spice.

"…Hi, darling. Do you remember me?"

In Italian, the voice was enticing, and of course, she could never forget.

"…Lady Livia."

"That's right. I really want that painting. Do you know why?"

"…Because you like it?"

"Hehe, that's true. It's a simple motive. But no, I don't care about the painting at all."

The cold sensation moved from her waist up her spine. She could feel the sharp tip through her suit. Was that a knife? Blood rushed from her face, and she forgot how to breathe; her heart ached.

"That painting holds everything about a certain man. I want to control him. I want to make him my plaything."

The cold object moved further, tickling the nape of Shunka's neck.

"If you cooperate, I won't take your life. He surely won't show mercy, but I'm still kind to girls. It's better for you to trust me. Oh, right, we can't have you running to the police... But it's just as well. Japanese skin is beautiful and youthful, so many clients prefer that. Japanese women are really popular worldwide, right? I've heard even neighboring countries favor them."

Livia's arm reached out and touched Shunka's inner thigh.

"It's a pity you're not a virgin. But that's fine; you have a great figure. I'll train you so you can earn money in no time. You'll live a life that's unimaginable now. And you have a pretty face, good education, and language skills. With that background, you could even settle down as someone's mistress and live safely."

Her fingertips brushed against Shunka's underwear. Livia continued,

"You'll quickly forget about that arrogant guy named Nathan."

"!"

"Let me teach you more pleasurable things. Okay? It's the one and only best job where you can dominate men. Now, hand over that painting. Just like that, you could secure your life and a wealthy lifestyle. And if you still can't forget him, I can introduce Nathan as a client eventually. By then, you'll be able to ensnare a man; he will be yours. It's not a bad deal, right? You can have your life, money, and a man—all for just one painting!"

She felt like she could just collapse there, but she couldn't even do that. Her trembling legs felt like they didn't belong to her. Yet she forced out her voice.

"…No."

"What did you say?"

Why did she know Nathan? But more than that, she was infuriated that her relationship with him had been insulted.

"No."

Her voice came out clearer this time.

Livia spoke through gritted teeth.

"Don't you value your life? Silly girl."

Shunka could say nothing more, just shook her head. Tears welled up.

"I don't want to..."

"Then..."

A sudden loud popping sound echoed, and Livia gasped. The knife flew away somewhere.

Freed, Shunka fell to the ground. Her heels had come off, and her body was too weak to stand.

"Tsk, Augusto noticed..."

"Stay right there, Livia. And you, 'Rabbit'."

Something that had been aimed at Livia was now targeting Shunka.

A man in a suit appeared from the front.

"As Livia said, Augusto won't show mercy. If you value your life, hand over the painting. You might be better off relying on Livia after that."

"Hey... don't interfere."

"Shut up, Livia. Comforting each other is pointless. It's about living or dying. Simple, right? But handing over the painting is the minimum requirement."

Just when Shunka could barely even voice her confusion, there was a rustling sound, and a figure jumped out from the bushes of a nearby house.

"I will protect Miss Aono!"

Saying this, he threw something up in the air—everyone's eyes turned upwards, and he charged at the man in the suit.

"Mr. Takanashi!"

"Got it."

A whistle blew, and police officers emerged from somewhere, using a "sasu-mata" (a type of restraining device) to pin down the suited man.

"This guy had a crossbow!"
The man who had jumped out seized the crossbow.

As Shunka watched through her overflowing tears, Livia disappeared somewhere, pursued by the police, and hands reached out to her one after another in a dizzying display.

"Sorry to be late."

The voice of the man who descended was surprisingly gentle.

Inside a room at the police station… presumably the best room, the reception room, I was led in.

A thick leather sofa and a small but sturdy desk. A large Japanese flag was displayed on the solid concrete wall.

I was offered coffee, but I had no time to savor the aroma; I kept stirring it aimlessly with a spoon over and over again.

“We have protected Shunka Aono… Yes, it took some time… No, it couldn’t be helped. Please don’t say that now!”

The one who raised his voice was the man who had rushed in first. Dressed in a floral shirt and jeans, he looked nothing like a police officer but was a sergeant named Arata Shindo.

“Really… What’s with you, you incompetent fool? I’m sorry, Miss Aono. I really wanted to get here sooner.”

“Uh… um…”

“The one who attacked you was Livia. Her real name is Caterina. She’s a former model turned prostitute and now a high-ranking member of the Clan Gelo.”

“Clan Gelo…”

With that name, the situation finally started to make sense. The city I had been staying in was controlled by that mafia.

“And the man with the crossbow was an assassin hired by Clan Gelo. He’s not Italian but a foreigner, barely hanging on in Japan.”

“…Um, why me…?”

“There was a painting you won at auction, right? One of those had something dangerous in it.”

“Dangerous?”

“Yes. There’s a laptop filled with information about Clan Gelo, and the password needed to unlock it was hidden in that painting. That’s why you were targeted.”

“…No way…”

I was at a loss for words, but at the same time, I understood. Nausea washed over me, and I instinctively brought my hand to my mouth.

My fingers trembled uncontrollably.

“Um… sorry to bring this up at a time like this, but I want to check the painting as soon as possible. The one of Beatrice, do you have any idea…?”

“Is it the 14-digit one?”

“You know about it?!”

Shindo’s face and voice brightened instantly. I felt like I had seen his face before. Where?

“…Yes. I thought it had a strange number… It was a pen drawing on an oil painting…”

“Wow. Can you secure the painting right now?”

“If I tell Miss Ohara… I can identify the painting.”

“Good, good. This will help us move forward quickly. Yes! With this, senior Ando can finally return!”

Shindou got excited, but I still felt lost. Watching Shindou write the report with enthusiasm made me feel left behind.

Even though I had just escaped a life-threatening situation, I couldn’t easily share in the joy.

As I sat there confused, the door opened, and the man who had reached out to me earlier walked in.

“Shindo, you’re getting a bit too carried away. Miss Aono, I’m truly sorry for scaring you. I wanted to get here sooner, but it was difficult… Have you calmed down a bit?”

“A little…”

“Good. I’m Eitarou Takanashi.”

With a gentle smile and voice, Takanashi’s presence brought me a sense of reassurance.

"You've probably heard from Shindo, but..."

“Y-yes… So, the painting I bought…”

“Yes. It had a history, which is why you were targeted.”

“How do you know this?”

“Because there’s an informant.”

Takanashi said this calmly.

“He flew to Italy to investigate a weapons smuggling case involving Japanese nationals. He infiltrated Clan Gelo and gained the trust of the leader, August. But the investigation stalled, and three years passed until you appeared before him.”

Three years… that number struck a chord. I raised my head.

—Why Italy?

—For work. Because I speak English, I've had many overseas assignments.

—Have you been to other places?

—Not that many. I’ve been to the U.S. and the U.K. a few times for short stays. But it’s been three years in Italy now.

—Three years? Your family must worry about you.

—Well, they’ve been used to me being away for a long time.

Could it be…? I thought, looking at Takanashi, who showed me a photo.

A sharp gaze, masculine features, slightly tanned skin, and chestnut hair. He exuded the aura of a lone wolf, yet also looked good in uniform. That juxtaposition created an exquisite charm.

He had an exotic appearance, resembling a Western man with Asian traits… And those amber eyes that had gazed at me countless times.

He looked younger in the police uniform, and as I stared at the photo, my vision blurred with tears.

“That informant is Nathan Blackmore. His real name is Neito Ando. He’s our sergeant.”

“Ando… Neito… Nate…”

I spoke his name, my lips trembling. I knew his real name.

The truth he had conveyed. The real him.

Warmth spread through my chest, and tears streamed down my cheeks. My entire body trembled with joy.

—Call me Nate.

—Nate…

—Yes… Thank you.

Nathan softened his gaze and smiled gently at me. At that moment, I felt like I finally saw his true smile.

That was indeed his authentic smile.

"To be continued"→"Cocytus -Ballerina Under the Moonlight" Episode 13

Additionally, those who have obtained the password can also access the special page from here →Thank you! Please enjoy the special content.