Ae and Carl walked through the streets of Yomihara. Neon light shines through the darkness of the underground. Revealing the state of the city, crack sidewalks and degraded buildings. They are heading toward Under Eden to capture Real and cause a ruckus, as Gin had described.
"Guh, this place is horrible." Ae wrinkled his nose, disgust creeping into his voice. "No sunlight, no natural green. How do people live like this?"
"Mostly lowlifes and demons, Mr. Chung." Carl said, gesturing at the crowded streets. "Since demons can't live properly in society since they have to stay hidden. So they built a settlement for themselves. A sanctuary just for them."
"Tch…" Ae clicked his tongue. "I don't understand why this government just ignores this. They're giving these evildoers a place to gather strength."
"Well, that's just how far corruption has gone in the government." Carl's voice carried a note of disappointment. "But it's not all bad. All these illegal technologies are blooming here. Ah…" A dreamy smile spread across his face. "I can't wait to sink my teeth into Under Eden's brainwashing devices."
Ae raised an eyebrow. "You're a good guy, right Mr. Clockwork?"
"Of course I am!" Carl's response was immediate, almost defensive. "I'm just very interested in their technology, that's all."
"Even torture devices," Ae said flatly.
Carl's smile faltered for just a moment. "Well, I suppose that's one way to look at it."
Ae sighed. "Whatever. I won't judge. You haven't done anything bad… yet."
"Oi, what's that supposed to mean?!" Carl's voice rose, but Ae ignored him entirely.
Ae's gaze drifted past Carl, his mind already shifting to the mission ahead. "So, what's the plan?"
"Simple." Carl's irritation faded as he acted more casual. "You infiltrate the place by pretending to be a customer. I'll guide you to the electrical grid. We cut the lights, capture Real. And once that's done…" A pause. "Kill everyone in the building, steal their tech and help the prostitutes there."
Ae's eyes widened slightly, then a slow smile spread across his face. "So this is more than just kidnapping Real. Causing a massacre. Stealing their tech. We're also saving people." He chuckled. "Alright, I'm starting to like this. But how are we going to haul all those Under Eden assets out? It's just the two of us."
"Don't worry. We hired some mercenaries to help us."
"Mercenaries, huh?" Ae's smile faded slightly. He didn't like the idea, but he understood the need for extra hands. "What about Olaf? Where is he anyway?"
"Oh, he's our getaway." A cryptic smirk crossed Carl's face. "You'll understand once we make our escape."
Ae didn't push further, trusting Carl's word for now.
"Hey, Mr. Chung…" Carl hesitated, his gaze dropping briefly. "Do you actually hate the Japanese?"
Ae blinked, caught off guard by the sudden question. "Hmm… No, I don't. I mean I’m willing to work with you guys. It's just, I'm just angry at them."
"Angry?"
"Yeah, angry. Frustrated." Ae's jaw tightened. "I just don't understand how these people can just ignore the crimes their government committed against my people. Against the Chinese, and the others. I know they're victims of ignorance—thanks to the Japanese government doing its damnedest to hide their crimes—but the majority of the population is just…" He trailed off, shaking his head. "Fuck. Not only that, some of these people are racist. Some of them call me Josensing!" He spat the word out. "All we wanted was for them to say sorry for the war crimes and pay reparations. But something simple like that is hard for them and apparently it is easier to create revisionist history."
"You've had it rough, huh?"
"Oh, I bet it's not just me. Probably other people suffer from this as well." Ae let out a bitter laugh. "No wonder they're suffering from demonic corruption, if these types of people are common here."
"Well, I won't say that's the source of it, but it's definitely part of the problem." Carl paused, his gaze thoughtful. "Say, have you ever thought of returning home?"
"Home…" Ae's voice softened, and for a moment, his anger faded. Then his brow furrowed. "What happened to Korea in this world, I wonder?"
Carl let out a low breath. "If you want to know… both the South and the North have united into one Korea."
"Oh?" Ae's eyebrow arched. "Which Korea won?"
"You didn't think they'd reunite peacefully?"
"No." Ae shook his head firmly. "Both Koreas are ideologically, economically, and politically incompatible with one another. For both Koreas to unite, there will be bloodshed."
"Well, the good news is there wasn't a war and North Korea won." Carl's voice dropped. "The bad news… there were a lot of deaths in the South."
Ae's expression dimmed. "I see." A heavy silence followed. "Thanks." Despite being a proud North Korean, he still saw the South as fellow brothers and sisters. The weight of their suffering settled in his chest.
"You don't want me to explain further?" Carl asked carefully.
Ae shook his head. "I prefer to learn on my own. Besides, now isn't the right time. I can't let my emotions affect me."
"I understand, Mr. Chung." Carl nodded respectfully. "Oh, looks like we've arrived. And look over there." He pointed to a row of trucks with multiple men unloading equipment. "Our guys have arrived as well. Now remember the plan, infiltrate as a client and search for an electrical control panel. Considering Under Eden has similar architecture to most buildings in Yomihara, it's usually located in the basement."
"Somewhere in the basement. Got it." Ae gave a thumbs up, a confident grin spreading across his face. With that, he turned and entered the famous brothel.
The interior was exactly what Ae expected. Pink lights bathed the building in a warm, hazy glow. The sweet scent of women's perfume hung thick in the air. The decoration was extravagant. Ornate wallpaper, gilded picture frames, plush chairs and velvet drapes. It gave off an air of high class. A receptionist behind a polished counter looked up with practiced professionalism.
"Welcome to Under Eden, sir. Have you made a reservation?"
"No." Ae kept his tone flat. Does it require one? He hoped not.
"Ah, I see." The receptionist's smile faltered slightly. "Sorry, all the best ones have been taken for a VIP party. But we still have high-quality prostitutes to choose from."
"Eh." Ae waved a dismissive hand. "Choose for me."
"But sir—"
"Listen, chump." Ae leaned forward, his voice dropping to a cold, bored drawl. "All pussy feels the same to me. Just give me the best ones you have."
The receptionist swallowed. "Very well, sir. And the payment?"
Ae pulled out an envelope. "You take cash?"
"We do, sir."
The first phase of infiltration was complete. Ae pressed a finger to his earpiece to report back to Carl, a slow grin spreading across his face. He couldn't help but feel excited at the thought of bringing this place down.
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The room was nicely decorated. Pictures framed in gold hung on walls painted in soft, wavy shades of blue, like ocean currents frozen in place. The tables and chairs they sat on were standard office fare, functional and unremarkable, a quiet contrast to the elegant surroundings.
Gin leaned forward, clasping his hands on the table. "I want to say, thank you for inviting us, Yamamoto-san and Asagi-san."
"Your welcome, Gin-san." Asagi responded with a polite nod.
Yamamoto, however, studied Gin with narrowed eyes. "It surprises me that the leader of the Militia Tokyo Branch is you, Gin Daishou. And I assume the same can be said for your group."
Gin simply smiled, appearing calm and unreadable. "Sorry for keeping this a secret, Yamamoto-san."
Asagi's eyes widened, her curiosity piqued. "Do you know him, Yamamoto-san?"
"Yes." Yamamoto's voice was measured. "Five years ago. During the infamous mass killings that occurred across Tokyo."
Gin's smile didn't waver. "Yup. And to end it quickly, he made a deal with me."
The terrorist attacks had claimed thousands of lives. What made the headlines—what unsettled the public most—was the silence. No explosions. No gunfire. The killing was quiet, as if the victims had simply chosen to die. There were no struggles, no screams, no conflict. Just bodies, willing to die a silent death in an empty room across those 6 months.
Gin leaned back, his tone shifting. "But that's not what we're here for." He folded his hands on the table. "What we're here for is making our alliance official. And I'm willing to give you information networks across Tokyo, including Tokyo Kingdom and Yomihara. I'll also offer my comrades if you Taimanin need assistance in any mission. But only in the vicinity of Tokyo and Tokyo Kingdom."
Now it was Emily's turn. She straightened in her seat, her voice clear and confident. "We at the DSO are willing to share our technologies in exchange for assisting our efforts in Tokyo Kingdom. We’re also willing to assist in your research when it comes to robotics and other areas."
Yamamoto nodded. "Very well. I, the head of Sector Three, am willing to share our information, as well as our surveillance technology with you."
Gin's eyes gleamed. "Does that mean we have access to security cameras across the country?"
"Yes."
A slow smile spread across Gin's face. "That makes our job much easier. We won't have to keep asking the police department for access anymore."
Asagi straightened, her voice carrying the weight of her position. "I, the Chief Head of the Taimanin organization, am willing to lend our strength to whatever issues you're facing."
Emily and Gin exchanged a nod. "Well, that's all done," Gin said, shifting the conversation. "Let's begin our cooperation, starting with the Incubus King."
"Incubus King." Asagi's brow furrowed, her voice turning wary. "The one who captured Shiranui and turned her into his slave. Do you have a lead on him?"
"We're about to." A faint smile crossed Gin's lips. "My comrades are about to raid an Incubus Faction facility. Hopefully, we might get a clue about him."
Asagi exchanged a brief glance with Yamamoto before responding. "I have to say, we do have a lead, from the chips we found implanted in Shiranui's brain."
"Oh?" Gin leaned forward, his interest piqued.
"We tracked the chip manufacturing company, and it led to a factory located in Seishu City. That factory is owned by the Washizu Group."
"Hmm…" Gin's expression flickered, a hint of disappointment. He had already sent his comrades to kidnap Real and Muneichi. Perhaps that was a waste of time and money. Still, they could be useful. "Have you made your move?"
"We've sent a couple of Taimanin to monitor the city. It shows high demonic activity and other illegal activities."
Gin nodded slowly. "My advice is to keep them low and not make any offensive moves. This Incubus King has been lying low for a long time. That rat will continue to hide in his hole if he senses he's at a disadvantage."
Asagi nodded, agreeing with Gin's assessment. "Gin-san, there is something I have to ask." She pressed a button on the table, and a holographic projection flickered to life above the center. It displayed an image of Shiranui, flanked by two unfamiliar men. Beside it, a letter addressed to Ryuji. "A friend of mine has been taken away. I was hoping you could assist us with rescuing her."
Gin's eyes scanned the letter, then the image. His expression remained unreadable. After a long pause, he shook his head. "No. I won't. Sorry, I can't help with this."
"Huh?" Asagi's voice sharpened. "Why?!"
"I know Juryu." Gin leaned back, crossing his arms. "That guy is a master at hiding. He's so elusive that he developed ways to overcome even Ryuji's tracking skills." He let out a slow breath. "I think it's best you wait this out. I assure you, Shiranui is safe with him."
This didn't sit well with Asagi. Her jaw tightened, but she held her tongue.
Gin continued, his tone steady. "Juryu is one of Ryuji's closest friends. And while Ryuji's choice in friends is sometimes questionable, he's a good judge of character. If Juryu is Ryuji's friend, I assure you, that guy has some morals in him. You should worry more about how he managed to infiltrate the village undetected."
This finally relaxes Asagi. Letting out a sigh.
“That done, how about you Emily-san? You have been staying quiet this whole time.”
"O-oh right." Emily cleared her throat, straightening her posture. "There have been killings and destruction across UFS bases in Tokyo Kingdom. Even Task Force G—the UFS's greatest asset in Japan—has been completely decimated and forced to disband." She paused, letting the weight of the words settle. "We managed to track down that it was Dragon Gate who led the assault on these bases. How did Dragon Gate grow so much in strength these past months?"
Gin's expression darkened. "The PLA purge."
That grabbed everyone's attention.
"When the scandal of the PLA’s corruption was revealed to the public, Ding Weilong. The current Director of the National Supernatural Defence Bureau, led the purge." His gaze swept across the room. "During those purges, many went into exile to avoid it, bringing their assets with them. Looks like we found where those exiles ended up." Gin sighed, rubbing his temple. "The PLA agents will be arriving here, right? Tomorrow, if I'm not mistaken."
Asagi's eyes narrowed, suspicion creeping into her voice. "How did you know?"
Gin's lips curved into a knowing smirk. "I have a personal history with Ding Weilong." He leaned back, crossing his arms. "I was his intern after I graduated from the Miyatake Academy. After the internship, we still remain in contact with one another." ‘And share information. Whatever it takes to survive this world.’ "Do you want my recommendation on the best way to approach him?"
Yamamoto paused, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "Hm." He took a moment, weighing his words carefully. "To foster a relationship between the Taimanin and the Agents is crucial to our success. Very well. Give me your advice."
"Miyatake Ryuji is his grandson."
The words landed like a stone in still water. Shock rippled through the room. Except for Emily.
Gin continued, his tone casual. "And that old man loves his grandchildren. I recommend you befriend Ryuji. Though, I don't think it'll be necessary, I'm sure Ryuji will spout positive things about all of you anyway. Other than that, have a drink with him and he’ll consider you a friend. He is not that hard to befriend."
"I see." Yamamoto eyes narrowing in thought.
"So," Gin's gaze shifted to Asagi, "how has Ryuji been doing? Not causing trouble, I assume."
Asagi sighed, the weight of recent events evident in her voice. "He's fine. Though he has been putting our students in danger."
"You mean the spy situation?"
"Correct."
"Hmm." Gin tapped his fingers on the table. "Well, considering the situation, it was the best move to keep it silent. But if you feel the need to discipline him, there is an easy way." He reached up and tugged his left ear. "Just pull his ear, and he'll instantly become obedient."
Asagi blinked. "You're serious."
"I'm serious." Gin's smirk widened. "When he was an immature brat, he would often disobey orders. So we'd just tug his ears, and he'd snap into line." He leaned forward, his tone dropping slightly. "Though it only works if you're a higher authority than him or someone he feels he deserves. If you're not, he'll punch you in the face and call it sexual harassment."
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“How about the spy? Let us handle him, I have plans that can be beneficial for both of us.”
“Very well.” Asagi agree, she simply plan to kill Muroi or if possible torture him for information. But she will let her new allies do it. Plus this is an opportunity to see their capabilities.
Yamamoto nodded. “I think we can end the meeting as that is all the issues.”
"With that, the meeting is adjourned." Gin rose from his seat, his tone signaling finality. "Asagi-san, can I speak with you alone for a moment? This is about Kyousuke."
Asagi's expression turned serious. "Very well." She followed him to the far corner of the room, away from the others. "What is it you want to discuss?"
Gin's voice dropped, becoming more personal. "Kyousuke is yours—at least until this is over." He met her gaze steadily. "He loves you. You're the most important person in the world to him. He may have changed, but he's still the same man."
Asagi's brow furrowed. "Why are you saying this?"
"Because Kyousuke is a friend of mine." A soft smile touched Gin's lips. "And friends help each other. Right now, I want to see both of you succeed in this." His smile never wavered—calm, knowing, reassuring.
Asagi's cheeks flushed slightly. "Thank you." Her voice softened. "For watching over him. And for bringing him back."
"You're welcome." Gin inclined his head. "Let's leave this room. I'm sure you can't wait to spend time with your beloved Kyousuke."
As the two stepped out, they found Yamamoto standing still, Emily beside him. Both of them were staring at something—and when Asagi and Gin followed their gaze, they were met with a surprising sight. Murasaki was holding Oiwa by a chain attached to a collar around his neck.
Gin blinked, then let out a quiet chuckle. "I won't judge your fetish, Oiwa-sensei."
Oiwa's face turned an interesting shade of red. "This isn't a fetish! She tricked me into wearing this!" He turned desperately to Asagi. "Please, tell her to let me go!"
Before Asagi could open her mouth, Gin raised a hand. "Eh, let's keep it that way. Consider this making amends."
"AMENDS?!" Oiwa's voice cracked with outrage. "What do you mean?! We weren't even in a relationship! We just worked together for a month taking down Kiryu Sabato!"
"But you also left her pregnant with your kid right after you left."
The words hit Oiwa like a physical blow. His mouth opened, then closed. His shoulders sagged. "I-it was an accident." The whisper barely escaped his lips.
Gin waved a dismissive hand. "Nah, nah. I don't want to hear excuses." He turned to Murasaki. "Murasaki-san, I suggest you take him to your home before he decides to kill himself."
Murasaki blinked, the last sentence catching her off guard. For a moment, something flickered in her eyes, but it didn't linger for too long. Instead, she gave the collar a sharp, authoritative tug.
"Let's go, Oiwa."
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Ryuji stepped out of the room and immediately found Rinko waiting for him in the hallway, arms crossed, leaning against the wall.
"Rinko?" He blinked in surprise. "You've been waiting for me? Where's Tatsurou-kun?"
Rinko straightened, a small smile playing on her lips. "Tatsurou is taking Yukikaze on a date right now."
Ryuji's eyes widened. "Eh? I didn't expect him to just take Yukikaze on a date to cheer her up. I didn't think he had it in him." He scratched the back of his head, genuinely impressed.
"No," Rinko corrected, her tone amused. "They've been planning this since yesterday."
"That makes sense." Ryuji nodded slowly. Then a teasing glint entered his eyes. "Since they're both on a date, I guess we're going on one too."
"W-what?! What are you saying!" Rinko's cheeks flushed.
"I mean, what are you doing waiting in front of this room?" Ryuji's smirk widened. "Unless, of course, you wanted to ask me out. After all, your little brother is on one. The big sister wants to go on a date as well." He clearly enjoyed her flustered reaction.
"N-no, you idiot." She straightened, forcing her composure back into place. "I simply wanted to spend time with you."
"So a date then?"
"Hmm…" She grumbled, her shoulders slumping in defeat. "Fine. It's a date."
"Hehe." Ryuji chuckled, then let the laughter die down. His expression softened. "Sorry, I'm just messing with you." He paused, his gaze turning more serious. "Hey, can we go somewhere we can be alone? I want to talk with you in private."
Rinko's cheeks flushed again, this time a deeper shade. ‘Alone? Just the two of them? What does that mean? What does he want to talk about?’ She swallowed, trying to steady her nerves. "Sure. Let's go to the bench outside the school."
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They sat alone on the bench outside the school. The warm afternoon sun bathed them in golden light, while a cool breeze rustled the leaves overhead, making the moment feel almost peaceful. But despite the comfortable setting, Rinko was far from at ease.
"Rinko." Ryuji's voice was soft, contemplative. "Despite knowing you for only a few days, I can't help but feel a strong bond with you."
Her heart hammered against her ribs.
"I feel like I could entrust my heart and soul to you."
Rinko pressed her palms against her cheeks, trying to hide the crimson spreading across her face. ‘N-no, I can't. It's too early. We barely know each other.’
"Rinko, you okay?"
"Huh?" She jolted, dropping her hands. "I-I'm fine! Just fine. Just feeling hot today."
"Oh." Ryuji's gaze lingered on her flushed face, and he caught the rapid rhythm of her heartbeat, the heat radiating from her skin. He gave a small, understanding nod. "Then I'll go straight to the point." He turned to face her fully, his eyes meeting hers. "Could you keep this a secret? I want to let this pent-up feeling out of me."
"P-pent-up feelings?!" Rinko's voice cracked.
"Y-yeah." He rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly sheepish. "If anyone heard this, I'd die of embarrassment."
Rinko let out a deep breath, steadying herself. "Okay, Ryuji. I understand."
Ryuji's gaze dropped to his hands. "Rinko, during the mission… I had sex with both Sakura and Onisaki-san."
"..." Rinko's mind went blank. The words refused to process. "What?"
"Well, for Onisaki-san, it's not sex. She just gave me a boob job." He coughed, trying to fight back a blush. "I-I got hit by aphrodisiac poison. Twice. So they willingly did those things for me." He paused, his voice dropping. "But that's not the worst of it. The worst is… they like me." He said it like it was the most terrible thing in the world.
‘They like him.’ Something twisted in Rinko's gut. "You mean… they've fallen in love with you?"
"Yeah." Ryuji stared at the ground, shoulders hunched. "And it scares me. I rejected Sakura's feelings at first, but she didn't give up. Instead, she was determined to make me fall for her. And Onisaki… she probably hasn't even realized it yet." He let out a shaky breath. "Rinko, I need some advice."
"Advice?" Rinko blinked, bewildered. "I-I don't even know what to think of this. Why do you need advice from someone like me?" She didn't understand. She barely knew anything about love. The closest she'd ever felt to it was for her little brother, but that feeling had started to wither the moment she met Ryuji…
"That doesn't matter." Ryuji shook his head. "Just say anything. Maybe whatever you say will spark an idea."
"I… I…" She searched for words, any words. "You could just wait it out?"
Ryuji went silent, contemplating. Then, slowly, he nodded. "You know what… you're right. I should wait this out. I have other priorities. Bounty hunters, Juryu, the Incubus King." He stood, having found his answer. "Thank you, Rinko."
"You're welcome." Rinko blinked, genuinely surprised that her answer had been the right one.
"Okay, first things first—fix my phone." Ryuji pulled out his device, revealing a cracked screen. "Know any phone repair shops? I think it can still be saved. It's just the screen."
Rinko stood as well, brushing off her skirt. "I know one. I'll guide you there."
"Guess this counts as our first date."
Rinko's hand shot out and grabbed Ryuji's right ear, twisting it sharply.
"Ow! Ow! I'm sorry! Don't pull it! I'll stop with the jokes!" Ryuji yelped, stumbling sideways.
Rinko released him with a huff. Ryuji rubbed his sore ear, his voice softening. "I-I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you, okay?" He sounded genuinely apologetic, a stark contrast to his usual teasing attitude. "And, well… can you help me train tomorrow?"
"Help you train?"
"With assassins and powerful enemies coming after me, I have to take this seriously. No more half‑assing." He paused, his gaze turning earnest. "And I need to learn to wield a sword my father gave me."
Rinko tilted her head. "You need to learn it? What's wrong with the sword?"
Ryuji summoned a longsword into his hand with a flash of light, startling Rinko. "It's a European longsword. Finely crafted, with magical enchantments I haven't figured out yet." He turned the blade over, admiring the runes along the flat. "Honestly, I'm tempted to just stick with my katana and leave this in storage."
Rinko studied the blade, then him. "Alright. I'll help you."
With their discussion settled, they made their way out of the school grounds, only to freeze at the sight before them.
Murasaki was walking ahead, holding Oiwa by a chain attached to his collar.
Oiwa met their gaze. His mouth fell open. A small part of him visibly died inside.
Ryuji quickly averted his eyes. "I won't judge what you're into, Oiwa-sensei."
"This isn't a fetish thing!" Oiwa's voice cracked as he desperately tried to unchain himself.
Murasaki gave the chain a sharp tug, sending Oiwa stumbling forward.
"Oi! Stand up!" she commanded.
"I don't want to live anymore," Oiwa muttered, his soul leaving his body.
Murasaki simply resumed dragging him across the ground, continuing their journey toward the Yatsu estate.
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Under Eden went dark. The lights flickered and died, plunging the building into an eerie silence, broken moments later by the crack of gunfire and distant screams.
Real had locked himself in his office, a pistol trembling in his grip. He pressed his back against the wall, sweat beading on his forehead, and fumbled for his phone. No signal. They must have jammed the entire building.
Then the door burst open.
A man stood in the doorway, wearing a ski mask. But it's enough that Real can tell what he is feeling. He looked almost bored, as if this were a routine chore rather than a raid.
"So you're Real, huh?"
Real raised the pistol and fired. Once. Twice. Three times. The bullets struck an invisible barrier. The man didn't flinch. He walked forward, slowly taking his time, as the shots continued to hit off the barrier. Until the magazine ran dry.
Then he was close. He grabbed Real's wrist and began to twist. Bones cracked. Flesh contorted. The gun clattered to the floor.
Real crumpled, a scream tearing from his throat. But the man wasn't done. He grabbed Real by the collar, hauled him up, and drove a fist into his face. Again until Real's features blurred into a mask of blood and bruises.
Then he pressed a finger to his earpiece. "Real is captured. I'll escort the target to the vehicle."
"Roger that, Mr. Chung." Carl's voice crackled through the earpiece. "Most security in the building is dead, so don't worry about getting ambushed."
"Understand, Mr. Clockwork."
Ae glanced down at the crumpled, bleeding figure at his feet. Then he dragged Real out of the office and into the darkened hall.
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"Another mission accomplished." Carl raised his hand toward Ae. "High five!"
Ae obliged, slapping his hand with a grin.
While they celebrated, a convoy of armored vehicles screeched around the corner, heavily armed enforcers piling out with rifles raised. The mercenaries panicked, dropping assets and shoving prostitutes aside as they scrambled for cover.
Then the gunfire erupted.
Ae moved without hesitation. He stepped to the front, raised his palm, and a vortex erupted before him, a spiraling wall of wind that sucked every bullet into its core. The enforcers kept firing, but the shots were swallowed whole. When the gunfire died down, Ae shut it down, and a misshapen ball of compressed bullets clattered to the ground.
"Good job, Mr. Chung. Now it's my turn." Carl extended his hand, and multiple golden gears materialized, spinning at impossible speed. They shot forward like a swarm of razors, shredding through armor plating and flesh alike. The enforcers fell within seconds.
"Quickly!" Carl shouted. "We need to leave now!"
The mercenaries scrambled into their vehicles, engines roaring to life as they fled the area. But more enforcers were already in pursuit, sirens wailing through the streets.
“Oi where's Olaf?! Isn’t this the time he is supposed to help us right now!” Ae leaned out the window, an SMG in his grip, and fired at the pursuing vehicles. Then something white landed on his hand. On his gun. On his arms. He blinked. "What the! Snow?"
Carl grinned. "Heh. Finally." He pulled Ae back inside. "Get in. Things are about to get very cold."
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Olaf stood atop a high building with huge sigils on the floor he stood on. Below, the chaos of the chase played out, but his focus was elsewhere.
"Spirit of ice and snow, heed my call! Cover this land in harsh, blinding white. Shroud everything in cold and silence.”
At first, only a few snowflakes drifted down. Then more began to pile. Within moments, the flurries thickened into a swirling mass, the wind howling through the streets. Turning the city into white.
For the first time in its history, Yomihara suffered a disaster it had never known. A blizzard.
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Despite being blinded by the blizzard, the vehicles had an AI guiding the drivers. Using a mix of maps, thermal, and MWIR cameras, it calculated a precise route and led them toward the city exit.
"Holy shit." Ae gaped, staring at the white void outside. "Is this Olaf's doing? Does it cover a huge area?"
"No, more like an entire city." Carl shrugged. "Gotta be safe than sorry."
"An entire city." Ae shook his head in disbelief. "Is he blessed by the spirit of ice? To create this type of spell requires either huge preparation or being blessed by the spirit itself."
"Olaf has been beloved by the Ice Spirit since he was little." Carl glanced at him. "Of course, he still had to prepare. A spell that huge still requires major conditions."
"So it's over, right?"
"Yup."
Ae let out a long breath and lowered his chair, getting comfortable. "Then I'm going to sleep. Wake me up once we arrive."
As the vehicle hummed through the snow, Ae's mind wandered. He couldn't help but wonder, did the team tasked with capturing Muneichi have an easier time than them?