The weight of Miura's words hung in the air like a storm cloud. Aiko could barely process it. A secret program? The Agency? She felt her stomach tighten as if the walls of the tunnel were closing in.
Ryoji clenched his jaw. He had suspected Aiko was more than just a random target, but this confirmed it—she was part of something bigger, something deadly. And Miura knew more than she was letting on.
Before Aiko could speak, the distant sound of boots echoed through the tunnels again. The Agency was closing in.
Miura pulled a flash drive from her pocket and pressed it into Aiko's palm. "This has files on the program. Not everything, but enough for you to understand. When we get out of here, we'll talk."
Aiko hesitated before nodding. Whatever was on this drive held the answers she had been searching for.
Ryoji took point, leading them through the dark passageways toward the old Shibuya service exit. The further they went, the colder the air became. The feeling of being watched intensified.
Then, suddenly—an explosion. The shockwave rattled the walls, dust and debris raining down.
"They're sealing the tunnels," Miura said grimly. "They don't want us getting out."
From the darkness ahead, figures emerged—masked assassins in black tactical gear, their weapons gleaming in the dim light. The Shinkage Clan.
Ryoji barely had time to react before the first one lunged. A blur of steel—a knife slashed through the air toward his throat. He ducked, grabbing the attacker's wrist and twisting violently, snapping it with a sickening crunch. The assassin crumpled, but the others advanced without hesitation.
Gunfire erupted. Miura fired, taking down two before diving behind cover. Ryoji pulled Aiko with him as bullets ricocheted off the walls.
A masked figure stepped forward, his presence commanding. Unlike the others, he wasn't just an assassin—he was the clan's executioner. His katana gleamed under the dim light.
"Give us the girl," he said coldly. "And we will make this painless."
Ryoji wiped blood from his lip, gripping his gun tighter. "Not happening."
The executioner sighed. "Then we do this the hard way."
He moved with inhuman speed, closing the distance before Ryoji could fire. A blade flashed—Ryoji barely dodged, feeling the wind of the strike brush past his face. He countered, but the executioner blocked with ease, his movements precise, calculated.
Miura reloaded, covering them with suppressive fire. "We need to move!"
Ryoji gritted his teeth, dodging another slash. They couldn't win this fight—not here.
Then, a new sound cut through the chaos—a mechanical hum. From above, a surveillance drone hovered, its red lens blinking.
And then—a voice. Cold, mechanical.
"TARGET CONFIRMED. INITIATING LOCKDOWN."
The Agency had found them.
The Shinkage Clan warriors stiffened. Even they knew what this meant.
Then—a gunshot rang out. The executioner staggered, a bullet piercing his shoulder. From the shadows, a new figure emerged.
A man in a white suit. His presence was suffocating. His aura, undeniable.
Miura's breath hitched. "No… It can't be."
The man in white adjusted his gloves, unfazed. His voice was eerily calm.
"Ryoji," he said. "It's been a long time."
Ryoji's grip tightened. "You…"
Aiko looked between them. "Who is he?"
Miura answered, her voice barely above a whisper.
"The Head of Division Zero. The man who started it all."
The white-suited man smiled faintly. "It's time you learned the truth, Aiko."
Ryoji raised his gun—but before he could fire, the man vanished. A blur of motion—and then, darkness engulfed them.
To be continued chapter 16....