Near the Sugihara Main Residence, Osaka.
Tsubasa Sato, a lawmaker from the Reform Party, drew in a deep breath.
Since childhood, certain words had followed her everywhere: prodigy, genius. She had always ranked first throughout elementary, middle, and high school. At Japan's most prestigious university, and later in law school, she had graduated at the top of her class again. After graduation, her career had been a steady climb without a single real failure.
That was how she had reached this position.
Which was precisely why this felt so unfamiliar.
She had always succeeded. Always won.
Yet now she found herself hesitating, torn.
He looks relaxed. Annoyingly so.
She glanced at Jinhyeok standing beside her. He looked like someone casually watching a fire burn on the other side of the river—completely at ease.
Did he have any idea?
That because of his proposal, someone was wracking their brain to the point of splitting headaches?
—Please find Sugihara Shoji. It doesn't have to be precise. Just identifying the direction is enough.
As expected, Jinhyeok hadn't invited her here for a stroll.
He was planning to go in.
Into the Sugihara family's main estate—protected by hundreds of security personnel and the most advanced defense systems money could buy.
Tsubasa wetted her dry lips.
What they were about to do was on an entirely different scale.
There were things she needed to clarify.
"Mr. Yoo Jinhyeok."
"Yes?"
"If I remember correctly, you said you had no intention of killing Sugihara Shoji."
"That's right. I don't go around killing people."
"Then why are you planning to go in?"
"To have a little chat."
He answered with an easy smile, as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world.
She was speechless.
If he weren't a Runner—if she weren't absolutely certain he meant every word—she would have told him to stop spouting nonsense.
"If I find Sugihara Shoji, then what? Locating him won't make the security guards clock out. It won't shut down the defense systems. How do you plan to break through that fortress?"
Human senses could be fooled.
Machines could not.
The moment an uninvited foot crossed the threshold, sirens would blare.
Jinhyeok tilted his chin toward the main gate.
Tsubasa followed his gaze.
"I'll walk in through there. And walk back out the same way. I know it sounds absurd, but hold that thought for now. You've got a good nose—you'll realize soon enough that I'm not bluffing."
She let out a small sigh and brushed back her hair.
There was no point asking further.
Their definitions of "common sense" were worlds apart.
"And what do I get out of this?"
"The fall of Sugihara. That's a huge win for you, isn't it, Ms. Tsubasa?"
It was strange.
Objectively, what he was saying was ridiculous.
Yet somehow… it felt like it could actually happen.
And if it did?
The ruling Gamin Party, which had dominated for decades, would shake.
No—collapse.
They were already reeling after losing Hosaka.
Sugihara's downfall would be a fatal blow.
"No one will die. At least not tonight."
Tsubasa studied him for a long moment before sighing again.
She hated gambling.
But how could she not place a bet when someone was offering her not just four of a kind—but a straight flush?
"…All right."
She opened her inventory and pulled out an old parchment scroll.
A spell that poured every ounce of her resources into maximizing her ability.
I never wanted to use this again.
Clicking her tongue, she tore the scroll without hesitation.
She had thought it through enough.
Her eyes slowly turned violet.
Moments later, she began to see it—
The lingering traces saturating the air.
Gritting her teeth, she endured as countless impressions flooded her senses. She steadied her breathing, fighting to keep her mind from fracturing.
Then she closed her eyes.
She began searching for the residual trace of Sugihara Shoji—the scent she had encountered two months ago.
"Oh. That's cool."
The violet light spilling from her eyes was a rare sight.
He resisted the urge to clap like a seal, not wanting to break her concentration.
Time passed.
After peeling away countless overlapping traces, Tsubasa opened her eyes.
"I found him. Go straight 500 meters from the main gate, then 200 meters to the right. There's a detached building. About thirty guards are concentrated there—you'll recognize it immediately. But there's a problem."
"A problem?"
"Sugihara Shoji isn't alone. I don't know why they're meeting at this hour, but several of the Prime Minister's secretaries are with him. All of them are over 70th-floor climbers. Mr. Yoo Jinhyeok… today isn't the day—?"
She was about to suggest retreating and coming back another time.
If Jinhyeok hadn't vanished.
"!!!"
In an instant, she sensed his trace shift.
The main gate.
The main gate of the estate.
Clang. Scrape.
The sound of metal grinding against pavement made the guards lift their heads.
Under a nearby streetlight, someone was approaching.
"Control, do you copy? An unidentified individual is approaching from the front. Please confirm if any additional guests are expected."
All scheduled guests have arrived. No more are expected.
"Understood."
One of the guards stepped forward.
"Please halt. This is private property—!?"
He had intended to block the intruder politely. In this era of social media and livestreams, caution was standard.
But he immediately reached for his weapon.
The man approaching wore a mask and carried an enormous greatsword in one hand.
The scraping sound had come from the blade dragging across cement.
"He's armed. Moving to subdue."
Guests are present. Handle it quietly.
"Understood."
The security team advanced in formation.
The masked man stopped walking.
Then he raised the greatsword.
"He's coming."
They braced for impact.
But instead of swinging, the man gently lowered the blade.
[Explosion Enchant]
BOOOOOOM!!!
A massive explosion erupted, flames shooting skyward—making a mockery of the command to keep things quiet.
WEEEE-OOO—WEEEE-OOO—
Sirens blared throughout the estate.
Personnel poured out of the buildings.
[Stealth]
[Silent Movement]
Jinhyeok dismissed Salamanca and vanished.
He strolled calmly toward the gate, weaving through the chaos to avoid colliding with the rushing guards.
"Find him! There's only one!"
"Don't lower your guard! It could be a diversion!"
"Only today's active squads move! Everyone else hold your positions!"
As expected of people paid this much.
Even under sudden attack, the security team didn't descend into panic. They split into units and followed protocol.
It didn't matter.
He had achieved what he wanted.
"Captain. Now's the time. You can go," Kancho whispered in a tiny voice from his shoulder.
The detection sensors blanketing the grounds weren't disabled.
But with dozens of guards running around in a frenzy, the sensors could only detect movement—not distinguish friend from foe.
To them, Jinhyeok was effectively invisible.
"Kancho, you're still counting the 500 meters, right?"
"Of course. Estimating distance is a Yodel Ranger's basic skill."
Dependable as ever.
"Now."
He turned right.
"Rear gate breach! Two down!"
"Garden sector breached! This isn't just one attacker!"
"Damn it! At least three! Split forces between rear, front, and garden!"
The shockwaves of the explosion had faded.
But the confusion only grew.
Somewhere, Seira and Dark were likely beating down guards while wearing identical masks. He had told them not to kill anyone.
Hmm.
A flicker of doubt crossed his mind.
Had Dark ever spared someone before?
"Here," Kancho whispered.
Jinhyeok focused.
"Two on each side of the door. Two more thirty meters inside."
Kancho stared at him in awe.
To detect enemies even faster than himself—even by a fraction of a second.
There was only one person worthy of leading the Yodel Rangers.
"Kancho. Disengage."
"Yes, sir."
Stopping before the door, Jinhyeok loosened his shoulders.
He pulled out a wooden sword he had prepared in advance.
Bang!
He kicked the door open.
Attacks came from both sides—knuckles from one, a spear from the other.
He leaned back casually, letting both strikes pass in front of him.
The two weapons crossed paths before his eyes.
His wooden sword darted left and right in quick thrusts.
"Gah!"
Two dull impacts.
Two bodies slammed into the wall.
He lifted his gaze.
There.
Sugihara Shoji.
"Who are you?" Shoji demanded.
The men beside him stood up.
"Don't kill him. I want to see his face."
"Understood. Please wait a moment."
Shoji watched as two stepped forward.
Sumida, awakened as a Barbarian Warrior.
Utsu, a wind-element buffer.
They were always paired—among the most skilled in the secretary's office.
A faint, cruel smile curved Shoji's lips.
Who could possibly withstand a dump truck's destructive power backed by a speed buff?
"Senior Sumida, I'll support you."
"In front of the Chairman. Go full speed from the start."
"Understood."
Utsu placed a hand on Sumida's back. Mana flowed from his body, converting into a buff.
Preparation complete, Utsu opened his mouth.
"I'll cast the buff—"
Sssshk!
A black streak cut through the air.
A thin line, stretching straight to Sumida's chest.
Sumida's legs buckled.
Thud!
He crashed to the floor.
Utsu's eyes widened.
Unbelievable.
Even without the buff, for Sumida to fail to react at all—
Just how fast—
Thwack!
Utsu's thoughts ended there.
The wooden sword struck his solar plexus, sending him flying.
For a fleeting moment, Shoji's eyes trembled.
Jinhyeok didn't care.
Step.
The night visitor approached leisurely, bent slightly—
And met Sugihara Shoji's gaze.
"Good evening, Chairman Sugihara Shoji."
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