Chapter 9: Overtime

With the formation of S.T.R.I.K.E and the briefing of Commander Gwyn, the team moved from the briefing room to their designated office, which Akafuyu chose herself.

Knowing this, the team members can't shake the feeling that Akafuyu is being lenient with them. Though they just shrugged that thought.

"Captain, we are ready to receive your commands regarding the mission!" Yamato exclaimed willfully.

Johan sighed and replied to Yamato. "Look, I just said to drop the formalities when Commander Gwyn is not around. Let's just relax and take a nice, steady pace for now. After hearing the order, it doesn't sound urgent anyway."

He then took a sip of Chizue's brewed tea. As it went through his throat, a calm and warm feeling enveloped Johan, resulting for him to leave such positive feedback:

"Hooh, Chizue, you didn't tell us that you can brew such amazing tea. It might even replace Klauss's coffee."

Meanwhile in Akafuyu's chambers, Klauss just did a skeleton sneeze while he's about to brew his signature coffee.

Akafuyu noticed this and asked him:

"Klauss, is there something wrong?"

"Mistress Akafuyu, this kind of rattle in my bones. It's as if some kind of competition is…..BREWING"

"E-eh?"

Cutting back to Kiyoto and party, Chizue does a formal bow after receiving Johan's remark. She then poured everyone the same cup of tea and seated herself beside Fudo, who is bothering Kiyoto a lot with her unstoppable talk.

Everyone is currently waiting for Johan to start speaking about the mission except of course the talkative Fudo. Seeing them like this, Johan let out another sigh and clasped with hand with a bit of force, resulting for a slight shock to be felt inside the room.

'Did…did he just do that while not in possession of any mask?' Kiyoto thought to himself after witnessing Johan's action.

"Come now, free some tension and relax just as I said back then. It's not as if I'm neglecting the part that we're currently on a mission. I just want everyone here to be comfortable first before starting. Helps up with the nerves you know."

Not everyone seems to agree, but no one can really blame him since Johan, as said back then, will be the one responsible for the team and their wellness.

"Alright, finish Chizue's tea and I'll begin." Johan took another sip as he rests his head.

After a short while, everyone finished their tea and properly seated themselves. Johan on the other hand sits over his table and crossed his legs as he's about to brief them.

"Alright. As for the first mission of S.T.R.I.K.E, since our objective is to scout and weed out the opposing [Scythes], we are to observe the newly registered Journeymen in our territory, especially the suspicious looking ones."

'Hmm…' Kiyoto remembered something. Two days ago, while he was observing a nearby town, he stumbled upon two journeymen. A girl accompanied by a boy who seems to be a lot more different than the usual journeymen.

Kiyoto decided to not mention it, since he doesn't want to draw conclusions without supporting evidence.

Yamato inquired: "By observe, you mean–"

"Discreetly. We operate without drawing any attention from an unconfirmed party. We only put on a show once engaged by a [Scythes] member. That's how we will do things onwards." Johan finalized.

With all that said, Johan splits the team in two. The first team is to observe the district of Asakura where the arrival of journeymen numbers the most compared to other districts. The team is composed of Yamato, Fudo and Chizue.

That makes team two, Kiyoto and Johan, who are making their way to Yanagawa which is the smallest town in the territorial city, but it is near the border where journeymen pass. Moreover, it is a town where patrols seldom come, so the possibilities of this town as a recruitment hub for the [Scythes] are quite high.

As per the selection of expedition members, Johan picked Kiyoto on purpose since he is curious about him. While on their way, Johan would often ask Kiyoto about his daily life and how he is coping up with whatever his situation is.

"You're tough Kiyoto, you should know that. Though please trust my decision to not fully trust you yet, trust comes in expensive ways." Johan clearly states his stand after hearing Kiyoto's side.

"I understand Cap– Johan, though I will still insist: please let me be of help in any way I can."

"And where is this coming from?"

"Truthfully, I'm not sure. It's just that my heart wills it to. And I intend to follow it." Kiyoto said so while wearing an honest expression.

Johan in response patted his back and commented: "That's one hell of a heart you have, even though the mind doesn't know your origin, the heart will always be the same. So I'll assume that's the kind of man you always were."

Kiyoto kinda felt embarrassed hearing Johan's statement.

"Ah we're here. It still hasn't changed much, it's a small and quiet place. Like what I preferred back then when I was a child." Johan gestured to Kiyoto to follow him, which Kiyoto did so in a heartbeat.

Meanwhile, the team on Asakura seems to be doing fine as well. As the report says, the city is indeed teeming with journeymen who have come from different routes. The three only followed those that are using the dark alleys and those that seem to be getting pursued by someone.

To add more information, since this operation is covert that involves weeding out [Scythes] recruitment operation from journeymen, the five of them do not wear their uniform.

A long time has passed, the sun will set soon yet no one reported a [Scythes] sighting.

"Looks like today is a quiet day eh." Johan said with a disappointed tone. He might be hoping to at least get some action today which he, unfortunately, didn't get.

"We'll get them someday Johan, let's just be thankful for a peaceful day today." Kiyoto remarked positively.

As soon as he said that, a new batch of journeymen entered the border and into this small town. They were accompanied by five suspicious individuals who seemed to be surveying the surroundings.

Not long before the two spotted them, the other team from Asakura radioed in another suspicious batch going through the area they were observing.

Johan commented and gave his order: "Makes sense, less patrol, less eyes to see. Remember to not engage, we need to see where they're heading. Looks like we're in for an overtime."

"Roger" Yamato confirmed and relayed the message to his teammates. All of them stayed in the shadows and started to tail the group they deemed suspicious.

Yamato's team followed them until the group reached one of their bases. In the rich town of Asakura, they can't believe that the place they are going to establish as a base was a manor with a watermill. Meaning they have someone big inside the territorial city backing them.

Chizue frowned. "This manor…it's owned by magnate Yoshu, one of Magnolia's shareholders. If this goes out in public–"

Magnolian Business Empire, one of the biggest Business Enterprises in the industry of Japan. The current head of this said Empire is none other than Kirisame Magnolia, the ninth herald next to Akafuyu.

While Chizue was commenting, a radio intermission interrupted her. It was Johan who's about to report something.

"I'm sorry everyone, but it looks like the two of us here has no choice but to engage"

"Johan?" Chizue immediately responded but as always, it got cut off. It's a [Swords] thing. Not sure about what happened, but it looks like a fight is going to break out. Johan and Kiyoto versus ???