Chapter 29 : Mission Start

The plane soared into the sky, carrying our young recruits toward their next challenge. From his window seat, Yumé gazed out in awe at the world below. The vast landscape stretched endlessly, with fluffy clouds floating beneath him like a cotton sea. It was a breathtaking sight, unlike anything he had ever seen before. Pressing his face against the glass, his eyes sparkled with excitement.Carla, on the other hand, was gripping the armrests of her seat so tightly that her knuckles turned white. She hated flying. Every slight turbulence sent a wave of panic through her, making her feel as though the plane could plummet at any moment. She kept her gaze fixed on her lap, refusing to acknowledge the amused glances of Kenny and Ikku, who were barely holding back their laughter at her misery."By the way, Master, what kind of delinquents are we dealing with?" Kenny asked, casually folding his arms behind his head, completely at ease.Seated across from him, Zéno shrugged slightly."I don't have much information either," he admitted. "But apparently, some strange paranormal activity has been reported during the racketeering incidents. Smells like a Brand to me. When we land, our client, Dadinio, will be there to fill us in on the details."Just then, the intercom crackled to life."Landing in five minutes."Zéno's sharp gaze swept over his students."Alright. From this point on, stay alert. The mission starts now.""Yes, sir!" they responded in unison.The plane descended toward Kaslow Airport. The moment they touched down, a man of average height was already waiting for them on the tarmac. He wore round glasses, a red jacket, and black pants. As they approached, he stepped forward quickly, a relieved smile on his face."Welcome! I'm Dadinio," he greeted them enthusiastically. "My van is parked right over there. Let's move to a secure location."Zéno gave him a polite nod."Thanks for the welcome. But I understand you own a business as well. I'd rather we head straight there. How often do these thugs show up?"Dadinio looked a bit surprised but nodded."As you wish… They usually come by every week. It's been a week and three days since their last visit. There's a high chance they'll show up today.""Good," Zéno muttered, glancing at the darkening sky. "Keep your shop open as usual. We'll stay hidden in the back and intervene when the time is right."Dadinio hesitated."And what's your plan exactly?"A faint smirk played on Zéno's lips."We'll use one of them to trace the operation back to their boss and eliminate the problem at its source."The shop owner considered this for a moment before nodding in understanding."Alright, I get it. Let's go."They all climbed into the van and drove toward Dadinio's shop, which was conveniently located near the airport—a prime spot for attracting tourists. As they arrived, Zéno delivered his instructions with his usual calm authority."I'll hide inside with Carla, Kenny, and Ikku. Yumé, you'll stay up front with Dadinio. You're the first line of defense. Take down the thugs without causing too much of a scene. If things escalate, Kenny will step in. If it gets worse, Carla follows, and if it becomes critical, Ikku will handle it.""Got it!" they answered in sync.Yumé took his position behind the counter alongside Dadinio, while the others slipped quietly into the back of the shop."You think they'll really show up?" Yumé asked, resting his elbows on the counter.Dadinio let out a sigh."Nothing's certain… but it's highly likely."As if on cue, two silhouettes appeared outside the glass storefront."That's them," Dadinio murmured, his voice tense.The door creaked open, and two men stepped inside. The taller of the two had spiky black hair, a sleeveless vest, and dark jogging pants. He casually twirled a baseball bat in his right hand. His partner was shorter, bald, and wore a black tank top with worn-out jeans."Dadinio!" the taller man called out in an overly friendly tone. "We're here to pick up our usual donation."Yumé stepped forward, a playful grin stretching across his face."Sorry, guys, but you're not getting anything today."The bald man raised an eyebrow, visibly irritated."Who the hell is this brat?" he growled. "Move out of the way before I break your legs."The taller one snorted."Since when do we give warnings, Teddy?""Yeah, you're right!" Teddy cracked his knuckles.Without another word, he lunged at Yumé, fist raised, ready to smash him into the floor.But in the blink of an eye, Yumé dodged the attack effortlessly. He countered with a lightning-fast punch to the gut.Teddy's body seized up before he collapsed onto the floor, completely winded.Yumé sighed, shaking his head."Seriously? That's all you've got?"The taller thug's expression darkened."Oh, you're gonna regret that, you little—"He swung his baseball bat with all his strength.The wooden bat collided with Yumé's fist

And shattered into pieces.

The thug froze, eyes wide in disbelief.Yumé didn't even flinch."Go tell your boss," he said coolly. "It's over. He's not the one calling the shots anymore."The man clenched his teeth, his hands trembling with rage."You're gonna regret this," he hissed before shooting a glare at Dadinio. "And you… you're dead."With that, he turned on his heels and bolted out of the store, leaving his unconscious friend sprawled on the floor.From the back of the shop, Zéno and the others finally stepped out."Nice work, Yumé," Zéno commented with a nod of approval."Yeah, that was impressive!" Carla added.Yumé scratched the back of his head, a bit embarrassed."Eh, it wasn't much."But Zéno's tone turned serious again."Kenny, you'll stay out front. Ikku, you stay hidden in the back alley. After what just happened, retaliation is inevitable. We need to be ready. As for me… I'll be having a little chat with our unconscious friend here.""Understood," they all responded firmly.The mission had only just begun.