No rest for the wicked

The city bled neon against the dark sky, its streets wet with rain and thick with shadows. The alleys whispered secrets, the skyscrapers loomed like silent sentinels. Osaka's underbelly never slept, and for those who lived in it, neither did the nightmares.

Four figures walked through the dimly lit streets, their black suits pristine despite the chaos they had left behind.

Ren led the way, silent, composed. His steps were measured, his presence cold. The blood on his katana was long gone, wiped away with the same efficiency he handled everything else.

Behind him, Akihiro strolled as if they weren't walking away from a mission gone horribly wrong. Hands in his pockets, a lazy grin played on his lips. "Well," he drawled, glancing at the others, "that was fun."

No one responded.

"Really?" Akihiro sighed dramatically. "No one's gonna appreciate the entertainment value? I mean, the way they were waiting for us, all lined up like a damn welcome party? Almost flattering."

Mai shot him a sidelong glance. "You find getting ambushed amusing?"

"I find irony amusing," Akihiro corrected, flashing her a sharp grin. "You gotta admit, it's pretty funny. We go in thinking we're the executioners, but turns out someone flipped the script on us." He let out a low whistle. "Now that's quality storytelling."

Kaede chuckled. "Can't argue with that."

Ren didn't react, but Akihiro caught the slight clench of his jaw. The only hint that he was irritated.

Good.

Akihiro liked keeping things unpredictable. It made people uneasy.

"Lets talk about this inside," Ren finally said, voice devoid of emotion.

Akihiro smirked. "Ooooh, scary."

Mai ignored him, her gaze sharp as she glanced around. "We shouldn't be talking at all out here you fucking retard."

Akihiro threw up his hands in mock surrender. "Fine, fine. Back to brooding silence."

They walked in silence after that, the only sound the echo of their footsteps on wet pavement.

The Syndicate's Fortress

The headquarters loomed ahead, a tower of black glass and steel piercing the skyline. From the outside, it looked corporate, sleek. A place of power.

But those who knew better understood the truth.

This was a fortress. A machine built on discipline, fear, and control. And to make it even worse that are protected by the government.

The Syndicate didn't just operate in the shadows—it was the shadows. Its influence ran through every level of the underworld, from back-alley deals to corporate boardrooms. And inside these walls, everything was watched. Everything was known.

The heavy doors slid open at their approach, the security systems instantly recognizing them. The air inside was colder, sterile. The hum of surveillance cameras filled the silence, lenses tracking every movement.

Inside, the temperature was colder, the air clinical, carrying the faint metallic scent of steel and gun oil. The walls were smooth, black metal lined with rows of monitors displaying live feeds from across the city—streets, safehouses, ports, government offices. Every camera was a silent eye, watching, waiting.

Other operatives in identical black suits moved through the halls, their expressions blank, their purpose clear. There were no wasted words here. No unnecessary movements.

It wasn't just an organization. It was a system. A machine.

And in the Umbra Division, failure was not an option.

As they passed through the final security checkpoint, Akihiro stretched his arms behind his head, exhaling loudly. "Home sweet home."

Kaede smirked. "You say that like this place isn't a goddamn prison."

Akihiro grinned. "Depends on how you look at it."

Ren ignored them both, leading the way into the command chamber.

The Command Room

The doors slid open, revealing a vast, sterile room designed for efficiency over comfort.

A long steel table sat at the center, surrounded by black chairs. The walls were lined with monitors displaying live footage—streets, ports, high-profile targets. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city, but the view felt more like a statement of power than anything else. A room only the umbra division were allowed into. They were the strongest assassins in the syndicate. They could get the job done in a flash and possessed inhumane abilities.

At the far end of the room, standing with his back to them, was Hiroshi.

Akihiro's brother.

The difference between them had always been stark. Where Akihiro moved with a careless ease, Hiroshi was rigid, precise. He didn't just command respect—he expected it.

Even now, with his hands clasped behind his back, his presence filled the room.

The air was heavy.

"You were compromised." Hiroshi's voice was steady. Cold.

Akihiro's grin didn't falter. "Technically, we weren't the ones who got compromised. The mission was."

Hiroshi turned, his gaze sharp. "And whose responsibility was that mission?"

Akihiro's grin widened. "Oh, I don't know, probably the traitor who set us up?" He gestured vaguely. "I mean, unless you're suggesting we sabotaged ourselves for the thrill of it."

Hiroshi didn't react. "We have a problem."

No one spoke.

"And we need to fix it before the higher-ups find out."

The words settled like ice in the room.

Everyone understood what he meant.

The Syndicate had no patience for mistakes. If the higher-ups discovered there was a leak before they handled it, there wouldn't be an investigation. There wouldn't be a discussion.

There would be consequences.

For all of them.

"We have three days," Hiroshi continued, his voice measured. "Three days to find the traitor before this escalates beyond our control."

Akihiro whistled low. "Three days? That's generous."

Kaede arched a brow. "You call that generous?"

Akihiro shrugged. "Could've been three hours."

Mai shot him a look. "This isn't a joke."

Akihiro smirked. "Of course not. Jokes are funny."

Ren finally spoke, his voice quiet but firm. "If we don't handle this, someone else will. And they won't be as forgiving."

Kaede's smirk faded.

Mai straightened, turning back to Hiroshi. "What's our approach?"

Hiroshi's gaze was unreadable. "There is no suspect yet. No clear leads. That means we start from the ground up—records, communications, movements. No one is above suspicion."

A pause.

"Not even us."

The words were heavier than the silence that followed.

Akihiro tilted his head. "Oh, come on, me? A traitor?" He placed a hand on his chest in mock offense. "I'm hurt, really."

Kaede snorted. "No one would ever be dumb enough to trust you with classified intel."

Akihiro gasped. "Wow. Rude."

Mai ignored them both. "We need to divide tasks." She turned back to Hiroshi. "How far are we allowed to go?"

Hiroshi met her gaze.

"As far as necessary."

No hesitation.

No limits.

"This won't be easy though as you guys will have other missions too to be dealing with while looking for the traitor" he added

Akihiro sighed, stretching his arms. "Alright, let's find ourselves a rat." He grinned. "Before we become the next casualties."

No one argued.

They had three days.

And no margin for error.