Chapter 172 : Dance Under the Pier

The night over Hosu City erupted in flames and roars. In the West District, several kilometers from the port, Endeavor was putting on his show. A large warehouse serving as a base for arms smugglers exploded in a giant fireball, illuminating the night sky. The Number One Hero moved with calculated brutality, super-heated streams of fire from his Jet Burn shooting in all directions, intentionally creating maximum chaos and destruction. News helicopters hovered in the distance, their cameras fixed on the incredible display of power. Dozens of police cars and pro-hero vans rushed to the scene, their sirens wailing, drawn to the center of fiery gravity that Endeavor had created.

Loud enough for you, Hawks? Endeavor thought with a satisfied grunt as he threw a villain against a wall. The diversion had begun. The window of opportunity was open.

Far from the chaos, over the dark and calm waters of Hosu Bay, a silver shadow glided silently through the clouds. Tatsumi flew low, his matte gray armor blending with the night sky. In his ear, Hawks' voice came through clearly.

"Endeavor's fireworks show is a success. All eyes are on him. You have a clean 90-minute window. Starting now. What's your position, Owl's Eye?"

"Approaching the infiltration zone," Tatsumi replied, his eyes scanning the waters below. He could see the lights of Hosu Port ahead, a spiderweb of light in the darkness. He took a deep breath, calming his heart rate. He was ready.

He dived sharply, gliding towards the water's surface. Just before impact, he felt his armor respond to his will, becoming slicker and more hydrodynamic. He entered the water with a minimal ripple, the silence swallowing him as he plunged into the cold, murky world. The sounds from above the surface muffled into a distant hum. There was only the sound of water flowing around his helmet and his own heartbeat. He was a ghost in the water.

He swam with controlled power, small fins forming on his legs to help him maneuver. He passed the giant shadows of the hulls of docked ships. Finally, he saw it: Pier 7. Above it, the massive cargo ship "The Crimson Tide" was docked, its bright work lights piercing the darkness.

As per Akame's plan, he didn't surface. He swam towards the underbelly of the pier, a labyrinth of concrete pillars covered in barnacles and darkness. The sounds from above were clearer now: the metallic creak of a crane, the shouts of dockworkers, and the hum of engines. He found the pillar closest to the unloading area and carefully emerged from the water, clinging to the darkest side of the pillar like an amphibious lizard. Water dripped silently from his armor. He did a 360-degree scan, remembering Akame's final lesson. Clear.

He looked up through the gaps in the pier's planks. Up there, under the blinding glare of the floodlights, he saw it. The dark blue container with the code XM-774 was being lifted from the ship's hold. It was almost time.

Using his wings for short, muffled leaps, Tatsumi moved from pillar to pillar, getting closer to the spot where the container would be placed on a trailer truck. Every movement was deliberate, every landing cushioned. He could see the PLF guards disguised as dockworkers, their faces tense and alert. And among them, he recognized a slender, slippery figure moving with authority. Slither. The lieutenant was there in person, overseeing every move. This made everything ten times more dangerous.

The giant crane groaned as it lowered the container onto the truck. Thud! The loud sound of metal impact was Tatsumi's cue. He had a short window before the truck was secured and departed. This was his chance.

With a nearly inaudible flap of his wings, he launched from his hiding spot, directly into the dark undercarriage of the trailer truck. He clung to its cold, oily underside, making himself as small as possible.

His heart pounded. He took out the coin-sized magnetic tracker from a compartment on his wrist. His hands moved with speed and precision. Click. The first tracker was securely attached to the container's steel frame.

As he took out the second listening device, he froze. A pair of boots stopped just inches from his face. He held his breath, not daring to move a single millimeter.

"Check all the security seals before you tie it down!" Slither's sharp voice came from above. "I want this container wrapped up like a newborn baby!"

Tatsumi could feel cold sweat forming on his forehead inside his helmet. He could see the details of the soles of Slither's boots. One move, one wrong breath, and it would all be over. After a few seconds that felt like a lifetime, the boots walked away.

The window of opportunity was open again. With a swift movement, Tatsumi attached the second listening device next to the tracker. Mission complete.

He wasted no time. Like a shadow detaching itself, he glided back into the darkness under the pier, then back into the murky water. He had succeeded.

Far from the port, after making sure no one was following him, Tatsumi surfaced in a quiet bay. The adrenaline was still flooding his system, but this time it was mixed with a pure sense of victory.

He activated his comms, his voice steady despite being slightly out of breath. "Hawks... Owl's Eye reporting. The package has been tagged. Both devices are active and transmitting. I am out of the target zone."

A moment of silence, then Hawks' voice came through, this time filled with unmistakable relief. "Good work, kid. Outstanding. Get out of there and head back to the pickup point. Endeavor's show is about to end."

Tatsumi deactivated the comms and began to swim away, towards the darkness of the open ocean. Behind him, the busy lights of Hosu Port looked like another world. Tonight, he was no longer just a fighter reacting to threats. He was a ghost dancing in the shadows, a soldier carrying out his mission with deadly precision. He had fulfilled his role, and the seed he had just planted would soon grow, bringing them one step closer to uncovering the dark heart of their enemy.