The news of the Viper incident spread fast, igniting a storm of whispers across Tōriku's underground. Hiroshi Kurogane's name was no longer just a passing rumor—it had become a warning.
But Hiroshi wasn't interested in fame. He was hunting for answers.
Late that night, in a dimly lit alleyway behind a neon-lit arcade, Hiroshi and Yuki met with a new contact—someone who claimed to have intel on the Phantom Council's next move. The informant was jittery, eyes darting with paranoia.
"They've set a trap," the man muttered. "A bait you won't resist."
Hiroshi's eyes narrowed. "Where?"
"The Sakura Tech Expo. Tomorrow. They're flaunting a prototype—Project Helix. Everyone will be there. Politicians, CEOs, spies... and assassins."
Yuki crossed her arms. "And what's the trap?"
The man hesitated, glancing around nervously. "You."
Before Hiroshi could press further, a silenced shot echoed through the alley. The informant crumpled—dead before he hit the ground.
"Ambush!" Yuki shouted, grabbing Hiroshi's arm.
From the rooftops, masked snipers opened fire. Hiroshi and Yuki ducked behind crates, bullets tearing through the night.
"We need to move!" Hiroshi barked.
Yuki nodded, tossing a smoke grenade that engulfed the alley in thick gray haze. Using the cover, they darted through a maze of backstreets, weaving between dumpsters and fire escapes until they finally reached safety—a hidden tunnel beneath an abandoned building.
Breathing hard, Yuki wiped sweat from her brow. "That was too close."
Hiroshi's eyes blazed with focus. "It's more than a trap—it's a declaration."
---
The next evening, the Sakura Tech Expo was buzzing with excitement. Reporters, tech enthusiasts, and world leaders packed into the convention center, marveling at futuristic gadgets and AI breakthroughs.
But Hiroshi wasn't here to admire the tech.
Dressed in a sleek black suit, he moved through the crowd unnoticed, Yuki trailing behind in a sharp business dress. Both had earpieces, eyes scanning every face.
"Spot anything?" Hiroshi murmured.
"Not yet," Yuki replied. "But security is unusually tight. And... wait—eleven o'clock. Balcony."
Hiroshi followed her gaze. A man in a gray suit, unnervingly still, was watching the room like a hawk. His tie clip bore the serpent-and-dagger insignia.
"Phantom Council operative," Hiroshi muttered. "Let's keep moving."
They approached the main hall where Project Helix was about to be unveiled. The device was a sleek, black cube, glowing faintly with pulsing blue light—a biotech marvel promising to revolutionize surveillance and control.
Hiroshi's instincts screamed: This is it.
Suddenly, the lights cut out. Gasps rippled through the crowd.
A voice echoed over the speakers—distorted, mocking. "Welcome, Kurogane. We knew you couldn't resist."
Spotlights flicked on, revealing armed guards sealing every exit. Panic erupted, people screaming and pushing to escape.
From the stage, a figure stepped forward—tall, clad in a white mask shaped like a cobra's hood.
"Allow me to introduce myself," the man announced. "Cipher—Phantom Council's executioner."
Hiroshi tensed. This was bigger than he'd expected.
Cipher's eyes locked onto Hiroshi's. "You've meddled long enough. Tonight, your empire falls."
Before Cipher could move, Hiroshi struck first—hurling a throwing knife that shattered a nearby light, plunging the room back into chaos.
Yuki moved like a shadow, disarming two guards with swift, brutal efficiency. Hiroshi leaped onto the stage, clashing with Cipher in a whirlwind of blows—fist against blade, speed against precision.
Cipher was fast, but Hiroshi was faster. The clash sent sparks flying, the hum of Project Helix thrumming ominously behind them.
Suddenly, Cipher pressed a hidden switch. The Helix cube began to glow brighter, emitting waves of energy that shook the entire hall.
"It's a trap!" Yuki shouted.
Hiroshi's eyes darted to the device. "We need to shut it down—now!"
Cipher laughed, vanishing into a smoke cloud as guards swarmed the stage.
Hiroshi and Yuki worked fast—ripping wires, smashing panels, anything to stop the device. Just as the Helix cube reached critical mass, Hiroshi plunged his chopstick into its core, shorting it out in a shower of sparks.
The cube died, the room falling silent except for the sound of heavy breathing and distant sirens.
Yuki looked at Hiroshi, eyes wide. "That was... insane."
Hiroshi's gaze hardened. "And just the beginning."
He turned to the shattered remains of the Helix cube.
"This war," he whispered, "has only just begun."