PHASE THREE: DIRECT ASSAULT


    The time for manipulation was over. Ash knew that now was the moment to strike, the moment where every shadow, every whispered rumor, would coalesce into an unstoppable force. The Shirogiri team was ready. Silent and deadly, they infiltrated the safehouse with surgical precision. This wasn''t just a mission—it was an execution.


    The air was thick with tension as they moved in. Silent takedowns neutralized sentries before they even had a chance to react, and drones, deployed under Kenshiko''s command, scrambled the enemy comms, rendering their communication network useless. Explosive charges were planted at key entry points, and with a sudden, violent detonation, the perimeter gates were ripped apart. What little remained of Ryo''s security scattered, retreating inward in panic.


    Inside the walls, it was a nightmare. The once sterile, fortified hallways had become a chaotic battleground, each step forward a dangerous gamble. Gunfire erupted from all directions, the sound deafening in the tight, claustrophobic space. Shadows flickered in the muzzle flashes as Shirogiri operatives moved in synchrony, their training ingrained to the point where even the slightest hesitation could mean death.


    Kaito led the flanking squad, a whirlwind of precision and lethal intent. Room after room was cleared with brutal efficiency. His men were ghosts, operating without hesitation, neutralizing threats before they even had the chance to blink.


    Ash, as always, moved with calculated aggression. He wasn''t just a leader—he was a predator in the midst of his prey. His blade flashed, severing a gunman''s rifle in one smooth motion before a single drop of blood could stain the floor. Another enemy fell with a strike to the throat—swift, clean, merciless.


    The sound of muffled screams filled the air as the team advanced, inching closer to Ryo''s inner sanctum. The reinforced door was a challenge, but one Ash was ready to face. With a quick command, an explosive charge tore through the barrier, sending the door flying across the room. A cloud of smoke filled the space, and as it cleared, there he was: Takeda Ryo. The man was a mess—sweat-slicked, trembling, hands raised in desperation.


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    "Wait! We can make a deal!" Ryo stammered, his voice a broken whisper. His body language screamed fear as he crouched behind a heavy desk, his last line of defense.


    Ash didn''t hesitate. He leveled his weapon, the cold barrel aimed at Ryo''s shaking form. "You ran from the Keiretsu. You don''t have a deal left to make."


    Kenshiko''s voice crackled through the comms. "Data secured. I''ve pulled everything from his servers. All his insurance files, contacts, and dirt on the Keiretsu. He''s got enough blackmail material to burn more than a few corporate giants."


    Ash''s gaze shifted from Ryo to the digital files. The temptation to pull the trigger was there. But something didn''t sit right. He studied Ryo—his calculated desperation, the way he had known exactly how to play the Keiretsu''s game. This was no simple fugitive.


    His instincts screamed at him. This was too clean. Too perfect.


    "This was a setup," Ash murmured, barely audible.


    Kaito''s eyes narrowed. "You think the Keiretsu played us?"


    Kenshiko''s voice, sharp and insightful, cut through. "If I had to bet, they wanted to see how you''d handle this. No matter what you do, they can use it against you. Turn Ryo in? You''re their pawn. Kill him? You''re reckless. Keep the data? You''re a threat."


    Ash took a long breath, his mind racing. Then, a dangerous smirk spread across his face. "Then we flip the game."


    He turned to Ryo. "You wanted to make a deal? Here''s one—you work for me now."


    Ryo blinked, confusion etched on his face. "W-What?"


    Ash leaned in, his voice ice cold. "The Keiretsu expected me to kill you or hand you over. Instead, you disappear. The Shirogiri owns you now. Your data, your knowledge, your survival—it all belongs to me."


    Kaito, ever the opportunist, allowed himself a rare smile. "That''ll throw a wrench in their plans."


    Kenshiko''s tone was laced with amusement. "I like it."


    Ryo, with no choice but to submit, slowly nodded, sealing his fate.