The study was dimly lit, the warm glow of the desk lamp casting long shadows across the walls. The scent of aged books and polished wood filled the air, the quiet weight of history pressing down upon them. Kaito stood by the desk, arms crossed, his sharp eyes never leaving Ash as he stepped inside. The tension in the room was palpable, the quiet hum of the city beyond the windows the only sound. Kaito''s voice broke the silence, calm but sharp with expectation. "What happened at the party?"


    Ash straightened, the weight of the conversation settling on his shoulders. He steepled his fingers, a habit of his when weighing his words carefully. "Daigo Sumeragi made an offer. He wants me to work for him—not as a pawn, but as a partner. He''s planning for a shift in power within the Keiretsu, and he wants me on his side when it happens."


    Kenshiko, who had been silently observing from a nearby chair, narrowed her eyes. The corners of her lips tightened, the only sign of her growing concern. "A dangerous proposition. Aligning with him means making enemies of those who stand against him."


    Ash glanced at her, acknowledging her insight. "I know. But the risk is calculated. Sumeragi''s no fool. He''s always thinking two steps ahead."


    Kaito''s voice was cool and measured, each word heavy with the weight of experience. "Sumeragi isn''t just moving pieces on a chessboard. If he''s making this offer, it means he''s already positioning himself. We need to know what game he''s really playing."


    Ash gave a small nod, the respect between them clear and unspoken. "That''s where you come in, Kenshiko. I need everything on Daigo—his assets, his allies, his enemies. Hidden transactions, connections, the kind of dirt he keeps buried. Anything that tells us what his real endgame is."


    Kenshiko''s eyes flickered, the subtle glow of her augmented vision reflecting off the darkened room as she processed the command. For a moment, her form seemed to blur and distort, the only sign that she was connecting to the digital underworld. "Understood," she said after a pause. Her voice was steady, but there was an edge to it. "Deploying deep net probes and activating covert surveillance algorithms. Data retrieval will take time, but I''ll be thorough."


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    She paused again, then added, her tone shifting slightly, "I''ll also activate ONYX-7 for this operation. It will infiltrate Daigo''s network, silently gathering intelligence without leaving a trace."


    As if on cue, a secondary hologram materialized beside Kenshiko—a sleek, obsidian-colored construct with a glowing, pulsing core of digital energy. The AI''s synthetic voice resonated through the room, smooth and eerie in its precision. "ONYX-7 deployed. Initiating silent breach protocols. Estimated time to full infiltration: 72 hours."


    Kaede, who had been sitting quietly in the corner, her arms folded tightly across her chest, didn''t speak immediately. Her sharp eyes darted between the figures in the room, weighing every word, every gesture. She had a silent way of taking in information, calculating the risks and rewards in her own meticulous way. Ash could feel her presence, even without her saying anything, and he knew she was just as invested in the outcome as he was.


    Kaito studied Ash for a long moment, his gaze intense, probing. "You already know this isn''t just about playing sides," he said, his voice firm, yet carrying an undertone of instruction. "Accepting Sumeragi''s offer will put you on the board, but it also means becoming a target. You''ll have to navigate the entire Keiretsu—every faction, every player—and not all of them will be as straightforward as Daigo. If you''re in, you need to be ready for the consequences."


    Ash exhaled slowly, his eyes flicking briefly to Kaede before returning to Kaito. "I haven''t decided yet. But when I do, I''ll make sure it''s the right decision. The one that''ll give us the best shot."


    Kaito gave a small nod, satisfied for now. "Just remember, power doesn''t come without debt. And in our world, debts are always collected." His tone was final, a reminder that every action had its price, and nothing—no alliance, no offer—was without its shadow.


    The room fell into a heavy silence. Outside, the city thrummed with life, its lights flickering like distant stars, but within the study, the stillness was almost suffocating. Ash knew that every move from here on out would matter. The game was set, the pieces were moving, and there was no turning back.


    He stood in the quiet for a long moment, letting Kaito''s words settle in his mind. His next move would define everything. One misstep could shatter everything he''d worked for, and the path ahead would only get more treacherous.


    For now, all he could do was wait. And prepare.


    In this world, time was both an ally and an enemy. And Ash was learning to move with both.