The night was silent, but Seiji felt every second stretch. Rats scurried through the alley as sweat trickled down his forehead, his pulse thumping in his ears. A gun pressed to the back of his head, cold and unforgiving.

  “You’ve been watching us, Mr. Seigetsu-san.”

  Seiji’s voice remained steady, though his mind raced. “Are you with the Shikkoku?”

  The man paused, his voice calm yet knowing. “I already know why you’re here, Mr. Seigetsu-san.”

  Before he could finish, Seiji acted. A swift, calculated sweep aimed at the gun. But the man was faster, sidestepping the attack and putting distance between them. Without a sound, a shot rang out from the man’s silenced pistol. The bullet grazed Seiji’s ear, sending a chill down his spine.

  Reacting instantly, Seiji grabbed a nearby trash can lid, using it as a shield. He rolled to the side, then returned fire with his Heckler & Koch USP, the silencer masking the shot’s deadly intent. The man evaded, narrowly missing the bullets as he vanished into the maze of the alley.

  Seiji’s instincts kicked in, and he gave chase. They turned a corner and found themselves face-to-face. The narrow alleyway left them no choice but to engage in close combat.

  Seiji moved fluidly, outmaneuvering his opponent with a series of strikes. But the man was no novice. He feinted, drawing Seiji in before delivering a sharp kick that sent the pistol flying from Seiji’s hand.

  Seiji found himself pinned against the wall, the barrel of a silenced gun pressed firmly to his face.

  “You lose, Mr. Seigetsu-san.”

  The man’s smirk was the only thing Seiji could make out in the darkness.

  “Did I?” Seiji replied coolly, his voice unwavering.

  The man froze, his eyes locking onto Seiji’s hand, where a tanto knife now hovered dangerously close to his chest.

  “Well played, Mr. Seigetsu-san,” the man chuckled, lowering his gun and stepping back.

  “Who are you?” Seiji demanded, his tone sharp, asserting control.

  “Noa Tudor,” the man said smoothly. “Nakano District leader of the Shikkoku Clan. I’ve been expecting you, Mr. Seigetsu-san. Word is you’ve been scouting the Kōtō District.”

  Seiji’s expression tightened. “Cut to the chase. If you wanted me dead, you would’ve done it already. What do you want?”

  Noa raised an eyebrow, amused. “Calm down, Seiji. Don’t be so formal. Call me Noa.”

  “Funny, the guy who won’t stop calling me ‘Mr. Seigetsu-san.’” Seiji’s tone was sharp now. “Get to the point.”

  Noa chuckled. “Alright, no more formalities. Seiji, I’m no enemy. I don’t have a personal vendetta against you. But you may be useful to me. Come to Nakano District. There’s something we can discuss… something that benefits both of us.”

  “Why would I help the Shikkoku?” Seiji shot back, still unconvinced.

  “No, Seiji. I know why you’re after us. And as a district leader, don’t you think I could be of some help to you too? Mutual favors, nothing more,” Noa said calmly.

  Seiji hesitated, considering the offer. This man could’ve killed him in the alley. Yet here he was, offering an alliance.

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  “What makes Nakano so special?” Seiji asked, skeptical but intrigued.

  Noa’s smile widened. “A private place to talk, far from prying eyes. We’ll have some… privacy. What do you say?”

  Seiji exhaled slowly. “Fine.”

  They wasted no time. Seiji climbed into his sleek Sei, the moonlight catching on its glossy exterior as he revved the engine. Noa slid into his Porsche 911 Carrera Black, the car’s elegant curves and the low growl of its engine perfect for the man—calm, confident, and with the quiet power of someone who knew exactly who he was.

  In Nakano District, Base of the Shikkoku

  Seiji parked his Sei next to Noa’s Porsche, the two elegant vehicles side by side—symbols of the authority and presence the two men carried. The contrast between their sleek, high-performance machines underscored their capabilities.

  As Seiji and Noa entered the Shikkoku base in Nakano, disguised as a nondescript agency building, Noa’s poised demeanor remained intact, despite his role as a leader within a ruthless, immoral clan. He carried himself with an elegance that even those working under him seemed to respect, a stark contrast to the brutality of the Shikkoku.

  Inside, members of the Nakano district, all impeccably dressed in suits, greeted Noa with practiced respect as they passed. "Good evening, Cipher. We’re glad to see you’ve returned safely," one of them said. Noa nodded, acknowledging the greeting, his eyes filled with quiet appreciation for the loyalty of his subordinates.

  As they walked further into the building, Seiji glanced over at Noa, his curiosity piqued. “Cipher?” he asked. “Why do they call you that here?”

  Noa’s lips curled into a small, enigmatic smile. “It’s a name given to me by those who know my reputation. It means ‘the one who holds secrets.’ In my line of work, it suits me.”

  Seiji raised an eyebrow but said nothing more, sensing there was more to the story. They continued to Noa’s office—spacious and luxurious, with fine wines lining the shelves and ancient, priceless weapons displayed around the room. The atmosphere was refined, almost welcoming, despite the darkness of the clan’s dealings. They sat across from each other at a large table, the silence between them thick with anticipation.

  Noa leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharp. “Seiji, I’ll get straight to the point. You’re well-armed, highly skilled in combat, marksmanship, strategy, and tactics, and you’re not a member of the Shikkoku clan.”

  Seiji raised an eyebrow. “So?”

  “The point is, Seiji,” Noa continued, his voice low but steady, “you’re the perfect candidate, the perfect soldier, to help me climb the ranks. You’re strong enough to take down Shikkoku’s district leaders. With their fall, I can sweep through the other districts, like a ray of light in the eyes of their people.”

  Seiji’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “How honorable…”

  Noa didn’t flinch. “This clan doesn’t value honor. The motto’s simple: Exploit every moment. Honor is for the conquered.”

  Seiji’s eyes narrowed. “And how does that benefit me, Noa?”

  Noa’s grin was sly, but his tone turned more earnest. “Seiji, the higher I rise, the more intel you’ll get on your family. The Shikkoku clan possesses some of the best intelligence in the world. You get closer to your goals, and I get the power and influence I want.”

  Seiji stared at him for a moment, his mind turning over the possibilities. “I’ll need some time to think it over. If you have this intel, I’m sure you can reach me without needing my contact info.” He stood up, ready to leave.

  Noa nodded, his face a mix of satisfaction and anticipation. “Take all the time you need, Seiji. I’ll see you soon.”

  Seiji gave him a curt nod before walking out, the weight of the offer hanging in the air. He rode off in Sei, the night closing in behind him, while Noa stood in the doorway, smirking to himself. The game had only just begun.

  As Seiji was riding Sei, heading back to Shinjuku from Nakano, he couldn’t shake off the feeling of uncertainty. His offer might prove to be a huge help for me, but he might be deceiving me into being a tool for him. Is this worth the trouble? Better to consult Mr. Krueger first, Seiji thought, his mind racing as the engine of his bike hummed.

  Suddenly, the roar of engines echoed in the distance, getting closer. Seiji glanced over his shoulder and saw a group of motorcycles closing in on him—roughly twelve men, all armed with katanas.

  Shit... Seiji revved the engine, speeding up to put distance between himself and the bikers. But they were relentless, each man determined to catch up. One of the bikers drew near, slashing at Seiji with his katana, leaving a deep cut across his shoulder.

  Where the hell did these ants come from? Did Noa send them? Seiji gritted his teeth, the sting from the slash only adding to his mounting frustration.

  But instead of running, Seiji flipped the switch in his mind. He wasn’t going to back down. Time to fight back.

  He drew his Heckler & Koch USP from his holster and fired a few shots, but the bikers were armored, their gear absorbing the impact of his bullets like it was nothing.

  Thinking quickly, Seiji slowed down and then veered sharply to the side, tackling one of the men off his bike. He didn’t hesitate—he took the katana from the downed biker and swiftly returned to his own bike, now armed with the weapon.

  With the katana in hand, Seiji began cutting through the bikers one by one, slashing and slicing his way through their ranks. Their numbers dwindled, but there was something off. Seiji noticed they kept passing a small box among themselves, as if it were precious cargo. He couldn’t let it out of his sight.

  Eventually, only one biker remained. The man pulled up, his bike screeching to a halt. He seemed to think he was spared.

  “Listen—” he started, but Seiji didn’t hesitate. With a swift, practiced motion, Seiji sliced the man’s head clean off. The body dropped, and the bike collapsed beside it, the box still clutched in his dead hands.

  Seiji crouched down and snatched the box from the ground, opening it. Inside was a burner phone. He stared at it for a moment, then after a beat, it rang. Seiji answered without a word.

  The voice on the other end was deep, firm, with a touch of playful amusement. “You must be thinking I sent these men to test your capabilities, Seiji. But you’re dead wrong. I sent them to prove to you that you’re not just capable... You’re strong enough to take down an entire district.”

  Seiji remained silent, his gaze fixed ahead. He wasn’t in the mood for any small talk, and Noa seemed to know it.

  “I can tell you’re not in the mood to chat. Must be tired,” Noa continued, unfazed. “Here’s a reward for your success. Inside the box, you’ll find a hidden compartment. In that compartment is a flash drive. It contains documents detailing the involvement of a family member of yours in Shikkoku clan affairs. I don’t know who that person is, but the surname Seigetsu is all that’s listed. Maybe you’ll recognize through the document. Maybe not. But one thing’s for sure—you’ve got a lead now.”

  The phone clicked, signaling the end of the call.

  Seiji tossed the burner phone aside, feeling a knot tighten in his stomach. He retrieved the flash drive from the hidden compartment of the box. His mind raced. This might be my first real lead in finding answers...

  He glanced down at the city below, still buzzing with life. I need to talk to Mr. Krueger about this.