When Kanda arrived at the house, there was no wasted motion.
He immediately summoned everyone — except for Kio — into Antonia's war room.
The heavy air inside crackled with urgency.
Kanda stood at the head of the table, already dressed in his black military uniform. His gloved hands pressed firmly against the table's edge, hovering over a map littered with red crosses — each one a critical point in tonight's operation.
"Form teams of five. Deploy to the marked locations. Stay hidden. Stay sharp. You move only on my signal. Understood?"
His voice was low, commanding — every syllable sharp as a blade.
"Understood," the room answered, nearly in unison.
Aoi, shifting slightly, broke the moment of silence. "Kanda... what about you?"
"I'll advance with Maya, Claris, and her unit. We'll break through the front. The rest of you will act as the net — capture anyone fleeing, and cover our retreat if needed."
He glanced sharply at Maya and Claris.
"You copy that?"
"Yes, Kanda-sama," they responded, eyes hardening with resolve.
"Good."
He turned toward Antonia, who sat at the surveillance console, her fingers dancing over the keyboard.
"Antonia-chan, I need you to handle transportation and keep a constant eye on the battlefield through the satellite feed. If anything — anything — changes, you tell me immediately."
Antonia looked up, her usual smile replaced by a steely determination.
"Don't worry, Kanda-niisan. I'll be your eyes in the sky."
"Sarah," Kanda said next, his gaze shifting to the woman leaning casually against the wall. "Your job is to guard Antonia. No one gets near her."
Sarah scoffed, crossing her arms with a smirk. "Hmph. I don't need your orders to protect what's mine."
With their roles assigned, the teams dispersed. Engines roared to life outside the house as the operation began to unfold under the cloak of darkness.
== Meanwhile, with Manami ==
Earlier that morning, a single letter had shattered Manami's world.
Her home was eerily silent when she arrived.
Her mother — gone.
Only a note remained, cold and cruel, instructing her to come alone if she ever wished to see her mother alive again.
Driven by desperation, she obeyed — her heart hammering as she made her way to the desolate warehouse at the docks.
Inside, darkness swallowed everything.
She barely had time to react before a brutal blow struck the back of her neck. Pain exploded across her senses. She collapsed, the world slipping into black.
From the shadows, figures emerged — their gazes predatory.
"I know what you're thinking," a cold voice warned. "But touch her, and you'll die before you realize it."
Disappointed murmurs echoed around the room.
Yet none dared cross the line.
Hidden high above, unseen, two members of the Raven Team watched in silence — their eyes cold, their fingers resting on triggers — waiting for the order to strike if needed.
One swiftly contacted Raven.
The wheels of retribution were already in motion.
== Back to Kanda ==
Kanda crouched behind the treeline, 200 meters away from the target — a sprawling English-style mansion lit only by dim exterior lights.
The pressure in the air was suffocating.
Every muscle in his body was tense, alert to the faintest sound.
He could feel it — the heavy weight of unseen eyes, the electric hum of a trap laid out for them.
Reports crackled through his earpiece. One after another, the other teams confirmed their arrival.
Twenty minutes passed.
Everything was in place.
And yet, Kanda's instincts screamed at him — something was wrong.
He summoned Raven, who appeared almost ghost-like beside him, awaiting orders.
"Raven," he said quietly, "you'll move with my team. Your operatives will spread out and reinforce the perimeter teams."
Without a word, Raven relayed the command.
Kanda gave the signal.
His team began their approach, slipping like shadows through the estate's defenses.
Guards patrolling the grounds crumpled silently one by one, their bodies dragged into the undergrowth.
Inside the house, Claris and her squad moved swiftly, disabling any threats with brutal efficiency — their victims unable to so much as utter a cry for help.
The deeper they went, the thicker the sense of unease grew.
Every hallway was eerily silent.
Every room they cleared was strangely... empty.
Where were the reinforcements? Where were the patrols?
It was too quiet.
Kanda's gloved hand tightened around his weapon.
Each step forward felt heavier, as if the very walls of the mansion were watching them.
And then — just as he turned a corner —
he caught a glimpse of something unnatural. A flicker of movement, too deliberate to be chance.
They weren't the hunters here.
They were the prey.
==At Manami's Side==
~Four hours before Kanda's infiltration.
A sharp, throbbing pain at the back of her head yanked Manami back to consciousness. She gasped through her nose, realizing instantly that her arms were pinned painfully behind her and her mouth was gagged with a rough, damp cloth. Panic surged through her as her eyes darted around the unfamiliar, dimly lit room.
"Where... where am I?!" The thought hammered in her mind, wild and frantic.
Before she could make sense of her surroundings, a voice — smooth yet chillingly casual — drifted from nearby.
"Ah, you're awake."
Manami jerked her head toward the voice, her heart hammering against her ribs. Sitting calmly in a wooden chair was a man in a crisp white suit, guarded on either side by hulking bodyguards. His face wore the mask of a gentleman, but his eyes gave him away — filled with possessiveness, greed, and something that made her stomach twist in disgust.
"Mmmphh! Hhhmmph!" she protested, the gag muffling her words.
At the man's lazy signal, one of the guards stepped forward and ripped the cloth from her mouth. Manami coughed, glaring fiercely at the man in the chair.
"Who are you?! Why am I here?! Where is my mother?!" she demanded, her voice cracking under the weight of fear and anger.
The man chuckled, as if she were an amusing child throwing a tantrum.
"Tanaka Soujirou," he said smoothly. "Your fiancé. And as for your mother... she's safe. For now. But whether you see her again... depends on your cooperation."
"Fiancé?!" Manami spat, shaking her head violently. "You're delusional! I already have someone — someone infinitely better than you! Now, return my mother at once!"
Soujirou merely smiled wider, his gaze sharp and calculating.
"I'm well aware of your little boyfriend... the ambassador playing pet to those aliens." His voice dripped with mockery. "I wonder what he truly sees in them. Perhaps the same thing he saw in you — a pretty little body."
He licked his lips, a disgusting flicker of desire crossing his expression.
"Shut up! You know nothing about him!" Manami snapped, her whole body trembling with rage.
"Maybe I don't," Soujirou said, rising slowly from his chair. "But I know this — he's not coming for you. Right now, you belong to me."
He leaned in slightly, his voice low and menacing.
"If you ever want to see your mother alive again... you'll do exactly what I say."
Manami's breath hitched.
"What do you want?" she bit out, glaring at him with all the strength she could muster.
"I want alien technology. Secrets, weapons, anything you can get your hands on. With your cozy connections, it should be easy," Soujirou said, stepping back with a smirk. "Deliver it to me, and maybe you'll earn your mother's freedom."
"No." Manami said firmly, her voice steady despite the tears threatening at the edge of her vision. "I will never betray them. No matter what you do."
A dangerous glint passed through Soujirou's eyes, but he only shrugged as if her defiance meant nothing.
"Then I'm afraid the consequences are on you."
He turned on his heel, heading for the door.
"If you change your mind," he said over his shoulder, "you know where to find me."
The heavy door slammed shut behind him with a dull thud, plunging the room into silence. Manami squeezed her eyes shut, furious tears slipping down her cheeks.
Suddenly — faint but unmistakable — came a distant noise.
Shouts.
A loud crash.
Footsteps running.
Manami's eyes snapped open. She strained to hear through the thick walls. Another crash echoed — closer this time — followed by angry yelling.
Hope flared inside her chest.
Was it a rescue? Was it Kanda?
Her heart pounded wildly as she struggled against her bindings, adrenaline flooding her system.
"Kanda... please... I'm here... Hurry!"
But all she could do was wait, trapped and helpless, as the chaos outside grew louder with every passing second.
==Back to Kanda's side==
After spending some time to find their target, they finally reached the front of a suspicious-looking room. But before they could proceed, a sudden commotion echoed from deeper inside the building.
A squad of armed guards, dressed in tactical gear, rushed toward Kanda's team, shouting orders. Kanda immediately raised his hand, signaling his team to get ready.
"Incoming! Formation C!" Kanda barked.
Without hesitation, his team split into small units, taking cover behind nearby pillars and furniture. The first wave of enemies opened fire with non-lethal rubber bullets, but Kanda's team responded with precision, shooting back with stun rounds and taking down enemies without lethal force.
Kanda himself dashed forward with speed and agility, disarming one enemy with a sharp twist of the wrist and sending him crashing into a wall. Another tried to flank him, but Kanda spun around, delivering a clean kick to the man's chest, sending him sprawling.
"Push forward!" shouted Kanda as his squad advanced.
A heavier unit appeared — men with riot shields and batons. For a moment, the corridor felt suffocating with the intensity of the clash. But Kanda's squad adapted quickly. Using synchronized teamwork, they created diversions while two members flanked the shield unit, knocking them down systematically.
During the fight, Kanda noticed a sniper positioned at the end of the hallway. He immediately gave a hand signal. One of his teammates, a sharp-eyed sniper herself, took position, and after a tense moment, a single silenced shot neutralized the hidden threat.
Breathing heavily but not wasting a second, Kanda regrouped his team as more enemies fell back or surrendered. The corridor, once chaotic, now echoed only the faint sounds of groans and scattered footsteps of retreating guards.
After confirming the area was secure, Kanda looked at his team, who nodded back at him, all in good condition. He quickly turned his focus back to the door they had targeted.
"Alright, check for traps," he ordered, his voice low but steady.
They carefully inspected around the door, finding no traps or alarms, and finally unlocked it. They entered swiftly and found a woman with long brown hair down to her waist, blindfolded and with her hands tied behind her back.
They released the woman from her bindings, though she looked slightly afraid at the sudden appearance of Kanda and his team as she looked around the unfamiliar faces.
"Who are you?" asked the woman.
"I'm sorry, Auntie. We are Manami's friends and we came here to save you and her," Kanda answered firmly.
"Manami?!!...Where is she? Is my daughter fine?" The woman gasped, her voice trembling with worry.
"Calm down, Auntie. We'll save her next. First, we need to get you to safety," Kanda reassured her before turning to his squad and giving swift instructions. "Two of you, escort her out of here. The rest, follow me. We're not done yet."
After safely handing Manami's mother to his two squad members, Kanda immediately set off toward the suspected location where Manami was being held.
However, just as they rounded a corner, a heavy iron door burst open with a loud bang — and a much larger group of armed bodyguards poured into the hallway.
"Tch... looks like they were expecting us," Kanda muttered, eyes narrowing.
The enemy had better gear — some wore reinforced vests, while others wielded electric batons and stun guns. This time, they were serious about stopping them.
"Defensive stance! No mercy for resistance!" Kanda ordered sharply.
The air instantly grew heavier as both sides clashed.
A wave of guardscharged at them. Kanda met the first attacker head-on, dodging a baton swing by a hair's breadth before countering with a heavy punch to the man's gut, knocking the wind out of him.
Meanwhile, two of Kanda's team members moved like a well-oiled machine, one creating an opening while the other fired precision stun shots to take enemies down quickly. Sparks flew as batons clashed against metal pipes and shields.
The enemy tried to overwhelm them with numbers, but Kanda's squad was simply too fast and well-trained.
"Kanda, right side!" one teammate called out.
Without hesitation, Kanda spun and caught a baton-wielding enemy by the wrist, twisted it sharply, and flipped the man over his shoulder, slamming him onto the ground with a heavy thud.
Another guard rushed him, swinging wildly — but Kanda ducked low and swept the man's legs, toppling him like a sack of potatoes.
"Advance! Don't stop!" Kanda barked, his voice cutting through the chaos.
Pushing through the wave, they left a trail of groaning, stunned guards behind them.
The closer they got to Manami's location, the heavier the resistance became, but Kanda's group never faltered. They fought with fierce determination, each movement precise and efficient. It was clear — they would not stop until they had her back.
Finally, after battering through the last defensive line, they reached a reinforced door at the end of the hall.
Kanda kicked the door open with a loud crash — and there she was.
Inside the dimly lit room, Manami sat on the floor, her hands tied behind her, looking small and fragile yet unbroken.
"Manami!" Kanda called out, rushing toward her.
Manami, hearing the familiar voice, raised her head. Tears instantly welled up in her eyes when she recognized him.
"...Kanda," she sobbed, her voice trembling.
Without wasting a second, Kanda knelt and untied her hands. The moment she was free, she threw herself into his arms, sobbing openly against his chest.
He hugged her tightly, rubbing her back gently.
"It's fine now, Manami. You're safe. Are you hurt anywhere?" he asked, his voice unusually soft.
Manami shook her head quickly.
"I'm fine, Kanda... I'm so glad you came," she whispered, still clutching his shirt tightly.
She then remembered: "My mother... she was captured too!"
Kanda smiled reassuringly.
"She's safe. We already got her out. Eris and Aoi are outside waiting for you. They're worried sick."
Relieved, Manami nodded, wiping her tears with her sleeve.
Kanda then picked her up slightly to help her walk as they made their way out.
However, just as they stepped into the corridor, another wave of enemies appeared, weapons drawn.
Kanda narrowed his eyes.
"Protect Manami! Clear them out!" he shouted.
His team sprang into action once more.
The clash was shorter this time — the enemies, seeing Kanda's cold fury and the squad's overwhelming skill, quickly realized resistance was useless. They either surrendered or were knocked out cleanly.
Kanda led Manami outside where Eris, Aoi, and the rest of the support teams were waiting anxiously.
Seeing Manami safe, Eris and Aoi immediately rushed forward, hugging her tightly with tears in their eyes.
Relieved, Kanda gave them a small smile before raising his walkie-talkie.
"I need everyone to capture the rest of the people inside. If they resist, use non-lethal force from Catia's armory. Move out!"
The squads moved efficiently, sweeping through the building, arresting and securing every hostile without wasting time.
Several trucks, prepared by Antonia, were waiting outside to transport the prisoners.
Meanwhile, Manami finally reunited with her mother — a touching scene quickly interrupted when one of Kanda's team members dragged out a bloodied and defeated Soujirou, the mastermind behind her kidnapping.
The moment Manami laid eyes on him, all her pent-up fear and rage exploded.
Without hesitation, she stormed up to him and delivered a slap so fierce it echoed across the courtyard. Then, unable to restrain herself, she pummeled him with a series of furious punches.
Even Kanda, watching from a distance, winced slightly at her ferocity — but said nothing. Deep down, he agreed: Soujirou deserved every bit of it.
After cooling down, a blushing Manami shyly introduced Kanda to her mother, who immediately teased her the entire way back to the house.
Back at the house, Antonia welcomed them warmly, personally overseeing the secure detainment of all captured enemies.
Kanda debriefed her briefly while Manami's mother chatted with her daughter about Kanda's bravery, making Manami grow even redder from embarrassment.
Later that night, after a peaceful dinner prepared by Claris and her team, everyone retreated to their rooms to rest.
Kanda was about to fall asleep when he heard a knock on his door.
Opening it, he was stunned to see Manami standing there alone, wearing a sexy nightgown and looking extremely shy.
"Why are you here alone, Manami? Where are the others?" Kanda asked, his eyes quickly scanning her from head to toe.
"I... I asked them to let me sleep with you alone... They agreed," she mumbled shyly, playing with the hem of her gown. "So... can I come in? It's embarrassing standing here like this..."
Kanda chuckled softly at her adorableness before stepping aside.
"Come in," he said with a warm smile.
And with that, Manami entered his room, her cheeks glowing bright red.
END OF CHAPTER.