Nichibei TV headquarters.
The station director burst into the office and shouted, "Mizunashi!"
"Director, what's so urgent?"
Mizunashi Rena, Nichibei TV's ace reporter and anchor, widely praised across the Japan internet and hailed by many as the most beautiful woman at Nichibei TV—or rather, Hidemi Hondou, quickly responded.
"I just got an urgent report from an informant. There's been a large-scale shooting in the suburbs of Tokyo, and dozens of police officers are rushing to the scene."
"Hurry and take your team there. Try to get first-hand footage. Don't let the other stations beat us to it!"
The director barked out orders, clearly in a rush.
With how developed self-media is now, many news items break there first.
Still, major news outlets like theirs held significant influence. Their reporting was seen as more credible and authoritative than anything from self-media.
But news was all about timing. While traditional media might lose out in speed, they had to at least outcompete their rivals in the industry.
So for incidents where dozens, maybe even hundreds of officers were mobilized, top-tier reporters had to be dispatched.
Mizunashi Rena's heart tightened. Was this a CIA operation targeting the Organization's research facility?
She hoped this wouldn't blow her cover.
While processing the situation internally, she gave a firm "Yes" and immediately led her team out.
...
"Boss, the intel we received was accurate. Someone's attacking our research institute."
Inside an SUV moving through Tokyo's streets, Gin sat in the passenger seat, calmly smoking.
Vodka, driving, answered a call. After receiving the report, he quickly hung up and turned to Gin.
Gin gave a slight nod and said coldly, "Move out."
"Yes!"
Vodka grabbed the radio and issued commands. A convoy of more than ten black cars quickly raced toward the suburban research facility.
Gin crushed his cigarette, his face dark and grim.
Sherry, you better be alive. I want to kill you with my own hands.
...
At the suburban institute, Toru's mercenary team was finishing up the sweep.
At the same time, they were placing C4 throughout the facility. Once they left, the entire building would be leveled to erase all traces of their operation.
The institute's security was made up of nothing more than barely trained guards, and their weapons were laughably inadequate. Against an elite special forces team, they were wiped out with ease.
As for the researchers? They were just moving targets.
Boom.
Toru kicked open a room. Holding a submachine gun, he carefully stepped inside. When he saw the setup and a pair of metal handcuffs hanging from the railing, he let out a soft "Oh?"
He walked up to examine the cuffs. One end was still locked onto the railing, but the other end was open.
Soon, he noticed a nearby garbage chute—narrow, only big enough for a child to crawl through.
"Looks like she ran just moments ago. Heh, Sherry, you won't get far."
Toru chuckled and left the gas chamber.
His mission wasn't just to clear out the personnel. He also needed to retrieve key materials.
Before long, he arrived at the institute's largest laboratory. Rows of jars and vials lined the shelves, and the computers were still running. The researchers had long since fled.
He began rummaging through the stock of completed drugs, brushing aside anything useless. Eventually, he found what he was looking for.
Red and white capsules, with "APTX4869" clearly labeled on the box.
Because the Organization only treated the drug as a poison, unaware of its side effect of shrinking the body, it wasn't considered highly classified and was just left out in the open.
Shiho Miyano, as a dual-degree Ph.D., wasn't just in charge of this one drug. She also handled legitimate pharmaceutical research projects.
The poison was for assassination. The legal drugs could be patented and monetized. Even a shadow organization needed income, and Shiho was their licensed researcher.
Toru stored the APTX4869 and began backing up the computer files.
But these files were encrypted with high-level protection. Without the password, copying was impossible, and entering it incorrectly three times would destroy all data.
No matter. Toru quickly dismantled the computer and pulled out the hard drive.
Just then, the phone in his chest pocket buzzed.
He had blocked all other contacts before the mission. Only one person had clearance to call him right now.
"Boss, you're calling during the op?"
"Wick, take out your tablet."
Toru pulled out a compact tablet. Soon, the data synced, and a street-level feed of Tokyo appeared on the screen.
Dozens of police cars, lights flashing, were racing toward the institute.
Toru had expected this. As soon as the cleanup began, someone was bound to call the police. This wasn't some remote outpost, it was still part of Tokyo. The police would never be far behind.
But Toru knew this wasn't what Spencer wanted to show him.
As expected, the view shifted. Now a satellite feed from a US military satellite came into focus, pointing at a different location. More than ten black SUVs were heading in the same direction.
Toru's expression shifted slightly. "Those from the Organization? Our plan's been leaked."
Spencer's tone was flat, but the cold anger was unmistakable. "There's a traitor in the CIA."
"How many people knew about the operation?"
"I had one action team handle the planning."
"That's a problem. Any of them could be the mole."
"You don't need to worry about that. I'll find the traitor. The Organization has some nerve interfering when they know the CIA is involved."
Spencer's voice turned frosty. "Looks like assigning you that heavy firepower was the right call. Wick, teach them a lesson. Show them the price of crossing the CIA."
"Understood."
"You retrieve the objective?"
"Got it."
"Excellent. As expected, you're still the most reliable."
Spencer praised him.
Toru said nothing and hung up.
"From the sound of it, Spencer doesn't take the Organization seriously."
"But I guess that's normal. As CIA Director, why would he worry about an international criminal syndicate? He probably sees them as nothing more than a pack of dogs."
"Heh, this Organization isn't that simple. Just look at the research they're doing. It's obvious they're tied into something deeper. Well then, let's see how far you both go."
Toru chuckled.
With a big fish like the CIA Director taking the lead, a small agent like him wouldn't attract much attention.
He just needed to keep provoking both sides and let them drag more secrets into the open.
After planting the last C4 in the lab, Toru spoke over comms, "New orders from the top. Reinforcements are en route. We're setting an ambush."
"Roger!"
The mercenaries didn't care about the details. As long as the pay was good, they would do anything.
After sweeping the institute, the seven-man team regrouped.
Toru quickly briefed them on the incoming force.
"Hit them hard. Inflict as many casualties as possible, then retreat immediately."
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)