Darius's disguise could be said to be perfect.
His black raincoat didn't make the slightest sound in the night wind. His entire body seemed to merge with the shadows at the street corner, leaving only a pair of eyes reflecting the cold light of neon lamps in the darkness.
"Target has entered the 'Nest' for more than three minutes, internal communications most likely have been blocked." He whispered toward his collar, his voice compressed until it sounded like sandpaper scraping. "Repeat, Alpha Team is in position, preparing to execute phase two infiltration plan."
Behind him, Yui tightly hugged the "tactical nuclear warhead" to her chest. She imitated Darius's movements, half-crouching tensely, then responded softly: "Beta-2 message received! Ready to provide fire support at any time!"
Only Yukino, wearing her school uniform—very incongruous with the surroundings—stood stiffly with a flat face holding the "High-Frequency Vibration Particle Spear." She looked like an ice statue forced to drag herself to the battlefield.
Common sense is the first casualty in this absurd comedy.
Only that thought remained in her mind.
Their target, Saki, had just stepped into the bar called "Angel Ladder" across the street. When Darius saw that sign, he immediately completed his logical deduction.
"Angel Ladder." He analyzed with a cold smile at that moment. "This is a classic religious metaphor. Ladder, a path connecting the human world with 'Heaven'. And which organization most likes to use codenames and metaphors? The answer is already clear."
"What?" Yui asked curiously.
"A black organization spread throughout the world, using liquor names as codenames, and operating in assassination and secret experiments..."
Yukino at that time wanted to immediately turn around and go home. Now, she could only stand here, accompanying a madman and an idiot, playing a spy game they directed themselves.
Just as Darius was preparing to give the assault order, laughter was heard from the street corner.
Several people appeared in their field of vision. In front was a man with shining blonde hair and a perfect smile.
Hayama Hayato.
He and his friends, including Yumiko and Ebina, were chatting and laughing while heading toward "Angel Ladder."
Yui reflexively shrank her neck: "Th-that's Hayama-kun and the others..."
Darius's body instantly tensed. Instead of relaxing his vigilance, his eyes instead unleashed a terrifying flash of light.
"I see." He murmured to himself, his voice containing understanding as well as deeper coldness. "I understand. Everything is connected now."
"Understand what?" Yui asked softly.
"This isn't a coincidence." Darius's gaze swept back and forth between Hayato's group and the bar's sign. "This is a secret meeting. The 'Hayato' series clone legion is conducting information exchange with this city's underground organization, or... arms transactions."
Yukino felt her blood vessels about to burst.
She grabbed Darius's arm, lowered her voice, and exerted all her strength to remain calm: "Darius-kun! They're just gathering among friends! Kawasaki-san might also just be working part-time there! Let's just go in now, ask properly, then go home!"
"Go in directly?" Darius looked at her like looking at a naive child. "You think this is a dinner party? Member Yukinoshita, your naivety could kill us all."
He roughly shook off Yukino's hand.
"In this situation, forcing entry will only make us be considered enemies, and in an instant we'll be 'cleaned up' by their security personnel. We must disguise ourselves and destroy them from within."
"Disguise as what? We're students!"
"No." Darius shook his head, then from the inner pocket of his raincoat, he pulled out a card.
It was a card cut from cardboard. On it, using a black marker, was drawn the messy pattern of an eagle, and below it written three equally messy capital letters:
F.B.I.
Yukino stared at the "identification" whose quality was equivalent to kindergarten handicraft, then fell silent. She truly gave up. She felt her brain might already be contaminated by Darius's mental pollution, making it difficult to distinguish the boundary between reality and absurdity.
"This is a fake 'Federal Bureau of Investigation' ID, enough to bluff outer guards." Darius said while carefully storing the "document," his expression serious. "But identity alone isn't enough, we need a reasonable way in."
He glanced toward Hayato and the others who had already entered the bar, then stared at the tightly closed door.
"Found it." A plan formed instantly in his head.
"We will execute the 'Trojan Horse' tactic." Darius announced. "I will be the pioneer, breaking in with a reason they can't possibly refuse, creating chaos, and drawing everyone's attention."
"Then?" Yui asked enthusiastically.
"Then, you enter in the midst of the chaos. Member Yukinoshita, your task is to lock down and secure the first infection source, 'Kawasaki Saki'. Member Yuigahama, you're responsible for vigilance, and if the situation gets out of control, use your 'Ultimate Weapon'."
"I refuse." Yukino said with her last remaining strength.
"Order rejected." Darius didn't give her a chance to argue. "Remember, our target is to save Hikigaya Hachiman and destroy the virus source. Any sacrifice is worth it."
Finishing speaking, he no longer paid attention to the two of them. He took a deep breath, straightened his raincoat. Like a warrior about to depart for execution, he stepped heavily toward the door radiating warm light.
Yukino and Yui watched his back tensely.
They saw Darius reach the door, without hesitation, he kicked the heavy wooden door wide open.
Under the stunned gazes of everyone inside the bar, he shouted with all his might in a thunderous voice:
"CONTAINMENT BREACH! SCP-682 HAS BROKEN CONTAINMENT!"