Even Harvey, standing outside, could hear Mariko and Shingen screaming at each other.
"Power and money can make father and daughter turn on each other. If it were something more important like lifespan or health, no wonder old Yashida would go to such ruthless extremes."
He sighed with sentiment.
Just as Harvey was about to go back inside and finish off the noisy Shingen, a familiar magical fluctuation appeared.
He looked up in surprise toward the Sangedatsumon Gate of the temple.
A brilliant red light, visible even in the daytime, dyed half the sky blood-red.
Coupled with the distant screams and booming sounds, it was clear a battle was taking place over there.
"Hermione is fighting someone?"
Curious, Harvey levitated and flew toward the battlefield.
Crossing five hundred meters in a few short seconds, he arrived on the scene and saw Hermione battling ninjas wielding daggers and short blades.
Wanda and Cho Chang were beside her, along with Logan, who was currently using his claws to rip through an enemy's throat.
Hermione's combat style was traditional: she kept her distance and cast offensive spells like Confringo, Sectumsempra, and Incendio to kill the enemies.
Logan's style was much more brutal; relying on his rapid healing factor, he didn't bother dodging at all.
He traded injuries for lives.
Using his superb close-quarters combat skills, he maniacally slaughtered the enemies in ninja gear.
The gruesome scene made Wanda and Cho Chang a bit uncomfortable, and the thick stench of blood was nauseating.
There were about a hundred ninjas on the field; though they had the numbers, they couldn't pose a real threat to Hermione and Logan.
In just a few minutes, more than half the ninjas were dead. Seeing that the situation was hopeless...
The remaining dozen or so ninjas threw over twenty thumb-sized black spheres.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Hermione, thinking the enemies had thrown explosives like grenades, hurriedly cast Protego.
But the black spheres exploded into clouds of thick black smoke, rapidly spreading across the battlefield and obscuring everyone's vision.
It was just a smoke screen.
Relieved, Hermione waved her wand.
"Ventus!"
A fierce gale shot from the tip of her wand.
It swirled the black smoke up into the sky.
Soon, vision was restored.
They could faintly see two ninjas acting as the rearguard, scaling the antique blue-brick wall.
Clearly, these ninjas were retreating now that they couldn't win.
Harvey didn't intend to let them escape. With a thought, thirteen green lights tracked them down.
The green lights, representing Avada Kedavra, arrived in an instant.
They hit the ninjas with precision, silently snuffing out their souls.
Thud, thud!
The dull sound of bodies falling signified that the fleeing ninjas had all been executed.
"Darling, why are you fighting these ninjas from The Hand?"
Harvey flew down in front of Hermione and the others.
Hermione pointed at Logan and said, "These enemies were all here to cause trouble for him. We happened to be passing by, so we lent a hand."
Logan was panting heavily, covered in blood, the ferocity in his eyes slowly receding.
He looked up at Hermione. "Thanks."
Wanda and Cho Chang approached as well, seeing the blood-soaked Logan.
Cho Chang frowned, drew her wand, and cast Scourgify.
The blood on Logan's clothes vanished instantly, leaving them clean.
Harvey stroked his chin and stared at Logan, curious. "Is your power regressing? You're panting like this after such a short fight?"
Logan looked down in surprise at his suddenly clean clothes, nodding to Cho Chang in thanks before explaining:
"Starting this morning, my powers began to weaken. I suspect I've been sabotaged."
Harvey remained silent. This was likely the new toxin developed by Madame Hydra.
"By the way, Logan, what are you doing here?"
Since Hermione had helped him, Logan explained patiently: "I was investigating the cause of my power loss and tracked it all the way here."
A sharp light flashed in Harvey's eyes. It seemed Viper and Yashida had lured Logan here on purpose.
If Hermione hadn't stepped in, Logan might have been taken down by those hundred-plus ninjas.
But Viper and Yashida wouldn't give up easily; they would find another way to kidnap Logan later.
In that case, Harvey only had to follow Logan to find The Hand's lair and the hidden Viper.
With this thought, Harvey put on a highly hypocritical smile and said: "Logan-san, do you want to find the mastermind who sabotaged you?"
Logan looked confused: "???"
Ten minutes later.
A police convoy drove through the bustling district, arriving late.
When the officers saw the vicinity of the Sangedatsumon Gate had turned into a living hell...
The sight of mangled corpses and a thin layer of congealed blood on the ground made every officer gasp.
"Ida-kun, what... what kind of monster caused this?"
"I don't know. Everyone stay alert, the killer might still be here. Call the forensics team to examine the bodies...!"
While the police were terrified by the bloodbath at the temple...
In the Tomonoura mountains of Fukuyama, Hiroshima.
Inside a research facility built on the edge of a mountain peak.
Madame Hydra, Viper, wearing a glossy, dark-green leather suit, gave off an aura of both seduction and danger.
She stood before a high-tech suit of silver armor, saying with feigned regret:
"Mr. Yashida, I'm afraid I have bad news. Several helpers suddenly appeared by the mutant's side. Half the men I sent are dead."
"The original plan might have to be postponed."
An aged, raspy voice came through the metal faceplate.
"Viper, I am no fool."
"You just want me to be your blade, don't you? I will have men lure the Wolverine here."
"Have your people set up the net. Follow the schedule strictly!"
Viper's regret vanished; she stopped pretending, her tone as flat and ripple-free as a still pond.
"I don't believe ordinary traps can deal with those people who popped out to meddle."
"In the face of absolute power, everything we do is laughable."
"The plan success rate is too low!"
Yashida's metal fists creaked and groaned. He scoffed and said: "Enough. Just follow the plan."
"I am more worried about failure than you. But as long as we successfully lure the Wolverine here, I am 100% certain I can capture him."
Viper's interest was piqued. It seemed the old man had a trump card, or he wouldn't be so confident.
"Since you have such confidence, very well. I will act according to plan and wait for you to open the field."
"Excellent."
On the surface, they were harmonious, but what they were actually thinking was another story entirely.