Inside the office—
Shiro was drinking tea when Saito casually mentioned it.
"I'm recruiting Rin."
PFFFT!
Shiro immediately spit out his tea.
The entire room went silent.
Shiro stared at him.
"...What did you just say?"
Saito blinked.
"I'm recruiting him."
He pointed at Rin.
Rin raised a hand.
"Hello."
Shiro slowly put down his cup.
Then rubbed his forehead.
"What is wrong with your habit of trusting people?"
Saito smiled.
"Don't worry."
Then he looked at Rin.
"You'll never betray me, right?"
Rin nodded immediately.
"Correct."
Saito pointed at him.
"See?"
"He confirmed it."
The room groaned.
Bomb covered his face.
Kaito sighed.
Takashi looked ready to quit his job.
Meanwhile, Rin crossed his arms.
"No worries, White Hat."
"I'm now under Captain Saito."
Shiro stared at him.
Then asked,
"...What about your gang?"
Rin shrugged.
"I already disbanded it."
That actually surprised everyone.
Even Saito blinked.
"You did?"
Rin nodded.
"No reason to keep it."
Shiro sighed.
"...I see."
Then leaned back.
"A lot of strange things have happened lately."
His eyes shifted toward Kaito.
Who was currently alive despite being dead a few weeks ago.
"...Including that."
He pointed at him.
"So you actually resurrected him."
Saito nodded proudly.
"Yep."
Then tilted his head.
"Actually..."
"What is that power?"
Everyone looked at Shiro.
The White Hat leader became unusually serious.
"...Normal people don't have that."
Saito blinked.
"Huh?"
Shiro folded his arms.
"Only around two percent of the world's population possess powers like that."
The room became quiet.
Saito immediately sat up straighter.
"It's that rare?"
Rin answered before Shiro could.
"God Eye."
Saito looked at him.
"The what now?"
Shiro nodded.
"God Eye."
Then he began explaining.
"It's a power linked to ancient warriors from long ago."
"No one knows exactly how it's inherited."
"Some say bloodline."
"Some say destiny."
"Others say extreme circumstances."
Kaito pointed at Saito.
"So getting beaten up by Rin counts as extreme circumstances?"
"Possibly."
Shiro answered.
The room laughed.
Then Shiro continued.
"The important part is this."
"No one can acquire a God Eye intentionally."
"You either awaken it..."
"...or you don't."
Saito immediately crossed his arms proudly.
"Heh."
"So I'm special."
Takashi sighed.
"Please don't let that go to your head."
"Too late."
Bomb answered.
The room laughed again.
Then Shiro looked at Saito.
"I want to see it again."
Saito nodded.
"Sure."
He closed his eyes.
Focused.
The room became quiet.
A moment later—
yellow auris flickered around him.
Then his right eye opened.
Golden.
Bright.
At its center was a spear.
With wings stretching from both sides.
The symbol glowed softly.
Everyone stared.
Even Shiro looked impressed.
"...Now that's rare."
He rubbed his chin.
Trying to remember something.
Then frowned.
"...I forgot its name."
The room immediately stared at him.
Kaito blinked.
"You gave a whole explanation and forgot the name?"
Shiro pointed a finger.
"...That's not the point."
And the office immediately erupted into laughter again.
Shiro suddenly snapped his fingers.
"Right."
"I remember now."
Everyone looked at him.
Shiro pointed at Saito's eye.
"It's called Seraph."
Rin immediately nodded.
"Correct."
Saito blinked.
"Seraph, huh..."
He repeated the name quietly.
Testing how it sounded.
Then looked at his reflection in a nearby window.
"Heh."
"Sounds cool."
Takashi sighed.
"Of course that's your first reaction."
The room laughed.
Shiro folded his arms.
"But honestly..."
"I don't know much about the details."
Saito looked back.
"What do you mean?"
Shiro shrugged.
"I've never personally met someone with Seraph."
"Everything I know comes from stories."
The room became attentive.
Shiro continued.
"For now..."
"I've only heard of two people possessing it."
He pointed at Saito.
"Which makes you the third."
Saito immediately grinned.
"So it really is rare."
Rin smirked.
"That's exactly why I joined him."
Bomb rolled his eyes.
"That's the worst recruitment reason I've ever heard."
"It's a great reason."
Rin answered immediately.
Kaito decided not to get involved.
Instead, he leaned forward.
"Now that's settled..."
"How about Scrapper?"
The room became quiet.
Everyone turned toward Shiro.
If anyone knew something—
it would be him.
Shiro sighed.
Then leaned over the table.
"Like I said before."
"Take down his officers."
"And Scrapper becomes much easier to deal with."
Saito nodded.
That much he already knew.
Then he asked,
"So where are they?"
Shiro pointed at the map.
A location near Morguin Town.
"There."
"According to Herion's scouting report."
He tapped a small village marked on the map.
"Neherick Village."
The room focused on the location.
Shiro continued.
"Herion believes one of Scrapper's officers is operating there."
Rin crossed his arms.
"Then that's probably our next target."
Saito stared at the map.
Thinking.
Planning.
Then a familiar grin appeared.
The kind that usually meant trouble for somebody.
He looked at Kaito.
Then Bomb.
Then Rin.
"Looks like we have our next destination, guys."
Kaito nodded.
"Finally."
Bomb cracked his knuckles.
"I'm getting tired of paperwork."
Rin smiled.
"I hope this officer is strong."
Takashi immediately pointed at him.
"That's exactly what worries me."
Everyone laughed.
Meanwhile—
Saito looked back at the map.
His eyes settling on one name.
Neherick Village.
The next step toward Scrapper had finally revealed itself.
The carriage rolled along the road toward Neherick Village.
The sound of wheels and horses filled the air.
Inside—
Saito sat sharpening his sword.
Shing. Shing.
Across from him sat Kaito, Bomb, and Rin.
The atmosphere was surprisingly relaxed.
For now.
Saito glanced up.
"So."
"What's the plan when we arrive?"
Kaito immediately answered.
"Simple."
He pointed ahead.
"We don't attract attention."
"We disguise ourselves as normal travelers."
"We gather information."
"And search for an opening."
Bomb nodded.
"I like that plan."
"It doesn't involve getting stabbed."
Rin looked disgusted.
"Boring."
Kaito sighed.
"I knew you'd say that."
Then he looked at Rin.
"You got a better idea?"
Rin grinned.
"Of course."
The others immediately became worried.
Rin leaned forward.
"How about we launch an attack the moment we arrive?"
Silence.
Then—
Saito sighed.
Bomb sighed.
Kaito sighed.
All at the same time.
Rin looked offended.
"What?"
Saito pointed at him.
"That would get us killed instantly."
Rin crossed his arms.
"Not if we kill them first."
Bomb covered his face.
"Why is he in our gang again?"
"Because he's strong."
Saito answered.
"That's a terrible reason."
Bomb replied immediately.
Kaito nodded.
"Agreed."
Rin looked pleased.
"See? They acknowledge my strength."
"That's not what we said."
Kaito answered.
The carriage continued down the road.
Then Saito suddenly looked at Rin.
"Actually."
"What do you know about Neherick Village?"
Rin thought for a moment.
Then shrugged.
"Not much."
"Only that strange people visit there."
Kaito frowned.
"Strange how?"
Rin tapped his chin.
"Merchants."
"Engineers."
"Researchers."
Bomb blinked.
"That's a weird combination."
"Exactly."
Rin replied.
"Which is why I never bothered going there."
That got everyone's attention.
If even Rin thought a place was strange—
something was definitely wrong.
Saito rested his sword beside him.
Then looked out the carriage window.
The road stretched toward the horizon.
Toward Neherick Village.
Toward Scrapper's officer.
And whatever secret was waiting for them there.
A few hours later—
the carriage stopped outside Neherick Village.
The four climbed down and quickly put on dark cloaks.
Their weapons were hidden beneath the fabric.
From a distance, they looked like ordinary travelers.
The village gates stood ahead.
But something immediately felt wrong.
Very wrong.
Saito narrowed his eyes.
The streets were crowded.
Not with villagers.
With armed men.
Dozens of them.
Patrolling every corner.
Watching every road.
The symbol on their clothing was unmistakable.
A broken gear.
Scrap Gang.
Rin clicked his tongue.
"...Scrap Gang."
"Scrapper's personal crew."
Saito slowly nodded.
"There are too many of them."
His gaze swept across the village.
Then another detail caught his attention.
No children.
No farmers.
No merchants.
No normal villagers.
Only gang members.
Only guards.
Only workers moving equipment between buildings.
Bomb frowned.
"...Where are the villagers?"
Rin answered immediately.
"There aren't any."
The others looked at him.
Rin pointed deeper into the settlement.
"This isn't a village."
"It's an operation base."
The realization made the atmosphere heavier.
Kaito folded his arms.
"So that's why Shiro sent us."
Rin nodded.
"Exactly."
Bomb looked around.
Then asked,
"If it's this important..."
"Why doesn't Shiro attack it himself?"
The group became quiet.
Saito was the one who answered.
"...I understand."
Bomb looked at him.
Saito kept walking.
"If one of you turned against me..."
His voice was softer than usual.
"...I'd rather die than fight you."
Rin glanced at him.
Kaito did too.
Both immediately understood who he meant.
Scrapper.
Shiro's former best friend.
The man he still couldn't bring himself to destroy.
Kaito smiled faintly.
"...That's surprisingly touching."
Saito immediately pointed at him.
"Don't make it weird."
Bomb laughed.
Even Rin smirked.
Then Saito looked ahead.
Toward the heart of the base.
Toward whatever officer was hiding there.
"Let's keep moving."
The others nodded.
And together, the four disappeared deeper into Neherick Village.