In Haruki Village, Rin adjusted his stiff white lab coat, tugging uncomfortably at the collar.
He pushed the glasses up his nose, squinting.
"Do I really have to wear these glasses?"
He blinked hard.
"They're ruining my vision."
A small crackle came from the tiny device tucked in his collar.
Saito's voice, muffled but clear.
"Just get along with it."
Rin sighed heavily, adjusting the glasses again with obvious annoyance.
"Easy for you to say. You're not the one walking around half-blind."
He glanced down at himself — the crisp white coat, polished shoes, a clipboard tucked awkwardly under one arm.
"...I look ridiculous."
"You look convincing," Saito's voice shot back. "Now move."
Rin grumbled under his breath, reaching down to grab the sealed container holding the glowing green liquid.
He tucked it carefully under his arm, straightening his posture, forcing a calm, professional expression onto his face.
"Alright, alright..."
He took a steadying breath.
"Delivery man Rin, coming through."
With that, he stepped forward, blending into the quiet foot traffic of Haruki Village, making his way deeper toward the heart of Sector X's territory, container in hand, nerves carefully hidden beneath a convincing scientist's disguise.
On the rooftops above, Kaito and Herion moved in near-silent synchronization, leaping from ledge to ledge, keeping careful pace with Rin's progress below.
Kaito's eyes tracked every corner, every alley.
"Clear so far."
Herion crouched low beside him, scanning the street methodically.
"No guards visible near the main checkpoint yet."
"But that doesn't mean they're not watching."
Kaito nodded, gaze narrowing.
"Sector X doesn't seem the type to leave things unguarded."
Down below, Rin continued his measured pace, clipboard tucked under one arm, container balanced carefully in the other.
Meanwhile, near a quiet corner shop not far from the checkpoint, Saito leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed, doing his best to look unremarkable.
Bomb stood beside him, sling still wrapped around his arm, sipping idly from a drink they'd picked up as cover.
"You think this'll actually work?" Bomb muttered, keeping his voice low.
Saito's eyes stayed fixed on Rin's distant figure.
"It has to."
He shifted slightly, adjusting his posture to blend further into the background.
"Just keep watching. If something goes wrong, we move fast."
Bomb nodded, taking another slow sip, eyes flicking discreetly toward the checkpoint.
"Copy that."
Above them, Kaito's voice crackled quietly through the device.
"Rin's approaching the checkpoint now."
"Everyone stay sharp."
The tension thickened as the group settled into position, each of them watching closely, waiting for the moment Rin's disguise would truly be put to the test.
Saito glanced toward Bomb, giving a small nod.
"Alright. Go to your position."
Bomb set his drink down, nodding firmly despite the sling still wrapped around his arm.
"On it."
He slipped away from the shop, moving casually through the crowd before ducking into a narrow alley.
Waiting there, leaning against the wall, was Fanny, tail flicking impatiently.
She straightened as he approached.
"There you are."
Bomb smirked. "Miss me?"
Fanny rolled her eyes. "Let's just get moving."
Together, they slipped deeper into the shadows, weaving quietly through the back alleys of Haruki Village, making their way toward the rear perimeter.
Fanny glanced over, voice low. "Once Rin's inside, we cause chaos on this end. Draw their attention away from the checkpoint."
Bomb cracked his good arm's knuckles. "Chaos I can definitely handle."
Fanny smirked slightly despite the tension. "Try not to blow anything up too early."
"No promises."
They continued forward, careful and silent, closing in on the back of the village, ready to spring their part of the plan into motion the moment Rin made it through the checkpoint.
Lily emerged from the crowd, weaving casually between passersby before sidling up next to Saito.
"How's everything going?"
Saito kept his eyes fixed ahead, voice low.
"Fine so far."
He glanced toward the checkpoint in the distance.
"But we should stay alert."
Things could shift fast."
Lily nodded, expression sharpening, hand resting casually near the dagger hidden at her side.
"Copy that."
Meanwhile, Rin shifted his weight, glancing around nervously as he approached the checkpoint, clipboard clutched tightly.
"Man..."
He muttered under his breath.
"Where is everyone? Just come take this stupid container already."
He forced a professional smile as a guard finally approached, though his fingers tightened slightly around the handle.
"Delivery for processing," Rin said smoothly, holding up the container.
"Green Lily extract. Fresh batch."
The guard eyed him skeptically, glancing between Rin's face and the clipboard.
Rin kept his expression calm, though his heart pounded beneath the surface.
Back near the shop, Saito watched intently, jaw tight.
"Come on, Rin..."
"Sell it."
A scientist approached briskly, eyes scanning Rin up and down.
"You have it?"
Rin quickly composed himself, straightening his posture, forcing his voice into a calm, professional tone.
"Right here."
He held up the container smoothly.
"Fresh batch, just as requested."
The scientist gave a short nod, already turning.
"Follow me."
Rin fell into step behind him without hesitation, careful to keep his expression neutral despite the pounding in his chest.
From his position near the shop, Saito's eyes sharpened, watching the exchange unfold.
He tapped the small device at his collar.
"Guys."
His voice was low, urgent.
"We've got our buyer."
Up on the rooftop, Kaito's gaze locked onto the pair immediately.
"Copy. Tracking them now."
Herion crouched beside him, already moving. "Staying parallel. Don't lose sight of them."
Lily glanced toward Saito, smirking slightly despite the tension.
"Showtime."
Saito nodded, pushing off the wall, careful to maintain a casual pace as he began trailing at a safe distance.
"Everyone stay sharp."
"This is it."
The group shifted into motion, each of them falling seamlessly into their roles as Rin and the scientist disappeared deeper into the winding streets of Haruki Village, drawing them steadily closer to Sector X's hidden base.
They came to a stop before a man with sharp crimson-tinted glasses, standing with an air of clinical authority.
The escort scientist gave a quick nod. "Sir Axel."
Axel's eyes flicked toward Rin, studying him briefly before glancing at the container.
"This is from Lenny?"
"Yes, sir," the scientist confirmed.
Rin held the container out carefully, keeping his expression steady despite the tension coiling in his chest.
"Here it is."
Axel took it, turning it slowly under the light, examining the glowing liquid inside.
Without a word, he pulled a slim syringe from his coat pocket, inserting the needle carefully through the container's seal, drawing out a small sample.
He held it up close, eyes narrowing sharply as he studied the liquid's consistency, the way it caught the light.
Rin kept perfectly still, forcing his breathing steady.
Axel tilted the syringe slightly, watching the liquid shift.
"Hm..."
His brow furrowed.
"Concentration seems slightly off from the usual batch."
Rin's heart hammered, though his face remained calm.
"Lenny mentioned adjusting the extraction process."
"Said it might improve potency."
Axel's sharp eyes lifted, studying Rin closely now instead of the liquid.
"Did he now."
A tense pause stretched between them.
Axel's eyes narrowed further, studying Rin with unsettling intensity.
"Wait a minute..."
He tilted his head slightly.
"I know all of Lenny's workers."
His gaze sharpened.
"But not you."
Rin's heart skipped, though his expression remained carefully composed.
"Well..."
He offered a easy, practiced smile.
"I'm the new guy."
Axel's brow lifted skeptically.
"Are you?"
He crossed his arms.
"Lenny never mentioned bringing anyone new on."
Rin kept his voice steady, calm.
"Yes, sir. Lenny just hired me recently."
"To handle deliveries specifically."
Axel stared at him for a long, uncomfortable moment, gaze piercing, as if trying to peel back every layer of the story.
Rin held his ground, forcing himself not to flinch under the scrutiny.
Finally, Axel's expression eased slightly, though suspicion still lingered faintly behind his eyes.
"...Well."
He turned, gesturing toward the path ahead.
"Let's go then."
"Don't want to waste time standing around."
Rin exhaled quietly, careful not to let the relief show on his face, falling into step behind him.
Above, hidden on the rooftops, Kaito's eyes narrowed sharply, watching the tense exchange unfold.
"That was close."
Herion's expression remained tight.
"Too close."
"Stay ready. If this goes wrong, we may need to move fast."