7
Kai paced like an angry dog.
Sakura, Ai, Keiko and Minami sat around him, their faces somber. The news already reached them.
"No…" Minami cried. "Not one-chan…"
Kai banged his fist in the table. "Yuu has turned sides. She was one of the two that raided Mikaso's turf and killed all but one inside. She let one go alive to tell us that she's out for vengeance."
"This is all your fault, Kai!" Keiko thundered. "Yuu swore that she well not hinder us even if she leaves, but you still sent those useless punks to kill her!"
"Hey," Kai replied angrily. "She's better off dead that alive!"
Sakura stood up. "I will kill Yuu," she said defiantly. "Send us in."
Kai facepalmed. "Don't you see? That's what she wants to happen! She wants us to be out of our hole so the can kill or capture us!"
"I will assure you, she will regret her decision of going against us," Sakura replied angrily.
Ai spoke. "There are two raiders. Yuu was the one. Who was the other one?"
"A tall man," Kai replied. "He could be cop."
It was Sakura's turned to facepalm. "Jesus, Kai. Are you from this planet? Haven't you heard what they did? They used bombs and automatic rifles, they just mowed everyone down. You think the police would do such a thing?"
"So who is it?" asked Kai.
Keiko thought about something. "A tall man…does he have South American features?"
"Since everyone who saw the man is dead, no one can tell for sure."
"Is there something on your mind, Keiko?" Sakura asked.
"Well, its just a hunch. But there is a legendary figure in the Tokyo underworld. He's a tall man with South American features and he's very proficient with a gun. They call him, the City Hunter."
"Witnesses on the Lamborghini Bar also reported a tall man helping Yuu," Kai remembered. "And he has Latino features."
"We should kill that City Hunter too," Sakura suggested.
"That won't be easy," Keiko commented. "According to those that know the City Hunter, he is the best. He can kill from close quarters to extreme distances. I wouldn't know for sure, but based on his legend, the destruction on Mikaso's building is a trademark of the City Hunter."
"You're giving the man too much of a credit," Sakura growled. "It's impossible for him to cause that kind of damage, that many casualties."
Minami spoke up. "If what Keiko's saying is true, only one-chan can match the City Hunter's skill. And with them together, it's a lethal combination."
"We'll kill Yuu and that bastard later," Kai insisted. "For now, we have to accomplish what we are paid for."
"I'll deal with Kitamura," Ai said. "You guys find Yuu and City Hunter."
"Are you sure?" Kai asked. "He could be waiting for you."
'I'll go with Ai," said Minami. "I will provide the explosive cover."
"Then go," Kai ordered.
City Hunter slept for only an hour. The raid last night was a success, but they made quite a mess for Captain Saeko Nogami. Good thing the captain has enough connection to keep the incident as tight-covered as possible.
"You are positive of this?" asked Saeko. She is riding on the passenger side of Ryo's Ferrari.
"Yeah I'm quite positive," Ryo replied, checking his revolver.
"Never liked General Kitamura at all. If the Servants didn't get him, I will kill him myself then tell everyone the Servants got him."
"You sick bitch," Ryo said mockingly.
Ryo Saeba made the decision to tell Saeko who is the next target. Since Saeko is a cop, she can make the necessary arrangements, but Ryo wanted the Servants to be lured on a trap. It was a classic hunting strategy. Pull some bait, and wait for the deer. When they get curious and eat the bait, it would be easier to take them down.
Of course, a deer doesn't shoot back.
Ryo also convinced Yuu to sit this one out. The attack would happen in broad daylight, and it would be hard to explain if people see a cute maid shooting people on the street. Yuu was now with Kaori on their safehouse in Chinatown. He drove towards the Cat's Eye café. They will need more firepower if they expected to survive against the Servants.
"So, you took our Mikaso for good," Umibozu said while fixing coffee for his guests. "Where is Yuu?"
"On a safe place," Ryo replied, taking a sip of the coffee. "Goddamn, this is awful."
"You'll get used to it. What do you need?"
"Bulletproof vests," said Saeko. "Level III with extra trauma plates."
As if by magic, Miki came out holding four vests. "These are new ones," she said. "The plates are titanium and not ceramic. It would block a few 7.62mm."
"By the way, since Yuu is taking a time off, we need an extra man." Saeko took a sip. The coffee was indeed awful and her face twisted in disgust. "I think you should come, Umibozu."
"As much as I want, my wound is still not fully healed, and I got several cracked ribs," Umibozu said somberly. "I should get a refund on those old vests."
"You're lucky you only have broken ribs," Ryo commented.
"I told him that before," Miki said, rolling her eyes.
Umibozu shook his head. "Why don't you join them, Miki?"
"Yeah Miki," Ryo said. "It's been a while since you went out on a mission."
Saeko nodded. "I have no doubt in your combat skills, Miki. It would be nice if you could join us."
Miki smiled. "I'll get my guns."
There are times that French maid costumes can attract unwanted attention, so the Servants of Death learned how to blend with the crowd. Minami, the youngest of the assassins, could easily pass as a high school student. Wearing her HS uniform, she was not stopped by anyone as she entered the lobby of ZTG condominium.
Minami sips the last of her espresso and tossed the cup on the garbage bin. The bottom of the cup is false – it contained a powerful thermal charge that Minami made herself. She walked towards the waiting area where there are couches.
Minami took a magazine from the coffee table. With a sleigh of hand, she inserted a small envelope on all the magazines. The envelopes contained sheets of plastic explosives. After planting the explosives on the magazines, she stood up and smiled her way out.
She did her job. Before she even entered the building she already planted bombs on the plant boxes around the area. The bombs she planted would cause chaos and some damage or even death, but the explosives are relatively small. Minami, like her mentor Yuu, didn't want to kill anyone unnecessarily. She wants to create chaos and confusion, not a huge body count.
Satisfied that her job is done, she rode a taxi to keep her distance from the hell that would happen here later.
Since Ryo's Ferrari could only sit two people, Miki followed the red sports car on her Suzuki Hayabusa motorcycle. Aside for guns, the beautiful ex-mercenary enjoys fast cars and bikes. Her Hayabusa can surpass European made superbikes in terms of handling and sheer speed.
Ryo parked the Ferrari in front of ZTG condominium as Miki parked on the motorcycle area. Ryo is dressed on his usual red shirt and white suit. Saeko looks stunning on miniskirt and jacket, while Miki looks badass on denim jacket and skirt. The Kevlar vest they wore can only be noticed if you look hard enough.
"Stay here, Miki," Saeko ordered.
"For a police general, this is quite an expensive condo," Miki commented.
Saeko didn't say anything.
Ryo and Saeko took the elevator. The elevator door opened on the 10th floor and two men stopped them. "Identify yourselves," the uniformed police officer said.
Saeko took out her ID with two other ID cards. "Captain Saeko Nogami, Homicide. These is my detective, Kenichi Kaneda."
The other officer scrutinized the ID's. The first one has his hands on his pocket, and not because of the cold. He's probably holding a gun, pointing at the two. "Yep these are genuine," the second one said after a few minutes.
"We would like to speak with General Kitamura," Saeko said.
"We must put you through a security check first," said the second, giving back the IDs to Saeko. "Please place your guns here on the table."
Saeko drew her SIG-Sauer X5 LW and backup Raven .25 caliber pistol. She placed them on the table. Ryo did the same with his Colt Python, S&W snub nose and Detonics Combat Master.
After a minute, they were cleared to go in the room with their weapons. The condo unit was quite luxurious. It was filled with expensive furniture and appliances. Ryo and Saeko waited for a few more minutes before General Kitamura came out of his room.
"Well, well," the general scoffed. "If it isn't Captain Nogami and the City Hunter himself."
Ryo looked worried.
"Don't worry," Kitamura said, as if reading Ryo's mind. "I know all about you. Frankly, it's quite an honor for you to visit me here."
Ryo considered killing him.
"General, you are in grave danger," Saeko said. "We have credible evidence that the Servants of Death are after you."
"Really?" Kitamura looked unconvinced. "Why would they want to assassinate a police general like me?"
Ryo had enough. "Because you are protecting yakuza families, getting handsome amounts of cash in return. And yeah, you are skilled in the art of ass-kissing too."
Kitamura's mode suddenly turned dark. Saeko waited for him to draw his gun and shoot Ryo, but then the general laughed. "Hahaha! You're one cool dude, City Hunter."
"Frankly," Ryo said, imitating Kitamura's gruff demeanor. "I don't give a shit if you get killed. That would be the best thing the Servants could do. But we are here to prevent them from taking more innocent lives."
Kitamura waved him off. "You don't need to worry." He walked towards the window. "This is a safe place. And I have many bodyguards."
"Takada has a small army but the maids waded through them like there not even there," Saeko commented.
"Those are gangsters. I have a professional security group." Kitamura acts like he owned half of the world. "Those maids can't hurt me."
But then the window exploded in a millions pieces.
