Hello everyone! I'm putting it up here since I want all of my readers to see it: with the current global situation, school is out of comission so, hopefully, I'll have much more free time to concentrate on my stories, this one included! My sincerest apologies for not posting a new chapter sooner, but I was kind of caught up in a slump, so... Anyway, I hope you'll enjoy this brand-new, original Story Arc!

PS: Keep safe, everyone!

A very special party was to be held at the Citadel. The guests, all people of high standing from all across the world, would be entertained with gourmet food, talented musicians, and even an auction. Powerful and influential figures would fill the ballroom with their richly decorated gowns, costly suits, and their masks. After all, they couldn't trust anyone in such a place where less than legal deeds and deals would surely take place.

This was also when they would strike.

"Saru, you'll arrive in exactly fourteen minutes."

The man nodded, gazing outside as the citadel came into view. "Alright. What's our status?"

"Attention, Zodiac and Class E!" called Usagi. "Is everyone in position?"

"Team 1-A in position," confirmed Nagisa.

"Team 1-B in position," confirmed Karasuma.

"Team 2 in position," confirmed Same.

"Team 3 in position!" confirmed Ritsu.

"Team 4 in position," confirmed Yagi.

"Team 5 in position," confirmed Karasu.

"That's everyone, then," concluded Usagi. "Ready when you are, Leader."

"Then let's get this show on the road. Listen up! This rescue mission begins now!"

"Yes, sir!"

A few minutes earlier

Citadel

Ame glared at her reflection in the mirror. Not only was she a prisoner, but she was also treated like some- some sort of doll. Frankly, had it not been for the lingering threat of the bomb-necklace attached to her neck, she'd have tried another risky escape attempt already. However, she didn't have much of a choice in the matter, and she ended up having to wear… that.

"I don't get why you're so mad. You look pretty cute."

She shifted her glare from her reflection to the infuriating red-haired man. "I'm not a fucking toy. You know, I don't think playing dress-up is a part of the kidnapping contract."

Because she was now wearing a dress, of all things. Now, she had nothing against dresses, but they were rather difficult to move around in a fight, they didn't offer any protection or mobility, they easily go dirty, and they were, overall, very impractical. Sure, the dress was pretty: simple, black satin, plus a red belt that matched the goddam bomb-necklace, but the mere fact that it was Tanaka Sho who had picked it out for her made her skin crawl in disgust.

"Well, we can't have you showing up at the party in the same clothes you've been wearing for the last three days, can we?" Michael replied with a shrug. He had quickly gotten used to her sarcastic remarks. "Anyway, we've got to get going. Ready?"

"You're asking if I'm ready to watch my friends get killed before being forcibly enrolled into a terrorist group," she deadpanned, though she did follow him outside.

He rolled his eyes as they started walking down the hallway. "Stop acting so dramatic. You know, every hero has a tragic backstory. That'll just be yours."

"Is that how you see yourself, then?" she asked, a tad curious. "A hero?"

"Heroes, villains… In the end, I'd say all humans are a little bit of both," he answered, startling her a bit by his honesty. He then smirked. "I just decided to do whatever I wanted. If that's enough to have me labeled as a villain, though, that's not really my problem, is it?"

"Is that why you follow Tanaka? Because he lets you do whatever you want?"

"Life debt," he simply shrugged again. "I do have a moral code—it just isn't defined by any of the standards laid down by society."

"Pretty words for a terrorist," she grunted.

"Aren't you acting a little hypocritical? The only difference between our two organizations is that you instigate disasters while we actually make them happen," he then pointed out, roughly poking her forehead. "Don't go thinking you're on the right side of morality—you're an info-broker, a member of the Underworld. Once you're in, you don't get out."

"You think I don't know that?" she huffed, rubbing her forehead, annoyed. "I've been in this business for almost a decade now, so don't you start lecturing me about morality! But if you really want to understand why I'm so against Coup de Grâce, it's because you guys act on whims. You kill and destroy and create general chaos just for the hell of it. Now, I'm certainly not stupid enough to believe the Zodiac are the good guys, but at least we don't do what we do out of sheer malice."

"Nothing personal, just business. Now, are you done with your existential crisis, or do you need a minute to shed a few tears, too?"

"Tche, asshole."

"Brat."

They reached the end of the hallway and stopped before the elevator doors. They opened, revealing none other than Tanaka Sho. He smiled cheerfully when seeing them, and his reddish eyes that painfully reminded her of the first Inu seemed to be of a darker shade because of the mask now covering the higher half of his face.

"A masked ball, really?" she deadpanned, joining him inside. Michael went to stand to her left, and the doors closed. "It's pretty cliché, you know."

"Clichés are clichés because they work," he replied amicably. "Now, wear this. Can't make it too easy for your Zodiac friends, can we?"

She refrained the urge to grab the mask he was handing her and throw it at his face. Getting him mad now wouldn't work in her favor, and it'd surely screw up whatever plan the Zodiac had surely already set in motion. So, gritting her teeth, she took the mask, before glancing at Michael. A similar mask already occupied the red-haired man's face, though his was red while Tanaka's and her's were black. Heaving out a sigh, she then put it on. Just as she finished tying the ribbons behind her head, the doors of the elevator opened, and Tanaka offered his arm to her with a cheerful smile.

"Shall we?"

She linked her arm with his, looking straight ahead and swallowing back all of the insults and curses that flew to her mind.

"Not like I have much of a choice in the matter."

You're smiling now, but we'll see who gets the last laugh, Tanaka Sho.

"The first part of the plan is your usual infiltration. Of course, it won't be easy, even more so considering the heavy security that will be put in place, but we can make it. Since we'll need many people inside in order for the operation to go smoothly, though, we'll have to split Team 1 into two groups. The first group will infiltrate the Citadel before the party even begins. Since Tanaka wants to play with clichés, we'll play along."

"Okajima, stop eyeing the female guests and focus on the mission!"

"So- sorry, Fuwa-chan."

"There are many people, but I can't see Ame anywhere. I'd say the masks are both a blessing and a curse for us, uh?"

"I'm sure we'll find her, Maehara-kun. She'll surely be accompanied, and we know what she looks like," reasoned Nagisa, carefully eyeing the crowd. "All we need to do is make brief contact so she can tell us what we need to know."

"Easier said than done," sighed Maehara. "There are many teens around, too. They're probably here in place of their rich parents or something. She—"

"Oi, waiter boy! We need more champagne over here!"

Nagisa jumped. "R- right away, sir!"

Shoving the tray under his arm, he quickly made his way to one of the numerous tables, though he carefully watched all of the guests. Thankfully enough, with the brown wig covering his blue hair, he easily passed unnoticed. He, Okajima, Fuwa, and Maehara had volunteered to be a part of Team 1-A, the first infiltration group: earlier in the day, they had entered the Citadel as extra staff members employed specifically for the party. Maehara had found himself working at the bar, somehow, and Okajima acted as a doorman at the main entrance, while Fuwa and Nagisa ended up as waiters, which allowed them to mix up with the crowd. And, of course, they were all wearing masks which greatly helped with blending in.

"Oh, guys! I've got a visual! Ame just came through the side door!"

"What does she look like?" instantly asked Fuwa.

"Black dress, black mask. She's with another black-haired guy with the same mask, and there's also a red-haired one with a red mask just behind them."

"I see her now," suddenly announced Maehara. "I think they're heading for the lodges, though, so we need to make our move now!"

"I still can't see her," replied Nagisa, frowning as he scanned the crowd. "Fuwa-san?"

"I see them, but the red-haired guy means trouble. We need to distract him and Ame's escort if we want to make contact!" warned Fuwa, sounding a little distressed.

"Don't worry guys, Team 1-B is here to help!"

"Nakamura-san!" breathed out Nagisa, relieved.

"The second group of Team 1 will infiltrate as guests. However, since they will most certainly check the identities of everyone who comes through, no one from the Zodiac can do it—and the same counts for the first group. So, while it is risky, Team 1 as a whole will have to infiltrate the Citadel on their own."

"Don't worry guys, we managed to make it inside just fine," assured Rio, grinning a bit. "I'm on the dance floor with Karma right now. Is she nearby?"

"Y- yeah, she's on the left side, not too far from the bar," confirmed Maehara.

"I see her now," confirmed Karma, before spinning his blonde partner around. "We'll be closing in to make an indirect contact."

"Be careful, you two," ordered Karasuma. "Irina and I are just near them, but we'll be much more suspicious than just a couple of kids dancing around."

"I can't just let them go in on their own, either. Irina and I will also infiltrate as guests. Surely, that is feasible, right?"

"Mou, why didn't you invite me to dance, Karasuma?" whined Irina.

"Not the time, Bitch-sensei," sweatdropped Rio. Then, her eyes widened slightly. "I see her now! It's time for the first contact."

As they spun closer to the trio, Rio stared insistently at Ame. As expected, the girl's sharp senses almost instantly picked it up, and she started looking around, albeit subtly. A few seconds later, her eyes met Rio's, and they widened in surprise. Her startled expression quickly smoothed over and back to her unreadable one, though. Karma spun Rio once more, this time making eye contact with Ame, and he subtly switched his gaze from her to the red-haired man behind her, then back to her.

Frankly, Ame had been expecting many things, but the E-Class showing up hadn't been one of them. Thinking quickly, though, she realized that Tanaka surely wouldn't have expected such a turn of event, either. In the end, the Zodiac and the E-Class teaming up was the best course of action Saru could have taken. Now, though, there was the matter of making contact and telling them about a particular bomb attached to her neck…

"Ooh, I'm soooo thirsty! Why don't you go and grab me a drink, my darling~?"

I'd know that slutty voice anywhere!

Ame didn't turn around, though, and simply stopped. Tanaka also stopped, glancing at her.

"What is it?"

"Can I have some water?" she simply asked, tightening her grip a bit. "I'll be very frank with you: I think I'm going to be sick."

"A, the stress got the best of you, uh?" he chuckled, lightly patting her head. She refrained the urge to bite his hand, and stayed still. "But I guess there's no problem. I'm getting rather thirsty myself. Michael, do you mind going to grab us something at the bar?"

"Right away, Boss."

Wait, why didn't he ask a waiter to do it? Why not go to the bar ourselves? Maybe she was looking into it too much, but she couldn't help it—her mind was in overdrive now that the game was starting. There's something in the drinks, isn't there?

She looked up to Tanaka, her eyes narrowed slightly. He blinked, surprised when seeing her look, before laughing lightly.

"So you noticed, uh? Color me impressed."

"What's in the drinks?" she asked warily.

"Trust me, dear, you don't want to—"

"Gah!"

Out of nowhere, another dancing couple suddenly rammed right into him. Tanaka stumbled back a bit, letting go of Ame, and the girl was careful not to let the surprise show on her face. Although they were also wearing masks, she easily recognized the "couple".

"I- I'm so terribly sorry about this!" Kanzaki bowed deeply. "I didn't realize we were so close to other people! I'm so, so sorry!"

"We deeply apologize!" added Isogai, bowing even lower. "How could we ever repay you for this blunder?"

Tanaka sweatdropped at that. "It- it's fine, kids. Just go and have your fun—"

"No, we insist!"

"We're sorry!"

"We have to make up for it!"

"We truly apologize!"

While Tanaka struggled to say something through the profusion of apologies from the two teens, Ame felt a light tap on her shoulder. Turning around, she saw yet another familiar face.

"A drink, miss?" asked Nagisa, bowing his head.

"No, thank you," she refused, shaking her head with a small, genuine smile. "I'm afraid there's something I just can't stand in those alcoholic beverages."

"Very well. If you find yourself in need of anything, you may ask me or my fellow waitress behind you," he replied simply.

Ah, clever boy.

Not having to move an inch, she quickly started signing in her back. Everyone had been trained in sign language, after all.

"Something in the drinks. Careful. Bomb in the necklace. Tanaka has the detonator. Can't go out. Detector. Be careful. Don't do anything stupid."

Fuwa sighed in relief as Ame finished signing. "Alright, everyone. We've managed to establish contact with Ame."

"Good job, kids! So? What did she say?" asked Usagi.

"She said there was something in the drinks, and that there's a bomb hidden in the necklace she's wearing. Tanaka has the detonator and she can't get out of the Citadel because of it, either," relayed the wannabe detective. "I had a feeling about the drinks, though. They've been bringing in coffers of some blue powder in the kitchens since the beginning of the afternoon, after all—I just didn't realize they'd actually be targeting the guests."

"Surely a side mission, of a sort," pointed out Hebi. "Since all of the guests are so rich, Coup de Grâce is probably planning on robbing them blind before escaping, or they're going to hold them hostage and demand a ransom from their families. Thankfully, we were already planning on raiding their secret lab, so we'll surely find the antidote there."

"I'll take care of Ame's bomb-necklace once we're inside," added Buta. "Until then, the plan stays the same."

"Good job, Team 1," then praised Saru. "I'll be going in, now, so stay sharp."

"Oh, one last thing!" Fuwa recalled, grinning a bit. "Ame says to be careful and to not do anything stupid."

At that, some laughs buzzed through the ear-com for a few seconds.

All was going according to plan.

By the time Tanaka managed to shoo away the duo of apologizing kids, Nagisa was already far gone, and Bitch-sensei, whom Ame had heard earlier, was nowhere in sight. Muttering under his breath about overly polite brats, the leader offered her his arm once more, which she took, and guided her toward the door near the bar. For a moment, her eyes met Maehara's, and the boy subtly winked her way before getting back to washing glasses.

They're really here, uh? All of them…

"Ah, there he is! Man, am I thirsty after dealing with those brats!"

Michael returned to them with two glasses of water. Tanaka quickly gulped down his, while Ame drank hers more slowly. She was almost entirely certain it was clean, but she couldn't be too sure with the leader of Coup de Grâce. Once she was done, though, she had to kiss goodbye to the ballroom as they made their way through the side door. They walked up a flight of stairs, before reaching one of the opera lodges.

"So we're just going to sit in the dark and await the realization of your Machiavellian plan? Talk about a fun party," deadpanned Ame.

"Ah, don't worry, don't worry," chuckled Tanaka, guiding her inside. "The main event of the evening will happen here. In a few minutes, the guests will all come and take their seats, and the auction will begin."

"Auction? I didn't know you were into legal stuff," she mused, taking her seat.

"Oh, we're not. We're just going to use that auction to spot who has the most money so we can use them as hostages so their families will pay a ransom," he replied in a cheerful tone.

"Lovely."

"Boss, it looks like the special guest has arrived," then announced Michael, listening to the information relayed to him by the others.

"Good," nodded Tanaka, also taking his seat. "Let's get started."

"Very well." He pressed a finger on his ear. "Everyone, Boss has given the signal. Let's go!"

Funny how he hasn't realized that it has already started.

"Feeling better, Naoki-chan?"

"Just peachy."

And though she didn't show it, it was the truth. Tanaka Sho wouldn't know what hit him.

"As soon as Saru shows up, they'll begin their own plan. Since we'll surely lose contact with Saru once he's inside, we've decided that Team 2 would make their move exactly fifteen minutes later. Their job is simple, really: distraction. That's the team that'll draw the main attention of the security and that'll forcibly make their way into the Citadel and open the path for the rest. That's also when our cover will be partly blown, so we'll have to move fast as soon as Team 2 strikes. However…"

"It's been twenty minutes!" announced Ritsu. "Team 2, move out!"

At once, Korosensei appeared at the front entrance. All of the guests were inside by now, so only those in charge of security saw him. They obviously knew who and what he was, though, for they instantly started firing Anti-BB bullets.

"Well-prepared, are we?" mused Korosensei, easily evading the rain of lethal projectiles. His traits then darkened as veins pulsed under his skin. "But that won't be enough to save you. You have my precious student, and I intend to take her back!"

The security agents expected tentacles—they didn't expect fists. So, they were rather taken off guard when, out of nowhere, a large man suddenly appeared and rammed into them, punching left and right and effectively knocking out whoever he came in contact with.

"You have one of ours," he growled, picking up an agent that was shaking all over. Then, he mercilessly threw him away, and the poor sod flew well over a few meters. "Where is she!?"

"However, the greatest threat we'll encounter isn't the extra security, but Coup de Grâce's top officers. There's seven of them, all extremely talented individuals, that we'll have to neutralize at all cost if we want to be able to rescue Ame."

"So the monster-teacher showed up after all, uh?" mused Jophiel, watching the ongoing fight closely through his visor. "And there's a member of the Zodiac, too… Buru, was it? Looks and acts like a bull, alright."

Jophiel had been granted the role of sniper, and watcher as well. Seated on the edge of an open window on the fifth floor, he was carefully watching the cliffside, along with the backdoor—the sole entrance other than the main one that could allow someone inside the Citadel.

"Well, might as well claim that bounty for myself while I'm at it, uh?"

Just as he was about to fire, though, a bullet suddenly hit the glass just next to his head. He instantly took cover, back inside the room, his eyes narrowing. Another sniper? Yeah, that Reaper guy mentioned a newbie assassin. Red-Eye, sniper extraordinaire, renown in the Underworld for never failing to kill a target—that is, until he met that octopus. He should have expected him, really.

But now that he's fired, I know where he is. It's only a matter of who aims better, now.

Jophiel licked his lips. Now, that was an interesting challenge, wasn't it? It wasn't often that his life ended up being on the line, what with him always acting as a sniper despite being a weapon master. Now, though, it looked like he had met his match.

"Jophiel, what's the situation?"

"Nothing big, Gabrielle," he assured. "That octopus is here, along with Zodiac members Buru and Sasori. I'm about to end the later."

"Don't get caught up in your games, Jophiel, and give me an update once you've dealt with them."

"Will do."

The coms officer then cut their communication, and the weapon master focused back on the situation at hand. Just as he was about to make his move, though, another bullet hit the floor just near his feet, and his eyes widened a bit.

That one came from the complete opposite direction!

He didn't know there was another sniper in the Zodiac. That weapon master, Ryu, seemed more well-versed in knives and the likes, and he had a feeling it wasn't him anyway.

So who could it be?

There was no point in asking questions he wouldn't get the answers to, though. However, adrenaline was now filling his veins. Two snipers against one? It had been a long, long while since the last time he found himself facing such a challenge. The thrill of taking down two opponents at once was getting the best of him, and a crazed grin split his face.

"I know where you both are! You're dead!"

Jumping onto the edge of the window, he completely revealed himself. Once again, the two snipers fired… but although the bullets hit, they didn't hurt him in the least.

"Ah! How do you like my special bullet-proof armor!? And now… it's your time to die!"

A single gunshot echoed, though, and it wasn't his—in fact, it didn't come from either side, but from above. Mild pain spread in his neck, and a wave of dizziness crashed onto him.

There- there were three of them…

Darkness then overcame him, and he started falling—

—only to be caught by none other than Same, who had been waiting outside the room for a few minutes now. Grabbing the sniper's collar, he roughly pulled him back inside and instantly got to work, tying him up and stuffing cloth in his mouth so he wouldn't alert anyone once he woke up. While he did that, a shadowy figure dropped from the four floors above, holding on to a metallic wire, before jumping inside.

"Good job, Hayami-san," Same congratulated briefly, finishing up with their foe. "You possess great skill. I don't believe many people would be able to fire at such a precise target from such a distance while hanging upside down."

"I've trained," she simply replied, looking down at the now unconscious enemy. "Jophiel, the weapon master. Known to be a dangerous ambidextrous sniper who can pinpoint an enemy's exact position after a single shot. As told, he was also wearing a special bullet-proof armor, of which the only weak point was the space between his neck and the collar."

Same nodded, shoving the man in question aside. He'd be out of it for a pretty long while considering the amount of somniferous substance he had just been injected with. Clearing his throat a few times, he then spoke up—

"Test, test."

—it sounded exactly like Jophiel's rather throaty voice. After all, he could mimic anyone's voice after hearing it only once. He nodded to Hayami, who nodded back and activated her com.

"Jophiel has been successfully incapacitated," she announced. "Korosensei, Buru-san, please finish up at the front."

"Right away," answered Buru.

While she did that, Same grabbed some of Jophiel's gear, along with the com. Breathing out deeply, he then activated it.

"Update status?" instantly asked a feminine voice.

"The Zodiac sniper's been handled," answered Same without missing a beat. "The octopus and the other Zodiac member retreated, though."

"Got it. Don't lose focus, they'll surely be back soon enough."

"Maa, maa, no need to nag, Gabrielle. I know how to do my job."

"Sometimes, I really wonder if you do or if you just luck out every time."

On which the communication was cut off again.

"Impressive," simply remarked Hayami. Same offered her a nod, and she activated her com once again. "The cliffside and the backdoor have been secured. The main entrance is also under our control. We're clear to move on to phase three."

"Good job, Sasori, Chiba-kun, Hayami-chan, Same. You too, Buru. How are you holding up, Korosensei?" inquired Usagi.

"Niryufufufu! Everything is perfect! All of the unconscious guards are now held up by my tentacles, so it looks like they're awake and still guarding the entrance. The enemy is none the wiser, and the guards who stayed inside didn't see anything!"

"Great. Then, everyone, it's time for Phase Three!"

Saru was escorted to a lodge on the other side of the room, directly to the opposite of Ame and Tanaka's. Her fists clenched when seeing him, but he simply smiled at her, like he always did, and she felt herself relax.

It's alright. We have this.

Suddenly, Michael rushed back inside. "Boss, it looks like there's some agitation at the entrance—the monster-teacher and two Zodiac members."

"Can Jophiel handle it?"

"Apparently."

"Alright. Tell me if anything else comes up."

Nodding, the red-haired man then returned to stand guard outside the lodge. As for Ame, well, she was having a hard time not outright showing she was jubilating. She glanced at Saru from time to time, but the man was now carefully avoiding looking at her, and she noticed how he didn't even have a guard with him.

So they're really using me to keep him in place, uh? As long as I'm wearing that damn necklace, he won't be able to do anything.

She couldn't possibly take it off herself, though. For now, she needed to stay calm and wait for her friends to make their move. She didn't doubt there was a plan and, though she hated to be left out of the loop, she'd be patient.

She'd get the last laugh soon enough.

"Once phase two is completed, it'll mean we have control over the back entrance, and we can send in the rest of the infiltration team. Accompanied by three of our members, their mission will be to take control of the Citadel's security system as a whole along with cutting off the means of communication. By then, it'll definitely give away our presence, but they'll be cornered at that point. Taking out the inside security and the communication system is the only way for us to take control of the situation. If we can't do that, the rescue mission is as good as over."

Hayami and Chiba positioned themselves in the room with the unconscious Jophiel, while Same left to join the rest of the infiltration group. They were all hiding in the hallway, having come in from the backdoor, and the situation strangely reminded them of when they had infiltrated the Citadel during their little vacation. Now, though, they didn't have Bitch-sensei to attract the attention of the guards inside.

"Buru, go ahead," simply ordered Same.

"Alright!"

At once, Buru charged inside. Korosensei was still busy holding up the unconscious bodies and he couldn't drop them until the security system had been taken over, but the large man was more than enough to attract the attention of their enemies. They all started firing as the man charged inside head-on, heavily protected by bulletproof equipment. As soon as he started rampaging, Same, Ryu, and Tora fired at once on the three cameras in the hall. This gave the opening required for the students to quickly go up the stairs and go hide in the nearest room without being noticed. Once inside, they spread out while Usagi went to sit at the desk and instantly plugged in his computer.

"Alright, here's what's going to happen," announced Tora, going inside. Ritsu made a map of the Citadel appear in the middle of the room, and the students gathered around. "The surveillance room is three floors above our heads, so we'll split into four teams: Usagi, Ritsu, and Takebayashi will stay here to handle the cyber-fight, Ryu, Hara, and Mimura will take Elevator A, Yada, Takaoka, and me will take Elevator B and, finally, Kaede, Okano, and Kurahashi will take the stairs. We destroy every camera we can come across and the teams in the elevators will draw all of the attention. You know what to do for the rest."

"Right!"

"Then, Usagi?"

The man grinned, offering her a thumb's up. "All set to go!"

"Then let's do this! Teams, move out!"

Alarms started blaring in the surveillance room, and Gabrielle narrowed her eyes as numbers started filling one screen after the other. Instantly, her fingers started flying over the keys, and she quickly realized what exactly was happening.

"Gabrielle?"

"Someone managed to break through the firewall," she announced, gritting her teeth. "They're trying to take control of the security system and redirect the commands to an alternate server."

"Can you stop them?" frowned Ariel.

"I'll need to fully focus on it. Can you handle the rest? There's that Buru guy still rampaging downstairs, and the guys outside are apparently still busy with that octopus—oh no you don't, you little rat!"

Muttering curses under her breath, the ginger completely cut herself off from reality, focusing on the cyber-attack. Shaking his head, the tactician then took a look at the screens still in function. They had already lost many cameras, and he could see the two elevators coming up. He didn't bother with stopping them, knowing the Zodiac members inside would be out of there in less than a minute anyway, and simply made it so they'd stop at the floor just below. He then activated his radio.

"I need twenty men waiting at the elevators on floor two to greet unwelcome guests," he ordered. "Numbers are unknown, but they're highly dangerous individuals. Permission to fire on sight is granted. Do not let them reach the surveillance room!"

"No matter what you do, always aim for the cameras first. As long as we manage to hide the presence of the E-Class students, we'll have the advantage of surprise."

"We're stopping at the second floor," announced Ryu. "Ready?"

Hara and Mimura nodded firmly, though the later gulped a bit. He hadn't expected to land smack in the middle of the action, to be frank, and he was both thrilled and terrified. However, they were heavily equipped with bulletproof clothes and special weapons, so they'd be fine. They had to, right? It wasn't a game, but none of them would die here.

It just wasn't possible.

…

…

…

Right?

"We've stopped," stated Hara, her grip tightening on her gun.

Of course, the students hadn't been handed actual guns. Saru hadn't even suggested it, and Karasuma probably would have wrung his neck if he had. However, since their anti-Sensei guns obviously wouldn't be of much use, they had been given special darts coated in a sleeping drug that would almost instantly take effect.

"As soon as I've taken care of the two cameras on the right, you guys start taking them out from in here," ordered Ryu. He had a real gun since he was talented enough not to hit anything vital. "Ready?"

"Aa!"

At last, the doors slid open, and he instantly jumped outside. Gunshots echoed and Hara and Mimura flinched a bit, knowing it was real bullets they were hearing. But—

"All clear!"

They didn't have the time to think, their resolve hardening as they remembered why they were here in the first place. Falling in place at once, they instantly started firing at their foes, Ryu running all around and physically taking them out with moves rivaling Karasuma's. On their left, Tora had handled the other cameras while Yada and Takaoka mirrored their attack. In the span of a minute, they had taken care of all twenty men sent after them.

"Usagi, what's your status?" asked Tora while the students and Ryu tied up the guards.

"That chick in charge of protecting the systems is a serious pain in the ass," grunted the white-haired man. "But I'll have control of the elevators in about forty-five seconds. Get ready!"

"Alright. Kaede, what about you?"

"We met the backup team in the stairs, but we've managed to handle all ten of them," assured Kaede, though her voice was shaking a bit. "We'll go through the hallway as soon as you guys are ready."

"Got it. Yada, Takaoka, we're taking over the room right under the surveillance room. Ryu, you and your team get in position."

"Aa. Let's go!"

"Getting inside that room is at the bottom of the priority list when it comes to the third phase. As long as we can cut off their communication, we'll be one step ahead. As long as we can get close enough, we'll be able to scramble their signal."

"Damn it, damn it, damn it…"

"Gabrielle?"

"It must be that Usagi guy, the bastard!" cursed the orange-haired woman. Her fingers were moving so fast, Ariel could barely see them. "I don't know how he's doing it but he's attacking on three different fronts at the time—I can barely keep up!"

"How much time can you last?" frowned the green-haired man.

"No more than six minutes," she admitted, the truth leaving a bitter taste in her mouth.

"Alright, I'll warn Raphael right away." He activated his second radio, the one directly connected to the other high-ranked members. "Michael, we're in a pinch—"

'BZZZZZZZZZZZZZ'

His eyes widened. "They're scrambling the signal!"

"What!? How?"

"They must be in the room right under us!"

"But twenty men were waiting for them downstairs, and ten more were coming as a backup. Argh!" Gabrielle hit the table with her fist. "How many are there, damn it!?"

"Calm down! Focus on the cyber-attack—if they gain control of the security system, we'll definitely be at a disadvantage. We—" He suddenly paused, his eyes going wide with realization. "How many… That's it! The Zodiac aren't the only ones here!"

"W- what—"

"I'll go warn Michael myself, just focus on the security system!"

"Wait, Ariel, what—"

But the tactician was already running off, leaving her on her own. Cursing loudly once more, Gabrielle then focused back on the problem at hand.

"Come on, girls! Over there!"

They were a tad exhausted, to be honest. Running around and fighting a little under a dozen of armed men had taken its toll on the little three-girl team, and they seriously hoped they wouldn't run into any more trouble. Just as they reached the last flight of stairs, though, the door leading to the upper floor flew open, and a green-haired man stepped inside. They instantly stopped dead in their tracks, and he froze.

"I knew it…" he breathed out, his eyes wide. "Ooh, I should have seen it coming. I should have known! What a brilliant plan, really! But… I'm afraid your little rescue mission ends here."

"Y- you're… Ariel, right?" gulped Kaede, shaking a bit. "One- one of the high-ranked members…"

"Did your homework, didn't you?" he drawled. Then, he pulled a gigantic gun off his back. "You should have just stayed in your little classroom."

"W- wait!" gasped Okano. "If you blow up the staircase, you'll die too, won't you!?"

"Blow up…? Oh, no, that's not a bazooka!" He laughed a bit. "Man, kids and their imagination… No, no, that's just some new drug we've been working on. It's not field-tested yet but, so far, the effects we've managed to witness are rather nasty. Goodnight, girls!"

Just as he was about to fire at the frozen green-haired girl, though, he stiffened. Then, at once, he collapsed… revealing none other than one of their classmates.

"Ta- Takebayashi-kun!?" gasped Kurahashi.

Kaede collapsed to her knees, breathing heavily, and Okano quickly rushed to her side. Herself was barely able to stand, the burst of adrenaline and relief making them a little light-headed. As for Takebayashi, well, he lowered his gun, his hands shaking, but a proud smile tentatively stretching his lips.

"I- I thought you could use some help," he remarked, pushing up his glasses.

"Well done, Takebayashi-kun!" beamed Kurahashi.

"But what about Usagi-san and Ritsu?" wondered Okano, a tad worried.

"W- well…"

A few minutes earlier

"Are you alright, Takebayashi-kun?"

The boy startled, glancing at the info-broker next to him. Although the pro looked intensely focused on the computer before him, he was still glancing his way.

"I- I'm fine, Usagi-san."

The man grinned a bit. "You wanted to join them, didn't you?"

Blushing in embarrassment, the boy didn't bother correcting him and simply reported his attention on his computer. While he wasn't as fast as Usagi, the man had trained him a bit in the last few days so he'd be able to help him out with the cyber-attack. But then, without warning, Usagi grabbed his computer and placed it next to his own.

"U- Usagi-san!?"

"Go," simply urged the man, no longer looking at him.

"But- but I need to help here—"

"You've got the opportunity to help your friends. Don't waste it."

Takebayashi's eyes went wide. Then, at once, he strengthened his resolve and, with a firm nod, he ran out of the room. Usagi simply chuckled a bit under his breath.

"Ah, children…"

"Was it really a good idea, Usagi-san? Will we not need his help?" wondered Ritsu, a tad worried.

"Nan, we can handle it," assured the man. "Plus, I know the feeling. I know what it's like to long for the same battlefield as the rest of your friends… Anyway, let's focus! We're almost through!"

"Right!"

Back to the present

"Urgh, no, he's slowed down but I still can't—no, damn it! Not—"

The door flew open so harshly it snapped Gabrielle out of her daze. Her eyes widened as she spun around in her chair and found two kids pointing guns at her.

"What—"

The girl fired without hesitation, and pain flared in Gabrielle's stomach.

Then, her world turned black.

"We've handled Gabrielle, the one in charge of the security system," announced Hara.

As if on cue, a little white rabbit appeared on the main screen, offering them a thumb's up, along with Ritsu, who beamed at them.

"We also made it in!" she announced proudly.

"C- Coup de Grâce member Ariel has also been handled," then announced Takebayashi. "We're dragging him to the surveillance room."

"I'll come and help," stated Ryu. "Tora, you and your team stay in the room downstairs to ensure the communications stay scrambled. Kaede-chan, you and your team come join us in the surveillance room. Usagi, Ritsu, you two know what to do. Buru, Same, you guys finish off the guards in the entrance. Korosensei, you can now drop the guards and stay on standby."

"Roger!"

"Got it!"

"Hai, hai~!"

"Then… Phase Four, beginning now!"