Note: Wow, I have NOT updated this story for months, haven't I? For that, I deeply apologize. I've been focused on all sorts of different stuff, including my other stories and college. I hope that all of you have been staying tuned for the next chapter. Before we move on, I want to say something to two reviewers.
Ron: I'm glad that you liked the chapter, and I don't mind that you reviewed chapter one again.
hechtmanelijah6: Yeah, it's important to add some drama to a story in order to add more emotion to it. I suppose that the story is becoming more like the show itself, which wasn't wholeheartedly the intent behind writing it. However, I guess I did take some inspiration from the show in order to write this, even if it's set in an alternate universe where the protagonists are in a different position. Nonetheless, I hope that you enjoy this chapter as well.
Now that I've done that, it's time for chapter twelve.
Chapter 12: The Serpent Gang's Next Plan
Mr. Hirose sat in front of a monitor at the Serpent Gang's HQ, typing away. A day ago, he had received word from Araki that Bairei Tanuki, one of the Seven Heroes, had been injured to the point of hospitalization. Needless to say, the black Panther was pleased that a member of the team that was opposing him and his men had been taken down. While Bairei hadn't been killed, the feline was relieved that he wouldn't be threatening his organization for quite some time. His luck was turning, to the point where he felt that he could do anything without suffering any consequences. In addition to that, the rest of the Serpent Gang would be able to continue on with their plans.
Getting done with the typing he was doing, Mr. Hirose got ready to call in Araki and thank him for his services. That was until a tabby cat came into the room. This cat was wearing a silver choker, a black jacket, a red shirt, a leather belt around her waist, jeans, and army boots. The feline was also a young woman, being around her early twenties. On her back was a kanabō, which was her weapon of choice when it came to battle. Upon seeing her, Mr. Hirose engaged in a conversation with the feline.
"Ah," he spoke, "Masako, what are you doing here?"
"I was told that you would be in your office." Masako, the cat, spoke.
"By who?" The black panther asked.
"By one of your associates." The tabby stated. "What was it that you were doing?"
"I was typing down the data that I had received from our allies, including Araki." He said.
"Kazuma Araki?" She asked. "What did you hire him for?"
"To kill the Seven Heroes, but he only succeeded in giving one of them serious injuries."
"Yet he helped you to get his point across."
"And now that the Seven Heroes are down a member, we will have less resistance in carrying out our plans."
"What's the next step?"
Mr. Hirose stepped away from Masako, going to his intercom. Pressing a button on it, he sent a message to his receptionist.
"Send in Yamashiro and Araki." Mr. Hirose spoke.
"You're having them go on a mission together?" Masako asked.
"Not quite." The black panther said. "I'll explain what I want when they get in here."
A few minutes later, and Yamashiro, joined by Araki, had arrived in Mr. Hirose's office. Upon entering the room, the fox and the wolf took their seats. Masako sat in-between them, not caring where she sat. Mr. Hirose stood up, his map behind him. His computer's monitor was placed in front of Yamashiro, Araki, and Masako, allowing them to see the data on the screen. As they watched him, the three listened to Mr. Hirose as he spoke.
"Now," he began, "the three of you are probably wondering why I had you come here."
"I personally don't see why you would need me again." Araki said. "After all, I managed to put one of the Seven Heroes in the hospital. If the team knew better, they would stay out of our way."
"That's the problem, Mr. Araki, they won't let us carry on with our plans." Mr. Hirose said. "Even if we sent out more of our allies, the Seven Heroes, be it a single member, a few members, or even the entire team, would kill them in order to proceed with their agenda, which counters ours."
"So," Masako spoke, "is the next step of the plan involve us killing them before they can kill us, Mr. Hirose?"
"Hardly!" The panther said. "While it would be easier to kill them before they could interfere for longer, the next step of the plan has nothing to do with death."
"Nothing to do with death, eh?" Araki raised an eyebrow.
"Well, what are we going to do next?" Yamashiro asked.
Pulling his monitor back, Mr. Hirose proceeded to type and click with his mouse. After a minute, the panther turned his monitor back to Yamashiro, Araki, and Masako. On the screen, the fox, the wolf, and the tabby cat could see instructions for a machine. This machine wasn't a robot or even a defense droid. Rather, it was a bomb that would be set off the moment the timer on it counted down to zero. In the data, the bomb was said to be able to cause damage from 200 to 2000 acres. Upon seeing it, Yamashiro, Araki, and Masako backed up from the monitor, allowing Mr. Hirose to take it back.
"Impressive, isn't it?" The feline asked.
"It would be a rather powerful bomb, if we made it." Araki spoke.
"It will be," Mr. Hirose said, "if we pitch in and create the model in the lab."
"But where are we going to get the materials to make it, let alone duplicates of it?" Yamashiro asked. "Where will we place the bomb?"
"We've got all of the materials for the bomb in the lab." The black panther said. "In terms of placement, there isn't a plan for it yet. However, when the moment presents itself, the bomb will be planted in the Evergreen Forest. Even if we have to take hostages, our plans will be carried out."
"And I thought that our master plan was to gain possession of the Ruby of Saturn." Masako said.
"We'll worry about it after the bomb is triggered." The feline told her. "Once we get a hold of it, our plans for the Ruby will go off without a hitch. No one will stand in our way after that!"
"Isn't it possible to ask for Shiobana's assistance when it comes to planting the bomb?" The tabby cat asked.
"Shiobana is currently locked up," Yamashiro stated, "but we should be able to break him out of prison in order to help us out with the bomb."
"And he, like us, are some of the only people who can match the Seven Heroes in combat." Araki said.
"Given how we have different obstacles in our way, I suggest that we should work out how to deal with each." Mr. Hirose said.
"What should we do, Mr. Hirose?" Masako asked.
"Yamashiro will spy on the remaining members of the Seven Heroes." The black panther said. "As for you, Masako, you will go with several foot soldiers in order to find a way to free Shiobana. Araki, I'll have you go after Arthur Schaefer. If all else fails, kill him!"
"With pleasure!" Araki said, cracking his knuckles in excitement.
"Now that we've gotten that out of the way, are there any more questions?" The feline asked.
Yamashiro, Araki, and Masako looked at each other for a moment, then turned their attention to Mr. Hirose again.
"Bangō!" They said.
"In that case, go!" Mr. Hirose said.
Upon hearing that, Yamashiro, Araki, and Masako left Mr. Hirose's office, eager to carry out the jobs that they were assigned. Now that he was alone, Mr. Hirose sat down at his desk, going through the data on his monitor. After a minute, the black panther pressed a button on his intercom.
"How's it going in there?" He spoke into the intercom.
"The bomb's just about ready, sir!" A woman, presumably a scientist, said. "We just need to get a few screws into it! Once we get it done, we'll work on making duplicates of it! We'll make enough to take out the entire Evergreen Forest!"
"Good," Mr. Hirose said, "just be sure to keep an eye on the finished project."
"We'll do that, sir!" The scientist said before hanging up.
Once the call had ended, Mr. Hirose continued to look over the data. After that, he exited it and turned the computer off. The black panther smiled as he thought about his plans. The moment the bombs were in place, it would be all over for the Seven Heroes. Even if they had managed to disarm the bombs, the feline still had other plans for them. If it was the last thing he did, he would make sure that the Serpent Gang got a hold of the Ruby of Saturn. No one would be able to stop the organization from that point on.
Unbeknownst to Mr. Hirose, or anyone in the Serpent Gang, Ryuta and Chikaga were spying on them. Moments before they began, Chu-Ya had given them a device that would allow them to hear what the Serpent Gang was planning without the need to enter their HQ. To make sure no one saw them, the raccoon and the aardvark hid in the trees, having climbed up to where the branches obscured anything in the forest. After recording the conversation Mr. Hirose had with Yamashiro, Araki, and Masako, Chikaga pressed a button on the device, causing a tape to pop out of it. He was quick to catch the tape, handing it to Ryuta.
"Now all we need to do is get this to your father, Chikaga." Ryuta stated.
"And we better do it fast," Chikaga said, "because the Serpent Gang is planning an awful lot of terrible deeds!"
"That's why we've got the others to work out plans with." The raccoon said.
"What about Bentley?" The aardvark asked. "How do we know that he'll be able to fight more enemies in the future?"
"Suwabe no chīsana otokonokodesu." He said. "If he's going to be my brother's successor, then he'll probably keep surprising us. Now, let's head back to base."
Ryuta and Chikaga then left the trees. After landing on the ground, the two went to meet up with Chu-Ya, eager to share what they had recorded.
Note: It has been a while since this story has been updated, so I decided to update it. For those interested in the words that certain characters have said, here are the Japanese-to-English translations.
Bangō! = No!
Suwabe no chīsana otokonokodesu = He is Junichi's little boy
I hope that everyone is doing well, considering how the pandemic has yet to fade completely. Until next time guys, this is Newcomer24, signing off. Peace!