The days passed slowly in the hideout, wrapped in a deceptive calm. The routine became a welcome refuge.

Jigen hardly ever left the bed. Though it irritated him to remain inactive, he knew his body needed time to recover. He spent his days smoking and meticulously cleaning his magnum, which was always a good way to keep his hands busy.

Lupin, Jigen, and Goemon played board games to kill time. Lupin and Jigen couldn't resist cheating, and Goemon was too honest to notice. He lost most of the games before finally catching on when Lupin made an absurdly obvious pass to Jigen. Outraged, he demanded they promise to play fair. Lupin and Jigen agreed solemnly, only to break the promise immediately—though this time with much more subtlety.

Jigen teased Lupin more than once about the message he'd read in the ruins, but he never got an answer. Lupin would change the subject or pretend not to hear, which, in Lupin-speak, was the equivalent of a flat refusal.

The thief spent several hours each day tinkering, one of his greatest passions. He would entertain himself by creating gadgets that were increasingly absurd yet supposedly essential for their next mission. Jigen could tell Lupin was getting restless.

Between them, the cigarette smoke accumulated quickly in the tiny apartment, forming a familiar gray haze that hung like an unspoken companion in the room.

Goemon often went out, spending long hours away without explaining where he went or what he was doing. His absences didn't really worry them, even if curiosity gnawed at them.

It was an evening like any other when Goemon returned with a smile as wide as the moon. The light of the setting sun filtered through the dusty curtains. Lupin was seated at the table, and for the first time in days, Jigen felt well enough to get up and pour himself a drink before collapsing into a worn-out armchair. The pain in his side was a dull thrum, like a drumbeat in the distance. The painkillers were working, but every sudden movement reminded him that his body wasn't cooperating fully yet. Still, he appreciated being able to move around a little on his own.

The door swung open suddenly, and Goemon appeared, a rare glint of triumph in his eyes. He practically bounced as he walked—an unusual sight for someone so typically composed.

"Lupin," he announced proudly. "I've found their hideout."

Lupin's head snapped up instantly, his eyes wide as saucers.

"The Black Dawn," Goemon continued. "Their headquarters is on the outskirts of the city, in some kind of warehouse."

Jigen was as shocked as Lupin. The Black Dawn… They'd been laying low for days, careful not to get caught by their enemies. And they'd been this close the entire time?

Lupin was clearly starved for adventure. He leapt to his feet as if the devil were chasing him.

"Excellent work, Goemon! We can finally pay them a visit!"

Goemon nodded with unusual enthusiasm but caught sight of Jigen straightening in his chair, and his brows furrowed. He had just remembered that their sharpshooter wasn't in top shape.

"Perhaps we should wait," Goemon said in a calmer tone. "Jigen needs time to recover from his injury. This mission might require significant physical effort."

Here Goemon had just laid the missing piece of the puzzle on the table, and now he wanted to snatch it away under the pretense of Jigen's injury. Well, Jigen wouldn't have that.

"I'm fine," Jigen growled, irritated that his condition was being questioned. "I'm ready to go."

In reality, this injury was giving him more trouble than usual. It was still sore and bruised, and Jigen could feel every cell in his body protesting whenever he got up.

But he'd never admit that to the gang.

Jigen knew them. They wouldn't wait for him to heal before going. He hated being pitied, hated feeling useless, and hated knowing Lupin was in the field without him even more. Besides, the enemy was too strong for a head-on confrontation—they'd have to infiltrate. He could definitely handle that.

Goemon confirmed his suspicions, admitting anxiously, "It's an abandoned warehouse near the Milan docks. They've got operations elsewhere tonight, so the warehouse will be half-empty."

Another reason to go: if they were going to make a move, tonight was the best chance they'd have.

All eyes fell on Jigen. The gunman stood up, suppressing a grimace as a wave of pain radiated from his side.

"I'm fine, I said. It's an infiltration, right? As long as there's no gymnastics involved, I can manage. And you'll need me if their lackeys catch on to you."

Goemon studied Jigen closely but didn't press the issue.

"Jigen," Lupin murmured, his tone unusually gentle, "you don't have to prove anything. We can wait."

Jigen shot him a sharp look. "You heard Goemon. Tonight's the best chance we'll get. I can do this, Lupin."

Lupin was silent for a moment, then sighed and stepped away. "Alright," he said quietly, though the lack of enthusiasm was as glaring as a beacon in the night.

Jigen grabbed his magnum. He pulled a half-finished cigarette from the ashtray and took a long drag, hoping the pain would stay manageable. He knew Lupin doubted his condition, but there was no way he was staying behind. He'd follow them by force if he had to.

Lupin seemed to come to the same conclusion. "Fine!" He turned back to them, his smile slowly returning. "Then tonight, we're paying our dear friends at the Black Dawn a little visit."

He rummaged through a cabinet, tossing clothes left and right, before pulling out a dark outfit that vaguely resembled the uniforms the mercenaries wore. It was generic—most of those outfits looked the same anyway.

"Here, put this on," he said, handing the outfit to Jigen. Then he turned back to him, the familiar mischievous grin creeping back onto his face. "Let's show them why messing with Lupin the Third and his crew is a terrible idea."

.

It was nighttime when they arrived at the warehouse serving as the Black Dawn's headquarters. The structure was massive, surrounded by rusted shipping containers and a few parked vehicles. The interior lights were dim, with minimal activity visible. Silhouettes of patrolling guards moved inside. In the distance, the faint hum of the city and the soft whistle of the wind filled the air.

Goemon nodded at them before slipping away. His task was to wait for Lupin's signal further out. Lupin and Jigen, on the other hand, would infiltrate the warehouse to steal all the Black Dawn's files. It would knock the mercenaries down a peg, and it would also provide leverage if they ever crossed paths again. Plus, they still wanted to find out who was pulling the strings, though Jigen had a sneaking suspicion that Lupin already knew.

They waited for the right moment before slipping into the shadows, moving past the guards soundlessly. Their disguises allowed them to blend in seamlessly, letting them pass near the less attentive henchmen unnoticed. Their disguises were not the most elaborate, but simpler was often better.

They went on, hugging the walls of the warehouse, carefully avoiding the more illuminated areas. None of the guards noticed their presence. It was almost too easy.

Lupin led the way to a side door, which he unlocked with an electronic gadget. In seconds, they were inside.

The atmosphere shifted immediately. Inside, the warehouse was vast and dimly lit, with towering stacks of crates and abandoned machinery scattered throughout. Sounds of activity echoed from another section of the building, where several members of the Black Dawn seemed to be in discussion. Feigning nonchalance, Lupin cautiously moved toward the administrative offices.

They walked in silence, alert to every sound, until they reached the office area.

Jigen stayed near the door, casting frequent glances outside to ensure no one approached. His fingers brushed against his Magnum, a familiar comfort. The tension in the air seemed to dull the ache of his wound, leaving it almost forgotten.

Their disguises would be useless here. The Black Dawn wasn't the type to ask questions first. If anyone discovered henchmen lurking in the offices, they'd open fire without hesitation.

While Jigen kept watch, Lupin searched the room. He powered on a computer and plugged in a USB drive. The screen flickered faintly to life. Lupin's fingers danced across the keyboard with effortless precision.

"Bingo!" Lupin murmured with a grin. "They've got everything here. A digital goldmine."

As the files began transferring onto his USB drive, Jigen scanned the area, searching for any physical documents. It didn't take him long to realize they kept no hard copies. Everything was digital, stored on an internal network that had crumbled within seconds under Lupin's skills. It was unusual for an organization like this, but it worked in their favor.

"These guys really aren't the type to leave any visible traces, huh?" Jigen murmured, stepping closer to the desk for a glance at the screen.

Lupin nodded without looking up. "No paperwork, just encrypted files and digital documents… Nothing the great Lupin the Third can't crack!" He tapped away at the keyboard with pride, opening hidden folders and bypassing security systems as if it were child's play.

Jigen returned to his post by the door, his nerves tightening with every sound from outside.

"We need to move fast, Lupin," he whispered. "If they catch us in here, we won't last long."

"Almost done."

A dull thud came from outside, making Jigen freeze. His senses sharpened as adrenaline surged. He shifted into a defensive stance, which immediately caught Lupin's attention. His partner stopped typing, quickly turned off the monitor, and killed the light.

Jigen cracked the door open silently, just enough to peek through. Outside was dimly lit, but there was enough light for him to spot a figure moving stealthily among the stacked crates. The man was alone.

"How long?" Jigen asked quietly.

"Five minutes," Lupin guessed.

Jigen studied the prowler with unwavering focus. Every muscle in his body was taut and ready to spring. The man was heading toward their door. A silent hand signal made Lupin crouch behind the desk. The files were nearly copied, but the timing couldn't have been worse.

The man was now standing right outside the door.

Jigen gripped his Magnum tightly.

The handle turned slowly, and a barely audible creak echoed through the room as the door opened. In a split second, Jigen lunged. He grabbed the man from behind, locking him in a well-practiced arm hold before he could react. The cold barrel of the Magnum pressed firmly against the intruder's cheek, a clear warning against any attempt to struggle. The man froze as soon as he felt the gun against his face.

"Let me go, you scoundrels! I'll have you all arrested!"

The voice was horribly familiar, but Jigen was slower to recognize it than Lupin, who had already risen from his hiding spot and flipped the light back on.

"Oh! It's Pops!"