The Umbra Division briefing room was cloaked in silence, save for the soft hum of the monitors lining the walls. Their dim glow cast elongated shadows across the polished black marble floor. This place was exclusive—only Umbra Division members and the Elders were permitted to set foot inside. Anyone else attempting to enter uninvited would never walk out alive.
It was 1:00 a.m. It didn't matter. Sleep was a luxury assassins couldn't afford. The night was their domain, and exhaustion was just another weakness to be crushed.
At the center of the room, Akihiro leaned back in his chair, balancing on two legs, idly spinning a knife between his fingers. The blade flickered under the dim light, its smooth rotations hypnotic. Opposite him, Mai sat straight-backed, her arms crossed, expression unreadable as she gazed at the table.
And then there was Hiroshi.
He stood near the large screen displaying Syndicate operations, his arms crossed over his chest, gaze fixed on the scrolling data. Unlike Akihiro, who carried himself with an easy arrogance, Hiroshi's presence was controlled, unwavering. He didn't need to demand respect—he already had it.
Akihiro watched his older brother for a moment before smirking.
"Big bro, you know for someone as serious as you, you sure do love standing around looking all mysterious."
Hiroshi didn't even glance at him. "And you love running your mouth when you should be paying attention."
Akihiro let out a low chuckle. "That hurts. Here I am, trying to lighten the mood, and all you do is bully me."
Finally, Hiroshi turned his head, his sharp gaze locking onto his younger brother. "If you want affection, get a dog."
Mai let out a quiet exhale—not quite a laugh, but close.
Akihiro placed a hand over his chest in mock offense. "Ouch. You wound me, aniki. I might start thinking you don't love me."
Hiroshi didn't respond immediately. He sighed—not in annoyance, but in patience. He understood Akihiro better than anyone else in this room. His little brother didn't act like this just to be difficult.
So he let Akihiro be himself. Because he knew that beneath the teasing and the arrogance, he was still just a younger brother seeking something he was never given.
"Focus," Hiroshi said, voice even. "They'll be here soon."
Akihiro sighed dramatically but straightened a little. "Fine, fine. I'll behave."
Before Hiroshi could respond, the doors slid open with a quiet hiss.
Kaede entered first, her expression sharp, her posture disciplined. But it was the man beside her that drew immediate attention.
Ren.
Blood dripped from his tattered patient outfit in slow, thick trails, staining the marble beneath him. His left arm hung limp, his usual controlled steps slightly uneven. Though his face remained expressionless, his complexion was paler than usual, and his breathing, though measured, was labored.
Mai's keen eyes flicked over him. "Wow Ren, you're injured. That's new"
Ren exhaled slowly. "I've had worse."
"Not sure you have buddy" Akihiro said
Hiroshi's eyes locked onto him. "Report."
Kaede stepped forward. "Our mission in Tokyo was compromised before we even arrived."
Ren remained silent, allowing Kaede to explain first.
"We got to Yusuke's last known location at 2200 hours. No resistance entering the city. No signs of Syndicate surveillance." She paused, then said, "By the time we found him… he was already dead."
Mai frowned. "Already dead?"
Kaede's eyes darkened. "It wasn't a Syndicate kill."
Hiroshi's gaze sharpened. "Are you certain?"
Ren spoke this time, his voice calm despite the pain he was in. "Too clean." A pause. Then, in an even tone, he added, "His throat was slit open. Every single one of his teeth and fingers were removed."
The words hung in the air like a heavy weight.
Silence stretched.
Akihiro finally leaned forward, his casual demeanor gone. "Who the hell does that?"
Kaede's jaw tightened. "Someone who didn't want him identified. Someone who wanted to make sure there was nothing left to trace."
That was what made it strange. If this had been a Syndicate execution, Yusuke's body would have been left as a warning. But this?
This was something else.
For a brief moment, Ren's mind flickered back—to the shadowed alleyway, to the masked man who had stood over him after the fight, silent, observing.
He didn't say anything.
Kept the thought to himself.
Hiroshi's fingers tapped once against the table. "And Takeda? What did you find?"
Mai and Akihiro exchanged glances.
Then Akihiro spoke. "Takeda was terrified."
Hiroshi's brows furrowed slightly, but he remained silent, waiting for the explanation.
"He knew we were there to kill him," Akihiro continued. "Told us he had no choice. Said this person—the one who Informed him about us and our mission —was holding his wife and daughter hostage. Guaranteed not to kill them as long as he obeyed."
Hiroshi's eyes narrowed. That complicated things.
Mai then pulled something from her bra. A folded piece of paper, slightly crumpled. She placed it on the table in front of Hiroshi. "We also found this."
Hiroshi unfolded the paper and read it.
"To Barbie—
Good job eliminating Hideo Takeda.
Everything has unfolded exactly as it should.
I hope you at least gave him a nice burial since he died for a greater cause.
—Y"
The room grew colder.
Hiroshi's grip on the note tightened ever so slightly. He looked up. "So we weren't just dealing with a rat."
"No," Mai said quietly. "We were dealing with something much worse."
Ren exhaled slowly. "Someone who terrifies an ex-Syndicate assasin enough to make him run."
Akihiro leaned back, shaking his head. "And someone who had Takeda wrapped around their finger. Whatever they're planning, we have no idea how deep it goes."
Hiroshi nodded slowly. He looked at all of them. "The Elders will know about this by now." He turned his gaze to Ren. "And they will want answers."
Before anyone could respond—
Knock. Knock.
The sound was soft. Controlled. Deliberate.
But no one entered.
The entire room stilled.
Because if you weren't Umbra Division—or an Elder—you weren't allowed inside.
A voice came from the other side of the door.
"Ren-Dono, the Elders have summoned you."
Ren closed his eyes briefly. Then, without a word, he turned and walked toward the door.
"Ren how about we go get some rice balls after this?" Akihiro said with such a bright look on his face.
"I'm not interested"
As it slid open, the cold light from the hallway cut through the room, casting his shadow long across the floor.
Then he was gone.
The door slid shut behind him.
And in the silence that followed, a single thought settled over the remaining assassins.
This was only the beginning.