The storm howled outside the Kurogane building, slamming rain against glass like desperate fists. But inside Hiroshi's private office, everything was still.
He sat in the dark, hands folded before him, eyes half-closed.
Waiting.
Listening.
Raijin thought he had the upper hand. Thought he was stalking his prey.
But Hiroshi was never prey.
He was the spider—and the web was already spun.
A soft knock came at the door.
"Enter," Hiroshi said, voice calm.
The door opened, revealing Yuki. She wore a dark coat over her school uniform, a subtle earpiece blinking at her collar.
"Positions secured," she said. "Nova's team is in the ventilation shafts. Echo's monitoring all channels."
"And Raijin?" Hiroshi asked.
Yuki smirked. "Just entered the first kill zone."
Good.
Hiroshi rose, slipping on his jacket. "Then let's greet our guest."
---
Meanwhile, deep beneath the building, Raijin moved like a phantom through the maintenance tunnels.
His coat billowed behind him. His knives gleamed.
The fool Kurogane heir—he had no idea what was coming.
Or so Raijin believed.
He disabled a few basic cameras, bypassed a couple of security grids. Child's play.
He crept toward the central server room. Steal the files, leak the hidden crimes of the Kurogane Empire to the world, and watch it crumble.
Just another job.
Simple.
Clean.
Deadly.
Until the lights went out.
Total blackness.
A voice spoke from everywhere and nowhere:
"Welcome to the web."
Raijin froze. His instincts screamed. He spun, blades ready—
The floor under him shifted.
He dropped into darkness.
---
When Raijin hit the ground, he rolled, knives out, landing in a wide underground hall—stripped concrete walls, harsh lights swinging from chains.
And standing across from him...
Five figures in black uniforms.
Each one wore a different symbol on their chest:
A Wraith. An Echo. A Nova. A Spark. A Ghost.
Raijin chuckled, low and dangerous. "Cute."
Without a word, the five attacked.
---
Above, Hiroshi and Yuki watched from a hidden control room.
"How long will he last?" Yuki asked, arms crossed.
"Long enough," Hiroshi said. His eyes gleamed in the dark. "We need to see his full hand."
Yuki watched the screen. "You're testing him?"
"No," Hiroshi said softly. "I'm recruiting him."
---
Below, Raijin moved like a demon, knives flashing.
He dropped Nova with a feint and a strike to the ribs. Disarmed Echo with a brutal twist. Dodged Wraith's kicks with hair-breadth margins.
But even as he fought—he noticed something.
They weren't trying to kill him.
They were driving him.
Herding him.
Toward the far door.
Raijin growled under his breath. "Tch... clever brats."
He sprinted, forcing a breakthrough, flipping over a sweep kick, knocking Spark aside with a precise jab to the throat.
He burst through the final door—
And froze.
---
The room was massive. Circular. A single chair sat in the center, facing away from him.
And in that chair—
Hiroshi Kurogane.
Calm. Relaxed. Waiting.
As if he'd known Raijin would arrive at this exact moment, at this exact spot.
The door slammed shut behind Raijin.
Trapped.
"Raijin," Hiroshi said without turning. "Ex-Shadow Operative. Disavowed three years ago. Price on your head. Skills wasted in petty contracts."
Raijin narrowed his eyes. "You did your homework."
"I do more than homework," Hiroshi said, rising from the chair. "I build futures."
He finally turned to face Raijin fully. No fear. No hesitation.
Only cold fire.
"You can waste your life killing for scraps," Hiroshi said. "Or you can join something real."
Raijin barked a laugh. "Join you? A rich boy playing king?"
Hiroshi smiled slightly. "Not king. Ghost."
He stepped closer, each footstep echoing like a countdown.
"I don't need followers," Hiroshi said. "I need legends."
Raijin studied him. The kid didn't flinch. Didn't posture. Didn't beg.
He commanded.
It stirred something old and dangerous inside Raijin. Something he thought had died.
"What's the job?" Raijin asked finally.
Hiroshi's smile deepened. "Burn the rot. Erase the unworthy. Build an empire in the ashes."
"And if I say no?"
The lights overhead flickered once.
All around them, hidden panels in the walls slid open.
Guns. Turrets. Traps.
Hiroshi never needed to lift a finger.
"You won't," Hiroshi said softly. "Because you're like me."
A shadow given form.
A ghost born for war.
Raijin laughed under his breath. "Tch... you're dangerous, kid."
He sheathed his knives. "Fine. I'll play your game."
"For now."
Hiroshi nodded once, satisfied.
"You won't regret it," Hiroshi said. "Welcome to the empire."
---
As Raijin left with Yuki to be fully briefed, Hiroshi returned to his chair.
He stared at the city skyline beyond the glass.
Tōriku City still danced in neon and filth.
But soon...
The ghosts would rise.
And the world would tremble.