Ivan wasn't a [Black Corps]. A man like him, a war criminal wanted in several countries for the most unspeakable acts, could not officially become one of them.
If any security breach had allowed the release of such information, the image of the island's special police would have been destroyed forever.
Nevertheless, like many others, he was recruited into a subdivision of the group directly commanded by Goto: the [Black Ghosts].
This team was made up of the worst of the worst—[mages] and [espers] who had stained their hands with innocent and not-so-innocent blood all over the world for the most absurd reasons.
In exchange for protection, money, drugs, women, and power, these disreputable individuals undertook the dirtiest jobs for Hajime's stepfather.
They were disposable pawns. Like everyone else, even though they had better chances of being sacrificed for the glory of Mokuro Goto.
Everyone knew it. The [Black Ghosts] had only two choices to survive as long as possible on the island.
First: make themselves indispensable to their boss. Only then would they not be killed.
Second: try to be smarter than Kaori's father.
Whether they chose the first or second option, in the end, it made no difference—they remained mere pawns in their leader's power plans.
Ivan knew this very well. Although the [mage] was a notorious adrenaline junkie and a lover of deadly fights, he wasn't stupid. Someone like him didn't survive for 40 years without using his head.
Despite appearing, at first glance, to be someone who loved to talk with his fists and relied little on his brain cells, it was far from the truth.
That was just an act; Ivan was actually a cunning bastard who didn't want to die on a whim of the narcissistic madman who was his employer. His pride was already stung enough by having to take orders from him.
So the man made sure to create a "safety net" in case he ever needed it.
It took him 5 years. Five long years during which the 35-year-old pretended to be a fool, all muscles and no brains, to let his guard down around those around him so that he could exploit their negligence to steal critical information from the [Black Corps] themselves.
In addition to evidence of their crimes, Ivan had managed to uncover other key secrets and skeletons in their closet.
But no matter how careful he was, even he eventually made a mistake. He was discovered, not by one of his colleagues, nor by Goto, nor by a [Black Corps] member, but by a spy from [New Dawn].
It happened by chance; the spy only realized what he had done by luck. He immediately reported what he knew to Yukihime.
But no one, neither Fumio nor the [Maga Omega], truly knew how much useful information Ivan had and how careful he was in protecting it. In fact, the very existence of the [Black Ghosts] was semi-unknown to their group.
They knew that Goto used criminals to carry out his plans, but they had no idea he had at least a hundred men under his direct command.
Had they known, they certainly wouldn't have sent only Hajime and Kuro on this mission. Not when there was a new companion who could have helped them.
When Ivan left his house, he took with him his USB stick, which he used to keep his stolen data hidden.
The fact that an informant had asked him to leave his house at that precise hour was already a sign that something was wrong, especially knowing that usually, the underpaid spies of the [Black Corps] didn't approach him.
So it was no surprise to him when the wires he had set up in his home were cut.
With his [magic], he had created thin metallic wires scattered throughout his apartment, so he learned that someone was trying to rob him.
"(They aren't my dear colleagues or friends... If they had discovered my actions, they wouldn't have made this mistake, knowing my powers... Perhaps common thieves? No, the timing is too perfect. Well, it doesn't matter! Maybe I'll have a nice fight today!)"
Knowing that if Goto discovered his "safety net," an entire squad of his guard dogs would descend upon him to find out whom he had told what.
So, excluding them as the culprits, the man could let out a sigh he didn't know he had been holding.
"Alright, let's go. [Iron Skin: Legs]!"
His heart filled with joy as he jumped over his house, breaking through the roof using all his weight and the strength of his metal legs. His warrior instincts told him that he would have a nice fight, worthy of being fought today.
"Goodbye, my dear thieves! Who among you dies first?!"
Transforming one of his hands into a metal spear, the 40-year-old struck his first opponent in the chest. His smile wavered in disappointment as his expression nearly returned to its previous severe look.
One hit, and already one was dead? Perhaps his instincts were wrong.
"(Heart shot. One down, what a loss of.......)"
"[Overwrite]: [Physical Enhancement]!"
"What-!?"
Kuro, Cloe, Fumio, Kohaku, and even Ivan certainly didn't expect Hajime to be alive or conscious after a metal tip had pierced his heart. Even less did they believe it was possible for him to use his powers to punch his enemy with an uppercut and send him flying through the hole he had made in the ceiling.
"Haji.....!? Oni!? How are you alive!?" (Kuro)
"I-I used my new [magic], I... I moved my heart away from the trajectory of the blow... but it still hurts like a bitch." (Hajime)
The latest [magic] of the silver-haired teenager had almost killed him when it activated; for this reason, Yukihime had sealed it at 85%.
Nevertheless, that remaining 15% was more than enough to do something as "simple" as moving his internal organs.
If Goto's stepson hadn't had this idea and practiced it weeks ago, he would probably be dead by now.
However, despite his survival, he still had a hole in his chest that wouldn't stop bleeding.
"(Shit...... I'll bleed to death if I don't stop the bleeding...)"
Focusing, the silver-haired boy tried to halt his hemorrhage. If he could create a blood sword, then this would be child's play. He used his blood manipulation to stop the bleeding until it ceased.
"For now, that will do......" (Hajime)
"Shit, for a moment you gave me a scare!" (Kuro)
"Guys, don't waste time! He's coming back! I'm sending drones to buy us time! Get back to the sewers!" (Kohaku)
"Roger!" (Kuro and Hajime)
The two boys ran out of the apartment, trying to reach the manhole they had exited.
Meanwhile, a few minutes earlier. A stunned Ivan landed on the roof of a car, which was now completely destroyed by the impact caused by the man's fall.
"Ahahhahahhah! What a magnificent punch! If I hadn't used my Armor at the last second, he would have taken my head off!"
He could only feel excitement from the pain. The adrenaline flowed through his veins as his heart raced at the thought of a true fight.
The man waited a few moments before realizing that his two opponents had fled from his apartment. And to think that he had just stood there to see what they had in store for him.
The only thing they sent his way was a swarm of drones, which were destroyed when his arm extended like a whip and sliced the devices in under two seconds.
"(They got away!? Ah! There's the proof! They definitely didn't do it for that bastard Goto! Anyone who runs from a mission is always punished!)"
Noticing that his neighbors had called the [White Corps], hearing the sirens in the distance, the [mage] decided to vanish, but not before checking one thing.
"What luck! My wires are on their clothes! My dear thieves, your night is not over!"
Using the wires he had laid out in his apartment, which had small traces of mana that Ivan could perceive like a GPS or locator beacon, Ivan began his pursuit.
Meanwhile, Hajime and Kuro were running through the underground tunnels.
The first was slowed down by his injury, while the second tried to help him keep going.
"Guys, almost all my drones have been destroyed, but I'm sure that guy is following you!" (Kohaku)
"What should we do then!? We can't go back to base! That guy seemed pretty strong!" (Kuro)
"W-we have to fight him... there's no choice!" (Hajime)
"What do you think you'll do in your condition!? I'll lure him away and you escape! I can get away from him!" (Kuro)
"No, guys, listen, I'll indicate the direction to an isolated place; head there. Try to keep him occupied as long as you can." (Fumio)
"Alright, Fumio-sensei! Let's go, idiot! You're making me work hard; you can't even walk on your own!" (Kuro)
"I could do it....if I hadn't almost turned you into a skewer! This is the last time I save you!" (Hajime)
The duo kept running, continuing to bicker like two children.
Meanwhile, back at base, Fumio was preparing to go help them.
"Kusanagi-san, you should come too. I don't want you fighting since you're still unstable, but we won't have a choice if the need arises."
"Got it, Fumio-sensei! I'll save Hajime and Kuro! I promise!"
Cloe was as pumped as ever. Her friend and her stepbrother were in danger. She would give her all to help them out of the situation they were in.
The 30-year-old couldn't help but smile slightly at the fact that his student had pronounced the name of Goto's stepson first, in a softer tone, before mentioning her partner's name.
"(Perhaps it won't be enough just the two of us? I can't take that risk; it's time to bring out the new addition)" (Fumio)
The [mage] took his phone and sent the location of the place where his two students were heading to their new companion.