The 50-year-old woman, with short green hair and blue eyes, was the special addition to Yuki Mikan's security team.
Her real name was Mary, but her surname was unknown to everyone, including herself. Due to her tragic past, which was very similar to Kuro's and her stepsister's.
She had been a ruthless criminal in her youth, causing chaos and upheaval across Japan, before being forcibly deported to [Fumetsu], under the orders of Kaori's father.
He wanted to "recruit" her into the [Black Ghost], the year after the secret puppet group of Goto was formed. She was a veteran, highly experienced, having survived many crises and hardships.
Her powers weren't extraordinary or dangerous like those of some of her colleagues, but they had their usefulness, especially for acting as a bodyguard.
********
Two SUVs belonging to the [White Corps] hurriedly left the villa's garage. The windows of both vehicles were tinted dark to prevent outsiders from seeing who was inside.
Even Kohaku's computers, equipped with high-tech technology designed to bypass such measures, couldn't penetrate the tinted glass with their scanners.
"Let's go! Hurry up!"
"Keep your eyes peeled for possible surprise attacks!"
The SUVs sped at full throttle toward the villa's exit, while the people inside remained tense and ready for anything.
Their enemies had prepared well for an assault, so they couldn't rule out the possibility of other tricks up their sleeve.
"We're at the gate!"
"Damn! Someone's on the street!"
The villa's gate opened, revealing a figure waiting on the public road.
The stranger wore a smooth, faceless mask, with tactical goggles as an addition, and gear similar to Hajime's.
"(Now it's my turn.)"
Of course, this new addition to the team was none other than Fumio, who was already using the [magic] of his right eye to bypass the defenses of the two vehicles heading toward him.
"(It's the second then. Very well.)"
With a feline leap, the 30-year-old dodged to the side, letting the first vehicle pass without trouble. He drew from his belt well-equipped knives similar to Kuro's, and waited for the second vehicle to come within range.
"Take this!"
Of course, the targets , the SUV's wheels, had been modified to be almost impossible to puncture, remaining inflated and operational even if heavily damaged.
Fumio's master's attack wouldn't be effective if he wasn't the one executing it. And if he didn't have these specific weapons.
To begin with, the knives he threw were his own invention, crafted with a special alloy designed precisely for this purpose.
Moreover, with his powers, the [mage] was able to identify the exact weak point of the tires easily.
"(Every object has a sensitive point; if hit correctly, everything breaks.)"
While thinking this, the [White Corps] vehicle skidded and went off the road's edge. Luckily, it wasn't going fast enough to cause a deadly accident.
"Everyone out! Now!"
The people inside immediately exited the vehicle before being attacked again by Fumio and Kuro's master. The first to get out was the driver, who immediately prepared to attack the person responsible for this assault.
"Damn you, son of a—"
"Too slow!"
Fumio charged at him, delivering a well-placed kick, hitting his sternum and sending him flying back, right onto the car door, which detached from the impact.
Immediately after landing on his back, the [White Corps] member received another kick, directly to the head, fracturing his skull and knocking him unconscious.
The passenger, who was near the driver, rushed to help his colleague, running toward him and firing an ice spike at the [mage] opponent.
That was at least his plan, which would have worked if someone hadn't turned to look at him.
"[Erase]!"
Fumio activated his left eye, cancelling out the magic the second opponent was about to use.
"What!? Why isn't it working!?"
Before he could think of something else, the man found himself face-to-face with Kuro's master.
"(He's very fast!)"
The 30-year-old drew two metallic sticks from his clothes. With precise, millimeter-perfect strikes, he attacked the [White Corps].
His [armor] absorbed the blows just enough to prevent fatal injuries, but he still groaned in pain as Fumio's weapons clashed against his jaw, arm, and finally his head.
"(Two down.)"
The other three passengers had exited the vehicle; one of them was Yuki Mikan, who was shouting about how they should protect her from everything.
"Stop him! He'll kill me! I don't want to die! Do something!!!!!"
"Ms. Mikan, run to the other car!!!"
The last [White Corps] member stepped between Kuro's master and the woman he was supposed to protect.
The daughter of the vice-admiral didn't hesitate and ran toward the first SUV, which had shifted into reverse to reach her faster.
"You won't pass, assassin!"
Fumio activated a button on his weapons, causing them to spark at their tips.
"And who will stop me? You? You'd better surrender. A third-class fighter like you will never beat me."
Fumio's provocation achieved its goal. When his enemy was within reach, he was instantly struck down by his sticks, which pressed against his throat, incapacitating him.
He had underestimated the athleticism and martial arts skills of Hajime's master; this was the result.
"([White Corps], without [magic], you're not much to me.)"
Despite the time spent taking him down, Yuki managed to escape with the other SUV just in time.
"You don't seem too worried."
Finally, the last passenger revealed herself: the 50-year-old woman with short green hair and blue eyes. She looked at Fumio with curiosity, showing no concern for the fallen [White Corps] members or the woman he was meant to protect.
"(No openings.)" (Fumio)
"You're really good. You didn't kill them, even though you could have easily. You just stunned them. Also, it's true that none of these three was at 100%, after your little accomplices took them on, but it's still impressive." (Mary)
"You're not very worried either... I don't think your boss will be pleased about Yuki Mikan's death." (Fumio)
"Eheheheheh! Do you think I'm like everyone else, murderer?! No, despite everything, Goto can't kill me, even if that little brat has to die! I'm a veteran of the [Black Ghost], because I know how to handle the big boss when he's angry!"
Fumio was surprised by her words. He thought the woman in front of him was crazy and arrogant like many other [Black Corps] and [Ghost], but beneath it all, there was something else.
"(Does she know some compromising information? Or maybe she's allied with someone important? Should I capture her? No, that's not my goal; she might have lied to me.)" (Fumio)
"Before we start, tell me one thing: was your real target me?" (Mary)
"........."(Fumio)
"You had to keep me away from the little spoiled princess, because there's someone else ready to kill her, and I'm keeping you out of the game... am I a threat to your plans, assassin? Eheheheh! Of course I am! There's no one stronger than me here!" (Mary)
Under her mask, Fumio furrowed his brows. Everything she said confirmed his suspicions. From the start, he believed there was a [Black Corps] or [Ghost] hidden in this villa, as a final weapon to kill all potential threats.
And he would never allow one of his apprentices to fight against such a threat when he was there to handle it.
"(This woman is smarter than she looks. Maybe what she said earlier was true?)"
"Enough wasting time! Let's start killing you! ... See this car?! Its body has been modified to be more like a heavily armored vehicle," Mary said, touching the black exterior of the SUV. Her skin began to change as if absorbing the metal of the vehicle.
"(This power... I can't cancel it with [erase]. She's not a [mage], she's an [esper]!)"
"I am Mary! [Artificial Mage] of Japan! I don't care who sent you here, the only thing I know for sure is that today will be your end!"
Fumio combined his two weapons and grabbed another similar one from his clothes, creating a tall staff that produced sparks from both ends.
"Then come and try to kill me!" (Fumio)