[Ding! Mission complete. Rewards issued: 30 Ninja Flying Darts. Fifteen Bottles of Life Potion.]
Tch… still no character data fragments. Guess I'll just keep grinding like a minimum-wage hero.
[Host, please. Don't act like you're the only tragic soul here. Keep working. Maybe one day you'll get lucky.]
Shion's sleepy, sass-loaded voice drifted through Ryuuto's mind like she was lounging on a cloud somewhere, sipping milk tea.
"Yeah, yeah… I'll keep doing the jobs."
With the mission finally wrapped, Ryuuto, Susan, Katie Dee, and Gwen threw together a mini-banquet at home. After the last few days, all of them needed something warm, noisy, and dripping with calories.
"Ryuuto, tell me what else you like to eat," Susan said, gently placing a glossy slice of pork belly on his plate. "I'll cook it next time. And you're taking me and Gwen on your next mission."
Gwen perked up instantly, eyes shining with blatant expectation.
Katie Dee slammed her hands on the table like a betrayed idol fan.
"Wow, Sister Susan, rude. Are you trying to steal my slot? Ryuuto-kun, you'll take me next time, right?"
Ryuuto rubbed his temple. "If there's a safe one someday, sure. But last time I went toe-to-toe with someone who could break a tank in half. I'm not dragging you girls into that until I level up more."
They pouted, but accepted it. Conversation picked up again, warm and chaotic, completely ignoring the mountain of dishes piling up.
Then—
"Dididi!"
An urgent beep cut through the room. Everyone stopped.
Ryuuto flicked the connection switch. "Natasha Romanoff? You actually had time to call me instead of kicking some criminal three blocks down the street?"
Black Widow appeared on screen, hair perfect, lips curled in a temptress-smirk only she could pull off.
"Well, Red Mirage, someone has to think about you," she teased.
"Heh… can't complain about that."
Katie Dee, Gwen, and Susan instantly shoved their faces into view.
"Natasha-san! Miss us too, right?"
Black Widow laughed. "Of course I do. I'll drop by next time for food."
Then her expression shifted—sharp, deadly, professional.
"I found Black Mask."
Ryuuto straightened. "Where?"
"He's the boss of a nasty gang. A monster, really. We've tracked his base, but the place is packed with extremists. This is going to be rough."
"Got it. I'm heading out."
Natasha looked relieved. "Thank you, Ryuuto."
"It's fine."
He cut the call, gave quick instructions to the girls, and sprinted out the door. A crimson flash. Gone.
Meanwhile…
Natasha Romanoff closed the communicator and exhaled—
A cold wind slipped behind her.
Her instincts screamed.
"Move!"
She flipped aside just as a machete slashed down, cleaving the marble floor into two jagged halves.
More footsteps.
Dozens—no, hundreds—of tattooed killers surged out like a human tide. Their eyes were empty, rabid, soulless.
"Seriously?"
The machete wielder lunged again. Natasha kicked him square in the chest, then unleashed a hailstorm of bullets, each one dropping a thug cleanly. Bodies hit the ground in rhythmic thuds, but the wave kept coming.
"Black Mask! You're really not showing your face? Only sending meat shields?"
A slow clap echoed.
The crowd parted.
Black Mask strode out—tailored suit, polished boots, and that emotionless, obsidian mask hiding every human trace.
"Black Widow… beautiful, deadly, annoyingly clever." His voice was smooth and venomous. "But you can never kill all of them."
"So I'll start by blowing your head off."
She flicked her pistols up and fired. Seven, eight shots. Every bullet aimed straight at the killzone between his masked eyes.
Black Mask lifted his armored forearm and blocked each round with a casual motion.
"Outdated toys," he mocked. "Heroes like you are relics."
Then he spoke to his men.
"You heard her. She thinks you're ants. Prove her wrong. Kill her—or I'll gut each of you myself."
"YES!"
The horde swarmed. Natasha fought like fire in human form, but even she couldn't keep the circle from tightening.
Black Mask checked his pocket watch, utterly calm.
"I'll enjoy watching your last breath."
FIRE STYLE: FIRE DRAGON BULLET!
A blazing inferno tore through the hallway like a dragon breaking free. Heat lashed the gangsters, forcing them back in panic.
Ryuuto dropped from above, cloak of heat swirling behind him like he'd descended straight out of some shōnen panel.
He landed beside Natasha, arm slipping around her waist to steady her.
"You okay?"
Natasha looked up at him, hair tousled, eyes bright. "Perfect timing."
The thugs, moments ago bloodthirsty, froze in terrified silence.