The air pressure in the room surged violently. Takeshi felt as if he were standing before a massive lion staring down its prey—especially after seeing Rick Ziffer's sharp, burning eyes. Yet that smile on Ziffer's face contradicted the primal threat radiating from his gaze.
The rusty door handle shifted, followed by a quick screech as the door opened. Lucas stepped in, holding a notebook and a pen, eyes glued to the floor.
Takeshi clenched his teeth and shot a brief glance at Lucas as a single thought struck him:
"Damn it… I've thrown myself into a terrible situation."
There were no windows in the room—no chance to escape that way. Creating an exit by smashing a wall sounded ideal, but the room was surrounded by other offices. Any attempt would fail immediately.
Lucas slowly lifted his head—only to see Takeshi and the fallen ventilation cover on the floor. Just as he opened his mouth to say something, Rick Ziffer cut him off:
"Oh, you're Lucas, right? Let me introduce you to my deputy—his name is Hoshin!"
"Huh?"
Takeshi's mouth fell open on instinct when he heard that, but he didn't move otherwise. He simply stared at Ziffer in utter disbelief.
Lucas stepped closer and said, "Hello, I'm Lucas. Nice to meet you, Mr. Hoshin."
Takeshi didn't reply. His eyes remained locked on Ziffer, who walked toward Lucas. Lucas extended his trembling hand with the notebook and pen, sweat dripping down his face.
"I—I'm sorry for barging in like this! But I wanted your autograph, Mr. Rick…"
Ziffer casually snatched the notebook and pen, signed, and handed them back with a wide grin.
"No need to apologize, kid. You didn't do anything wrong!"
"Thank you!"
Lucas hurried out and closed the door behind him, muttering to himself:
"I did it, Lady Anastasia!"
As soon as Lucas left, Ziffer let out a short laugh that shattered the tension in the room.
"What a shy kid."
Takeshi's brows tightened, veins bulging across his face. He slammed his fist against the edge of the desk and growled:
"What is the meaning of this?"
Ziffer lifted his hands with a foolish grin.
"No need to get worked up! Just tell me what you want—"
"And what guarantees you'll give me what I want?"
Ziffer sighed, releasing a wave of burning air from his lungs. He lifted his gaze toward the ventilation opening.
"If you don't trust me, you can climb back up the way you came."
Takeshi steadied his breath. He stayed silent, analyzing Ziffer.
He must've sensed my aura—that's how he knew I was here. I should ask directly…
"Why are you helping me?"
"…What?"
"Why would someone like you—with your strength and reputation, if the rumors are true—help a guy wearing ragged clothes who sneaks through vents?"
Ziffer moved his hand slowly and covered his eyes as laughter erupted from him:
"HAHAHAHA! I like you, kid. I like your spirit. You know who I am, you can feel the pressure around me, and yet you still stood right in front of me! Even if you came here to steal something, I'd help you."
Heat burst from Ziffer's hand, flames swirling around it as his expression shifted into a harsh, decisive glare.
"But if your goal is something worse than theft… I'll crush you right here and now."
Despite the direct threat, Takeshi didn't flinch. He simply stared sharply into Ziffer's eyes.
Seconds passed until Ziffer's flames finally died out, and his usual wide grin returned.
"You're truly a brave man. Now—may I know your name? And in return, you'll get what you came for."
"Takeshi. A powerful aura appeared in this city recently, and I want to know its current location."
Ziffer headed toward the desk quickly, glancing through the papers scattered over it. He brushed away the dust—Takeshi's doing—then said:
"It's located in the White King Skull Gang's headquarters, inside the abandoned building district."
He lifted his eyes toward Takeshi, speaking seriously:
"I don't know if you're seeking revenge or chasing the source of that aura… But when I sensed your aura, it was faint. I'm not sure whether you have the strength to walk into a den of monsters like them."
He began walking toward the door.
"Garmond, Shido, Yamikaji… And their anonymous leader. Plus, Graid. Even if most of them aren't wanted by the law, they're extremely dangerous. You'll be lucky if they're not present—but it'll still be a risk either way."
He opened the door, a faint smile forming on his face.
"Try not to die, Takeshi."
He left, the loud screech of the door fading into silence.
***
Takeshi exited the station through the ventilation system, returning to the filthy alleyway. When his feet touched the ground, he dusted his clothes and walked toward the exit leading to the crowded street.
The moment he stepped out of the alley, he immediately noticed a woman in police uniform blocking his path—two golden stars gleaming under the moonlight. He raised his head—it was Anastasia.
She lifted her hand to stop him without even looking directly at him.
"Who are you? And what were you doing inside our station?"
Because Lucas didn't get Rick Ziffer's signature earlier, he had told her everything—about Takeshi, the broken vent, and the stern expression on his face.
"I'm Hoshin, assistant to Ricka Ziffer, rank S of the C.P.O."
Takeshi tried to lean on the fake identity Ziffer had gifted him, but Anastasia cut him off immediately.
"I've never heard of anyone named Hoshin. What's your rank?"
Takeshi froze—he had no idea what each rank represented, nor the strength tied to them.
"I'm… just an assistant. Not a member of the organization. I follow Mr. Ziffer wherever he goes, help him, sneak around, and gather information for him…"
"And where are you going now?"
She interrupted him again. He inhaled deeply, gazing at the sky where stars rushed beside the bright moon.
"To the White King Skull Gang's headquarters…"
As soon as Anastasia turned toward him, he had disappeared.