Location: Kagura-Zaka Executive Airport (Private Hangar)
Time: 5:30 AM (Dawn)
The private hangar was silent, save for the cooling turbines of a sleek, black Gulfstream jet emblazoned with the Matsuzaki Heavy Industries logo—a stylized iron flower.
A red carpet had been rolled out, not by airport staff, but by a dozen men in dark suits standing in perfect formation. They were Thralls—humans bound by blood-oaths to serve the clan. They stood statue-still, eyes lowered.
The jet door opened. The stairs descended.
Kenjiro Matsuzaki stepped out.
He didn't look like he had just flown five hours. His white suit was unwrinkled. His platinum blonde hair was slicked back with geometric precision. He took a deep breath of the Kagura-Zaka air.
"Rust," he said softly. His voice was deep, smooth, and utterly devoid of warmth. "And weakness."
A man in a tactical vest walked up to him. It was a Dominion captain, a vampire with a scar across his nose.
"Lord Matsuzaki," the captain bowed. "The Dominion welcomes you. Eri sends her regards. She has prepared a suite at the Prism Tower—"
Matsuzaki didn't look at him. He walked past the captain, snapping his fingers.
SHINK.
The blood inside the captain's body stopped moving. The captain gasped, clutching his chest, falling to his knees as his veins hardened into solid iron.
"I do not require a suite," Matsuzaki said, stepping over the gasping captain. "I am not here for a vacation. I am here for pest control."
He stopped at the edge of the hangar, looking out at the city skyline. Specifically, he looked toward the smog-covered Lowtown district.
"My sister is living in a swamp," Matsuzaki noted with disgust. "Playing house with mongrels."
One of his Thralls stepped forward, holding a silver briefcase. "Sir. Shall we deploy the search teams?"
"No," Matsuzaki said. "Gin is stubborn. If I chase her, she will run. I need to make her come to me."
He raised a hand. The blood from the dying captain on the floor floated up, swirling into a perfect sphere in Matsuzaki's palm.
"Send a message to the Sanitation Bureau," Matsuzaki commanded. "Tell them the Matsuzaki Clan is assuming control of the West Docks. Any shipment, any person, any thing that tries to cross the water belongs to me."
"But sir," the Thrall hesitated. "The West Docks are neutral territory. The Bureau uses them for supplies. If we take them, we declare war."
Matsuzaki crushed the blood sphere. It crystallized into red dust.
"War," Matsuzaki smiled, revealing fangs that were perfectly straight and terrifyingly sharp. "Is the only way to clean a stain."
Location: Smile Mart (District 9)
Time: 7:00 AM
Dante was restocking the energy drinks. He was tired. His piercings ached from the training. His umbrella felt heavier than usual.
"Hey, Dante," Benji whispered from behind the counter. He was wearing his orange sunglasses, but Dante could tell he was staring at his laptop screen in horror.
"What is it?" Dante asked, slotting a can of Heart-Attack: Blue Raspberry onto the shelf.
"The Bureau network just lit up," Benji said. "A Level 5 Barrier just went up around the West Docks. Someone just seized the port authority."
Dante paused. "Who?"
"Matsuzaki," GiGi said.
She was sitting on top of the ice cream freezer. She wasn't eating. She wasn't dancing. She was hugging her knees to her chest, staring at the floor.
"He cut off the supply line," GiGi whispered. "No more Synth-Red shipments. No more weapons from HQ. He's sieging the city."
Dante looked at her. He had never seen GiGi look small before. She looked... like a little sister.
"Why the docks?" Dante asked.
"Because he knows I hate the water," GiGi said quietly. "And he knows the Bureau needs those supplies. He's choking the city to force me out."
The automatic door chimed its dying scream. "GYYY-URRR-KHHH."
Sora walked in. He wasn't smiling. He wasn't eating. He was wearing his full Bureau uniform—a dark trench coat over his Haori.
"Store meeting," Sora said, his voice hard. "Now."
Dante put down the energy drink.
"Is this about the docks?" Dante asked.
"It's about the ultimatum," Sora said. He tossed a heavy, iron-sealed envelope onto the counter. It landed with a metallic thud.
"Matsuzaki sent this via courier," Sora said. "He wants a parley. Tonight. Midnight. At the 100-Step Stairway."
"He wants me," GiGi said.
"He wants a duel," Sora corrected. "Honor rules. One on one. If you win, he leaves the city. If he wins..."
"I go home," GiGi finished. "To the cage."
Silence filled the Smile Mart. The hum of the refrigerator seemed deafening.
"You don't have to go," Benji squeaked. "We can hide! I know a bunker in New Jersey!"
GiGi hopped off the freezer. Her eyes were glowing a fierce, defiant crimson.
"No," she said. She grabbed a bag of gummy worms and ripped it open with her teeth, spitting the plastic onto the floor. "I'm done running. If he wants a fight, I'll give him a fight."
She looked at Dante.
"Dante," she said. "I need you to carry my stuff. You're my squire now."
Dante sighed, but a small smirk tugged at the corner of his lip. He touched his Hello Kitty keychain.
"Fine," Dante said. "But I'm charging you for the gas money."