Chapter 21
The name alone sent a chill through the car.
The Ghost General—a man who killed without hesitation, a shadow in Kyosei's empire.
Kaito had heard whispers about him before Kyosei's "death." Some said he was a former soldier, a man who had seen war and never left it behind. Others believed he was just a myth, a story to keep enemies in line.
But now?
He was real.
And he was their next target.
The Hunt Begins
Takahiro handed over a file. Inside were locations, patterns, and a single undeniable fact:
The Ghost General had never stopped working.
Kyosei's empire still operated in the shadows, and this man had been the one keeping it intact.
Toshiro scanned the documents. "He's been hitting small factions—people who got too greedy after Kyosei 'died.'"
Reina's voice was low. "That means he's still cleaning up. Still protecting Kyosei."
Kaito exhaled. "Then we draw him out."
Takahiro's smirk deepened. "I like the way you think."
Setting the Trap
They had one shot at this.
The Ghost General never stayed in one place, never left trails. If they wanted him, they had to force his hand.
That meant one thing: Attacking Kyosei's operations directly.
Reina tapped the map. "Kyosei still has an underground transport route. If we hit it, the General will show."
Toshiro frowned. "And if he doesn't?"
Kaito's grip tightened. "Then we burn his empire down until he does."
Takahiro chuckled. "Now that's commitment."
The Ambush
The night was thick with tension.
A shipment was coming through an old industrial site—money, weapons, something important.
They weren't alone.
Guards patrolled, well-armed, well-trained.
But Kaito, Reina, and Toshiro moved like ghosts.
A silenced shot—one guard down.
A knife in the dark—another fell.
Then, explosions.
The entire transport erupted in flames.
And just as expected—
A shadow stepped into the firelight.
Unhurried. Calm.
The Ghost General.
His katana dripped with blood.
His voice was quiet. Deadly.
"You should have stayed hidden."
The Duel in the Flames
Kaito stepped forward. Gun raised.
The General vanished.
In a blink—he was behind them.
Kaito barely twisted in time to block the incoming blade. Sparks flew as metal scraped metal—Reina's knife caught the strike before it could cut Kaito down.
Toshiro fired.
The General moved before the bullet left the chamber.
A blur. A single slash.
Toshiro's gun shattered.
The General's eyes held no emotion.
"You're not ready for this fight."
Kaito clenched his teeth. "Then we'll have to learn fast."
The Ghost General smiled.
"Then come."
The flames roared around them.
The fight for Kyosei's empire had begun.
To Be Continued…