The Keiretsu had made their move.
Now, it was time for Ash to make his.
The war council gathered in the lower chambers of Shirogiri Manor, a room built for strategy, not ceremony. The air was heavy with anticipation, charged with the silent hunger for vengeance. A single holographic map hovered over the central table, casting a cold glow over the assembled leaders. The web of Keiretsu-owned assets spread across the city—financial hubs, weapons depots, high-end security firms, and black sites that even the public didn't know existed. Each one was a vital artery in the lifeline of their empire.
Ash stood at the head of the table, his expression unreadable, his presence an unspoken command of authority. Kaito was beside him, arms crossed, a smirk playing at his lips, the glint in his eye betraying his anticipation. Across from them, the Oni-Brigade leaders—Ghost, Viper, Ember—waited for their orders, their bloodlust barely restrained. Each of them had earned their place at this table through battle and loyalty. Tonight, they would prove why they were feared.
Kenshiko's voice rang through the room, smooth and composed. "Targets identified. Tactical assessment uploaded."
A series of red markers blinked into existence over key locations. Keiretsu's most valuable holdings—their vulnerabilities laid bare.
Ash's voice was cold. "We hit them where it hurts."
His gaze shifted to Daigo Sumeragi, standing at the far end of the room. A former Keiretsu strategist, born into the clan's upper echelon, Daigo had once been one of their most trusted minds. But betrayal had its price. He had crossed a line, aligning himself with Ash, and in doing so, sealed his fate as an enemy to his own bloodline. Yet, debts had to be paid.
"Daigo," Ash said, his tone measured. "It's time to pay your debt."
Daigo met his gaze without hesitation, understanding the weight of the words. "I always knew this day would come. Give me the target."
PHASE ONE: FIRE & STEEL
The first strike teams moved under the cover of darkness.
Viper led a special ops team into a Keiretsu-controlled weapons facility, one of the largest arms depots in the sector. The guards never saw them coming. Silenced shots, blades in the dark—no alarms, no survivors. Within minutes, the depot was under Shirogiri control. Explosives were set along key storage points, ensuring that when the charges went off, Keiretsu's military supply chain would be crippled beyond repair.
Across the city, Ghost orchestrated a precision financial disruption operation. Keiretsu's private banks and laundering networks—hubs where they funneled billions—were infiltrated. TENGU deployed a false data flood, corrupting internal transactions, freezing assets, and wiping out entire accounts before security teams could react. The financial bleed was immediate, sending ripples of chaos through their operations. By the time Keiretsu realized what had happened, their wealth was already crumbling.
Meanwhile, Ember led a direct assault on a Keiretsu research lab, eliminating their top scientists before they could escape. Experimental technology, AI blueprints, cybernetic enhancements—everything that could be of use was seized. The facility burned in the aftermath, reduced to smoldering ruins. Keiretsu had lost more than just research. They had lost progress, innovation, and the future they had envisioned.
Daigo's mission was personal. He walked alone into the heart of Keiretsu's elite quarters, bypassing security with codes only an insider would know. His target: the syndicate's chief financial officer, the man who had once ordered Daigo's execution for his defection. This was more than retribution; this was closure.
A single suppressed shot ended the CFO's reign. His body slumped over his desk, blood pooling over the ledgers that had once dictated the city's underworld economy. With that, the Keiretsu's financial stability crumbled. Daigo did not look back as he disappeared into the shadows, his debt paid in full.
The Keiretsu woke up to a nightmare.
THE FINAL MESSAGE
As dawn broke, the last phase of Ash's retribution unfolded.
A Keiretsu-controlled broadcast station was hijacked. For precisely thirty seconds, before their security could shut it down, the entire city saw a single message displayed on every screen.
THE UNDERWORLD BELONGS TO SHIROGIRI.
It was not just a declaration. It was a promise.
The Keiretsu had underestimated Ash. Now, they would learn what it meant to provoke a warlord.