“Welcome, Vin,” greeted Lorenzo, who was now leaning on the table with a sly smile of satisfaction. “You really know how to make a scene, Vin.”
Next to him, Valeria crossed her legs with a small grin. “I was expecting you to come, Vin. You're... too stubborn,” the mafia lady remarked.
Vincent snorted, no longer surprised to see them all here. Lorenzo, Valeria, and Nakamura. The three figures who had been a thorn in his side, it turned out they were all in cahoots behind the scenes.
Nakamura, who was standing by the window, finally spoke up. “I knew you'd find this place, Vin.” He turned around, his gaze sharp. “Do you miss your wife that much?”
Vincent took a deep breath before answering, “I don't care about your games. I don't care about what you've been planning all along. But there is one enemy we must conquer.”
The room fell silent for an instant. “And I know you all also want to see Kazuto fall.”
Among the three people, only Lorenzo responded to Vincent's conversation. It was certain that they were not surprised by Kazuto at all.
Lorenzo raised an eyebrow. “So... you've figured it out and want us to work together?” he guessed.
Valeria chuckled. “That's funny. Sworn enemies now want to make us allies?” she quipped.
Vincent looked at them sharply. “Don't get me wrong. I never trusted any of you.” He tossed a tablet onto the table, the screen lit up displaying a running countdown.
[TIME REMAINING: 42:17]
“When this time runs out, Kazuto will control the entire global defence system. If you think you can escape the chaos he has created, you are sorely mistaken. He doesn't just want to destroy the world, he wants to wipe out everything you have. Including your power and Ryuujin-kai,” Vincent explained.
Silence fell over the room. Milea looked at Vincent with a worried look, while Nakamura finally took a deep breath.
“So,” Nakamura cleared his throat. “What are your plans now?” he asked with a very serious expression.
Vincent grinned slightly. “We do what we're best at.” He looked at them one by one.
“We create hell in this world... and drag Kazuto into it.”
“Very interesting,” Valeria agreed with Vincent.
The room was silent after Vincent's confident invitation. They were all quite interested in Vincent's strategy. Now, only the faint sound of rain could be heard outside, mixed with the clinking of glasses Nakamura had placed on the old wooden table. They were considering Vincent's offer to join his allies.
Valeria crossed her arms, grinning faintly. “I like your idea, Vin. But, there's one big problem.”
Lorenzo gave Vincent a sharp look. “Kazuto isn't someone who can just be set up. He's more than a mastermind. He's like a shadow you can't touch.”
Vincent picked up the tablet from the table and threw it at Lorenzo. The screen lit up, displaying the coordinates of a place hidden deep underground. A secret facility that wasn't even on any military map.
“This isn't just about trapping him,” Vincent said, directing everyone. “It's about how to erase him from this world.”
Nakamura frowned. “Where did you get this?” he asked in surprise.
Vincent gave him a sharp look. “I hacked into part of Kazuto's network before he finally blocked me. He's in this facility. That's where all the plans will finally be revealed,” he pointed.
Ryuga, who had been silent in the back of the room, finally spoke up. “If you have this location, why are we still standing here?”
Vincent took a deep breath. “Because this could be a trap if we're careless. And I need all of you to make sure Kazuto can't get away again.”
***
“Vin ....” Milea hugged Vincent, her husband when they met back at the Nakamura residence. They missed each other for just a few minutes.
“I missed you, honey,” Vincent said as he kissed Milea's lips.
“Are you going to leave without me?” Milea sulked.
“I have to. I'm sorry, honey. You still need to rest. You're still recovering, right?”
Milea pursed her lips and acted rather spoilt in front of her super busy husband. “I still miss you.”
“Me too. I hope after all this is over we can live together in peace,” Vincent consoled.
“Promise?” Milea confirmed.
“I promise you,” Vincent said reassuringly.
Hours later, a convoy of unmarked luxury cars travelled at high speed towards an underground facility in suburban New York. A small army of former enemies and unlikely allies is now preparing to face an even more dangerous mastermind.
Vincent, Lorenzo, Valeria, Nakamura, and Ryuga know this is not just a mission but a final showdown.
Inside a darkened room underground, Kazuto sat in front of a giant screen, observing their arrival through a surveillance camera. A faint smile was etched on his face.
“Just as I thought,” Kazuto whispered.
Kazuto who was already wary of their arrival began to press a button on the control panel. Red lights flashed throughout the underground facility.
[OMEGA PROTOCOL ACTIVATED]
[CONVERGENCE INITIATED]
Outside the room, sirens immediately sounded. The giant iron gate began to close. Kazuto's armed troops emerged from the shadows, their rifles raised, ready to fire and engage the enemy.
Valeria raised an eyebrow. “Looks like he's been waiting for us.”
Vincent took out a gun from his jacket. “Good. I like their challenge.”
As they prepared for battle, the large holographic screen in the centre of the room suddenly lit up. The figure of someone they never expected to see again appeared.
“Milea?” Vincent widened his eyes in shock.
Milea was tied to a chair with a wound on her face, her breathing ragged. Her angry eyes stared at Vincent.
“You guys... need to get out of there.” Her voice was weak but clearly audible.
Vincent felt his heart stop for a moment. “Milea? What happened?”
Kazuto appeared beside her in the video. He placed a hand on Milea's shoulder with a casual gesture, as if to show that he was in complete control.
“Do you like this surprise, Vin?” Kazuto smiled wryly. “I knew you'd come, Vin. And of course, I had to make sure you didn't leave easily.”
Suddenly, the sound of a second clock was heard from inside the video.
Lorenzo squinted. “What's that?”
Milea trembled. Her lips trembled as she spoke.
“...Bomb.”
Vincent's eyes widened. “Kazuto, you bastard-“ he screeched furiously.
Kazuto chuckled. “Oh, Vin. This game that just started is very interesting to me. How about the rest of you?”
The screen went dead. While the remaining time continued to run, Vincent's heart almost exploded.
“Milea ....” Vincent had a dilemma.
“What should we do now, Vin?” asked Lorenzo. Vincent said nothing.
“VIN!” urged the impatient Ryuga. He was very worried because his cousin Milea's fate was in the hands of the villain Kazuto.