Days had passed since the confrontation in the garage. The calm exterior of the city remained unchanged, but Riku could feel the shift. Everything was quiet—too quiet. M's response was coming, but there were no clear signs yet. For most, this might feel like a reprieve, but for Riku, it was the deadliest time. He knew the real battle was being waged in the shadows, where moves were made without a sound.
Sitting in his dimly lit apartment, Riku's fingers hovered over his laptop keyboard, scanning through encrypted emails and secured lines of communication. His network of informants had been working tirelessly, trying to find anything—just a trace of M's next move. But so far, nothing.
He leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowing at the lack of information. M was smart, that much was clear. It made sense—someone as careful as M wouldn't make a rash move after being pushed into the open. He would bide his time, wait for the right moment. But what was he waiting for?
A soft knock interrupted his thoughts.
Riku's body tensed, his hand instinctively reaching for the small knife he kept hidden beneath his desk. He moved silently toward the door, peering through the peephole. His posture relaxed slightly when he saw Yusei standing there, though his guard never completely dropped.
Riku opened the door, stepping aside to let Yusei in. "You're early."
Yusei shrugged, giving him a casual smile as he walked in, but Riku could see the tension underneath. "Figured you could use a little company. Things are getting... tense out there."
Riku raised an eyebrow, motioning for Yusei to continue. "What have you heard?"
Yusei sat down on the couch, crossing his arms. "Not much, but there's definitely movement. Some of my contacts in the force have noticed odd shifts—people being reassigned to dead-end cases, calls going unanswered. Feels like someone's working behind the scenes to throw us off the trail."
Riku nodded, already expecting as much. "That's M. He's moving in ways we can't see yet. But it's coming."
Yusei sighed, running a hand through his hair. "We need more intel, Riku. This whole 'waiting for him to strike' thing isn't exactly ideal."
"I'm working on it," Riku replied, his tone calm but resolute. "He's not invincible. Everyone makes a mistake."
Yusei frowned, sensing something in Riku's tone. "But?"
Riku leaned against the wall, crossing his arms as he looked out the window. "But we're running out of time. M won't stay passive for long. When he makes his move, it'll be big. We need to be ready."
Yusei stood up, walking over to stand beside Riku. "You've always had a plan, Riku. This time can't be any different. What's the play?"
Riku stayed silent for a moment, his mind already calculating the steps ahead. His plan was in motion, but there were still too many unknowns. M was dangerous because he knew how to play the long game, staying hidden until the perfect moment. But Riku knew one thing for certain—M's weakness wasn't in his operations or his power. It was in the people around him.
"We cut off his support," Riku said, his voice decisive. "M relies on key figures to stay hidden, to pull strings behind the scenes. If we take them out, he'll have no choice but to expose himself."
Yusei raised an eyebrow. "You make it sound simple, but we're talking about people in high places. How do we even get close to them?"
Riku's eyes darkened. "We don't. We make them come to us."
Before Yusei could respond, Riku's phone buzzed. He pulled it out, glancing at the screen. A new message, this time from one of his informants.
"He's making a move. It's happening tonight. Be ready."
Riku's lips curled into a slight smirk. The waiting was over.
Later that night, Riku and Yusei stood in the shadows of an alley, watching the entrance to a high-end restaurant across the street. The soft glow of the streetlights reflected off the sleek cars parked outside, each one belonging to someone of importance. This was a meeting place for the wealthy and powerful, and tonight, it would be M's undoing.
Riku's contact had delivered crucial intel—one of M's top associates would be here tonight, meeting with a politician tied to M's network. If Riku could intercept them, it would be the first step in dismantling M's control.
"Are you sure about this?" Yusei asked, his voice low as they waited.
Riku didn't take his eyes off the restaurant. "It's a calculated risk. We need to strike before they realize we're onto them."
Minutes passed, each one dragging as the tension built. Finally, a sleek black car pulled up to the entrance. A tall man in a sharp suit stepped out, followed by another—Riku's target. The associate.
"Showtime," Riku muttered.
As the men made their way inside, Riku signaled to Yusei. They moved quickly and silently, slipping into the restaurant through a side entrance. Inside, the hum of conversation and clinking glasses filled the air, masking their movements as they trailed the associate to a private dining room.
Riku's heart pounded in his chest, but his mind remained focused. This was the moment. If they could get to the associate, they could force M out of the shadows.
But as they approached the door, Riku's instincts flared.
Something was off.
He glanced at Yusei, who nodded. They both pressed closer to the wall, listening carefully. The conversation inside was muted, but Riku caught just enough.
"We've been expecting him."
Riku's blood ran cold.
It was a trap.
He pulled Yusei back just as the door swung open, revealing two armed men standing in the doorway. The associate smirked from behind them, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Thought you could outsmart M? You're in way over your head."
Riku's mind raced, but outwardly, he remained calm. This was dangerous, but he had anticipated a trap. The real question now was whether M had overplayed his hand.
"I think you'll find," Riku said, his voice cool, "that I'm exactly where I need to be."