The night was darker than usual, the city's glow dimmed by a blanket of thick clouds. Riku stood by the window of his apartment, gazing out at the world beneath him. His mind was sharp, as it always was before the final act. Okada's empire had begun to fracture, the cracks widening with each calculated move Riku had made.
But now, the endgame was in sight, and Riku knew this was the most dangerous stage. Okada, cornered, was more dangerous than ever. Desperate men didn't just fight back—they lashed out wildly, making them unpredictable.
A soft knock on the door snapped him from his thoughts. Without turning, he called out, "Come in."
Yusei entered, his expression unusually serious. He carried an air of urgency with him that Riku hadn't seen in a while. "I've got news," Yusei said, shutting the door behind him. "Okada's people have made their move. It looks like they're going after Yuki."
Riku's gaze didn't waver from the window. "I expected as much."
Yusei frowned, stepping closer. "You're playing it too cool, Riku. They're not just sending a few guys to rough her up. Okada's called in some serious players—people you and I have dealt with before. These guys don't make mistakes."
Riku finally turned, his expression calm but his eyes flashing with intensity. "I know exactly who they've called. That's why I had her moved already."
Yusei blinked, caught off guard. "Moved? Where?"
Riku smirked, walking over to a small table where his phone lay. "Let's just say Yuki is currently in the safest place she could be—away from Okada's reach. I knew he would target her the moment he realized his empire was falling."
Yusei let out a slow breath, shaking his head with a mixture of relief and admiration. "You really do think of everything, don't you?"
Riku's expression hardened. "This isn't about thinking ahead. It's about survival. Okada's dangerous, but he's not unpredictable. When people like him start to lose control, they always go for the weakest link. Yuki would have been an easy target to send a message."
Yusei crossed his arms, leaning against the wall. "Still, we need to be careful. Okada's getting desperate, and desperate men are dangerous."
Riku's smirk widened slightly. "Desperation makes people reckless. Okada's next move will expose him even more. I'm counting on it."
Yusei nodded but didn't look entirely convinced. "And what about Yuki? Does she know about this?"
Riku's expression softened slightly, just for a moment. "She'll find out soon enough. For now, she's safe. That's all that matters."
At the same time, Yuki was sitting in a quiet, unfamiliar room, far from the city she once knew. The room was simple—plain walls, a bed, and a desk. It wasn't home, but it was safe. Or at least, that's what Riku had promised her.
Her mind was racing, thoughts swirling as she tried to process everything that had happened. The betrayal, the plan, the revenge—it all seemed like a whirlwind that had swept her up and left her here, in this place she didn't recognize, waiting for the storm to pass.
But something about it didn't sit right with her. She had wanted revenge for so long, but now, with it just within reach, she felt a strange unease. Was this what she had really wanted? To be hidden away while someone else fought her battles?
Her phone buzzed, snapping her out of her thoughts. It was a message from Riku.
"Stay put. Don't make any moves. I'm handling it."
Yuki stared at the message, a mixture of frustration and fear rising in her chest. She knew Riku was doing this for her protection, but she hated the idea of being sidelined, treated like a pawn in a game she had started.
She wanted to be part of this. She needed to be.
With a determined breath, Yuki stood up and grabbed her jacket. She wasn't about to sit idly by while Riku risked everything for her. This was her fight, too, and she wasn't going to let fear keep her locked away any longer.
Meanwhile, back in the heart of the city, Okada sat in his office, the weight of the crumbling empire bearing down on him. He could feel it slipping through his fingers, no matter how hard he tried to hold on. His men had reported strange moves from within his organization, alliances dissolving, deals falling apart. It was as if someone was dismantling everything piece by piece, and he couldn't figure out who.
His lieutenant entered the room, a dark look on his face. "Boss, we've tracked the girl, but it looks like she's been moved. We can't find her."
Okada's eyes darkened with fury. "Moved? How? Who's behind this?"
The lieutenant hesitated, clearly nervous. "It's him. The one they call Riku. He's the one pulling the strings."
Okada slammed his fist on the desk. "Riku… I should've known. He's been a thorn in my side for too long."
He stood up, pacing the room, his mind racing. Riku was good, too good. But Okada wasn't about to go down without a fight.
"Get everyone. I want all our resources focused on finding Riku. I don't care what it takes—bring him to me."
The lieutenant nodded and quickly left the room. Okada stared out the window, his jaw clenched. Riku had made a mistake by coming after him. Now, it was his turn to strike back.
Riku sat alone in the dim light of his apartment, his mind running through every detail of the plan. He knew Okada would come after him. That was the point. The more desperate Okada became, the more he would expose himself.
The trap was almost set. All that was left was to wait for Okada to make his move.
And when he did, Riku would be ready.
End of Chapter 26