Riku's footsteps echoed faintly in the dimly lit hallway, his calm demeanor betraying nothing of the storm that was about to unfold. The tension in the building was palpable, the men scrambling inside, trying to locate Yuki, completely unaware that their real enemy was already within their walls.
As he approached Okada's office, Riku's mind remained sharp, every detail of the plan falling perfectly into place. Yuki's attempted defiance had only accelerated the inevitable. Okada was spiraling into panic, grasping at straws, and Riku had been waiting for just this moment.
Okada was dangerous, yes, but panicked men made mistakes. And Riku thrived on those mistakes.
He arrived at the door of Okada's office and paused, listening to the muffled sounds of rage within. Okada's voice was raised, barking orders, his frustration and paranoia apparent. It was exactly what Riku had wanted—an enemy so consumed by his own fear and anger that he couldn't see the trap closing in around him.
Riku reached into his coat and pulled out a small device, discreetly placing it on the floor near the door. A few seconds later, the door's electronic lock clicked open.
Inside the office, Okada's lieutenant was furiously typing on a computer, trying to track down any leads on Yuki's whereabouts, while Okada paced behind him, his face twisted in fury.
"They're ghosts, Okada-san," the lieutenant muttered, wiping sweat from his brow. "No traces of Yuki or Riku. It's like they vanished."
"That's impossible!" Okada spat. "They have to be somewhere! They couldn't have just disappeared!"
The lieutenant flinched at Okada's outburst, but before he could say anything more, the door to the office swung open. Riku stepped inside, his presence immediately shifting the atmosphere in the room.
For a moment, there was only silence.
Okada's eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at the man who had been orchestrating his downfall from the shadows. His initial shock quickly turned to rage.
"You!" Okada shouted, taking a step forward. "You think you can just walk in here?!"
Riku remained perfectly calm, his expression unreadable as he closed the door behind him. "You've been looking for me, haven't you?"
Okada's fists clenched, his body trembling with fury. "Do you have any idea who you're dealing with? I'll end you. I'll end everyone who stands with you."
Riku's gaze flicked over to the lieutenant, who was now frozen in fear. "Get out," Riku said, his voice cold and commanding.
The man hesitated, glancing nervously at Okada, but the intensity in Riku's eyes was enough to make him bolt for the door without a second thought.
Now it was just the two of them.
Okada grabbed the gun from his desk drawer, his hands shaking slightly as he pointed it at Riku. "You think you're untouchable, don't you? You think you can just destroy everything I've built?"
Riku didn't flinch. His eyes remained steady, locked on Okada's.
"You've already lost, Okada," Riku said quietly. "You just haven't realized it yet."
Okada's finger hovered over the trigger, his face a mask of rage. "You think I'm afraid of you? You think I'll let you walk away from this?"
But Riku's calmness, his unshakable composure, made Okada hesitate. Something in the way Riku stood there, utterly confident, began to gnaw at him. The realization that Riku wasn't afraid of him, wasn't even concerned, began to settle in.
"You're not in control anymore," Riku continued, his voice low and controlled. "Everything you've tried to hold onto is slipping away, and you're too blind to see it."
Okada's hand wavered, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "I can fix this... I can—"
"No," Riku interrupted, taking a step forward. "It's over. Your empire, your power... all gone. Even your men are starting to turn on you. They're just waiting for the right moment to take what's left."
Okada shook his head in disbelief, lowering the gun slightly. "No... no, that's not possible..."
Riku's expression hardened. "The police are already watching. Your enemies, the ones you thought were loyal, have been feeding information. You've been boxed in from all sides."
Okada's grip on the gun loosened, his eyes wide with panic. "This can't be happening..."
"It already has," Riku said simply.
As Okada stood there, broken and defeated, Riku's phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, glancing at the message. It was from Yusei.
"Police are on their way. Time to wrap this up."
Riku pocketed the phone and looked back at Okada. "You should've known when to quit, Okada. But now, you're going to lose everything."
Okada, realizing the futility of his situation, let the gun slip from his hand and clatter to the floor. He stumbled back, sinking into his chair, his face pale and drawn.
"Why...?" Okada whispered, his voice barely audible. "Why did you do this?"
Riku didn't answer immediately. He walked over to the window, gazing out at the city lights. It wasn't personal. It never was. Okada had simply crossed a line, hurt too many people, and now he was paying the price. This was how Riku operated—precise, methodical, and ruthless.
"Because someone asked me to," Riku finally said, turning to face Okada. "And because you thought you were untouchable."
The sound of approaching sirens grew louder outside, signaling the final act of Okada's downfall. The police would arrive soon, and when they did, everything would be over. Okada's empire would crumble, and he would disappear into the system.
Riku turned to leave, his job complete. But as he reached the door, Okada spoke one last time, his voice hoarse and broken.
"You... you're just like me."
Riku paused, his hand on the door handle. He didn't respond, didn't even look back. He knew better than anyone that revenge wasn't about justice—it was about survival. And in this world, the only thing that mattered was who had the power to survive.
Without a word, Riku walked out, leaving Okada to his fate.
Outside, Riku stepped into the cold night air, the sounds of the city surrounding him. The plan had gone off without a hitch. Yuki was safe, and Okada was finished. Everything had fallen perfectly into place, just as he had intended.
As he walked down the quiet street, Riku felt no sense of victory or satisfaction. This was just another job, another chapter closed. The cycle would continue, as it always did.
But for now, at least, it was over.
End of Chapter 29