The safehouse buzzed with tense energy as Renjiro, Yukari, and Aiko settled into a temporary reprieve. The team's defeat at the hands of Kaede left a bitter taste in the air, each member lost in their thoughts.
Renjiro sat at the edge of the room, his gaze fixed on the floor. He had underestimated Kaede, and the consequences had put everyone, especially Aiko, in grave danger. The thought gnawed at him, but Aiko's voice broke his spiral of guilt.
"What's the plan now?" she asked, her tone firm but her eyes betraying a glimmer of uncertainty.
Renjiro looked up, his expression unreadable. "We regroup. Kaede has what she wants, but she's not invincible. We'll find her weakness and strike back."
"Easier said than done," Yukari muttered, leaning back in her chair. She had dark circles under her eyes from working tirelessly to salvage what little data she could from the ruined facility. "Kaede's always three steps ahead. We need more than just brute force—we need intel."
Renjiro nodded. "Which is why we're not doing this alone anymore."
As if on cue, the door opened, and Kaito strode in, flanked by two unfamiliar figures. One was a tall man with a scar running down his cheek, his imposing presence filling the room. The other was a petite woman with sharp eyes that seemed to see through everyone.
"This is Saito and Hana," Kaito introduced. "They're top operatives from our international division. They'll be working with us on this."
Saito stepped forward, his deep voice cutting through the room. "Kaede's actions have caught the attention of agencies worldwide. If she exposes the agent database, it's not just your agency that's compromised—it's global chaos."
"And we're here to make sure that doesn't happen," Hana added, her tone cool but determined.
Aiko's eyes widened. She had never imagined Renjiro's world would extend this far. Yet here she was, part of a mission that had global implications.
Renjiro stood, his resolve hardening. "Then let's get to work."