Chereads / Mr.Spy / Chapter 31 - Chapter 31: Dance with the Machines

Chapter 31 - Chapter 31: Dance with the Machines

The hum of the combat drones filled the room as they powered up, their sleek, metallic forms glinting in the dim light. Each drone was equipped with high-frequency blades and automatic weapons, their design a perfect blend of lethality and precision.

Renjiro stepped forward, his gaze fixed on Kaede. "You can't hide behind your toys forever."

Kaede's smirk widened. "Oh, Renjiro, this isn't hiding. This is me enjoying the show. Let's see how well you dance."

With a wave of her hand, the drones sprang to life, moving with an eerie synchronization. The first two lunged toward the group, their blades spinning.

"Spread out!" Renjiro shouted. He rolled to the side as a drone's blade sliced through the air where he'd been standing a moment earlier. He fired a series of precise shots, but the drone's armor deflected them, sparks flying.

Hana darted behind a console, her sharp reflexes keeping her out of harm's way. "These things are built to last! Aim for the joints—it's their weak spot!"

Yukari scrambled for cover, pulling Aiko with her. "Stay down and don't move!" she hissed, pulling out her tablet to hack into the drones' systems.

Aiko clutched her stun gun, her heart pounding. "What can I do?"

"Stay alive," Yukari snapped, her fingers flying across the screen. "Unless you've suddenly become a robotics expert, leave this to me!"

Meanwhile, Renjiro and Hana worked in tandem, their movements perfectly coordinated. Renjiro distracted one drone with a volley of shots, forcing it to turn toward him, while Hana dashed in from the side, her knife slicing through the exposed joint of its arm. The drone sparked violently before collapsing.

"Two down, three to go," Hana said, her breathing steady despite the chaos.

Another drone turned its attention to Yukari, its weapons primed. Aiko's eyes widened as she realized Yukari wouldn't see it in time. Without thinking, she grabbed a heavy pipe from the floor and charged.

"Aiko, no!" Renjiro shouted.

But Aiko was already swinging the pipe with all her strength, smashing it into the drone's sensor array. The drone staggered, its aim faltering long enough for Renjiro to take it out with a shot to its exposed core.

Aiko stumbled back, her arms trembling. Renjiro caught her before she fell, his expression a mix of anger and relief. "You're reckless, but you're brave. Don't make me regret bringing you here."

The last two drones pressed the attack, their movements faster and more erratic as if adapting to the team's strategy. Hana managed to disable one with a well-thrown explosive, but the final drone locked onto her with deadly precision.

Before it could fire, Yukari let out a triumphant laugh. "Got you, you tin can!"

The drone froze mid-attack as Yukari's hack took effect. Its weapons powered down, and it collapsed in a heap.

Kaede clapped slowly, her expression one of amused disdain. "Impressive. I didn't think you'd make it this far. But this was just a warm-up."

Renjiro leveled his gun at her. "Enough games. Hand over the database."

Kaede tilted her head, her smile never wavering. "Oh, Renjiro, you still don't get it. The database isn't here. It's already out there, in the hands of people who will make this world burn. You're too late."

The room fell silent as her words sank in. Yukari's face paled as she quickly checked the terminal. "She's telling the truth. The data's been uploaded to a remote server. We've been chasing shadows."

Kaede's laughter echoed in the room as she stepped back, disappearing into the shadows. "Good luck catching up, my dear pests. The game's just getting started."

Renjiro clenched his fists, his mind racing. "We're not done yet. Yukari, trace the upload. Hana, secure the area. Aiko, stay close."

The fight wasn't over—not by a long shot. Kaede had just raised the stakes, and Renjiro's team would need to move faster than ever to stop the coming storm.