Morning had barely settled over the White Blade base when Shin received a call from the government. He stood alone in his quarters, the quiet tension in the air thickening as the voice on the other end spoke. His silver eyes darkened, narrowing as he listened in silence.

Mira, Takeda, Daigo, and the others were in the main hall, finishing breakfast. The sound of clinking dishes and quiet conversation filled the room. Kaito and Yuna sat together at the far end of the table, still reeling from the brutal lesson they had received the day before.

As the door to Shin's quarters swung open, everyone turned their heads toward him. The room fell silent as Shin stepped into view, his expression a mask of cold fury. His silver eyes burned with an intensity they had never seen before.

Takeda (thinking, frowning): What the hell happened?

Shin stalked toward the center of the room, stopping by the table. He clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles white against his skin. The air around him was heavy with an anger none of them had ever witnessed.

Finally, without looking at anyone, Shin spoke, his voice low and filled with barely contained rage.

Shin (gritting his teeth): "The government... is sending Kaito and Yuna on a spy mission."

A stunned silence followed. The team exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of his words sinking in.

Kaito (shocked): "Wait, what...?"

Yuna (calm but confused): "A spy mission?"

Shin's silver eyes flicked toward them, his gaze sharp as a blade. His jaw tightened, and the frustration that had been boiling beneath the surface for so long finally spilled over.

Shin (angrily): "You're being sent into Kurogane... to steal classified documents. They expect you two to handle this alone."

Mira's eyes widened in shock, her hand flying to her mouth. Daigo, who had been leaning back in his chair, suddenly straightened up, all humor gone from his face. Takeda's brow furrowed deeply, his voice filled with disbelief.

Takeda (gruffly): "That's insane. Spy work? In Kurogane? They're not ready for something like that!"

Daigo (quietly): "We're not spies. That's Black Blade work..."

Kaito's heart pounded in his chest, fear rising up in his throat. Yuna's face remained calm, but even she couldn't hide the unease that crept into her expression. They had just been through a trial against their Captain, barely surviving the harsh lesson, and now they were being sent on a mission like this?

Shin's fists clenched tighter, his knuckles trembling as he tried to suppress the rage building inside him.

Shin (cursing under his breath): "Damn fools... They're sending children into a war zone. This isn't just a mission—it's a suicide."

The team stood frozen, shocked by Shin's sudden outburst. It wasn't like him to show this much emotion, especially not in front of the others.

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Kaito (nervously, trying to speak): "Captain, we can—"

Shin's silver eyes locked onto Kaito, the intensity in them cutting through the air like a knife.

Shin (firmly): "You're not ready. Neither of you is. This is beyond anything you've been trained for."

Kaito fell silent, the weight of Shin's words crushing him. He glanced over at Yuna, who remained composed, though the unease was clear in her eyes.

Mira, sensing the tension in the room, stepped forward, her voice gentle but steady.

Mira (softly): "Captain... Maybe we can find a way to prepare them. We can't send them out there without some kind of plan."

Shin turned away from the group, his eyes staring out the window as if searching for a solution that wasn't there. He knew Mira was right, but deep down, he couldn't shake the feeling that no amount of preparation would be enough. Not for this mission.

The government's orders were final. Kaito and Yuna had to go, whether he liked it or not.

Shin (gritting his teeth): "We'll train you. But..."

He paused, his voice barely above a whisper, filled with frustration and regret.

Shin (bitterly): "...you shouldn't have to go."

The room fell silent once again, the weight of his words pressing down on all of them. Kaito and Yuna stood tall, but their expressions betrayed their uncertainty.

Kaito (determined but nervous): "We'll be okay, Captain. We're White Blades. We won't let you down."

Yuna (calmly, though her voice wavered): "We'll handle it."

Shin's silver eyes flickered with something dark and unreadable. He turned toward the table, his voice cold as ice.

Shin (angrily, under his breath): "Why them...? Why those two?"

Takeda, watching Shin's reaction closely, stepped forward, his deep voice breaking the silence.

Takeda (gruffly): "What kind of mission would make you lose your composure, Captain?"

Shin didn't respond immediately, his jaw tightening again. Finally, he spoke, his voice low and filled with anger.

Shin (gritting his teeth): "Spy work. They're sending you to Kurogane to steal military plans."

The room was deathly quiet as the gravity of the mission sank in. Kurogane was one of the most dangerous nations in the world, known for its brutal soldiers and ruthless tactics. Sending two newbies into enemy territory for a mission like this felt like madness.

Daigo (seriously): "The Black Blades should be handling this. We're warriors, not spies."

Shin slammed his fist on the table, the impact making the plates and cups rattle.

Shin (furious): "Exactly. We're not suited for this. And they're sending two children into it. Damn it... What the hell are they thinking?!"

The outburst shocked everyone. Shin rarely lost his composure, even in the face of impossible odds, but now, the frustration and helplessness in him were clear. His fists trembled as he turned his back to the team, his voice quieter but no less angry.

Shin (softly, to himself): "They won't survive this."

The team remained silent, unsure of how to respond. Even Takeda and Daigo, who had seen Shin in some of his darkest moments, were taken aback by the depth of his anger.

Mira, always the calming presence, stepped forward once again, her voice soft and soothing.

Mira (gently): "Captain... We'll make sure they're ready. We'll give them everything we can."

Shin didn't reply. His gaze remained fixed on the window, his silver eyes distant as if lost in thought. The image of Kaito and Yuna being sent to their deaths haunted him. He couldn't shake it.

**Shin (thinking): They're not ready... But I can't defy orders. Damn it... Why them?

After a long moment, he finally spoke, his voice cold and detached once again.

Shin (firmly): "We leave at dawn. Be ready."

Kaito and Yuna exchanged a glance, their determination solidifying despite the weight of the mission ahead.

Kaito (quietly, to Yuna): "We can do this."

Yuna nodded, her calm demeanor hiding the anxiety that gnawed at her insides. They had no choice but to succeed.

As Shin turned to leave, his frustration was still palpable, his mind racing with thoughts of failure and loss. As the door closed behind him, the room remained heavy with silence, everyone aware of the danger ahead.

End of Chapter