True to his words, Jinbei opened the second gate, and the infiltrators passed through it, their path leading them straight to the JinCorp Main Factory.
Shingo couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease as they approached their destination. “It’s typical for the largest companies to produce weapons and vehicles for military use,” he remarked. “But I think JinCorp doesn’t sell them for the Shimanese Defense Force alone.”
Nishi nodded in agreement. “You might be right, Shingo. The GI intelligence detected signs that JinCorp also supplies arms to various nations through its partner companies. Votech from Archelia, for instance.”
Shingo’s expression turned grave. “What? This is bad! Let’s storm this place, gather evidence and bring JinCorp to justice!”
But Gale held up a hand to stop him. “Hold it for a minute, Shin. Do you see the people in strange uniforms up ahead?”
Shingo peered ahead, his heart racing. “Y-you’re right, Gale! Among the soldiers, they are… the Skull Mask Squad!”
“To be precise, they’re the Crystal Skulls, the elite among the elite!” Gale added.
Chiyo looked worried. “But, aren’t the entire Skull Mask Squad under one man, Hayato Mori’s command?”
Shingo nodded. “Yes, but then again, Hayato got the command because Maeda appointed him, the Yakuza Champion to command Maeda’s best squad.”
Gale facepalmed. “So, the Skull Mask Squad is originally loyal to the Godfather all along.”
“And so is Hayato-san,” Chiyo said. “He’ll do the Godfather’s bidding without question, whatever condition he’s in.”
Mariko’s eyes widened in shock. “What? Are you suggesting maybe Hayato is on these premises? In the factory? The last time I left him in his club, he was still in bad shape!”
Ryonoken shrugged. “Anything can happen, especially involving inner-strength users like Mori.”
Keiji stepped forward, his voice serious. “The most important thing is, now we know for sure that we’ll face Akiba Maeda and the Yakuza’s best in that facility. Plus, Shingo’s team must do extra preparation in case we’ll fight Hayato Mori too, again.”
Shingo nodded resolutely. “Great, we’ll keep that in mind, Keiji. Now, let’s go forward.”
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As they approached the factory, they could hear the hum of machinery and the shouts of workers. The Crystal Skulls were stationed at various points around the perimeter, keeping watch for intruders.
Shingo’s team moved silently, staying low and out of sight. “We have to take them down before they are alert and more reinforcements come,” he whispered urgently.
Gale nodded in agreement. “I’ll take point. The rest of you provide cover.”
They sprang into action, moving quickly and efficiently. The Crystal Skulls were caught off guard, and Shingo’s team took them down one by one.
At the entrance to the JinCorp Factory, a Crystal Skull lieutenant and his squad blocked their path. Gale recognized Hoji, the captain of the Crystal Skulls, and a tense standoff ensued.
“Just because you can recognize me, it doesn’t mean we’ll let you go past us without a fight,” Hoji warned.
Shingo saw through his words and thanked him for stating their statuses clearly, acknowledging that they were traitors to the Yakuza. The Crystal Skulls were ordered to eliminate them by the Godfather’s command.
So, both parties agreed upon the aggressive solution, although it was nothing sort of a negotiation.
It turned out that the Crystal Skulls Elite Squad was a group of enhanced humans. With their weapons and skills at the ready, they braced themselves for the impending clash.
Shiori gripped her katana tightly, her eyes focused and determined. She moved with grace and precision, every strike a deadly dance. Nishi took a position as a sniper, scanning the area for targets. Her fingers caressed the trigger, ready to unleash a hail of bullets with deadly accuracy.
Ryonoken, the agile ninja, wielded his twin kodachis with lightning speed. He darted through the chaos, his blades cutting through the air like whispers of death. Keiji stood firm with his naginata, his movements were fluid and controlled, as he defended his teammates from any threat.
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Beside them, Gale unleashed his kung-fu prowess, his bare hands a blur of strikes and blocks. His powerful kicks and punches sent opponents flying, leaving them incapacitated in his wake.
Chiyo, the enigmatic painter, called upon her lightning magic, conjuring bolts of raw energy that crackled and sizzled through the air. The thunderous blasts illuminated the battlefield, striking down enemies with devastating force. Of course, her targets were the bots and drones.
The fight unfolded amidst the clatter of machinery and the whirring of conveyor belts, the industrial setting adding an element of unpredictability to the battlefield. Drones and guardbots joined the fray, their metallic bodies clashing with the team’s relentless assault.
Their enemy, Hoji, the captain of the Crystal Skull Elite Squad, fought with unwavering determination. His enhanced abilities allowed him to resist the onslaught, matching the team blows for blow. However, the combined might of Shingo’s team proved too much for him to withstand.
As the battle raged on, Hoji’s defenses began to crumble. Faced with the inevitable, he decided to surrender. Gasping for breath, he informed the team that Akiba Maeda, their ultimate adversary, awaited them on the testing grounds adjacent to the factory building.
With the knowledge of their next destination, Shingo’s team regrouped, their spirits unyielding. The anticipation of the showdown filled the air as they braced themselves for the challenges that lay ahead. The fight was far from over, and their determination burned brighter than ever.
As they moved forward, Shingo couldn’t shake off the thought that there would be more tough battles ahead. But the team was determined to see their mission through, no matter what.
Hoji had told the truth. The team stood in the testing grounds of the JinCorp main factory and it was swarmed with troops, either living or mechanical.
Shingo and Gale were facing their former Godfather, Akiba Maeda. They had come a long way and fought against many opponents to get to this point, but they knew that the real challenge was yet to come.
Akiba, looking calm and collected, addressed them, “I must say, I’m impressed that you, of all people, have co his far. However, as you are here to hinder us, I, no, we must destroy you. Infiltrators and… traitors!”
Shingo couldn’t help but chuckle at Akiba’s straightforward attitude, “So straightforward and to the point, that’s our Ex-Godfather, all right. At least Jinbei didn’t corrupt you too much.”
Gale, on the other hand, was more serious, “But, the fact that you’re here helping JinCorp out at our fellows’ expense makes you the REAL traitor to the Yakuza and what it stands for.”
Akiba raised an eyebrow, curious to hear more, “Really? And what’s that?”
Chiyo stepped forward and started to explain the history of the Yakuza organization, “In Shimanese history, the Yakuza Organization was founded originally as the representative and protector of the underground community and the poor.”
Mariko continued, “Their initial pursuits were aligned with the Samurai, regarding honor and respect above all else.”
Keiji added, “However, the Yakuza never attained its ideals and was regarded as lesser than the Samurai. It was even reduced and separated into criminal gangs, operating lawlessly.”
Nishi spoke up, “The Shimanese government hasn’t eradicated the Yakuza yet, because they still regard the remaining specks of honor the Yakuza once had.”
Ryonoken added, “And now you have tainted those specks of honor by getting yourself involved in this insane conspiracy to gain infinite power.”
Akiba listened patiently and then offered his perspective, “Look, I know an ample share of history too. From the Yakuza’s point of view, of course.”