As Hayato walked away, the team was left to spring into action. They must capture Todo and take him for questioning.

However, something stopped them before they exposed themselves.

“Sorry to say, but you’re wrong, Mister GI Top Elite Agent,” said a mysterious voice suddenly.

Another voice chimed in, “The Big Boss will make sure the Yakuza raids the GI Headquarters with full force.”

Todo felt his blood run cold. This was bad, very bad. “W-what!? I must go and warn Fuwa and Hayato at once!” he blurted out, barely able to contain his panic.

But just as he turned to leave, two figures appeared before him, Trish and Khaos.

“Hold it right there, Agent Todo. The Big Boss told us not to allow you to leave this place,” Khaos said, blocking his way.

Just then, Shiori and her team came before Todo, Khaos, and Trish. Shiori spoke for the team.

“What!? Who’s your Big Boss? I thought you two are free agents!” Shiori demanded, trying to reason with them.

“Just who do you think gave us the access to infest this place with the monsters we’ve summoned?” Trish chimed in. “Just think and answer your question by yourself.”

Shiori was stunned. It was as if a jigsaw puzzle was slowly coming together in her head, revealing a dark and ominous picture.

“And as for you, Todo, your role is finished. So we must put you to sleep. A permanent sleep,” Khaos declared.

Todo drew his gun, ready to fight. But before any more words could be exchanged, Fuwa’s team burst onto the scene, attacking.

A battle of epic proportions unfolded at once. Keiji, Shiori, Fuwa, Ryonoken, and Nishi, each armed with their unique weapons and skills, faced off against their adversaries: Trish the Cait Sith and Khaos the Klown.

The air crackled with tension as the combatants locked eyes, a dance of anticipation unfolding in the flickering shadows.

Shiori gripped her katana tightly, feeling the weight of the blade as she prepared to unleash her formidable skills.

Nishi, her sniper rifle at the ready, surveyed the hall, her sharp eyes scanning for any signs of movement. Fuwa, her guns held steady in her hands, emanated a stoic resolve. Keiji, his bo stick held firmly in his grip, stood tall with unwavering determination.

Ryonoken was invisible to the eyes not sharp enough to capture shadowy, speedy moves.

With a sudden burst of energy, Trish pounced forward, her feline agility on full display. Shiori’s instincts kicked in, and she swiftly parried Trish’s sharp claws with her katana, the clash of steel echoing through the hall.

Nishi, a master of long-range attacks, expertly aimed her semi-automatic gun, her shots ringing out with precision.

Fuwa’s guns blazed in rapid succession, the resounding cracks filling the air with an intense symphony of firepower.

Keiji spun his bo stick, expertly striking at Khaos with calculated force, the rhythmic thuds reverberating off the walls.

Ryonoken chose to capture Todo, who was unexpectedly evasive and elusive, despite his tall, muscular build.

Amidst the chaos of battle, the heroes sustained injuries, their bodies pushed to their limits.

Fuwa, her once steady aim faltering, winced as pain seared through her side. Shiori fought through the pain, her movements fueled by a fierce determination to protect her comrades.

Nishi, her hands a blur of motion, delivered swift and calculated strikes, each blow landing with precision. Keiji, his body bruised and battered, channeled his resolve into each powerful swing of his bo stick.

Forced to change his targets to Trish and Khaos, almost all of Ryonoken’s blows and shurikens found their marks.

As the battle raged on, Todo slipped away, realizing that he could no longer be a part of the GI agency. But the team fought on, even as Todo made his escape.

As the battle reached its climax, it became apparent that the GI victory was within reach.

Trish and Khaos, sensing the tide turning against them, made a strategic retreat. Injured and defeated, they fled, leaving behind a trail of uncertainty and pain.

The hall fell silent, the only sounds lingering being the heavy breaths of the victorious heroes.

Fuwa, clutching her wounded side, glanced at her comrades, a mixture of exhaustion and determination in her eyes. “We did it,” she whispered, her voice filled with both relief and pride.

Shiori nodded, a sense of camaraderie settling over the group. “But at what cost?” she murmured, her gaze drifting to their injuries, tangible reminders of the price they had paid.

Keiji’s voice, steady yet tinged with concern, filled the hall. “We’ll tend to our wounds and regroup,” he said. “Our mission isn’t over yet. I hope it’s not a total loss.”

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

With a shared understanding, the heroes made their way out of the Throne of Bones Hall, their bodies weary but their spirits unyielding. Though battered and wounded, they carried with them the undeniable strength of their unity and the unbreakable resolve to bring justice to the realms they traversed.

As they left the hall behind, the echoes of their victory reverberated through the museum’s corridors, a testament to their indomitable spirit and determination.

And though Trish and Khaos had escaped, the battle had left its mark upon them as well, their injuries a testament to their heroic will.

Shiori collapsed from exhaustion and injury, and as her vision is blurred, the last thing she heard was Keiji calling her name. The GI now knew where the Yakuza were headed, but the cost had been high.

The Evernaland Ferris Wheel View was a mesmerizing sight. But, it was a background to Shiori and Keiji, as the light of dawn was illuminating the platform with a soft, warm glow.

Shiori had just woken up, and Keiji was beside her, relieved to see her consciousness return.

“Shio! Thank Shin Kamui you come around,” Keiji exclaimed, his eyes filled with gratitude.

Shiori was still confused, trying to piece together what had happened. “H-how come I’m here? The last thing I remember is, after I passed out, I had a nightmare,” she said, her voice trembling.

Keiji listened patiently, his hand on her shoulder as Shiori recounted her nightmare about Shingo. However, she didn’t mention her hunch that Shingo might be on the other side of the law. Or, in other words, he was an opponent.

“Well, it’s complicated, and so is my situation,” Keiji began to explain. “Director Fuwa must mop up this place to find more evidence, and Nishi’s helping her along with many GI agents. The monsters fled along with Trish and Khaos, but many remain, bothering the agents. So, I decided to take you away to the only monster-free spot in the park, that’s here.”

He paused, taking a deep breath. “And then, I used my inner energy to heal your wounds and normalize the energy flow within your body. Once everything went back to normal, you regained consciousness soon afterward.”

Shiori was grateful for Keiji’s help. “Thank you very much, Keiji. And that’s not only… for your timely help,” she said.

Keiji raised an eyebrow, curious. “What else?”

“It’s also because you… have chosen to take care of me instead of… helping out the Director… to boost your career,” Shiori said, a hint of admiration in her voice. “Maybe as Todo is out of the picture now, you’ll be the next in line to be Top Elite Agent or even Vice Director, don’t you think?”

Keiji shook his head. “I know. I always wanted to get even with Todo Takahashi. But not this way, not in this circumstance. Todo has beaten me in the Elite Agent Trials honorably, so I must beat him back the same way. And sucking up to the Director isn’t my style. So, I don’t care about those things, because all I care about now is… you, Shio.”

Shiori was taken aback by Keiji’s words. Her heart began to thump rapidly, and she found herself at a loss for words. Keiji had always been her friend, but she had never seen him in a romantic light. It was up to Shiori to decide how she felt about Keiji’s confession.

“You know, Keiji, I care about you too…” Shiori said softly, as they both moved closer to each other, their eyes closed, ready to embrace each other.

However, their moment was interrupted by a loud shout from afar. “Senior Agent Keiji, you are wanted at the crime scene! Let me handle Shiori instead…!” Nishi yelled, walking toward the two.

Shiori and Keiji quickly pulled away from each other, and their moment of intimacy was abruptly cut short. They both took a step back, and Shiori turned to face Nishi, who was seething with anger… and jealousy.

The moment was gone, but Shiori couldn’t shake the feeling of warmth that Keiji’s words had left her with. She knew she had a lot to think about, but for now, there were more pressing matters.

----------------------------------------

Shiori’s Diary

I admit, that was awkward. And ironic, too. Because, as soon as I knew Keiji liked me, I came to the assumption that Nishi liked Keiji too and she was jealous of us.

However, as professionals, we must set our personal feelings aside and focus all our attention on the work at hand.

No matter how tender and beautiful my feeling towards Keiji was, the defense of Goemon Investigations Agency Headquarters came first.

So, let’s hope we would survive the raid and capture Hayato Mori and his squad.

After that mission was done, I and Keiji would have a long talk… about everything.

End of Act Four