In his mind, Toru weighed the decision carefully. “We’re here to secure the objective and claim the rewards that come with it,” he thought. “Adding more members means the rewards for each of us will be lower, but our current control over the objective hasn’t been ideal. Sozen’s interference and the emergence of an even stronger force that managed to overpower him suggest that our position is more precarious than we initially thought.”

The choice was clear: despite the potential drawbacks, aligning with Sozen seemed to be the most pragmatic approach given the circumstances. With the decision made, he needed to confirm Hitomi’s stance on the matter.

“Have you decided?” Toru asked through the comms, his voice calm and decisive.

“I was waiting for you,” Hitomi responded. “Frankly, I’m alright with whatever decision you make.”

“You trust me that much?” Toru asked, genuinely surprised by her confidence.

“Well, I’ve survived this far thanks to your knowledge,” Hitomi said. Her acknowledgment of his guidance and expertise was reassuring.

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Toru reflected on their journey so far and the significant role he had played in steering their course. With Hitomi’s trust and agreement, he made the final call.

“Alright then, I guess we’ll accept his offer,” Toru said, his decision firm.

“Roger that,” Hitomi replied.

As Sozen anxiously awaited a response from the individuals he had reached out to, two notifications appeared on his UI. The first confirmed acceptance from Toru and Hitomi’s team, while the second came from someone named “Elvis.”

The acceptance from Elvis was a welcome development, reinforcing the new alliance. With the contracts finalized and the teams united, the immediate priority was to address the pressing threat of Sozen’s assailants.

“Just in time,” Sozen muttered to himself, glancing at the map and noting that three of his guard hounds had arrived to provide crucial assistance. The ensuing barrage of bullets created a chaotic cover, allowing Sozen to make a desperate escape.

Despite the intense gunfire, Sozen managed to evade capture. He sustained injuries—a bullet wound to his right shoulder and another to his leg—but he pressed on, driven by the urgency of the situation. With the help of the reinforcements and his new allies, he reached the vicinity of Toru’s hideout, his escape barely successful but nonetheless a critical step in securing his survival.