"Takeshi," Hanae said into the radio. "Status."
"Sweeping floor thirty-eight," Takeshi's voice cracked over the comms. "Corridors are clear. No sign of him. But..."
"But what?"
"Three of our men are down by the east stairwell. Alive. Breathing. Just knocked out cold."
"How?"
"Precision strikes. Back of the neck. They didn't even get their weapons out of their holsters."
Hanae stared at her reflection in the glass. The Demon King wasn't just in her building. He was taking a casual stroll through her security perimeter and leaving breadcrumbs.
"Reina," Hanae said.
"I'm on thirty-nine, Boss!" Reina's voice was entirely too cheerful. "Found two more of our guys sleeping on the job. One of them is hanging upside down from a light fixture. It's actually very creative."
"Cut him down. Do not engage if you see the target. I repeat, do not engage."
"Aww. Not even a little stab?"
"Reina."
"Fine, fine. Looking, not touching. Spoilsport."
