Neherick Village was busy.
Not with normal village life.
But with work.
Machines rattled in the distance.
Workers carried crates.
Scrap Gang members patrolled every street.
Saito adjusted his cloak and looked around.
Then suddenly pointed at a food stall.
"How about hamburgers?"
The others blinked.
Kaito looked at him.
"We came here for reconnaissance."
Saito nodded.
"Yes."
Then pointed at the stall again.
"But also hamburgers."
Bomb immediately nodded.
"I support this plan."
Rin shrugged.
"I don't care."
A few minutes later—
the four were sitting on a wooden bench eating.
Saito happily took a bite.
Kaito sighed.
"You're way too relaxed."
Then—
a loud voice echoed through the street.
"Hurry up, you runts!"
The group immediately looked up.
Several workers were carrying massive steel beams.
Their faces were exhausted.
Sweat dripped down their foreheads.
Behind them walked a tall man.
His metal arm gleamed under the sunlight.
The workers immediately quickened their pace.
"Y-Yes sir!"
The man pointed at them.
"Don't drop any of it."
The workers hurried away.
Saito's eyes narrowed.
He slowly lowered his hamburger.
"...Is that an officer?"
Rin followed his gaze.
Then nodded.
"Steel."
The name immediately caught everyone's attention.
"One of Scrapper's officers."
Saito stared at the man.
The metal arm.
The cold expression.
The way workers feared him.
Then a memory flashed through his mind.
Rick.
Bleeding.
Protecting the convoy.
The metal blade cutting across his chest.
Saito quietly clenched his fist.
That's him.
The one who nearly killed Rick.
The one who attacked the villagers.
Kaito noticed the change in his expression.
"Saito."
Saito took a slow breath.
Then stood up.
"Let's follow him."
Bomb nodded.
Rin smirked.
"Now we're talking."
Kaito immediately pointed at him.
"Carefully."
"We follow him carefully."
Rin rolled his eyes.
"Boring."
The four adjusted their cloaks.
Then slowly moved through the crowd.
Keeping their distance.
Following Steel deeper into Neherick Village.
Unaware that they were about to step into the heart of Scrap Gang territory.
The group followed Steel through the village.
Keeping their distance.
Making sure not to attract attention.
Eventually—
Steel approached a massive warehouse near the edge of Neherick Village.
Workers carrying steel beams entered through the large gates.
Saito stopped.
"So that's where they're taking everything."
Rin glanced at the building.
Bomb crossed his arms.
"Looks important."
Saito thought for a moment.
Then pointed.
"Bomb."
"Rin."
"You two check the back."
The two nodded.
"No problem."
"Fine."
Without another word, they disappeared around the side of the warehouse.
Saito looked at Kaito.
"Let's go."
Kaito nodded.
The two slipped through the entrance alongside a group of workers.
Trying not to stand out.
Then—
they stopped.
Both stared ahead.
"...What is that?"
Saito whispered.
The warehouse was enormous.
And at its center—
stood a gigantic machine.
A massive ray gun.
Metal cables ran across the floor.
Workers climbed ladders around it.
Engineers adjusted glowing components.
The weapon was nearly finished.
Kaito's jaw dropped.
"That's a big..."
He paused.
Then corrected himself.
"...gigantic gun."
Saito slowly nodded.
The thing was bigger than some buildings.
"But why are they building this?"
Kaito frowned.
"Only one way to find out."
The two moved deeper inside.
Trying to stay hidden.
Then they froze again.
Because the giant weapon wasn't alone.
Another stood beside it.
Then another.
Then another.
An entire row of colossal ray guns stretched across the warehouse.
Half completed.
Nearly completed.
Some already operational.
Saito felt a chill.
"They're not building a gun."
His eyes widened.
"They're building weapons of destruction."
The realization hit both of them at once.
This wasn't for defense.
This wasn't for intimidation.
This was preparation for war.
A very large war.
Then—
footsteps echoed nearby.
Kaito's eyes immediately narrowed.
"Hide."
Before Saito could react—
Kaito grabbed his arm and pulled him behind a massive steel compartment.
The two crouched low.
Just as several guards walked past.
Their conversation echoed through the warehouse.
And for the first time—
Saito and Kaito were close enough to overhear Scrap Gang's secrets.
The guards continued walking through the warehouse.
Saito and Kaito remained hidden behind the steel compartment.
Then—
a familiar voice came from above.
"So what should we do, boss?"
Both immediately looked up.
Rin was standing on a metal walkway near the ceiling.
Looking down at them.
Saito nearly jumped.
"WHAT—"
He grabbed his chest.
"You scared me!"
Rin shrugged.
"Sorry."
"Old habit."
Kaito sighed.
"Can you stop appearing out of nowhere?"
"No."
Rin answered immediately.
Saito rubbed his forehead.
Then looked around the warehouse.
The giant ray guns.
The workers.
The guards.
The steel shipments.
Then he made a decision.
"We need to destroy this place."
Kaito nodded.
"Agreed."
Saito looked up at Rin.
"Tell Bomb to do his thing."
Rin grinned.
"On it."
A few minutes later—
inside a small storage room—
Bomb was checking his explosives.
Then Rin opened the door.
"Boss says do your thing."
Bomb's eyes lit up.
A dangerous smile appeared.
"With pleasure."
He immediately gathered his TNT and slipped away.
Searching for weak points.
Support beams.
Fuel supplies.
And most importantly—
an underground tunnel where nobody would notice the explosives.
Meanwhile—
Saito looked at Kaito.
"We need a distraction."
Kaito blinked.
"You mean a fight?"
Saito nodded.
"Exactly."
Then suddenly—
"Good plan."
Saito nearly fell over.
Rin was suddenly standing behind them.
Again.
"STOP DOING THAT!"
Rin ignored him.
"For your distraction..."
A grin appeared.
"I already have someone for the job."
Kaito folded his arms.
"Who?"
Rin smiled.
"You'll see."
Then he put two fingers in his mouth.
And whistled loudly.
FWEEEEEEET!
The sound echoed through the warehouse.
Several guards immediately turned.
"What was that?"
"Find that noise!"
The guards rushed toward the source.
Then—
BOOOOM!
A massive hammer slammed into one of them.
The unfortunate guard flew across the warehouse.
Matt stood there.
Hammer resting on his shoulder.
The guards froze.
"...What?"
Nearby—
Selena landed from above.
Cracking her knuckles.
The large armored guards immediately charged.
Selena grinned.
"Perfect."
Then launched herself into them.
The warehouse erupted into chaos.
One tank guard was sent through a crate.
Another crashed into a wall.
A third was knocked flat onto the floor.
The guards shouted in panic.
"Intruders!"
"Attack!"
One of them recognized the attackers.
"Wait!"
"It's Hollow Gang!"
The guard sighed in relief.
"Oh."
"It's just them."
Then blinked.
"...Wait."
"Weren't you supposed to distract Blue Scarf?"
Selena smiled.
"Changing plans."
Then punched him unconscious.
Matt laughed loudly.
The warehouse descended into complete chaos.
Meanwhile—
Rin looked at Saito.
"Now's your chance."
"Go find Steel."
Saito nodded.
Kaito adjusted his cloak.
And together—
the two slipped away from the battle.
Heading toward the main office.
Where Steel was likely waiting.
Deep beneath the warehouse—
Bomb followed a narrow path until he found a metal door.
Two Scrap Gang guards stood watch outside.
Arms crossed.
Looking bored.
Bomb casually walked toward them.
Hands in his pockets.
Whistling.
One guard glanced at him.
The other nodded.
"Nice weather we're having."
Bomb smiled.
"Yeah."
"Beautiful day."
The guards nodded.
"Sure is."
A few seconds passed.
Then one of them frowned.
"Wait."
"Who are—"
THUD!
Bomb's fist smashed into his face.
The guard collapsed instantly.
The second guard barely had time to react.
BAM!
Bomb knocked him unconscious too.
The hallway became silent.
Bomb dusted off his hands.
"Sorry."
"Work comes first."
He grabbed the keys from one guard and unlocked the metal door.
CREEEEAK.
The tunnel beyond stretched deep underground.
Dark.
Hidden.
Perfect for storing secrets.
Bomb's grin slowly widened.
He stepped inside.
Pulling TNT from his bag.
One stick.
Then another.
Then another.
Carefully placing them along support beams and key structural points.
The deeper he walked—
the bigger his smile became.
"Oh..."
"This place is perfect."
Bomb planted another explosive.
Then another.
The tunnel was practically begging to explode.
Somewhere above him—
the sounds of battle echoed faintly through the floor.
Matt.
Selena.
Rin.
Saito.
Everyone was doing their part.
Now it was his turn.
Bomb lit a small fuse timer.
Then looked around the tunnel one last time.
His grin became almost childish.
"The show..."
He planted the final stick of TNT.
"...is about to start."
And then he disappeared deeper into the darkness, searching for the best place to bring the entire operation crashing down.