---
The first sign was the shipping containers.
Yuki noticed it, because Yuki noticed everything. A routine review of Black Dragon's transactions, logistics and businesses. Thirty two shipping containers of extremely important weaponry were delayed two days behind schedule. Yuki tried to rectify the issue till it got out of hand, now he has prepared a report for Akane before breakfast.
---
Akane's office.
"It's begun. Kaguya is moving through the back door." Yuki soft voice didn't waver as he gave a brief review of the situation. Akane didn't look surprised or disheartened, she expected Kaguya would do something. She handled it like a professional mercenary. "An eye for an eye tactics would suffice for someone like Kaguya, we are pass the point of a conversation since we have Dami."
'Dami?' Yuki eyebrow raised in surprise.
Akane noticed Yuki's expression... "He's growing on me."
"...."
"Anyway call the staff for a meeting." Akane hurriedly said.
---
Later after breakfast Mags, Satō, Yuki and Damilola gathered in Akane's office. "So we're doing this, raiding our own shipping containers in Kyoto." Mags said while smoking despite the no smoking sign Yuki hammered in Akane's office.
"Yes Maggy, but keep in mind Kaguya is expecting Damilola so she would have a considerable amount of manpower stationed there." Yuki said rolling his eyes at Mags disrespectful demeanor. "Which means in other words, this is a trap." Yuki continued.
Mags looked at Yuki with a gaze that could kill. "Don't call me Maggy, we have been over this."
"So as was the smoking." Yuki retorted.
"You know I need this." Mags said with distaste in her mouth.
Satō decided to keep quiet as he as always.
"Enough." Akane said not wanting to entertain their squabbling. "Satō lead the dragon tooth squad to 'retrieve' our containers and rescue any of ours there while you're at it. Mags I want your informants at Yamashita-gumi on the double and Yuki... do want it is you do with logistics." Akane said while putting her legs on the desk.
"Can I go?" Dami being quiet all this time decided to speak up.
"NO." It was a rejection so strong he carried weight. Dami face twisted.
"Don't take it the wrong way Dami but this is an obvious trap from Kaguya she's applying economic pressure and setting up a trap specifically for you." Akane said as a matter of fact.
'Dami?' Everyone including Damilola seemed surprised.
"I know this is because of me but I have to face her sooner or later. Besides I need to earn my keep here. I can't become a burden." Dami said with a determined look on his face.
"The boy is right you know. Dami is a B-grade fighter after all. We'll need all the help we can get." Satō agreed.
"B-grade?" Dami seemed intrigued by the such grading system.
"The shipping containers is very important. Thirty two containers of advanced state of the art armaments is not a joke, those are purchased goods from the Empire." Yuki supported Satō counting his last few words.
"Well since we're agreeing so this, give the boy a chance." Mags added.
'Hmmm... so all of you want to see his skills on the field.' Akane thought to her self with her cheek on her fist. She was seated properly this time.
"Fine, but he stays with Satō."
Dami looked pleased.
---
Today's training was brutal, Satō was unusually harder on Dami.
Dami was doing well evading Satō multiple leg kicks... he was, till his mind drifted to this morning.
"Oof.." A precision kick to the face sent him flying 2 meters across the training mat.
"Focus Dami your mind seem elsewhere." Satō sighed and took two bottles of water
"Is it about the operation later this evening, you're stressed?" Satō gave him a bottle, Dami took it and immediately finished it.
"No, I was just thinking about that grading thing you said. what did you mean by that?"
Dami interest was really pinged.
Satō sat besides Dami as he explained.
"There is a combat taxonomy_ E,D,C,B,A and S. In the hidden world. To better understand, it goes like this..."
E> Street thugs
D> Trained
C> Elites
B> Peak humans
A> Transcendents.
"Transcendent? what is that? Sounds like a bad movie." Dami took another bottle of water and finished it half way.
"Well it is a combatant taxonomy created by me from my years of combat and Kenshiro was in my assessment an A grade combatant."
Transcendence is a temporary state where elite fighters break past human limits with just willpower, decades of training, and the ability to push the body past its breaking point for seconds at a time.
Speed blurs, punches crater steel, bullets get dodged, pain disappears. Afterwards collapse, torn muscles, sometimes death.
Only a handful can do it. The underworld calls them Monsters.
"There is only four known individuals capable of such feats. Kenshiro, the Demon of Shinjuku himself, Pharaoh and Raja Yama and... that guy." Satō concluded.
"I always felt my master was strange, he was too quick, stronger than usual and impossibly keen in combat despite his illness.... I think I understand how I really overcame him that time."
"The Demon was old and sick, you think if he really pushed back you could have survived, at most he would have killed you before going down. He was by my assessment A- at his current state because he was such a madman during his prime. You on the other hand are currently at B grade plus from what I have evaluated during your training." Satō took another sip.
"Transcendence. I would have said you were deluded if I hadn't meet Kenshiro but I think I get it. You said four transcendent, who was the fourth?" Dami asked taking another sip.
"Well, that mountain guy... we don't really talk about him even Kenshiro is scared of him. He isn't technically transcendent but something more absurd." Satō took another sip and finish the bottle.
"Kenshiro, the mighty Demon of Shinjuku scared of someone. I would really like to meet this guy." Dami said with passion in his eyes.
"Don't say ridiculous things there are forces in this world too absurd to explain and you better learn to pick your opponent wisely because that will keep you alive long enough. Those monsters are monsters to the monsters. I meet him, that mountain guy one day, he was hard to explain that you will have to see it for yourself to believe it. I called them the Special Grade Combatants_ S Grade." Satō got up with a warning, his face tightened just thinking of that person.
"Well that's enough lesson for the day. I train people but in your case Damilola I can only fix you as you're honestly more skilled than I am but I will try to fix you up with the experiences I accumulated over the decades." Satō started walking away.
"Satō what grade are you?" Dami said curiously.
"Me? I was once a part of the JSDF and a black ops agent in my prime but I have never really tasted what it means to be a Transcendent. In my assessment then I will be at most a B grade combatant, but right now am not what I used to be... Dami I think at your current self you possess so much potential make sure to live towards that because we the Black Dragon will need it desperately one day. Kenshiro saw it and Akane sees it now." Dami watched Satō make his way to outside the hall.