"What?" Director Ross's eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at the three of them. "You—you must be insane! Enter the Kremlin? That's the President's residence! The most heavily guarded place in all of Russia! Not even a bird could fly in there—you must be dreaming!"
"Heh… and that is exactly why we need your help, Director Ross."
Kitazawa Ryōta stepped forward, his voice calm and measured. "We only want to know who it was that provided those technical materials to the President. Once we confirm that, we'll leave. But before that… we must meet the President himself."
"You… you truly have some nerve!" Ross sucked in a sharp breath. "Are you not afraid of death?"
"Afraid? Oh yes, very afraid," Kaji Ryōji said with a faint smile. "But I believe this much: if we're going to die, you'll be the first to go. So I suggest you cooperate."
His words were mild, but the threat behind them was unmistakable.
"Fine! Fine… I'll agree to your demands." Ross let out a long, heavy sigh. He knew that in the hands of Kitazawa and the others, disobedience could only end in tragedy—perhaps not only for him, but for the fate of all Russia.
And so, bitterly, he lowered his head.
While Ross despaired, on the other side of Moscow, the Kremlin rang with fury.
"Useless fools! A bunch of incompetents!" the President roared. "Director Ross was brazenly snatched right out of the Intelligence Bureau itself! If word of this ever leaks, Russia's dignity will be utterly destroyed!"
His rage shook the room, but beneath it lay a gnawing fear. Ross's own handpicked men had scoured every corner of Moscow, and yet they had not turned up a single trace of the kidnappers—or Ross himself.
That was terrifying. A living man, abducted in broad daylight, and the entire city searched top to bottom without leaving a clue?
The unknown was the most frightening of all. And the President felt that fear keenly.
Still, the longer Ross remained missing, the more uneasy he grew. Ross was not only a trusted subordinate—he carried many of the President's secrets. Should those fall into enemy hands, the President's position could be gravely threatened.
What was to be done?
"No matter what, dig three feet into the earth if you must, but find Director Ross! He is a hero of this nation. Such a man cannot be allowed to fall into the hands of hostile powers. Do you understand?"
The President's gaze was sharp, the gaze of a former soldier, like an eagle sweeping across the room. Under that stare, his subordinates straightened at once and shouted in unison:
"Yes, sir!"
Only after the last man had departed did the President collapse into his chair, exhaling a long, weary breath.
Ross's abduction was shocking, but the President understood all too well why it had happened.
It had to be because of Nevada.
If so… Ross's fate was uncertain. And worse—was the secret already compromised?
What should he do?
For once, the President had no answer. And so he sighed, again and again.
But before long, hurried footsteps echoed from the corridor outside. A sharp knock rattled the door.
"Mr. President! Bad news—terrible news!"
"What's the meaning of this commotion?" The President snapped, his brows furrowing high. "Have you no sense of decorum? You shame the dignity of Russia with such panic!"
"Yes—yes, sir. But… it's Director Ross. Director Ross has returned!" the young officer stammered, swallowing hard.
"What? Ross has returned? Quickly—bring him in!" The President shot to his feet. This news was more precious than gold.
"But… but sir… Director Ross… was brought in bound!" The officer gulped again, blurting the words.
"What?" The President froze, stunned.
Indeed—at that very moment, inside the Kremlin itself, more than a hundred rifles were leveled at Kitazawa, Kaji, and Mari.
Yet the three advanced slowly, unconcerned, step by step.
The soldiers exchanged uneasy glances. None dared fire—Kaji's pistol was pressed firmly against Ross's temple. A single shot, and the director would be the first to die.
"Don't shoot! No one act rashly, do you hear me?"
Cold sweat poured down Ross's face. He was truly terrified now—terrified that some trigger-happy fool would open fire and end his life instantly. He had no doubt the kidnappers would make good on their threat: if the Kremlin moved against them, he would be the first casualty.
"Report to the President at once!"
The soldiers shouted back and forth, guns raised in a tense standoff. None dared fire; to harm Ross would mean the ruin of their careers—and perhaps their lives.
But simply holding position was no solution either. The intruders were forcing their way deeper and deeper into the Kremlin. If no action was taken, the crisis would only escalate further.
"We have no other demand," Kaji declared evenly, pressing the barrel harder against Ross's head. "All we ask is a meeting with the President. Once we meet him—we will release Ross."
"This…"
The commander at the front faltered. His instincts screamed to refuse—after all, the President was not someone who could be summoned on a whim. But on second thought, this was far beyond his authority to decide.
After a moment's hesitation, he barked an order to the men at his side:
"Go… report to the President. Let him decide."
"Yes, sir!"
The two guards at his flanks turned and hurried off toward the President's office.
And soon enough, the news reached the President.
"Mr. President—you are the head of state! You cannot put yourself at risk!"
The officers argued with righteous conviction, strenuously protesting. Their words left the President deep in thought.
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