"Nick," Ryuuto muttered into the comm, "what's the deal with this girl?"
Nick Fury's voice cut through the static. "Daughter of the Deputy Minister of Finance. She's a Mutant. Her father tried to hide her at home, but someone ratted her out. Government won't intervene—Mutants don't get that luxury. She had a temper, figured she could pressure the staff with her powers… and—well, let's just say she didn't survive her own little stunt."
Ryuuto clenched his fist. Manipulated, all of them… and he thinks it's chaos caused by Mutants themselves.
He didn't bother correcting Fury. Not worth it.
After hanging up with a curt "Talk later," Ryuuto's eyes scanned the detonators strapped to the Mutants' necks. Adamantium. Ministry of Defense tech. Nearly impossible to open.
But then a thought struck him—Rasengan.
The little sphere of whirling chakra had sliced through shields before. The collars weren't pure Adamantium, only enough to monitor the Mutant gene. Rasengan could obliterate the metal, in theory.
Ryuuto scanned the room. "I'm going to test something. Who's brave enough to stick their neck out? Warning—you might die if I miscalculate."
"Just me," a young female Mutant said, stepping forward. "Handsome men like you? Dying by your side sounds… thrilling."
Ryuuto's eyes flicked to her, expression unreadable. Without a word, he channeled chakra into his fist and slammed it against the iron lock on her cage. Sparks flew. The door yawned open.
"Lean against the wall. Don't move."
She complied, pressing herself against the concrete.
Ryuuto's dark eyes narrowed. "High-quality girls only. You… just barely qualify."
She blushed, slightly scandalized, yet thrilled by the cold arrogance radiating off him. He didn't need to say more—she understood exactly what was expected.
Then his fingers curled around the blue whirling Rasengan. "Move, and I'll make sure this thing does more than tickle."
Her hands shook slightly, but she stayed perfectly still.
From the corner, Susan drifted in, frowning at the closeness between Ryuuto and the female Mutant. She quickly decided it wasn't worth it—this wasn't jealousy, just professional caution—and stepped back out of sight.
Ryuuto tilted his head, analyzing the detonator. The chemical composition focused in the center. If the Mutant gene changed, the device would detonate like a mini ammonium-nitrate bomb. But Rasengan—his Rasengan—cut, tore, and destroyed with precision.
He pressed the spinning chakra sphere against the Adamantium casing. Sparks, a faint hum… then silence.
The detonator clicked.
The girl exhaled, trembling, realizing her neck was free. Ryuuto caught the collar as it fell. A faint smile tugged at his lips. So much for "unbreakable."
"Congratulations," he said. "You're free. But don't leave yet—we move together. Otherwise, you're easy prey."
Her gratitude was immediate, heartfelt, and… surprisingly forward. She pouted, leaning in, pressing her lips to Ryuuto's cheek in a quick, impulsive kiss.
Ryuuto didn't flinch. He let the moment pass, already focused on the next task, the next prisoner, the next impossible challenge.
In the dim light of the basement, the Red Mirage's reputation was growing—cold, calculating, untouchable. And those watching knew one thing: he wasn't here to play nice.