Alpha spread out a set of documents across the table, expression focused.
"This might help us."
He pinned a photograph onto the board — a nervous-looking man in a lab coat, eyes darting even in the still image.
"This is Lenny."
"One of Sector X's important scientists."
He tapped the photo firmly.
"I believe he's hiding in the woods near Berkeley Village."
Saito's eyes sharpened instantly.
"I'll go."
He turned toward his crew, resolve blazing in his expression.
"Let's move, guys."
Kaito stepped forward immediately, nodding despite his still-bandaged hand. "I'm coming."
Fanny cracked her knuckles. "Wouldn't miss it."
Bomb, arm now secured in a makeshift sling, grumbled. "Can't fight much with this thing, but I can still watch your backs."
Rin, still slightly pale but standing on his own, gave a firm nod. "Not sitting this one out either."
Alpha raised a hand. "If you need any help..."
He gestured toward the small camera devices still clipped to their collars.
"Signal us. We'll respond immediately."
Saito nodded firmly. "Got it."
He glanced around at his crew — battered, exhausted, but united.
"Let's find this guy."
"And get one step closer to Alya."
Kaito's jaw tightened, determination burning in his eyes.
"Right behind you."
Together, they turned, heading swiftly out of the hotel and toward the woods surrounding Berkeley Village, urgency driving every step of their journey.
The group moved briskly down the road toward Berkeley Village, the ruined outskirts of the town growing visible in the distance.
Saito glanced ahead. "Almost there, guys."
Kaito adjusted the wrap around his injured hand. "So what's the plan once we find him?"
Rin smirked, cracking his knuckles. "Interrogate him, obviously."
Fanny nodded firmly. "Get whatever information we can out of him."
Saito nodded in agreement.
"Rin's right."
"If we play this smart, we could extract information about Sector X's base."
"Where it's located, how it's guarded, maybe even..."
His voice tightened slightly.
"...where they're keeping Alya."
Bomb, arm still in its sling, huffed. "Let's just hope this Lenny guy actually knows something useful."
"Would be pretty annoying to rough someone up for nothing."
Fanny glanced at him; brow raised. "Since when do you rough people up? You blow things up."
Bomb grinned despite himself. "Fair point. Guess I'll just supervise this time."
Kaito's expression remained serious, eyes fixed ahead.
"Whatever it takes."
"We get answers today."
Saito nodded, quickening his pace slightly as the treeline of the woods came into view just beyond Berkeley Village's scorched remains.
"Then let's not waste any more time."
The group pressed forward, determination steady in every step as they closed in on their target.
Deep within the woods, Lenny paced anxiously among a group of scientists, wringing his hands together.
"Move faster!"
He gestured sharply toward the surrounding foliage.
"Extract all of these Green Lily flowers—Noxus needs them to recharge her machine!"
The scientists scrambled, cutting and gathering the glowing green blossoms scattered throughout the clearing, stuffing them carefully into reinforced containers.
Lenny glanced around nervously, adjusting his glasses, sweat beading on his forehead.
"Come on, come on—we don't have all day!"
One of the scientists fumbled, dropping a handful of petals.
Lenny snapped toward him instantly.
"Careful! Those are delicate!"
"Do you have any idea what happens if we don't deliver enough?"
The scientist paled, quickly scooping the fallen petals back up.
"S-sorry, sir!"
Lenny wiped his brow, muttering under his breath.
"This is exactly why I never wanted to work directly under her..."
He straightened, clapping his hands sharply.
"Move, move! Faster!"
The scientists quickened their pace, gathering the last of the flowers, sealing the containers shut.
Lenny glanced nervously toward the treeline, as if sensing something watching from the shadows.
"...Let's hurry this along."
"I don't like the feeling of this place today."
One of the scientists glanced up, wiping sweat from his brow.
"Sir, how much should we gather?"
Lenny didn't even look up from his notes.
"As much as you can."
"Every last one, if possible."
The scientists continued working, harvesting flower after flower under the dim canopy of the woods.
An hour passed.
Finally, one of the scientists jogged over, breathless.
"Sir! All the Green Lily's loaded into the carriage!"
Lenny straightened, dusting off his coat, a flicker of relief crossing his face.
"Good."
He gestured toward the waiting carriage.
"Bring them to my place."
"I'll oversee the preservation process personally."
He climbed inside, settling into his seat with a tired sigh, rubbing his temples.
"Finally..."
The driver gave a firm nod, snapping the reins.
The carriage lurched forward, wheels creaking as it began rolling down the narrow forest path, flanked by a few scientists on either side for escort.
Unbeknownst to them, from the shadows of the treeline, careful eyes tracked their every move, waiting patiently for the right moment to strike.
In the ruins of the village outskirts, Saito, Rin, Bomb, and Fanny crouched low, waiting patiently among the wreckage.
Kaito's voice crackled quietly through the small camera device.
"They're on their way to the base, Saito."
Saito's eyes narrowed with focus.
"Got it."
He glanced toward the others.
"Keep watching them."
"We need to make sure Noxus isn't there."
"If she's around, this whole plan could fall apart fast."
Kaito's voice came through steady, calm.
"Understood."
He leapt swiftly from branch to branch, moving with practiced silence, keeping the slow-moving carriage in constant view below.
Rin shifted his weight, arms crossed. "Man, waiting's still the worst part."
Fanny nudged him lightly. "Better than getting shot at, though."
Bomb chuckled, adjusting his sling carefully. "Not gonna argue with that logic."
Saito remained focused, eyes fixed on the horizon where the treeline stretched toward Lenny's hideout.
"Just a little longer."
His fists clenched tightly.
"We're getting closer to finding Alya."
"I can feel it."
The group settled into tense silence, watching, waiting, as Kaito continued trailing the carriage from above, every step bringing them closer to their next lead.
Kaito perched silently on a rooftop overlooking Lenny's base, watching as the carriage rolled to a stop below.
Lenny stepped inside quickly, adjusting his glasses.
A moment later, a shimmering hologram flickered to life in front of him.
Fawn's deer-like visage stared back, voice low and impatient.
"Lenny."
"When will the Green Lily arrive?"
Lenny raised a hand defensively.
"About a minute."
"Don't rush me, Fawn."
The hologram flickered out without another word.
Lenny let out a long breath, muttering under his breath as he disappeared further inside the building.
Kaito's eyes narrowed, watching closely from his vantage point.
He tapped the small camera clipped to his collar.
"Saito."
His voice was low, steady.
"He's in the base."
A brief pause, then Saito's voice crackled back through.
"Copy that."
"Any sign of Noxus?"
Kaito scanned the surroundings carefully, eyes sharp.
"Not yet."
"Just Lenny and a handful of scientists so far."
"Good," Saito's voice replied. "Stay sharp. We're moving in."
Kaito remained perfectly still, watching the base entrance closely, tracking every movement below as the rest of the crew began closing in from their hidden positions.
Inside the lab, scientists carefully transferred the Green Lily flowers into large woven baskets, hauling them deeper into the facility's inner chambers.
Lenny trailed behind them, stretching tiredly, rubbing his stomach.
"Just set them down somewhere for now."
He waved a hand dismissively.
"I want to eat first."
One of the scientists paused, glancing back. "Sir, don't you want to start the preservation process immediately? Noxus said—"
Lenny cut him off with a groan.
"Noxus isn't here right now, is she?"
He rubbed his temples.
"I've been out in those woods all day. I need food before I even think about handling delicate flora."
The scientist hesitated, then nodded quickly. "O-of course, sir."
The workers carefully set the baskets down along a long steel table, arranging them neatly before dispersing toward the break room.
Lenny sighed, stretching his arms overhead.
"Finally..."
He glanced toward a nearby door.
"Someone let the kitchen staff know I'll be down shortly."
As he wandered off toward the dining hall, the lab fell into a rare, quiet lull — baskets of glowing Green Lily flowers left unattended on the table, faint light pulsing softly from their petals.
Outside, hidden in the shadows, sharp eyes watched every movement, waiting patiently for the perfect opportunity to strike.