Alya nodded.
"My captain, Saito... he's helping the Balance Table rescue you."
Yin remained silent for a moment before letting out a small smile.
"I see..."
"So they're really carrying out a mission to rescue me."
He lowered his head.
"I'm glad to hear that."
His expression soon became serious again.
"But unfortunately..."
"This base isn't easy to infiltrate."
"They'll need more people if they want to make it out alive."
Alya shook her head.
"But we have Alpha, Hashima, and Shiro."
She smiled confidently.
"And my captain, Saito."
Yin looked at her.
"I don't know your captain."
"But I know Hashima and Alpha."
"And I've heard a little about Shiro."
He paused for a second.
"Even so..."
"It won't be enough."
Alya frowned.
"Why?"
Yin slowly looked around the prison block.
His eyes lingered on the steel walls, the cameras, and the reinforced doors.
Then he quietly answered,
"...Because I built this base."
Alya's eyes widened.
"You... built this place?"
Yin gave a slow nod.
"Every corridor."
"Every security system."
"Every hidden passage."
"I designed all of it."
He looked back at Alya with a serious expression.
"If they rush in without knowing the layout..."
"...they'll be walking straight into a trap."
Meanwhile, Saito and Lily continued following Rin from above.
They carefully moved across the steel beams, keeping enough distance to avoid being noticed.
After what felt like hours, Lily let out a tired sigh.
"We've been following them for hours..."
"Where is their base?"
Saito kept his eyes on the group below.
"I was about to ask the same question."
He pressed the communication device on his collar.
"Bomb."
"Are you and Fanny ready with the distraction?"
A familiar voice answered almost immediately.
"Yep."
"We just need to know where their base is so we can plant the explosives."
"We're waiting for your information."
Saito nodded even though Bomb couldn't see him.
"Understood."
"We're still tracking them."
"As soon as we locate the base, I'll send you the coordinates."
"Roger that."
The transmission ended.
Saito looked back at Rin and the scientists below.
"...Just a little farther."
"They have to lead us there."
Without another word, he and Lily continued following the escort team through the endless underground passages.
Rin continued following the scientists through the endless underground corridors.
After walking for what felt like forever, he let out a long sigh.
"Are we there yet?"
One of the scientists glanced back at him.
"Not yet, newbie."
Rin groaned.
"My legs are about to give out."
The scientist chuckled.
"Get a hold of yourself."
"We're almost there."
Rin sighed again.
"...I hope you're telling the truth."
With no other choice, he continued following them, forcing his tired legs to keep moving as the group headed deeper into the underground facility.
Meanwhile, the sound of gunfire continued to echo through the corridor.
Bang! Bang!
Herion fired another burst from his rifle.
Axel quickly sidestepped, the bullets striking the concrete wall behind him.
He smiled as he kept moving.
"You fight like a trained soldier."
He tilted his head.
"Let me guess..."
"You're a White Hat member."
Herion kept his rifle aimed at Axel.
"You're damn right."
Axel let out a small laugh.
"Then how about this?"
"We end this now..."
"And you can go back to your base."
Herion didn't hesitate.
"Never."
"My captain entrusted this mission to me."
"I'm not going to betray his trust."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"...Besides."
"I've grown attached to this team."
Axel's grin slowly widened.
"I see."
He raised his pistol once more.
"Then we'll keep fighting..."
"...until one of us dies."
The corridor fell silent for a brief moment.
Then—
Bang!
Both men charged at the same time, their battle continuing without either side willing to back down.
Meanwhile, Kaito continued moving across the beams above the corridor, quietly following Rin's trail.
After several minutes, the passage finally opened into a massive underground chamber.
Kaito stopped and carefully looked down.
"...Found you, partner."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
But the smile quickly disappeared.
His eyes widened as the full view of the place came into sight.
In front of him stood a heavily fortified underground base.
The entrance was surrounded by armed guards, reinforced outer walls, and several advanced automated gun turrets aimed at every possible approach.
The scientists escorted Rin straight through the main gate.
The guards checked them briefly before allowing them inside.
The heavy steel gate slowly closed behind them.
Kaito clenched his fists.
"...Crap."
There was no way he could get in without being noticed.
Saito and Lily quietly stopped on one of the steel beams overlooking the underground chamber.
Both of them stared at the base below.
For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.
The place was heavily guarded. Scientists moved in and out while armed guards patrolled every corner. Around the outer wall were several strange gun-like devices, each one aimed toward the surrounding area.
Saito frowned.
"...How the hell are we supposed to get in there?"
Lily kept her eyes on the base.
"There are too many guards."
She pointed toward the mounted devices along the walls.
"And those strange devices..."
"I've never seen anything like them."
Saito remained silent, studying the base for another moment.
Then he let out a quiet sigh and pressed the communication device on his collar.
"Bomb."
A crackling sound came from the communicator before Bomb answered.
"Yeah?"
"We found their base."
Saito paused before continuing.
"But unfortunately..."
"We need to regroup first."
He kept his eyes on the fortress below.
"I've never seen anything like this."
A brief silence followed.
Then Bomb replied,
"...Copy that."
The communication ended.
Saito lowered his hand from the communicator, his gaze still fixed on the heavily defended base.
This wasn't going to be as simple as they had hoped.
Rin walked through the massive entrance alongside the scientists as the heavy steel gate slowly closed behind them.
Clang...
He glanced over his shoulder for a brief moment before looking back at the base.
A helpless smile appeared on his face.
"...Well."
"We're screwed."
One of the scientists walking beside him turned to look at him.
"What was that?"
Rin shrugged.
"The guy following me..."
He looked toward the now-sealed entrance.
"He won't be able to get inside."
The scientist let out a small chuckle.
"Of course he won't."
He spread his arms proudly as they continued walking deeper into the facility.
"Our base was heavily upgraded after it was attacked by the Balance Table."
Rin slowly looked around.
Rows of guards stood at their posts while the reinforced walls and strange defensive devices covered nearly every angle.
He nodded to himself.
"...Well."
"I can see that."
The scientist smiled with satisfaction and continued leading Rin farther into the base, while the massive gate behind them remained tightly sealed.
The scientist led Rin through another corridor until they stopped in front of a large metal door.
A small device beside the entrance lit up.
The scientist stepped closer, and a blue beam scanned his face from top to bottom.
Beep.
A mechanical voice spoke from the device.
"Identity confirmed."
"Access granted."
The heavy door unlocked with a sharp click.
The scientist stepped aside and gestured toward the entrance.
"There."
"You can enter now."
"Deliver him to them."
Rin looked at the scientist, then at the dark room beyond the door.
He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"...Thanks, I guess."
The scientist simply waved him forward.
Rin took a deep breath and walked inside as the metal door slowly began to close behind him.