Judgment Squad now crept through the moonlit alleys, the light casting long shadows against Riche's marbled streets.
The faint howl of the wind was the only company they had, trekking through the maze of tightly constructed buildings and structures. They continued through, eventually reaching the end of the Riche docks. As planned, a stretch of stone path extended outward past a clearing of trees.
"That way," Danzo whispered, pointing to the path. He led, they followed in stride.
The stone path curved endlessly, eventually leading to a large mansion surrounded by luxurious fencing.
"Sure doesn't try to hide he's got money, eh guys?" Knoxx said, twirling one of his daggers as he walked.
"Well, when you take a solid portion of a district's income by underground means, not really anything to fear," Geo muttered. "He's got the APC's backing too."
Danzo and Tsuki led the charge, with Azumi, Knoxx and Geo falling just shortly behind. Hatori still gimped forward slightly—clearly injured but adamant.
They made their way to the gate, eyeing any easy way of passage.
"Not a hole in sight,' Azumi said, kneeling to the ground.
"I guess we'll have to go over?" Knoxx responded.
Tsuki's brain clicked. The darkness covered the ground around her. She summoned shadow hands—five of them, and assigned one to each member. Without a word, she dove into the abyss first, before signaling for the hands to grab their person. Each member was caught off guard, before being dragged into the darkness below.
Knoxx entered the shadows, screaming as he fell.
"WHAT THE HELL! NO GET AWAY!"
His voice echoed across the shadows. Tsuki stood in front of him, arms crossed. His eyes peeked open moments after his scream.
"You done?" asked Tsuki, chuckling and shaking her head.
Knoxx's face flushed as red as a tomato. "Let's not tell the others about that, okay Tsuki?"
"Too late," called Azumi, raising herself. "You yell like a baby."
Knoxx drooped his head in embarrassment. Danzo made his way over to Tsuki, dusting off his coat.
"You want to tell me what this is about?" he asked.
Tsuki nodded. "My shadows bypass structures in the shadow plane. Meaning, as long as there's a shadow on the other side of that fence…"
Danzo rubbed his chin, a smile poking at his lips. "...Then we can emerge. Tsuki, you're a genius."
She shrugged slightly, accepting the praise expressionless, but inside, the compliment meant something.
"Alright, let's get moving," Danzo said. "Is the distance about the same as the real world?"
"Yes. It should be just a few feet this way."
She launched herself upward, emerging on the manor-side of the gate. She summoned the hands again to lift the others.
They rose together, plopping down on the damp night grass. They now sat in the middle of the estate's courtyard. Guards lined the front of the manor armed with spears and shields.
Danzo pressed his back against the stone wall, peering past the corner of the estate. White-armored silhouettes paced near the front entrance—too many and too alert.
"Too many at the door," he muttered. "We'll need another way in."
Tsuki followed his gaze, then shifted her focus upward. Moonlight spilled across the manicured lawn, broken by statues and trimmed hedges. The light pooled unevenly, leaving long stretches of shadow where the night clung tight.
Perfect.
"I can carry us in," she said quietly. "Through the shadows."
Before Danzo could respond, Knoxx squinted toward the upper floor and lifted a finger.
"Second floor," he whispered. "Left window's cracked open."
Geo turned to him, incredulous. "You actually saw that?"
Knoxx shot him a look. "Yeah, genius. I've got eyes."
A low chuckle escaped Danzo despite the tension. "Good eye, Knoxx."
Hatori stepped forward without ceremony, already adjusting the wraps on his hands. His presence was calm—focused.
"I'll go first," he said. "Silent entry."
Tsuki nodded once. "I'll elevate you one by one."
She exhaled slowly, grounding herself. The shadows at her feet stirred, responding like living ink. One by one, the squad stepped into the darkness—and vanished.
They reappeared beneath the second-story window, the transition so smooth it barely registered. A soft breeze fluttered the curtains above, carrying the faint scent of incense and polished wood.
Tsuki raised a hand.
Shadows stretched upward, solidifying just enough to support weight. Hatori rose first, lifted soundlessly as if the night itself had claimed him. He slipped through the window and disappeared inside.
A heartbeat later—movement.
A soft thud. A body lowered gently to the floor.
One by one, the others followed. Geo. Knoxx. Danzo. Each placed inside with careful precision, shadows cradling them like unseen hands.
Last was Tsuki.
She ascended in silence, shadows coiling beneath her boots. As she crossed the threshold, her eyes caught the dim interior—corridors bathed in lanternlight, unaware of the breach.
Her feet touched the floor and the shadows withdrew. The squad was in, and the hunt for Mushira had begun.
Tsuki's boots brushed slightly over the waxed wooden floor. The inside was decorated with a plethora of plants and overhanging chandeliers. Knoxx was about to mouth something, but Azumi hushed him.
Silk-draped walls and ornate carpets lined every corridor, their richness suffocating in its excess. For a neutral district official, it was obscene.
At the far end of the wing, the squad stopped. A door stood before them—thicker than the rest, reinforced with iron bands and edged in gold trim. It didn't belong to a guest room, that was clear.
Azumi placed a hand against it and pushed gently. There was no resistance. She glanced back with a silent question. One that there were no answers to, at least, not yet.
Danzo gave her a nod, and Azumi eased the door open. Inside, the room swallowed them whole.