* * *

Hyeonyul tentatively raised his hand. He was the only one who didn't know.

"What does being the advance team mean?"

"To destroy a faction, we need to concentrate our firepower. Right?"

"Yes."

"In other words, we need one final check before we take action. If something goes wrong, the Black Eagles will bear the greatest losses."

"Are we called the 'advance team' because we'll be the first to fight if this is the right place?"

"Exactly."

Haeryeon lightly clapped her hands.

"And the other teammates are sighing and acting as though they don't want to go because that 'responsibility' is so great?"

"That's right."

At Haeryeon's answer, Hyeonyul studied his teammates' expressions. He could see their forced smiles. Still, missions had to be carried out when ordered, so he gave a few small nods.

"First, we've legally obtained authorization from the court to search the building and use force. That overlaps with police duties, but where villains are concerned, our authority is broader."

Haeryeon tapped her chest a couple of times. They had the authority to kill villains, so broader was a fair description.

"The White Sparrows are standing by as well. Once you go in, assess the situation, and contact them, they'll seal off the building."

"Does that mean we need to be discreet?"

In answer, Haeryeon formed a circle with her thumb and index finger.

"Yes. There may be people inside. Since it could be difficult to tell them apart, you'll need to make arrests wherever possible. According to the information we've received, the company's laboratory staff are working overnight to catch up on their backlog. So we know for certain there are civilians there."

"If they know the Black Eagles are coming today, wouldn't they take those people hostage?"

This was a covert mission, carried out like a surprise raid. If there were people inside, they could be taken hostage.

"They would."

"Do the hostages take priority this time as well?"

"Yes. They always have for us."

For the Black Eagles, people always came first. The organization had been created to serve civilians and eradicate villains.

"That's all the more reason we need this preliminary investigation. They could have laid traps, or you could walk into an ambush. The managers can't handle this with their abilities. They aren't strong enough."

This part of the operation was effectively beyond the White Sparrows' capabilities.

"We used to leave missions like this to the managers, but their death rate rose exponentially," Sinu quietly added.

It was something Hyeonyul needed to know, too.

"There's something you need to remember on this mission."

Having brought it up to impress the point on them, Haeryeon looked at each of them in turn.

"I've put the other Black Eagles on standby, too. If you're in danger, request backup and withdraw. If you get caught in a trap or an ambush, getting out comes first. Saving the hostages matters, too. But don't forget that you come first."

Despite the weight of the mission, she trusted them all to do well. They had survived. Didn't that alone prove everything?

As always, Hyeonyul was the one who worried Haeryeon. New recruits were normally excluded from operations like this, but she believed including him was the right choice. This case might be connected to him, and above all, he wouldn't want to be left out.

"Hyeonyul."

"Yes."

"Normally, we don't involve new recruits in this sort of operation. But I included you because I trust you. Still, I can't know for sure, so would you perhaps prefer to sit this mission out?"

"I'll do it."

Hyeonyul had only one answer. He couldn't even entertain the possibility of sitting it out.

"Good. Again, you need to verify whether the place you're going to is the real operation. Whether you confirm it is or determine it isn't, pull out once you know. You can report afterward. Understood?"

Haeryeon reviewed the mission one last time.

"Understood."

Nayun raised her hand slightly.

"Same here."

"I understand, too."

Sinu and Jihwan raised their hands as well.

"Understood."

Once Hyeonyul had answered last, Haeryeon drew a breath.

Personally, she hoped that wasn't their central operation. If it was, something frightening would unfold. She felt sorry for the other teams, but she wished it hadn't been her team's turn.

* * *

Four Eagles quietly descended onto a building's rooftop.

Linda.

A logo bearing that name adorned the building.

As soon as they landed, everyone glanced at Hyeonyul. They had seen him administer sedatives several times because traveling by Eagle still didn't agree with him. This time was no different.

But they said nothing, as they had agreed. Jihwan had argued that constantly voicing their concern would only make him more self-conscious. It was a valid point. Even kind words could become unpleasant if heard over and over. Still, they couldn't help worrying, so they kept stealing glances at him.

Hyeonyul felt their eyes on him. If they had something to say, couldn't they just say it? Why did they keep staring?

'Is this the problem?'

He hesitated midway through taking out his syringe. Left with little choice, he spoke.

"You don't need to wait for me. Please start without me. I'll catch up on my own."

He had no desire to let his treatment hold them back. Nor did he want it to become a ritual they all had to sit through. No matter how far ahead they went, he could catch up.

"We can't do that."

Jihwan's answer was firm, and Nayun and Sinu nodded.

'They can't...? Does that mean they'll keep watching?'

For no particular reason, Hyeonyul partly concealed the syringe at their response. It didn't quite feel like bullying. He didn't know what it meant.

"We need to observe the place for a bit anyway. Right, Sis?"

Jihwan smiled at Nayun.

"Right. Observation is essential. We'll probably be done by the time you've taken your medicine and had your injection, Hyeonyul."

Nayun nodded too, then broke into a broad smile.

"We always wait a little at this stage. We have to check before we go in. Jihwan!"

The moment she finished speaking to Hyeonyul, Nayun called to Jihwan.

"Here I go."

Jihwan reached toward the floor. This time, the spell needed to be more precise than before.

Jihwan's mana flowed down along the building, and countless coordinate points appeared before his eyes. Despite the countless numbers fluttering as though in the wind, he worked the magic with far greater precision. He raised a finger and pointed at Nayun. Her eyes flashed for an instant, then she looked down. Even with all the lights off, she could see a great deal.

"Wow, look at this."

A wealth of information came in through Nayun's eyes.

"They know we're coming."

"You mean they're waiting to catch us off guard?"

Sinu gazed up at the sky. Far from looking surprised, Sinu seemed relaxed, as though this had been expected.

"Right. Fifth floor. They look like lab staff."

Hadn't Haeryeon said before they came that the lab employees were working overnight?

"There are bombs packed all over the inside and outside of the room they're in. They're practically shouting that they've taken hostages."

"I'll disarm the bombs."

Hyeonyul promptly claimed his task. He was the only one here who could disarm them. They wouldn't even explode in the first place.

"All right. You handle that, Hyeonyul. I'll keep looking."

Nayun continued her inspection.

"There are ambushes on the floors above and below the lab staff, too."

"I'll take care of those."

Jihwan raised a hand slightly and drew lines above and below the fifth floor.

"Done. Let's go straight in now."

"Let's go."

Once Sinu had answered as well, Hyeonyul briefly raised his hand.

"Please wait a moment."

Everyone stopped talking and moving to look at him. Was something wrong?

"Are they only above and below the fifth floor?"

"Yes. If you're asking how many, a few dozen?"

At Nayun's answer, Hyeonyul mulled over the words 'a few dozen.'

"Mr. Ye Jihwan. Can you extend sis Chu Nayun's field of vision?"

"By how much?"

"As far as that building."

Hyeonyul pointed. Several other buildings stood around their target, as though encircling it. It was an ordinary sight in a city.

"I can, but I can't... sustain it for long."

"Even a moment will do."

After asking Jihwan, Hyeonyul turned to Nayun.

"Sis Chu Nayun. Please look a little farther out."

"Can I ask something first?"

Sinu couldn't contain the mounting curiosity. Being cautious was understandable, but Jihwan's mana reserves had to be considered.

"Going by the number sis Chu Nayun mentioned, there are too few villains inside."

Ambushes above and below the fifth floor? There were far too few of them for a villain faction. Having moved through countless companies, he found it strange.

"Their leader is dead. Didn't you say you'd verified that he really was the leader?"

Hyeonyul turned his gaze to Jihwan. That was certainly what Jihwan had said when he collapsed, and Haeryeon had confirmed it afterward.

"Yes. We checked the corpse's face against the managers' information and confirmed he was the leader. Though the possibility that he had a twin still remains."

A twin. Hyeonyul had encountered that sort of thing himself, so he considered it entirely possible.

"That could be the case. But if he didn't have a twin, their numbers are too small. Even if he did, there are still strangely few of them."

Knowing what the Black Eagles could do, deploying their people like this went beyond complacency. It could fairly be called stupidity.

"If they've taken hostages, the enemy already knows the Black Eagles are coming. In a situation like this, even mobilizing a huge force might not be enough, yet this is all they have. It's strange."

Everyone listened closely to Hyeonyul. He wasn't wrong. They needed to consider every possibility now.

"When villains lose their leader, they choose one of two options."

Hyeonyul laid out his argument.

"They usually join another leader," Jihwan replied.

Hyeonyul nodded.

"Correct. In everyday terms, they choose to 'change jobs.'"

"What's the other option?"

Hyeonyul looked into the distance as he answered Sinu's question.

"They kill the Black Eagles by any means necessary."

"... Huh?"

The unexpected answer briefly threw Nayun. Villains already wanted to kill the Black Eagles. What was the difference?

"I mean they won't simply kill us. They no longer have a faction or a leader. All they'll think about is hurting the Black Eagles, without worrying about what comes afterward. Using the worst possible method—the one the Black Eagles hate most."

The worst-case scenario took shape in Hyeonyul's mind. The Team Leader had probably experienced this herself, which was why she had said they needed to strike simultaneously. But she couldn't have experienced it as much as he had.

"I see what you mean."

Jihwan nodded. Jihwan had served on advance teams many times, as had Nayun and Sinu. But none of them had gone in after the leader was dead. Following Hyeonyul's experienced judgment was the right choice.

"I'll be in poor shape for a little while."

"That's all right. I can be your legs and transport us together."

"Really?"

Sinu's eyes lit up at the thought of easing Jihwan's burden.

"However, you'll need to block your ears, close your eyes, and hold your breath. If you don't follow all three rules, I can't guarantee anything."

"Back then, um, you said you could trap people in darkness, but going inside would affect their minds, right? Is this an extension of that?"

Nayun raised her hand slightly, and Hyeonyul nodded.

"Yes. It's an extension of that."

"I understand. Jihwan, that should make things all right now. You'll be able to do more."

Nayun smiled at Jihwan. When the teammates went out together like this, Jihwan often had to fall back into a supporting role. Considering Jihwan's magical abilities, it was a waste.

"You're right. All this is possible because you joined us, Bro Hyeonyul, isn't it?"

Jihwan looked at Hyeonyul with eyes full of gratitude.

"You're a blessing, Hyeonyul. You too, Jihwan."

Sinu started to include Nayun as well, then hesitated. Nayun narrowed her eyes. She wanted to say something, but held it in and turned to Jihwan.

"Let's do this, Jihwan."

"Here I go."

Jihwan took a long breath and closed those eyes. A magic circle appeared underfoot, and a map of the area rose into view in the darkness. When Jihwan opened those eyes, the map hovered where only Jihwan could see it. Countless coordinates appeared as numbers, and Jihwan opened a clenched fist.

'Come forth.'

The surrounding area was reproduced in Jihwan's hand. Selecting an area on the map created a circular zone.

'... Whoa, wow.'

Feeling mana drain away mercilessly, Jihwan hurriedly reached toward Nayun. Her eyes flashed, then shone. At the familiar sensation, she turned all the way around without a word. Every building looked transparent, allowing her to see what was inside.

Nayun drew a deep breath.

"... What is this?"

Her expression instantly hardened.

"What's wrong?"

Sinu asked in alarm, while her reaction told Hyeonyul that his prediction had become reality.

'The same situation must be unfolding everywhere.'

"There are... bombs."

Nayun spoke as though in despair. Her face twisted.

"... Every building I'm looking at is in the same situation as this one. How is this possible?"