Operation: Capture Black Nightmare!

It wasn't just Yuri. Everyone had thought of the benefits of successfully capturing Black Nightmare.

Anyone who could become an officer in the National Security Service amid such fierce conflict between East and West could naturally see what was at stake.

-Although this mission was dangerous, the rewards would be great.

"Director, we have to succeed this time!" a captain declared excitedly, his voice brimming with enthusiasm.

Another member added, "We're already prepared. We'll have priority access to every resource. We won't let Black Nightmare escape!"

Yuri also gave his solemn assurance. "Don't worry, Director. We're the National Security Service. We'll complete the mission and never let Ostania's security come under threat!"

The director looked at his eager subordinates and nodded. Their morale was high enough to put to good use!

"Good. I believe in you. This operation is critical. We cannot fail!"

"Black Nightmare belongs to the foreign terrorist organization Phoenix. I'm sure you've all read the files on this organization. Against such a vicious enemy, you must be extremely careful!"

Phoenix had been founded fifty years ago. Its founder was unknown, its headquarters were unknown, its membership numbers were unknown, its current leader's identity was unknown, and the identity of its strongest member, Black Nightmare, was unknown.

Five unknowns!

The only thing the National Security Service knew was its terrifying strength-four of the assassins on a ranking packed with formidable fighters belonged to it!

Over all these years, neither Westalis's nor Ostania's intelligence agencies had managed to establish any solid information on the Phoenix Organization.

But they had all of Ostania behind them. How could a mere assassin organization possibly withstand an entire country's intelligence network?!

"To find Black Nightmare under these circumstances, we must first locate the Phoenix Organization's bases." The director leaned back in his chair, then slammed his hand onto the desk. "Wipe out every one of those bases! Not a single one can remain!"

"Yes, sir!"

All the officers present rose and shouted their response before filing out. Every member of the National Security Service wanted to seize this opportunity, and so the search began.

The director sat in his empty office, pondering one question: did they need reinforcements?

After all, their target was the world's second-ranked assassin. Even if they found him, subduing him would be difficult without sufficient force.

Should he ask Garden for help?

Garden surely had intelligence on Phoenix, too, but its rigid director would probably refuse.

That stubborn old director of Garden would rather protect animals than take the initiative to provoke anyone else.

"Honestly, other assassin organizations have already brought the fight into our country, and they still refuse to act. All that power, and they don't know how to use it..."

Garden-the strongest assassin organization in Ostania-counted Thorn Princess, the top-ranked active assassin, among its members.

Its members were renowned as elites. Though there were few of them, every one was said to rival the assassins on the rankings. Yet they kept such a low profile that only a handful of people knew they existed.

Alongside the high-profile Phoenix, they were known as the twin powers of the assassin world.

"I hope these young lads don't lose their lives. I'd be heartbroken if they did."

Within the Phoenix Organization, its leader learned through a spy that the National Security Service intended to move against Karen.

"...Understood. I'll tell Black Nightmare about this. Stay silent for the time being, until I activate you again."

The leader hung up, his expression dark.

"Those people in Ostania are such cowards. All he did was give them a little scare, and now they've sent a department like the National Security Service after him in force. With people like that in charge, this country is doomed sooner or later."

He wasn't worried that Karen would be caught. If they could catch Karen, they wouldn't have failed to catch even a spy like Twilight.

What worried him was that Eden Academy would demand a refund once Karen was discovered.

A million was a lot of money!

Once money entered his pocket, it was his!

So he promptly called Karen.

At that moment, Karen was happily taking a shower in his dormitory. After giving Twilight a savage beating that day, he was in a wonderful mood.

Once the call connected, the leader's voice came through. "Karen, I hear Ostania's National Security Service has already started moving. They're a pack of spotted hyenas that won't stop until they get what they want. Be careful."

Karen smiled faintly, a bloodthirsty red gleam flashing in his eyes. "Understood, boss."

"I'll try to spare those little puppies' lives..."

"Decide for yourself how far to go. Try to settle this quickly. I'll have the other members embedded in the capital assist you."

"Do I need them?" Karen licked his lips, changed into a clean bathrobe, and stood on the balcony. Smiling up at the half moon, he felt that tonight's moon looked a little like the legendary blood moon.

"Have all the other members withdraw. I don't need dead weight."

The leader said, "Heh heh heh, ha ha ha! I knew you'd say that."

Karen said, "The hunt for spies has kept them in internal chaos for a while longer. Now it's time for a game of hide-and-seek. It's been ages. They won't catch me."

The leader said, "Don't go too far."

"Got it."

After hanging up, Karen sat down on the balcony. He had just gotten a month's leave, and having these people around to play with sounded rather entertaining.

"I hope you'll give me a good game... little puppies... no, most of you don't even meet the standards for dogs. Little mice, then... heh heh heh."

"I'll get a good night's sleep tonight. Tomorrow, the game officially begins..."

"Good night, Eden Academy..."

"Good night, National Security Service..."