Chapter 119: Issues

The air inside Kai's home was heavy, the tension almost tangible as Akira set down her shopping bag on the table.

She crossed her arms, her sharp gaze moving between Hina and Kai, clearly ready to cut to the chase.

She knew that she would've probably had some struggle to tell the full plan to her sister.

"Alright," Akira began, her voice steady and direct. "Here's the plan." She looked at Kai, her tone making it clear she wouldn't sugarcoat anything. "As Sakura said, we'll use you as bait. Your kidnapping will not only draw out Sabushi's forces but also force your wealthy family to get involved. That would create a distraction, making it easier for us to strike." Akira said, while leaning her back against the wall.

Kai blinked, stunned by her bluntness. "Wait, my family? What do they have to do with this?"

Akira shrugged. "Sabushi is probably considering the probability to take you as hostage to make your family pay for your safety. Moreover…"

Hina immediately stepped forward, her white eyes narrowing. "And you think Sabushi hasn't already considered that? He's not stupid, Akira. He knows Kai wouldn't just wander the streets alone at night. He's three steps ahead of us, always. And you know that he's always been against our enemies."

Akira raised an eyebrow, unfazed. "True. But he's also arrogant. He might think we're desperate enough to fall into his trap. That overconfidence could be his downfall."

Hina scoffed.

"Overconfidence? You're the one underestimating him. Using Kai is reckless. We don't need to put him at risk when I know secret passages that lead directly into Sabushi's base. We can catch him off-guard and avoid this whole bait nonsense. There's also the chance that they might hurt him while holding him as a hostage." Hina said, with an aggressive tone of voice.

Akira frowned, her arms tightening across her chest.

"And what would you want to do? Killing all of his men alone? Do you think storming his base won't alert him? Hina, those secret passages are old. If I were him, I'd already have them monitored. And if I thought about that, he has probably already done this." Akira said, with a passive-aggressive tone of voice.

Before Hina could retort, Kai raised a tentative hand. "Uh, can I just say something? I don't really love the idea of being bait… or any plan that involves me getting kidnapped, for that matter. I don't think that this would be a good idea."

Hina turned to him, her expression softening slightly. "You won't have to, Kai. Not if I have anything to say about it. I don't want you to get hurt."

But before Kai could feel any relief, Akira's attention shifted, her sharp eyes narrowing at Hina.

"Your plan might work, but it's way too risky. Sabushi's not going to leave his base unprotected. We'd need more firepower than just the two of us."

Hina was about to reply when a new voice interrupted.

"Actually, we do have the firepower." A voice coming from the corridor said.

They all turned to see Sakura entering the room and casually leaning against the wall next to Akira, with her arms crossed and a sly smile on her lips.

She must have entered so quietly that none of them had noticed.

"Auntie," Hina said, her tone dripping with irritation. "You're not supposed to be here yet."

Kai's eyes widened slightly at the sight of Sakura.

The first question that came up in his mind was "How the fuck did she enter inside my home?!"

Ignoring Hina, Sakura stepped forward, her eyes gleaming with determination.

"My plan is simple: we fake Kai's capture, announce your return, and launch a full-scale assault with Rei's assassins. Sabushi won't see it coming."

"Rei?" Kai asked.

That name sounded familiar to him.

Hina's jaw tightened, her anger rising. "Oh… I get it now. That's why I had some serious suspects on that guy."

Kai then remembered the guy he had seen with Yuna.

"What the…?" He said in his mind.

"This plan is too dangerous." Hina said.

Sakura shrugged. "Dangerous, maybe. Effective, definitely."

"Effective? You're gambling with Kai's life!" Hina's voice rose, her fists clenched at her sides. "I'm not risking him for your reckless schemes."

Sakura's smile didn't waver. "It's not about risk; it's about results. You think Sabushi will fall for your little secret-passage trick? He's smarter than that, Hina. If you won't act, then I will."

The room fell silent, the tension reaching its breaking point.

Kai could only watch helplessly as the two women stared each other down, their contrasting tempers threatening to explode.

Akira, standing to the side, looked unimpressed but didn't intervene.

She wasn't talking.

She was probably against that plan too.

Risking Kai's life wasn't a good thing to do.

Finally, Hina turned away, her voice cold.

"Fine. Do whatever you want. I'm done. I refuse to take part in this madness."

The silence lingered for a moment before the sound of the doorbell shattered it.

Everyone froze, their gazes snapping to the front door.

Akira was the first to move, her hand instinctively reaching for her weapon as she approached the door cautiously.

"Uh? Someone who's knocking the door?" Kai said, trying to break the loud silence in the room.

Hina walked with her too as she put her hand in her pocket.

"Who is it…?" Hina thought in her mind…