15 Voicing out a risky plan

"What is it now!?" The Lieutenant-general yelled back, clearly irritated.

"We can distract them!" Katsu exclaimed.

This surprised everyone in the room, and Bon even choked on his cigarette and started coughing.

"Monsieur! What are you saying!" he said after he regained his composure.

Albert joined in, "Yeah! What are you rambling about, kid!?"

Katsu took a deep breath and repeated what the voice had told him with absolute confidence in his voice.

"I'm saying that we can distract them. Using the incident in the commercial district, Bon will bring me to their base. Since Bon looks similar to Von, he will act as the Bounty Hunter, and I will pretend that I've been caught. I'll distract the entire gang for as long as we can. Besides, not every member is at their HQ, right?"

Everyone in the room was utterly dumbfounded at Katsu's plan.

"Hmm. It is certainly possible, but wait a minute! That plan is just crazy! You guys will risk your lives just for this!?" Albert said, concerned.

Bon defended Katsu's idea, "Yes, it has its risks, but you're letting the opportunity of arresting your dreaded enemies slip away."

"Pfff! Kid, why are you so determined to rescue him!? Who is he to you, anyway?!" Albert exclaimed, his voice filled with irritation.

The room fell silent at his words, and Katsu's face flushed with anger and frustration. He took a deep breath and tried to calm himself before responding.

"Because Vin is my last family left," Katsu replied firmly. "I am determined to save him, and I will not lose another person close to me."

He could feel the weight of everyone's eyes on him, but he refused to back down. This was too important.

"I never thought I would say this to a police officer, but... I beg of you, please help me get my friend back," Bon pleaded, his voice filled with emotion.

For a moment, Albert was speechless. He stared at Katsu and Bon, his expression unreadable.

Albert leans back in his chair and places his hand on his chin, deep in thought. After a moment, he makes a decision.

"I guess I don't have a choice. Here's the deal: I'll allow you to go and rescue your friend, but in exchange, you must also help us arrest Ivan Hanzai, the prince of terror, and dismantle his entire criminal organization. Do we have a deal?"

Katsu looks to Bon for his opinion. "Well, if Katsu is fine with it, then sure," Bon responds.

For the first time in a while, Katsu feels a sense of relief. It feels like a weight has been lifted off his shoulders, knowing that he's finally doing something to help. However, his heart still feels heavy with something else.

"Alright, it's settled. You there," Albert calls out to one of the guards, "Tell my secretary to cancel my plans for this afternoon. And you," he points to another guard, "Tell all available officers to prepare for an emergency meeting. You two, get ready. We're not wasting any time, so let's get moving!"

They walk through the corridors of the police HQ, getting briefed as they go.

"Based on the plan you just suggested, I'll call Garrison General Sho. Do your best to stall until they arrive. But I have to ask you one more time, are you sure you want to do this?" Albert asks.

"Absolutely. I can do this, I'm strong," Katsu replies confidently.

"Lies I told that day just to get you back..." a voice laments.

"Okay, you two go and prepare. I'll send a telegram to the army," Albert says, leaving the room.

He walks down the brightly lit corridor and enters a small dark room with two officers on radios. He takes a chair and a sip of tea, then commands the officers.

"Send a telegram to General Sho with the following message."

The officer starts to transmit Morse code, sending a message to the temporary army HQ in the countryside. On a hot autumn morning, leaves scatter along the road leading to a large mansion in the peaceful countryside. In a room, an officer hastily decodes the encrypted message and writes it on a piece of paper. He instructs a messenger to deliver the message to the highest chief of staff.

The messenger rushes into the mansion, sweating and panting heavily. He barges into a small room where a highly decorated general and several high-ranking officers are seated. Large windows let in an abundance of light, illuminating a large sofa, two chairs, and a table in between, with papers and cups of tea atop it.

"I've got an urgent letter for General Sho!" the messenger announces, catching his breath and standing up straight before saluting.

"We've received an urgent request from the Landon City Military Police!"

"From the chief?" The general asked.

"Yes sir!"

"We are discussing important matters, and are subsequently busy, so the general will see to it later," a lieutenant general sitting adjacent to the general ordered.

"But sir, this is also important!"

"I said we're busy--" The officer was cut off.

"If it's that urgent then I'll hear it."

"O-okay sir!"

The messenger hands the general the written letter. His eyebrow twitches in annoyance. "Does Albert need more therapy?" he mumbles, before letting out a sigh. "I also want an audible report on this."

"Ah, okay sir!" the messenger stutters, before starting to report the information they've received while the general reads the letter.

"That's the report, sir!"

"Hmm, I see. So this really IS urgent," the general pauses for a moment to think and pulls out his pocket watch to check the time. "Alrighty then, we've got time."

The general stands up and puts on a coat. "Lieutenant! Get the 16th and 18th infantry divisions ready, we're moving ASAP!"

"Yes General! Right away, Sir!" the lieutenant responds and leaves immediately.

The general then walks up to the messenger and orders him to "Tell Albert that we're coming, and tell him that we're even."

"Yes sir!" the messenger replies.

Back in Landon, the message from General Sho was received with excitement and urgency. The officer who received it rushed to report to his superior, bursting into the room with the news. "Sir! General Sho has approved the operation, and the army is preparing to head out!" he exclaimed, his voice quivering with excitement.

The head officer nodded approvingly, his face set in a look of grim determination. "Good. I'll tell the others," he said, his voice ringing with authority.

"Sir! General Sho also said that you two are 'even'," the officer added, eager to share any news that might boost morale.

At this, Albert let out a chuckle, his eyes glinting with amusement. "He never owed me anything in the first place," he said wryly, before striding out of the room.

Outside, he was met by Katsu and Bon, both dressed in combat gear and looking resolute. "Alright, are you all ready?" Albert asked, his voice firm.

"Yep!" Katsu responded, his hands trembling with excitement.

"Okay then, we're going to get you as close as we can to their base. After that, you're all on your own," Albert said, his eyes flashing with determination.

"Got it," Bon replied, his face set in a look of steely resolve.

"Alright! Get on! We're leaving pronto!" Albert barked, his tone leaving no room for argument.

They boarded a small jeep and set out towards the gang's HQ, their minds racing with anticipation and fear. Katsu's hands were cold, but he still wore a big smile, his eyes bright with excitement. Bon closed his eyes and began to meditate, his body still and calm. Meanwhile, Albert put his head against the window, his mind whirling with thoughts of the future. Ivan would be waiting for them, and they would have to be ready for whatever lay ahead.

End of chapter 15