The Seeds of Gluttony.

Recovering from their battle, the group silently navigated through the bank's labyrinthine corridors, guided by the map toward the anomaly Makoto had identified. The anticipation hung heavily in the air as they moved, the quiet halls amplifying the sound of their footsteps. 

When they finally arrived at their destination, they were greeted by an imposing door, its surface draped in bills with Kaneshiro's face, an ostentatious display that could only herald the presence of something significant within.

Upon opening the door, the group's gaze fell upon a singular, skull-like seed bathed in a crimson glow, situated at the room's heart. Unlike the chaotic clutter of Kamoshida's castle, this room was meticulously organized, the seed deliberately placed as if it were an object of reverence.

"Are you all ready?" Ren's voice broke the silence, his hand hovering over the eerie luminescence of the seed. With the group's affirmative nods, he gently made contact.

Instantaneously, reality twisted around them, but instead of plunging into the monochrome world similar to Kamoshida's warped desires, they found themselves enveloped in a world drained of vibrancy, its colors dull and muted.

Center stage in this world was a younger Kaneshiro, ensnared in the midst of a drug deal with some teenagers in a shadowed alley. His eyes darted around, clouded with paranoia as he handed them the bag. The moment the teens had the bag in their hand they all darted out of the alleyway without paying.

Kaneshiro tried to run to catch up to them, but the moment he left the alley and was greeted by the busy Tokyo streets, he stopped.

"Damn it!" His frustration erupted as he walked back into the alley and kicked one of the walls letting out a few pained curses afterward.

He looked lost in thought for some time before grabbing his wallet and checking how much money he had before letting out another round of curses.

A few minutes of pacing back and forth passed before he resorted to his phone, initiating a call that transitioned the scene to a club where Kaneshiro, now visibly anxious, faced the ire of a tattooed man.

"What the hell do you mean you lost it?" the man barked, his voice a menacing rumble.

"They took it from me. The streets were so full that I didn't want to make a big scene and draw the attention of the police," Kaneshiro said with some shakiness in his voice.

The tattooed man's heavy sigh preceded a stern ultimatum.

"You have three weeks to pay me back what you owe. I don't care how you get it, but if I don't see my money then, my boys are going to teach you a lesson." he threatened, punctuating his warning with the flick of a cigarette at Kaneshiro.

The memory morphed once more, revealing Kaneshiro battered and bruised, his figure drenched by the rain. The tangible fury and despair as he paced were abruptly diverted by the approach of a man in a suit, an umbrella his sole shield against the storm.

"You look like you could use a hand." The man's voice resounded through the heavy rain. A small mischievous grin appeared on his face as he extended a hand.

The man's offer, voiced amid the relentless downpour, marked a pivotal moment in Kaneshiro's life. It was one that the Phantom Thieves could only glimpse before the vision faded, returning them to the reality of the seed-encased room.

"So we were right… He wasn't the mastermind behind it," Ann articulated, her tone laced with revelation as she stared at the seed now dormant in Ren's grasp.

Mona, his features etched with contemplation, added.

"That man in the rain, he might be the same one I saw before, the one who met with Kaneshiro. It's hard to be sure, but…"

"For real?" Ryuji interjected, his curiosity piqued. "Could he be the one pulling the strings?"

Ren shook his head with some uncertainty.

"It's hard to tell, but maybe if we find the rest of the seeds, we can get a better picture."

With a collective nod, the group moved on, their resolve hardened by the glimpse into Kaneshiro's past. The Thieves made their way past the secure vault doors that separated them from going deeper into the Palace. A vault that was supposed to be impenetrable, but thanks to the keys they had obtained from the security guards before they were able to sneak right past.

Past the vault doors, there was a gigantic glass bridge suspended over what appeared to be a river of money. With money cascading from the ceiling just outside of the bridge. Though at first, sneaking past the glass bridge would've been seen as impossible, the group was able to exploit a small gap to sneak outside of the glass bridge into the metal rafters that covered the outside of the bridge, using the falling bills as cover.

Surprisingly, the second will seed was not too far from the glass bridge, and thanks to their unconventional approach, they were able to stumble upon it hidden beneath a cascade of falling bills.

Just like the first, the seed was in a secure and pristine room. However, this time the light it emitted was a deep blue. 

As Ren's touch connected with the deep blue seed, the ambiance around the Phantom Thieves transformed dramatically. They found themselves engulfed in a memory, but unlike the muted tones of the first, this vision burst with vibrant, saturated colors that nearly overwhelmed their senses.

Here, Kaneshiro was the picture of success, his attire lavish, reminiscent of the opulence Ren had first seen him in. At his side, women clung to him, their eyes gleaming greedily at the sight of the money-filled briefcase on the desk.

"Boss, we found the kids you were looking for. What do you want us to do with them?" A voice broke the colorful silence.

Kaneshiro paused, the vivid hues momentarily losing their intensity as he pondered, then declared with a cold laugh.

"I want you to ruin them and their families." It was a command that underscored his complete transformation from a desperate man on the margins to a kingpin reveling in his untouchable status.

"Girls, how about you buy yourselves something nice?" Kaneshiro then turned to the women, offering them a stack of cash. Their response was immediate, their squeals of delight punctuated by kisses on his cheek, showcasing the power his newfound wealth afforded him.

"You!" Kaneshiro's attention shifted to one of his underlings. "Go bring some of our 'workers.' I want to have a party." His order was a display of his dominion, his intent to celebrate his empire of corruption.

As Kaneshiro reached for a bottle of wine, the memory shifted, revealing him pacing restlessly in his room, a stark contrast to his previous demeanor. His hands fidgeted, and his eyes darted to the clock frequently.

"And here I thought you would've learned to stop being so paranoid," a man's voice echoed, signaling his entrance into the room. Kaneshiro's nervousness dissipated at the sound, replaced by a momentary relief.

"But, I have reports that someone is looking into us. This Nijima prosecutor is working with some detectives. She's looking over our records, and if she is as good as the rumors, they are going to find something wrong." Kaneshiro confessed, the worry evident in his voice.

The man, dressed sharply in a suit that barely concealed his Yakuza affiliations, exuded an air of authority as he casually took a seat. 

"Little piggy, when are you going to stop whining?" he chastised, his tone condescending as he uncorked a bottle of wine and took a swig directly from it. "I told you we have people to deal with it, so just do your job and keep making us money. You know what will happen if you don't…" he said with some annoyance.

The vibrant colors once again faded to a dull palette as Kaneshiro's hands trembled.

"You… you aren't going to send him after me, are you?" The fear in his voice was palpable.

The man's chuckle was dismissive. 

"Do you know how much of a hassle it is to cause a mental shutdown? Stop being an idiot and just get back to work, okay?" His words, though meant to reassure, carried an undercurrent of threat.

As the vivid hues of the memory dissipated, leaving the Phantom Thieves back in the somber reality of the vault, a moment of clarity washed over them.

Makoto, deep in thought, connected the dots to her own personal experiences. 

"I remember my sister coming home angry after she was pulled off the case. It makes sense now... since they have the SUI director on their side." she reflected, her gaze fixed on the blue will seed.

After discussing for some time, the group pressed on. Their journey through the bank's labyrinthine depths eventually led them to a large set of stairs. At the bottom, Kaneshiro was engaged in conversation with one of his security guards, oblivious to the Thieves' presence.

If their intention were to cause a mental shutdown, this would be a great chance for an assassination. However, that would not accomplish anything. 

While Kaneshiro was simply a pawn in the game, he held the keys to bringing down the entire criminal organization he led. They just had to make sure Kaneshiro would be able to spill all of the information he had before whoever was completing the mental shutdowns had a chance to stop him.

As Ren stared at Kaneshiro, a plan formed in his mind, and a smile crept onto his face. He told the rest of the thieves to hide, and after apologizing to Makoto in advance, he made his way down the stairs.

Walking with confident steps and a big smile on his face, Ren shouted.

"Boss!" His call redirected Kaneshiro's attention squarely onto him.

"Akira? What are you doing here? Weren't you supposed to be searching for the Nijima girl and her friends?" Kaneshiro asked with some confusion.

Shaking his head, Ren wove his tale.

"I already caught her. I had a friend hack into her phone and found some… interesting things. Needless to say, she's now under my control." Ren claimed. 

"And where is she now?" Kaneshiro inquired, intrigued by Ren's bold assertion.

Ren responded with a confident smirk. 

"Boss, you underestimate me," he proclaimed theatrically. "The moment I learned of your interest in BOTH Nijima sisters, I took action. Trust me, by the end of the month, they'll be at your disposal. It's taking me a bit longer to get the older one."

Kaneshiro's response was a chuckle, a sound mingled with amusement and a hint of respect. 

"You know, I usually can't stand brats. But you, kid, you're different. You actually get things done." he praised, momentarily swayed by Ren's convincing performance.

"You know, boss. I was wondering whether you could show me the way to your treasure room. As I made my way down to inform you of my progress, I couldn't help but be amazed at how secure your bank is. I am honestly honored to work under someone who built something like this." Ren said, stroking the man's fragile ego. Having looked into the source of his distortion, he knew just how to play him.

Kaneshiro looked slightly hesitant, and noticing this, Ren added.

"Boss, to tell you the truth, I don't come from much money, so you are an inspiration to me…" Ren began to speak, with each sentence making Kaneshiro more and more comfortable with him.

— — —

The Phantom Thieves, who hid near the top of the stairs, couldn't help but look down with curiosity. They were far enough that they couldn't really hear what they were saying, but they could at least somewhat differentiate by their facial expressions. This was mostly thanks to the pair of binoculars Ren had insisted they carry with them in their list of infiltration tools.

"He's making that face again," Ann remarked, a light laugh escaping her as she adjusted the binoculars for a better view of Ren.

"What face? He looks the same to me. If anything, he seems like he's enjoying this," Ryuji countered, squinting in an attempt to discern the subtle nuances of Ren's expression.

"You can't tell? He's clearly pissed off. I bet he's trying to butter Kaneshiro up. " Ann said as she turned to look at Ryuji.

Mona, barely containing his amusement, added his own observation. 

"Guys, I think Kaneshiro is blushing."