Chapter 23: The Hidden Strike

In the Hidden Hand building, Ryuko sat in his office.

He was reviewing the rumors about him, which were growing. 

Before him, Layla and Victor stood, awaiting his directives.

Ryuko (deep in thought): "These rumors aren't a coincidence; someone is organizing them." "Whoever is behind them not only wants to undermine our success but also wants to make us a target of hatred."

Layla: "Things are escalating. People in Mariejois are talking about our dealings with pirates. There are growing suspicions about our intentions."

Victor: "Sir, how would you like us to respond? We can either reveal the truth or counter them in secret."

Suddenly, Hinata burst in, smiling.

"Young master, I found one of our attackers. One of my dolls infiltrated the opposition faction's aides in our palace. I overheard some orders from someone named Calvin, Saint Reginald's aide." 

"They involve themselves in the rumors."

Ryuko (calmly and confidently): "I just needed confirmation. This lizard always hounds me. Good, I'll deal with him when the time comes. 

He must be acting on orders from the opposing faction. 

We'll work as usual and prove that the Hidden Hand is not a game they can manipulate. Layla, I want you to strengthen our intel network. 

Find out exactly who is behind these rumors, and let's start exposing them step by step."

Layla: "Understood. I'll start the investigation immediately."

Days passed, and the project's reputation suffered. 

Some in Mariejois began to avoid dealing with Ryuko and the Hidden Hand. Despite this, Ryuko remained on high alert and unaffected.

Over time, reports surfaced about a group trying to breach a less secure info center at the back of the Hidden Hand building.

 It was a carefully prepared trap to lure enemies without revealing the true assets. 

Vanessa was the mastermind of this operation. She crafted the details to attract enemies without exposing the real assets. 

In a small office, Yami was watching some servants from the palace. He called them mercenaries.

His four men were in strategic spots, ready to move as soon as the intruders began their breach.

The atmosphere was tense, with each team trying to outwit the other in a silent chess game.

Yami (whispering through one of Layla's mirrors, which functioned as a communication device): "Hold your positions, don't move until they're fully inside."

The mercenaries moved cautiously, scanning the area for any traps but finding few guards. This had been the case for about a week, indicating a blind spot in the building, but they failed to discover the real trap. 

As they moved deeper, the Hidden Hand's operatives began to act. They sealed all escape routes and arrested the intruders with precision.

It was a quick, decisive operation with no losses on Ryuko's side. Yami led the three injured individuals to a room where Ryuko awaited them.

Ryuko (standing over the prisoners, his gaze cold and calculating): "You were caught in the act, Now, you can either cooperate and tell us who sent you, or you can face the consequences of challenging the Hidden Hand. 

I'm sure this is what you were expecting to hear, isn't it? Yami, sever the leader's head and hand it over."

Yami moved without hesitation. 

Shocked, one of the mercenaries blinked for a moment, hearing screams, and then saw the head of his leader rolling in front of him.

They were to be interrogated, given false info, then wait. They were to be rescued or escape after reducing the guard.

Realizing his dire situation, he did not hesitate for a moment.

He answered (in a trembling voice): "We were just following orders. We didn't know who was behind the mission. We hired a servant named Dabi."

Ryuko smiled slightly, but it was not an encouraging expression; it radiated cruelty and control. He turned to Layla, who was closely monitoring the interrogation.

Ryuko: "Layla, make sure to find out about Dabi, I don't want to leave anything to chance, We need to know everything."

Layla: "Understood, I'll begin the investigation immediately."

Ryuko (turning to the remaining prisoners): "If this is a mistake, you won't have an easy night."

After hours of intense interrogation and with the support of the servants Layla had hired, it became clear that one of the parties involved was linked to the Gu family, which sought to destabilize the Hidden Hand by any means necessary. 

The breach aimed to obtain sensitive information. It could ruin Ryuko's reputation with his clients, expose their names, and tarnish his project's success.

Layla: "It seems they were looking for anything they could use against us. Even the smallest details could be enough to reignite the rumors."

Ryuko: "They think they can take us down with these cheap tactics, We need to respond in a way that makes them realize the Hidden Hand is not an opponent that can be easily surpassed."

Ryuko and his team gathered to discuss how to handle these developments.

Everyone understood that the Gu family would not stop its attempts, and the next phase would be tougher. 

Ryuko decided to use the obtained information to his advantage, turning the tables on his enemies.

Ryuko: "We'll expose that the Gu family uses mercenaries to spy on and infiltrate Mariejois. They do it without fear of threatening the Celestial Dragons. We won't wait for attacks. We'll strike first.""

The team began their counter-plan. They seized every chance to deter their enemies and prove their strength. 

As the news spread, public opinion began to favor the Hidden Hand. 

With evidence that Ryuko killed the mercenaries, they suggested that a rival faction, who hated them, had staged the previous attack to tarnish their reputation.

The Hidden Hand never engaged with pirates. The Gu family felt pressure from the scandal surfacing.

Tensions escalated.

Meanwhile, Reginald was not far from the events. 

He learned of the leak. It made him feel a loss of control. So, he gathered his advisors to discuss the next step.

Reginald: "Ryuko is smarter than I expected. We must be more cautious in our next moves. We will increase our pressure by tarnishing his reputation in complex ways."

Use undercover agents to spread false news about his involvement in illegal activities in and out of Mariejois. This war will not be won by weapons alone but by minds."

His advisor Calvin: "We have several options, Lord Reginald. Perhaps we should try to persuade some officials in Mariejois to open a formal investigation against the Hidden Hand."

While his enemies planned their next strikes, Ryuko was ready. 

He knew that this game was not just a battle but a war of attrition requiring patience and intelligence.

As conflict loomed, he was confident in the Hidden Hand. It would endure. He was ready for whatever challenges lay ahead.

Ryuko (to his team): "This is just the beginning. We will continue to defend our reputation and respond to every attack with a stronger one. The Hidden Hand will not fall; it will only grow stronger." 

He said, his look firm. It showed his will to face every challenge. The road ahead would be tougher. 

But, he was ready to fight to the end. He would protect what he had built from any threat.