The static on the line buzzed quietly for a moment, and then Wolf's voice came through, cool and even.
"Commissioner Watanabe... I didn't appreciate what you did back then," Wolf said, almost conversationally."Using someone else to do your dirty work, to capture all of Section 9."
He leaned against a marble pillar in the center of the mall, his sharp gaze flicking lazily toward the hostages as he spoke, as if this conversation was merely a passing distraction.
On the other side of the line, standing just outside the chaos and destruction, Yudaina Watanabe chuckled—a rich, genuine laugh that cut through the tense command center like a blade.
"Oh, Wolf," she said lightly."I didn't use anyone. That man... he contacted me on his own.""Frankly, I was quite grateful for the help. It saved me a lot of paperwork."
Her words were laced with amusement, poking at the pride Wolf still carried like a scar.
Wolf's eyes narrowed slightly.His grip on the receiver tightened—but just for a second.He kept his posture relaxed, refusing to let her see how her words bit deeper than he cared to admit.
But Yudaina wasn't finished.She leaned closer to her microphone, her smile practically audible through the line.
"What's even funnier," she continued with a mockingly sweet tone,"is that your entire 'unstoppable' Section 9 was taken down... by just one person."
The words hung heavily in the air.
Even some of the officers in the command center flinched, sensing the dangerous game she was playing.But Yudaina knew exactly what she was doing.
Inside the mall, Wolf's calm mask cracked for a moment.A faint, dark gleam crossed his eyes.But just as quickly, he smoothed it over, chuckling once under his breath—a low, chilling sound.
He brought the receiver closer again, his voice now lower, almost menacing.
"Are you done gloating?" he asked, the false politeness in his tone razor sharp.
"Depends," Yudaina replied with a shrug."Are you ready to stop acting like you're still important?"
Another heavy silence fell between them.Some of the mercenaries around Wolf shifted uneasily, sensing the rising tension, even if they didn't understand the depth of the old grudge.
Wolf closed his eyes briefly, steadying himself.When he opened them again, his icy calm had returned fully.
"Enough games," Wolf said."What do you want, Commissioner?"
Yudaina's smile vanished.Her voice turned professional, sharp as a dagger.
"I want to know what your real plan is," she said."Even if the government grants your demand to release the others... what comes next, Wolf?"
Across the ruined mall, Wolf let the question linger in the air, as if savoring it.Then, with a casualness that was far more terrifying than any shout, he answered.
"Revenge," he said simply."Against the ones who humiliated us. Against the man who took us down."
He let the words hang there, letting them sink deep into the hearts of everyone listening.The fake leader nearby puffed up like a rooster, clearly not understanding that he wasn't the one really in control.
Yudaina, however, understood perfectly.
She leaned back, studying the looming building ahead, feeling the weight of the situation fully settle on her shoulders.This wasn't just about hostages or demands.This was personal.A long-dead grudge given new life.
And it was only just beginning.