It was the dead of night; no one would have been able to see anything without a light source. The sound of waves crashing on the concrete and the beach was the only noise that could be heard.
The tension was palpable. Aito and Emiko could feel it on their skin.
But neither the 22-year-old nor the 40-year-old were troubled by it. They had endured much worse.
The two were waiting for someone. They were at a small harbor, hidden in a part of the beach difficult to access, far away from any habitation, cameras, or people.
The ideal place for a secret meeting.
Benjiro and Bashira were hidden in strategic positions to provide cover fire to their companions in case things went wrong.
"There they are." (Emiko)
In the distance, the sound of a boat engine could be heard. It didn't take long before it arrived at the harbor.
"Good evening! I suppose you are our buyers. Please, feel free to board."
The man who arrived on the small boat had typical oriental features and spoke perfect island Japanese. Around his neck was a tattoo of a red dragon that curled around his throat.
"This isn't what we agreed upon; we were supposed to make the exchange here." (Emiko)
"Plans change."
"People who change their words so quickly are unreliable." (Aito)
"Listen, I'm just the messenger and your driver; if you don't want to continue, we can just say goodbye here. But I warn you: my superiors won't be happy to know they risked so much for nothing."
Emiko, who was the leader of the group, thought for a moment before signaling her hidden friends to remain on standby.
"Let's go, Aito."
"Got it."
The two boarded the small boat. As they traveled the distance separating the beach from a larger vessel that was many kilometers from the shore, the 40-year-old made sure to signal her partner to be ready.
"(Fools, if they think they can set a trap like this, they've underestimated our countermeasures.)" (Emiko)
The small boat docked with the larger one without issues. There were people waiting for their arrival. They were armed to the teeth with pistols, assault rifles, knives, and many other weapons, and with their unfriendly expressions, they were the exact opposite of the man who had come to pick them up at the harbor; the only similarity was the red dragon tattoo that wrapped around their necks.
"And here we are! I really hope I won't have to throw your corpses overboard later! Try not to anger the boss, bye!"
The two members of [New Dawn] were taken below deck. The boat was quite large, though not at the level of a rich man's yacht.
"He was way too friendly to be one of the Triad." (Aito)
"Indeed, he isn't. He's more of a convenience ally for us."
Aito wanted to try to engage in conversation with their escorts to gather some information, but a quick sign from his partner was enough to stop him.
Apparently, the woman was very cautious towards these people, even though they were two steps ahead.
"Please."
The duo crossed the door that led them into the most luxurious room on the boat. A fierce-looking woman was waiting for them. She had black eyes and hair, the latter held in disarray by two small sticks.
She wore a traditional Chinese dress that did not hide her curves, and in one hand, she held a metallic fan that seemed more like a weapon than a common object.
Beside her were two guards who were unarmed but not defenseless.
"(These two... I'm sure they are [mages] or maybe [espers]...... they are not that stupid then. Better this way; I would be disappointed if they were.)" (Emiko)
"Leave. I will speak to our guests alone."
The two guards left silently. Aito made sure to analyze them carefully before they exited, not only their faces but also how they moved, to understand their fighting style.
"(.........I don't recognize them. But the taller one seems to be a mid-range fighter........ the other perhaps in close combat. Perfect for a tight space on this boat.)" (Aito)
"Would you like something to drink? Scotch? Wine? Beer? Or that delicious alcoholic drink the Japanese call sake?"
"We're fine, thank you both. We'd like to get to the point." (Emiko)
The woman seemed not to care about Emiko's serious words as she took a glass and poured herself some sake. She did not let go of her fan even for a moment, something the [New Dawn] noticed.
"Ah! Delicious! Are you sure you don't want to indulge?"
"Yes."
"How boring. You should take your time with it; otherwise, I might be offended... Anyway, I'm called Bulldog, please don't use honorifics."
"Emiko, and this is Aito."
"Ah, I understand, you also use codenames. It's convenient to throw away all our documents and old lives; at least if we get caught, our acquaintances will be safe."
"Bulldog, we're here to talk about......" (Emiko)
"The [dragon's blood], I know. You did well to capture Alberich and use his information to trace us. Now, based on the agreements previously made, in good faith, our two groups have decided to exchange our product for your money. Did I forget anything?"
"No."
"Good! Where is our money?"
"Safe. Until we see the vials, we.........."
The woman named Bulldog lunged forward with a speed far superior to that of the two mages, who didn't even have time to react or move an inch.
From her fan, several sharp blades emerged, which ended up touching Emiko's throat. She did not take a step back or even flinch at the scene.
"Do you think you can take us for fools? Just because we're not as famous as other Triad groups? Watch your next words, or they might be your last."
"I would never allow that; it's simply a matter of fairness. You chose the meeting place, and changed it at the last minute. Now, we are the ones deciding whether your product is worth our money. We would have been fools to bring the money here and then tell you no, wouldn't we?" (Emiko)
The two women stared into each other's eyes. Bulldog's black orbs were fierce and filled with hatred that didn't seem directed at [New Dawn] but rather at the world as a whole.
"Yes, you're right. The superiors are cautious. They don't want to deal with the man in charge of the [Black Corps], or worse..."
The Chinese woman put away her weapon; Aito let out a sigh of relief and stopped preparing to use his [magic].
If things had gone wrong or if even a drop of his leader's blood had fallen, he would have unleashed his full power to drown his enemies.
That was the initial plan. But without new directives, the 22-year-old would still have chosen this path.
Even if Emiko were to be killed, the woman would be happy if her current partner could take revenge and save himself at the same time.
"Perhaps it's best if we all take a deep breath." (Bulldog)
"(The only one who needs to calm down here is you, crazy woman.)" (Aito)
"Yes, I agree."
Bulldog took another glass of sake, savoring the taste, then the woman took a briefcase from a hidden safe and opened it before the two [New Dawn] members.
"Here they are. 30 doses of [dragon's blood], pure 40%. Every [mage] who uses it will have their powers temporarily enhanced. For those more aligned with it, it will be permanent."
"Good. But we want more. At least triple the amount as soon as possible, and constant shipments until we reach our goal. Money won't be an issue."
"I'll have to discuss it with my superiors, but it's feasible. Now, for the money...."
"You will have it when we are back on land. Your messenger will bring it to you."
The Chinese woman thought for a moment about her options before nodding.
In less than 40 minutes, Aito and Emiko reached the shores of [Fumetsu]. Only when their feet touched the concrete of the harbor did Aito go to fetch the money.
"Well, it's been a pleasure. I hope our collaboration lasts; you seem nice."
Those were the last words the man said before leaving to reach his companions with the money in tow.
With a sign, the leader of the small group signaled her two other companions to approach. Benjiro and Bashira wasted no time in doing so.
"Are you okay!?" (Benjiro)
"How did it go?" (Bashira)
"Better than expected." (Aito)
"Let's go home. The mission is accomplished. We report our success to Yukihime-sama."