hero's shadow // mha

61) snuffed out

There are seventeen separate locations for the lounge that criminals call the Underground Club. And that's only on this side of Japan. There are no doubt quite a few more scattered about in the other parts of Japan and even beyond. Their influence knows no limits, apparently.

It's almost impressive how fast the organization grew. The handful of vigilantes he managed to grab and scare the shit out of admitted to knowing about the Club and a little of how it worked, so at least now Keigo has some background information. He's been gathering proof for weeks now—he's just been biding his time.

It's never smart to walk unprepared into places as dangerous as these ones are.

Keigo has gone through ten out of the seventeen locations already, but he hasn't found what he's been looking for. It's tedious, and it's frustrating just as much as it is interesting, but Keigo doesn't exactly mind it. Because of his performances as of late, he's been given more freedom by the Commission to do as he pleases. They won't be watching him too closely, so he's in the clear to conduct some personal investigations.

He has time to spare, so he's going to make the most of it today. It's morning, not night, which is the best option for him with these kinds of people.

There are more of them at night, as that's when they all gather, so it's safer to go in the morning. There will be less waiting to oppose him. It'll also buy him some time.

It takes seven seconds for the strategically placed guards on the corners of the neighboring roofs and buildings to be taken out. It takes seven seconds for his feathers to prick them at that one nerve that makes anyone and everyone drop to the floor.

They'll wake up in about half an hour. That's plenty of time for Keigo. That's all he needs. That's actually way more than he even wants.

He doesn't take the front entrance, no. He's not so naive to think he'd be able to get through there undetected. Especially since he had to storm the other ten locations head on to check things out. He's sure that the other Club areas are on high alert.

The thing is, he was told by a scared little birdie that this location is a little different than the others he's been to.

It's special.

This one, luckily enough for Keigo, has an underground entrance. It was apparently specially made for their champions—or, the Club's current highest ranking members and bodyguards. It seems they've got a hierarchy here.

Keigo is extremely excited for this one. He has a feeling things are going to go just swell.

The cameras are taken out first. With his sensitive feathers, he's able to sense even the tiniest of electrical currents or battery-operated devices. Every single one of them in a quarter mile radius is destroyed by the time he lets his boots touch the floor of the tunnel he uncovered.

His feathers return to him, and just in time, too, as it becomes obvious then that this tunnel isn't exactly only used by champions anymore. It's quite crowded! Huh, maybe it's used more as an underground roadway for criminals. The dozens of wide eyes that stare back at him would make more sense then.

Keigo stares, shocked. After a moment, though, he smiles brightly and gives a little wave. "Heyo!"

The greeting has barely left his mouth fully before a barrage of projectiles is sent his way. And this is just a wonderful way to start, isn't it? Keigo can't help but laugh.

In seven seconds (he does love that number), he's cleared the tunnel in its entirety. The criminals—some he recognizes and some he doesn't—are at his feet now, unconscious. They look like dead flies, almost.