In a fancy office, Kuroki looks out at the city lights. He wonders what is going on, since he has not heard a word from Lycoris. Then he turns to a hooded figure and asks for his take on the situation. A young man with blonde hair and blue eyes is revealed, going by the name Campanula.
The young operative answers him with a totally cold and sarcastic tone. Kuroki asks whether he has not heard anything about Lycoris's current whereabouts. Showing clear disrespect, the blonde says that babysitting that crazy old lady is not his job. Kuroki guesses she got annoyed about having to handle a mere high schooler. Suddenly a shot strikes the wall, and the young man is startled.
Furious, Kuroki yells at him to quit the nonsense, and suggests she might have been eliminated. Campanula provokes him, saying they think they are the absolute strongest operatives around, but Kuroki cuts him off before he finishes, heavily scolding the young man.
In a flash the kid appears right behind him, holding a blade to his neck. Kuroki is stunned by the sheer speed and boldness of the younger mercenary. The kid warns him not to get it twisted, since they are only helping him for the garden's own goals. He makes it very clear that the Funeral Flowers are not his pawns, which makes Kuroki apologize fast. Leaving a tiny warning scratch on his neck, the blonde tells him to watch his mouth next time.
Then he steps back, and Kuroki watches him with a mix of fear and pure anger. The young operative leans against the wall wearing a look of total disdain and superiority.
Kuroki decides that it does not matter whether a schoolgirl is running around or not, since it will not change the big picture. All the annoying veteran executives are gone, leaving his path completely clear. He declares that the Shido clan is his, and that he will use its power to rule the whole underworld. With an evil smirk, Campanula says everything will be done in the name of the garden.
Two days later, in a very crowded underground casino, people are betting and having a blast, surrounded by luxury and heavy showing off. The roulette wheels spin, the cards are dealt out, and the adrenaline is pumping. A wealthy man celebrates his big win while a beautiful woman hangs at his side. An elegant hostess welcomes a brand new group of guests at the door.
The main character rolls into the casino wearing a sharp suit, alongside Akari and her bodyguard. He scans the room with a sharp, calculating look, checking out every single detail. With a confident smile, he announces that the show is finally about to start.
This is the very first step in his massive counterattack against the garden.
The slot machines and roulette tables are going non-stop all across the casino floor. The cards are shuffled up and the real power play is about to kick off for good. Rich and powerful people are having a great time with their beautiful dates. The main character and Akari stroll through the floor, catching plenty of curious looks. A classy woman spots the young lady and whispers something to her partner. They think she is way too young to be there, but one of them feels like he has seen her somewhere before.
Katagiri complains that they are drawing way too much attention, but the kid totally ignores him. With a satisfied smirk, he says everything is going exactly as they planned.
Back at the Shido mansion, they had mapped out the whole scheme. The bodyguard and Akari listened closely to all of the main character's instructions. Annoyed, Katagiri called him an idiot for putting the young miss in danger. He questioned why she had to march right into enemy turf, and the kid answered him. The guard argued that if the goal was just to eliminate Kuroki, he could have handled it solo.
The young guy then broke down the fallout of acting so recklessly. If Kuroki goes down without a clear successor lined up, the Shido group will totally collapse. Katagiri got the logic and went quiet, frustrated by how delicate the situation was.
The main character then suggested that Akari publicly challenge the traitor Kuroki and claim his spot. That way, everyone in the syndicate would know exactly who the rightful heir is. Once she claims the title, the men will follow her lead without a single question.
With the plan locked in, Akari ordered Katagiri to call up a high-end dress shop. She needed a brand new outfit that fit the biggest night of her entire life. The main character smiled, highly satisfied with the girl's guts and determination.
In the casino's VIP room, an underling whispers directly into Kuroki's ear. He reports that the young miss of the Shido group just walked onto the floor. Kuroki is shocked, and annoyed that she is still walking around. Plus, she brought two guards with her.
Campanula, wearing a twisted grin, offers to go handle her right then and there. But Kuroki stops him, telling him not to pull anything in front of all the paying clients. He orders them to treat her like any other guest for now, with absolutely no special treatment. The subordinate and the young operative agree, and step out of the VIP room.
Down on the floor, Katagiri mentions that the rumors about Kuroki being a traitor are completely true. The main character then reveals the next step of the plan. Dragging him out into the open.