Seraph's Inn

"So it's the truck we gonna use."

"It is." answered Takahiro.

JGSA provided them few trucks to enter Russia, so they could start investigating Grizzly. They had no time to waste, maybe 3 more days before the doomsday. It was hard to say due to a lack of information, but they had to trust Taki about it.

They passed the border without any problems. But still, they weren't sure where to start. It was a big city—way bigger than Mohe, and Grizzly could be anywhere. Even if they somehow stopped him, there was still Iron Fist to be taken care of. All they knew about him was that he was the brains of the enemy organization. His location, motivation, everything was a mystery about him. JGSA did search for him in their past operations against terrorism, especially Takahiro's last mission. But still, they found nothing new.

"Do we have any operation base in Blagoveshchensk?" asked Gina.

"I think JGSA found a bar in the back streets and bought it. It's almost ready to use. We could have use that to gather some information but there's not enough time for it."

"I believe we can delay their plans a little bit more. We could get a chance to use that bar, as you say."

"Well, first we gotta somehow find a way to delay their plans, though."

Takahiro left the truck at a construction site. Then they got in a black sedan and started riding towards the bar.

"Any name for the bar?"

"Not yet, Shin was thinking about it. Do you have any idea for the name?"

Takahiro gave Gina some time to think.

"What about Shiba?"

"Are you naming the bar with a dog breed?"

"Why not, isn't that cute?"

"It is cute, but too cute for an operation base. There'll probably be some people with underground connections."

"So what's your suggestion?"

"I'm not good at naming things."

"Just give it a try." Gina shook Takahiro lightly in a friendly manner.

"Hmm. Purple Galaxy?"

"It sounds like a gaming cafe."

"Dark Neon?"

"Same but worse."

"But they're cool, right?"

"Too cool for an operation base that serves as an underground bar." Gina laughed together with Takahiro.

"Alright, um. What about Seraph's Inn?"

Gina was impressed.

"That sounds really good."

"I'm glad you like it."

Takahiro pulled his car onto the street. They had arrived. Before Gina got out, Takahiro started speaking.

"After completing this mission, I'd like to open a real bar with you."

Gina's face blushed a little.

"Seraph's Inn?"

"Seraph's Inn."

"You better not forget..." Gina got out of the car, and said the last word of her sentence very quitely.

"...Takahiro."

As they entered the bar, Shin greeted them. He was cleaning the bar to get the place prepared.

"Anything so far?" asked Takahiro.

"We're searching for a few suspicious places. First one is a casino. Its construction is finished this year. This casino serves both Heihe and Blagoveshchensk. The second one is a hotel. It seems like someone rented the whole top floor. And the third one is a mechanic's workshop, which belongs to a biker gang."

"I don't think bikers have anything to do with the enemy. But we can use them to get some information. They probably know what's going on in the city very well."

"I'm not really sure, they might be somehow included in this. Gangs are loyal to their cities, I don't think they would have stay silent after seeing people planning to commit a genocide. And that's what makes them suspicious."

"What if they just.. don't know about it?"

"It's still worth investigating. Besides, we can maybe get their help if they really don't know anything. They could provide us good information, it'd make the work get done really fast."

"Makes sense. So we better make a visit." said Gina.

"Not you and Takahiro, you both are still injured."

"It's nothing serious." Takahiro tried to interfere.

"I don't like taking risks, I never liked it. You know that very well, Takahiro. And there's already a squad on the road. I need you both in the casino instead. You'll disguise yourselves as a married couple."

This time, they were calm. Because they knew it was a part of the mission. But still, it made Takahiro a little uncomfortable. He slowly took a peek at Gina. She had a serious looking face, but she was breathing faster than usual.

'She might be nervous because of what she heard. Damn you Shin...' thought Takahiro.

"Alright then, if there's nothing else, I better go take some breath outside." said Gina and left the room.

"You did it on purpose, right?" asked Takahiro.

"What? It's not like I heard your creepy speech in the tent or something."

"Ugh..."

"Well, I heard it, but it's still the best disguise for you two. A man and a woman, there's no other disguise for it. Just don't let your feelings ruin this mission, alright?"

"I will be careful, don't worry. I'm not sure about Gina, though."

"Ah she'll be fine, she worked really hard to reach her current position."

"If you say so." Takahiro yawned. "Well, I better get some sleep. You know, I didn't sleep much the last few days. As it gets darker, we can go to that casino."

"There's a bedroom upstairs, it seems like the last owner was living here."

Takahiro headed upstairs. He was really tired, and he felt his eyes burning. He dropped himself on the bed and slept, just after few seconds. And for the first time, maybe after 10 years, he dreamed.

He saw himself at Seraph's Inn. His shop was on the main street, swaying with the noise of the night. Gina was preparing him a cup of coffee, with a smile on her face. She was the definition of pure perfection at that very moment.

Then suddenly, the whole place started to shake and crack. Red lights were flashing. As the walls collapsed, he saw a nuclear warhead behind them, which was about to get launched. Takahiro tried to scream, he tried to run to her, but it felt something was forcing him to stay. The whole place got louder, and louder.

Takahiro woke up in a sweat, it was already nighttime. His hands were shaking.

"That's why I hate dreaming..."