Gavin Banks performed like any ordinary employee—not incompetent, but not exceptionally clever either. Methodical. By the book.
He'd reviewed Bella's profile. Bestselling novelist, Stanford prodigy, now studying in Japan and investing her spare cash in a candy company. Nothing suspicious.
On his first day, Banks established the company's basic framework, then spent hours contacting various trade unions and distributors. Unlike stereotypically lazy Americans, he worked like a Japanese salaryman, staying until nine o'clock before catching the train home.
Television. Dinner. Just another office worker. He stayed inside for a full hour afterward, then showered and went to bed, seemingly exhausted.
But when the room went dark, he slipped silently from the bedroom—not a whisper of sound—and descended to the basement.
"Brother... how did it go?"
Two figures emerged from the shadows. Had Bella been present, she'd have recognized them immediately—her "pawns," Kyujiro and Ganta.
Gavin Banks finally relaxed. He slumped against the wall, pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and took a long drag. The meek, cautious mask vanished, replaced by resolve and intelligence.
"You two idiots nearly got me killed! Damn it!" A flash of anger crossed his face.
Kyujiro and Ganta exchanged bewildered glances, unsure what he meant.
"I couldn't look her in the eye the entire time. The pressure she exerted—it was overwhelming. Absolutely crushing. This is bad!" Banks closed his eyes, seemingly drained.
Kyujiro asked hesitantly: "Brother, are you saying... she's one of them?"
Banks had been mulling this question all day but still had no answer. "Her connections are extensive. She clearly has multiple black accounts. She could be one of them. But her genetic concentration doesn't match—it's too high. Far too high!"
Ganta blurted: "You didn't use your special ability to scan her?"
Banks laughed bitterly. "I didn't dare. I can't explain it in terms you'd understand, but let me put it this way: her suppression effect on me was massive—so massive it felt like..."
He shook his head with a rueful smile. If not for his legendary self-control—among the best in the organization—he'd have blown his cover today. A few sentences into their conversation, he'd nearly dropped to his knees.
This wasn't weakness for women or cowardice. It was genetic-level suppression—a higher life form dominating a lower one.
He let the topic drop. Genetic matters were classified even within the organization; his two junior brothers didn't need to know. He pulled an aluminum case from inside his jacket and tossed it to them.
"See if these are the candies you mentioned."
Inside lay six pieces—three red, three blue.
Kyujiro and Ganta examined them carefully. They'd seen similar enhancement candies used by Hirata Estate warriors, though only from a distance. The samurai hadn't explained the effects. Their best guess: probably the same thing.
"Looks about right."
"Should be."
Banks was officially a candy salesman now, and Bella had given him plenty, saying he should eat them freely while brainstorming marketing strategies.
"I tried two. There's an effect, but not as strong as you described."
"So what's your plan, Brother?" Ganta asked.
What indeed? Banks pondered the question himself. "The Purge nearly destroyed the Brotherhood... I'll keep working. I need to stay hidden anyway, so I might as well continue this job."
He paused to consider further. "After that... I'll probe her ideology. If she's sympathetic to our cause, I'll recruit her. If she's one of them, I'll see if she can be turned. If necessary, I'll speak with William about having her take over as Mentor."
"Mentor?! You want that woman leading the Brotherhood?"
"Brother, you—?!"
Kyujiro and Ganta were stunned. The organization had been purged, reduced to a fraction of its former strength, but directly recruiting an outsider as leader? That was extreme.
Banks remained calm. "You don't understand. Just based on the abilities she's displayed so far, she's worth recruiting. If she's willing to join the Brotherhood, I'd happily make her Mentor—sincerely. I believe William would feel the same."
He never mentioned Isu genetics. He carried Isu blood himself and had mastered Eagle Vision. Because he had these abilities, he understood exactly how terrifying Bella had felt during their encounter. For a split second, he'd wondered if she was one of the legendary Isu Sages from the ancient manuscripts.
Her genetic concentration was staggering—enough to make anyone tremble. At that level, she wouldn't start as a foot soldier. Whether in the Templar Order or the Assassin Brotherhood, once Bella joined, she'd rise to the top immediately. He was certain of it.
The leader nearly kneeling before a subordinate? Might as well let her be the leader.
Being a leader wasn't exactly enviable work these days anyway—exhausting, dangerous, sometimes requiring personal financial investment. He had no desire for the position.
"You two should leave Japan soon. It's getting dangerous here. The Templars will track us down eventually." He pulled out a thread-bound book and a notebook. "And this... this technique, well, how do I put it—it might be useful, but the Brotherhood doesn't really promote this style of combat. Too clumsy for our purposes. Nowadays though... consider it a disguise."
He wasn't sure how to phrase it but handed the materials over anyway.
Kyujiro and Ganta had their own adventure in Ashina. After parting from Bella, they'd lavished praise on Gyoubu Masataka Oniwa—the supreme sumo champion—while offering every treasure they'd acquired over two years: gold, silver, jewelry, modern-crafted goods. The rustic bandit chief's attitude had shifted instantly. Eventually, he'd taught them his secret sumo techniques.
They hadn't dared practice the techniques, partly because they couldn't read much of the archaic Japanese. That's why they'd sought out Gavin Banks, using the Osaka Brotherhood's specialists to help revise and translate. Two weeks later, the work was complete.
Sumo wrestling and assassin had nothing in common. Perfect cover identity.
"These are your new identities." Banks handed them plane tickets.
Both accepted, examining the documents before nodding in unison.
"I'm not Kyujiro anymore. I'm Nodar Ninidze."
"And I'm no longer Ganta. I'm Akaki Ninidze. We're brothers!"
"Yes! Blood brothers!"