One week before Archer's confrontation with the Boss, at V.I.P.E.R. headquarters, the investigation into the missing persons from Captain Ryuto's faction—presumed executed by a firing squad in the Badlands—was still ongoing.
"We've completed the autopsy of the firing squad's bodies, and we can confirm they were all killed by a blade—a very sharp one at that. It was as if they were sliced simultaneously by the same blade. Sir, we believe a skilled professional using Soul energy to enhance their speed was responsible," one of the pathologists reported to Commander Toma. Itsuki, who was nearby, overheard the conversation.
"Blade? Speed? This can only be one person," Itsuki said, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Toma, I know who did it. Let me take care of him."
"It's Commander Toma to you, Itsuki. Address me with respect next time. The person who killed the firing squad isn't our priority right now. What's more important is the whereabouts of Archer Saiten, Kaito Fujinami, and the identity of the third person who wiped out all data about themselves," Commander Toma replied, picking up his coffee cup to take a sip.
"You're such a bore. Let me see their pictures. I think I might know one of them," Itsuki said in a disappointed tone. His boredom wouldn't let him rest, so he decided to assist with the case.
"Haru, show Itsuki the pictures of Archer Saiten and Kaito Fujinami. Apparently, he wants to be useful instead of chasing his boyfriend in the Assassin's Code," Commander Toma teased. Despite their informal banter, Toma and Itsuki were close friends and they rarely addressed each other formally.
"A-Alright, sir," Haru stammered as she hurried to show Itsuki the pictures of Archer and Kaito.
"Hmm, what do we have here?" Itsuki said, recognizing one of the faces in the photos. "This Archer guy—I saw him the other day with Hayate's group," he added, a glimmer of excitement in his eyes. "I'll get him myself. Maybe send Takumi to find the other guy." Itsuki prepared to rush off to confront the Assassin's Code.
"Hold it, Itsuki. Knowing you, you'll lose focus and get caught up fighting Hayate again. I'll send Takumi with you, along with an army of V.I.P.E.R. soldiers. Your mission is to find and retrieve Archer Saiten officially next week. Now sit your ass down," Commander Toma said, bursting Itsuki's bubble.
"Man, you're such a bore, and Takumi's even worse—always going on about 'responsibility' and 'the mission comes first.' I could go myself, you know," Itsuki grumbled as he left the investigation unit area. "I'm going back to sleep. Wake me up when it's time to go. I'm taking a really long nap."
Back in the present, the Boss was about to reveal what happened the day he met Archer in the alley. Breaking the silence with a loud exhale, he locked eyes with Archer, whose confused expression had shifted to one of determination. This look you have reminds me of him so much, the Boss thought.
"Well, are you going to start talking?" Archer asked, his legs spread, arms resting on his thighs, fingers interlocked, as he awaited the Boss's response.
"Alright, alright," the Boss said, leaning forward. "Archer, my reason for being in that alley was completely unrelated to you. Our meeting was mere coincidence." His tone was serious, his eyes fixed on Archer's.
Archer listened intently, his gaze unwavering, determined to catch every detail about the day his life got changed forever.
"That day, I was taking a shortcut through the alley to get supplies from the mart just beyond it. That's when I saw a ball—the one you came to retrieve—land in front of me. I turned and saw you," the Boss narrated.
Archer, expecting get a hint that could help him recover his lost memories, leaned back slightly but kept his eyes locked on the Boss. He didn't speak, his fingers still interlocked, almost holding his breath, unblinking.
"I didn't reach out to pick you up or whatever you thought," the Boss continued, breaking eye contact to glance at the ground, then at Hina in the corner, before returning to Archer's eyes. "I stretched my arms t—"
The Boss's narration was cut short by the echo of a single footstep. The senses of all 14 members of the Code sharpened instantly, their guards up as they recognized what was coming.
"Ultra Shock!" a familiar voice bellowed, and the safe house blasted open with an attack even more powerful than the one Itsuki had unleashed weeks ago.
As the dust settled, Itsuki scanned the debris, his eyes narrowing to locate the Code. He spotted them, protected by a forcefield conjured by Hina, the fifth member of the Code. His gaze locked onto Archer within the field, and a huge grin spread across his face. "Archer Saiten! You're coming with me!" Itsuki declared, lunging toward the forcefield.
"Is he seriously thinking about breaking the field?" Hina muttered, fully aware of Itsuki's strength. "Brace yourselves, everyone. He's going to break it. I'll release the field just before he touches it to give you an opening to attack," she said with determination.
"What does he want with me?" Archer thought, panic rising.
Itsuki charged at the forcefield, a shockwave emanating from his palm as he prepared to slam it. Hina, eyes resolute, knew she had to time her action perfectly to catch him off guard.
"Not yet," she thought as Itsuki's palm drew closer. "Still not yet." As soon as the distance between his palm and the field shrank to less than the width of a leaf, Hina released the field, and Hayate—drawing his blade out— sprang toward Itsuki.
Caught off guard but not surprised, Itsuki faced Hayate's katana. "Is that the katana you used to slice down the firing squad?" he taunted with a wide grin, redirecting his shockwave to shatter Hayate's blade.
"Tch," Hayate muttered as his katana was rendered useless. "You're getting faster, Itsuki." He leaped back, activating his Yūrei no Tsubasa to engage Itsuki. "You guys make a break for it. I'll handle Itsuk, I'll make sure he never comes back," Hayate signaled to the group.
The Code bolted, but Archer paused. "Where's the Boss?" he asked, scanning for him.
"He was gone the moment Itsuki's foot hit the ground. Surprised you didn't notice," Reo responded.
"That nasty rat," Archer muttered, annoyance crossing his face.
The Code's escape was halted by a massive army of elite V.I.P.E.R. soldiers led by Takumi blocking their path. Takumi opened his palm, a spherical energy ball rapidly expanding to the size of a tank. "That dumbass Itsuki. I knew he'd get distracted by Hayate again."
His eyes locked on the group. "This group has caused enough chaos in the world. Today will be the last day the so-called 'Assassin's Code' roams the earth."
With his arm poised to hurl the energy ball, Takumi's gaze fixed on Archer.
"ARCHER SAITEN, YOU'RE COMING WITH ME!" Takumi declared loudly.