The Cerberus Mandate
The Sky Lounge of the Tenryuu Tower was now a true war room. On the central holographic display, the fragmented news reports of Shinichi Kudo's disappearance flickered alongside the thermal scans of Tropical Land.
"The Black Organization moved with brutal efficiency," Kaito stated, his fifteen-year-old face set in a mask of total strategic focus. "They neutralized the biggest visible threat first. Now, they go dark."
Shiori managed the primary console. "Cerberus Protocol Alpha is fully engaged. Our financial assets are already creating subtle market noise to mask any Black Organization transfers. Our media assets are controlling the narrative surrounding Kudo's 'sudden exit'."
"Good," Kaito confirmed. "Now, we assemble the operational core. The strategy is useless without the teeth."
The Hound Acquisition: John Wick
Kaito activated a highly encrypted channel connecting to his older sister, Sara, the intelligence broker.
"Sara. I need a specialized close-protection and rapid-response unit. The absolute best in firearms fighting and tactical infiltration. They must operate entirely outside the jurisdiction of any government and answer only to Cerberus."
Sara's face appeared on the screen, a slight smirk playing on her lips. "You always ask for the impossible, little brother. But I anticipated this need. I have a retired asset. A legend. He operates under the designation: Baba Yaga."
"Name," Kaito commanded.
"John Wick. Former highly specialized assassin. Now retired, entirely loyal to his own code, and owed a debt by our father dating back two decades. He is unmatched in tactical combat and weapons expertise."
Kaito felt a cold certainty settle in his chest. "Acquire him. Give him a dedicated, untraceable budget. His unit will be the operational arm of Cerberus, designated The Hound."
Within hours, John Wick, a figure of silent, lethal precision, was briefed and assigned. He was given a mandate: Protect the assets designated by Tenryuu Kaito, utilizing maximum force if necessary, without leaving a traceable shadow.
Wick, a man who spoke volumes in silence, gave a single nod and vanished into the Tenryuu logistical network, immediately acquiring his initial team—experts in infiltration, counter-surveillance, and close-quarters combat.
The Invisible Shield
Kaito's immediate priority was the protection of the two key assets: Ran Mouri (the potential target of the Black Organization if they discovered Kudo's connection) and the newly shrunken Conan Edogawa (the detective's physical vulnerability).
"Shiori, task The Hound with continuous, passive surveillance on Ran Mouri. They are to operate as her invisible shadow. No direct contact, absolute silent intervention if she is in danger—especially if the danger involves firearms or explosives."
"Understood. Ran Mouri is under continuous Level 3 protection."
Kaito turned his attention to the second target. "Conan Edogawa. He will inevitably gravitate toward Kogoro Mouri. His small size makes him a massive liability."
"Kazuya-san," Kaito instructed his profiler, who was monitoring the Mouri Detective Agency's chaos map. "Masato's cyber-forensics unit is to start filtering all communication logs for any mention of a 'small child with glasses' in connection to Kudo or the recent cases. We must locate him without making a traceable query."
The Quiet Guardian
Days passed. Shinichi Kudo was now officially Conan Edogawa, settled into the Mouri Detective Agency. The chaos magnet was attracting crime, just as Kaito had predicted.
The Cerberus Network hummed in the background:
Masato (Digital Forensics): Discovered a vague, unconfirmed report from a security camera near the Tropical Land attack that showed a glimpse of a small child and a large man in black. This helped narrow the search, confirming the shrunken identity.
The Hound (John Wick's team): Established a perimeter around the Mouri Agency. They were invisible. When a small-time thug attempted to intimidate Ran Mouri regarding a case, the thug simply found himself unexpectedly and brutally hospitalized with injuries that defied official explanation. No police report was filed. No one saw anything.
Kaito watched the reports flow into the Azure Blend command center. He hadn't revealed himself. He hadn't solved a case. He was simply guaranteeing the continuity of the story.
He was the unseen force, the shield woven from wealth and violence, protecting the protagonist who had no idea he was being guarded by the deadliest man on the planet and the heir to a trillion-dollar empire.
You chase the truth in the light, Conan-kun, Kaito thought, watching a camera feed of the small boy. But I own the shadows.