Inside the cargo space of the transport vehicle, the five of us, the bodyguard team, were seated.

  Although we were accustomed to these types of missions, something felt different today.

  There was an unusual sense of unease.

  Perhaps it was because, despite having only three cases, five bodyguards had been assigned to protect them.

  Mitsuya, sitting next to me, mumbled quietly.

  "What do you think we're transporting?"

  Mitsuya was in his mid-20s, a young guard with two years of experience. His unnecessarily loud voice and curious nature made him the mood maker of the team.

  "It doesn’t seem like it’s a cargo that needs this many guards," Tanaka shrugged, crossing his arms. He was in his early 30s like me, with a well-built physique and a talent for frontline combat. He was the reliable senior, with a boisterous personality.

  "We just need to deliver it to the destination without asking questions. That's our job," said our leader, Segawa-san, calmly. He was a veteran with over ten years of experience, always maintaining composure no matter the situation and supporting us. I’d heard that he’d survived many dangerous missions in the past.

  "But it's unusual to have such a large-scale security detail," said Yamamoto-san, the only woman in the group. She had shoulder-length hair tied in a ponytail and was the brains of the team, offering calm demeanor and sharp judgment. In her mid-30s, she had an older sister-like presence in the team.

  Mitsuya, with curiosity in his eyes, asked, "We're heading to Nagoya, right? Is it a local drop-off?"

  I glanced at my wristwatch before answering.

  "Well, if all goes well, it should be over by around 9 PM. We’re about in the middle of Gifu right now."

  Tanaka chuckled lightly.

  "After transporting it from the Osaka research facility, we’re finally here. It’s been quite a long journey."

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  "But this job was supposed to be finished in the morning," Yamamoto-san furrowed her brow.

  "We could have gotten here faster if we just stayed on the highway, but we deliberately took the detour," she said.

  "Yeah, that’s true," Mitsuya nodded.

  "It feels like we’re taking a strangely long route," he added.

  I thought for a moment.

  "Maybe they have some specific instructions," I said.

  Tanaka responded, "What the higher-ups think, we’ll never know."

  "Still, I hope we don’t run into any unnecessary trouble," Yamamoto-san sighed, and we all nodded slightly.

  Tanaka suddenly pointed at me and smirked.

  "By the way, Matsumoto! I heard you’ve matched with Emerald!"

  "Huh? Seriously, Senpai?" Mitsuya turned around, surprised.

  It wasn’t surprising that he was shocked. Emerald was a rare stone, and there were few who could match with it.

  I was surprised myself, but just as pleased.

  The discovery of an Adept Stone had a lot to do with luck.

  Being able to match with such a rare stone was a source of pride as a bodyguard.

  Tanaka crossed his arms again and asked, "So, what’s the big deal? Can you do something amazing with it?"

  "I can see a little bit into the future," I replied.

  Mitsuya’s eyes sparkled as he raised his voice.

  "The future!? Wait, that’s like a cheat ability!"

  "No, it’s not that impressive. I can only see a few seconds ahead, and it’s useless unless I use it correctly."

  I humbly downplayed it in front of everyone, but inwardly, I believed it was a powerful ability.

  I had only just matched with it, so I couldn’t fully control it yet, but maybe someday, this ability could open up new paths for me.

  "But those few seconds can mean the difference between life and death. Have confidence, Matsumoto."

  Segawa-san’s words carried weight. With that one line, I felt a little more confident.

  Suddenly, the transport vehicle shook violently. And then—

  BAM!

  This time, it was a heavy impact. The whole cargo space shook, and we instinctively braced ourselves.

  The vehicle had come to a stop.

  "What the hell? Was it an accident?" Segawa-san muttered, his face grim.

  "No—everyone, prepare for combat!"

  At that signal, we all sprang into action.

  Mitsuya grabbed his CA Device, and Tanaka stood up to check the situation behind us.

  "Car ahead! Damn, we’re surrounded!"

  Mitsuya’s shout heightened the tension.

  "What? Why hasn’t the driver said anything about this?" Tanaka grumbled, but there was no time to wait for answers.

  Segawa-san quickly issued commands.

  "Matsumoto, Yamamoto! Protect the cases! Mitsuya, check the outside. Tanaka, keep watch at the rear!"

  "Understood!"

  Everyone responded immediately and took their positions. I stood with Yamamoto-san in front of the cases.

  "Don’t worry. Stay calm," Yamamoto-san said briefly.

  I nodded deeply and took my CA Device out of my pocket.

  "Ready. Waiting for the next order."

  "Do your best, Matsumoto," Yamamoto-san encouraged.

  "Got it!" I muttered.

  At that moment, the transport vehicle shook again.

  "Damn... What’s going on?"

  "Here we go!"

  I thought I heard a man’s voice from outside, and the next moment—

  My body was suddenly lifted off the ground, and I was slammed back down forcefully.

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