In Nikko, gun deaths never exceed ten per year. This is because the Nikko government controls the circulation of firearms very tightly.

For civilians who wish to own firearms, the procedures that must be followed are:

Join a hunting or shooting club. Take a firearms course and pass a written test which is held three times a year. Underwent a medical examination to prove mental health and have no history of drug use. Apply for firearms training, which usually lasts a month. Conducted an interview with the police and explained the reasons why the applicant needed a firearm. Pass checks for criminal records, possession of firearms, employment, involvement with criminal organizations, debt records, and relationships with friends, family, and neighbors. Apply for a permit to use gunpowder. Take a day's course and test shooting with a minimum score of 8.2. Obtain a certificate from the arms dealer containing a description of the weapon the applicant wants. Buy a box of weapons and ammunition, along with a locker that meets safety standards. Allow the police to inspect the applicant's weapons storage area. Pass an additional background check. Buy weapons.

All these complicated procedures must be fulfilled in order to purchase two types of legal weapons circulating in Nikko, which is a shotgun or air rifle.

That's why in Nikko, when there was a mass murder, the headline was never "Mass Shooting" but "Mass Stabbing."

But all things have exceptions. For upper-class Nikko residents who want to experience the thrill of firing a gun, they can join an illegal shooting club that provides military standard firearms for its members.

One of the firearms suppliers for the illegal shooting club is Unagi Kenishiro. He lives on the south coast of Nichiko City, right on a steep hillside area where no one would have approached it if it weren't for getting lost or drunk.

As an ex-Marine in the Nikko Navy, Unagi is very satisfied with the location of his cottage, where he is enjoying his old age. Being able to enjoy the sea air every day and see the sun sink or rise is great happiness for Unagi.

The evening sun had just set when Unagi walked to his cottage carrying a fishing rod and a tuna as big as a grown man's thigh.

Unagi casually entered his hut through the side door and headed straight to the kitchen. Then without warning someone suddenly smothered him using a piece of cloth from behind.

Unagi does not know for sure the effect of the thick smelling liquid used by the person smothering him, but he knows he shouldn't inhale it, and even though he is old, Unagi still knows how to defend himself.

Unagi was surprised when he felt that the hand which was holding him was soft and weak. So, even if he failed to knock out his attacker using a shoulder throw, without difficulty he removed the person's grip before taking some distance.

Unagi looked at his attacker while making an assessment. 'Almost perfect balance and stance but a weak body. Even though he's wearing a headcover, I can feel he's very young.'

"Who sent you?"

"..."

Seeing that his attacker was silent, Unagi no longer wasted time and attacked. He tried to launch a body-blow with his right hand, but somehow his opponent avoided it with a very small motion, and even managed to get his rear waist against his left waist.

'This is bad!'

Unagi shrieked inwardly as his body turned upside down. He tried to counter but his efforts were in vain and his body smoothly floated up before hitting the cottage wall very hard.

When Unagi was still lying on the floor due to the dizziness, the attacker covered Unagi's mouth and nose using a cloth smeared with a strong-smelling liquid. Not long after that, Unagi fell asleep.

---

Like most other countries on Planet Terra, Nikko applies very strict laws regarding the use of military force. Especially elements of special forces groups for operations in the country. Outside the martial law conditions, SFG may only operate under the control of Special Tactic Group (STG), which is affiliated with Nikko Federal Bureau (NFB). This is intended to prevent misuse of special forces elements by irresponsible parties.

Unfortunately, the reality on the field often demands that the military or intelligence services take direct action independently and ilegaly, in order to eliminate threats to national stability.

The illegal operation or Black Ops in the country is much more risky than the Black Ops abroad. Because if it is exposed and known to the public, then every unit and element involved will be immediately liquidated indiscriminately. That is why when carrying out operations in the country SFG applied the doctrine of one operator for one mission, and there was only cash support without any other support in the form of personnel or material.

In the initial phase of selection, prospective SFG personnel will be asked to answer several simulation questions in an interview.

The most frequently used simulation is, intelligence has successfully detected an anti-government organization cell that wants to launch a terror attack on a public facility in the country. The number of personnel, weapons, attack methods, and hiding locations is known. NFB agents have also succeeded in infiltrating the cell, but the arrests will only be carried out when cell members enter the targeted public facilities.

Of course, the military and intelligence services disagreed with the legal procedures the NFB had to adhere to and took risks versus contact in public places. An illegal operation was designed and prospective personnel was asked to give their opinion on two things:

A method so that he can get out of the base, go to the target location, carry out the mission, then return to the base without being detected. The most effective and efficient way of carrying out the mission.

The answers to the first point usually will not affect whether prospective SFG personnel are passed or not, because personnel who have never received training on illegal operations are rarely able to provide the expected answers.

The answer that can affect the passing of prospective SFG personnel is the answer to the second point. If the cadet answers, he will kill everyone at the target location, then the cadet will be passed in the selection process. However, if the cadet answers that he will try to identify the undercover NFB agent and work with him, then the cadet will be declared a failure by using reasons of not meeting physical requirements or other reasons.

When the small interview during the SFG selection fell into the hands of NFB high-ranking officials, they immediately submitted a note to the Supreme Court so that the SFG would be liquidated and a new unit with a more law-abiding Modus Operandi was formed.

However, the Supreme Court rejected the note from the NFB because there was no concrete evidence that indicated the SFG was carrying out illegal operations in the country as mentioned in the interview.

It is said that this is what makes the relationship between SFG and NFB like fire and water.

In his previous life, Hide was one of the best operators the SFG had in carrying out solo operations without support, and often he would look to Unagi for an untraceable gun or a military standard firearm whose main component had no serial number and thus could not be traced.

After moving Unagi onto the sofa, Hide inspected every corner of the cottage. But he must be disappointed because the firearm he hoped for was not found. Whereas in his previous life Unagi always bragged that in his cottage he had a wide variety armory.

"Old bastard!" Hide cursed before sighed silently.

In Unagi's cottage, Hide only finds a Sieg Sauer P365, Mini Uzie, a cal. 5.56 mm version of AEK-74SU, and several combat knives.

Both the Sieg Sauer P365 and Mini Uzie are packaged in a shockproof Pelican Case and will float when dropped into the water. Both weapons are cal. 9mm, equipped with a sound suppressor, tactical flashlights, and three extra magazines.

As for the AEK-74SU, Hide found the firearm in Unagi's wardrobe, without packaging and three extra magazines attached to it.

Hide immediately packed the weapon he found along with several boxes of ammunition, then calculated the value of his purchases according to the price prevailing on the black market.

AEK-74SU, Minie Uzie, or Sieg Sauer P365 complete with extra magazines all sell for 600 Dillar or 60 thousand Ren.

Military standard ammunition, the average price is 200-400 Dillar per 500-round carton.

Sound suppressor for handgun or SMG, the average price is 800-1000 Dillar per unit.

Tactical flashlight complete with a spare battery for 500 hours of operation, the average price is 50-80 Dillar per unit.

Each month Hide receives 400-500 thousand Ren from his father, and after deducting the financial program fees for himself and Aizawa as well as registration fees for Kitaro Music School, his remaining savings are still sufficient to buy 5-6 weapons. Unfortunately, it turned out that he didn't get the weapon he wanted.

Hide puts his shopping money on the dining table with a vial of Hateur, a dumb cell phone that can only be used for calls and SMS, and a message on a piece of paper.

After confirming that Unagi is still alive and his vital signs are stable, Hide immediately leaves.

*****