Kabukicho district, Tokyo. Where glitz and shadow intertwine. It was past midnight, but the neon lights were still brilliant, music still echoing from bars and nightclubs. However, in a small alley, hidden deep behind the entertainment buildings, a tense confrontation was about to unfold.
"Target is inside," Inspector Tanaka whispered over the radio. He crouched behind a parked truck by the roadside, his eyes sweeping across the old metal door of an abandoned warehouse. Beside him was Officer Itoh, her face serious, her standard police handgun hidden beneath her jacket.
"Delta team ready. Awaiting orders," another officer's voice came back from the radio.
The Special Unit of the Tokyo Police Department, specializing in cases related to "Drop Items", was on a mission. They had been tracking a small criminal group that had recently risen to prominence by collecting and trading "Drop" weapons. Intelligence indicated that tonight, they were gathering at this warehouse to conduct a transaction.
"Remember," Inspector Tanaka said, his voice decisive. "They have heavy weapons from 'Drops'. Possibly other items with anomalous properties. Be extremely cautious. Main objective: apprehend suspects and recover the items."
"Understood!"
The radio fell silent. Tension hung in the air. Only the soft footsteps of the team members could be heard as they moved into attack positions.
"Go!"
The attack order was given. Delta team, led by Officer Itoh and a few other officers, quickly breached the metal door. A loud crash echoed, tearing through the still night of the alley.
"Police! Hands up!"
Shouts reverberated inside the large, dark warehouse. Flashlights from the officers' helmets swept across the area.
Inside the warehouse, about five criminals were gathered around a table. When the door was breached, they panicked.
"Police! Run!"
Gunfire erupted. Bang! Bang!
Not standard handguns. The sound was sharp, powerful. It was the sound of automatic pistols or modified assault rifles from "Drop Items".
"They're armed! Be careful!" Officer Itoh shouted. She and the other officers quickly took cover behind concrete pillars and old stacks of goods.
Bullets from the criminals' side slammed into the walls, sending debris flying. They didn't hesitate to open fire on the police.
"Alpha team, flank left!" Inspector Tanaka ordered, simultaneously drawing his own handgun, aiming carefully.
The shootout was brief but fierce. The criminals, despite having powerful weapons, lacked combat discipline. They relied only on overwhelming firepower.
One criminal, the group's leader, roared, raising a green object that looked like a small shield. Thwack! A bullet fired from a police gun hit the object, creating a faint green light and deflecting.
Defense item?! Inspector Tanaka frowned.
"Watch out for their items!"
Officer Itoh moved nimbly, dodging the gunfire, while accurately returning fire at the shoulder of a criminal trying to aim from behind cover. The criminal fell, their weapon clattering away.
"Weak energy shield!" Officer Itoh shouted, identifying the properties of the shield item. "Can't withstand concentrated firepower!"
She and another officer aimed at the leader. Bang! Bang! Bang! Several consecutive bullets hit the shield item. The green light flickered, weakened, then the object shattered with a small "ting".
"Gah!" The leader was hit in the leg by a bullet.
Taking advantage of their demoralization, the police team broke through. Gunfire fell silent, replaced by shouts, struggles, and the clinking of metal handcuffs.
In just a few tense minutes, the crackdown concluded. The criminals were subdued, handcuffed. No officers were seriously injured. A few criminals were wounded by bullets, but their lives were not in danger.
"Secure the scene! Recover all weapons and items!" Inspector Tanaka ordered, his voice still slightly tense after the shootout.
Officers quickly searched the area. On the floor, next to the subdued criminals, were the weapons they had used. A handgun with an old appearance but surprisingly powerful fire, a compact assault rifle, and several other handguns, including a brand new G17.
"Weapons recovered," Officer Itoh reported, picking up the G17 with two gloved fingers, her expression serious. "All are 'Drop Items'."
Additionally, they found a few other items. The green energy "shield" which had shattered. A few bullets with an unusual appearance. A small metal box with no visible seams or obvious way to open it.
Inspector Tanaka looked at the items neatly laid out on a tarp. He sighed. "Another batch joining the collection at the Office for Science and Research of Anomalous Objects."
He took out his radio, contacting the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department headquarters. "Headquarters, this is Special Unit 1. Mission accomplished. Apprehended 5 suspects at the designated location. Recovered 'Drop Item' weapons, including 4 handguns, 1 assault rifle, and several other anomalous items. No serious casualties on our side. Requesting specialized vehicle for item collection and transport for suspects."
"Understood, Special Unit 1. Congratulations," the voice from the radio responded.
After finishing the report, Inspector Tanaka turned to Officer Itoh. "Another small nest cleaned out."
"But they'll just sprout up somewhere else soon enough," Officer Itoh said, her eyes on the criminals being escorted to the vehicle. "The supply of 'items' is still there, and the demand on the black market is constantly increasing."
"That's right," Inspector Tanaka nodded, the fatigue returning to his face. "This is just a daily battle. Bust one hideout, another one pops up."
He looked up at the Tokyo night sky, where the neon lights were still brilliant. Somewhere out there, perhaps at this very moment, another "item" was "dropping", bringing new danger and chaos to the city.
This small crackdown was just a drop in the ocean of chaos they were facing. But at least, tonight, these guns hadn't had a chance to commit any more crimes. It was a small, temporary victory, in the police force's never-ending war.