Chapter 19 : A deal with destiny

The grand hall of the agency was dimly lit, the towering pillars casting long, eerie shadows across the cold stone floor. The flickering candlelight barely reached the high ceilings, making the vast space feel even more ominous. At the head of the room, Kurogami sat in his high-backed chair, his fingers pressed together in quiet contemplation. His gaze was sharp, yet unreadable, as if he were a hunter watching his prey before striking.

One by one, the highest-ranking officers of the agency entered, their footsteps echoing against the polished floor. Each carried an air of authority, their presence alone enough to command respect. Yet beneath the surface, a mixture of curiosity and impatience stirred. Kurogami never called meetings without reason, and the lack of explanation only made the tension grow.

Renzo, ever the impatient one, was the first to break the silence as he dropped into his seat with an audible huff. His arms crossed over his chest, and a sharp edge lined his voice. “Alright, Kurogami, what’s this about? You don’t just summon all of us for a casual chat. We have work to do.”

Lady Hisoka, always composed and elegant, adjusted the long sleeves of her robe, her lips curving into an amused smile. She leaned back slightly, studying Kurogami with interest. “Indeed. This is rather unusual, even for you. Are we to assume something urgent has occurred?”

Takahiro, who had remained standing until now, let out a low grunt before finally taking his seat. His expression was unreadable, but his displeasure was clear. “I don’t like being dragged here without a reason. This better not be a waste of time.” His deep voice rumbled through the hall, his irritation barely concealed.

Daigo, the oldest among them and the only one with direct authority over Kurogami, sat with an air of quiet dominance. His sharp eyes missed nothing as he observed the room. “You wouldn’t call all of us unless it was necessary,” he said evenly. “So let’s not waste time. What is it?”

Hiroki, the youngest among them but by no means the least skilled, had been silently watching the room. His fingers tapped against the polished wood of the long table, his golden eyes flickering between the gathered officers before settling on Kurogami. “It’s rare for us to be gathered like this without prior notice,” he said, his voice calm but carrying an undercurrent of concern. “Whatever this is about, I assume it’s serious.”

At the far end of the table, Kaito remained still. His posture was relaxed, almost casual, yet his mind was already racing. Something about this entire situation felt off. Kurogami wasn’t the type to call unnecessary meetings. If he had summoned them all, it meant something had shifted in the agency—something dangerous.

Yet Kurogami said nothing. He allowed their words to hang in the air, their curiosity slowly turning into unease. The silence stretched, heavy and suffocating, as if the room itself held its breath.

Lady Hisoka arched a brow, her voice smooth but carrying a hint of playfulness. “Oh? Have you suddenly developed a taste for dramatic pauses, Kurogami?” She rested her chin on one hand, watching him closely. “Or are you simply enjoying keeping us in suspense?”

Renzo let out an irritated sigh, leaning forward. “Enough games. Just spit it out already.”

But Kurogami did not rush. His sharp, crimson eyes scanned the faces before him, studying each one with quiet intensity. He wanted them to feel the weight of what he was about to say. He wanted their minds to race, to question, to wonder.

And only when he felt the tension was at its peak did he finally speak.

“All of you have served the agency with loyalty and skill,” he began, his voice low yet carrying through the hall with undeniable authority. “You have proven your worth time and time again, standing above the rest.”

Renzo scoffed, unimpressed. “Save us the flattery, Kurogami. Just get to the point.”

Kurogami’s gaze flickered toward Renzo for a brief moment, acknowledging his impatience but not indulging it. He continued as if the interruption had never occurred.

“But loyalty,” he said, his tone sharpening, “is a fragile thing. And trust… trust is even more delicate.”

A heavy stillness fell over the room.

“We have a problem,” Kurogami continued, his fingers tapping once against the table. The sound echoed ominously in the quiet hall. “One that could threaten the very foundation of this agency.”

The air grew colder. The weight of his words settled over the gathered officers like a shroud, unseen yet suffocating. Eyes narrowed, bodies tensed.

A heavy silence fell upon the room, thick with unspoken tension. The dim lighting of the grand hall cast long shadows over the faces of the gathered officers, their expressions frozen in a mix of curiosity and apprehension. The weight of Kurogami’s words lingered, pressing down on each of them like an unseen force.

Daigo, ever the composed leader, narrowed his eyes. His voice was steady, but there was an unmistakable edge beneath his calm exterior. “What do you mean?”

Kurogami leaned forward slightly, his fingers intertwined on the table. His voice remained calm but carried a weight that could not be ignored. “There is a traitor among us.”

A wave of shock rippled through the room, breaking the stillness like a sudden gust of wind before a storm.

Hiroki was the first to react, his brow furrowing in disbelief. “That’s a serious accusation. Do you have proof?” His tone was sharp, demanding clarity, but there was also a hint of concern buried beneath his words.

Lady Hisoka, ever the strategist, arched a single eyebrow, her sharp gaze studying Kurogami as if trying to peel away his thoughts. “And how are you so sure?”

Kurogami allowed himself a small smirk, though there was no humor in it—only cold certainty. He let the silence stretch a moment longer before answering. “Last night, a squad was sent to track down two fugitives—Mikuya and Sora. They had their orders. They were prepared. But somehow, they were ambushed.”

A flicker of unease crossed Takahiro’s face. “Ambushed? That’s impossible. Our squads operate in absolute secrecy.”

Kurogami’s gaze was unwavering. “And yet, almost everyone was slaughtered. Only one soldier managed to escape, barely alive, and report back.”

Renzo, who had been listening in silence, now leaned forward, his usual bravado tempered by the gravity of the situation. “And what did he see?”

The smirk on Kurogami’s lips disappeared, replaced by an expression as cold as steel. His voice, though quiet, carried an unshakable authority. “He saw someone helping them. Someone wearing our emblem.”

The room erupted into murmurs and hushed accusations. The idea of a traitor in their ranks was unthinkable, yet the evidence Kurogami presented could not be ignored. The mere thought of betrayal sent a ripple of unease through even the most hardened warriors in the room.

Renzo suddenly slammed his fist on the table, his patience snapping. “Impossible. No one in this room would dare betray the agency.”

Lady Hisoka, however, remained eerily calm. She rested her chin on her hand, eyes still locked onto Kurogami. “That is a dangerous assumption, Renzo. If there is a traitor, dismissing the possibility without proof would be foolish.”

Kurogami nodded. “Exactly. Which is why I will not act on assumptions alone.”

Daigo, who had been listening carefully, finally spoke again, his voice firm. “If this is true, we must act carefully. If the traitor knows we are aware, they will cover their tracks.”

Takahiro rubbed his chin, deep in thought. “Do you have any suspects?”

Kurogami’s gaze swept across the room, pausing ever so slightly on Kaito before moving on. The moment was brief—so fleeting that it might have gone unnoticed. But Kaito noticed. His fingers twitched slightly under the table, though his face remained impassive.

Kurogami continued, his tone unwavering. “It could be anyone. That’s why I intend to launch an investigation. I will personally oversee the surveillance of all high-ranking members who may be acting suspiciously. No one is above suspicion. Until we find the one responsible, I trust no one.”

A heavy pause settled over the room, each officer processing the implications of what had just been said. The thought of being under scrutiny was not one they welcomed, but the alternative—letting a traitor operate unchecked—was far worse.

Daigo exhaled slowly, nodding. “Very well. You have my permission. But be discreet. If we let paranoia take over, we will destroy ourselves before the traitor even makes their next move.”

Kurogami dipped his head in acknowledgment. “Understood.”

Kaito forced himself to remain still, but inside, his mind was racing. He had already been cautious, but now he knew—Kurogami suspected something. If he wasn’t careful, his next move could be his last.

Something was very, very wrong.

Renzo exhaled sharply, his fingers drumming against the polished wooden table. “So we’re all suspects now? Fantastic.” His voice dripped with sarcasm, but beneath it was an edge of genuine frustration.

Lady Hisoka, ever composed, tapped a single finger against the table in a slow, rhythmic manner. “And how exactly do you plan to conduct this investigation, Kurogami?” she asked, her piercing gaze fixed on him. “If there truly is a traitor among us, they will surely tread carefully now. A mere mention of this suspicion might have already set them on guard.”

Kurogami’s expression remained unreadable, his cold eyes scanning the faces of those present. “That is my concern, not yours,” he stated plainly. “You don’t need to concern yourself with the methods. Just know that I will find them.”

Hiroki, usually the quiet one in serious meetings, frowned. “What happens when you do?” he asked, his voice quieter than the others but carrying weight.

Kurogami’s lips curled into a small, almost amused smile. “Then they will be dealt with accordingly.”

A silence settled over the room. No one needed him to elaborate. The meaning was clear.

Kaito, who had remained quiet until now, finally broke his silence. “And what if this so-called ‘traitor’ wasn’t acting out of malice?” His voice was calm, measured. “What if there’s more to this than simple betrayal?”

The room went still. For the first time, Kurogami gave Kaito a long, scrutinizing look. It was subtle, but Kaito felt the weight of it like a blade hovering just above his neck. A second too long, a fraction too intense.

He knew. Or at the very least, he suspected.

Kurogami chuckled lightly, but there was no humor in it. “A traitor is a traitor, Kaito. No matter the reason.”

Kaito met his gaze steadily, his face unreadable. “Then I suppose we’ll see how this plays out.”

The meeting adjourned, but the tension lingered in the air like an unshaken storm. One by one, the officers rose from their seats, exchanging murmured words before filing out of the grand hall.

Renzo was the first to leave, shaking his head. “This is going to be a disaster,” he muttered to no one in particular.

Lady Hisoka gave Kurogami one last searching look before gracefully making her exit, her sharp eyes missing nothing. Hiroki walked alongside Takahiro, the two of them speaking in hushed voices, while Daigo, ever the composed leader, strode out in silence, lost in thought.

Kaito walked at a measured pace, resisting the urge to look over his shoulder. He could feel Kurogami’s gaze on him, lingering, probing. He knew. Or at the very least, he had a strong suspicion.

Kurogami stood by the table, watching the officers leave. His mind was already working, setting traps, forming plans. He had seen the brief flicker of tension in Kaito’s posture, the careful way he measured his words. It was small—so small that most would have missed it.

But Kurogami didn’t miss things like that.

As Kaito stepped out of the hall and into the cool night air, he took a steadying breath. He had been careful, but was it enough? Kurogami was relentless, and now, Kaito knew he was being watched. Every move, every word, every glance would be under scrutiny.

He had to be more careful than ever.

Because if Kurogami found what he was looking for, there would be no mercy.