Ratter and Cruz sat slumped in their chairs, still unconscious—tied up tight, mouths gagged, heads lolling slightly from the blows. Duct tape glinted faintly in the dim light.
Kage stood nearby, arms crossed, calm as ever.
He tapped a few buttons on his phone. Moments later, Iris walked in through the back door, dressed in black with her dark hair pulled into a tight ponytail. She glanced at the tied-up men and gave a faint smirk.
"Not surprised," she said, voice cool. Her eyes stayed on the two captives.
"Knowing their boss, she's definitely going to send someone to check on them soon."
Kage didn't flinch.
"Already planned for that."
Iris narrowed her gaze, arms folded.
"You called Cynthia, didn't you? She's the best at this kind of cleanup."
Kage gave her a small smile and nodded.
From across the room, Sarah looked between them, confused.
"Wait… who's Cynthia?"
Kiara echoed,
"Yeah, never heard of her before."
Iris turned to them.
"Cynthia's one of Kage's associates in his Rewardist business. She's our cyber cleanup specialist—hacking, data wiping, forging digital trails. Very surgical with vanishing acts."
She gestured to the unconscious men.
"My guess? Kage wants to make it look like these two found some clue to the treasure and went rogue. Slipped away with it on their own."
JJ, impressed, gave a short nod.
"That's actually... kinda brilliant."
John B, still cautious, raised a concern.
"Yeah, but... we can't keep them here. Sheriff Peterkin still drops by sometimes. If she finds them, we're screwed."
Kage answered without hesitation.
"Cynthia will handle it. Disappear them, cleanly."
Iris, more to herself than anyone else, muttered under her breath:"Yeah... she'll make sure they never officially existed."
A chill passed through the room—not from fear, but from the realization that they were playing on a much bigger board now. One where people like Cynthia erased trails... and ghosts were made, not born.
As they finished tying the last knot, the room went still. The weight of what they'd just done hung in the air like thick smoke.
Pope, shifting uncomfortably, finally spoke up.
"We can't just hand them over to someone to disappear. That's… illegal. It's against the law. We're not killers."
Iris let out a sharp breath, then rolled her eyes as she turned to face him.
"Kid, open your eyes."
She gestured toward the unconscious men, her voice cool but edged with steel.
"These two have killed more people than you can count. You think locking them up will change anything?"
She stepped closer, her gaze hardening.
"Their boss—Jo Bradock—runs one of the biggest mercenary and treasure-hunting networks in the world. She's got ties to billionaires, warlords, corrupt politicians. All it takes is one phone call, and these two walk free… or someone silences them before they can talk."
The group stared at her, stunned. The air felt colder now.
Sarah swallowed.
"Wait… you're saying even if we get them arrested..."
Kage cut in, voice low but firm.
"They'll be out within a week. Maybe less."
He looked at Pope, eyes steady.
"Kid, I get it. You still believe in rules, in justice. But this world?"
He paused, letting the words sink in.
"It's darker than you think. And the law doesn't always protect the good guys."
Silence.
Even JJ had nothing smart to say.
The truth was settling in—and it didn't feel good. But it was the truth.
Evening shadows stretched across the living room. The lights inside were low—just enough to see, not enough to draw attention from outside.
Ratter and Cruz remained unconscious in the back room, sedated and tied securely to their chairs.
Then—
A knock at the door.
The group froze.
John B looked toward the entrance.
"Oh no. It's Peterkin. Has to be."
Pope whispered,
"She checks in on us sometimes, remember? What if she—"
JJ, half-drawn revolver in hand, tensed by the window.
"We're screwed. We are so screwed."
Kage raised a hand calmly, signaling them to hold.
He listened for a second—just the sound of evening wind outside.
"It's not the sheriff," he said firmly.
He walked to the door, unbolted it, and opened it without hesitation.
Standing there was a woman—and the entire room seemed to fall into stunned silence.
She didn't say a word at first.
She didn't have to.
Her presence said everything.
Her long, dark hair—almost black—fell in natural waves that brushed her shoulders. It shimmered faintly under the porch light. Her skin held a warm, sun-kissed tone with a subtle glow, and her expression was focused, composed.
Her dark almond-shaped eyes scanned the room behind Kage with clinical precision—sharp, watchful, missing nothing. Thick, naturally arched brows sharpened her gaze. Her lips, soft but unsmiling, carried an unreadable calm.
She wore a sleek black leather jacket with a high collar and silver buttons—fitted like armor. She looked like someone who'd walked through a battlefield just to be early to a meeting.
Medium hoop earrings added the only touch of flair to her otherwise no-nonsense style.
Kage stepped aside.
"Cynthia."
She stepped in, giving a nod to Kage—then to Iris, who had just entered from the hallway with a smirk that said I told you so.
Cynthia stepped inside, her eyes scanning the room out of habit—sharp, calculating, missing no detail. Then her expression softened, just slightly.
Without a word, she moved toward Kage.
He met her halfway.
They embraced briefly—efficient, familiar—and she pressed a quick kiss to his cheek.
"Good to see you again," she said, voice low but warm.
Kage returned the gesture, kissing her cheek in kind."You too."
Sarah, eyes wide, whispered,
"She's not what I expected…"
Cynthia finally spoke, her voice smooth and steady."Two targets. Sedated. Digital footprint needs scrubbing. Do you want it to look like they fled or died?"
Kage smiled faintly.
"Make it look like they fled with stolen intel regarding HMS Royal Merchant. Solo op. No ties back to us."
Pope stared, trying to process it all.
"Wait… that's it? You just… do that?"
Cynthia glanced at him, mildly amused.
"It's what I'm paid for."
Kiara raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms.
"Okay… there's history there between them."
Sarah, leaning in, whispered with a hint of amusement,
"Also… is it just me, or is Iris kinda eyeing her?"
Iris, nearby, gave a half-smile but said nothing—her arms casually folded, watching Cynthia with the kind of ease that didn't come from rivalry… but familiarity. She knew Kage practically had a harem of women, especially his identity in Arashikage Clan allowed him multiple wives.
Cynthia, as if oblivious to all of it—or simply too focused to care—slipped on a pair of black tactical gloves and walked with smooth, purposeful strides toward the back room.
"Show me the scene," she said, all business now.
"I'll start the cleanup."
Kage gave a nod and gestured her through the hallway.