Koden walked through the night, a half-burnt cigarette resting on his lips, fingers flicking a worn-out metal lighter. The sharp click echoed in the dark, like a hollow reply from the void inside him. The city had lost its light — only the wind howled through cold concrete alleys, and the lonely footsteps of a man who had betrayed everything.
Suddenly, a voice sliced through the night — soft, yet razor-sharp:
> "Hey, it's still early. Where do you think you're going?"
Koden froze, hand tightening around the lighter. That voice... unmistakable.
From the shadows stepped Kaien. His face no longer held youthful innocence — only cold steel. His eyes had become tempered metal, piercing straight through.
> "You… why are you here…?" – Koden took a half-step back.
> "I've been waiting, Koden. I knew you'd show. Look, I even brought you a gift."
From behind him, Aigris appeared with three subordinates, weapons cocked and pointed straight at Koden. The traitorous intel officer looked around — no way out. Yet he still wore a crooked grin.
> "Clever, Kaien. But you missed one thing."
> "Before I came here, I knew you'd be on to me. I already sent everything — names, plans, weapon caches — on a USB drive. I hid it where you'd never find it… and passed it to the government."
A cold gust swept through, dragging silence in its wake.
But then Kaien reached into his coat, pulling out a small, scratched silver USB — the one with the old government insignia still etched on its shell.
> "You mean this?" — Kaien said, letting the light glint off it.
Koden's eyes widened. The confidence drained from his face.
> "No… how did you…?"
> "Beneath the cracked statue in the underground park. In a rusted tin box. I tracked you for a week, Koden. Every time you went to 'check the systems,' you were really checking on this, weren't you?"
Aigris stepped forward, eyes like knives.
> "I've suspected you for a long time. But I needed Kaien to prove it himself. He did."
Koden let out a hollow laugh — not defiant, just broken.
> "You win… But I don't regret it. You're no better than me. Government, Aigris — all of you are just murderers with better suits. I didn't betray because I'm evil. I betrayed because I was sick of this endless cycle."
Kaien stepped closer, eyes boring into him:
> "You betrayed trust, Koden. That's all that matters to me. I don't care what you were tired of."
Aigris motioned. A subordinate raised his rifle to Koden's head — but Kaien held out a hand.
> "Not here."
> "Why not?" – Aigris asked.
> "He still knows things. Bring him in. I'll question him myself."
---
INTERROGATION ROOM — UNDERGROUND
The underground room was old and damp. Peeling concrete walls, flickering fluorescent lights, old stains of dried blood still marked the corners. Koden was bound to a rusted metal chair, wrists bruised, blood trailing from his mouth. In front of him stood Kaien, still and cold like a statue.
> "Funny," – Koden croaked – "I used to control all your files. Now the tables have turned."
Kaien didn't respond. He placed the USB on the metal table, spinning it gently in the light.
> "What's on this, aside from the crap we already know?"
Koden was silent.
Clink.
Kaien opened a drawer and took out a small knife. He didn't wave it around — just set it softly on the table.
> "I don't like torture, Koden. But I'll do it if I have to."
Koden gave a weak smile:
> "I'm not afraid to die, Kaien. You should know that."
> "Death isn't scary," – Kaien replied, voice flat – "Dying for nothing is. You can die like a pawn… or die like someone who actually meant something."
Silence. The hum of faulty electricity buzzed above.
Finally, Koden exhaled, voice hoarse:
> "I sent the government a fake report. I kept the real one. I never trusted them to hold their end. There's a woman named Sairen… she's running their covert infiltration ops in the eastern districts. Disguised as relief units."
Kaien took notes. Behind the one-way mirror, Aigris's eyes gleamed.
> "Other names?"
> "There are seven core members. I only know five — Ravik is one. He doesn't even know he's being used. But the most dangerous is Verlock. He's the commander of their deep-shadow division in this area. I've never met him. But I know he exists. He's the shadow behind the shadow."
Kaien leaned in, whispering:
> "We can protect you… if you help us wipe them all out."
Koden chuckled bitterly:
> "I don't need protection, Kaien. I just want it to end."
Click.
The door opened. Aigris stepped in, gun already drawn.
> "He's said enough."
> "Wait," – Kaien said – "at least—"
BANG.
The gunshot echoed through the cold, concrete chamber. Koden's head slumped forward, blood dripping onto his worn collar.
> "I don't take second chances with traitors," – Aigris said coldly. "Dispose of the body. And Kaien, gather the team. Tonight… there will be blood."
---
THE BLOODY NIGHT BEGINS
That very night, Aigris launched a rapid-fire assassination campaign. Government agents disguised as relief workers, embedded across multiple sectors — were eliminated without mercy. None survived.
Each severed head was delivered to major government stations — sealed in iron boxes engraved with a single line:
> "This is my territory. Cross it again, and you'll vanish."
---
KAIEN EARNS HIS MARK
Thanks to his sharp instincts and pursuit of Koden, Kaien was recognized by Aigris. Still young, but now feared even among the veterans — his skill and resolve forced the organization to take notice.
He was granted two days of rare leave — a rare reward from Aigris himself.