The warm scent of food drifted through the halls, announcing dinner before Kanji's calm voice did. After hours of intense work, both gangs welcomed the break.
In the spacious dining room, the long table was quickly set. Plates clinked, glasses were lined up neatly, and silverware gleamed under the soft lights. Some of the members moved chairs into place, while others helped arrange the dishes. Despite the earlier tension, a strange, almost domestic atmosphere prevailed.
Kanji came out of the kitchen, carrying two trays, with Tobi and Nico trailing behind him, each with more dishes. Milo, her cheeks faintly flushed, carried a pot with both hands while Suri calmly set down serving spoons.
Once everything was laid out, Kanji wiped his hands with a towel, stepped forward, and pointed at the spread with a faint but proud smile.
"These dishes here—stir-fried noodles, garlic chicken, and vegetable rolls—were made by Milo," he said, gesturing toward the colorful plates. "And these—grilled beef with sauce, spiced rice, and roasted vegetables—were prepared by me. I want you all to taste them and tell us how they turned out."
The table hummed with interest. The Crimson Vultures immediately gravitated toward Milo's cooking, while the Wolf Marks naturally reached for Kanji's. It was unspoken, but there was an eagerness to compare.
Kanji, however, didn't forget. He set aside a small bowl of steaming porridge and carefully placed it in front of Rin. "And for you," he said gently, "your meal. Keep your strength up."
Rin inclined his head slightly in acknowledgment, his eyes softening for a moment before he lifted the spoon.
The rest dug in with the kind of hunger that came from working straight through lunch.
Jax was the first to speak, after finishing a mouthful of spiced rice. He grinned widely. "I honestly thought Milo was the best cook among us… but damn, Kanji, you're awesome."
Kanji only smiled faintly, as though the praise meant little but warmed him nonetheless.
Others chimed in too—Rowan admitted the grilled beef was "surprisingly perfect," and even Talon muttered that the roasted vegetables were better than expected.
Milo shyly picked up her own spoon, tasting a bit of grilled beef. She blinked, then smiled. "It… It's really good."
Lucas, who took a bite of the garlic chicken made by Milo, suddenly looked straight at her. "It's really delicious," he said simply.
The compliment caught Milo off guard. Her cheeks went pink, and she ducked her head. "Th-thank you."
Ari also piped up with his usual bluntness. "It's better than Kanji's."
Milo gave him a small smile, not taking his words too seriously. But what startled the table was when Suri, who rarely spoke unless necessary, nodded once and said calmly, "It really is good."
That silence fell heavier than the loudest cheer. Heads turned toward Suri, and even Eric paused mid-bite, raising an eyebrow, looking at him.
"You actually praised someone?" Tobi asked, tone laced with mock disbelief.
Suri ignored him, continuing to eat as though nothing unusual had happened.
Rin only glanced at them, quietly finishing his porridge, though the faint curve of his lips suggested he'd noticed the rare moment too.
Ari looked toward Rin. "Rin, you want to try?"
Eric leaned forward lazily. "He can't eat this yet—he's still sick."
Ari frowned. "But—"
Rin cut him off with a soft shake of his head. "Eat it yourself, Ari."
Though dissatisfied, Ari obeyed, piling more food onto his own plate with a pout.
Dinner passed with laughter and teasing—lighter than the earlier strategizing had been. It almost felt like a family meal, though everyone knew the reality was far harsher. Still, for a brief hour, they allowed themselves the comfort.
When the last plates were cleared, they all returned to the meeting room.
The table was once again covered in laptops, notes, and papers. Tobi and Milo hunched over their computers side by side, fingers moving rapidly across the keyboards. The glow of their screens reflected in their eyes, determination etched into their faces.
By the time the clock neared midnight, Milo let out a small gasp. "I've got something."
Everyone gathered closer.
On the screen, grainy footage from the bar played. The camera angle was poor, but the key members of Ash Fang could be seen sitting in a reserved corner, surrounding a man whose back faced the lens. His posture screamed authority.
"We tracked one of their recent visits," Tobi explained quickly. "He was escorted by several core members. But, we couldn't identify him because of the angle…"
"Show us," Rin ordered softly.
Tobi plays the video on the big screen for everyone to see.
In the video, several of the Ash Fangs' core members were surrounding a man whose back faced the camera. The man shifted slightly, enough for the side of his face to catch the dim light.
"Stop," Rin said sharply.
The video froze.
Though only a little of his profile was visible, Rin's eyes darkened with unmistakable hatred. His voice came out cold, sharper than ice. "That's Kane."
Kael's eyes snapped to him instantly, brows furrowed. How can he be so certain from that angle? He thought. He had seen countless men who looked similar.
Talon voiced the thought aloud. "How do you know that for sure?"
The air tensed. Eric was the one who answered. He leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. "Because we'd never forget him. We'd recognize that bastard anywhere."
Silence thickened. Nobody speaks, sensing the raw venom in Eric's tone. Something unspoken lingered in the air.
Kael studied Rin again, the calm surface overlaid with quiet fury. He wanted to ask more, but now wasn't the time.
Finally, Kael broke the silence with a steady voice. "This confirms it. The club is the place. That's where the auction will be held."
Rin nodded once, then pushed his laptop to Kael. "We also found part of the attendee list."
Kael scanned the names, his brows knitting tighter with each line. Every name was foreign, tied to powerful underworld figures with terrifying reputations. The kind of men whose wealth and cruelty made them untouchable.
He exhaled sharply. "These aren't just attendees… this is a gathering of monsters."
The others exchanged uneasy glances.
Before the tension could settle too deeply, Milo yawned. She quickly covered her mouth, embarrassed as eyes turned to her.
"S-sorry," she mumbled, cheeks pink.
Rin's expression softened. He shook his head. "No, it's my fault. I pushed too long. Everyone should rest."
He glanced toward Lucas. "Show them to their rooms."
Chairs scraped as the group reluctantly stood, exhaustion finally catching up.
They walked through the living room toward the wide staircase. The Wolf Marks studied the mansion with quiet curiosity, still adjusting to the Crimson Vultures' way of living.
On the second floor, Rin stopped. His voice was steady, carrying the quiet authority of a leader. "Rest here tonight. We'll continue the discussion tomorrow. If you need anything, Lucas will assist."
The group nodded in acknowledgment.
Then Rin and Eric continued up toward the third floor.
Jax, watching their retreating backs, tilted his head. "Wait—why's Eric going up there too?"
Ari, still clinging lazily to the railing, answered without hesitation. "He always stays on the third floor."
That answer made everyone glance upward, eyes lingering on the unseen floor.
Lucas, however, cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "Let me show you your rooms," he said smoothly, steering the conversation back.
With that, the groups dispersed, each quietly digesting both the heavy revelations of the night and the strange domesticity they had briefly shared.