The rain hadn't followed them.
By the time Akshat Aether was thrown into the back seat of the black BMW, the storm had been left behind like a distant memory—just a faint smell of wet asphalt clinging to his clothes. Water still dripped from his sleeves, pooling faintly on the leather beneath him, but the interior of the car remained untouched. Clean. Controlled.
Opposite him, Shogun Kurogami sat in silence. No umbrella now. No rain. Just presence.
The engine started without a sound. The car moved.
Akshat leaned his head back against the seat, one hand resting lightly over his abdomen where the punch had landed earlier. The pain hadn't faded—it had settled. Deep. Quiet. Like a reminder.
For a few minutes, neither of them spoke.
The city outside blurred past in streaks of dim light and shadow. No destination markers. No familiar roads. Just movement.
Finally, Akshat tilted his head slightly, his voice calm despite everything that had just happened.
"Where are we going?"
Kurogami didn't look at him. His gaze remained fixed ahead, as if the road itself was beneath his notice.
"To Kurana."
That was it. No elaboration. No explanation.
Akshat didn't press further.
Because something about that answer told him everything he needed to know.
This wasn't a meeting.
It was a presentation.
And he was the subject.
---
Somewhere far from the campus, far from the chaos of AUMC, inside a dimly lit private estate—
Two figures sat across from each other at a polished table.
Cards scattered between them.
A quiet game of UNO unfolding in complete contrast to the storm that had just taken place.
Kurana Alexanderia leaned back slightly, holding a set of cards loosely in his hand. His expression was relaxed, but his eyes were sharp, calculating every move—not just on the table, but beyond it.
Across from him, Olivia Alexanderia tapped her fingers lightly against the edge of the table, a faint smirk playing on her lips as she studied her cards.
"Draw two," she said casually, placing the card down.
Kurana glanced at it, then at her.
"You always go for control," he murmured.
Olivia shrugged slightly. "And you always pretend not to care."
A small pause followed.
Then she leaned back, her tone shifting just slightly.
"So… who do you think he'll choose?"
Kurana didn't answer immediately. He placed a card down slowly, deliberately.
"Alexander Vane."
Olivia raised an eyebrow.
"That obvious?"
"He has discipline. Structure. Growth," Kurana replied calmly. "He reflects investment."
Olivia chuckled softly, shaking her head.
"I disagree."
She placed her next card down with a flick of her wrist.
"Kuroda Haruki."
Kurana's gaze lifted slightly.
"She has instinct," Olivia continued. "Unpredictability. She's dangerous in a way Alexander isn't yet."
Kurana didn't argue.
Because both of them knew—
The final decision didn't belong to either of them.
And that was exactly why this conversation mattered.
---
The car slowed.
Akshat felt it before he saw it.
The motion shifted—smooth, controlled, deliberate.
Then it stopped.
The door opened.
Kurogami stepped out first.
Akshat followed without hesitation.
The place they had arrived at didn't look like anything special at first glance. No grand entrance. No obvious security. Just a quiet, almost unremarkable building standing under dim lighting.
But the air…
The air felt wrong.
Heavy.
As if something inside that place carried weight far beyond its appearance.
Kurogami walked ahead without looking back.
Akshat followed.
The door opened.
Inside—
Kurana and Olivia looked up at the same time.
For a brief second, both of their expressions broke into something almost… eager.
"Who is the successor?" Olivia asked immediately, leaning forward slightly.
Kurana didn't speak, but his gaze sharpened.
Then—
Akshat stepped into the room.
Silence.
It didn't last long.
But it was enough.
Enough for both of them to register what they were seeing.
Enough for realization to settle.
Olivia's lips curved upward slowly.
Kurana's eyes narrowed just slightly.
Then—
They both smirked.
"...So," Kurana said, his voice calm, almost amused. "You chose something completely different."
Kurogami stepped forward, stopping just behind Akshat.
"This piece is something different," he said evenly.
A brief pause followed.
"I may be wrong."
Another pause.
"But I have to try."
His tone didn't change.
"If you want another candidate… I can change my decision, Alexanderia."
The room fell quiet again.
This time, the silence carried weight.
Kurana studied Akshat carefully. Not his clothes. Not his posture.
His eyes.
Always the eyes.
Then—
He smiled.
"If you chose this boy…" he said slowly, "this Aether boy…"
A faint exhale left him.
"Then there must be a reason."
He leaned back slightly.
"Keep it up."
Simple words.
But they carried acceptance.
Acknowledgment.
Permission.
Olivia didn't say anything immediately.
Instead—
She stood up.
Walked forward.
Slow. Measured steps.
Until she was standing directly in front of Akshat.
Too close.
Closer than necessary.
Her presence didn't feel threatening.
It felt… curious.
She leaned in slightly.
Her face stopping just inches from his.
Close enough that her breath brushed lightly against his lips.
"You're different," she said softly.
"Aether boy."
Her eyes didn't blink.
"I know you have questions."
A faint smile formed.
"About us."
A pause.
"And about those files."
Akshat didn't move.
Didn't step back.
Didn't react.
He simply looked at her.
"What task?" he asked calmly.
Olivia's smile deepened.
"Destroy the Fallen Star Auction."
The words landed quietly.
But their weight was anything but.
For a split second—
Akshat's expression didn't change.
Then—
Something shifted.
His head lowered slightly.
His eyes widened—just enough to show that his mind was moving. Fast. Calculating. Connecting dots that weren't supposed to connect this early.
Fallen Star Auction.
Kuroda Haruki.
The hidden files.
The black market.
It wasn't just a task.
It was a key.
Before he could say anything—
Kurogami turned.
"Let's go, Aether."
His voice cut through the moment cleanly.
"It's time."
A slight pause.
"To teach you some moves."
Akshat lifted his head again.
The room remained silent behind him.
Kurana watching.
Olivia smiling.
And somewhere far away—
A storm that hadn't truly ended yet.
End of ch 64
To be continue...
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