Chain went to his bike just before he gets on it, he told Jordan" Call leox's I'll meet him in my office.
Chain rode his motorcycle back towards the city, the powerful engine a steady drone against the cold wind.
The heavy snow blanketing the distant village had lessened here, leaving only a light dusting on the city streets, which glistened under the moonlight where ice had formed.
He felt physically fine after the encounter, but the memory of the massacre – the young demon, the dead soldiers, the sheer waste of it all – left him with a feeling of deep disgust, now mixing with a growing irritation he hadn't yet fully processed.
As he neared the main checkpoint into the city's central district, an area now more frequently patrolled by the False Sun Knights following Leox's recent public actions, two armored Knights signaled for him to stop.
They stepped into the road, their silver and gold armor reflecting the streetlights, energy batons held ready.
"Stop!" one commanded through his helmet's speaker system. "Identify yourself. City curfew is now in effect."
Chain brought his bike to a halt but remained seated, letting the engine idle. He lifted his helmet's visor just enough to reveal his cold amber eyes. "Hunter Corps business," he stated plainly. "Let me pass."
The Knight seemed hesitant, likely noticing the Hunter insignia. "Orders from Lord Commander Heves restrict movement after sundown for all non-essential personnel. Please state your rank and reason for travel."
Chain felt a surge of annoyance at the mention of Leox's title and the bureaucratic obstruction. Since Leox's televised execution, the Knights seemed to act with newfound authority.
"Commander Wolfsbane," Chain replied curtly. "Returning from an assignment. Now, move aside."
The Knights straightened upon recognizing his rank, but the lead guard persisted, adhering to his instructions. "Commander, we acknowledge your rank, but current city-wide security protocols apply to all—"
Chain cut him off by revving the engine sharply. "My assignment was essential," he interrupted, his voice hardening.
"It involved dealing with matters your command either ignores or uses for public display." He met the Knight's gaze directly. "Are you going to obstruct a Hunter Corps operation? You can explain that decision to Commander Heves yourself."
The Knights were clearly uncomfortable. Directly refusing the Hunter Commander was a serious matter. They exchanged a brief, uncertain look.
Chain didn't wait for their deliberation. He accelerated firmly, forcing the Knights to quickly step clear as his motorcycle surged past them. He left them standing in the lightly falling snow, symbols of the increasing friction Leox's actions were causing.
He continued directly to the Hunter Corps district office. The irritation he felt had solidified into a determined anger. Leox wasn't just stepping out of line; he was exploiting grim realities for political points while the Hunters handled the actual threats discreetly.
By the time Chain parked his bike and walked briskly into his building, acknowledging his own personnel with curt nods, he knew what he had to do. He needed to confront Leox and make the boundaries clear, immediately.
The door opened without a preliminary knock – Leox rarely bothered with formalities he deemed unnecessary, especially not here. Chain finally turned as Leox stepped inside, bringing a gust of cold, damp air with him.
Leox paused just inside the doorway, taking in the scene. Chain stood silhouetted against the city lights, holding a tumbler, his face mostly in shadow.
But Leox, observant despite his own recent activities, immediately registered something different in Chain's stance. It wasn't just the usual coiled readiness; there was an unfamiliar stillness, a tension that seemed colder, sharper than usual.
He knows, Leox thought initially, a brief flicker of caution running through him. He quickly dismissed it. Chain wouldn't care about the Knights consolidating power or putting on a show for the public. The Hunter Commander operated in a different sphere, concerned with different monsters. This expression… it had to be something else.
Perhaps related to whatever grim business had called Chain out to the fringes tonight. Leox mentally prepared himself for some terse report about a demon hunt gone wrong or a demand for Knight resources Chain wouldn't get.
He adopted his commander's bearing, ready to deflect or assert authority as needed. He scanned the spartan office – weapon racks, comms unit, a scarred desk, nothing personal. Typical Wolfsbane. All function, no sentiment.
"This must be critically important, Chain," Leox said, stopping just inside the office door. His usual composed demeanor carried an extra layer of confidence today. "The council demands my presence, and there's considerable work awaiting my attention."
Chain rose slowly from his chair, turning to face him. A faint, almost dangerous smile played on his lips. "I won't detain you long, Commander. I merely wished to comment on the… performance earlier. Quite the spectacle on television today. Impressive."
Leox's eyes held a gleam of pride, mistaking the comment for genuine admiration. "You found it impressive? Excellent. There will be more to come. The people need to see justice served."
The smile vanished from Chain's face, replaced by a chilling stillness. "No, Leox," he stated, his voice dropping, losing all warmth. "There won't be."
Leox frowned, confusion replacing his confidence. "What do you mean, 'there won't be'?"
Chain took a deliberate step closer, his amber eyes locking onto Leox's. "I mean your interference ends now. Stay out of Hunter Corps business. You haven't the faintest conception of what you're truly provoking."
Leox straightened, indignation rising. "The High Council has sanctioned this. Action against the Order is necessary. Someone must—"
"Someone is," Chain cut him off sharply, his voice like striking flint. "Hundreds, Leox. Hundreds dead by my hand while you were staging your public executions. Did you think nothing was happening simply because it wasn't performed for a cheering crowd?" He gestured dismissively. "Those priests you beheaded? They are merely the pawns, the visible fringe. You haven't touched the heart of the infection."
"We act decisively against a known threat—"
"A known surface threat!" Chain's voice rose, sharp with controlled fury. "You think this is about fanatics in robes kidnapping villagers? That's the least of it! I deal with the abominations they summon, Leox.
Entities that would shred your Knights before they could even comprehend the horror they were facing. My work stays in the shadows precisely because broadcasting the reality of this war would shatter the very society you pretend to protect."
Leox stood his ground, though a flicker of uncertainty crossed his face. "The higher-ups understand the risks—"
"Your higher-ups understand politics, not eldritch entities clawing their way into our world!" Chain retorted. "They see an opportunity. They see the Order's terror, and they see a chance for the Knights to reclaim relevance, to inspire fear and loyalty again. They're using you, Leox. And you're letting them."
Leox's jaw tightened, his hands clenching at his sides. "We provide hope! Stability! In uncertain times, the people look to the Knights, to tradition, to symbols of strength—"
"They look to you because you put on a damn show!" Chain's voice lowered again, seething. "Do you truly want to know why I demand you cease this interference?
Your knights are children stumbling into an inferno. They are not equipped. They are not prepared. If you lead them against the true forces behind the Order, you are signing their death warrants.
Is that the 'hope' you offer? A generation of martyrs for your council's ambition?"
Leox's determination didn't completely waver, but his argument shifted, seeking a practical angle. "And how can you possibly contend with them alone, Chain? Your Hunters are skilled, yes, but few. Can your specialized Corps truly be everywhere at once? Can your 'surgical strikes' prevent the next village from being sacrificed while you're dealing with an abomination summoned miles away? We can provide a presence, a deterrent! Our numbers can protect borders, patrol vulnerable areas. Your secretive approach leaves too many gaps, Chain, too many innocents exposed!"
Chain's gaze was unyielding. "My methods are precise, surgical. Your army is a battering ram swung in the dark. Precision is required here, Leox, not a public bloodbath."
His voice turned dangerously quiet. "I warned you once. This is the final warning. Instruct your council to stand down. Pull your Knights back from this ledge. Or the consequences will extend beyond the Order. You will find yourself contending with me. And that is a conflict your Knights cannot survive."
"My Knights follow my command, Chain. Stand against me in this, and you stand against them."
"There is no war against the Knights," Chain corrected coldly. "Only against you. Deprived of their Commander, what remains of the False Sun Knights that could possibly obstruct me?"
The implication hung heavy in Leox stared at Chain, anger warring with the air. a dawning understanding of the chasm between their realities. Finally, shaking with suppressed rage, Leox turned sharply and stormed out of the office leaving Chain alone in the sudden silence.
Leox departed Chain's office abruptly, his expression a mask of fury. As he strode down the corridor, Ash arrived, catching sight of Leox's enraged exit.
"What was that all about?" Ash asked Chain, stepping into the office.
"Just clarifying the operational hierarchy," Chain replied coolly.
Before Ash could press further, Jorden rushed in, looking alarmed. "Chain! Seif is on the comms – says it's urgent!"
They quickly moved to the nearby communications room where Seif, a researcher in his usual lab attire, stood before a monitor displaying tactical readouts. "What is it, Seif?" Ash prompted.
"Multiple contacts confirmed – Order of the Convened Heart soldiers, significant numbers, detected north near the outskirts of a remote village," Seif reported, his tone laced with worry and anger. "Why did this take so long to flag?" Ash demanded, frowning at the screen.
Seif explained, pointing at the flickering icons. " The radar has just spotted them there; they might have found a way how to hide themselves from tracking"
"Let's move, Ash," Chain commanded decisively.
Making their way out to the street level, they intercepted Leox again as he was about to board his waiting airship. Chain paused, a cold edge to his voice. "If you truly enjoy performing, Commander," he called out, loud enough for Leox to hear, "perhaps you should act now and save those villagers."
Disregarding Leox's reaction, Chain and Ash swung onto their bikes, engines roaring to life. They accelerated sharply, heading north into the night. Moments later, Leox's golden airships lifted off, their engines rumbling as they followed, carrying ranks of Knights.
"Think those glorified transports can keep pace with our bikes?" Ash yelled over the wind, a grin splitting his face. He thumbed a control on his handlebars, activating the nitro injection. The bikes surged forward with incredible force, easily breaking 700 km/h.
"YEEHA, baby!" Ash whooped as the landscape blurred past.
They reached the target zone – a snow-laden forest bordering a small settlement – in record time. Skidding to a halt under the cover of the trees, Chain laid out the immediate plan.
"Alright, here's the approach," Chain said tersely. "You take the western flank, circle around, cut off any retreat. I'll breach the village center directly."
"Understood," Ash nodded. "Try not to finish all the fun before I get there."