Jade arrived back at the hideout late in the afternoon. The door opened slowly, and he stepped inside, tired and covered with dust from travel. He smiled when he saw Hero.
But something was different.
Hero smiled back… too warmly.
Jade paused. Hero almost never smiled that way.
The table was full of food. Rice, meat, soup, and fruits. Hero even placed water and drinks neatly, like he was waiting for someone important.
Jade raised an eyebrow.
"You cooked all this?" he asked.
Hero nodded. "I wanted to thank you. You helped me a lot."
Jade sat down slowly, still studying Hero's face. Hero pulled up a chair beside him and spoke gently.
"You have done so much for me. You saved my life many times. I don't know how to repay you."
Hero placed food on Jade's plate, acting cheerful. Jade gave a small laugh.
"You don't have to repay me," he said. "I promised your father I would protect you."
Hero didn't answer. He only smiled.
Jade began eating. Hero watched every move closely.
After a moment, Jade asked, "Why did you take so long to buy supplies? You were gone for hours."
Hero kept smiling, but his eyes didn't.
"I just walked around. I needed to think."
Jade waited for more answers, but Hero didn't say anything else. For some reason, that silence felt heavy. Jade continued eating, trying to ignore the strange feeling.
Minutes passed.
Then Jade stopped chewing.
His vision began to blur.
The table, the walls, the floor — all started spinning. He held his head, confused.
"Hero… what… did you… do?"
Hero stood up slowly. His smile faded.
"I'm sorry, Jade."
Jade tried to stand, but his body collapsed to the floor. His eyes were open, but his strength was gone. Hero dragged him to a chair and tied his hands to the arms of the chair and his feet to the legs. The rope was tight and firm.
After a few minutes, Jade woke up.
He looked around and tried to move, shocked to find himself tied.
"Hero… untie me. We need to talk."
Hero sat in front of him. Calm. Serious.
"We will talk. But not until you tell me the truth."
Jade swallowed hard. "The truth about what?"
Hero placed the half map on the table. Jade's eyes widened the moment he saw it.
"You found it…" Jade whispered.
Hero leaned forward. His voice was steady, but filled with pain.
"Why was half of the map in that warehouse? Why have you been going there every night? And why did you lie to me?"
Jade took a breath.
"You're wrong about this, Hero."
Hero shook his head.
"No. I followed you. You didn't go to the gang's hideout. You went to that warehouse. You have been hiding something from me since the beginning."
Jade kept silent.
Hero's voice started to shake.
"Did you kill my father? Did you steal the map from him? Were you the one who left him to die?"
Jade looked down at the floor. Hero stood up and slammed his hands on the table.
"Answer me!"
Jade closed his eyes.
Hero's face broke. Anger. Fear. Sadness. Everything at once.
"Tell me what happened to my father"
For the first time, Jade trembled.
Hero raised his voice again.
"I won't untie you. I won't let you leave. Not until you tell me everything. Every secret. Every lie."
Jade looked up with shaking eyes.
"You're not ready to hear it."
Hero clenched his fists.
"I don't care. I want the truth."
The room became silent. Only their breathing could be heard.
Then Jade finally spoke.
"Fine, Hero. I will tell you what really happened."
His voice was flat, heavy, filled with memories he never wanted to remember.
"But the truth will destroy everything you believe."
Hero stared at him without blinking.
"I'm ready."