The room felt heavier now.
Emma sat calmly.
Leg crossed slightly.
Hands resting still.
Mostang stood near the window.
Cigarette between his fingers.
Smoke curling slowly upward.
Kane—
wasn't calm.
He was still holding onto it.
The images.
The disrespect.
"…Emma."
She tilted her head slightly toward him.
Silent.
Kane hesitated for a second—
but then said it anyway.
"…Diana and Valeria…"
A pause.
"They sacrificed themselves for you… right?"
The air shifted instantly.
Mostang's eyes snapped toward him.
Sharp.
"You idiot."
Low.
Warning.
"Don't."
Too late.
Silence.
Emma didn't react immediately.
No anger.
No expression.
Just stillness.
Then.
she spoke.
"…Not for me."
Kane frowned slightly.
"What?"
Emma's eyes lowered just a bit.
Not weak
just distant.
"They chose their own paths."
A pause.
"I didn't ask them to die."
Mostang looked away slightly.
Jaw tight.
Because he knew.
that wasn't the full truth.
Kane didn't back down.
"But it was for you."
Silence.
Emma's fingers tightened—just slightly.
Barely noticeable.
"…It was for what we were doing."
Her voice stayed calm.
"For the world we wanted."
Kane shook his head.
Frustration rising again.
but now it wasn't about Joseph.
"…That doesn't change anything."
Mostang stepped in.
"That's enough."
His tone wasn't loud—
but it carried weight.
Kane looked at him.
Then back at Emma.
"…You're carrying all of it alone."
A pause.
"And now this guy shows up… trying to tear everything down…"
His fists clenched.
"…Of course I'm pissed."
Silence.
Emma slowly lifted her gaze.
Not cold.
Not angry.
Just.
honest.
"…Then stay pissed."
Kane blinked slightly.
Emma continued.
"But don't lose control."
A small pause.
"That's how we lose more."
That hit.
Not loud.
But direct.
Mostang exhaled slowly.
Smoke leaving his lungs.
"…She's right."
Kane looked down for a moment.
Breathing out.
"…Tch."
Frustration still there—
but now contained.
Emma leaned back slightly.
"…We're still here."
A quiet statement.
Not pride.
Not comfort.
Just fact.
"…So we move forward."
Silence settled again.
But this time—
It wasn't heavy.
It was focused.
Because all three of them knew—
They already lost too much.
And none of them—
were willing to lose again.
Mostang flicked the ash off his cigarette.
Eyes still on Emma.
"Joseph is already moving."
A pause.
"So what's your move?"
Silence.
Emma didn't answer immediately.
She was thinking.
Not rushing.
Then—
"He has spies."
Her voice was low.
Certain.
"They're skilled."
Kane crossed his arms.
Listening closely.
"They've already found us once."
Emma continued.
"So they can strike"
A slight pause.
"at any time."
Mostang nodded faintly.
"…Yeah."
Emma's eyes shifted slightly toward the
window.
The city beyond it.
"If he bombs this place"
She shook her head.
"He loses everything."
Kane frowned.
"…Because of his connections?"
Emma replied instantly.
"Because of exposure."
A beat.
"He's trying to win influence."
Not destroy it.
Mostang smirked faintly.
"So no big explosions."
Emma nodded once.
"No."
Then
her eyes sharpened.
"He'll send people."
Silence.
That landed heavier than anything else.
Kane's expression hardened.
"…Assassins."
Emma didn't correct him.
Mostang took a slow drag.
"…That's more like him."
A pause.
"Quiet."
"Controlled."
"Deniable."
Emma stood up slowly.
"He'll test us first."
Her tone was calm
but precise.
"Small groups."
"Different approaches."
"Trying to understand our defenses."
Kane rolled his shoulders slightly.
"…Let them come."
Emma looked at him.
"No."
A beat.
"We don't wait."
Mostang raised an eyebrow.
"…Oh?"
Emma stepped forward slightly.
"We prepare."
Her voice sharpened.
"Every entrance covered."
"Every blind spot removed."
"Rotating watch."
Kane nodded slowly.
"…And when they come?"
Emma's answer came without hesitation.
"We capture one."
Silence.
Mostang's smirk returned slightly.
"…Interrogation."
Emma didn't deny it.
"He has information."
A pause.
"And I want it."
Kane exhaled.
"…Alright."
The frustration from earlier
now fully redirected.
Focus.
Purpose.
Mostang crushed his cigarette.
"…Looks like it's starting."
Emma turned slightly
toward the city.
"…It already did."
Because somewhere out there
Joseph had already made his move.
And this time
Emma was ready for it.
Chapter end