Rick returned with a worn map.
He carefully spread it across the table.
"This is Jokun City and the surrounding area."
Saito and Kaito stepped closer.
Rick pointed toward one section.
"…Here."
"The east side of the village."
"That's where we believe the gangsters are hiding."
Kaito narrowed his eyes.
"…'Believe'?"
Rick nodded, frustrated.
"I sent scouts."
"But…"
He clenched his hand slightly.
"They couldn't find anything."
Saito studied the map closely.
Buildings clustered together.
Narrow paths.
Blind spots everywhere.
"…Too many places to hide," Kaito muttered.
Rick sighed.
"That area is full of abandoned structures."
"If they're hiding there…"
"…we can't track them easily."
Silence filled the room.
Saito's eyes moved slowly across the map.
Thinking.
Connecting pieces.
Then—
His expression shifted.
"…Ah."
Kaito glanced at him.
"…You got something?"
Saito smiled slightly.
"…Yeah."
He tapped the map lightly.
"…I think I know how to draw them out."
Rick leaned forward.
"…What do you have in mind?"
Saito looked up.
Calm.
Confident.
"…Let's settle this."
Outside Rick's house—
Takeru stood with his arms crossed.
Waiting.
The door opened.
Saito stepped out.
"…You're here."
Takeru glanced at him.
"…So?"
"What's the occasion?"
Rick followed behind, holding something in his hand.
"…We found this near the shrine."
He revealed a torn piece of clothing.
Dark. Worn.
Saito took it.
Then walked over to Takeru and handed it to him.
Takeru frowned slightly.
"…And what am I supposed to do with this?"
Saito crossed his arms.
"…You're a wolf, right?"
"…You can track by scent."
Takeru stared at him.
Then looked down at the cloth.
He lifted it slightly—
And immediately frowned deeper.
"…This smells terrible."
He looked back at Saito.
"…You brought me all the way out here…"
"…just to sniff this?"
Saito gave a small, awkward smile.
"…Please?"
Takeru didn't react.
Not even a little.
"…That's not going to work on me."
A short pause.
Then he sighed.
"…Fine."
He held the cloth properly this time.
His expression shifted—more focused.
Serious.
"…Give me a moment."
Takeru held the cloth again and took a careful sniff—then immediately turned away, covering his mouth.
"Ugh… that's awful…"
He forced himself to focus, sniffing again more lightly.
"…I got the scent. Follow me."
Saito nodded and turned back.
"Stay here, old man. We'll handle it."
Rick looked worried.
"…Be careful."
Saito gave a short nod, then followed Takeru with Kaito beside him.
They left the village behind.
The path slowly changed. The soil became dry, cracked in some places. The air felt heavier, less fresh than before.
There were fewer sounds too.
No villagers. No animals. Just quiet.
Kaito glanced around.
"…This place feels off."
Takeru didn't reply. He stayed focused, following the scent step by step.
Time passed.
The sun shifted higher, then slowly began to tilt.
After nearly two hours of walking, they finally stopped.
An old building stood ahead.
Its walls were cracked, parts of the wood darkened with age. Some windows were broken, hanging slightly loose. The place looked abandoned.
But not completely.
Takeru narrowed his eyes.
"…The smell is coming from there."
Saito gave a small smile.
"Knew I could count on you."
Takeru sighed.
"…Just don't tell Feina about this. She'll never stop teasing me."
Saito chuckled.
"Noted."
They walked up to the entrance.
The door creaked slightly as they pushed it open.
Inside, the air was stale.
Dust floated in the dim light coming through broken windows.
Old furniture lay scattered. A few crates were stacked near the walls, some broken open.
Every step echoed softly.
Kaito stopped near the entrance.
"You two go ahead."
Saito nodded.
Kaito moved quietly toward the stairs, disappearing to the upper floor.
Saito and Takeru stepped deeper inside.
Saito looked around carefully.
"…No activity."
Takeru nodded slowly.
"…Yeah. The scent ends here."
Silence filled the room.
Then Takeru's ears twitched.
"…Wait."
"…I hear something."
Saito turned slightly.
"Where—"
A figure suddenly lunged from the shadows.
Takeru reacted instantly, raising his claw and blocking the attack.
Metal clashed.
The attacker grinned.
"…Well, well. A wolfbeast."
"…This might be interesting."
Before Saito could react—
Another figure dropped from above and landed behind him.
A knife pressed against his neck.
Cold.
"Don't move… or I cut his throat."
Takeru froze, his claw slowly lowering.
Saito blinked.
"…Oh… crap."
The man behind him spoke again.
"So… why is a boy and a wolfbeast here?"
Saito stayed calm.
"We came to discuss something with you."
A brief pause.
Then—
A shadow dropped from the ceiling.
Kaito.
He landed behind the man holding Saito, his knife already at the man's neck.
"Let him go, Jori."
The attacker stiffened.
"…S-Senior Kaito?"
The other man stepped back slightly.
"…Wait… senior?"
Kaito's voice stayed calm.
"Didn't expect you two to still be around."
He pressed the blade slightly closer.
"Now. Let him go."
Jori hesitated.
"But, senior, they—"
"They're with me."
A moment of silence.
Then Jori slowly lowered his knife.
Takeru relaxed slightly, though his eyes stayed sharp.
The tension didn't disappear—but it changed.
Jori's eyes widened slightly.
"…But we were told you were dead."
Kaito exhaled through his nose.
"…That was intentional."
He glanced at Saito and Takeru for a moment, then back at them.
Takeru's expression shifted slightly.
"…So you really are Kaito's subordinates?"
Kaito nodded once.
Jori and the other man, Ling, lowered their weapons slowly.
Ling stepped forward first.
"…Senior Kaito…"
His voice cracked slightly.
"…We've been looking for you."
Then suddenly, he grabbed Kaito and pulled him into a tight hug.
"…We finally found you…"
Kaito froze for a second.
"…You're still the same…"
Jori's shoulders trembled.
"…Why did you leave us like that?"
His voice carried frustration and relief at the same time.
"…We thought you were gone."
Kaito let out a tired sigh.
"…Stop crying."
"…You're embarrassing yourselves."
Saito raised a hand slightly.
"…Uh… not to interrupt this emotional reunion or anything…"
He glanced between them.
"…But we were actually here to talk, right?"
He looked at Kaito.
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Jori and Ling turned their heads toward Saito.
Their expressions hardened.
"…How dare you speak to Senior Kaito like that."
Ling narrowed his eyes.
"…Show some respect."
Saito blinked.
"…Huh?"
"…What did I even say?"
Kaito let out another sigh, more tired this time.
"…This is going to take a while."
Jori pointed at Kaito, still rubbing his head.
"…That's Silent Killer Kaito."
His tone shifted slightly, more serious now.
"…He's not just an assassin."
"…He's one of the Noctarion."
Saito frowned slightly.
"…Nocta… what?"
Jori continued.
"…Number Eight of them."
Kaito immediately hit Jori on the head.
"Stop talking."
Jori flinched.
"Ow…"
Ling sighed beside him.
"…You really never change, senior."
Saito looked between them, confused.
"…Wait, what is Noctarion?"
Takeru went silent.
He didn't speak at first.
His ears twitched slightly.
Then he slowly exhaled.
"…Noctarion…"
Saito looked at him.
"…You know them?"
Takeru nodded slowly.
"…Nine of the most dangerous assassins in the world."
He glanced at Kaito.
"…So you're one of them."
Kaito shrugged slightly.
"…Used to be."
Ling frowned immediately.
"…There it is again."
"…Senior always talks like it doesn't matter."
Kaito glanced at him.
"…Because it doesn't."
Jori crossed his arms.
"You say that… but being one of Noctarion is the highest goal for assassins."
"…It's the peak."
A brief silence followed.
Saito slowly processed it.
"…So you were part of something like that…"
He looked at Kaito differently now.
Not fear.
But curiosity.
Kaito sighed.
"…That was a long time ago."