A day passed. That was all it took. By sunrise, whispers had already begun spreading through the streets of Hamone City. By midday, those whispers turned into conversations. By nightfall, it wasn't even rumor anymore. It was fact.
Hanko Demitri was dead.
The Intelligence Division's captain. The man who saw everything, knew everything, and controlled everything from the shadows of his brothel was gone. Burned out. Buried. Erased.
And the one responsible? No one seemed to agree on the details, but the core of it stayed the same. A lone wanderer. An outsider. A man who walked into Syndicate territory and tore one of its pillars down like it meant nothing.
The story spread like wildfire, carried from merchant to guard, from drunk to noble, from alleyways to estates. Some spoke of it with fear. Others with disbelief. A few with hope. But there was one place the news reached where it didn't spark chaos.
It sparked something else. Stillness. Deep beneath one of Hamone City's more refined districts sat a small, quiet tea establishment. From the outside, it looked unremarkable. Clean. Traditional. Calm. Lanterns hung softly from the entrance.
Steam drifted gently from within. No guards. No noise. No sign of anything unusual. But below it, hidden beneath polished floors, it was something very different.
A room. Wide. Circular. Well-lit by a series of soft green lanterns that cast a steady glow across the walls. The architecture was traditional, almost elegant, with carved wooden panels and smooth stone flooring. At the center sat a round table. Five chairs placed evenly around it.
One of them is empty. A silence filled the space. To one side of the room, a handful of servant girls sat quietly, wrapped in simple robes. Heads lowered. Hands resting neatly in their laps. They didn't speak. Didn't move. Their presence was subtle, almost like part of the room itself.
Around the table, three figures had already taken their seats. One of them yawned. Loudly.
Captain of the Haven Syndicate's Buisness Division, Zeffer Hanz, leaned back in his chair, one arm resting lazily against the table, the other hanging off the side. His broad frame made the chair look smaller than it should've been. Despite his shorter stature, there was nothing small about him.
Thick arms. Heavy shoulders. A presence that carried weight. His shaved bald head reflected a bit of the lantern light, and his long, braided white whiskers hung down past his chin, swaying slightly as he shifted. He wore bright yellow martial arts robes, though the way he slouched in them made it look like he'd rather be anywhere else.
"Unbelievable," he muttered, rubbing at one eye. "I was in the middle of a good nap before this meeting was called."
Across from him sat the captain of the Trading Division, Mina Vice, who let out a sharp exhale.
"You're always in the middle of a nap," she said.
Her tone was smooth. Controlled. But clearly irritated. She sat upright, legs crossed, posture perfect. Her long braided hair draped over her shoulder, reaching all the way down past her waist. Her clothing was pristine and stylish, tailored perfectly to her frame. Everything about her screamed refinement. Which only made the look she gave Zeffer sharper.
"At least pretend this meeting matters," she added.
Zeffer cracked one eye open.
"It might," he said lazily. "When it actually starts."
A scoff left her lips. Before she could respond, a low voice cut in from the other side of the table.
"He's late."
Captain of the Enforcement Division, Baron Alcotez leaned forward slightly, resting his taped hands against the table. The wood creaked faintly under the weight.
He was massive. There was no other word for it. Broad shoulders stretched beneath his long leather jacket, which hung open to reveal his bare, muscled chest and abdomen. Thick hair lined his torso, and his arms looked like they could snap bone without effort. His eyes were sharp and impatient.
"That old bastard calls a meeting," Baron continued, his voice low but edged, "and then keeps us waiting."
Zeffer let out a quiet grunt.
"Yeah. I'll give you that one."
He shifted in his seat again, scratching lightly at his jaw.
"If he's the one calling it, he should be here first."
Mina's gaze snapped toward Baron.
"I'd prefer," she said coolly, "if you refrained from insulting our master."
Baron glanced at her unimpressed.
"Oh?"
Mina's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Unless you've forgotten the last time you got comfortable speaking like that."
A faint smirk tugged at her lips.
"I still remember watching him put your head through a wall."
Zeffer snorted quietly. Mina continued, her tone sharpening just a bit.
"Sawdust everywhere. Ruined my purse."
Baron stared at her for a second. Then leaned back slightly, letting out a low, sarcastic sigh.
"My deepest apologies for ruining your expensive purse," he said flatly.
Mina scoffed again, turning her gaze away.
"Just don't make it a habit."
Silence settled over the table again. Heavy. But not uncomfortable. Mina's eyes shifted. Slowly moving toward the other empty chair. Hanko's seat. For a moment, her expression didn't change. Then she spoke.
"So it's true."
Zeffer cracked his other eye open, following her gaze. Baron's fingers tapped once against the table.
"Hanko's really dead."
The words sat there. Final. Zeffer exhaled through his nose.
"Seems that way."
He adjusted slightly in his seat.
"Didn't think anyone in this city had the guts."
Baron let out a low chuckle. He leaned back, stretching his neck slightly.
"Guts, huh? What a shame."
Mina glanced at him as Baron nodded to himself.
"That idiot sure was annoying... but he could fight," he said.
A faint grin tugged at his lips.
"Now I've got one less sparring partner."
Zeffer let out another yawn.
"You've got me."
Baron looked at him, pausing for a moment.
"I said sparring partner."
Zeffer huffed, unimpressed. Mina ignored both of them, her gaze still resting on the empty chair.
"Do we know who did it?" she asked.
Zeffer shrugged.
"Heard a few things."
Baron's eyes sharpened slightly.
"Same."
Mina looked between them.
"Well?"
Zeffer scratched lightly at his shoulder.
"A wanderer," he said. "That's the common thread."
Baron nodded.
"Yeah. Some nobody."
Mina's brows knit slightly.
"A nobody doesn't kill a captain."
Zeffer smirked faintly.
"Guess he's somebody now."
Baron leaned forward again, interest creeping into his expression.
"Whoever he is," he said, "I want him."
Mina sighed softly.
"Of course you do."
Before Baron could respond, the room shifted. Subtle but immediate. The servant girls lowered their heads further. The air itself seemed to tighten. The sound of the main doorway opening echoed through the chamber. Every eye in the room turned toward it. The conversation died instantly. No more sarcasm. No more irritation. Just silence. Respectful silence.
The door creaked open fully. Light from the hallway spilled into the room for just a moment. Then a figure stepped through. And just like that, the meeting truly began. Master Jao Henderson had arrived.