The old man did not act immediately.
Instead, he stood alone in a dimly lit room deep within the underground base, his expression calm, but his eyes sharp with calculation. In front of him lay several files—each one containing information about powerful organizations across the nation. His fingers slowly tapped against the table as he reviewed them one by one.
"Not this one… too stable."
"Too small… not worth the risk."
"Too chaotic… no structure."
He paused at one particular file.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Perfect."
The file contained the name—Velkris Syndicate.
A powerful organization. Ranked just below the top three. Known for its vast network, resource control, and ruthless operations. But more importantly—
They had an enemy.
An equally powerful rival organization named Draxen Order.
The two had been at each other's throats for years.
Territory disputes. Resource conflicts. Assassinations.
A silent war that never truly stopped.
The old man closed the file slowly.
"This will do."
---
He didn't go himself at first.
Instead, he picked up a secure communication device and made a call.
After a few rings, the line connected.
A deep voice answered.
"…Who is this?"
The old man's tone remained calm.
"Someone who can help you win your war."
There was a pause.
Then a slight chuckle.
"…Bold. Do you even know who you're speaking to?"
"I do," the old man replied. "Elric Vance. Right hand of Velkris Syndicate's leader."
Silence.
This time, longer.
"…How did you get this number?"
"That is irrelevant," the old man said. "What matters is that I know your current situation… and I know your weakness."
A faint shift could be heard on the other side.
Elric's voice grew colder.
"…Careful. You're stepping on dangerous ground."
"And yet," the old man replied smoothly, "you haven't cut the call."
Another pause.
Then—
"…What do you want?"
"A meeting."
"No."
The answer came instantly.
"I don't meet unknown people."
The old man smiled faintly.
"Then perhaps this will interest you."
He opened a file and glanced at it briefly.
"Three days ago. Your west-sector convoy was ambushed."
Silence.
"You lost fourteen men."
"…Continue."
"The attack was not random. It was planned."
"…That much is obvious."
"The information was leaked from inside your organization."
That—
caused a shift.
"…Explain."
The old man's voice remained steady.
"The leak came from your logistics division. A man named Corvin Hale."
There was a sudden sound—like something being slammed on a table.
"…That's impossible."
"And yet," the old man continued calmly, "if you check his recent transactions, you'll find irregularities. Payments routed through third-party channels… connected to Draxen Order."
Silence filled the line.
Heavy.
Tense.
"…If this is true," Elric said slowly, "then you've just given me a reason not to kill you."
The old man chuckled softly.
"Then I believe we are making progress."
"…Where."
---
The meeting was set for the next night.
Location—neutral ground.
An abandoned industrial complex on the outskirts of the city.
---
When the old man arrived, he was not alone.
Behind him stood three figures.
Kael.
Rudra.
Alina.
All three silent.
All three composed.
But their presence—
was overwhelming.
Even the air around them felt heavy.
Killing intent, faint but controlled, lingered like a shadow.
---
Elric was already there.
Standing at the center of the hall.
Surrounded by his men.
At least twenty of them.
All armed.
All alert.
The moment the old man stepped inside—
every weapon subtly shifted.
Aimed.
Ready.
Elric's eyes narrowed as he observed the group.
His gaze lingered on the three behind the old man.
And for the first time—
his expression changed.
"…Interesting."
He could feel it.
These weren't ordinary bodyguards.
Their stance.
Their breathing.
Their presence.
Each one felt like a weapon.
Especially the one in the middle—Kael.
There was something… dangerous about him.
Something that even Elric couldn't fully grasp.
---
"You came alone," Elric said.
The old man smiled.
"I brought only three."
"…Only," Elric repeated.
A faint smirk appeared on his face.
"You're either very confident… or very stupid."
"Confidence," the old man replied.
---
They stood facing each other.
Silence stretched.
Tension thickened.
Then—
Elric spoke.
"…Let's skip the formalities. Who are you?"
The old man took a step forward.
"My name is not important."
Elric's eyes sharpened.
"Then what is?"
The old man's smile deepened slightly.
"The organization I represent."
A pause.
Then—
"And what organization would that be?"
The old man looked directly into Elric's eyes.
"Eclipse Veil."
The name echoed softly in the empty hall.
Unknown.
Yet—
it carried weight.
---
Elric frowned slightly.
"…Never heard of it."
"You wouldn't have," the old man replied calmly.
"We operate in the shadows."
A faint chuckle escaped Elric.
"Everyone says that."
The old man didn't respond immediately.
Instead, he spoke—
quietly.
"Corvin Hale."
Elric's expression froze.
"Dockyard sector. Midnight transfer."
"…Stop."
Elric raised his hand.
Silence fell instantly among his men.
The old man continued.
"Hidden routes. Backup channels. Your eastern safehouse."
Each word—
precise.
Each detail—
accurate.
And each one—
dangerous.
---
Elric's gaze darkened.
"…How much do you know?"
The old man met his gaze without hesitation.
"Enough to destroy you."
The air shifted.
Weapons tightened.
Killing intent rose.
But—
the old man remained calm.
Unshaken.
---
"…And yet you're here to make a deal," Elric said.
"Yes."
"…Why?"
The old man's answer was simple.
"Because destroying you is not our goal."
A pause.
Then—
"We prefer profit."
---
Elric stared at him.
Long.
Hard.
Then—
"…What kind of deal?"
The old man finally took another step forward.
"Draxen Order."
The name alone caused a ripple among Elric's men.
Their enemy.
Their greatest threat.
"We eliminate them," the old man said calmly.
Silence.
Then—
laughter.
Low at first.
Then louder.
Elric shook his head.
"You're either insane… or suicidal."
The old man didn't react.
"We don't make empty claims."
"…You think you can take down Draxen Order?" Elric asked.
"Yes."
"Why should I believe that?"
The old man's eyes glinted slightly.
"Because we already know how to do it."
---
That—
caught Elric's attention.
"…Explain."
The old man opened another file.
Inside—
detailed information.
Movements.
Weak points.
Internal conflicts.
Even names.
Important names.
Elric's expression slowly changed as he looked through it.
Shock.
Disbelief.
Then—
realization.
"…This…"
His voice lowered.
"…This is real."
The old man nodded.
"We don't deal in lies."
---
Elric closed the file slowly.
"…What do you want in return?"
The old man's answer came without hesitation.
"Weapons."
A pause.
"High-grade weapons."
Another pause.
"And in large quantities."
---
Elric narrowed his eyes.
"…That's it?"
"For now."
"…And after that?"
The old man smiled faintly.
"We may require more… in the future."
---
Silence stretched again.
Long.
Heavy.
Then—
Elric laughed softly.
"…You're dangerous."
The old man said nothing.
"…I like that."
Elric extended his hand.
"Deal."
The old man looked at it briefly.
Then—
shook it.
---
But as their hands met—
Elric leaned in slightly.
His voice low.
"…If this is a trap…"
The old man's response was immediate.
"It isn't."
"…And if you fail?"
The old man's eyes remained calm.
"We don't fail."
---
As they stepped back—
Elric glanced once more at the three figures behind the old man.
His gaze lingered on Kael.
"…What are they?"
The old man followed his gaze.
A faint smile appeared.
"Our blades."
---
And at that moment—
Elric understood.
This wasn't just another organization.
This was something else.
Something hidden.
Something dangerous.
Something that—
had just stepped into the game.