The handshake had barely ended when the atmosphere in the hall shifted again.
It was subtle.
But noticeable.
Like the calm surface of water before a storm.
---
Elric slowly withdrew his hand, his gaze still fixed on the old man.
"…You speak with a lot of confidence," he said, his tone now measured, cautious.
"Confidence without foundation is arrogance."
The old man adjusted his sleeve slightly.
"And I have lived long enough to know the difference."
---
Elric let out a quiet breath.
Then he turned slightly.
"Clear the perimeter."
His men hesitated for a brief moment—
just a fraction of a second—
before obeying.
Bootsteps echoed across the hollow structure as most of the guards moved outward, spreading into the shadows, leaving only a handful behind.
The tension didn't decrease.
If anything—
it became sharper.
More focused.
---
Elric gestured toward a metal table nearby.
"Sit."
The old man didn't refuse.
He walked forward calmly and took a seat.
Across from him—
Elric.
Behind them—
two worlds standing in silence.
Velkris Syndicate.
And Eclipse Veil.
---
Kael, Rudra, and Alina remained standing.
Unmoving.
Silent.
But their presence…
was suffocating.
One of Elric's remaining guards shifted his stance slightly, his grip tightening on his weapon.
Sweat formed near his temple.
He didn't understand why—
but standing in front of those three felt like standing in front of something far more dangerous than guns.
---
Elric noticed it too.
"…Your people," he said, glancing briefly behind the old man, "they're not normal."
The old man didn't turn.
"They're not meant to be."
---
A brief silence followed.
Then—
Elric leaned forward slightly.
"…Let's talk details."
---
The old man nodded.
"As I said, Draxen Order is not as stable as it appears."
He placed the file on the table again and opened it.
"There are three key fracture points."
He raised one finger.
"First—internal distrust."
"Second—resource dependency."
"Third—leadership vulnerability."
---
Elric narrowed his eyes.
"…Explain."
---
The old man tapped lightly on the first page.
"Draxen Order has grown too quickly. Rapid expansion always leaves cracks."
He flipped a page.
"Their mid-level commanders are divided. Power struggles. Hidden rivalries."
Another page.
"Some are already dissatisfied with their leadership."
---
Elric's fingers tapped slowly on the table.
"…We've noticed some instability."
"But not this much," the old man finished.
---
Elric didn't deny it.
---
"Second," the old man continued, "their resources."
"They rely heavily on a single supply chain."
He pointed at a marked section.
"Cut this… and their operations will slow drastically."
---
Elric leaned in slightly.
"…And the third?"
---
The old man paused.
Just for a moment.
Then—
"Their leader."
---
Silence.
Heavy.
---
Elric's eyes sharpened.
"…You're suggesting—"
"Yes."
The old man didn't let him finish.
"We remove him."
---
The air turned cold.
Even the faint sounds of the outside wind seemed to disappear.
---
One of Elric's guards took a step forward instinctively.
"…That's impossible."
Kael's eyes shifted slightly.
Just slightly.
The guard froze mid-step.
His breath hitched.
He didn't know why—
but his instincts screamed at him not to move another inch.
---
Elric raised his hand again.
The guard stepped back.
---
"…You're talking about killing Draxen's leader," Elric said slowly.
"Do you even understand what that means?"
---
The old man leaned back slightly.
"I do."
"…Then you should also understand the consequences."
---
"I do."
---
Elric stared at him.
Trying to read him.
Trying to find hesitation.
Doubt.
Fear.
Anything.
---
There was nothing.
---
"…How?" Elric finally asked.
---
The old man's lips curved faintly.
"That is our concern."
---
Elric exhaled slowly.
"…You're asking me to trust you blindly."
---
"No," the old man replied.
"I'm giving you a result."
---
A pause.
Then—
"We don't need your trust."
"We need your agreement."
---
Elric let out a quiet laugh.
"…You really are something else."
---
For a moment—
no one spoke.
---
Then—
a new voice broke the silence.
"…Boss."
---
A man approached from the side.
Tall.
Sharp features.
Cold eyes.
He stopped beside Elric and leaned slightly closer, speaking in a low voice.
"We confirmed it."
A pause.
"It's true."
---
Elric didn't react immediately.
But something in his eyes changed.
---
"…Corvin Hale?" he asked quietly.
---
The man nodded.
"He tried to run."
A brief pause.
"…He didn't make it far."
---
Silence.
---
Elric closed his eyes for a second.
Then opened them again.
Calm.
But colder than before.
---
"…Seems like you've already proven your worth," he said, looking back at the old man.
---
The old man said nothing.
---
Elric leaned back in his chair.
"…Fine."
A pause.
"We'll proceed."
---
But then—
he added,
"…However."
---
The air tightened again.
---
"I have a condition."
---
The old man tilted his head slightly.
"Go on."
---
Elric's gaze turned sharp.
"I want proof."
---
A pause.
---
"Not information."
"Not plans."
---
His voice lowered.
"I want a demonstration."
---
The old man's expression didn't change.
"What kind?"
---
Elric smiled faintly.
Dark.
Cold.
---
"There's a man."
---
He leaned forward slightly.
"One of Draxen's key operatives."
"Name—Varek."
---
Kael's eyes flickered slightly.
---
Elric continued,
"He's not the leader."
"But he's important."
---
A pause.
---
"Kill him."
---
Silence filled the hall again.
---
Then—
the old man spoke.
Calm.
Unbothered.
---
"Consider it done."
---
Elric's smile widened slightly.
"…Good."
---
He stood up.
The meeting was over.
---
As the old man rose from his seat, Elric spoke one last time.
"…Three days."
---
The old man paused.
Then nodded.
"Three days."
---
As they turned to leave—
Elric's voice followed them.
---
"…Eclipse Veil."
---
The old man stopped for just a moment.
---
"…Don't disappoint me."
---
Without turning back—
he replied,
"We won't."
---
And as they walked out of the abandoned structure—
the night air felt colder.
Sharper.
---
Beside him, Kael finally spoke.
"…Target confirmed?"
---
The old man nodded slightly.
"Yes."
---
Rudra cracked his neck lightly.
"…Finally, some movement."
---
Alina adjusted her glasses, her voice calm.
"I'll gather all available data on Varek."
---
The old man looked ahead.
His gaze steady.
---
"This…"
he said quietly,
"…is our first step."
---
And somewhere in the darkness—
a storm had already begun to move.
Silent.
Invisible.
Unstoppable.
After the old man and his group disappeared into the darkness, the hall fell into an uneasy silence.
The sound of their footsteps faded—
but the weight they left behind remained.
---
Elric stood still for a few seconds, his gaze fixed on the empty entrance.
His fingers tapped lightly against the metal table.
Once.
Twice.
Then he exhaled slowly.
"…Everyone out."
His voice was calm—
but there was a slight edge to it.
---
The remaining guards didn't hesitate.
They quickly cleared the area, leaving only Elric and his closest aide behind.
The large hall, once filled with tension, now felt hollow.
But not peaceful.
Never peaceful.
---
Elric reached into his coat and pulled out a secured communication device.
For a brief moment—
he hesitated.
Something he rarely did.
"…Eclipse Veil…"
he muttered under his breath.
Then—
he initiated the call.
---
The line connected almost instantly.
No ringing.
No delay.
---
A deep voice came from the other side.
"…Speak."
---
Elric straightened slightly.
"It's me."
---
A pause.
"…Elric."
The voice recognized him immediately.
Calm.
Heavy.
Authoritative.
---
"I just finished a meeting," Elric said.
"With… a new party."
---
Silence.
Then—
"…Explain."
---
Elric took a slow breath.
And began.
---
"They call themselves Eclipse Veil."
"Unknown origin. Unknown structure."
"But—"
He paused slightly.
"…they approached us directly."
---
The voice on the other end remained silent.
Listening.
---
"They knew about the convoy ambush."
"They knew about Corvin."
"They even knew internal movements… routes… safehouses."
---
A pause.
Then—
"They exposed a traitor inside our ranks."
---
This time—
there was a reaction.
A faint shift.
"…Continue."
---
Elric's tone grew more serious.
"They proposed a deal."
"They want to eliminate Draxen Order."
---
Silence.
Deep.
Heavy.
---
For a few seconds—
there was no response.
---
Then—
"…And?"
---
Elric narrowed his eyes slightly.
"They weren't bluffing."
"They showed detailed intelligence."
"Too detailed."
---
He leaned slightly against the table.
"…More than we have in some areas."
---
That—
made the line go completely silent.
---
Even Elric didn't speak.
He simply waited.
---
After a few seconds—
the voice returned.
Lower.
Colder.
"…You're saying… there is an organization with better intelligence than us… and we didn't even know they existed?"
---
Elric didn't sugarcoat it.
"Yes."
---
Silence again.
But this time—
it felt heavier.
---
"…Did you agree to their deal?" the voice asked.
---
Elric replied without hesitation.
"Yes."
---
"…On what terms?"
---
"They eliminate a key target first. A test."
"After that… we proceed."
---
A pause.
Then—
"…You trust them?"
---
Elric let out a quiet breath.
"No."
---
Another pause.
---
"But…" he continued,
"…I believe them."
---
That answer—
was enough.
---
The man on the other side didn't question further.
Instead—
he shifted direction.
---
"…Listen carefully, Elric."
---
Elric straightened unconsciously.
---
"For now… we do not act against them."
---
A pause.
---
"We observe."
---
Elric nodded slightly.
"…Understood."
---
The voice continued,
"I will try to find anything about this 'Eclipse Veil.'"
"Anything at all."
---
A brief pause.
---
"But until then…"
---
His tone dropped.
---
"…we avoid conflict."
---
Elric's eyes narrowed.
"…Even if they interfere with our operations?"
---
The answer came without hesitation.
---
"It doesn't matter."
---
A pause.
---
"If they deal with others… let them."
---
Another pause.
---
"But do not provoke them."
---
Elric understood.
Perfectly.
---
"…Their network," the voice continued slowly,
"…is already enough to be feared."
---
Silence followed.
---
Even Elric—
who had seen countless organizations rise and fall—
couldn't deny it.
---
An unknown group.
With information beyond their reach.
With confidence to approach them directly.
With the ability to expose internal betrayal effortlessly.
---
That alone—
was dangerous.
---
"…Understood," Elric said finally.
---
The call ended.
---
The screen went dark.
---
Elric stood there for a long moment.
His reflection faintly visible on the blank surface.
---
"…Eclipse Veil…"
he whispered again.
---
This time—
there was no doubt in his voice.
---
Only one thought—
clear and sharp.
---
This is not something we can afford to underestimate.
---
And far away—
hidden in the shadows—
the name had already begun to spread.