After everything settled—
the interview went live.
Within minutes—
it spread.
Fast.
Clips circulated across networks, social platforms, and news channels.
And just as expected—
it created noise.
A lot of it.
---
Some praised him.
"He's still got it."
"That confidence… that presence… he hasn't changed."
Others criticized him.
"Too arrogant."
"He thinks this is still his era."
And then—
there were those who focused on something else entirely.
"Did you see how he was flirting during a LIVE interview?"
"Is this a fight promotion or a dating show?"
"Unprofessional."
The reactions split—
but one thing was certain.
Ansh was trending again.
Just like before.
---
🏢 Saym Industry – Headquarters
Inside a high-rise office—
far away from the chaos of public opinion—
a large screen displayed the same interview.
The room was silent.
A middle-aged man sat comfortably on a leather chair, one hand resting on the armrest, the other holding a glass.
Beside him stood his secretary, tablet in hand.
Her expression—
slightly annoyed.
"…Sir," she spoke, unable to hold back, "with all due respect… this man doesn't seem reliable."
The man didn't respond immediately.
His eyes remained on the screen, watching Ansh's calm expression.
"…He was flirting during a professional interview," she continued.
"And this is the person we've entrusted with crippling the Boros gang leader?"
A pause.
"…Should we really trust him?"
The man sighed softly.
Then leaned back slightly.
"It doesn't matter."
The secretary frowned.
"…Sir?"
He turned his gaze away from the screen.
Calm.
Unbothered.
"If he wins… good."
"If he loses…"
A slight pause.
"…we'll find someone else."
His tone carried no emotion.
No attachment.
To him—
Ansh was just a tool.
A useful one—
for now.
This man—
was none other than the Chief of Saym Industry.
The one who had hired Ansh.
---
He took a sip from his glass.
Then spoke again,
"For now… this isn't our priority."
The secretary adjusted her posture.
"…Then what is, sir?"
His expression changed slightly.
More serious.
"Everything happening in the shadows."
A pause.
"You've seen the reports."
She nodded.
"Yes."
Her fingers moved across the tablet as she began,
"A newly emerged assassination organization."
"They've already targeted one of the five major powers."
Her voice lowered slightly.
"And succeeded."
A brief silence filled the room.
Even established assassin groups—
those with years of reputation—
avoided taking contracts related to such giants.
Because the retaliation alone—
was enough to wipe them out.
Yet this new organization—
stepped in.
Without hesitation.
Without fear.
The man's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Continue."
The secretary nodded.
"We've managed to gather limited information."
A pause.
"They call themselves…"
"…Eclipse Veil."
The name lingered in the air.
Heavy.
Unsettling.
"They were the ones who approached the opposing party," she continued.
"They initiated the deal themselves."
"However…"
She frowned slightly.
"…we have no information on what kind of agreement was made."
"They've kept everything tightly controlled."
"No leaks."
"No trails."
"Nothing."
The man tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest.
Thinking.
"…Interesting."
The secretary hesitated for a moment.
Then added,
"And that's not all."
His gaze shifted toward her.
"…There's more?"
She nodded.
"Yes."
"Across multiple regions…"
"We're seeing unusual activity."
"A sudden rise in natural calamities."
"Unpredictable."
"Frequent."
A pause.
"And…"
Her tone grew slightly heavier.
"…mutated animals."
The man's expression finally changed.
Slightly.
"…Mutated?"
"Yes."
"Reports suggest abnormal strength, aggression, and behavior patterns."
"Completely unlike anything seen before."
Silence filled the room.
The man leaned back slowly.
His eyes closed for a moment.
"…So many things…"
He murmured quietly.
"…happening at once."
A brief pause.
Then—
he opened his eyes.
Sharp.
Focused.
"…A new organization rising in the shadows."
"…Nature itself becoming unstable."
"…And unknown mutations appearing out of nowhere."
He exhaled slowly.
"…This isn't coincidence."
The secretary didn't respond.
But she understood.
Something was coming.
Something big.
And all of this—
was just the beginning.
The man picked up the remote and turned off the screen.
Ansh's face disappeared.
"…Keep monitoring Eclipse Veil," he said calmly.
"And the other developments as well."
"Yes, sir."
She nodded.
Then turned to leave.
But just before she reached the door—
the man spoke again.
"…And that fighter…"
She paused.
"…Ansh."
A slight smirk appeared on his lips.
"…Let's see if his confidence is real."
Silence returned.
But this time—
it felt heavier.
Because while the world focused on a fight—
something far more dangerous…
was already moving behind the scenes.
At the same time—
far away from the noise of media and public opinion—
inside a heavily secured compound—
a private meeting was underway.
No outsiders.
No leaks.
Only core members.
---
A long table stretched across the dimly lit room.
Armed guards stood at every corner.
Silent.
Alert.
The atmosphere—
heavy.
Oppressive.
At the head of the table sat the leader.
A man whose presence alone was enough to silence a room.
But today—
his expression was darker than usual.
Colder.
More dangerous.
His fingers tapped slowly against the armrest.
Once.
Twice.
Then—
he stopped.
"…Speak."
His voice was low.
Controlled.
But filled with restrained anger.
No one moved immediately.
That alone—
was enough to make the tension worse.
Because this organization—
had never suffered like this before.
Not once.
Not in years.
And yet—
in just three days—
twelve of their key members were gone.
Not ordinary men.
Not replaceable pawns.
But pillars.
Men who controlled operations.
Handled information.
Maintained influence.
And now—
they were dead.
All of them.
Clean.
Precise.
Without a single trace left behind.
The leader's gaze swept across the room.
"…No one has an answer?"
Silence.
One of the senior members finally spoke.
"…We've investigated every angle."
A pause.
"…But we have nothing."
The leader's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Nothing?"
"Yes."
"No witnesses."
"No survivors."
"No patterns we can track."
Another pause.
"…Only one thing."
The man hesitated slightly.
Then said—
"…A name."
The room grew still.
"…Say it."
"…Eclipse Veil."
The moment the name was spoken—
the air seemed to grow heavier.
The leader leaned back slowly.
"…Eclipse… Veil…"
He repeated it quietly.
As if tasting the words.
Memorizing them.
Another member spoke up,
"We believe they were hired."
The leader's gaze shifted.
"…By whom?"
"We're not certain."
"But there are signs pointing toward a rival organization."
A pause.
"…Should we retaliate?"
Another voice joined in,
"If they were hired… then we strike the one who hired them."
"That would send a message."
"That no one can use assassins against us without consequences."
A few nodded in agreement.
But before the discussion could grow—
the leader's hand slammed lightly against the table.
Not loud.
But enough.
Silence returned instantly.
"…No."
His voice was firm.
Cold.
"We will not act recklessly."
His eyes burned with restrained fury.
"We have already suffered a heavy loss."
"Twelve key members."
"Twelve."
Each word carried weight.
"If we start a war now…"
He leaned forward slightly.
"…we will only add more bodies to that number."
The room fell silent again.
No one argued.
Because they understood.
This wasn't fear—
This was calculation.
The leader continued,
"Instead…"
His tone dropped slightly.
"…we focus on them."
"Eclipse Veil."
A pause.
"We find them."
"We learn everything about them."
"And then…"
His eyes darkened.
"…we make them pay."
A cold silence followed.
One of the members spoke carefully,
"…But sir… we don't know if they will strike again."
That—
was the real problem.
The unknown.
The unpredictability.
The leader didn't answer immediately.
His fingers tapped once again.
Slow.
Measured.
"…Increase security."
"On all high-value targets."
"No one moves alone."
"No one lowers their guard."
A pause.
"And begin recruitment."
The members looked up.
"…Recruitment?"
"Yes."
His voice remained calm.
"We replace the twelve."
"Immediately."
"Operations in those areas cannot stop."
"They must continue."
Another silence.
Then—
one of them hesitated.
"…Sir… their pattern…"
The leader looked at him.
"…Speak."
"They targeted key individuals."
"Strategic positions."
"Not random."
A pause.
"…If they follow the same pattern…"
"…we may be next."
The room went still.
No one spoke.
Because that thought—
was already in everyone's mind.
The leader leaned back slowly.
His expression unreadable.
"…Then let them come."
His voice was quiet.
But carried a terrifying weight.
"We'll be ready."
A faint pause.
"…And if they dare to strike again…"
His eyes turned cold.
"…they won't leave alive."
Silence.
Heavy.
Unsettling.
Because deep down—
even he knew.
This enemy—
was not normal.
They didn't leave traces.
They didn't make mistakes.
And worst of all—
They had already proven—
they could reach anywhere.
Kill anyone.
And disappear—
like they were never there.
Somewhere—
in the shadows—
Eclipse Veil was watching.
And this time—
they weren't the hunters anymore.
They had become—
the prey.