Ito Xius showed no intention of making the first move. Instead, he gestured politely, his expression calm but calculated.
"Please, enjoy dinner," he said with a smile, extending a hand in invitation.
Dominica glanced at Ito Xius, then back at Kaizen and Wendy, her eyes sharp with vigilance.
"Let's go," Dominica said firmly, leading the way toward the passage Ito Xius indicated.
Wendy nudged Kaizen's shoulder, leaning in close to whisper.
"Dominica seems confident."
Kaizen instinctively leaned back, caught off guard by her proximity. The faint warmth of her breath tickled his ear, leaving him slightly unsettled. Wendy quickly realized her mistake, her cheeks flushing as she pulled away.
"Sorry," she muttered, embarrassed.
Kaizen, distracted by the moment, noted how close they had been. Wendy carried a soft, floral scent—a reminder of how limited his interactions with women had been since arriving in this world. His thoughts flickered briefly to Nina, who was too young for such feelings, and Morena, whose relationship with him was purely platonic. Wendy, however, was different. Her refined demeanor, born of noble lineage, set her apart. Even in casual moments, she exuded an effortless grace.
As they entered the passage, Kaizen felt the presence of another figure following quietly behind them. It seemed that Ito Xius had more plans in motion than he initially let on. The airship itself had been rigged as a trap.
The hallway ended at a set of ornate double doors. Ito Xius stepped ahead and opened them with a flourish, revealing an opulently decorated dining room. Two figures were already seated at the long table, their postures relaxed but alert. Including Ito Xius and the shadowy figure behind, there were now four opponents present. Each one radiated a palpable aura of menace.
Kaizen exchanged a glance with Dominica. Wendy had assured him earlier that Dominica was prepared for this, and Kaizen trusted her word. Still, he couldn't help but feel a rising curiosity about what Dominica had up his sleeve. The opponents in front of them weren't pushovers—their abilities felt formidable. Three of them carried A-level auras, while the fourth, Ito Xius, hovered just below at B-level.
The Taris Kingdom was known for producing strange and unpredictable abilities. Kaizen had seen the bizarre monsters they could create: human-faced balloons, grotesque fish hybrids, and eerie girl-shaped constructs. While not insurmountable threats, they were taxing to deal with.
Kaizen's trump card, Raiken, was still trailing the airship from below. Raiken had gained a unique ability from a Shadow Beast in Meteor City: the power to swap positions with Kaizen at great distances. If things went south, Kaizen could summon Raiken's help instantly. For now, though, he had to play along.
"Please, take a seat," Ito Xius said, clapping his hands. A group of trembling women emerged from a side door, clearly staff members who had been coerced into serving. Their nervous glances spoke volumes about their situation.
Dominica sat without hesitation, motioning for Kaizen and Wendy to do the same. They took seats on either side of him at the long table.
Ito Xius gestured to his companions. "Allow me to introduce ourselves. I am Ito Xius, a proud member of the Eagle Squad. This is our captain, Crawford. The other two are Cook and Charlotte."
Kaizen studied them carefully. Crawford was a middle-aged man with a commanding presence, though his labored breathing hinted at poor health. Cook, bald and stoic, was the one who had been trailing them earlier. Finally, Charlotte was a striking woman whose mature elegance contrasted with Wendy's youthful charm.
The names matched the contact list Kaizen had retrieved from Ito Xius earlier, but the mysterious sender of the last text message wasn't here.
"That means there's more than one squad," Kaizen mused silently. "This airship is just one part of a larger operation."
A smirk tugged at his lips as he made a mental connection.
"Eagle Squad… sounds familiar."
Crawford broke the silence, his gaze fixed on Dominica.
"Dominica, it's been a long time."
Dominica's brow furrowed. "Have we met?"
Crawford chuckled dryly, a faint rasp in his voice.
"We have, though I doubt you'd remember. Back then, you were Fiora's rising star, while I was nothing but a footnote in Taris. You wouldn't have spared me a second glance."
His words were laced with bitterness. He coughed violently, his face reddening as he struggled to catch his breath. Yet, he pressed on.
"Now, the tables have turned. You've fallen into my hands, and your fate is entirely under my control. Ironic, isn't it?"
Crawford leaned back, a cruel smile playing on his lips. "When Ito Xius sent me your photo, I couldn't resist. I went out of my way to set this up just for you. This airship is more than a trap—it's your grave, Dominica. I'll enjoy watching your despair, just as you once relished in ours."
Kaizen's eyes narrowed. He didn't know the details of Dominica's past, but Crawford's hatred was unmistakable. This confrontation wasn't just about their current mission; it was personal.
The game was set, and Kaizen knew they were about to face more than just an ordinary battle.
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