Back at the academy, the air was heavy.
Kael slammed the briefcase onto the table in the underground decryption room. Vale was already working on the lock mechanism, typing fast. The screen flashed red—then green.
Click.
It opened.
Inside: a sleek black folder.
Lucian: "Only one file?"
Ryker: "That's suspicious."
Vale pulled it out carefully and opened it.
Then froze.
Vale: "No way…"
I stepped forward.
And my world stopped.
It was a photo of me.
Not in disguise. Not as a boy. Just… me. Long hair. Earrings. Lipstick. From before I entered this academy.
Lucian: "What the—"
Darius: "Well, that confirms it."
Everyone turned to him.
Darius: "She's the spy."
Lucian: "You knew?"
Darius: "Suspected. This just sealed it."
I was silent.
No point lying anymore.
I: "Yes. I'm not who you thought I was. But I never meant to hurt any of you."
Ryker: "Wait, you're telling me you're—?"
Vale: "A girl. A spy. And smarter than all of us, apparently."
He smiled slightly, clearly impressed.
Kael didn't flinch.
Kael: "You'll explain everything. Now."
---
Flashback
I stood straight, facing them all, heart pounding. I had trained for this.
I: "My name is not Ace. It's Ashira. I was planted here by the Shadow Directorate to investigate a weapon called Omega Cipher—rumored to be hidden under this academy."
Darius raised a brow.
Darius: "And you think we have it?"
I: "I think someone here is trying to sell it to Red Mirror."
Lucian: "You think I would sell academy secrets?!"
I: "No. But someone powerful enough to stay hidden for years could."
Kael stepped forward.
Kael: "Then we'll find them. Together."
Ryker: "Wait. So you're really… a girl?"
I nodded.
Ryker turned red.
Ryker: "No wonder I thought you were cute."
Vale: "Don't be stupid. She's still the same person who kicked your ass in hand-to-hand combat."
---
Later that night, as I sat on the roof alone, Darius joined me.
Darius: "You know what this means, don't you?"
I: "That I'm a target."
Darius: "No. That we're all targets now. Because of you."
I didn't reply.
He sighed and sat beside me, eyes on the stars.
Darius: "But hey... at least it won't be boring."
---
End of Chapter 32