Chapter 113 — [Shadows Behind the Curtain]
Kai's expression was calm, but his thoughts were racing. He shook his head quickly, forcing a faint smile.
"No, nothing at all."
Tom tilted his head, his gaze narrowing with quiet suspicion.
"What is it? Are you having trouble? Something you aren't telling me?"
Kai lowered his eyes and shook his head again. But after a pause, he exhaled slowly and spoke, voice quieter this time.
"You didn't tell me about that man… the one who gave you our names. The one who told you about us."
Tom's lips curved into a faint, almost imperceptible smile, though his tone remained calm, measured.
"That's the strange part," he said. "It wasn't anyone I knew. Just… an anonymous call. The device they used? I couldn't even trace it."
Kai's brow furrowed, unease prickling at the back of his neck. His mind flicked to the shadowy voice, the unseen hand guiding their moves—but he pushed it aside, forcing himself to focus. Yet part of him couldn't shake the nagging question: why now, and why through Tom?
"Actually," Tom continued, his voice smooth, almost casual, "I'm the one who put your names forward to the government."
Kai's eyes widened slightly. His heart skipped a beat, the tension in his chest tightening, it wasn't that old man ? It was him? He had misjudged the situation completely, and the thought made his stomach twist.
"So… it was you all along?" Kai said slowly, his voice barely masking disbelief. "I thought… I thought it was that old man."
Tom raised a brow, the faintest smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"Old man? What old man are you talking about?"
Kai swallowed, trying to steady his racing thoughts. Of course he wouldn't know. Of course… I jumped to conclusions again.
Kai instantly deflected, shaking his head quickly.
"No one. Forget it. Just… nothing important. You tell me—why? Why go out of your way to use your influence to bring us here?"
Tom smiled faintly, brushing off Kai's deflection.
"Nothing strange about it. I simply want you two brothers to join the Ashveil Order."
Kai's eyes hardened. His body leaned back slightly, instinctively retreating from the idea.
But Tom's tone sharpened, persuasive.
"You wouldn't be working for free. Each mission would pay one billion credits. That's one billion—for each of you."
He let the weight of his words hang, then turned his gaze directly onto Kai, as if staring into him, trying to read every flicker of hesitation.
Kai considered it silently, his mind running through the numbers, the opportunities… and the dangers. Finally, he spoke.
"All right. But not unlimited. Just five missions. Five for me… and five for Moon."
Tom paused. His silence stretched long enough that the tension returned. Then, at last, he nodded.
"Fine. Five each. But wait until this event ends. I still need to see you fight. To see your province in combat."
Kai nodded in agreement. Tom gave a final glance, then turned and walked away.
Kai remained behind, staring into the empty space Tom had left, his thoughts spiraling back to the mysterious caller. Tom's offer, his influence… all of it tangled with the shadow of that unknown man. Someone was watching them. Someone who knew too much.
---
Inside the Grand Hall
Taejin, Rejected Winter, and Thomas sat together, likely waiting for Sam's return.
Taejin leaned toward Thomas with a faint smile.
"You've known Sam the longest, haven't you? What do you think would have happened if Tom hadn't intervened?"
Thomas hesitated, then gave a small shrug.
"I don't know. It's been a long time since I last saw Sam fight. He may have made a lot of progress. But the fact remains… neither of them was fighting seriously. Sam wasn't using his full power. And neither was Moon. Both were holding back."
Taejin's eyes narrowed.
"So you're saying… that boy, the newcomer—he was still holding back even while holding Sam at bay?"
Thomas nodded slowly.
"Exactly. And that alone is impressive. But it also makes me more curious about the real result."
Rejected Winter remained quiet, his calm gaze shifting between them, but the weight in his silence spoke volumes—he was thinking the same thing.
Then all three turned as footsteps echoed.
Sam entered, his white shirt and pants still streaked with dried blood. The stains stood out vividly, refusing to vanish, a grim reminder of the fight.
Thomas smirked immediately.
"Wow, Sam. You look like you lost a fight with a lawnmower."
Sam wiped his lip and grinned.
"And you look like you are the lawnmower—loud, useless, and nobody likes turning you on."
Thomas clutched his chest dramatically.
"Ouch. Big words from someone whose ribs sound like a broken drum set."
Sam raised a brow.
"Funny you mention drums. Your head's been hollow for years—no wonder you sound like percussion when I hit you."
Thomas chuckled, stepping closer.
"At least my head doesn't double as a punching bag for Moon."
Sam tilted his chin with a smirk.
"Better a punching bag than a doormat. That's what you are, Thomas. Everyone wipes their feet on you before stepping into real fights."
Thomas didn't hesitate.
"Bold talk for someone dressed like a rejected extra from a zombie movie."
Sam grinned.
"Better than looking like the lead singer of a boyband no one listens to."
Thomas barked back instantly.
"Boyband? Please. If I'm in a band, you're the guy begging to carry the instruments."
Sam folded his arms.
"And if I carry instruments, at least I won't sound as flat as your excuses every time you lose."
Thomas's grin widened.
"Lose? Sam, the only thing I've lost is respect for your barber."
Sam tapped his temple with a smirk.
"Respect? That word's allergic to you. That's why people follow me into fights, and you into clothing stores."
Thomas flicked his collar with dramatic flair.
"Yeah, and at least I come out looking good. You come out looking like raw meat on clearance."
Sam leaned in, whispering like a threat.
"Keep talking, Thomas, and I'll show everyone why your 'gang' calls you their mascot instead of their leader."
Thomas didn't flinch.
"Better a mascot than the guy everyone secretly bets against."
The two glared at each other, tension sharp as a blade. Taejin sat back, eyes wide in disbelief, while Rejected Winter calmly sipped his drink and muttered under his breath, "Children."
At that exact moment, Moon passed by, muttering, "You two should just get married already."
Both whipped their heads toward him at once:
"SHUT UP, MOON!"
Moon, unfazed, simply placed his finger against his lips, then covered his face with his hand as if exhausted by their stupidity, and quietly began walking back toward the training hall where Kai was with Tom lee .
He was halfway there when a sharp voice called out behind him.
"Moon!"
He stopped, glanced back—and there stood Ruby and Minji. The moment Ruby's eyes locked on him, her whole expression tightened. Moon, in his usual clueless style, broke into an awkward grin and gave them both a little wave, like nothing in the world was wrong.
Ruby's footsteps quickened immediately, frustration plain in her stride. Minji, on the other hand, simply pressed her palm against her forehead and let out a long sigh before following.
When they finally reached him, Minji's voice cut like a whip.
"Are you insane? Do you have any idea how dangerous Sam is? And you just… what? Decide to fight him in the middle of the hall for fun?"
Moon spun slowly on his heel, arms extended as though showing off his whole body.
"Look at me. Do I look injured? Perfectly fine. See? I'm standing. I'm breathing. I'm good."
Minji's glare could have cut stone.
"Don't change the subject. You can't just pick fights with everyone like this."
Moon puffed out his chest proudly, eyes gleaming with misplaced triumph.
"You didn't watch closely enough. Did you not see how I fought? And—" He jabbed a thumb toward his chest, lowering his voice with an exaggerated seriousness. "Did you see the part where Sam grabbed my balls , how shameless of him doing that and that also in front of hundreds?"
For a moment, silence.
Ruby's head dropped instantly, her hand pinching the bridge of her nose. Minji looked like her soul had left her body from exhaustion rather than embarrassment. Neither reacted with the outrage Moon clearly expected—instead, they just looked tired.
Ruby finally muttered, voice flat,
"Enough. Just go get Kai. The host is waiting to start the event. Because of your little stunt with Sam, we've already lost an hour."
Moon blinked, pointing at himself in mock shock.
"Because of me?"
Minji cut in sharply.
"Yes, because of you. Everyone stopped to watch your fight. That's why everything got delayed."
Moon's jaw dropped dramatically, then he nodded like a philosopher who had just discovered the truth of the universe.
"Ooooooooooh. Understandable. Have a nice day."
With that, he turned on his heel and started strolling off toward Kai, calm as a monk.
Minji stared after him, incredulous.
"…'Have a nice day'? What is that supposed to mean? Is he even coming back?"
Ruby exhaled hard, shaking her head.
"Forget it. It's Moon. His words never make sense anyway."
Minji, still half-stunned, reluctantly nodded.
"Yeah… you're right."
And with that, both girls simply stood there, watching Moon wander off—clueless, unbothered, and in his own little world.
To be continued…