The morning sun slipped through the towering windows of Hunter Headquarters, lighting up polished stone floors and glass corridors. Hunters moved in squads, lieutenants barked orders, and the constant murmur of activity made the place feel alive.
Kazuki walked beside Riku, hands in his pockets, quietly observing everything.
"Welcome to the second home of hunter-kind," Riku said with a proud grin as he guided him through the long halls. "Squad rooms on the left, captain offices on the right, cafeteria in the west wing, and down that hall is where they dump all the missions we'll probably die on."
"So encouraging," Kazuki said dryly.
Riku shrugged. "Just keeping it real, man."
They rounded another corner.
"So, I heard about what happened between you and Ryse," Riku said casually.
Kazuki groaned. "Can we not spread that story?"
"You punched a Fieron. That isn't a story, that's a career choice."
"He thinks too highly of himself," Kazuki said. "I hate people like that."
"Yeah well… he's a Fieron. Comes with the blood."
Kazuki raised a brow. "And why is that supposed to mean anything?"
Riku stopped dead. "Wait—you don't know who the Fierons are?"
"Am I supposed to?"
Riku stared blankly. "Bro. The Fierons are the family that sealed away the Terras over two hundred years ago. They literally saved humanity. They work with the Island King. They're big. Really big."
Kazuki blinked.
I didn't know that. Guess living in the mountains with my uncle didn't teach me history.
As they continued walking, someone shouted from down the hall.
"Hey, Hozuki!"
Kazuki froze. A chill climbed his spine.
Riku glanced around. "Who the hell was that?"
Kazuki turned away. "No idea. Keep walking."
Suddenly—BOOM—the ground in front of them rose, forming a stone wall that blocked their path.
Riku stumbled back. "WHAT THE—!?"
A deep voice spoke behind them.
"When a captain calls your name, you don't ignore him."
They turned. Standing there was a broad-shouldered man built like a war hammer. He wore a hunter captain's coat lazily over one arm, sleeves rolled up, veins cut along his forearms like rope. Scars traced his jaw and neck. His presence was heavy.
"I'm Daigo Kusenagi," he said. "One of the hunters captains. And I'm talking to you, Kazuki Hozuki."
"H-Hozuki?!" Riku choked. "As in—Raiken Hozuki? Rensei Hozuki?! You're—you're his—"
Kazuki sighed. "Yeah. I'm a Hozuki."
Riku stared at him in disbelief. "And you never thought of telling me this?"
Kazuki looked away. "First time I came here, everyone rejected me. They said my father only had one son. I didn't even understand what they meant myself."
Daigo stepped forward. "That's because almost nobody knows you exist."
Kazuki met his eyes. "Then tell me. Why is that?"
Daigo paused. "…I only learned about you from Rensei."
Kazuki's eyes widened. "You talked to him? Where is he now?"
Daigo's gaze hardened with something between nostalgia and regret. "That was a long time ago. We entered the Hunters together—me, Rensei, and someone else. He once told me he had a younger brother. Made me swear to keep it secret."
"Why?"
"He never said." Daigo folded his arms. "But I'll tell you this—Rensei is still out there. Hunting Terras nonstop like a man with nothing left to lose."
A quiet tension hung in the air. Riku muttered, "This day got way more intense than I planned."
Kazuki turned. "Let's go, Riku."
But Daigo didn't move. "I'm not done with you."
Kazuki stopped. "What now?"
"I have a job for you."
Kazuki frowned. "A mission?"
"No." Daigo grinned. "An errand."
Kazuki blinked. "You're kidding."
"Tonight. 8 PM. There's a village on the edge of the forest. Meet a man named Jirou. Tell him I sent you."
Kazuki narrowed his eyes. "This sounds shady. Aren't we supposed to do hunter work?"
"You do whatever a captain tells you to do," Daigo said coldly. "No questions. That's how chain of command works." He stepped past them and walked away. "Don't be late."
Kazuki and Riku exchanged a look. They were both thinking the same thing.
What the hell did we just walk into?
Meanwhile…
Far from the noise of HQ, in Captain Ryoku's office, a heavy silence filled the air.
"Do you understand now?" Ryoku asked quietly.
Sayaka stood before her captain, her expression no longer cheerful or warm. Her eyes were hard. Focused. Dangerous. Mana shimmered faintly around her blade holsters.
"I understand," she said, voice cold. "I'll take it down tonight."
Ryoku watched her carefully. "…Don't lose yourself, Sayaka."
She didn't answer. She was already walking toward the door.
Even if it takes my life, she thought, I'll kill that Terra.
To be continued…