Nocturne didn't care about other people's drama. Every syndicate had its share of bullying, assaults, self-harm—hell, even deaths. He'd seen it all.
Leaving the disassembly workshop, he headed toward the Chairman's tower. Arq was posted on the first floor, but didn't stop him. Must've been Kael reading the vibe.
Before Nocturne could step further, Arq said casually, "Ryuu's here."
Nocturne didn't care. He just needed a place to sit.
Kael's little tower was decent—three floors in total. Ground floor: grand lounge. Second floor: reception rooms. Third floor: living quarters. Nocturne went up to the second floor and grabbed a door handle at random. As he twisted it, Kael's voice came from inside:
"Bro, who told you?"
"Doesn't matter who told me. Is it true?" Ryuu-9's voice cracked slightly.
A pause. "No," Kael replied.
"You actually lied to me…" Ryuu-9 whispered.
Nocturne pinched the bridge of his nose. Why did everywhere he went today feel like walking into chaos? He let go, trying another door. Then Kael's voice shot up, angry:
"You're setting up surveillance in the reception room? You're monitoring me?"
Nocturne stopped dead.
Ryuu-9 fired back without hesitation: "If I didn't, I wouldn't even know you ran off with some woman!"
Installing surveillance in the reception room was standard procedure. Two syndicate leaders fighting over a woman? That was completely unhinged.
"Ryuu," Kael said, his voice surprisingly calm, "as long as Saphira and I stay alive, once we wipe out No.88, Eastbridge will finally be safe. No more civilians dodging stray shells at dinner, no families torn apart by gang wars. Every child will grow up safe and healthy."
Ryuu-9's voice was softer now: "I don't give a damn about Eastbridge…" Then he yelled, "Have you ever thought about me?!"
Kael didn't answer.
"I gave you everything, and you let some woman wedge herself between us! In your eyes, what am I?"
"Nine…"
"I'm asking you! What am I to you?!"
Nocturne stood frozen outside the door. No matter the reasons, Kael—chairman of the syndicate—allowing his lieutenant to confront him like this was a failure.
"I have no feelings for Saphira, but I have them for you," Kael said, trying to reason.
"You have no feelings for her, and no feelings for me either!"
"How do you want me to prove it? Should I bleed for you right now?"
"You can be with her without feelings. Then why can't we?!"
The next sounds were unmistakable: bodies crashing, ragged breathing, furniture kicking and squeaking… then a punch landed—thwack!—against a jaw.
Silence. A moment later, the door handle turned. Ryuu-9 stormed out, colliding head-on with Nocturne. His face twisted in embarrassment; he turned away, shoulders slumped, and walked off.
Nocturne peered inside. Curtains drawn, lights off. Kael slouched across the sofa, hair messy, gripping a belt buckle like it was the last thing keeping him upright.
"Damn… what are you doing here?" His voice was weak.
"Just unlucky. Passing by." Nocturne didn't enter. "Get up. Stop slumping there."
"Shit… legs went numb." Kael chuckled self-deprecatingly.
"Don't act like a damn girl. I'm not helping you up."
Kael huffed but rose, limping toward the door. One hand on his wound? Nocturne steadied him. The kid smirked, taking advantage: "Wasn't this supposed to be no help, handsome?"
"Which eye of yours sees me as handsome?"
"You're so damn good-looking it hurts even now. Know that?"
Nocturne smirked, accompanying him to the bedroom.
Third-floor bedroom. Kael went straight for his clothes, stripping clean—no underwear left.
"Hey, I'm still here," Nocturne reminded him.
Kael's body was lean, muscles tight but not bulky—practical strength, clearly trained. More explosive than the typical Exosuit operators.
And that Mecha Dragon… Nocturne tore his gaze away. Too perfect.
"I figure you can't see it anyway," Kael said, still nude, pacing over the carpet. "You're all steel inside. Seeing this changes nothing."
Fine by Nocturne. He leaned back against the wall, eyes unapologetic.
Mecha Dragon petals shimmered across Kael's body, wrapping him like armor. Beneath the bloom, on his left abdomen, a faint pink slash seeped a tiny bead of blood.
"Mm!" Kael pressed the alcohol-soaked gauze against his wound. It stung. He gritted his teeth and lifted his head, the pulse in his neck thudding violently under Nocturne's gaze.
Nocturne lowered his eyes, voice low: "You should probably keep your lieutenant in check."
Kael fixed the gauze in place, looked up at him, a boyish smile twitching at the corner of his lips. "We grew up together. I could control the whole damn world and still not control him. He's just… himself. Assertive, relentless… I kinda like it."
"You into pain?" Nocturne asked flatly.
Kael shrugged into a silk robe. "You wouldn't understand the bond between us."
Oh? Nocturne smirked.
"Except for that one thing, we can do anything," Kael poured a glass of whiskey and took a long sip. "Even if he shoved a knife to my throat, I wouldn't resist."
Nocturne thought about asking how he knew he didn't have someone like that in his life—but didn't.
"By the way… how old are you?" Kael's cheeks flushed pink, warmed by the whiskey.
"Can't remember. Thirty-something."
Kael stared at him, wide-eyed. "You're ten years older than me!"
Nocturne silently cursed himself for telling the truth.
"Bro!" Kael teased, voice sharp.
Nocturne's fist clenched.
"Bro?" Kael repeated.
Nocturne activated the cannon-light on his back, casting a sharp glow over the room.
"Bro…"
Without another word, Nocturne shoved him onto the bed. He knelt over Kael, lifted the hem of the silk robe, and ripped the freshly applied alcohol gauze from the wound.
"Ah!" Kael gasped, a mixture of pain and adrenaline.
Whiskey splashed onto the carpet. Nocturne's steel-fingered hand hovered over the cut, fingertips pressing lightly against the skin. "Still calling out?"
"N-No… I won't," Kael panted, equal parts hurt and thrill. "Just… just put it back on…"
"Huh?"
"Stick it back… bro!"
Satisfied, Nocturne peeled back the champagne-colored silk robe and pressed the alcohol gauze back against the wound. Kael whimpered.
Then the bedroom door slammed open from the outside. Arq burst in. "Big bro…"
Awkward. Very awkward.
Kael propped himself up on the bed, the robe slipping off his shoulder, a flush creeping across his face. Nocturne stepped back, extinguishing the cannon-light with a click.
Arq quickly lowered his gaze. "Big bro… there's been an explosion at the Free Army base!"
"What?" Kael grabbed Nocturne's hand, sliding off the bed. "What happened?!"
"Not sure yet. From Neon Spire, you could see the flames. Smoke like a neutron cannon. Ryuu's already sent people over."
And The Dyne Syndicate. Kael should've known—it was all about Soulrender.
He pulled on his suit, pinned the Galan Hall insignia to his chest, and climbed into the chairman's vehicle, heading for Neon Spire, Eastbridge City. From miles away, the fire burned like a signal flare, and judging by the scale, the Free Army base wasn't the only target.
Entering the city, half of Neon Spire was already in flames. The attack had ended, but civilians scattered, clutching their heads, screaming. Bodies littered the streets. The acrid stench of burning hydrocarbons cut through the air.
Free Army soldiers with rifles spotted Kael's vehicle and ran over, pounding on the doors. Arq rolled down the window and shouted, "Where's your leader?!"
They pointed a narrow street east of the Free Army base. Saphira's SUV was there, side dented from some heavy impact, wheels caked in blood.
Kael ran. The bodyguards had frozen expressions. A bad feeling settled in his gut.
The SUV door slid open. The interior lights clicked on. A wave of blood and metallic stench hit Kael immediately. Beige seats were soaked. A human form lay mangled—left leg gone from the hip, right leg bent at the knee.
Kael pressed a hand to his mouth and turned away.
Arq, standing behind him, finally saw clearly. It was Saphira. Shocked, blood and oil matting her long hair into a grotesque clump. Her chest scorched, legs…
"How… how did it come to this?!" Kael roared.
A Free Army captain answered, voice grim: "88's attack was too sudden. They had Exosuits we've never seen before. She… she couldn't engage the Red Hex in time."
The Red Hex. Saphira's Exosuits.
"Red Hex still intact?" Kael demanded.
"Yes," the captain replied. "But Soulrender… it's gone."
Soulrender. The word hit Kael like a hammer. He had handed it to Saphira. He hadn't told her the truth. The Dyne Syndicate had been after it all along.
"Get in the car. Follow me!" Kael turned sharply to his vehicle.
"Boss?" Arq reached to grab him. Kael shoved him aside. "Back to Galan Hall!"
"Boss, what the hell are you doing?!" Arq shouted as the car tore off. From the rearview, he saw the SUV tailing them. "Why bother with them? The Free Army is gone, wiped out by 88. We should—"
Smack! Kael slapped him across the face.
Blood trickled from Arq's split lip. He licked it, silent.
"My Egress Pod… where is it?" Kael demanded.
Arq's eyes widened in disbelief. "Ryuu… he wouldn't allow it! That pod… it's for saving you. He wouldn't even use it himself!"
"I asked you… where is it?!"
Arq pressed his lips together stubbornly. "I don't know."
Kael shot him a look, then went silent.
Two vehicles rumbled into Galan Hall, one following the other. Passing the disassembly workshop, Nocturne and Vyre stood at the entrance. Kael rolled down the window. "Where's that… pansy?"
Vyre froze.
"Get him here. Now!"
The car tore past, heading straight for the Chairman's tower. The SUV trailing Saphira left two streaks of dark brown blood across the street.
The Free Army soldiers carried Saphira inside. Kael went straight for Ryuu-9. Ryuu-9 froze at the sight of him, eyes wide—relief and shame warring as he lowered his head.
"Kael… I—before, I acted too rashly…"
"Where's the Egress Pod?" Kael cut him off.
Ryuu-9 stiffened, eyes widening as he scanned Kael from head to toe, confusion written across his face.
"Saphira's leg… blown off. She needs that pod to survive."
For a moment, Ryuu-9's expression flickered—shock, jealousy, anger—all mixed with a bitter smile. "I'm not giving it to her. That pod… it's mine."
"She's like this because of us!" Kael growled.
Ryuu-9 just pursed his lips.
"If she knew The Dyne Syndicate wanted Soulrender… she wouldn't even dare take it!" Kael continued.
"We didn't force her. It was always her shipment," Ryuu-9 shoved Kael back lightly. "Don't tell me just because she's a woman, your heart softens."
Kael's pupils flashed. "Ryuu… I have a sister too…"
Ryuu-9 turned his face away.
Kael's voice cracked, almost pleading. "She's twenty-four, and she's lost both legs!"
Ryuu-9 remained silent.
Kael's temper flared. Smack! He punched him. "Give me the pod!"
"That pod is for you, no one else touches it," Ryuu-9 held his ground.
"Ryuu!" Kael shouted.
Ryuu-9 grabbed Kael by the collar. "Don't you get it? The Free Army's gone. She's useless. Why save her?!"
Kael countered, clutching Ryuu-9 in return. "If she lives, we're square. That's it!"
"Did you ask her? If I were her… I'd rather die than live like that, crippled!"
Then, suddenly, Kael grabbed Ryuu-9's head, and with a fierce intensity, kissed him on the face.
Ryuu-9 froze.
"Ryuu… please…" Kael stepped back, lowering his head.
Ryuu-9's eyes dropped, panic flickering across his face. But then, understanding dawned. He reached out, wrapped his arms around Kael's waist, pulling him in.
Kael resisted slightly, but didn't push him away. Ryuu-9's face drew closer, and Kael quickly closed his eyes.
Something soft brushed against his temple, dry yet gentle. A sad voice whispered in his ear:
"My wardrobe… the back row… second sliding panel on the left… go get it."
Heart hammering, Kael opened his eyes. Ryuu-9 had already stepped away.