128: The Silent Portal
The moment Moon and Kai stepped into the VVIP meeting room, the low hum of conversation died instantly. The holographic map flickered, forgotten, as every head turned towards the new arrivals. The air, once thick with strategic tension, was now charged with raw, unspoken assessment. Four sets of eyes—ranging from curious to indifferent—scanned the brothers, taking in their youth, their posture, and for a brief moment, Moon's bizarrely casual red jacket and plaid pants.
Tom rose from his chair at the head of the table, his eight-foot frame unfolding with a quiet, powerful grace that commanded the room. He became the focal point, a mountain of muscle and authority.
"Gentlemen," Tom's voice was a deep, resonant baritone that required no amplification. He gestured first to Moon, then to Kai. "This is Moon. And this is Kai. They are highly skilled, powerful hunters who have just proven their mettle in the Phase One trials."
He then turned, his gaze sweeping across the assembled assassins, performing the necessary introductions with practiced efficiency. "Moon, Kai, these are your teammates for this operation." His hand indicated the disheveled man with his boots on the table. "Ryo Hale." Ryo didn't look up, his focus entirely on the energy crystal rolling between his grimy fingers. Tom's eyes held a hint of weary tolerance. "And next to him, Daren Hale." Daren offered a short, sharp nod, his expression unreadable but professional.
Tom's gesture moved to his right. "Ken Xiao." The man in the black kimono inclined his head slightly, his long hair shifting like a silken curtain. His eyes were dark, analytical pools that seemed to be cataloging every detail about the brothers. "And his brother, Shi Xiao." Shi's ever-present smile widened into a genuine, almost mischievous grin, as if he found the entire situation immensely entertaining.
Finally, Tom pointed to the man standing by the hologram, who was looking slightly irritated. "And this is Yuseong, our mission strategist."
Tom paused, letting the names settle. He then added, deliberately, "Ryo, Ken, Shi, Daren… it's also worth noting that Moon and Kai are good friends with Ruby and Minji. And they are well acquainted with James."
Kai's mind raced. He's establishing our credentials. Letting them know we're not random recruits. That we have connections to other powerful figures. Smart. But… He subtly observed the others. Ken's face remained an impassive mask. Shi's smile didn't falter. Ryo looked like he hadn't heard a word. Daren's nod was slightly more thoughtful. The impact was minimal. These were top-tier assassins; social connections meant little compared to proven skill in the field. They would judge him and Moon by their actions, not their acquaintances.
Meanwhile Moon barely registered the names or the context. His eyes had drifted to the snowstorm outside the panoramic window. Looks cold. Hope the mission isn't somewhere windy. Tom's mention of Ruby and James was just background noise. He was already mentally checked out, waiting for the part where they got to hit something.
With the introductions over, Moon and Kai took the two empty chairs at the crescent-shaped table. Tom settled back into his own seat, the metal groaning softly under his weight. The room's attention returned to him.
"The target," Tom began, his voice dropping into a graver tone, "is the Dark Veil Order." The holographic map shifted, zooming out to show the symbol of a twisted, shadowy shroud. "Since this organization emerged into the spotlight, they have been a constant thorn in our side. They have caused us significant losses, stolen high-potential missions right from under our noses, and, most egregiously, have repeatedly warned our targets, turning our assassinations into traps and resulting in heavy casualties."
He leaned forward, his knuckles resting on the table. "Their primary objective seems to be the systematic destruction of the Ashveil Order. For the past year, we have dedicated immense resources to researching them. We now have their complete base layout and near-total intelligence." His gaze was hard, sweeping over each face. "Your mission is to infiltrate their stronghold and eliminate their leadership."
Tom's eyes lingered on Kai for a moment. "The fact that I am deploying all of you—the top assassins of our Order, usually reserved for the most critical operations—should tell you everything you need to know about the severity of this threat."
A solemn silence filled the room. Even Ryo paused his fidgeting for a second. Everyone gave a slow, understanding nod. The stakes were clear.
Yuseong, seizing the moment, stepped forward and clapped his hands once, sharply. The sound snapped the room to attention. "Since the context is clear, here is the operational plan." The hologram zoomed back into the intricate cityscape, focusing on a massive, circular structure. "Their headquarters is designed like a fortress ring. There are numerous underground access tunnels, but we will ignore the majority. Our focus will be on these three primary entrances." As he spoke, three major tunnels, attached to the main circle, glowed brightly on the map.
"Initial resistance will be light—standard security details comprised of Fighter-level assassins. They should pose no problem. You will encounter a few squad leaders at the Professional level, but individually, each of you can handle them with ease." Yuseong's pointer moved to the center of the circle, where three glowing silhouettes appeared. "The primary objective, the real challenge, lies here. The three leaders. Intel confirms they are all at the King level. Two females, one male. The main complications and unforeseen obstacles will arise when you engage them."
Kai's mind was a whirlwind of tactical data. King level. Three of them. The terrain favors defense. We need to split their focus, prevent them from supporting each other. The tunnels are choke points; we can use that to our advantage if we're smart. He was already running simulations, thinking three steps ahead.
Probably Moon thinking "King level? Good. Maybe it'll be a real fight. He glanced at Ryo, who seemed just as bored as he was. Moon felt a flicker of kinship. At least someone here understood that talking about the fight was less important than actually having it.
As Yuseong finished, Kai leaned forward, his voice calm and precise. "Yuseong, Tom. A few points of clarification. The structural integrity of the tunnels—are they reinforced? Could a collapse be triggered as a contingency? And the environmental data for the interior—are there any known energy anomalies that could affect our abilities?"
Tom and Yuseong exchanged a look of approval. For the next several minutes, they delved into a detailed Q&A with Kai, covering everything from backup extraction plans to the known fighting styles of the King-level targets. Moon listened with half an ear, more interested in the patterns of snow hitting the window.
Finally, Tom held up a hand. "Enough. The plan is set. We will be using a Silent Portal for insertion. It is undetectable by any known security system. You have 24 hours. Exactly 24 hours from now, the portal will reopen at the same coordinates for extraction."
He announced the teams. "Moon, you're with Ryo Hale. Kai, you're with Daren Hale. Ken and Shi Xiao, you're together. Move out."
There were no complaints, only nods of acceptance. At Tom's signal, the door opened and a team of executives entered, carrying heavy cases. They opened them to reveal a dazzling array of Essence Stones and Energy Cores, glowing with potent power. The executives placed them in a precise circular pattern on the floor.
Yuseong stepped into the center of the circle. He closed his eyes, his hands moving in slow, intricate patterns. As he moved, he began to absorb the raw energy from the stones and cores. The air in the room grew heavy, crackling with invisible power. The light began to dim, as if being sucked towards the strategist.
Then, he began to chant. The words were ancient, guttural, and seemed to warp the very air around them. With each syllable, his hands traced glowing runes in the air—symbols of space, silence, and passage. The runes hung in the darkness, burning with a cold, green fire before sinking into the floor. The space in the center of the room began to waver, not like a glowing teleporter, but like a heat haze. The very fabric of reality seemed to tear, not with a bang, but with a whisper. It wasn't a door of light; it was a crack in the world, a silent, green-tinged rip leading into nothingness.
The Silent Portal was ready. It was time to move.
To be continued…