"You don't touch the Cleaners."
The words dropped like stones, rolling through the silence.No one dared to breathe — even the flicker of lamps seemed to listen. Every echo carried judgment. No one in the lower levels stirred, not even the guards by the blast doors. Silence coiled around them like smoke.
Bell's boots echoed once as he leaned on the railing, voice slicing through the tension."If it were not for raising suspicion, we would approach you alone. But it must be the one that I am honing. You plucked out a fang I was about to grow."
Arash tilted his head slightly, eyes shadowed but unflinching."I speak louder about fangs. And yours that you spoke of. First of all, it's from a client. Someone wanted him gone."
Bell's tone hardened. "Client's name?"
"Mr. Error," Arash answered flatly. "You can check the system regarding him. He's the problem, not me."
"...There's nothing," he said quietly. "No record of any client linked to Wolfgang in the last forty-eight hours."
Arash blinked once, the words punching through the static in his head."What— check again. I got the roll. The job was live."
One of Bell's men shook his head.
"No signal, no log, no ping. You were never contracted."
Silence spread like oil.
Bell leaned forward, the shadow cutting across his face. "So you killed off a name — for no one?"
Arash's breath faltered. "No… I—I had the message. The feed. I saw it." He patted his pocket, pulling his device. The screen flickered — blank. The inbox that once glowed red now showed nothing. Wiped clean.
Bell's voice dropped, low and deliberate."Looks like someone just erased your alibi."
For the first time, Arash didn't answer. His jaw locked, eyes darting for some trace of proof — and found none.
The court stayed wordless for a long moment.
Finally, The Sole Council straightened. "Enough.Proceed with hold order. Wolfgang stays grounded until investigation clears. No jobs. No exits."
Two guards stepped forward; the chains clinked again as they reattached his cuffs.
Arash's stare followed Bell up the stairs — silent, sharp, and unreadable.
Before leaving, Bell stopped halfway up the metal steps, his voice echoing once more:"If you really had a client, Wolfgang… pray he shows up before I decide you don't."
The lights dimmed.The court was adjourned.
***
[Sole Council Holding Cells]
A sharp thunk hit the side of Arash's head, jolting him awake. He rubbed his temple, blinking through the dim light.
"Auff Auff." a voice called.
Arash groaned, sitting up. "What is it… Zhang?" he muttered, squinting toward the shadows.
"You're getting out,Wolfgang" came the reply.
He looked more closely. Zhang, the Red Razor Leader, stood before him, flanked by his two men. Beside them, a young figure — barely eighteen, wearing a bright yellow rain jacket — stepped forward.
"I'm here as the representative of La Dezram," the boy said, voice calm but firm. "We've proposed your release, and you'll be under our watch."
Arash leaned back, processing the words.
The men began unlocking the gate, the heavy clang of metal echoing through the cell block. Arash was escorted through the winding corridors of the Sole Council building, the dim underground passages slowly giving way to faint traces of daylight.
Finally, they emerged from the underworld into the upper levels. A crowd of Cleaners had gathered, forming a living barricade. Many were led by Bell, his gaze sharp and unyielding. The Cleaners parted just enough to make a narrow path, their stares cold and deadly.
Bell stepped forward, blocking their way with that familiar death stare.
Zhang shrugged, amused, and his men fell back, leaving Arash and the boy in the yellow jacket to walk alone. One of Zhang's men handed Arash a black jacket, which he shrugged on.
As he brushed past Bell, tapping his shoulder lightly, he spoke quietly, almost as a statement:
"Wolf always moves in packs."
Bell's eyes burned with fury, his silent stare cutting into Arash like a blade. He said nothing, but the intensity of his glare spoke volumes — anger, warning, and pure controlled menace.
The boy in the yellow jacket followed closely leading Arash, and together they walked straight toward the waiting blue Mustang at the end of the path, leaving the tense, silent crowd of Cleaners behind.
-END OF CHAPTER-