After a few days of settling in, the new base became their temporary foothold. One by one, the rooms were filled with machines and essential crates.
The doctor and his wife were deeply focused on checking old blueprints. Nearby, Kaelith was seriously learning a few self-defense moves from Orion, while Specter mostly handled the signal control systems.
Noir chose a different role.
She patrolled the surrounding area.
She moved silently through the forest, every step nearly soundless. She was like a shapeless ghost cutting through the night—or a black cat, sharp and alert. Noir's assassin instinct kept warning her to stay cautious, and this time, it wasn't wrong.
From a distance, roughly two kilometers from the shelter, she noticed figures hiding in the dark—along with the faint symbol of the organization on their shoulders.
/That so fast… they've already traced this far./
Noir immediately opened the comm channel.
"Everyone, stay alert. They've appeared at the outer forest zone. Hold position inside. No signals. I'll find a way back."
Specter's voice came through.
"Do you need backup, Noir?"
"No." she replied shortly.
"…Then be careful." His voice hesitated for a second.
She cut the channel and slipped through the bushes, trying to circle back toward the base.
Then—a faint sound behind her.
Noir spun around, red eyes flashing instinctively, gun already raised.
When the figure stepped into the moonlight, she froze.
Specter?!
He stood there, breathing hard from tracking her, white shirt fluttering slightly in the wind. Both hands were raised, eyes fixed on her—determined, but worried.
"Sorry," he said, breath uneven but firm.
"We're a team. I can't let you handle this alone."
"If they're here, I'll help you."
For a brief moment, the coldness in Noir's eyes wavered. She tightened her grip on the gun.
"I told you to stay in there."
Specter stepped closer, without hesitation.
"Yeah… but everyone's worried about you. You know that.
You can read me, can't you? Then you already know—I won't leave you."
Silence. Only the wind brushing through the trees.
Noir stared at him. In her eyes, Specter's reflection lingered—a scholar who once lost his killer instinct, now standing beside her again despite the danger.
She slowly lowered her gun. Her right eye flashed blue, then faded.
Those footsteps… a small recon unit. Not a full sweep.
She reopened the channel.
"Inside, do you copy? No signs they've found the base yet. Just scouts. Specter and I will handle it. No one comes out."
Orion's voice came with a lazy grin.
"Don't take too long. I'll eat your dinner."
Kaelith added softly,
"Noir… be careful."
"Silence." Noir cut in—and closed the channel.
She signaled Specter to move left while she approached from the right. Two shadows vanished into the forest, leaves whispering underfoot. The moon was barely visible tonight.
Three organization soldiers were crouched low, inspecting boot prints in the damp soil. One swept a flashlight around.
"Footprints… check this area."
Noir didn't hesitate. In a single breath, she slipped behind the last man, locked her arm around his neck—
Crack.
His body collapsed into the leaves without a sound, eyes still wide open.
On the opposite side, Specter drove his dagger clean through the armor. Steel flashed, then disappeared along with a choking breath.
The last one realized too late. He reached for his gun—
A bullet pierced his forehead. Clean. Noir did that.
It was over in seconds. Silence returned, the air thick with the smell of iron.
Noir wiped the barrel and glanced at Specter. He was breathing hard, hand still gripping the blood-stained blade—but his eyes no longer trembled. The old killer was surfacing again.
Before heading back, Noir stopped him.
"Wait. If they just vanish, the organization will know something's off."
Specter frowned, then nodded. They began cleaning the scene.
The bodies were dragged away, hidden among rocks far from the bunker. Noir carved false marks into the ground.
Then, she spotted a small rabbit.
An idea sparked.
She tied the soldiers' tracking devices onto the animal, redirecting the signal east toward the mountains. Broken branches, scraped soil—false trails carefully placed.
Specter helped in silence, watching her movements.
"…Your awareness hasn't changed," he said quietly.
Noir paused. Her left eye glowed red in the dark.
"That's why we're still alive."
When it was done, the forest looked untouched. No gunfire. No blood. Just night.
Noir nodded, brushing her hands.
"Done. They won't suspect a thing."
They returned to the bunker.
Inside, the doctor and his wife were waiting anxiously. Kaelith rushed over, eyes bright.
"Noir! Specter! Are you okay?"
"Fine," Noir replied.
"But we need to revise the plan."
The atmosphere turned heavy. Cold white lights reflected faces preparing for something serious.
In the steel bunker, blue screens glowed over tense expressions. Noir leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
"This place is solid—but temporary. The organization won't stop until they catch me. And everyone with me."
"They're always somewhere… very close."
Kaelith tightened her grip on the knife. Orion shrugged, half-joking.
"Guess we're officially priority targets now."
Specter cut in, voice low.
"This isn't a joke. They won't let go. The question is—do we hold here, or move before we're cornered?"
The doctor cleared his throat.
"Theoretically, this bunker can last months. But Noir's right—signal tracing is fast."
Ari, silent until now, spoke calmly.
"We can't just defend. We need to move ahead of them. Otherwise, we walk into a cage."
Noir looked at her. Ari continued, voice steady, sharp.
"They're under pressure because of you, Noir. Your disappearance is an insult. Your existence is a risk. Command will send more teams—maybe even show themselves."
"You know them best. We must decide."
Silence settled.
Kaelith watched Noir, unsure. Orion cracked his knuckles. Specter stayed quiet.
Noir took a breath.
"Received."
Everyone understood. They split tasks automatically—packing emergency supplies, preparing exit plans.
Doctor Aurel stared at his monitor.
"Alright. I'll search nearby for a more stable location."
"Specter, Kaelith come here and help me."
***
At the same time, inside VOID's command center.
A doctor's fist came down hard on the table.
No one dared to speak. He said.
" Where are they?"
"Sir, patrol units in this area are moving cautiously," a soldier reported.
"Details?" the lead scientist asked.
"Eastern sector—no response. Movement direction is unclear."
"…Hah. Those brats." The scientist clenched his fist.
"Send a team to check it."
"Yes, sir."