The moment the door creaked open, all three of them turned.
"Boss?... Welcome back, you didn't returned yesterday, we thought something bad happened."
Harlan was the first to stand. His eyes were sharp despite the late hour.
Behind him, his two younger brothers straightened up immediately.
Aiden stepped into the light, pulling back his hood.
Harlan searched his face for a second before asking, "Boss… it's a mission success?"
Aiden paused just long enough to make them wait.
Then he nodded.
"Yes."
The tension in the room broke instantly.
Kain let out a breath he'd clearly been holding. Reth grinned wide, slapping Harlan lightly on the shoulder.
Harlan himself smiled, but there was relief in it more than excitement. "I knew it," he said. "If Boss went personally, there was no way it would fail."
Aiden walked toward the table and sat down heavily in one of the chairs.
