Silas approached Elwin's office with an exuberant confidence, the data pad in his hand a tangible weight that mirrored the importance of his findings. The door slid open with a soft hiss, revealing Elwin lounging at his desk. His gaze, sharp and probing, locked onto Silas immediately.
"Lieutenant," Elwin greeted, his tone casual but laced with expectation. "What've you got for me?"
Silas stepped forward, his stance crisp and professional. "I've identified the symbol from the incident downtown. It belongs to a group called Zteel." He placed the data pad on the desk, tapping it to bring up the evidence. "This letter was recovered from Malcolm Soren. It's both signed and stamped by Zteel. Whatever they are, they're organized."
Elwin's brow furrowed as he scanned the document. "Zteel, huh? Never heard of them." He leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers against the desk. "Well, at least that pain in my ass has been taken care of. That Soren guy's going to be rotting in prison for a long time. Anything else?"
Silas nodded. "Not much yet. But whoever they are, they're operating with precision. Soren's testimony was limited, but he seemed displeased with them enough to suggestively admit they're serious."
Elwin smirked faintly. "Funny how that works. Seems like someone's upset with their saviors. Leave the pad. I'll dig into this."
Silas saluted and turned to leave but paused at the doorway. "Director Tachi should be briefed as well."
"Don't worry," Elwin replied, waving him away. "I'll handle it."
--
In Noriko Tachi's warmly-lit high-rise office, her presence was as commanding as the room itself. She sat on top of her desk, arms crossed, watching Elwin with an intensity that could cut steel.
"The Z symbol," Elwin began, setting the data pad on her desk. "It's the mark of a group called Zteel. Malcolm Soren received this letter from them. That's our lead."
Noriko examined the evidence with a critical eye, her fingers lightly brushing the edge of the pad. "Zteel," she murmured, her voice edged with thought. "First heard of in Blueport, some 500 miles from here. They set some factories ablaze with no suspects, no witnesses, just that symbol left behind like a calling card." She exhaled slowly. "Now, it appears again—this time, inside my capital city."
Her gaze flicked up to Elwin, sharper now. "What did Malcolm say about them?"
Elwin gave a half-shrug. "Not much. He was bitter, implied they were serious operators but didn't spill details. Either he was scared, or they cut him off."
Noriko's jaw tightened slightly. "If they've stepped into my territory, they must be dealt with accordingly. Tell me—who else knows about this?"
"Just Silas and myself for now," Elwin answered.
"Good." She leaned back, expression unreadable. "Continue."
Elwin folded his arms, smirking. "I think I have a pretty good idea of who's involved. Blueport was the first time we saw this name, and now, all of a sudden, it resurfaces here? That's not random, Director. That's a connection." He let the pause hang for effect before adding, "Might I remind you—Jora Newman's boys."
Noriko's expression didn't shift, but the room felt colder. "You're suggesting they were behind Blueport?"
Elwin shook his head. "Not exactly. But I did some digging and found that they were in Blueport, under the jurisdiction of a Lieutenant by the name of Aurora Steele—who, conveniently, is also based here in New Jericho. And now Zteel pops up here, right under our noses? Either they're involved, or they know exactly who is."
Noriko considered this in silence, then exhaled through her nose, her gaze sharpening. "I find it hard to believe a handful of kids could be capable of all this—let alone with the assistance of a lieutenant I've never heard of."
She turned fully to Elwin. "Speculation doesn't win cases. Confirm your theory. And get me more information on this Aurora Steele. I want to organize an indictment trial for all four of them—bring them in for questioning. Hopefully, that'll be enough to discourage them from doing anything else."
Elwin acknowledged her orders, but something felt off. It seemed as though Noriko was sparing the bunch—Nyota, Sage, and Kilo—despite being more than capable of eliminating them without hesitation. He couldn't help but wonder why. Though he wasn't certain, he had a feeling it had something to do with Nyota, specifically.
"I'll make it solid," he assured her with a smile and a nod.
"And about Silas," Noriko added, her tone even. "He deserves recognition for this lead. Inform him of his promotion to Colonel and have him relocated from Blueport to New Jericho until this case is closed."
Elwin's grin vanished, replaced by a tight frown. Disgust twisted in his stomach—not at Silas's promotion itself, but at Noriko's willingness to acknowledge his diligence while seemingly ignoring Elwin's own.
He exhaled sharply, glancing to the side. "Of course, Director."
Preparing to depart from Noriko's office, he hesitated. "I did have one final question, however."
Noriko barely looked up, idly picking up a glass of amber liquor from her desk and swirling it in slow, deliberate circles. "Go on," she replied, her voice laced with passive interest.
Elwin shifted his weight, choosing his words carefully. "If I may… why not just deal with the kids now? They're just kids." He tilted his head slightly. "I know you've mentioned how fond you are of Nyota, but…" He let out a quiet scoff, shaking his head. "Why entertain them?"
Noriko took a slow sip of her drink, savoring the burn before swallowing. Setting the glass back onto the desk with a soft clink, she finally met Elwin's gaze.
"Though it's true I admire Nyota's potential—and to some extent, his friends'—you're well aware that I made a deal with the boy's father." She leaned back slightly, crossing one leg over the other. "Orion isn't just some former chief, ruling over a one-off town at my convenience. I do intend to use him to my advantage, but I'm not blind to the fact that he's powerful. In time, I hope to see just how much. As a matter of fact, I think it's about time I have a talk with him again."
Her fingers lightly tapped against the desk. "And if he proves to be as formidable as I suspect, I intend to ensure that power is directed toward my own endeavors. His son will be a useful pawn in that scheme."
She paused, exhaling through her nose before continuing, her voice dropping just slightly. "There isn't a single man on this planet who frightens me. But him…" Her gaze darkened. "I've already broken my word to him once—made an example out of Lunenrane. Moving forward, I've decided to tread… shall we say, more carefully."
A small, knowing smile ghosted across her lips. "Part of our agreement requires that I bring no harm to Nyota—memory alteration aside. And if I may be frank, I'd say both of them have only benefited from it."
Elwin remained silent, but his thoughts churned. Another name. Another obstacle. Another person standing between him and Noriko's absolute favor. It had been Orion—the ever-looming, untouchable figure. Now, it would be Silas, a mere lieutenant suddenly deemed valuable enough for promotion.
But above all, it was Nyota.
The young agent's name had been slipping into their conversations far too often for Elwin's liking, each mention further embedding him as something more than just another nuisance to be dealt with. Noriko's interest in him was different. Calculated. Protective, even.
And Elwin hated it.
Clenching his jaw, he smoothed his expression before speaking. "Yes, of course, Director," he assured her again with a smile and a nod, as though he weren't already planning just how to prove his worth all over again.
"I'll make it solid."
Noriko studied him for a moment, her gaze unreadable. Then, as if dismissing the subject entirely, she stood and stretched.
"Good. Because if there's one thing I won't tolerate, Elwin, it's misplaced faith."
A soft ding echoed through the office, cutting through the tension. Elwin's attention snapped toward the elevator as the doors slid open with a smooth mechanical hum. Stepping out was a young man, his posture composed, his presence carrying an understated confidence.
He wore the standard RSAA uniform—a long jacket with a single red stripe running down each side, a standing collar adding to its sharpness. Most notable, however, was the sheathed katana secured to his back, a distinct part of his appearance.
Elwin's gaze flicked toward Noriko, silently questioning the newcomer's identity. She, however, was already watching the man with a knowing glint in her eyes.
"Malik Enola." Noriko's voice carried a casual familiarity, but there was intent behind it. "You're early."
Elwin barely reacted outwardly, but internally, his mind worked fast. So this was Malik Enola? He had heard the name in passing but had never once met him. The timing of his arrival didn't seem planned—not for Noriko, not for Malik, and certainly not for him.
Noriko turned back to Elwin, her gaze sharp. "I was speaking to you just now." The reminder was pointed. Then, with a slight tilt of her head, she gestured between them. "Anyway, there's someone I'd like you to meet before I let you go."
Elwin exhaled through his nose, hiding his irritation behind a smirk. First Orion, then Silas, now this guy. Another somebody Noriko had placed value in—one more person he viewed as standing in his way.
Still, he extended a hand, eyeing Malik with subtle scrutiny. "Elwin Newton."
Malik looked down at Elwin's hand, a somber expression crossing his face. Then, returning his gaze to Elwin, he casually raised a hand to match his.
"Malik Enola. Nice to meet you."
Elwin noted the firm grip but found nothing impressive about it. Just another young upstart, riding on Noriko's favor. He let go and leaned back slightly, arms folding across his chest as Noriko turned her full attention to Malik.
"I see you had a mission in Dewhurst," she remarked, her voice even, yet probing. "How'd it go?"
Malik met her gaze, standing straight despite the tension weighing in his chest. If he was nervous, he didn't show it—except in the way he inhaled just a fraction too deeply before speaking.
"It went well, Director…" Malik looked off into the distance. "But before we get into that, I… had a request."
Noriko raised a brow. That wasn't what she had expected.
Elwin, meanwhile, was already entertained. He could hear the hesitation in Malik's voice, see the way his fingers twitched ever so slightly at his sides. Whatever the kid was about to say, he was anxious about it.
Malik pressed forward. "I… I want to step down from my position within the RSAA."
Noriko's expression darkened, her lips pressing together in the faintest frown.
Elwin's smirk widened. Oh? Now that's interesting.
Malik continued, his voice steady, though his words carried the weight of years of bloodshed. "I know I hold favor with you, Director. I've served you well, despite my age. But I can't do this anymore. I don't want to kill. It's stripped me of my humanity."
The room was silent for a beat—until Noriko exhaled, closing her eyes for a moment before standing from her desk.
"Malik," she began, "your humanity was never lost because of this work. You had already lost it before I brought you in."
Malik's breath hitched, just slightly, but he kept his stance firm.
Elwin's smirk faltered. He hadn't expected that response. He had been so sure Noriko would cast Malik aside, but instead, she was engaging him, dissecting his plea with the same precision she dissected her enemies.
Noriko stepped closer, arms crossed as she regarded Malik with an air of cool authority. "I chose you because you had nothing left to lose. Not truly. When I recruited you, I saw what was already there—someone who understood that the world isn't kind. That fairness is an illusion. That survival comes to those who make the right choices, even when those choices are ugly."
Her voice was smooth, persuasive, yet edged with something sharp—something inarguable.
"You were not forced into this life. You adapted to it because you already knew, deep down, that there is no peace without power. No freedom without sacrifice." She tilted her head slightly. "So tell me, Malik… is it truly this job that has stripped you of your humanity, or was it the world itself that shaped you into what you are?"
Malik's fingers curled into loose fists at his sides. Elwin could see the flicker of surprise in his eyes, just for a moment, before he masked it.
Elwin, however, was struggling to suppress his own growing disgust. Noriko's words should have buried Malik, should have broken him down into nothing more than another discarded name in her ledger. And yet, she wasn't casting him away.
What the hell does she see in him?
Then, Noriko's expression shifted—calculated, almost amused. "But."
That single word held weight.
"I'll make you a deal."
Malik, despite everything, listened intently.
Noriko circled back to her desk, placing her hands on its surface as she leaned forward slightly. "You want out? Fine. I'll grant you that. But first, you complete one last task for me."
She glanced at Elwin briefly before turning back to Malik. "Locate Nyota Atar and his acquaintances. Observe them. Infiltrate their social circle. Gain their trust."
Malik's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Your ultimate goal?" Noriko continued, "To ensure that when the time comes, we catch them in the act of resistance and make them pay for it."
Elwin's stomach twisted in a way he couldn't quite place. She had said we. Not me, not you, but we. Which meant that even Malik, in this moment, was being treated as an equal to him.
The punishment she spoke of was left ambiguous—but Elwin knew how this worked. The more Nyota and his clique resisted, the harsher their fate would become.
Noriko straightened, her piercing gaze meeting Malik's. "You will report to me regularly with updates. Do this, and when I deem your job complete, you walk free."
Silence fell between them. Malik's jaw tightened for a fraction of a second, but then, after a moment, he gave a slow, deliberate nod.
"Understood."
Noriko smirked faintly. "Good." She turned toward the windows of her office, clasping her hands behind her back. "In the meantime, Elwin—you are to arrange the court date for them. I'll see what fits into my schedule. Meanwhile, I have yet another conversation to hold with Orion Atar." She shook her head.
"It's a shame it seems a reminder is in order. If he doesn't get his son in check, I'll have to do it myself—again."
Malik nodded. "Yes, Director."
Noriko turned back to him and Elwin with a smile. "That is all."
Malik made his way toward the elevator, yet Elwin remained still, his hands clenched behind his back.
The bitterness boiled inside him.
First Orion. Then Silas. Then Nyota. Now Malik.
How many more?
How many more people would Noriko entertain while he—the one who had been at her side the longest—was forced to sit back and watch?
His jaw tightened. As Malik stepped into the elevator, Elwin's smirk slowly returned.
Fine.
Let everyone play their little games.
After all, it would be Elwin who was best prepared for the day it would all fall apart.