The assassins waited in tense silence, scattered across the room as they processed the weight of the attack. The door suddenly opened, and one of the higher-ups' assistants stepped inside. Her professional demeanor betrayed no emotion as she addressed the group.
"They're ready to see you now," she said firmly, glancing at everyone in the room.
Without hesitation, the assassins who had been summoned—Keito, Malo, Zero, Rose, Honor, and the others—rose to their feet. They filed out silently, following the assistant down the long, cold hallway toward the meeting chamber. The atmosphere was heavy, each step drawing them closer to the reckoning for the events that had unfolded.
They entered a grand room dominated by a long table where six of the assassin organization's higher-ups sat in imposing silence. Each of them bore a grim expression, their presence commanding respect. At the head of the table stood a woman who radiated authority.
"Welcome," she said, her voice calm yet firm. "For those who haven't met me properly, my name is Alexia, and I am the head of this organization. The other five members you see here are also part of its leadership." She gestured toward the others seated beside her, who nodded gravely.
The assassins stood at attention as Alexia continued. "We've been briefed about the attack on our headquarters by the mages. It's a grave loss, and we intend to honor the fallen. However, now is the time to focus on what happened and why."
Her gaze landed on Keito. "You were the first Cinqa on site to engage the enemy. Do you have intel on what they wanted?"
Keito stepped forward, his tone steady and clear. "Yes. I know exactly why they came. They were searching for Ragra, a member of the Agency currently here for the three-month program."
One of the other higher-ups, a stern-looking man with gray streaks in his hair, leaned forward. "Why Ragra? What do they want with him?"
Keito straightened. "They believe he possesses valuable information regarding opening a portal for the Gods to descend and punish us for using inner."
The room fell silent, the weight of his words settling heavily. Alexia exchanged a glance with her fellow leaders before turning her sharp gaze back to Keito.
"A portal for the Gods?" she repeated, her voice laced with concern. "Did they say what kind of information they think he holds?"
Keito shook his head. "No, they didn't. But one of them—the mage called Ember—mentioned that this intel is crucial for their mission to bring the Gods back to punish us. He also implied that the Agency may have played a part in leaking Ragra's location to them."
Murmurs erupted among the higher-ups at this revelation. Alexia raised her hand, silencing the room. "If the Agency is involved, we'll need to investigate further. This goes beyond an attack—it's a betrayal, funnily enough they recommended us on selecting Ragra even before the showcase selections. This could have been planned since then"
One of the other leaders, a woman with sharp features and piercing eyes, frowned. "If this is true, we can't afford to let Ragra stay here any longer. He's a liability."
Keito interjected firmly, "Ragra didn't ask for this. The mages targeted him, but he had no part in their plans. He even fought alongside us when things got critical."
Alexia considered his words for a moment before speaking again. "For now, Ragra will remain under close watch. We can't risk another attack."
The discussion turned to strategy and fortifying their defenses, but the tension in the room lingered. The attack had shaken the organization to its core, and trust was now a fragile thread stretched thin between them all.
Alexia stood at the head of the room, her tone turning sharper as her eyes scanned the group. "Anyways," she continued, her voice commanding absolute attention, "going forward, any Cinqa who comes across a mage—anywhere, at any time—is permitted to engage them and take them out. We cannot allow them to think they can attack us and walk away unscathed."
The assassins in the room nodded solemnly, the tension thick as Alexia continued. "That said, we will not be launching a large-scale retaliation against the mages. Not yet. We don't know the location of their headquarters, and finding it could take years. But mark my words—once we do, we will get justice for the lives they've taken and the damage they've caused."
Her focus shifted to Keito, her expression hardening. "Keito, after this meeting, I will need you to speak to Ragra personally. Find out everything he knows about why the mages are targeting him and any information they might be after. Be thorough."
"Yes, ma'am," Keito responded firmly.
"We'll discuss internally whether or not Ragra should remain here or if we need to send him back to the Agency immediately," Alexia added. "This situation is bigger than one man, but we can't ignore the threat his presence might pose to our organization."
Alexia straightened, her commanding presence silencing any potential dissent. "This meeting isn't just about what's happened—it's about what comes next. From now on, every one of you is on high alert. The mages have made their move, and they've forced us into a war we didn't ask for. But if they think they can break us, they've gravely underestimated who we are."
The room remained silent, her words settling heavily among the assassins. The stakes had never felt higher, and as the group dispersed, the resolve in their eyes was clear. This wasn't just about survival anymore—it was about preparing for the storm that was bound to come.
Alexia leaned back in her chair and sighed deeply, the weight of the situation bearing down on her. "This may be a massive problem," she said, her tone heavy. "I always knew the Agency was corrupt at the very top, but surely they wouldn't stoop so low as to collaborate with the mages and orchestrate an attack on our HQ. If this turns out to be true, it could spark a war—one that neither country would benefit from. What on earth are they playing at?"
One of the other members leaned forward, their expression stern. "We need to watch them closely. If they're meddling in something this dangerous, it's only a matter of time before they tip their hand. I say we send someone into the Agency as a double agent to uncover the truth."
Alexia frowned, her fingers drumming against the table. "Sending someone over now would be far too suspicious. After this attack, they'll be on high alert."
"Not if they join the Agency through the academy," the member countered. "A young recruit wouldn't raise any alarms. They wouldn't expect someone fresh from training to be a spy."
Alexia considered this, her brow furrowed. "That's a valid point, but finding someone promising enough to undergo such a delicate and dangerous task is another matter entirely."
A deep voice cut through the discussion, commanding attention. "I have someone in mind," said a man sitting at the far end of the table, his arms crossed. "A very promising young Sicarii. One in a generation."
Alexia turned her sharp gaze toward him. "Who is he?"
The man allowed a small, confident smile. "His name is Secro. From the Silver family. The youngest of all his brothers."
Murmurs rippled through the room as Alexia leaned forward, intrigued. "The Silvers? They've produced some of the most formidable assassins in our history."
"Exactly," the man replied. "And Secro is something else entirely. Even among his brothers, his talent stands out. He's young, adaptable, he's meant to join the organisation next year without the need for doing the entrance exam. If anyone can infiltrate the Agency and uncover the truth, it's him."
Alexia paused, her mind weighing the risks and rewards. "If what you're saying is true, this could work. But we need to approach this carefully. The moment they suspect him, he's as good as dead."
The man nodded. "I'll oversee his training personally and prepare him for the role. When the time comes, they won't even know what hit them."
Alexia exhaled deeply, the tension in the room thick. "Alright. Bring Secro in. If this Agency conspiracy goes deeper than we fear, we'll need all the information we can get to prevent a disaster."
The room fell silent, the decision made. The seeds of a bold and dangerous plan had been planted, and now, all they could do was wait and prepare for the storm that lay ahead.