Part 1: "Confronting the Truth"
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The rooftop of Mei's apartment was quiet, the hum of the city below providing a distant, steady rhythm. Miko sat on the edge, her daggers resting at her side, her thoughts churning.
"You're brooding," Bai's voice broke the silence.
She didn't look at him, her gray eyes fixed on the horizon. "Wouldn't you, if you found out your whole life was a lie?"
Bai leaned against the railing, his expression unreadable. "It's not a lie. It's just... more complicated than you thought."
Miko turned to glare at him. "Easy for you to say. You've known all along what you are. I'm just finding out I've been some kind of experiment since birth."
"You're still you," Bai said simply. "Whatever your parents did, they're gone now. The choices you make are the ones that matter."
His words hit harder than she wanted to admit. She looked down at her hands, flexing her fingers. "It doesn't feel that way."
"Then stop feeling," Bai said coldly. "Focus on the fight. You can't afford to lose yourself in pity."
Before Miko could respond, her earpiece crackled to life. "Guys, I've got something," Mei's voice cut in, bringing a sense of urgency.
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Part 2: "A Name in the Shadows"
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Inside Mei's dimly lit apartment, her screens were filled with cascading lines of code and images of Hunter Guild officials. Mei tapped furiously on her keyboard, her pink hair a chaotic halo.
"Alright, listen up," she said, spinning her chair to face Miko and Bai. "The facility you just blew up? It was funded by this guy."
An image appeared on the main screen—a sharp-dressed man with piercing eyes and a cold smile. His name was emblazoned beneath it: Takashi Arata – Guild Elder.
"Arata's one of the highest-ranking officials in the Guild," Mei explained. "He's been pushing for more aggressive measures against demons for years. My guess? He's bankrolling these experiments to create his own army."
"Why would the Guild let him do this?" Miko asked, her frustration evident.
"Because they're either complicit, or too scared to stop him," Bai said. "Power like his doesn't go unchecked."
Mei leaned back in her chair. "Good news is, he's hosting a gala tomorrow night. All the big players will be there. Bad news? Security will be insane."
Miko stood, her resolve hardening. "Then we crash the party."
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Part 3: "Undercover at the Gala"
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The gala was held in a sprawling, glass-walled mansion overlooking the city. Inside, chandeliers cast warm light over a sea of impeccably dressed attendees. Miko adjusted the hem of her black dress, feeling out of place and exposed without her daggers.
"You clean up nicely," Bai said as they stepped inside, his tone amused. He wore a sharp black suit, his silver hair tied back, drawing more than a few curious glances.
"Shut up," Miko muttered, scanning the room. "Do you see Arata?"
"Not yet," Bai said, his eyes sharp as they swept over the crowd. "But his influence is everywhere."
As they moved through the room, Miko overheard snippets of conversation—mentions of demon attacks, unrest in the Guild, and whispers of fear.
Mei's voice crackled in her hidden earpiece. "You're looking for a private study on the second floor. It's locked down tight, but I'll guide you when you're close."
"Got it," Miko murmured, grabbing a glass of champagne to blend in.
"Careful," Bai said, his voice low. "This isn't just a party. It's a battlefield."
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Part 4: "A Serpent's Enemy"
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While Miko slipped away toward the stairs, Bai lingered near the bar, his posture relaxed but his senses on high alert. A voice behind him made him tense.
"Well, well. If it isn't the snake who slithered out of the pit."
Bai turned slowly, his golden eyes narrowing as he recognized the speaker. A tall man with dark hair and a jagged scar across his cheek smirked at him, holding a glass of red wine.
"Ryou," Bai said evenly. "I thought you'd be dead by now."
"Disappointed?" Ryou replied, his tone dripping with mockery. "You should've finished the job when you had the chance."
"And deprive you of your bitterness?" Bai countered. "I wouldn't dream of it."
Their conversation drew the attention of nearby guests, their whispers creating a ripple of unease. Ryou's smirk faded, his voice dropping to a low growl. "You don't belong here, Bai. You never did."
Bai's expression remained calm, but his fingers itched for the hilt of a blade. "Neither do you. But here we are."
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Part 5: "A Shocking Betrayal"
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Miko stepped into the study, her heart pounding. The room was opulent, filled with bookshelves and antique furniture. On the desk lay a stack of files, their contents spilling out—photos, reports, and diagrams detailing the experiments.
"This is it," Miko whispered, stuffing the papers into a bag.
But before she could leave, the door slammed shut. She turned to see a familiar face: a junior hunter from her Guild, one she'd trained with.
"Kenji?" she said, her confusion turning to dread as he raised a gun.
"I'm sorry, Miko," he said, his voice heavy. "But you weren't supposed to see this."
The sound of footsteps outside made her blood run cold. She was out of time.
"Bai," she whispered into her earpiece. "We've got a problem."
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