He watched them from a bench in the plaza.
Just three nas.
Three n who walked like gods through the Academy's upper tiers. Zodiac elites. Public defenders. Cara darlings. War heroes.
Taurus – Ironblood.Cancer – Voidburn.Leo – Captain Virex.
Each had smiled in front of solar flags. Each had stood at his father's funeral. Each had signed the death warrant.
They didn't know what they were.
But Hernan did.
He pulled up the file again — encrypted, invisible, hidden under layers of scholarship docunts and class schedules.
Phase I: Identification.
Taurus → District 4 Warden. No family. Private routines. Close protection squad (3).
Cancer → dical Research Liaison. Uses civilian labs. High visibility. Soft security.
Leo → Command tier. Untouchable — for now.
He logged each na.Next to them, he wrote:
Kill Delay: HighSupport Elimination: RecomndedPublic Perception: Positive
It wasn't rage. It wasn't revenge anymore.
It was logistics.
That evening, Hernan ran the gym circuit with Nico — who was still rambling about energy bars and how Aya Sparks probably had a fan club.
Halfway through a sparring match, Aya showed up.
She didn't speak at first. Just watched him move — smooth, clean, unnaturally patient.
After the match, she tossed him a towel. "You ever actually sweat?"
He caught it without smiling.
"Depends on the opponent."
"Cocky," she said.
Then quieter: "I saw your file."
That stopped him.
"Which one?"
"The public one. You're clean. Too clean."
She stepped closer.
"You know what that usually ans?"
He waited.
"It ans you either had sothing scrubbed... or you don't exist."
A beat of silence.
"I'm not here to report you," she added. "I'm here because I want in."
His brow lifted, just slightly.
"Into what?"
"Whatever's under the suit," she said.
"And why would I let you?"
"Because," she said, looking him in the eye, "you're the only one here who doesn't look like he's playing dress-up."
Later, Rook added a new file.
Recruit Prospect: Aya Sparks.
Power: Electric disruptor, C potential
Status: Emotionally volatile
Motivation: Rage
Trust Factor: Low (but usable)
Three nas to kill.One ally to exploit.One system to dismantle.
The list was growing.
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