Location: Central Bank of Lebius
Ti: 10:30 AM
(Fiona’s POV)
The air down here always feels colder.
Maybe it’s the overactive temperature controls. Or maybe it’s the fact that this isn’t just a bank — this is the deepest, most secure vault in the country. Hidden beneath layers of steel, magic seals, and biotric scanners. Beneath the Central Bank of Lebius, where normal people think fortunes are locked away in gold and credits.
They’re wrong.
It’s not about the money.
It’s about monsters.
Magic.
Criminals no one talks about above ground.
And now... whatever the hell happened at the port.
The base is buried far below the actual vaults, connected to high-speed surveillance networks, private archives, and Lebius’s global security grid. It’s the kind of place ant to feel safe.
But today, I felt anything but safe.
I sat at the main conference table with four more Captian, the surface glowing softly under my hands, a rotating map of the city flickering across it. My fingers were still cold. Not from the air — from the fear I kept trying to swallow.
Across from standing, Loid leaned forward. His brow furrowed as he studied my face.
"You look like hell today, Fiona," he said, not unkindly. "Everything okay?"
I gave a half-hearted shrug and looked away. "I’m fine."
It wasn’t convincing. I knew it. They knew it.
Jenny, standing next to him, didn’t even try to hide her concern. She shifted in her seat, voice quiet but firm. "Captain... we found you unconscious yesterday. At the port. Alone. You really don’t rember anything?"
I didn’t answer right away. My jaw clenched as the mories ca in fragnts.
Being thrown like a ragdoll. Slamming into the ground so hard I saw stars. The tallic taste of blood in my mouth. The sound of sothing — soone — screaming across the harbor, a scream that wasn’t human.
I looked up briefly. "It’s all a blur."
That was the best lie I could manage.
Truth is... I rembered too much chaos this past day. The power. The chaotic magic. The girl — Erza. And the way my instincts scread not to fight her, but to protect her.
If this eting wasn’t today, maybe I’d still be convincing myself it was all so kind of nightmare. But no. This was real. Yuuta’s family, the explosion, the aftermath — we were in deep. And sothing bigger was just beginning.
Then, with a soft hiss-shk, the doors slid open.
A clean, feminine voice echoed from the overhead AI:
"Welco back, Chief Syra Venom."
We all stood instantly. Every agent in the room straightened like a string had been pulled.
Chief Syra.
They called her a lot of things—"The Archive Witch," "The Information Demon," even "Ghostkiller," back during the old covert wars. But everyone knew her best by the na Venom. Because once she sank her fangs into the truth, she never let go.
The four squads Captian — Red Wing, Black Wing, White Wing, and Blue Wing — straightened like statues. It was muscle mory at this point. You don’t not stand for Syra Venom.
She walked in without a word. Tall. Cold. Impossibly composed in her dark coat that swayed with every step. Her violet eyes scanned the room like they already knew everything.
And just like that, all the air seed to thin out.
She took her seat at the head of the table, and behind her, the digital wall lit up. Surveillance footage filled the screen — burning ships, cargo scattered across the dock, fire crews scrambling.
She didn’t look at it.
"Sit," she said.
One word. That’s all it took.
We obeyed.
She tapped her fingers on the table once. "Agent Phoenix."
My heart skipped.
"Yes, Chief," I said, standing. I curled my shaking hands into fists behind my back.
"The attack at the port — our analysis shows the Black Vipers were the intended target. They’re a high-risk syndicate involved in trafficking, smuggling, and black-market weapon. Our theory is that soone close to a powerful mage was hurt or killed in a prior Viper operation. This attack... might’ve been personal."
Syra’s eyes didn’t waver. "Do we have confirmation on the attacker’s identity?"
I hesitated. Swallowed.
"Our team made contact briefly. She was extrely powerful. We attempted to subdue her, but... she overwheld us. Before we could regroup, she escaped into the ocean. We’ve lost her trail."
Syra leaned back, arms folding slowly.
The room fell into silence.
She didn’t speak. Just watched .
Her stare wasn’t angry. It wasn’t accusatory. It was worse — it was calculating.
Like she knew there was more I wasn’t saying.
Because there was.
I held her gaze, forcing myself to stay calm. But inside, everything was unraveling. She could sense it. She always could.
She doesn’t know.
Not exactly.
But she suspects.
She suspects that I hesitated. That when the order ca to strike, I didn’t move. That sowhere deep down, I didn’t want to stop Erza.
Because the truth is... I helped her escape.
And if they find that out—
Well.
There won’t be a second chance.
The room was thick with tension. The mont the Chief listen my report, her presence demanded attention—cold, sharp, commanding. Even her aura seed to weigh on my shoulders.
She stepped forward, her voice like steel.
"Are you telling half-truths, Captain of Red Wing Phoenix?"
I felt a jolt run through . My throat tightened, but I kept my head up.
"Pardon, Chief," I said carefully.
Her gaze shifted, sharper now.
"White Wing, report what happened."
The White Wing Captain stood, her uniform crisp, her expression unreadable. She walked forward, eyes flicking toward briefly before turning to the Chief.
"According to our surveillance and field reports, two more individuals were involved in the port incident," she said flatly.
Then she tapped her tablet. Two images appeared on the central screen.
One... was Unidentified Man.
The other—undeniably—was a demon.
"This man," she said, pointing to Yuuta’s photo, "was the last person to enter the port using a cycle. Shortly after, all communication from the port ceased. Then, this demon was seen flying over the upper sector."
I clenched my fists at my sides.
Yuuta..
Then a worse realization hit —White Wing was there too?
If they were watching, they might’ve seen everything.
Thank god for Jenny’s jamr. It hid Erza’s face... but Yuuta’s face wasn’t protected.
The Chief nodded grimly.
"Have we identified him?"
The White Wing Captain nodded, matter-of-fact.
"Yuuta Konuari. Twenty-one years old. A hotel managent student, lives in a rundown apartnt in Luna City. Raised in a Gigal Church orphanage under the care of Sisters."
She paused, then added,
"No birth record. We don’t know where he ca from."
I felt a lump in my throat.
The Chief folded her arms.
"So... do you believe he caused the incident?"
"No, Chief," the captain said, after a pause. "But based on the power signature, we suspect a higher demon was summoned. If this Yuuta is connected, willingly or not, we may be able to extract critical information by capturing him."
I couldn’t stay quiet any longer.
"You’re wrong," I said, my voice firr than I expected. "Yuuta didn’t cause that."
The Chief looked at sharply.
"Phoenix, are you defending him?"
I took a breath.
"He’s just a normal guy. He’s not involved in this world. He’s not... one of us."
Her eyes narrowed.
"So you’re saying the White Wing Captain is lying?"
"No," I replied quickly.
"She’s not lying. But it’s only part of the truth."
I stepped forward, every word from now deliberate.
"Yes, Yuuta went to the port. But not because he lost control or summoned anything. He followed ."
That got their attention.
"We go to the sa college. When I took off my mask... he recognized . He was shocked, yes. But when the rampage alert hit, I had to leave. He followed—because he was worried. Because..."
I hesitated.
The Chief raised an eyebrow.
"Because what?"
The Chief raised an eyebrow.
"So you’re telling he willingly risked his life... for you? Are you sure you’re not lying to protect him?"
The White Wing Captain scoffed.
"If he’s just your friend, why would he risk his life? That’s not believable."
"You’re seriously trying to tell us a normal human risked his life just out of... concern? Sounds like a fantasy."
I looked around. Everyone was watching now.
I took a deep breath.
Then said it—loud and clear.
"Because, he’s my BOYFRIEND!"
The room went silent.
Dead silent.
The Chief blinked.
"EHHHHH?!"
One soldier dropped his clipboard.
Another choked on their tea.
White Wing Captain’s jaw visibly tightened and All thre Captain where suprised too.
I felt my face burn red.
But there was no going back now.
A beat passed.
And then—
"Wha—wait, when did you even have ti for a boyfriend?!" the Chief sputtered.
To be continued...
(End of Chapter)
(Credit Scence)
Yuuta (cheerfully):
"Hey hey! We’re back again! It’s your favorite totally normal human, Yuuta Kounari here!
Seriously—thank you so much for your love and support! Reading your comnts always makes my day."
Yuuta (pumping his fist):
"Let’s set a new goal together—400 collections before this month ends! Think we can do it?"
Erza (arms crossed, eyes narrowed):
"Hmph. As always, you greedy little mortal. Always chasing numbers."
Yuuta (grinning):
"Co on, Erza. You know if we don’t stay popular, we’ll end up shoved into so dusty corner of Webnovel, forgotten like last week’s leftovers."
Elena (gasping):
"Whaaat?! Papa, does that an... our story could vanish?!"
Yuuta (kneeling, ruffling her hair):
"Not a chance. Our story might take ti to grow, but it will grow. And trust —we’re just getting started. More drama. More chaos. More love. It’s all coming!"
Grandpa (chuckling in the background):
"Hoho... listening to you reminds of the fire we had back in the day. You kids better make this tale worth rembering."
Yuuta (pointing at the screen):
"Alright, team! Don’t forget to leave a comnt and tell us what you thought about this Chapter! Your thoughts help us grow stronger—like XP for the soul!"
Everyone (in unison):
"Thanks for reading! See you in the next Chapter! Bye-bye~!!"
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