The sea waves rolled forward in endless rhythm, rising and collapsing against the shore with a sound that was neither violent nor gentle, but constant—like a breath that never ceased. Foam dissolved into the sand, leaving behind scattered, lustrous seashells that glimmered faintly under the fading light. Some were cracked, some whole, some half-buried as if the ocean had abandoned them mid-thought. The horizon stretched wide and indifferent, a thin burning line separating the darkening sea from the sky.
Noah stood silently by the seaside.
His boots pressed into damp sand, unmoving despite the tide inching closer. The wind carried salt and something colder—something that seemed to settle beneath his skin rather than on it. He did not blink often. His eyes were fixed somewhere far beyond the visible horizon, as if searching for something only he could see.
A cold yet peaceful breeze struck his cloak, tugging at the heavy fabric until his hood slipped back, revealing his hair. Strands shifted freely in the wind, no longer concealed. Behind him, nearby trees trembled gently, their leaves producing a soft, flattering sound that filled the space between silence and speech. It was a natural melody, but it failed to soften the unusual stillness radiating from Noah.
Beside him stood Crow Superior, hands behind his back, posture composed but alert. His gaze moved from the sea to the descending sun. The sky had begun its transformation—orange bleeding into crimson, crimson dissolving into violet. The sea reflected the sun's gleaming rays, fracturing them into trembling lines across the surface. It looked beautiful.
It felt wrong.
"What are you thinking?" Crow Superior asked, his curiosity flickering subtly beneath his calm exterior.
"There could be a chance that the Elephant Superior is imprisoned… Ron could be there," Noah replied without shifting his eyes from the sunset.
Crow Superior let out a low, bitter chuckle. "In the past, we kept Ron there. But when you came, we had to shift him. You should have known I couldn't tell you."
Noah did not react. Not even a twitch. The waves crashed again. He exhaled slowly, the breath visible in the cooling air.
"Sometimes," he began quietly, "I feel… What is happening to my life? Am I really the one I wanted to be?"
Crow Superior raised an eyebrow, turning slightly toward him. "Why are you thinking all that?"
"You know."
The wind picked up briefly.
Noah continued, his voice steady but hollow. "First of all, I killed people. Innocent people in the hospital. I became a criminal. And I've already witnessed what will happen to me if I make a mistake."
For a moment, only the sea answered.
Crow Superior stepped closer and gently pressed a hand onto Noah's shoulder. It wasn't forceful—just enough to remind him he wasn't standing there alone.
"Listen," Crow said quietly. "Not everything goes the way we want it to. And I don't think you would do anything stupid."
He paused before adding, "And for killing those people… that was the black pill."
Noah's eyes finally shifted slightly. "How?"
"Pretty simple," Crow replied. "That pill spiked your adrenaline so violently that your mind went blank. Your body reacted on instinct. It craved action. It craved blood."
The explanation lingered in the air.
"Pretty scientific," Noah muttered with a faint shrug.
Crow turned away from the sea, brushing sand lightly from his coat. "So… we shouldn't miss dinner."
"Can I ask you something?" Noah bent down, picking up one of the seashells left by the tide. He held it carefully between his fingers, examining its spiral curves as if it contained answers.
"What?" Crow superior stopped walking.
"Why are you treating me this way?" Noah asked without looking up. "Did Lord Yin tell you to manipulate me?"
Crow superior froze for half a second.
"No…"
He paused, searching for something to say that wouldn't fracture the fragile balance between them.
"Tonight we're having something special for dinner," he said instead, his tone shifting deliberately. "Let's go."
The wind swallowed the rest.
—————
"So," Lord Yin leaned back against his golden throne, the metal catching the dim light of the chandeliers above. "This suitcase contains all the President's personal information and details about their speech."
"Yes," Rabbit Superior nodded.
They sat within Lord Yin's vast chamber, walls decorated in dark crimson and gold. The suitcase rested on a polished table between them. It had been delivered to Rabbit Superior by the Sixth Superior Helper and now sat quietly, holding secrets heavier than its weight suggested.
Rabbit Superior slid the suitcase closer to Lord Yin with steady hands.
"Now we shouldn't waste any time," Lord Yin said calmly, placing his pale hand over it. "I've already completed the required settlements. Let's begin positioning them accordingly."
"What about the other Superiors?" Rabbit asked carefully.
"You and Crow Superior can easily place the troops where we need them. One is already inside the White House. That gives us three Superiors active for now. Lioness and Mengu Superior will return after completing what I signed for them."
"And Saint?" Rabbit Superior questioned.
Lord Yin rose from his throne slowly, his robes whispering against the floor.
"He will come after we are done. He is doing something… special."
Without another word, Lord Yin left the room, the heavy doors closing behind him.
Rabbit Superior remained seated for a moment, staring at the suitcase. Something about the stillness felt calculated. After a brief pause, she stood and exited the chamber.
—————
A smartphone with a red cover began to vibrate sharply on a wooden table.
Emma entered the room and picked it up, her fingers hesitant.
"Who is it?" she asked cautiously.
"Noah is alive. You will meet him during the President's speech."
The line disconnected immediately.
Emma froze, her pulse accelerating. For a second she simply stared at the dark screen. Then, in a perplexed rush, she attempted to call back—but there was no response.
On the other side of the city, the mysterious figure lowered the phone slowly… then brought a hammer down on it without hesitation.
The device shattered into pieces.
Vyuk entered abruptly from the hallway. "I'm going home."
He stopped mid-step when he noticed fragments scattered across the floor.
"What's in your hand?"
"Nothing!! Get out!!" the mysterious figure screamed, voice cracking with a mix of rage and panic.