The tension bordering violence dissolved into a profoundly deep concern. Masahiko, Mari, and Izimaru exchanged stern glances, passing a silent acknowledgement amongst each other as Sora and Fukiko flanked beside their seated husbands.

  "The Titan Treaty? You're seriously invoking the sacred pact?" Fukiko snarled, her tone mixed with bewilderment wrapped in escalating panic. "That hasn't been touched since the Void Incursion, three millennia ago."

  Mari leaned forward and clenched his hands, pressing his index fingers against his lips. "The treaty was forged in the crucible of our ancestors' darkest hour… when our very existence was threatened. All the prior heirs agreed it as the ultimate failsafe for unconditional protection of the bloodlines and it's only been invoked less than a handful of times. What could possibly have warrant you to invoke this pact so senselessly?”

  "During the fall festival, there was a breach into our realm," Haru began, his voice slightly trembling. "Just before dawn, several gatekeepers and royal guards were found murdered at their posts. The intruders penetrated our palace grounds without triggering any detection wards and kidnapped the young master along with his royal guardian, Etsuyo."

  The clatter of Masahiko's phone tumbling onto the table from his suddenly nerveless fingers echoed endlessly in the stunned silence. Mari pushed his glasses upwards, sitting back into his seat. Izimaru's eye flickered, exhaling the disbelief warring with his features.

  Their eyes bored into Kaito and Haru, each confirming acceptance to the invocation.

  Haru's hands closed around the hilt of his sword, witnessing their unanimous understanding. "The Elder who accompanied them on their morning lessons was also murdered. We found her… body mutilated at the lagoon where the kidnapping took place."

  Sora pulled a small notepad and pen from between her breasts, jotting down her thoughts. "Captain Haru, where exactly did this attack take place?"

  "The forest lagoon outside our palace grounds where the Elder conducts morning lessons."

  "How many intruders are we talking about?" Fukiko added, intensifying her stare on Haru's increasingly haggard appearance.

  "Two confirmed assailants based on the evidence we've recovered."

  Mari adjusted his glasses, tapping his foot to dispel his mounting frustration. "Do you have positive identification on these intruders? Any intelligence on their capabilities or motivations?"

  Lowering his head, Kaito exchanged a grim look with Haru, his shoulders sagging from the realization. "Forensic analysis from the Elder's remains confirmed the presence of Zei of the Bloody Flames along with one additional unknown assailant."

  Sora cut her eyes over to Fukiko, ceasing her pen's scrambling. Feeling her scrutinizing gaze, Fukiko tilted her head to the side in disgust, tightly clenching her jaw.

  "Captain Haru, if I may interrupt…” Masahiko casually inserted. “Please enlighten us on how the leader of one of the realm's most lethal criminal organizations managed to penetrate Chika territory undetected? Isn't preventing such breaches your clan's primary responsibility?"

  Crossing her arms, Fukiko's voice cracked like a whip before Haru could formulate a response. “Stop patronizing him, Masahiko! You're well aware that Zei isn't some common street thug. He's ridiculously powerful and has evaded capture for decades. He's a fire wielder with highly refined noryoku that allows him to create dimensional portals to any location he's previously visited. No amount of protection can disrupt it… it's literally how he built his reputation across multiple realms!"

  She slid her attention back to Haru, accusation sharpening her tongue like a blade. "The real question is why someone of his caliber was here to begin with, eeehhh?" Moving behind her husband, she placed both hands on Izimaru's broad shoulders and smirked. "Based on our intel, Zei is highly selective about the jobs he takes… only going after rare and valuable interests to justify his exorbitant fees and tastes. He only murders to conceal his crimes and advance his goals… never holding any interest in royalty." Fukiko dropped her tone, keenly watching Kaito's distressed expression. "To put it short… Neither your son or Elder wouldn't have piqued his interests... Child trafficking is beneath him. So tell us what he was really after!"

  "Fukiko's right," Mari chimed in. "We need the full story, Kaito. You've oddly invoked the Titan Treaty over someone like Zei of the Bloody Flames. We have the right to know exactly what we're dealing with."

  Sora's pen tapped against her notepad, nodding her head in agreement.. "No more secrets, Kaito. The safety of the bloodline is at risk! Whatever you've been hiding is irrelevant now.

  Visibly wrestling with the decision, Kaito's hands gripped the table's edge, his face conflicting with emotions.

  Haru watched his torment, stepping forward. "Along with taking the young master and his guardian, they also kidnapped..." he paused, swallowing the anxiety bubbling inside.

  "Kaname," Kaito interrupted, his voice tinging with a reluctant sorrow. "We believe capturing her was Zei's primary objective from the beginning."

  "Who the hell is Kaname?" Fukiko scoffed, shifting her weight to the other side..

  "She's Yasushi's arranged bride, the future queen to the Chika clan. … And in simpler terms, she's also my daughter."

  "What complete nonsense! It's well known that Airi is barren!” Fukiko laughed, placing both hands on her waist. “Beyond that obvious fact, she'd never tolerate a concubine living long enough to birth your child."

  Squaring his shoulder, Kaito's gaze deliberately moved across the room. "Kaname is not of blood to the Chika clan nor have any attachments to the bloodline. She was discovered around six years ago and has been raised in complete secrecy under our protection. Only a handful of clan members even know she exists within our borders." His eyes narrowed, dropping his voice to a hostile murmur. "Which confirms there's a traitor within our ranks."

  Izimaru's scarred hand reached out and patted his wife's fingers, making eye contact with her. "So essentially, you need our assistance with not only covering up this embarrassment, but also retrieving your heir and this mysterious girl. Do I have that correct, Kaito?"

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  "Yes, that's accurate… especially considering he's an originator out of the Takeshimego clan."

  Sora leaned forward with renewed interest, her pen poised above her notepad. "What makes this Kaname so extraordinarily valuable that she would attract someone of Zei's caliber? He doesn't waste time on ordinary targets, you know."

  Haru moved toward the table's center, rolling up his sleeves. His palm pressed flat against the polished wood as water rose from the mahogany's edges, flowing upward in crystalline streams and converged above the surface. Gradually, the liquid took shape, solidifying into a detailed three-dimensional embodiment of Kaname.

  The image stabilized into perfect clarity, commanding absolute attention from all eyes. Her hair cascaded to her shoulders in a silky waterfall of the most exquisite silver, shimmering like moonlight on still water. Two neatly woven braids framed her delicate features, lending an air of youthful innocence to her celestial appearance. The silver strands ombred into bluish grey at the tips, creating a natural gradient resembling twilight skies.

  Kaname's eyes dominated her appearance. Its color, a mesmerizing blend of blue, green, and grey encircled like storm clouds gathering on distant horizons. Her skin held a warm golden tone radiating its own subtle luminescence, while her lips maintained a soft pink hue.

  Sora's jaw dropped open, her eyes sparkling with a childlike wonder. Masahiko immediately pulled out his phone and took a picture as agitated glances darted between Fukiko and Izimaru.

  Promptly raising from his chair, Mari removed his glasses to closely examine the fully formed hologram. "Kaito..." His calm tone infused with a mild trepidation. "What exactly is she?"

  "To be honest, we don't know. Her appearance may certainly be unique amongst our kind, but that's the only trait special about her. She's yet to display any abilities or birth elements. It's likely she's just a mutated mortal with unusual physical traits."

  "A mutated mortal, eh?" Mari sighed, looking back at Sora.

  Concern gripped Haru's discernment, watching their silent communication. "We believe Zei specifically targeted her because of her appearance…likely intending to sell her to a collector who values such rarities,” he announced, stepping forward. “The testimonies we gathered from Taichi, Koba, Megumi, and Sachiko helped us identify his accomplice to be Lei, a notorious trafficker specializing in unique specimens."

  "Wait a fucking minute!” Fukiko shouted, snapping her head upward with fury blazing in her gaze. “What do you mean a testimony from Koba? What does my son have anything to do with your mess?"

  The temperature in the room spiked, mirroring her rising temper. Haru steadily met her intense glare, his voice barely holding firm. "According to the statements we collected, the children followed the young master to observe Kaname out of pure curiosity, making them the only eyewitnesses to the actual abduction. They're currently being held in protective confinement."

  Slamming her palms downward onto Izimaru's shoulders, small flames ignited from her fingertips. "CONFINEMENT?! HOW DESPICABLE!!! RELEASE MY SON THIS INSTANT!!!”

  "Fukiko, relax.” Masahiko yawned, scratching his head. “This is standard procedure. If our positions were reversed, wouldn't you have done the same thing?" A dry chuckle then escaped his lips, looking towards her. "Actually, knowing your temperament, probably worse huh?"

  She cut her attention to him, curling her lips into a sneer. "Tsk..." Turning away from his amused expression, she tightened her grip on Izimaru's shoulders. Smoke emitted from his clothing as sweat beaded around his brow, eyes wide wincing at his smoldering shoulders.

  "Queen Fukiko, I can personally assure you that the children are unharmed and receiving the same care and protection as if they were my own blood," Kaito approached, bowing. "As a father, I understand your frustration, but please... right now... my son... my daughter... Etsuyo... are in the hands of a vile being. I need everyone's attention and commitment to help me bring them home."

  Acknowledging the sincerity in his voice, Fukiko's anger cooled. Her hands relaxed, loosening her grip while dissipating the smoke. Izimaru closed his eyes, exhaling in relief as the searing heat faded. "Kaito, we've all known each other since our childhood. Our fathers' fathers were friends. Even if there was no treaty, we'd still help you.”

  Mari nodded his agreement, wiping his glasses. "Agreed. You have the full support of the Kokoro clan."

  Still captivated by Kaname's hologram, Sora smiled in fascination, intently moving her pen across her notepad. "Uh sure... Whatever my husband said!"

  "I guess we're in this too..." Masahiko mumbled with characteristic indifference, returning his attention back to his phone.

  Kaito straightened from his bow, relief washing over him. "Thank you, everyone! I'm indebted to you."

  “Yes, you are,” Masahiko inserted, clearing his throat. “But, before we begin our pest hunt, may I ask where Airi is? She's not only your wife but also Head General. Second in Command, to say the least. Why isn't she here?"

  Caught off guard by the inquiry, Kaito turned to Haru, motioning for him to come closer. "Where's Airi?” he whispered, leaning in. “Why hasn't she arrived yet?"

  “She declined to come… believing her presence isn't necessary."

  Kaito's forehead creased, irritation seeping into his tone. "Not necessary??…Is she at least coordinating search efforts from the field?"

  "No…” Haru hesitated, his posture reflecting his discomfort. “She's refused to partake in any recovery efforts."

  "Then where the hell is she?!"

  "She's... isolated herself in the master chambers and gave explicit orders not to be disturbed.” Haru tilted his head up as his unease grew more apparent. “I've assumed all of her military duties."

  "How humiliating..." Kaito muttered under his breath. He turned away from Haru's position, sinking his teeth into his lower lip and releasing a harsh whisper. "Go retrieve her and bring her to the war room now! This is a direct order from her King! She's obliged to fulfill her duties as Head General."

  Haru slightly bowed and strode toward the exit, sealing the heavy doors shut behind him.

  Visibly battling to maintain his composure, Kaito rolled his shoulders back, straightening his spine. "Airi is... indisposed at the moment," he explained, meeting Masahiko's scrutinizing gaze. “She's... dealing with the situation in her own way."

  Pressing his palm flat against the table's surface, holographic displays erupted from the mahogany, filling the chamber with interactive screens and tactical diagrams. "She'll join us shortly, so let's begin."

  "Pull up a 100-mile perimeter around Chika territory," Mari instructed, tracing a wide circle through the air with his finger. "You have permission to extend the search grid into our territory."

  Izimaru pushed back from his chair and stood beside Mari. "While you're at it, pinpoint the exact locations of all stationed guards at the time of the incident," he commanded, his eyes scanning the flickering data points.

  Sora glanced up from her notepad, closing it with a sharp snap as an intense gleam sparked in her eyes. "Show me the surveillance footage from all monitoring stations. I'm interested in seeing how they moved through your defenses."

  The holographic displays responded to their orders, shifting and expanding throughout the room until it resembled a high-tech command center. Tactical grids, energy readings, and security feeds materialized in three-dimensional space around the massive table.

  Fukiko approached the central interface, joining the others at the table. "We need to establish a precise timeline of events. Every detail, no matter how small, could be crucial."

  Examining a particular cluster of energy readings, Masahiko pulled the interface closer, highlighting the expanding data set.

  "These energy signatures are highly unusual," he mused. “I wonder if it's related to Zei's portal ability?"