Danial, still catching his breath from the intense rooftop battle, made his way to the exit of the hotel. Now in his hands, his mask carried the weight of the night's events. Glancing at it for a moment, he placed it carefully on a nearby table.
As he reached for the door handle, preparing to step into the quiet night, the door swung open abruptly. Startled, Danial found himself face to face with several police officers, their weapons trained on him.
Danial, his heart pounding with a mixture of confusion and apprehension, found himself once again facing the daunting sight of police officers with guns trained on him. The sense of déjà vu was palpable as he recalled a similar encounter with the Special Ops team not long ago. He wondered why does this keep happening to him.
"Put your hands above your head and lay on the ground!" the officer barked. Danial was stunned. He raised his hands and stood calmly in front of the officers. The officer saw Danial's face and was taken back. " He looks very young. Who is he." The Leading Officer asked Danial " What is your name and what are you doing here.".
Danial responded trying to come up with a quick fabricated story and said " Officer I was in the kitchen when the power turned off. I went outside to check and saw some men with g-guns so I hid in the kitchen. I only came back out looking for a way out."
The officer's stern expression softened slightly as he considered Danial's explanation. "A waiter, huh?" he mused.
"Alright, let's get this sorted out," the officer said, gesturing for Danial to stand. "Come with me."
Leading the way, the officer walked alongside Danial as they descended through the hotel. The officer cast a sidelong glance at Danial, his curiosity evident. "You seem a bit young to be working here. What's your name?"
Danial, maintaining his composed demeanor, replied, "It's Danial, Officer. I'm relatively new here, just trying to make ends meet." The officer nodded, noting the simplicity of the response. "Alright, Danial You might want to stay out of trouble. This has become a high-security situation and we don't know any civilians around – not exactly a usual night for a waiter."
Danial chuckled nervously, "Yeah, definitely not in the job description. I was just trying to find my way out of this mess."
As they reached the lobby, the officer radioed in to update the situation. "Dispatch, this is Officer Matthews. We've got a civilian, a waiter named Danny, caught up in the middle of things. Seems like he's just trying to find his way out. No immediate threat."
Dispatch responded, "Copy that, Officer Matthews. Proceed with caution and ensure the civilian's safety."
Officer Matthews nodded, directing Danial toward the hotel's back entrance. "Alright, Danny. Head out through the back. We'll secure the scene here. And for your safety, stay away from trouble." Danial expressed his gratitude with a nod, relieved that the officer believed his fabricated story. As he stepped out through the back door, the cool night air greeted him once again.
As Danial stepped out of the hotel, he was met with a scene of controlled chaos. Police cars lined the streets, their flashing lights illuminating the night sky. Officers moved with purpose, securing the perimeter and ensuring the safety of bystanders. Danial couldn't help but feel a sense of relief knowing that the situation was being handled efficiently.
As he took in the sight, a police officer approached him, his expression stern yet curious. "Who are you, and how did you come out of the hotel?" the officer inquired, his voice laced with suspicion.
Danial, recalling the instructions from Officer Matthews, replied calmly, "I was escorted out by Officer Matthews to safety." He hoped his response would alleviate any doubts the officer might have.
Before the officer could respond, a commanding figure approached, his authoritative presence palpable. The commanding officer's eyes bore into Danial's, assessing him keenly.
"Don't question him; he is telling the truth," the commanding officer declared, his tone leaving no room for argument. The officer, acknowledging the command, silently nodded and backed away, allowing Danial to breathe a sigh of relief.
The commanding officer turned his attention back to Danial, his expression softening with concern. "Are you alright, son?" he asked, genuine worry evident in his voice.
Danial nodded, grateful for the officer's concern. "Yes, sir. I'm just glad to be out of there," he replied honestly.
The officer nodded understandingly, his gaze reflecting empathy. "This is a risky area, and considering that you've been inside the hotel hiding for a long time, you must be tired," he remarked, his words carrying a note of sympathy.
Danial nodded in agreement, feeling the fatigue seeping into his bones. "Thank you, sir. I appreciate your concern," he said gratefully, taking a mental note of the officer's face for future reference.
The commanding officer nodded, a reassuring smile gracing his lips. "Go home and rest, okay? You've had quite the night," he advised, his tone paternal yet firm.
As the commanding officer watched Danial walk away, he couldn't shake off the sense that there was more to the young man's story than met the eye. The events of the night had been anything but ordinary, and the presence of a civilian, especially one claiming to be a waiter caught up in the chaos, raised questions in the officer's mind.
Back at the hotel entrance, Officer Matthews, having secured the scene, approached the commanding officer. "Commander, what's the plan now? We've got the situation under control."
The commanding officer, glancing in the direction Danial had gone, responded thoughtfully, "Keep the perimeter secured. We need to investigate the events inside thoroughly. This isn't your typical disturbance, and I want a detailed report on my desk by morning."
Officer Matthews saluted, acknowledging the order. "Yes, sir. We'll make sure everything is properly documented."
Officer Matthews headed upstairs he heard some footsteps from the above floor and they were getting closer. The Officers went alert and they had their hands on their guns. The situation was tense. The officers were ready to fire at any dangerous personnel. As the person descending got closer, it was none other than Lieutenant Andrews.
As he reached the bottom of the stairs, Andrews could feel the weight of the officers' scrutiny bearing down on him. With a calm yet authoritative tone, Andrews announced, "Gentlemen, I mean no harm." He understood the need for caution in such situations and made sure to keep his movements deliberate and non-threatening.
However, the officers remained vigilant, their grip on their weapons unwavering. One of them, his voice laced with suspicion, demanded, "Who are you? State your name and purpose."
Andrews maintained his composure, offering a reassuring smile as he reached into his pocket and retrieved his identification card. Holding it out for the officers to see, he waited patiently for their reaction.
Officer Matthews, upon catching sight of the card, felt a jolt of recognition course through him. His eyes widened in disbelief as he read the inscription on the card, his mind struggling to process the implications of Andrews' presence.
"The Special Ops team from the Law Enforcement Organization!" Matthews exclaimed, unable to conceal his astonishment. The revelation sent shockwaves through the other officers, their gazes flickering between Andrews and Matthews in disbelief.
Quickly regaining his composure, Matthews stepped forward, his tone apologetic. "I apologize for this, Lieutenant Andrews. My officers didn't know you were with the Law Enforcement Organization."
Andrews waved off the apology, understanding the necessity of the officers' caution. "It's okay, drop the formality," he replied with a reassuring smile. "You were all doing your jobs. There's nothing to be worried about."
Lieutenant Andrew continued by asking " By the way I have a request, I hope you can help me with it?"
Matthews, still processing the unexpected turn of events, nodded in agreement with Lieutenant Andrews' request. "Of course, Lieutenant. We'll do everything we can to assist you," he assured. "But I can't shake the feeling that something isn't adding up here. How did you manage to eliminate the threat so quickly and effectively?"
Andrews, his expression unreadable, offered a cryptic smile. "We have our ways, Officer Matthews," he responded vaguely. "Rest assured, the situation has been contained.
As they made their way towards the rooftop, Matthews couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to the situation than met the eye. Matthew knew the ability of the Special Ops team so he didn't ask any further questions.
"Lieutenant, I think something doesn't add up," Matthews finally voiced his concerns.
Andrews, ever composed, turned to face Matthews, his brow furrowing in curiosity. "What do you mean?"
"Just now, I met with a civilian, a waiter you might say, and as he was saying that he was looking for a way out of the hotel. If the hotel was evacuated, then how would the civilian I met be stuck inside?" he explained, his words tinged with uncertainty.
Andrews' expression shifted imperceptibly, a flicker of interest dancing in his eyes as he absorbed Matthews' observations. "Who is this civilian, and what is his name?" he asked, his tone measured yet attentive.
Matthews hesitated for a moment before responding, "He said his name is Danial, and he is quite young, I would say between the ages of 16 and 20. He was working here as a waiter."
Andrews raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued by the mention of Danial's name. "Don't worry about it," he dismissed casually, though there was a hint of tension in his voice. "In this kind of situation, some people always forget their way out, so it's normal for some civilians to be scared and unable to move."
Matthews nodded silently, though his mind continued to churn with doubt and suspicion. Something about Andrews's response didn't sit right with him. He didn't ask anything and silently followed Lieutenant Andrews.
Andrews thought " Danial should have easily gotten through if he had just shown his identification card. But why didn't he do it? Instead, he chooses to lie and pretend as a waiter. I am gonna ask him about it tomorrow."
When Matthew reached the rooftop, the sight that greeted him sent a shiver down his spine – the rogue cultivators were tied up, kneeling on the ground.
Matthews, still bewildered by the sudden turn of events, hesitated for a moment before regaining his composure. "How did this happen?" he asked Andrews, seeking some semblance of understanding.
Andrews, his gaze unwavering, responded cryptically, "I am not allowed to go into the details of this case. All I want is an escort to take this person down to safety." Andrews pointed towards Lily, who was now sitting with a female Special Ops member.
Matthews, following Andrews' gaze, approached Lily and introduced himself, "Hello, my name is Officer Matthews. I will be taking you with me to safety." Lily looked up, weariness evident in her eyes. She nodded wearily, grateful for the assistance.
Before leaving the rooftop, Lily turned back to Lieutenant Andrews, her curiosity getting the better of her. "Sir, can I know the identity of the masked man who saved me?" she inquired.
Andrews, his expression firm yet compassionate, met her gaze. "For many reasons, I can't state his name or his identity. I hope you can understand," he replied, his words carrying a weight of authority. As Lily turned to leave with Matthews, Andrews' voice cut through the air with a warning that sent a chill down her spine. "I hope you keep whatever happened here a secret; otherwise, there will be consequences," he cautioned, his words carrying a weight of authority that brooked no argument.
Lily looked back and nodded vigorously. She then turned around and went with Matthews to leave the hotel.
Meanwhile outside the hotel Maria's patience was wearing thin as she was contemplating whether to call Ottoman or not his Grandfather's servant. She decided to call him and went aside. As she was about to dial a number another call interrupted her. She looked at the call and saw Danial's name. Maria quickly accepted the call and said " Danial where are you? Are you okay?"
Danial replied " Yeah I am fine by the way I am outside the hotel... wait I see you. Look behind you."
Maria hurriedly looked back and saw Danial waving his hands. She rushed towards Danial. Pavan and Kuro saw Maria rushing towards Danial and they both followed her.
As Maria, Pavan, and Kuro gathered around Danial, relief washed over them at the sight of their friend unharmed. However, their relief quickly gave way to concern and frustration as they bombarded Danial with questions about his whereabouts and the events unfolding at the hotel.
Maria, her voice tinged with worry and irritation, demanded, "Danial, where have you been? We've been trying to reach you for hours! We were worried sick!"
Danial nodded, fabricating a story on the spot. "I left the hotel early after dinner. I had some errands to run," he explained, hoping his friends would buy his excuse.
Feeling a pang of guilt for causing his friends distress, quickly tried to come up with an explanation. "I'm sorry, Maria. My phone died, and I didn't realize it until now. I didn't mean to worry you guys," he apologized.
Pavan though visibly relieved to see Danial safe, couldn't help but feel frustrated by his lack of communication. "You could have at least let us know you were okay," Pavan chided, his tone tinged with annoyance.
With the immediate concern for Danial's safety addressed, their attention turned to the chaotic scene unfolding at the hotel. Danial, feigning innocence, asked, "What's all this with the police and stuff? What happened?"
Pavan rolled his eyes in exasperation. "How would I know?" he retorted, frustration evident in his tone. "We've been waiting here for updates, just like you."
He turned to the rest of the group, trying to gauge their reactions. Kuro, in particular, seemed to be staring at him intently, a look of suspicion in his eyes.
Danial furrowed his brow in confusion as he met Kuro's gaze. "Kuro, is everything alright?" he asked, unable to ignore the intensity of Kuro's stare.
Kuro's response was cryptic, adding to Danial's growing sense of unease. "I should be the one asking you the same question, isn't it?" he replied. Danial couldn't help but feel a twinge of suspicion but decided not to worry about it. Kuro was weird after all.
With the conversation seemingly reaching a dead end, Danial suggested, "Guys, it's getting late. We should head home."
Pavan and Maria nodded in agreement, bidding their farewells to Danial. Kuro, however, opted to stay behind, citing unfinished work as his reason for staying.
Danial didn't press further, respecting Kuro's decision to stay behind. With a final wave to his friends, he made his way. After Danial was gone, Kuro walked away from the hotel.
As Kuro distanced himself from the group, the shadows around him seemed to stir, revealing several black-robed figures that materialized from the darkness.
Kneeling behind Kuro, the figures awaited his acknowledgment. One among them, the spokesperson, addressed Kuro with deference, "Young Master, the Patriarch is worried for your safety and is requesting you to come back to the Hale Family. The Grand Tournament is nearing, and we need you."
With a stoic demeanor, Kuro finally responded, "Tell Father that he has lost his chance to call me his son. I will not be returning until Father fulfills the promise he gave to my mother. Until then, forget that I even existed. Tell him that I will return the pain he caused my mother a hundredfold."
The black-robed figures, trained to remain impassive, conveyed no emotion as they received Kuro's decision. Their loyalty to the Hale Family did not waver, but Kuro's determination was equally unyielding.
As Kuro continued walking, the figures rose from their kneeling position and, with a seamless unity, vanished into the shadows from whence they came.