- SS PARTNERS HIERARCHY -
LEVEL 0
Unknown Authority
(Status: Classified)
LEVEL 1
Special Executive Chiefs (4)
• Null
• Fang
• Chief 3
• Chief 4
LEVEL 2
Special Executives
Each Chief commands 4 Special Executives.
Example:-
Null Squad
• Hollow
• Executive 2
• Executive 3
• Executive 4
LEVEL 3
Base Executives
Example:-
The Gaurds who were with Hollow
---
Volume 2nd [ The truth they buried ]
Chapter No.16 - Threads - begins...!
We see that Kye has arrived at Saito and Elena's hideout.
Their hideout was actually the basement beneath their house.
The basement looked old and cluttered. Documents, photographs, maps, and notes were scattered everywhere, covering almost every wall.
Kye: "Couldn't you at least keep this place clean?"
"Now tell me... why did you call me here?"
Saito: "Based on everything we've gathered so far... SS Partners and the government are working together on some kind of superhuman project."
"And after seeing both your strength and Hollow's... I don't think it's wrong to assume that your abilities are connected to that project somehow."
"After all, Hollow himself was part of that operation."
Kye: "I had already figured out that much."
"Tell me something new."
"We still don't have enough evidence, and even if we did, why would the media believe us?"
Elena: "That's exactly why we're planning to find out which doctors and scientists are involved in this operation."
"If we can capture even one of them... we might be able to force the truth out."
"These are some of the people we've identified so far."
"Take a look, Kye."
Kye carefully studies every photograph and every name on the documents.
Then...
Something suddenly catches his attention.
His eyes widen in shock.
Kye: "...I understand now."
"When it's time to begin the mission, let me know."
"I'll come."
"And Hollow... you'll stay here for now."
"I "I have something important I need to take care of."
Hollow: "Why should I listen to anything you say?"
Kye: "Please, Hollow... this is important."
"I hope you won't disappoint me."
Seeing Kye actually asking instead of ordering leaves Hollow completely stunned.
With an awkward expression, he scratches his head and replies,With an awkward expression, he scratches his head and replies,
Hollow: "Yeah, yeah... fine. I get it."
"But make sure these two don't get on my nerves, or I'll deal with them myself."
"Oh, and next time... take me with you during your training."
Without saying another word, Kye quietly leaves the hideout.
The scene shifts...!
Kye's mind was filled with countless thoughts.
He had just returned from somewhere and was now waiting outside Arisa's house.
A few moments later, the door opened.
We see Arisa stepping outside, elegantly dressed.
Arisa: "Let's go. And... thanks for making time for me despite everything that's been happening."
Kye: "What?"
"I thought we were going somewhere important."
"What are you even wearing?"
Arisa: "Do you even know how to compliment someone?"
"Back in school and college, everyone liked me."
Kye: "Well... isn't that a good thing?"
"So... where are all those people now?"
Arisa: "Will you just be quiet?"
"Come with me."
"Today you're carrying my shopping bags."
"Your mission can survive without you for a few hours."
"You really need to learn how to rely on other people once in a while, Kye."
The two begin walking through the city together.
Kye thinks to himself,
"Wasn't I supposed to be saving the world...?"
"Then... what exactly am I doing right now?"
---
The two spend the day shopping.
They visit cafés.
For a brief moment...
It almost feels as if they were living an ordinary life.
Almost like a normal couple out on a date.
Kye: "Why exactly did we come here?"
Arisa: "To find some peace."
"If you keep fighting all the time, you'll end up mentally exhausted."
Kye: "Things aren't going well."
"I have a feeling something really bad is going to happen soon."
"So... be careful."
Arisa: "What exactly do you mean?"
"At least explain it properly if you want me to understand."
Kye: "You'll understand when the time comes."
Suddenly...
Kye notices someone staring at them from a distance.
The moment he looks in that direction...
The figure disappears.
Kye thinks,
"I see..."
"So someone has been keeping an eye on us."
Kye: "Arisa... we're leaving."
"Someone's watching us."
"To be more precise... they're watching me."
Arisa: "W-Wait... who—?!"
Before she can finish her sentence—
Kye throws some money onto the table...
Lifts Arisa into his arms...
And leaps from one building to another, disappearing into the city.
While they continue rushing across the rooftops, Arisa protests,
Arisa: "Hey, wait!"
"What are you doing?!"
"At least tell me where we're going!"
Kye: "My apartment."
"And... could you stay quiet for a moment?"
"…By the way, have you gotten heavier?"
Arisa: "Put me down right now, you idiot!"
The two continue arguing as they disappear into the distance...
The scene shifts to a dark room...
The scene shifts to a dark room, filled with an uneasy, unsettling atmosphere.
We see Fang sitting comfortably on a large sofa, with a table placed directly in front of him.
He smiles before speaking.
Fang: "So... are you all ready for your mission?"
Standing before him were four individuals—three men and one woman.
In perfect unison, they replied,
"Yes, Master Fang. We're ready to eliminate every one of them. Just give us the order."
Fang's expression immediately changed.
Fang: "Eliminate everyone?"
"I don't want anyone dead."
"You're bringing him back to me alive. Understood?"
"And I don't want to hear any excuses."
Fang gently places his hand on the woman's face. She was dressed in a rather bold outfit.
With a grin, Fang says,
Fang: "I'm heading back to my room to enjoy myself with some womens."
"When this mission is over... you can join me if you want."
"As for everything else... I'm leaving it in your hands."
"Handle it however you see fit."
Just then...
The door opens.
Null walks into the room.
Null: "Oh? I thought you were going with them."
Fang: "You bastard... you're here again?"
"And what exactly did you mean by 'you're going too'?"
"The people under my command aren't like your Hollow."
"They actually know how to get the job done."
Null: "Really?"
"We'll see who actually gets the job done."
With that, Null simply laughs to himself and walks out of the room...
As if he had entered for no reason other than to tease Fang.
The scene shifts back to Kye and Arisa.
Arisa: "What exactly happened?"
Kye: "Do you never understand things the first time?"
"I already told you—someone was watching us."
"Things have become far more serious than before."
"You need to stay alert at all times."
"They've already seen you too... understand?"
Arisa: "Then... what are we going to do now?"
Kye: "Our priority is gathering information."
"Our main target is Dr. Arthur Kane."
"We need to capture him."
Arisa: "But why?"
"How is a doctor supposed to help us?"
Kye: "He's no ordinary doctor... or scientist."
"He has already worked for the government."
"And according to the information I have... he's retired now."
"That means two things."
"He's much easier to capture... and he might possess exactly the kind of information we're looking for."
Suddenly...
Kye falls silent, lost in his thoughts.
"The biggest problem is..."
"If what I saw in those documents is actually true..."
"No... that's impossible."
"It has to be a lie."
A familiar voice pulls him back to reality.
Arisa: "Kye... Kye, are you even listening?"
Kye: "Huh...?"
"Yeah... sorry."
"I got lost in thought."
"Listen carefully."
"Stay here until I come back."
"I need to gather some important information."
"And don't go anywhere alone."
"Especially not now."
"Ren and Luca are at home, so everything should be fine."
"I'll be back."
Before Arisa has the chance to say another word...
Kye turns around and leaves the house.
Watching him disappear, Arisa lets out a quiet sigh.
Arisa (thinking):
"You never even give me a chance to finish what I'm trying to say..."
Kye steps outside to gather more information.
Just then, his phone begins to ring.
It was Elena.
Kye answers the call.
Elena: "Kye, we've managed to find his address... but we still can't completely confirm it."
"I think you should check it out tonight."
"That's probably our best option."
Kye: "How did you manage to find all that information?"
Elena: "From the documents our siblings left behind."
"They contained quite a few important details."
"There wasn't much about the project itself... but they did include information about the scientists and doctors who worked alongside them."
Kye: "That's good."
"Now that we have his address, capturing him will be much easier."
"And... one more thing."
"We're being watched."
"So stay alert."
"There's a good chance they're keeping an eye on both of you as well."
Elena: "So they've really fallen that low?"
"They're spying on us now?"
"If that's true... it'll make everything much harder."
Kye: "...Yeah."
"But there's nothing we can do about it."
With that, Kye ends the call.
He quietly turns into a narrow alleyway.
The moment he steps inside...
He suddenly crouches down.
In a fraction of a second, he picks up a small stone from the ground.
Without even looking back—
He flicks it behind him with incredible speed.
Boom!
A man crashes down from the rooftop of the building behind him.
Kye: What? You really thought I hadn't noticed you?"
The man's head had been split open, blood flowing down his face.
Kye tears off a piece of cloth and wraps it tightly around the wound to stop the bleeding.
Kye: "You're going to be very useful to me."
"So I'm not letting you die just yet."
"Come with me."
Lifting the unconscious man over his shoulder...
Kye disappears deeper into the alleyway.
And that's how the Chapter No.16 - Threads - came to an end...!