Tian Long Triad: "We have received your signal. Welcome back." S: "Our meeting is tomorrow at 9:00 AM. But first... Akane needs to be taken care of."
I arrived an hour after official working hours. I pushed the door to Akane's office open; the air inside was thick, heavy with the stench of his cheap cigarettes and a lingering rage that filled every corner. I didn't look at him. Instead, I glanced at my watch with cold indifference, as if I were the one in control of time, not him.
Akane: "Are you joking with me? You show up late, without your uniform? And what is this coat? Don't you realize how much work you have?!"
He marched toward me, his face flushed with fury, and grabbed my arm, attempting to drag me outside.
S: "Mr. Akane... please, let go of me. Forgive me," I whispered, before letting out a sharp, mocking laugh.
Akane: "You think this is funny?!"
With a swift motion, I wrenched my arm free from his grip. I unbuttoned my coat and tossed it aside. As the fabric hit the floor, it revealed the red silk wrapped around my body like a warning. The golden dragon embroidery on my chest shimmered under the dim office lights. In that single moment, I was no longer the obedient employee. I was the daughter of the Great Dragon, Lord Tian Long.
Sweat began to bead on Akane's forehead, his breathing turning ragged.
Akane: "W-what... what are you wearing?" he stammered, failing to hide his rising terror.
I grabbed him by his collar and slammed him to the ground. Dragging a chair over, I sat before him, slowly pressing the sharp heel of my shoe onto the back of his hand. I savored the sound of his muffled gasps as they turned into whimpers of pain. I looked down at him and said coldly, "You know, Akane? The hand that reaches out to drag me... doesn't deserve to remain intact."
Suddenly, three men in black suits entered, their sharp Chinese features radiating lethal intent. One of them stepped forward and whispered, "How can we assist you, My Lady?"
S: "Did you bring the phone?"
Typhon extended his hand, holding the device. "At your service, My Lady."
I spoke with a provocative chill: "What do you think of this video, Akane? Is this you making a shady deal during work hours, or am I hallucinating? If I'm wrong, feel free to object and tell me it's not you."
Akane's face turned ghostly pale.
S: "Man, you smell like rotten cheese. The stench of fear is unbearable. You're ruining my mood, Akane."
I pressed my heel harder into his hand.
S: "You scolded me, and now... the angry child inside me has woken up. When I look into your eyes, I see nothing but hollow cowardice."
For a split second, looking at his terror brought back the memory of the darkness I faced when I was lost in the Pyramids. I remembered those narrow, suffocating corridors and the shadows that swallowed my screams for 'Papa.' That old fear is exactly what forged the person standing before you now. The one who survived the abyss of the Pyramids cannot be frightened by a pathetic man like you—or someone as trivial as Mika.
[Flashback]
A young 'S' wanders through the labyrinthine passages of the Pyramid, sobbing, calling out for her father. "Papa!" she cries.
A Chinese man in his thirties kneels down to her level, gently taking her hand. "Why are you crying? Are you looking for Papa?" S nods, tears streaming down her face.
"Then... consider me your Papa from now on. Don't be afraid," he says, pulling her into a warm, protective embrace.
[Back to Present]
S: "What? Why are you silent now? Where is that torrent of insults you had earlier? Are you scared, Akane? That's enough. I believe you've learned your lesson and won't repeat it."
As I turned to leave, a sudden shiver ran down my spine—a sensation of being watched that I hadn't felt in years. I caught a glimpse of a silhouette behind the glass. Ming. He was standing there, watching the scene with piercing, unreadable eyes. He didn't intervene. He simply turned and vanished into the shadows.
Ming (to himself): "So... you're the girl we've been looking for."