It couldn't be Fabian—his work was isolated, his attacks wouldn't risk civilian lives.

That left Geoffrey. A mid-tier Level Five was dangerous enough, but the problem wasn't beating him. It was stopping him before he could destroy half the city in the process.

"If we call in Mr. Xander, he could suppress him instantly," Rosaline whispered.

Vince shook his head. "The team leader and the others are probably still in Northern Suppression Town, dealing with the spies. They don't have time to come running here."

Faces darkened all around. Miller spoke up cautiously. "Could we lure him somewhere isolated? Or clear the civilians before we make a move?"

"Won't work," Vince said flatly. "If he's truly Level Five, he'll see straight through it."

Every gaze returned to Axel. The room felt thick with the weight of his silence.

Finally, Axel spoke. Slowly. Deliberately.

"I have a plan."

The explanation was short. Too short. When he finished, everyone stared at him like they'd been punched.

"He's Level Five?" someone whispered.

"Why the fuck would it be him?"

"Are you sure you're not mistaken?"

Axel shook his head. "No time to argue. We'll confirm once we catch him. I'll call Fabian first."

He disappeared into the next room, phone pressed to his ear. The others exchanged grim looks. If Axel was right, what came next wouldn't just be difficult—it would be catastrophic if they failed.

......

A few minutes later, Axel stepped back into the room."Fabian's in. We move forward with my plan."

Rosaline immediately spoke up. "If it's really like you say, then either Vince or I should go. It's too dangerous for you."

Axel's gaze settled on her, sharp and unyielding. "Rosaline, do you think he'll trust you if you show up instead of me?"

She froze, speechless.

"Just do what Axel says," Vince cut in, his tone brooking no argument.

Half an hour later, messages went out. Dennis and his brother, the Survey Corps, and even Geoffrey each received the same summons from Obsidian:

Meet at the gym. Have you found the murderer?

At the barracks, Geoffrey set his phone down, strapped on his gear, and headed out. The Survey Corps followed suit. Dennis and his brother reluctantly obeyed.

Meanwhile, at Jeremiah's house, the man stepped outside only to find Axel already waiting at his door.

"Axel? Didn't the message say we're meeting at the gym? What are you doing here?" Jeremiah frowned.

Axel took a slow breath, his face grave. "That's just a cover, to keep the real bastard off guard."

Jeremiah's eyes sharpened. "You found proof? Who is it?"

Axel leaned in, lowering his voice. "Not solid proof yet. But all signs point to Fabian."

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"Fabian?" Jeremiah's brows drew together. "The Ministry of Agriculture guy? You're telling me he's strong enough to kill Connor? That doesn't add up."

"You're underestimating him," Axel replied coldly. "He's far more dangerous than he lets on. If we hadn't gone to his plantation yesterday, we'd still be in the dark."

Jeremiah froze, startled. "That strong? Then why come to me?"

Axel's tone shifted, layered with intent. "Because we've gathered everyone else at the gym. Fabian's our main target. But we still don't have irrefutable evidence. Yesterday, when we asked to inspect his vegetable patch, he dodged us—too defensive, too cagey. Something's hidden there, I'm sure of it."

Jeremiah listened, his expression caught between doubt and belief. Axel's voice remained steady, deliberate.

"We questioned everyone yesterday. Frankly, aside from you, no one had a damn brain. The captain and the others need to keep Fabian distracted, otherwise he'll smell a trap. I'm not strong enough to do this alone. That's why I need you with me."

The weight of Axel's words hung heavy between them. Jeremiah hesitated.

......

Meanwhile, at the gym in Northern Spiritual Town, everyone except Axel and Jeremiah had already gathered.

Dennis and his brother, still shaken from yesterday, sat pressed together like frightened chicks. Geoffrey, still at odds with the Survey Corps, sat apart with his arms crossed.

The Survey Corps kept close, but none of them spoke. Their eyes remained locked on the Obsidian squad across the room.

"Everyone, sit tight. We're still compiling evidence," Vince said flatly. He didn't bother with small talk and simply returned to stand with his team.

.....

Back at Jeremiah's door, silence stretched. Axel didn't push. He knew pressing too hard would only raise suspicion.

Finally, Jeremiah exhaled. "Fine. If this leads us to the real killer, then I'm in. But make it quick. If Fabian's really that powerful, we're fucked if he senses something's wrong. We won't stand a chance."

Axel gave a sharp nod, his voice low and steady. "You're right."

Fabian's plantation sat just over ten kilometers outside the city. It took Axel and Jeremiah barely five or six minutes before the first rows of crops came into view, their edges stretching beneath the mid-morning sun.

The fields shimmered with a strange vitality, every leaf catching the light as though the place itself were awake and watching.

"We slow down here," Axel murmured, his eyes fixed ahead. "Push too fast and the plants he left behind might notice. The old bastard's crops aren't normal."

Jeremiah gave a relaxed chuckle, seeing Axel so tense. "Fine. This patch is wasteland anyway. Plenty of weeds. We can use them as cover. You go in first—I'll watch your back."

Sweat gathered on Axel's brow as he crouched low, moving carefully through the overgrowth. His voice stayed calm, almost casual, as he whispered to Jeremiah—and at the same time his thumb pressed a hidden command on his phone.

.....

Back in the gymnasium, Geoffrey was running out of patience. He kept his mouth shut only because the Survey Corps and even the Dennis brothers were sitting so damned quietly.

Then, from the corner, Millers muttered under his breath: "Call closed. Operation commence…"

A cold shiver rippled through the air. The sunlight dimmed. Cracks like shattering glass rang out, and in seconds the entire gym was swallowed by pale blue ice, as though the world itself had frozen into a single, massive sculpture.

"What the hell?!" The Dennis brothers, already shaken from the night before, turned white as sheets.

Geoffrey's jaw clenched. They were moving—Obsidian was making their play. But what the fuck were they doing without evidence? And that aura… that crushing Force emanating from the ice made his skin crawl.

Then the voice came, flat and merciless: "Mr. Geoffrey. Cooperate. Arrest every member of the Survey Corps—now. Resist, and they die."

For a split second, Geoffrey's mind blanked. Kill the Survey Corps? Was Obsidian out of their goddamn minds?

He had no time to process. Phoenix was already roaring forward, Vince's blade flashing, and the four Survey Corps members didn't even flinch or argue. They just drew steel and fought back, silent as executioners.

"Axel guessed it…" Rosaline's stomach turned as she fought beside Vince.

At first, both of them hesitated. If Axel was wrong, they'd be slaughtering allies. And his theory was insane—too insane to explain in time. But the moment the Corps fought back with cold, empty eyes, hesitation burned away.

"Vince! Don't hold back—Axel's in danger!" Rosaline shouted, panic lacing her voice.

In the corner, the Dennis brothers cowered, convinced they'd just been caught in some syndicate purge. Two near-death encounters in as many days carved terror deep into their bones.

.....

Meanwhile, in the weeds at the plantation's edge, Axel froze as Jeremiah halted. Both men turned to look at each other—and something shifted.

The warmth was gone from Jeremiah's face, replaced by a shadow as cold as the morning wind. His voice carried no emotion, only the weight of a verdict.

"How did you figure it out? Even if you didn't suspect Geoffrey, you sure as hell weren't supposed to suspect me." His gaze cut through Axel like a blade.

Axel said nothing.

Jeremiah tilted his head, his expression unreadable. "And who gave you the balls to lure me out here, alone?"

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