Chapter 99

At that moment the room fell into an uneasy silence as Kai's words hung in the air.

He leaned forward, his chained wrists resting against the edge of the cold steel table, and locked eyes with the chief. The air felt heavier now, like the room itself was holding its breath, waiting for the chief's next move.

"You really want to go there?" Kai said, his tone sharp, yet calm.

"You want to stand there and pretend you've got the moral high ground? how can you allow them to framed my comrade for drugs, Chief. You told his grieving wife—in front of their kids—that he was a criminal. A man who gave his life for the truth."

The chief's eyebrows twitched, a subtle but telling reaction. His lips parted, but no words came out. For a moment, the façade cracked, revealing the guilt hidden behind his authoritative mask.

"It turns out your comrade was into drugs," the chief finally said, his voice low but defensive.