CHAPTER 25- THE ISLAND (6)

Erika led Kaizen through the lavish corridors of Aeron's yacht, her footsteps eerily composed despite the storm of fury raging inside her. The yacht was a floating palace, bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun, its interiors a seamless blend of elegance and opulence. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceilings, casting fractured light across marble floors. Plush velvet seats in deep crimson lined the walls, the scent of aged wine and sea breeze mingling in the air. But Kaizen barely took it in, too aware of the ice in Erika's demeanor, the dangerous calm in her every movement.

They stepped onto the front deck, where the sky was a burning canvas of molten gold and lavender, the ocean stretching into infinity, reflecting the dying sun's embers. Erika stopped at the railing, her silver hair catching the hues of the sunset, making her seem almost ethereal. Kaizen remained a step behind, watching as the guards hesitated. She didn't turn, but her voice, sharp and commanding, cut through the evening breeze.

"None will follow me from here."

Even the most battle-hardened guards stiffened at her tone, a rare chill running down their spines. They exchanged glances before nodding obediently, retreating into the corridors like shadows dissolving into the twilight.

Erika inhaled deeply, trying to calm the fury seething within her.

"Did he make any offer after you all got caught?" she asked, her irritation barely restrained.

Kaizen's response was as indifferent as ever. "No. We were caught just today at around 4 AM."

Her eyes narrowed. "All together?"

He nodded. "We were in different teams and exchanged notes during meals. But last night, around midnight, we all received a note with the Chief's seal, instructing us to gather by the lake behind the mansion's forest."

Erika's breath hitched. Her fingers dug into the railing. "Did you all truly fall for that trap?"

Kaizen chuckled bitterly. "The message was written in the Ghost Code. It was inside the guards' lunchboxes."

A shiver ran down her spine. Her lips parted in shock. Her mind reeled.

The Ghost Code.

It was an exclusive cipher, known only to the spy team of Ghost Fleet. Only Spy Team 1 and the Chief knew how to create them. Members were trained to read them, not forge them. If Aeron had managed to replicate it flawlessly, it meant one of two things—either someone from Spy Team 1 had betrayed them, or…

Aeron knew how to craft the Ghost Code himself.

Erika clenched her jaw, her entire body rigid with realization. Fear, bitter and unfamiliar, curled in her chest. Aeron Valentine was not the man she had once known. The boy from a decade ago had vanished, leaving behind someone cruel, elusive, and more dangerous than she had ever imagined.

She rubbed her temple, pushing down the unease creeping through her. When she looked up, she found Kaizen staring at her, his expression unreadable yet inquisitive. His features, still laced with the softness of youth, reminded her of how much responsibility she had taken upon herself.

"You want to ask something?" she prompted, leaning against the railing, the ocean wind teasing strands of her silver hair.

Kaizen hesitated before his voice, softer than usual, broke the silence. "Why did you save me, Master?"

Her lips curled into a small smile. It wasn't mocking, nor was it indulgent. It was just… serene. She closed her eyes, letting the sound of the waves wash over her, taking a moment to herself—an impossible luxury given the situation.

"I can't let my best student die like a dog," she said, her voice lighter, "or else, who would carry my legacy?"

Kaizen's eyes widened. He had never seen her smile like that before, not out of obligation or smug amusement, but out of sheer relief.

"Master, you—" His voice cracked, and he looked away, blinking rapidly.

But Erika wasn't oblivious. She had always known the weight Kaizen carried, the scars abandonment had left on him.

"Kaizen," she murmured, watching the sky darken with twilight hues. "I won't ever abandon you. Ten years ago, I made the choice to take responsibility for you. And until the day I die, I will keep that promise."

Kaizen's lips trembled. His head lowered, his breath uneven. He didn't try to stop the silent tears that escaped, nor did Erika tell him to. For once, she let him feel.

But they weren't alone.

Aeron stood in the shadows, watching.

He had followed her the moment she left, intending to speak, to confront, to corner her into admitting something—anything. But now, standing there, he found himself unable to step forward.

Because she was smiling.

Not the practiced, cynical smirk she often wore like armor.

Not the cold, indifferent curve of her lips he had grown accustomed to.

A real smile.

And it wasn't for him.

Something in Aeron twisted, an unfamiliar ache clawing at his chest. His fingers instinctively grasped the cold sapphire pendant beneath his shirt, but for the first time in years, it didn't feel cold. It felt warm.

And he despised that feeling.

Erika's gaze lifted, as if sensing his presence. The moment their eyes met, her smile faded, replaced by the icy indifference she reserved only for him.

Aeron clenched his jaw. He loathed that shift. He hated that she could smile so gently for Kaizen yet look at him with nothing but disdain.

"Are you spying on me now?" she asked, her voice sharp as she approached him.

Oh, how he wished she would look at him with the same warmth.

But he knew that was a wish he had no right to make. A wish he was never meant to have.

Because he wasn't supposed to feel this way about…

Ivelle Ivanova.