The Hospital (3)

The room was shrouded in darkness, a heavy silence hanging in the air. The boss's face remained hidden, his presence imposing yet unseen. Oliver stood in the center of the room, his posture rigid as he awaited the question.

"Who killed Kuro?" the boss's voice sliced through the silence, cold and demanding.

Without a word, Oliver reached into his jacket and pulled out the small black card. He placed it in front of the boss. The name "James" was printed in bold letters.

The boss leaned forward, his eyes narrowing as he studied the card, confusion flickering briefly across his face. He didn't speak for a moment, his mind clearly processing what he was seeing.

Oliver spoke up, breaking the silence. "I found this card beside Kuro's headless body. No one saw who killed him, and Johan… he's missing too."

The boss's brow furrowed. "Do you think it was James?"

Oliver didn't respond immediately, letting the tension fill the air.

---

Meanwhile, in the hospital, Vardan walked alongside Jay, scanning the sterile hallways with sharp eyes. He was looking for anything, any clue that would give him an edge against David, the mysterious doctor. But no matter how hard he searched, nothing stood out. It was as though the place had been designed to keep secrets hidden.

Jay noticed Vardan's quiet focus. "Find anything?" he asked, his voice light, but Vardan only shook his head.

"No, nothing that stands out. This place is clean," Vardan muttered, still scanning the area.

As they continued, they saw Mia ahead. Jay waved excitedly, but Mia stiffened when she saw them. She immediately turned away, hurriedly walking in the opposite direction.

Vardan noticed the change in her demeanor. "She doesn't want to be seen with us," he muttered under his breath.

Jay watched as Mia disappeared out the door. "Yeah, she's careful. She doesn't want the Organization to know she's got any ties to us."

Vardan nodded, but the encounter left a strange feeling in his chest.

---

As they walked through the hall, Vardan suddenly turned to Jay, a question that had been lingering in his mind finally slipping out. "Why didn't you question me, Jay?"

Jay blinked, confused by the question. "What do you mean?"

Vardan's gaze hardened. "About Kuro. Why didn't you ask why I killed him… or why I saved Johan?"

Jay smiled, a knowing glint in his eyes. "I trust you more than anyone else, Vardan. You're my master. Whatever you do, I follow."

The words hit Vardan like a punch to the gut. He froze for a moment, caught off guard by Jay's unwavering loyalty. The shock in his chest slowly melted into a warm, unfamiliar feeling.

After a beat, Vardan smiled, a slight chuckle escaping him. "Master, huh?" he muttered, shaking his head.

Jay's grin widened. "Yep. Master."

Vardan looked away, his mind still processing the weight of Jay's words. This was a bond stronger than he'd ever expected.

The two walked on in silence, but there was a shift in the air—an unspoken understanding between them, a sense of loyalty and trust that neither could break.