Chapter 8: The Key Element

Akira stared at Mayu in silence.

A white room. Machines. A deep voice speaking of a key element.

Something was off.

— Are you sure it was a vision of the future? he finally asked.

Mayu hesitated, then nodded.

— Yes… but it was different. Normally, my visions are short, like flashes. This one was… clearer. As if I was really there.

Akira tightened his grip on the dagger in his hand.

— And the voice? Do you remember any detail? An accent? A name?

She closed her eyes, trying to gather her memories.

Then she murmured:

— "Project A.O."

Akira frowned.

— Project A.O.?

She nodded.

— That's all I heard.

A shiver ran down Akira's spine. That name meant nothing to him… but his instincts whispered that he had just stepped into something far more dangerous than a simple assassination contract.

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

— Listen… I'll be honest. If the Black Lotus is involved, it means there's money and power at stake. These guys don't move for nothing.

Mayu clenched her fists.

— Do you think they want to experiment on me?

Akira looked at her.

— Maybe. Or maybe they just want to eliminate you before your visions reveal something they want to hide.

She paled slightly.

— So… what do we do?

Akira thought for a moment. He wasn't supposed to protect his target. Normally, he tracked, eliminated, and vanished.

But this time…

He wanted answers.

He glanced at the Black Lotus dagger.

— We're going to find out who put this contract on you.

Mayu's eyes widened.

— You mean… we're going to attack those who are hunting us?

A faint smile crossed Akira's face.

— The best defense is an attack.

He slid the dagger into his belt and turned on his heel.

— Let's move.

— Where to? she asked hesitantly.

He looked back over his shoulder.

— To someone who knows more than we do.

Mayu furrowed her brow.

— Who?

Akira smiled slightly.

— An old friend… or rather, a former informant.

Then he added, more darkly:

— If he's still alive.