The Fox and The Hive

As the man approached, the two guards opened the door in perfect sync. He stepped into the office.

The walls were covered in luxurious deep-blue wallpaper. The dark wood furniture was elegantly refined, adorned with intricate carvings. A massive floor-to-ceiling window stretched across one wall, offering a stunning view of the bustling city below.

A grand oak desk dominated the center of the room. Across from it sat an imposing black leather armchair. Nearby, a small marble side table held a water carafe and two crystal glasses.

A woman with a cold, striking beauty sat behind the desk, her sharp eyes locked on the man. She said nothing.

The silence stretched on for a few moments.

"Guildmaster, it's an honor to meet you," the man said, breaking the ice.

A faint murmur escaped the woman's lips, barely more than a breath. "The pleasure's mutual. Your reputation precedes you. But those are just words," she replied, her tone icy.

A flicker of amusement danced in the man's eyes. He eased into the offered armchair, then fixed his gaze on the woman across from him.

"What are you waiting for?" he said, his voice low and confident. "Put me to the test."

The woman straightened slightly, a faint smile tugging at her perfectly shaped lips. "What's to guarantee I can trust you?"

The man crossed his arms with an unsettling calm before answering, "Nothing. Trust doesn't belong here. I'm offering my services, and in return, I ask only for a glass of that whisky you save for your VIPs."

"You've got guts," she said. "That whisky you're after is in my personal cellar. You'll get it after you prove your worth."

She hesitated for a moment, then glanced at a file on her desk. Pulling out a USB drive, she tossed it toward him.

"Complete this mission. Then we can really talk."

The man caught the drive, his expression unreadable.

"And if I say no?" he asked, his tone casual but laced with mystery.

The woman suppressed a smirk before replying in a frigid voice, "Refuse, and you're signing your own death warrant. You know you don't have a choice now that you've crawled out of your hole."

The man stared at her intensely, his demeanor shifting to something more serious. "Why do you think I chose to step out now?"

A spark of curiosity flickered in her. "Why?" she shot back, almost surprised she'd asked.

The man smiled. "Life's taught me justice doesn't always come through legal channels. I've seen innocents sacrificed, untouchable criminals thriving on their impunity. So I decided to be the one standing between the righteous and the damned, ready to risk it all to bring balance back to the world."

"Is that the kind of talk a man like you should be spouting?" she murmured, her voice edged with mockery. "What, having regrets about your criminal past?"

The man let out a soft laugh. "Regrets are burdens I'm not ready to carry, Guildmaster."

He studied the USB drive in his hands for a moment before speaking again. "Just so you know, Guildmaster, I won't hesitate to call out your cold streak if you try to double-cross me."

The woman flashed a sly smile, her gaze drifting to a photo prominently displayed on her desk. She wasn't the type to be easily rattled.

"And I, sir, won't miss the chance to remind the world of your past sins if you don't deliver results."

As if sealing a deal, they both gave a simple nod. Then the man slipped out of the office.

Left alone, the cold beauty couldn't shake a strange mix of fascination and unease.

"What are you up to, Zeref Grimwald…?"

---

Nero, dressed in a sharp black suit, slid a key into a lock and pushed open a wooden door, revealing a room that looked like a bedroom.

In one corner, two cushioned armchairs faced each other, topped with plump pillows. The space was wrapped in a soothing silence, broken only by the gentle hum of a ceiling fan.

Nero crossed the threshold with confidence.

Inside, he was greeted by the lively presence of a boy standing near the desk, dressed in navy pants and a matching sweater.

"Welcome back, Master!" the boy—none other than Klein—exclaimed cheerfully, stepping forward with a bold energy.

Nero smiled and returned the greeting. "Anything new while I was gone?"

"No, Master," Klein replied. "Just some updates from Corwin about how his operation's going."

Nero nodded.

He scanned the room with a careful eye.

"I couldn't bring you along to the agency. Hope you didn't get too bored on your own."

Klein blushed slightly. "Don't feel bad, Master. Just being able to help you fills me with so much joy it's more than enough."

Nero stepped closer and rested a gentle hand on the boy's shoulder. "You're more than just an assistant, Klein. You're a son."

The boy gazed up at him with admiration, his eyes shining with emotion. "Master… my life is yours!" he declared, bowing low to the floor.

Nero let out a hearty laugh, charmed by Klein's passionate outburst. He then flopped into one of the armchairs.

Klein straightened up, his eyes sparkling with curiosity, and asked eagerly, "Master, if I may—how'd it go? Did you get the permit?"

Nero grinned, clearly enjoying the boy's enthusiasm. He took a deep breath and began, his voice light and engaging. "Klein, let me answer that with a little story.

"In a far-off valley lived a small fox. This fox was ambitious and dreamed of stealing the sweet honey from the hives in the nearby meadow. But the bees guarded their treasure fiercely, and no one dared approach their hives without extreme caution."

Klein listened intently, hooked on Nero's tale.

"One day, the little fox decided it was time to chase his dream. He knew he'd need grit to reach the hives without getting stung. So he came up with a clever plan. First, he studied the bees up close—how they organized their defenses, how they kept their hive safe. He noticed they were especially sensitive to sudden moves and bright colors, which made them aggressive and ready to sting. Armed with that knowledge, the fox worked on his disguise. He found an old brown cloak that blended perfectly with the meadow. He tied leaves and twigs to his tail to make it look like a tree branch. To the bees, he became almost invisible.

"When the time came, the fox crept toward the hives, moving slow as a leaf on the breeze. The bees didn't suspect a thing, thinking he was just part of the scenery. He reached the hives unnoticed and started savoring the delicious honey. But just as he was about to enjoy the reward of his patience, he heard an angry buzz. The bees had finally spotted him and swarmed toward him in droves. The fox realized he needed an escape plan. In a final stroke of genius, he took a deep breath and blew on the pollinator fluff he'd brought along. The bees, mistaking it for a gust of wind, got disoriented and scattered, letting the fox dart away. Exhausted but proud, he made it home, celebrating his win."

Klein stared at Nero. "Master, that's an amazing story. But, if I can ask—how does it tie to you?"

Nero gave an enigmatic smile, a hint of pride in his eyes. "See, I'm that little fox."

"And what about the bees, the cloak, the honey, and the fluff?" Klein pressed.

Nero took another breath and shot back with a sly tone, "I'll let you figure that one out, Klein."

He pulled a USB drive from his jacket with a mysterious grin. He turned it over in his fingers, lost in thought, while Klein watched eagerly. "This drive holds what stands between us and the first step of my plan," Nero said, his voice low and charged with excitement.

Klein leaned in to get a better look at the object in his master's hands.

"Is it a test to get the permit?" he asked, unable to rein in his growing curiosity.

Nero shot him a knowing look. "What's a permit to me, Klein? Your master doesn't have the patience to climb the ladder one rung at a time. No, we're heading straight for the top."

Nero's words piqued Klein's interest.

"What are you standing there for? Grab something to plug this into."

Snapping out of it, Klein hurried to a dresser, pulling out a tablet-like device. He handed it to Nero, who slid the USB into a port on the side.

The screen lit up, and Nero's fingers danced across it, flipping through images until he landed on the file he wanted. Minutes flew by like seconds in the cozy stillness of the room. Then Nero powered down the tablet, pulled out the drive, and handed the device back to Klein, who stashed it away.

"What do you think?" Nero asked him.

Klein finished putting the tablet back, then answered, "I think a mission like this could definitely score us VIP status."

"We're on the same page there," Nero agreed. "So, how do you suggest we handle it?"

"It's a hit job," Klein began, analyzing it. "But the target's a sensitive one. We'd need to manage the logistics and plan for containment. I'd go with a methodical approach—something that ensures the job gets done clean with no mess."

"And how do we pull that off?"

Klein laid out his thoughts for his master. Nero listened closely, sizing up the boy's words. A mischievous grin spread across his face. "I can see that sadistic streak of yours shining through, Klein."

A sly smile crept onto Klein's face.

Nero tucked the USB back into his jacket pocket and grinned. "Alright, we'll do it your way." He stood up before adding, "I'll leave the prep to you. Don't let me down."

Klein bowed respectfully.

Nero studied the boy's innocent face for a moment before switching gears entirely. "It's been a long day. Draw me a bath."

"I've already taken care of it, Master," Klein replied, still bowed. "A hot bath's waiting for you."

That perked Nero up. He headed for the bathroom door.

"I couldn't ask for a better assistant. You're incredible, Klein."

With those words, Nero gave the boy a warm nod, then cheerfully went off to enjoy the hot bath waiting for him.