Chapter 36

Chapter 36: The Hidden Truth

The room was tense after Kai's members left. Leo's frustration boiled over, the weight of recent revelations crashing down on him. He turned toward Kai, his fists clenched.

"You've been hiding something from me, haven't you?" Leo demanded, his voice low but laced with anger.

Kai, leaning casually against the desk, raised an eyebrow. "We've been through this, Leo. I told you, I—"

Before Kai could finish, Leo stormed over and grabbed him by the collar. The move shocked even Kai, but he didn't resist.

The door behind them opened slightly as one of Kai's members peered in. His eyes widened in shock at the sight of Leo manhandling their leader. "What the—"

Kai turned his head slightly, his voice calm but firm. "Leave us."

"But, sir—"

"Now."

The door closed, leaving them alone.

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The Revelation

Leo's grip tightened as he stared into Kai's eyes, his frustration and confusion palpable. "You're not getting away with this. I want answers. Now."

Kai sighed, his usual calm demeanor still intact. "Leo, you're letting your emotions get the better of you."

"Don't you dare patronize me!" Leo shouted.

In a burst of anger, he grabbed the collar of Kai's shirt and yanked hard, tearing the fabric clean apart. Kai's shirt fell to his sides, exposing his chest and back.

Leo's breath caught in his throat as his eyes locked onto the massive tattoo that spanned Kai's back—a black feather with a streak of red cutting through it, bold and unmistakable.

Leo staggered back, his voice barely above a whisper. "That… that mark…"

Kai turned around slowly, his expression unreadable. "Now you see."

"You're… the king of the Black Feather?" Leo's voice trembled with a mix of shock and disbelief.

Kai's lips curled into a faint smirk. "Guilty as charged."

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The Confrontation

Leo's shock quickly turned to anger as he stepped closer, his fists clenched. "You've been lying to me this whole time! Pretending to be someone you're not!"

Kai's expression hardened slightly. "I never lied, Leo. I just didn't tell you."

"That's the same thing!" Leo snapped. "You've been protecting me, controlling things behind the scenes, and letting me live in ignorance. Why?"

Kai's voice softened, but his eyes remained sharp. "Because Lin asked me to."

The mention of his sister's name made Leo freeze, his anger momentarily overshadowed by confusion. "What does Lin have to do with this?"

Kai stepped forward, his tone steady. "Your sister didn't want you involved in this world. She made me promise to keep you safe, no matter what it took."

Leo's chest tightened as memories of his sister flashed through his mind. "You're saying everything you've done, everything you've hidden—it's all because of her?"

Kai nodded. "Yes. And because you matter to me."

Leo's breath hitched, his emotions swirling in a storm of anger, grief, and disbelief.

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The Aftermath

As Leo tried to process everything, a knock on the door broke the tense silence. One of Kai's trusted members entered cautiously, bowing slightly.

"Sir, we've received word. Someone's infiltrating our network again."

Kai's expression darkened, his usual calm replaced by a dangerous intensity. "Handle it. No loose ends."

The member nodded and disappeared, leaving Leo alone with Kai once more.

"You didn't even hesitate," Leo said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Do you even feel anything when you give orders like that?"

Kai's gaze didn't waver. "Every order I give is to protect what matters."

The weight of his words hung heavy in the air as Leo stared at him, torn between anger and gratitude.

"Leo," Kai said softly, stepping closer. "If you want answers, I'll give them to you. But be sure you're ready. Some truths are darker than you can imagine."

Leo met his gaze, his voice firm. "I'm not afraid of the truth. I deserve to know."

Kai's lips curled into a faint smile—one that carried a mix of sadness and resolve. "Then you'd better brace yourself. The truth changes everything."

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