Chapter 26: Mr. Crow

The island's dock still bore the scars of last night's chaos. Splintered crates, shattered glass, and deep cracks in the stone told the story of a violent battle. The sea was calm now, gently brushing the wooden beams, but the tension in the air was far from gone.

A small boat approached the dock, cutting silently through the water. When it stopped, only one man stepped off.

The guards on the deck froze the moment they saw him. No words were exchanged. They straightened, their backs stiff, and their heads lowered in silent fear. His footsteps echoed with authority as he walked toward the center of the ruined dock, where Rex stood—shoulders tensed, face grim.

Mr. Crow didn't speak right away. He looked around, slowly taking in the mess. The silence became unbearable.

Then, finally, he spoke, his voice cold and sharp.

"They escaped?"

Rex didn't answer.

Mr. Crow's gaze shifted to him. "You were here. And still... they escaped?"

"They were organized," Rex muttered, jaw clenched. "There were three of them. One of them—he wasn't like the others. The third one came out of nowhere."

"That's not my concern," Mr. Crow said flatly. "You were supposed to secure the shipment. And now it's gone. The product, the children... everything."

He took a step closer. The guards around them dared not breathe.

"There's a limit to failure, Rex. Don't test how far I'm willing to go."

Rex said nothing, his pride making it hard to speak. But even he didn't dare meet Mr. Crow's eyes.

Mr. Crow reached into his coat and pulled out a sleek black phone. He dialed, waited, and then spoke.

"They've interfered for long enough. I want you to find out who these three are. All of them. The one in the bunny mask, the girl with the tape... and the one who showed up last."

He paused for a moment, listening.

"You've got three days. If you don't have names and faces by then, I'll come to Devil's Side myself. And you know what that means."

He ended the call, slipped the phone back into his pocket, and turned toward the boat.

The silence returned just as quickly as he had broken it. Rex stood still, fists clenched at his sides, as the dark figure disappeared into the mist.

The sea washed over the dock again. Cold. Empty. And deadly quiet.