Captain Dylan Garrett walked with his usual sharp stride, his coat fluttering faintly behind him. And at his side was Aaron.
"Thank you for accompanying me, Aaron." Dylan said without slowing, his voice smooth, carrying the easy weight of command.
Aaron's jaw flexed. "It's not like you gave me much of a choice to refuse."
Dylan smirked, glancing sidelong. "God... you're too straight forward, kid."
They stopped at the towering double doors of the meeting chamber. Two guards in black uniforms swung them open, revealing the long obsidian table that dominated the room. Already, figures were seated, their presence filling the chamber with layered tension.
At the South Division seat stood Malik Hork, filling in for his absent Captain. The man's broad shoulders and relaxed posture belied a mind as sharp as a knife.
East Division Captain, Geralt Blake sat with his usual calm air, silver hair framing an unreadable face. His twin chained blades rested against his chair, gleaming faintly in the light.
North Division, was Captain Elena Rourke, her eyes burning with seasoned command and beside her, the infamous Vice-Captain Rashad Cruz with a lazy posture.
Dylan and Aaron took their places just as the higher-ups entered.
Chairman Owen Yamada, a muscular figure in his early fifties, walked like a force of nature. Behind him followed Director Amara Walt, precise and cold in her poise, and finally, General Marquis Hawke, armored even in a meeting room.
Malik stood up, speaking first, "I... Malik Hork is here on behalf of the South Division, Captain Rina Caldwell because she's out on an assignment. Assisting the country of Walmard."
Director Amara's eyes cut to Dylan. "Captain Garrett, I hope whatever compelled you to call us here on such short notice is worth it."
"It is, Director." Dylan rose smoothly, bowing his head slightly. "My division has encountered a different kind of demons. Two demons to be precise... one on Elmore Road and the other in the Saint Owen Hospital.This demons were intelligent. And on to of that, they could comprehend human speech."
Director Amara's lips curled faintly. "Now that is… interesting."
Malik lifted a hand lazily. "Our Division encountered similar anomalies... we didn't file reports because we assumed they were just common demons adapting to the environment."
Dylan nodded. "That thought crossed my mind too, after the first encounter. But during the second..." His voice darkened. "The demon haunted one of my subordinates, specifically him. All because he hurt the first."
General Hawke leaned forward, knuckles pressing the table. "So you think they share some kind of biological link?"
Dylan shook his head. "If you're suggesting the second felt the first die, then no. We didn't kill the first encounter... it fled."
The General's mouth twisted. "So your squad failed to eliminate a threat?"
Dylan's eyes narrowed but his tone stayed level. "It's not considered failure if the opponent flees, sir. It simply saw that there was no chance of survival... chose to accept defeat and retreat."
General Hawke snorted. "Are you seriously boasting about failure, Captain?"
The tension snapped. Before Dylan could answer, the Chairman's fist slammed into the table. The impact split the thick wood, cracks webbing outward.
"Enough, Marquis..." Owen Yamada thundered, voice echoing through the chamber. "This is not the time for pissing contests."
The General leaned back, saying nothing further.
The Chairman turned to Dylan. "If it's not a biological connection, then what are you suggesting? That they… formed a pack?"
Dylan nodded gravely. "Yes. And a pack of S-ranks, who also appear to possess the ability to force unity among other demons... Nakamores, for example. Forming some sort of miniature armies under their will."
Director Amara's eyes gleamed. "Now that is fascinating."
Owen Yamada folded his arms, brows furrowing. "This matter is…" He paused, searching for the weight of his words.
Before he could finish, Malik spoke up, voice calm. "We have someone in the South Division bound to a demon specialized in investigation. If needed, we can put her on the case."
"And when these demons are found… what then?" The East Captain, Geralt Blake asked.
The answer came from Rashad Cruz, voice sharp and dismissive. "That should be obvious, even to a small-minded toddler."
Geralt rose slowly, his chair sliding back with a scrape. Though his tone stayed level, anger simmered beneath. He gripped his chained blades, the steel links rattling. "Watch your tongue, Cruz or you won't live to see the day we find them."
Rashad stood too, a crooked grin splitting his face. His hand lazily adjusted the massive black sword strapped across his back. "Try me, Whisper Boy."
The chains on Geralt's weapons tightened as his grip did. The tension was a storm ready to break. But before steel could fly, the Chairman's roar split the chamber.
"ENOUGH!"
His fist slammed the table again, this time shattering it entirely. Splinters and shards of obsidian scattered across the floor. Everyone went still... even Rashad's grin dimmed slightly.
"Sit down, both of you."
Both Geralt and Rashad obeyed, though their eyes locked like dueling blades.
Silence hung until the North Division, Captain Elena Rourke, spoke. Her voice was low but cutting. "Captain Garrett. You said the second demon targeted one of your subordinates specifically. It can't be just because he hurt the first encounter, what makes this man so important to them?"
Dylan hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "We're still working on finding out."
The Chairman straightened, hands clasped behind his back. "This mission is now classified at the highest level. No one outside this room will be involved, except for the South Division Captain."
One by one, they nodded, tension unspoken but mutual.
"Meeting dismissed." Owen Yamada declared.
Chairs scraped back. The broken table lay in ruins. Dylan exchanged a glance with Aaron, both men knowing that the fight outside had just become the least of their problems.