---
Lucien and Caius walked into Vermilion Oath's headquarters, their expressions sharp and unreadable. They were supposed to return with crucial intel from Red Fang's Outpost, but their mission had been abruptly halted by an unexpected order—an urgent command to abort immediately.
Something wasn't right.
Lucien had been part of Vermilion Oath long enough to know that Viktor wasn't someone who canceled missions without a solid reason. And yet, here they were—returning with nothing but frustration.
Reaching Viktor's office, Lucien didn't hesitate.
BAM!
He kicked the door open, stepping inside with an unmistakable fury in his eyes.
Viktor Echelon stood at his desk, his gaze calm but questioning.
"Falkner," Viktor greeted, his voice as steady as ever.
But Lucien wasn't in the mood for formalities.
"You told us to abort," Lucien's voice was cold, his jaw clenched. "Why?"
Viktor's expression remained neutral. "I didn't."
Lucien narrowed his eyes. "Don't play games with me, Viktor. I received a direct call from you, telling us to fall back immediately."
Caius, arms crossed, added, "We were nearly done securing intel, and then that order came out of nowhere. What's going on?"
Viktor's brows furrowed slightly. He tapped a button on his desk, bringing up the mission logs.
There was no record of an abort order.
Lucien's heartbeat slowed for a moment. His mind pieced the situation together, and a realization hit him like a hammer.
It wasn't Vermilion Oath who issued that order.
Then who did?
A heavy silence filled the room. Caius exchanged glances with Lucien, his expression unreadable.
"Red Fang," Lucien muttered under his breath. "They intercepted our communications… and impersonated you."
Viktor's gaze darkened. "If that's true, then they have access to technology more advanced than we thought."
Lucien clenched his fists. Someone had manipulated them. Someone had made sure they left the mission unfinished.
And he wasn't going to let that go unanswered.
---
Lucien and Caius wasted no time. The very next day, they launched a full-blown assault against Red Fang, moving from one outpost to another, dismantling their operations piece by piece.
For nearly a month, they worked in absolute sync—tracking, infiltrating, and eliminating.
Every mission was a silent war, executed with precision and efficiency. Red Fang's forces were formidable, but against Lucien Falkner and Caius Lancaster, they crumbled.
Blood was spilled. Secrets were uncovered.
And then, they reached the outpost that would change everything.
---
It was supposed to be just another mission. Another base to dismantle.
But the moment Lucien stepped inside, he felt it.
Something was different.
The air was heavier. The silence more unnatural.
As he moved deeper into the facility, taking down enemies with ruthless efficiency, he found himself face to face with a wounded Red Fang operative.
The man coughed, blood dripping from his lips, but his eyes… his eyes carried something unexpected.
Recognition.
A weak smile played on the man's lips. "You're… just as strong as him."
Lucien froze.
The man chuckled, though it was strained. His breathing was shallow, his body barely holding on.
"Genetics don't lie."
Lucien's world tilted.
A cold, unfamiliar sensation crept into his chest.
He grabbed the man by the collar, his voice dangerously low. "What the hell do you mean?"
The operative coughed again, but his lips curved into a knowing smirk.
"You already know… don't you?"
Lucien's grip tightened. His mind was a storm of fragmented possibilities.
The past he thought he had buried. The truth he never questioned.
Caius, standing nearby, watched in silence. He, too, understood that something… something irreversible had just been set into motion.
And just like that, the chapter ended.
---
[End of Chapter 51]