Chapter 24
Kaito stared at the Ghost General, his pulse still racing.
"A third player?"
The General gave a slight nod. "You thought this was just about Kyosei's empire." His eyes flicked toward the spot where the gunman had vanished. "It's bigger than that."
Reina wiped blood from her arm. "So who the hell was that?"
The Ghost General exhaled. "A cleaner."
Toshiro, still struggling to stand, coughed. "A what?"
The General's voice was low. "When organizations get too big, too powerful, they attract attention. Governments. Corporations. People with real influence. They don't like loose ends."
Kaito frowned. "And Kyosei's empire is a loose end?"
The General's eyes held a dangerous glint. "No. You are."
No Safe Place Left
The weight of the words hit Kaito hard.
Someone wasn't just trying to kill Kyosei. Someone was trying to bury everything.
Reina wiped sweat from her face. "So what's the plan? We let these 'cleaners' take Kyosei out?"
The General shook his head. "If Kyosei dies now, without knowing the truth, it won't end here."
Toshiro scoffed. "You saying we have to protect him now?"
The General's gaze was unreadable. "I'm saying we need to find him before they do."
A Target on Their Backs
Kaito felt the weight settle in his gut.
They weren't just hunting Kyosei anymore.
They were being hunted.
The gunman's voice echoed in his head.
"This was just a warning."
Toshiro groaned as he forced himself up. "So where the hell do we even start?"
The Ghost General turned, staring into the night.
"There's one person who might have answers."
Reina folded her arms. "Who?"
The General's voice was ice.
"Kyosei's executioner."
Silence.
Then Kaito clenched his fists.
Kyosei was never executed.
Which meant—
Whoever they were looking for… had faked it.
And now, they were going to find out why.
To Be Continued…