Arkea's pen clicked monotonously as he marked another loss on the Rank Rumble board. His sigh echoed through the office, but before boredom could settle, the door burst open. A menacing red aura flooded the room.
Milian Zenith stormed in, his glare piercing Arkea. "Care to explain this game you're playing?" His voice was laced with venom. "You think I wouldn't notice you taking KIN and dropping it at Moss's dorm?"
Arkea rose calmly, unperturbed by Milian's fury. "Yes, I gave it to him. Consider it an equalizer in this Rumble."
Milian's fist hurtled toward Arkea, but he caught it effortlessly. "And the note before Moss's match? Was that your doing too?"
Arkea's smirk ignited Milian's rage. "Yes."
"You know this is favoritism!" Milian bellowed, his aura clashing with Arkea's. The office shook, and the entire base trembled.
Just as their auras threatened to engulf the room, Sukurada intervened, slapping both men. "Stop this childishness! We're the Core-3. If we fight, what will happen to the agency?"
Her glare pinned Milian. "I know you're angry about your son's injury, but I'm sure that wasn't Arkea's intention."
Sukurada's force ability lifted Arkea, pinning him to the wall. "You've given me the task to prevent another Core dispatch. If you sabotage me, Moss will suffer the same fate as your other favorites. I promise you that."
Arkea dropped to the ground, his expression playful no longer. "Fine, I won't interfere. I adjusted KIN to Moss's strength level, so he doesn't have full access."
His aura darkened, menacing. "And don't touch him . Got that?"
Sukurada's voice brokered no compromise. "If Moss passes the Rank Rumble, Mucher Karadara will guide him. That's my final offer. If he fails, I'll deal with him. You won't interfere in his life again. Understand?"
The three nodded, a fragile truce forged. Milian and Sukurada departed, leaving Arkea's office heavy with tension.
End of chapter 9