Dad was silent for a good five minutes. "Edgar."

"Yeah."

I heard Dad exhale. "Haven't seen him since the first press conference. It's been a ling time…and you convinced him to help you?"

"Didn't take much. He saw reason; he wants Noir stopped as well."

"Edgar was always the kindest of them, if you could call them kind."

"Also…"

"What is it?"

I looked around, making sure none of my team was nearby. Sure enough, they had gone to scout the Radio Tower while I stood in front of the airport. I asked softly, "What do you know about Siph? Like, what's he been up to lately?"

Dad exhaled again. "Well…he's dead."

"How?"

"Dunno. That was a Free Ring matter, and they kept it quiet."

"Does the Free Ring have any bases?"

"Maybe…Graham, why do you ask?"

"Because I think he might be alive."

Silence. "Alive…you have any proof?"

"I think I saw him. Guy matching his description was hanging around the Pewter airport."

"Hm…curious. Stay cautious."

The com cut out, and I put it away as Linec walked towards me. "Update."

Linec glanced over his shoulder. "Everything's normal. Security's been heightened a bit, but otherwise…clear."

I nodded. "Good. Let's go."


I looked around the Radio Tower lobby, giving out a low whistle. The furniture was quite lavish, and the pale brown accentuated the room nicely. I noticed the others near the reception desk and quickly went over to them. "Everything good?"

Gracie nodded, and Reledre said, "All's quiet. For now."

I sighed and leaned back on the desk. I took in the silence-and was instantly worried. I glanced behind me, and the receptionist wasn't there. "Guys, where's the receptionist?"

Reledre looked at the desk. "She said she was going out for a break. Back in five minutes, she said."

"How long ago was that?"

"Ten minutes…"

Damn. I transformed, and Gracie did as well. "Y'all thinking what I'm thinking?"

Reledre looked at me blankly. "Nope. What are you thinking?"

"Ambush."

"Freeze, all of you!"

The voice came from behind us, on the stairs to the next floor. "All of you, on the ground, now!"

I went down slowly and gestured for Linec to come over. He did, and I whispered, "Give me a visual."

He nodded and shrunk down, turning his head towards the stairs. "Man in black."

"Noir logo?"

"Uh-huh."

I sprang up. "Dead, fire!"

Gracie whirled around and shot a few Grass bullets, pinning him to the wall with plants. I gestured for us to run up, and the five of us did.


I gestured for them to stop, and I poked my head into the room. Five Noir goons were patrolling the room, and another person was standing in the middle of the room, their back to us. The person spoke softly. "Keep this room secure. If you fail, you'd better hope the intruder kills you."

The goons gulped, and the figure said, still softly, "I'll be upstairs. Do not fail."

The figure left, and I let out a small breath. Hilner put a hand on my shoulder, and I nodded. She looked into the room, and sections of the floor came out and slammed the Noir goons against the wall, knocking them all out. I nodded, and we ran to the third floor stairs.


I heard a large sigh from the room. "I do so hate failure."

I peered into the room, and the figure was sitting at a table, looking at security camera footage from the floor we had just been on. The figure called out, "I know you're there, White Fury and company. Show yourselves…or I'll blow everything up."

We all walked into the room. "You have my attention."

The figure stood and turned to us. It was a woman, and I could see that she had gaunt, tight features, and her black high heels went with her black jacket and pants. Her black hair shifted slightly, and her purple eyes regarded me with quiet curiosity. "White Fury. Have you come to deliver Black Fury?"

I blinked. I'd forgotten about that…"Today's the deadline."

"Isn't it tomorrow?"

She scoffed. "After the other admin's failures, I took over, which means I make the rules. You give me Black Fury now. Or else."

I sighed. "Or else what?"

The woman pulled out a bow, and I finally noticed a quiver of arrows on her back. "Or else you die. Simple."

I rolled my eyes. "What makes you think you can kill me?"

She pulled out an arrow and pulled the string tight, the arrow pointed at my heart. "This."

"You don't wanna kill me. Otherwise you'd never get Black Fury."

She smirked. "You sure?"

She let the arrow fly, and it flew so fast I couldn't react. Something appeared out of nowhere, shattering the arrow and pinning itself to the wall. I glanced at it-whoa!

"A Water Shuriken!"

A figure burst in and stood between us and the woman. He was wearing a dark blue ninja-like suit. Dark-blue paint covered his eye area, and he had two more shuriken at the ready. He glanced at me. "White Fury."

I blinked. "Distant Fury."

He nodded and turned to the woman. "I've been tracking you for a long time, Nyx."

Nyx frowned. "Distant Fury. I will not challenge the master." She ran out, and Distant turned to us.

I smiled. "Good to see you, Bushma."

He smiled and changed back to normal. "Graham. Good to see you."