Author's Notes: This is my favorite chapter so far.

Gray Man is owned by Katsura Hoshino.

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Chapter 21: The War Room

The silence in Director Lee's office was tense. As if it were not bad enough sending Walker and Kanda together on the same assignment, the Order had for some reason seen fit to arrange one for the second most volatile duo in the Order. The saving grace, he supposed, was there were two separate missions and the five of them would not be crowded together in close association for the foreseeable future. He, personally, was hoping Walker and Krory would be paired together. His charge and the vampire exorcist seemed to cooperate the best in present company. If not Krory, Kanda would be acceptable. While not getting along per se, they did work well together.

As they were waiting for the Director to join them, however, no one seemed interested in speaking. Walker was busy stretching Timcanpy between his hands while casting uneasy glances toward Chaoji and Krory, who were pointedly ignoring one another. Ever since the incident in the mess hall, everyone in the Order considered the issue at rest but not entirely settled. As for the Changs' creation, he'd been standing idly to the side to better ignore everyone, and it happened that the moment Link glanced his way, Kanda was starting to lean back against a wall, only to tip backward with a mildly startled expression before righting himself. Wait…a false wall? Brow furrowing, Kanda turned to the incognito door behind him, gave it a tap, and sent it creaking open. "Oh, what the hell?"

Even Link was curious as to what engendered such a reaction, and so he joined the others in crowding around the open door. Inside was an explosion of cork boards covered in notes and photographs and other paraphernalia all connected with a tack and tangle of red strings. What drew his attention most, however, was a photograph of himself, crossed out with bright, red paint.

"What is this?" Chaoji asked.

Link was feeling suddenly very, very cold.

"Komui's war room," Kanda suggested dourly. "Good God, how long has he been working on this?"

"I see photos of exorcists I don't recognize," said Lord Krory. "However long it's been, it's certainly not a recent project."

At that, Link realized his was not the only photo with an X. Scattered around the room were dozens of others, exorcists who were living, deceased, and inactive, along with other regular personnel in and around the Main Headquarters.

"I figure he has a red X over all our photographs because he's ruled us out," said Walker, venturing into the room and frowning at an image of the late Daisya Barry. "But it's still unnerving to look at."

"That or we're the hit list," Kanda muttered. Link figured he was being sardonic, as it was highly unlikely Chief Lee would arrange the deaths of accommodators. "We should go. If Komui sees us here—oh, hell, of course you're standing behind me, you weaselly toad!"

Startled all over again, only this time with a hollow feeling forming in his very bones, Link and the others whirled around to find the head of the Black Order looming over them. A veritable thundercloud was hovering over his face, which belied the unsettling, manic grin that was splitting the man's cheeks in two.

"So," he said in a voice that Link could only describe as menacingly cheerful. "You've found my…shall we say surveillance room?"

"How did you get a secret room built into your office," Walker asked. As if that of all matters was the true concern here. Link sent him a scathing look. "Did you request this or was this room a walk-in closet originally?"

Chief Lee ignored the question. In the corner of his eye, Link saw Kanda's sword was halfway out of its saya and Lord Krory's hair was standing on end, and he began rethink his earlier assessment the Chief was systematically eliminating accommodators on account of his sister. "Now then…what to do about the five of you?" He looked at them thoughtfully. "I certainly can't have you scuttling around the Order with word of this. My dear, sweet Lenalee would probably never forgive me."

"Your usage of the word 'probably' is generous, but very well," Lord Krory drew himself up. "Would you like to know the truth, Supervisor Lee? Would you like to know the name of the scoundrel courting your sister?"

Link froze. Was the Count aware of everything? He wouldn't doubt it, given Walker's idiot wager that had drawn in every goddamn member of the European Branch, and some from the other branches—apparently an entire faction in Asia was highly invested—and he'd even heard a rumor some younger Central officers had weighed into the proceedings, and yet somehow all of this had miraculously escaped Komui's notice. Desperate to keep his face dispassionate, so as not to accidentally embroil himself further, he turned to the vampire and gave him a hard stare. One that threatened extreme and swift vengeance should he throw him under the proverbial wagon. Lord Krory returned it with a disdainful glare, then he returned his attention to Komui.

"It's Chaoji."

The look the young man in question gave his comrade was…interesting. It somehow encompassed annoyance, disbelief, utter loathing, and fury all at once and at the same time seemed to cycle repeatedly through said emotions. But in all seriousness, if Link had to choose one word and one word only for it as Chaoji raised both hands, palms up, it was, Really? By now, Chief Lee had robotically pivoted his head on his neck to face the exorcist, who noticed his dangerous expression at the last moment and started to back away. "Now, Chief," he began. Link suspected he intended to protest his innocence by pointing out the grudge he and Krory had recently fostered between them, and it would suit the count's petty vengeance just fine to make a claim like that to implicate him. However, none of this was said as Chaoji Han apparently lost his nerve at one look at the further darkening expression on Komui's face and fled the office as though a renegade golem carrying a time bomb were on his heels. Link stepped aside to let him pass, and then Komui was after him with a remote that had materialized in his hand.

Amidst the distant booms that was undoubtedly Sir Komlin VIII powering up and about to make its debut, Link turned to his remaining companions and was surprised to find Kanda nearly doubled over in laughter. At least, he assumed it was laughter, unless those silent convulsions of his were some sort of seizure. "That was brilliant, Count," he finally managed.

"Indeed," Link said before he could stop himself. "Your diabolical streak seems to have widened, sir. You've even managed to invoke some humor in Kanda."

The vampire exorcist eyed him smugly. "You are welcome, Inspector."

Walker, on the other hand, was peering out the door after Komui and Chaoji. Distant screaming had started now. "At what price, though?"

Kanda was still laughing quietly to himself. "It's Chaoji…"

With a sigh, Link turned to the two dossiers resting on the chief's desk. "Shall we just brief ourselves then?"