"Sng was one of the best in the NDU. A shame he thinks with his heart."

- Grim

Singapore

After lunch, Keith and Grace decided to take a walk around town, with Lucy trotting happily by their side. The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm glow over the streets as they strolled along. Grace glanced at Keith, who seemed more relaxed than he had all day, but her curiosity got the better of her.

"You know, your family seem really close," she remarked, "It's nice to see that."

"Yeah, they are. It's the kind of bond that gets built over a long time. A lot of history there."

Grace nodded but then raised an eyebrow, her tone shifting with intrigue.

"What surprised me, though, was when your dad mentioned working with John Clark. A secretive mission before Rainbow was even formed? That's a hell of a thing to just mention casually."

"My dad has a lot of secrets. More than I can count."

Grace couldn't help but laugh softly at the mystery behind Keith's family, but she couldn't shake the feeling that there was more beneath the surface. They continued walking, Lucy now leading the way as they passed by a construction site. The noise from the renovation was deafening, with workers shouting orders and hammering away at something.

But then, Keith's movement caught Grace's attention. Without any obvious reason, he reached down and stealthily grabbed a short iron pipe lying near the site. Lucy, normally cheerful and friendly, was no longer walking at ease. The dog's stance was tense, her body slightly crouched, as if on alert.

Grace's pulse quickened as she turned her head. A quick glance at a traffic mirror reflected the figure of a man trailing them. She stiffened, instinctively reaching for her phone in her pocket.

"Keith, we've got company."

"I know."

Following Keith, Grace, and Lucy ducked into an alley, hiding behind a corner as they heard the sound of hurried footsteps approaching. The moment the figure rounded the corner, Keith swung the pipe in a quick, reflexive motion, but he stopped just short of hitting the man. His eyes widened in recognition.

"红眼?" Keith muttered, lowering the pipe, his voice filled with surprise. The man, now slightly out of breath, stood there awkwardly, one hand raised defensively, as though expecting a more aggressive reaction.

The man's face split into a sheepish grin.

"Guess I'm not as stealthy as I used to be, huh? Didn't expect you to almost brain me with a pipe."

"Red-eye" Zhong —Keith's former informant and an ex-burglar—stood before them, a little older and definitely rounder than the last time Keith had seen him. His clothes, though plain, suggested he had done well for himself.

"You've gotten a bit bigger since I last saw you," Keith remarked, his tone more amused than angry.

"Yeah, well, I've been eating more than I've been cooking these days. The Szechuan diner's been keeping me busy. Running a place that actually serves customers is a different kind of hustle, you know?"

"You own a diner now?"

"Yep, small place not too far from here. Nothing fancy, right next to the market. You should come by sometime."

"I might just take you up on that. Last I checked, you were on the run from half the law enforcement

"I'm a burglar, not a criminal mastermind. Besides, I did my time, got myself cleaned up, and I've been an honest business owner for five years running, cross my heart."

Keith glanced at Grace, who had been watching the exchange with quiet interest. He gave a small nod and turned back to Zhong, his voice casual.

"This is "Red-eye" Zhong, he's an ex-burglar who turned informant for us. Zhong, this is Grace, a friend of mine. Anyways, looks like you've finally turned things around."

"Of course I did," Zhong replied, but his expression suddenly turned serious, lowering his voice and looked around the alley, as if to ensure no one else was listening before continuing, "But things aren't exactly quiet around here. Guys I used to run with are talking about some new players making waves. Word is, they've got some pretty serious backing. Call themselves the Keres Legion."

Keith's expression immediately sharpened, the name catching his attention. Keres Legion. The very mention of it sent a cold shiver down his spine.

"Keres Legion? Here in Singapore?" Keith asked, trying to keep his tone neutral but failing to hide the underlying concern in his voice.

Zhong hesitated for a moment before responding.

"I don't know, man. I'm just telling you what I'm hearing. There's been a lot of weird stuff going on in the city lately, and people who normally wouldn't care are starting to get nervous. You might wanna keep your eyes open, Keith."

Keith's gaze lingered on Zhong for a moment longer, trying to process the gravity of the situation. The Keres Legion's presence in Singapore could mean trouble—big trouble.

"You be careful too, Zhong," Keith said, "Stay out of whatever this is. You've got a good thing going with the diner. Don't let the past drag you back in."

"I hear you, man. I'm staying clean. But like I said, things aren't as calm as they seem. Just keep your eyes peeled."

As Zhong turned to leave, Keith stood there, watching him disappear into the bustling crowd. A quiet tension lingered in the air as Keith processed what he had just learned. Grace, who had been silent during the exchange, glanced at Keith, sensing the shift in his demeanor.

"Something's wrong, isn't it?" she asked quietly.

Keith gave her a grim nod.

"I don't know, but I think we've got more to worry about than just a vacation. This… this might be bigger than we thought."

She raised an eyebrow, but said nothing further, letting Keith's thoughts settle.

Grace entered the hotel room, the door clicking softly behind her. Elias and Ana were already seated at the table, both looking over a set of documents spread out before them. A moment later, the door opened again and Olivier walked in, his presence commanding the room despite his casual demeanor. He'd been reassigned from a humanitarian mission in West Africa to assist them in Singapore.

"Did you have any trouble?" Elias asked, glancing up as Grace dropped her bag onto the couch.

Grace shook her head, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

"No, everything's fine. Keith's still in the dark—he doesn't suspect a thing. But we did have an interesting run-in with one of his old informants. A guy named "Red-eye" Zhong. He's heard some rumors about the Keres Legion moving in Singapore."

"I hope you didn't tell him why we're really here."

"Nope," Grace replied, "Besides, I don't want to drag him into the mess until we know more."

Olivier leaned forward, folding his arms.

"An informant who's hearing rumors about the Keres Legion? Sounds like he might be more useful than we thought. Maybe we should pay him a visit."

Grace nodded, her thoughts already moving to the next step.

"For now, we should stay on course and keep our cover."

The early morning air was crisp as Grace and Ana jogged along the quiet streets near the hotel. Their pace was steady, the rhythmic sound of their footsteps blending with the stillness of the morning. Grace glanced over at Ana, noting the calmness in her stride, though there was something weighing on her mind.

"I don't know, Ana," Grace said, her voice carrying the uncertainty she hadn't voiced before. "I hate leaving Keith in the dark. He should know what's going on. He's not the kind of person who just sits around."

Ana kept her pace, giving a small shrug. "Grace, you know why Clark gave him the leave. Keith's been working non-stop for months. He needed the break. If we told him what we were doing, he'd be in the field the next minute. That's not what he needs right now."

Grace sighed, her eyes forward, but her thoughts clearly elsewhere. "I know... It's just hard. It feels like we're keeping him in the dark, like we're lying to him."

Ana glanced at her with a soft smile. "You're not lying, Grace. You're just following orders. Keith's strong. He'll be fine. You'll see."

Before Grace could respond, a sudden cry for help cut through the morning calm. Both women immediately picked up the pace, scanning the area. They rounded a corner and saw a man trying to snatch a woman's purse.

Without hesitation, Ana sprinted ahead, her voice firm.

"Hey! Stop right there!" The man froze, his eyes widening in shock. Before he could react, Ana was on him, expertly using her momentum to disarm him and pin him against the wall.

Grace rushed to the woman's side, gently supporting her as she stepped back from the confrontation.

"Are you okay?" she asked, making sure the woman was stable.

The woman nodded, her breathing heavy but regaining composure. She shot an incredulous look at the robber.

"I'm fine... but seriously, trying to rob a zookeeper instead of one of the richer passers-by that loiter this place? What kind of idiot does that?"

Grace stifled a chuckle, offering a reassuring smile.

"I guess he's not very good at picking targets."

"Not at all. I should introduce him to my favorite brat. He'll have this moron crapping from his mouth and eating through his ass in five minutes."

"Favorite brat?" Grace asked, confused.

"Eh, my cousin, Keith. He's a police officer, part of Special Tactics And Rescue."

Keith moved through his morning routine, performing light exercises in his bedroom. His body ached slightly from the previous day's physical activity, but he knew the importance of maintaining his conditioning. As he adjusted his stance, he couldn't help but notice that his body frame was leaner, almost wiry compared to the majority of his male colleagues at Rainbow. Even Vigil and César "Goyo" Ruiz Hernández, both shorter than him, managed to look bulkier than him.

He paused for a moment, wiping the sweat from his brow as he stared at his reflection in the mirror, deep in thought.

"Am I not training enough?" he muttered under his breath, glancing over at Lucy, who was lying on the bed with her head cocked in curiosity.

She looked back at him, her head tilted in that familiar, quizzical way, and let out a soft huff as if to say she wasn't quite sure how to respond. Keith chuckled, giving her a faint smile. Lucy blinked at him before settling back down, clearly unconcerned with the topic. Keith couldn't help but wonder if he was overthinking things—or if maybe, just maybe, he was missing something in his training regimen.

Keith's phone rang, breaking his focus. He set down the weights and grabbed the phone, noticing it was a call from his cousin, Faith.

"Keith! Someone tried to rob me," she said, her voice more annoyed than shaky, "But don't worry, your friend helped me out."

"My friend? Which one?"

"Oh, a Korean girl named Grace. Braids and big glasses," Faith replied.

Keith froze, immediately face-palming as the realization hit. Grace. He wasn't expecting anything like this to happen.

"Faith, where are you right now?"

"Police Cantonment Complex. I'm fine now, don't worry."

"I'll be there in an hour," Keith said quickly, a sigh escaping him. It seemed his break had just come to an end.

Keith stood in the corner of the police station's front office, his arms folded as he watched the young conscript finish taking a statement from Faith. She sat there, looking more irritated than shaken, tapping her foot impatiently. The officer, clearly trying his best to remain professional, stammered as he wrapped up the details.

"Thanks, Miss Sng, we'll be in touch," the conscript said, clearly relieved to be done.

Keith couldn't help but glance over at her. She was more annoyed than scared, a clear sign of her resilience, but it was still worrying to him. He was about to step forward when he heard Grace's teasing voice from behind.

"Your cousin is pretty cute, Keith," Grace said with a smirk, her eyes glinting with amusement as she leaned back in her seat.

Ana, ever the troublemaker, grinned and added, "She even calls you 'her favorite brat.'"

Keith rolled his eyes, though the faintest smile tugged at his lips.

"She's only six months older than me," he muttered, as if defending himself.

Faith, overhearing him from across the room, piped up without missing a beat: "It doesn't matter, I'm still the one who's in charge."

Keith chuckled and shook his head. It wasn't unusual for Faith to be the one in charge, and he had long ago given up trying to argue otherwise. As he looked over at her, still sitting at the desk, he let the moment of lightheartedness wash over him before the weight of the situation started to settle back in.

As Keith stood there, a few officers passed by, greeting him with nods or quick words. One of them, a tall man with a well-groomed beard, exchanged a fist bump with Keith. "Idris," Keith said, grinning. "Old friend of mine. He's in the CID now."

Grace and Ana nodded in acknowledgment, but before they could say anything else, a voice cut through the air—low, mocking, and unmistakable.

"Well, if it isn't the prodigal son," the voice sneered.

Keith's eyes narrowed, and he sighed, turning toward the source. Standing a few feet away, hands in his pockets and an arrogant smirk plastered on his face, was a talk, bulky man who looked more gangster than police.

"Leo Khoo," Keith muttered, his tone as cold as the glare he fixed on the man.

Leo Khoo chuckled darkly, his arms crossed.

"I'm still wondering how some ayam sakit weakling like you who don't even dare to speak up when he needs to go to the toilet made it into the SPF, let alone STAR," he said, eyeing Keith with a mixture of disdain and amusement.

"Please, everyone knows you got your position in the CID because your parents are specialists at angkat bola," Keith shot back, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Grace and Ana exchanged a brief look, sensing the heavy tension in the air between the two men. The atmosphere grew colder as both stood locked in a silent standoff, neither willing to break eye contact.

Khoo sneered, his eyes narrowing.

"Remember how you used to get kicked around by me back in secondary school, Keith?" he said, his voice dripping with malice, "You will roll around like a dying lizard, crying like a newborn child. All the girls in school like to say that they had bigger balls than you. Maybe they're right, or maybe you didn't develop them until you went to National Service."

Keith's gaze hardened, his response cold as ice.

"I also remember how I put you in the ICU and made you miss your 'O' levels," he said flatly, his tone unwavering, "How did a five-kilogram fire extinguisher shattering half your jaw at the average speed of a baseball bat's swing feel? Or how about having to re-take Secondary Four and watch your girlfriend throw herself into another man's arms?"

Khoo's face flushed red, his fists clenching at his sides as anger simmered in his eyes. The temperature in the room rose, both men locked in a silent, volatile standoff. Before things could escalate further, several officers quickly moved between them, effectively cutting off any direct confrontation.

A uniformed officer, clearly outranking everyone present in the office, loudly announced, "Gentlemen, this is the Singapore Police Force's main headquarters, not a debate hall and definitely not a boxing ring. Enough is enough."

Idris stepped forward, his voice calm but firm, "Keith, you should leave. I'll handle Khoo."

Keith glanced at Idris briefly, then nodded, turning away. Without another word, he walked toward the exit, Faith, Grace, and Ana following closely behind.

Grace stirred her coffee while Ana leaned back against her seat, both women eyeing Keith carefully. They were seated at a nearby café with Keith, his cousin Faith having already left since the robbery attempt against her has made her late for work.

"You know, back at the station… I didn't expect that from you. Who is that Leo Khoo fellow and why are you so angry with him?" Dokkaebi finally asked.

Ana nodded, her tone curious but concerned.

"Yeah, I didn't know you could get that vicious with your words. What's going on there?"

Keith remained silent for a moment, his fingers tracing the rim of his cup. He sighed.

"Leo Khoo Chang Huat and I… we go way back. Same secondary school. He used to bully me. A lot. I never let it get to me, but seeing him again… Some things don't just go away. You think a stint at an overseas university would make him change his ways since the students are bigger and he risks losing his place if he gets into trouble, but a leopard can never change its spots, huh?"

Grace exchanged a glance with Ana, the weight of his words hanging in the air. Keith's usual calm façade was cracking, his eyes darkening as he spoke, "Khoo's bullying started out as taunts and pranks, but as we entered the third year of our secondary school life, the bullying escalated. Things got physical. It wasn't bullying anymore. It was assault and battery, and I was not the only one that went home with bruises every day."

Ana leaned in, her brows furrowed with curiosity.

"Why did Khoo target you, though?"

Keith's gaze flickered downward, his fingers tightening around his cup.

"It was my own fault," he admitted softly, "I was an introvert, kept to myself. In secondary school, I tried to be more open, tried to talk to people, but… one wrong choice of word after another. I became a laughing stock."

He exhaled sharply, a faint bitterness creeping into his tone.

"Khoo knew how to manipulate that. He made himself the good guy, the one everyone liked, while I became the villain who everyone finds ridiculous. No one challenged him when he stomped my head in during a football match, or when he threw my bag out the window from our classroom on the fourth floor, or when he kicked me down the stairs, giving me a concussion. His parents were quite influential, so he never really got any comeuppance apart from a slap to the wrist."

"Wow, so he's a rich kid, but aren't you a rich kid too?" Grace asked.

"Well, unlike him, I don't flaunt my family's wealth. Anyways, there was one incident that changed how I saw things. A month before our 'O' levels, a friend of Khoo's tried to pick a fight with me, but when he failed, he convinced Khoo that I had challenged him first. The next thing I knew, I was surrounded by Khoo and eight others on my way out of school."

He paused, his eyes clouded with the memory.

"I felt like my soul just left my body for a moment. When I snapped back, I was holding a fire extinguisher, and they were all around me, on the ground, all drenched in blood. Heads split open, arms and legs broken, teeth on the ground. Khoo had it the worst: His jaw was partially shattered and paramedics had to perform a cricothyrotomy to save his life."

Ana and Grace exchanged uneasy glances. The quiet tension in Keith's voice said everything they needed to know about the depth of that moment.

"The cops watched the surveillance cameras. I was being beaten for one minute straight, but something must have happened to me, because I started fighting back. One of the investigating officers told my father that, in all his years investigating school violence, he has never seen a sixteen-year-old fight so viciously and violently before. Turn out, I'm what they call a natural born killer, except I lack the required psychopathy and sociopathy to be considered a proper one."

"Wait, you were fighting with the intent to kill?"

"I don't know. I never dared to watch the footage. Investigator said I hit Khoo twenty-one times with the fire extinguisher."

Grace and Ana were silent for a long moment, the weight of Keith's words hanging heavily in the air. Finally, Grace spoke, her voice soft.

"I… didn't realize you were capable of that kind of violence, Keith."

Keith's eyes dropped to the table, his voice low.

"That's why I hesitate during gunfights. I fear that, as a soldier, I'd become desensitized to taking someone's life," he admitted, running a hand through his hair, "If I can do so much damage as a kid with a fire extinguisher, imagine what I can do as a soldier with a gun if this happens again? That's why I have my 'non-lethal' code. Kill only as a last resort. It helps me hold on to my humanity."

Ana's expression softened with concern. Grace, however, looked deeply saddened, her heart heavy with the mental weight Keith carried on every deployment ever since he joined Rainbow. She couldn't help but wish he didn't have to bear it alone.

Grace suddenly felt a chill crawl up her spine. She hadn't thought about it before, but learning of the reason why Dusk refrains from killing his enemies had caused her to come to a realization that hit her hard. When she first joined Rainbow, she had been a fresh recruit, never having seen real combat. Now, a year later, she was gunning down terrorists without hesitation or remorse.

The thought made her uneasy, a deep fear creeping into her chest. Had she become desensitized to killing?

Keith noticed her troubled expression and leaned forward slightly.

"You okay?" he asked, his voice gentle.

Grace quickly masked her discomfort with a smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she lied, but in her mind, she already knew that once the mission was over, she would need to schedule a counselling session with Harry.

Hereford Base, England

Director John Clark stood in his office at Hereford Base, staring out the window as he listened to his cardiologist on the phone. His fingers tightened around the phone's receiver as the cardiologist delivered the same grim news that Doc had given him two weeks ago.

"I'm afraid the diagnosis isn't good, sir," the cardiologist said over the phone, "Cardiomegaly can be managed with medication and treatment, but the cause of the enlarged heart is more troubling—heart valve disease. It's quite serious."

Clark's jaw clenched, though he'd expected the news. He'd known something was wrong for months, but hearing it confirmed still stung.

"I see," he muttered. "How serious are we talking?"

"Serious enough that I recommend you begin considering a successor for your position. It's important to address this sooner rather than later."

Clark exhaled slowly, the weight of the conversation settling on his shoulders.

"Understood. I'll make arrangements. Thank you, Doctor Kozlov."

After the call ended, Clark placed the receiver down and stood still for a moment, staring at the phone. His chest tightened, and a brief discomfort shot through him, but he forced himself to relax, steadying his breath. The pain subsided for now, but Clark knew—deep down—that it wouldn't be the last time. It would come back, stronger, harder.

But not yet. Not today.

The door to Clark's office creaked open, and Sam Fisher stepped inside, his familiar, gruff voice cutting through the silence. "How's it going, Clark?" he asked, eyeing the director carefully, "What did the cardiologist say?"

Clark gave him a wry smile, his eyes still lingering on the phone.

"Fifteen years of being stuck at a desk instead of being out in the field, Sam," he replied with a dry chuckle, "Guess it's finally caught up to me. Both you and Scott Mitchell are still in prime shape, while here I am, a ticking time bomb who'll probably do better in a nursing home at this point."

He leaned back in his chair with a sigh, massaging his chest where the discomfort had started again, faint but persistent. Fisher looked at him with a knowing expression, his hands resting on the back of a chair.

"You sure you're alright?"

"I'll be fine. But enough about me. Let's talk about the future. It won't be long before I finally have to step down, and we'll need a new Six. Deputy Director Aurelia Arnot is my first pick to take over my position. She's got the skills, the mind for it. But we'll need someone to take her place once she's promoted."

Fisher nodded thoughtfully.

"I've got a few names in mind: James Danko, Gabriel Logan or Felicia Bishop. All of them ex-Rainbow and still active in the military. They'd all bring something different to the table."

Clark tapped his fingers on the desk, considering the suggestions.

"All solid choices. Maybe a bit too solid for my taste. Guess I'll have something to keep my mind active for a while. Picking the right person for this job, especially if it's not me doing it anymore."

"You'll find someone. Just don't take too long, Director."

"I'll make sure of it."

Singapore

The faint hum of Orchard Road's evening life echoed in the distance, the night crowd steadily increasing in number. Grace stood just off the main strip, her back against a cool brick wall, eyes scanning the street ahead. It was busier than usual tonight, the perfect cover for a mission that demanded discretion. Her team was already in position, each member spread out across the area, ready to move as soon as Inspector Khoo made his appearance.

"Positions, everyone," Grace murmured into the comm, her voice steady despite the anticipation building in her chest.

Ana's voice came through first.

"I'm at the food court, monitoring the target's usual path. He'll be passing by here in about fifteen minutes."

"Blitz, Lion?" Grace asked, checking her wristwatch, keeping her tone controlled.

"Eyes on the building. No sign of anyone yet."

Grace gave a small nod, then slid into a café with dim lighting, her movements deliberate and purposeful. She settled into a corner booth, out of view but with a clear line of sight to the street. Her mind briefly flashed to Keith—he'd be spending the evening with his family, far from this operation, blissfully unaware of it.

"Stay quiet, stay sharp. ISD guys say he'll be meeting a contact here. We need to find proof that Khoo is working with the Keres Legion."

As she checked her phone for any last-minute updates, the streets around her were still, almost eerily calm. They had one job tonight: gather intel on Khoo without drawing attention. Grace's eyes remained fixed on the street, watching for any sign of their target. Ana's voice broke through the static in her earpiece, calm but focused.

"He's moving," Ana reported, "Khoo's with two other plainclothes officers, maybe colleagues. Looks casual, heading down the sidewalk. No sign of anything unusual."

Grace observed the trio from her spot in the café, noting how Khoo and his colleagues blended seamlessly into the busy evening crowd. They were just another group of investigators, blending into the pulse of Orchard Road like they belonged. For now, it seemed like a normal night.

"Keep following," Grace said, fingers tapping lightly against her tablet screen as she monitored their movements, "Don't get too close. We can't risk them noticing us."

Blitz's voice came in next, cool and low.

"I've got eyes from the opposite corner. No change in position."

For a while, it seemed like just another routine surveillance operation. But then, something caught Grace's attention. She watched as Khoo subtly veered away from his colleagues, stepping towards a stranger moving in the opposite direction. The brief exchange was almost imperceptible—no words, no body language out of place—but it was enough for Grace to feel the shift. Khoo passed the man something small—a flash drive. The stranger didn't even break stride as he took it, slipping it into his pocket as he continued walking.

"Did anyone else see that?"

"I saw it," Olivier responded quickly, "It was a thumb drive. But no one reacted, so it's either routine or he's covering his tracks well."

"Follow the stranger. See where he goes. We need that drive."

"Got it. Moving in," Ana replied.

As the stranger continued down the street, oblivious to the surveillance, Grace's sharp eyes caught the careless move: he'd plugged the thumb drive into his phone without a second thought. The moment he did, Grace's fingers flew across her laptop, syncing her device with a nearby public Wi-Fi signal and slipping into the stranger's phone through an unsecured connection. It was a quick and dirty hack, but the man's lack of caution made it too easy to ignore. Within moments, Grace was in, her screen lighting up with the phone's contents as she sifted through and downloaded a copy of the data, her pulse steady but focused as she scrolled through files quickly. Then, she found it. A folder marked with a symbol she recognized—Keres Legion.

This was it. Concrete evidence.

"Khoo's clean-up just got messier," Grace muttered, eyes flicking between the phone's screen and the street, "We've got what we need. Stay on them."

Khoo casually rejoined his colleagues, slipping back into their conversation as if nothing had happened. He was the picture of nonchalance, his movements smooth and unhurried, masking the clandestine exchange with practiced ease. Grace kept her eyes on him, watching for any more sign of suspicion, but there was none.

Olivier's voice cut through the tension.

"The stranger's boarded a vehicle. Heading south. I've got it tracked. It's a black sedan, nothing too flashy."

"Copy," Grace murmured, already typing in the final sequence of commands to her laptop.

"We're clear," Ana said quietly, voice low over the comm, "Let's meet at the underground station. We'll debrief there."

As Grace gathered her things, she felt the mission's weight settle on her shoulders. They had the intel they needed. Once they cracked the Keres Legion file, they'd know the full extent of Khoo's involvement, the truth behind his betrayal.

But there was a nagging feeling in the back of her mind. Grace glanced at her phone briefly, wondering again. She thought about Keith, his quiet nature, how he'd spent the day with his family. What would he think if he knew that the man who had tormented him in their childhood—Leo Khoo—was now a traitor.

Grace couldn't shake the thought. She turned away, pushing it aside for now. There was a mission to finish. But she couldn't help wondering: How would Keith react once he finds out Grace and the others were not in Singapore for a holiday?

It was early in the morning, half an hour before the zoo opens for the day. Keith crouched down, wiping the last of the water from the edge of the otter enclosure, but the Asian small-clawed otters weren't making it easy. One of them leapt up to nudge him playfully, splashing water onto his face as it clambered over his back. Keith sighed, wiping his eyes, but couldn't help the faint smile tugging at his lips.

The otters had no sense of personal space, and that was half the fun. He adjusted the hose, trying to finish cleaning before they decided to start a water fight. From the other side of the fence, his cousin Faith watched, arms crossed and a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"You sure you're not secretly trying to get soaked?" she teased, "You look like you're begging for attention."

"You know I can't say no to them," he replied, reaching out to give another one of the otters a belly rub.

"I still can't believe my favourite brat still finds time to come here to volunteer on your days off. But hey, thanks again, Keith. The zoo's lucky to have you."

Keith shrugged, looking content.

"I enjoy it. Animals don't judge."

"I still remember the time you brought home that adult palm civet when we were kids. Your brothers were in a full-blown panic when it started chasing them around the house."

Keith groaned, shaking his head.

"That was... not one of my better ideas."

"Still one of my favorites," Faith laughed, "You're lucky they didn't disown you back then. And don't get me started on the owl. You looked like you were about to go to Hogwarts."

Keith laughed along, the memories of that day tugging at him. He might've been a bit impulsive as a kid, but moments like this made it all worthwhile. Faith leaned against the fence, a wry smile on her face.

"Hey, you think you can lend me a hand at the lion's enclosure? Jafari's been causing trouble again."

Keith raised an eyebrow, wiping his hands on his pants as he stood up.

"Jafari, huh? What's he up to now?"

"Nothing good," Faith sighed, "He's been scaring the other zookeepers again. I swear, that lion's going to make someone jump into the moat one of these days. And if it happens again, I'll never hear the end of it."

Keith chuckled, shaking his head. "Jafari used to be such a sweet little cub, though. What happened to him?"

Faith rolled her eyes. "Yeah, well, he grew up. I made the mistake of introducing him to Mikey the bonobo. The two of them have been partners in crime until Mikey passed on. Jafari might be full-grown now, but he's still got that rascal streak from when he was a cub. Only now, he's got the strength to back it up."

Keith smirked, amused.

"So, you created a monster. A lion who thinks he's the zoo's class clown."

"Pretty much," Faith grinned, "And here I thought he'd calm down once he got older. Nope."

Keith gave a mock salute, saying, "Alright, I'll keep an eye on him. Don't want the prankster of the zoo getting the better of you. Speaking of lions, I'm working with one on my overseas assignment. You ever seen a French lion?

"A French lion? What, the Beast of Gévaudan? Sounds like you've got some stories to tell."

The zoo had officially opened for the day by now, and the steady stream of visitors had already begun. Keith and Faith approached the lion's enclosure, ready to keep an eye on Jafari. As they neared the exhibit, Keith stopped in his tracks, his eyes widening at the sight before him.

Olivier Flament was crouched at the railing, camera in hand, trying to get the perfect shot of Jafari, who was lazily sprawled out in the sun. Grace, Elias, and Ana were all gathered around, giving him pointers on the best angle.

"Try from the left—closer to the rock," Ana suggested, clearly trying to get a better view of the lion.

Olivier squinted through his lens.

"No, no. The light's all wrong from here. I need a different shot."

Keith blinked, trying to process what he was seeing.

"What the hell are you guys doing here? And when did Olivier came to Singapore?"

The group's conversation paused as they all turned to see him, and a mischievous grin spread across Grace's face.

"So, this is where you're hiding on your days off?" Grace teased, raising an eyebrow.

"You know me, I can't resist the call of the otters."

Faith stepped forward with a chuckle.

"I didn't know you had a thing for otters, Keith," she teased, then turned her attention to the group. "Hi, you're my favourite brat's colleagues, right? I'm the deputy chief zookeeper here."

The group's expressions shifted to surprise as Olivier, ever the charmer, smiled wide.

"Ah, the deputy chief zookeeper, is it?" He greeted as he leaned against the railing. "Mademoiselle, it's a pleasure to meet you."

Keith raised an eyebrow, sensing where this was going. Olivier flashed Faith a warm smile and, without missing a beat, switched to French, his voice smooth.

"Vous avez un zoo magnifique ici. Très impressionnant."

Faith gave him a polite smile, clearly enjoying the attention as she replied, "Merci beaucoup, monsieur."

Grace watched from a distance as Olivier and Faith exchanged playful banter, the air between them charged with flirtation. She raised an eyebrow, glancing at Elias and Ana as she asked, "Should we pull him away before he gets too carried away?"

Elias chuckled, clearly entertained.

"Nah, let them have their fun. Besides, there's something Olivier doesn't know."

"Oh yeah, Keith's degree. From Sorbonne Université, no less," Ana added.

Grace blinked, her eyes widening as she pieced it together.

"Wait—Keith's got a degree from Sorbonne? Doesn't that mean he can speak French?"

Elias and Ana nodded, clearly amused by the situation.

"And Olivier has no idea," Ana added with a smirk.

Grace's gaze flicked back to the scene in front of them, where Olivier was leaning in a little too close to Faith. Sighing, Grace crossed her arms, saying, "I don't know if I should be worried or entertained."

That's when Keith, clearly tired with the exchange and stepped up to Olivier, his voice smooth and deadly serious.

"Si tu trouves le numéro de Faith dans ton téléphone," Keith said in perfect French, flashing an evil smile as he pointed a thumb at Jafari the lion, "Je vais te donner à Jafari."

Olivier blinked in surprise, but then quickly recovers as he replied, "Risk worth taking."

"Trust me, Olivier. Jafari's been looking for breakfast."

The group burst into laughter, and even Olivier couldn't help but chuckle at Keith's playful interruption.

The day at the zoo went surprisingly well, with everyone enjoying the chance to relax after their covert mission on Leo Khoo. Keith was still unaware of the mission that had taken place behind the scenes as Faith puts him in charge of becoming the group's personal guide, taking them through the various exhibits and enclosures such as the Fragile Forest walk-in enclosure where Keith eyed the flying foxes swooping around the place warily.

"Watch out for the 'missiles,'" he warned with a sly smile, eyes scanning the air for the bats' erratic movements, "Those guys don't care where they aim."

Ana and Elias immediately ducked as one of the flying foxes swooped overhead, nearly missing them. Grace, on the other hand, didn't seem to mind at all, laughing as the bat flapped past her. Just then, she realized that Keith had picked up a small animal in his arms. Grace looked at Keith curiously, but he gestured for her to come closer, and Grace saw that it was a mousedeer, usually known for being shy and elusive, looking unusually calm in Keith's arms.

"Try petting it," Keith suggested softly, his voice gentle.

Grace hesitated, but Keith's calm demeanor seemed to work. She crouched slowly, extending a hand toward the tiny creature. The mousedeer, sensing no threat, cautiously nuzzled her fingers. Grace's face softened with delight as the little animal accepted the gentle touch.

"Wow," Grace murmured. "It's so... peaceful."

"Animals respond to calm energy," he said quietly, "They don't like being rushed."

It was a rare moment of quiet, a sharp contrast to the usual banter between the team. But soon enough, it was time to move on.

At the Reptile Park, however, the mood took a sudden shift. Keith, unable to resist, snatched up a large Nile monitor, grinning mischievously. Olivier, who had been admiring the snakes nearby, turned just in time to see Keith approaching, the lizard in hand.

"Get that thing away from me!"

Keith's grin stretched into a wicked smile as he began to chase Olivier around the room

"Oh, you wanted to flirt with my cousin, did you?" Keith teased, waving the Nile monitor just in front of Olivier's face, "Let's see how you like her ex-boyfriend Grumpasaurus here hissing in your face!"

Olivier dodged and ducked, trying to avoid Grumpasaurus, while the rest of the group burst into laughter. Even Faith joined in, shaking her head at Olivier's panicked expression.

"You did bring this upon yourself," Elias said between laughs, clearly enjoying the spectacle.

Keith finally gave the Frenchman a break as he released the Nile monitor, who appears to actually enjoyed that little run since it was reluctant to be placed back down on the ground. Olivier, breathing heavily, shot Keith a glare but couldn't help chuckling.

"You are impossible," he muttered, but the smile tugging at his lips betrayed him.

The day ended on a lighter note, the group feeling more relaxed and ready to face whatever came next—though Grace couldn't help but steal a glance at Keith, a little more curious about his easy way with the animals. But as the group left the zoo, bidding farewell to Keith and Faith, none of them caught a look of unease on Keith's face as he rubbed his chin, observing them as they boarded the shuttle bus out of the zoo…

Keith sat back in his chair, eyes glued to the Premier League match on the screen. His father, sitting across from him in the living room, took a sip of his tea, his gaze flicking over to his son.

"You're not really watching the match, are you?" His father's voice was casual, but there was an edge of knowing in it.

Keith didn't respond immediately. He was too deep in thought, his mind preoccupied with the strange feeling that something was off. Finally, he glanced at his father, lips slightly pressed together.

"No, I'm not."

"What's on your mind?"

Keith let out a sigh, rubbing the back of his neck.

"I'm starting to suspect that my colleagues from Rainbow aren't here for a holiday. There's something going on... with the SPF. Something they're not telling me."

His father raised an eyebrow, his expression shifting from casual to something more serious.

"Instincts kicking in, huh?"

Keith nodded slowly, the weight of his thoughts pressing on him.

"I'm just getting a bad feeling. It's like everyone's been acting too... normal. But I know them, and this doesn't feel like just a casual trip."

His father's lips quirked into a small, knowing smile.

"Your instincts are as sharp as ever. I'm sure you're right."

Keith's attention wavered, still uneasy about his colleagues' true purpose. But then his father spoke again, a sudden shift in his tone that caught Keith off guard.

"I was at Zhong's diner earlier," his father said casually. "You know, your former informant, Red-Eye Zhong?"

"What was Zhong up to?"

"Well," his father began, leaning forward, "I noticed something strange. One of his customers had a tattoo on his neck. Looked like a gang marking, something I've seen before. The minute Zhong saw it, he started walking around with a knife tucked into his apron, acting real protective. But he didn't do anything until the guy finished his meal and left."

Keith's brow furrowed.

"Zhong's not a violent person. He's never been one to act like that. Did the guy leave without incident?"

"Yeah, but Zhong was on edge, like he was waiting for something to go down. Might've been nothing, but given what you've been picking up on lately... I think it's worth a look."

Keith's mind raced, the pieces of the puzzle falling into place.

"You think our suspicions might be linked?"

His father's eyes met his, sharp and knowing.

"I do. It wouldn't hurt to pay Zhong a visit. See if he's noticed anything else."

"I'll go tomorrow."

"Good. Trust your gut, Keith. It's rarely wrong."

Keith nodded, feeling the weight of his father's words settle in his chest. There was something bigger at play, and he wasn't going to ignore it. Not this time.

It was still dawn as Keith pushed open the door to the Szechuan diner, greeted by the familiar scent of stir-fried peppers and garlic. The low hum of the neon sign outside was the only sound, save for the faint clinking of metal in the kitchen. His boots made a soft thud against the floor as he stepped inside, but something was off. The air felt tense.

"Red-Eye?" Keith called, his voice low and deliberate.

He found Zhong in the corner, seated cross-legged on the tile. His face was bruised, blood pouring from a stab wound to the shoulder, and a few beads of sweat dotted his forehead. A collection of broken plates laid around him, the wet floor stained with cold, uncooked food, and a mop laid nearby next to a broken bucket.

Keith's hand instinctively reached for his phone.

"Zhong?"

Zhong raised a hand, his voice rough.

"Not opening today. Got company this morning." He gestured vaguely toward the back, where a pair of legs were sticking out from the doorway, stiff and unmoving, "This ci bai motherfucker tried to kill me, but I managed to deep fry his face."

Sensing the tension in Zhong's voice, Keith's gaze shifted toward the backroom and froze at the sight of Zhong's assailant. The man was dead, his damaged face just straight up hideous, the aftermath of a fatal incident with boiling oil. Keith flinched but held back and urge to throw up.

"The hell happened?"

Zhong sighed, rubbing his temple. "Had to defend myself. Came at me with a knife. Don't even know who the hell he was, but the moment he stabbed me, I was fighting for my life. He slipped while we were fighting and I threw boiling oil at his face. Didn't expect him to immediately go into thermal shock and die within seconds, but there's something else..."

His voice trailed off, as if considering his next words carefully.

"He's a cop."

"What?"

Zhong handed him a small leather wallet, its contents familiar. The warrant card inside bore the name Dennis Gan Eu Bin. Keith's pulse skipped a beat as his eyes scanned the card. He recognized the name immediately—one of Leo Khoo's underlings from the CID's Organized Crime Branch. The realization hit him like a cold slap.

He glanced back at Zhong, meeting his gaze.

"This isn't just some personal issue. This... something bigger is going on, isn't it?"

"I don't know, but I'm sure you'll find out soon enough. I've got a bad feeling about this."

Keith's grip tightened around the warrant card. A sense of unease crept over him, the connection between Zhong's assailant and the criminal underworld hanging heavy in the air. This wasn't just a simple mugging gone wrong. It was a dangerous piece of the puzzle that Keith wasn't sure he was ready to solve.

He took a deep breath.

"I'll get this to Khoo."

Keith had already turned towards the door, his mind racing with thoughts of the warrant card in his hand. But Zhong's voice stopped him cold.

"No! Not Khoo," Zhong called out, his tone sharper than before, "He's the enemy."

Keith paused, turning back. Zhong was standing now, his posture rigid but not entirely steady. There was something more in his eyes—something Keith hadn't noticed before.

"It's time you know the truth," Zhong began, his voice quiet but heavy, "You may think you're the only one who have beef with Khoo, but so do I."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Zhong took a deep breath, then got up and walked toward Keith slowly before sitting down on a chair, as if the weight of his words needed to settle before he could speak them.

"Khoo was your bully, but he's also the asshole who ruined my life. When I was a teenager, I was being scouted by both Aston Villa and Hamburger SV. They wanted a new goalkeeper for their youth squads and football was everything to me. But then, during a school tournament... Khoo made sure to injure me after I denied his goals too many times. Tackled me hard enough to break my shin and ankle, ended my career before it even started. The ISD knew about my grudge and my past as a burglar and police informant, so they recruited me to keep tabs on him six months ago. That's how I learned about the Keres Legion. Khoo is not just working with them, Keith. He's part of them."

Keith's stomach dropped. The Keres Legion. The thought of his old tormentor being a member of an organization like that sent a wave of revulsion through him.

"Khoo... with them?" Keith echoed, stunned. "I never thought... how far is this going?"

Zhong gave him a grim look as he replied, "Far enough for you to want to be careful."