The Return of the Hades

115

115

Kaida slipped through the shadows on her return to Gangatsu's compound, her mind racing with the information she had gathered. As she approached the secure facility, the hum of heightened security buzzed in the air. She knew every corner of this place, every face that moved within its walls.

She found Gangatsu in his private office, the room dimly lit by a single lamp. The heavy curtains were drawn, and the air smelled of incense and aged leather. He sat behind a massive oak desk, his fingers steepled, deep in thought.

"Gangatsu," Kaida began, her voice low and even, "I have news from the coffee shop." Her eyes, sharp and observant, watched him closely for any shift in emotion.

Gangatsu looked up, his expression unreadable. "Speak," he commanded softly, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"They know about the monkshood," Kaida reported, standing rigid, her hands clasped behind her back. "Darien and his associate, they are probing, seeking ways to access it."

A slow smile crept acros