Adam sat silently in the back of the van, staring out into the darkened streets. The imaginary quiet hum of the engine filled the air, but his mind was a cacophony of thoughts. He didn’t trust these people—Loki, with his unsettling nonchalance, Kara, who exuded an air of detached amusement, and Reynard, whose calm demeanor masked something far more dangerous.

He would’ve given anything to be back with his team.

But they’re dead, aren’t they?

The thought hit him like a sledgehammer. Adam clenched his fists, his heart sinking.

“They’re dead, aren’t they?” he finally asked, his voice trembling.

Loki glanced at him in the rearview mirror, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Disbelief much?”

Reynard reached into his pocket and handed Adam a sleek smartphone. The device was cutting-edge, a model Adam hadn’t seen before. It was too new—he’d barely kept up with tech advancements over the past year, let alone this.

“Here,” Reynard said. “See for yourself.”

Adam hesitated before taking the phone. The screen lit up, displaying a news article. His eyes scanned the text, each word sinking deeper into his gut like a lead weight.

The article detailed the gruesome deaths of DERT, the Government’s ace hunter team. Graphic descriptions of their last moments painted a grim picture, but what stood out most was the mention of Adam himself. His “missing body” was being spun into a damning narrative, the press suggesting he was responsible for the slaughter.

“No…” Adam whispered. His hands trembled as he scrolled through more articles. Headlines and images blurred together in his mind.

His heart froze when he stumbled upon his own face. A wanted poster stared back at him, his name emblazoned beneath it alongside the word TERRORIST.

“I’m a wanted man now…” Adam muttered, his voice hollow. He looked up, his gaze darting between the others. “Looks like I’m stuck with you guys.”

“Congratulations on joining the game, bruv,” Loki quipped, his grin widening.

“What?” Adam snapped, his frustration boiling over.

Kara’s melodic voice cut through the tension. “We’re professional terrorists,” she said with a smirk, her tone almost mocking.

Adam blanched, his stomach churning. His gaze shifted to Reynard, the one person who seemed remotely sane.

Reynard held his gaze, his tone calm and deliberate. “Not me. The World Order and the Government wouldn’t dare label me anything.”

“Because they’re scared of you,” Loki interjected, his tone light but tinged with an edge. “You’ve got dirt on them. Enough to make them think twice before coming after you.”

Adam leaned back against the van’s cold metal wall, his head spinning. “What have I gotten myself into?”

No one answered. The van rolled on, the city’s glow growing brighter as they approached their destination. Adam stared at the phone in his hands, his reflection staring back at him. He barely recognized the man in the wanted poster.

He barely recognized himself.

Reynard’s voice cut through the quiet hum of the van’s engine. “Stop here.”

Loki braked abruptly, bringing the vehicle to a halt in the middle of a desolate road. The surrounding landscape was shrouded in darkness, illuminated only by the faint glow of the moon. Reynard opened the van door and stepped out.

“Follow me, Adam,” he said without looking back.

Adam hesitated, glancing at Loki and Kara. He wanted to run, but where would he go? His face was plastered all over the internet, branded as a terrorist. He had no allies left and nowhere to turn.

Reluctantly, Adam slid out of the van and followed Reynard.

Loki leaned out of the driver’s seat, a smirk playing on his lips. “Hmmm… So you’re not hiring us anymore? That’s a shame. You give fun missions. I feel bad seeing you go.”

Reynard turned to face him, his tone steady. “You’re intent on breaking the Hunter World. I’m planning to fix it. That’s why we have to part ways.”

Loki chuckled. “How does Bob play into all this?”

“Bob has no part in this,” Reynard replied. “This is my initiative. If anything, Bob intends to remake the Hunter World in his own image. Whether he becomes your foe or your ally is up to you.”

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Well, this is farewell, I guess,” Loki said with a dramatic sigh. He reached into his coat and pulled out a tarot card, its surface adorned with the image of The Fool.

“I guess it’s time I return this to you,” Loki added, holding the card out to Reynard.

Reynard shook his head. “No, keep it. Use it to contact Reina from now on. She’ll be handling the business, the spy network, and everything else.”

Loki’s grin widened. “Fun.” Without another word, he revved the engine and drove off, the van disappearing into the distance.

Adam turned to Reynard, his confusion mounting. “Where to now?”

Reynard didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he retrieved the smartphone Adam had been holding and dialed a number. He spoke into the device with calm precision. “We’re ready.”

Adam frowned. “Ready for what?”

Before Reynard could reply, a brilliant beam of light engulfed them both. The sensation was disorienting—light, heat, and pressure all colliding in an instant.

When Adam’s vision cleared, he found himself standing on a jagged, mountainous terrain. The air was crisp and thin, and the vast expanse of rocky peaks stretched out as far as the eye could see.

“What… happened?” Adam asked, his voice unsteady.

Reynard looked at him, his expression as calm as ever. “Teleportation via the World Path.”

Adam had no idea what was the World Path, but Reynard offered no explanation.

Reynard led the way up the rocky slope, his movements steady and purposeful. Adam trailed behind, his mind racing with questions he didn’t dare voice. The night was quiet save for the sound of their footsteps crunching against loose gravel.

When they reached the entrance of a cave, Reynard switched on the flashlight function of his smartphone, the bright beam slicing through the darkness.

“This way,” Reynard said curtly, his voice echoing faintly against the stone walls.

Adam hesitated for a moment, then followed. The cave was cold and damp, the air heavy with the scent of earth and minerals. They walked in silence for what felt like an eternity, the narrow passage twisting and turning as if it had no end.

After five minutes, the rough stone gave way to something unexpected—a smooth, metallic wall. Adam blinked in surprise, the gleaming surface entirely out of place in the natural cave.

Reynard stepped forward and placed his hand on the wall. A faint hum filled the air as a hidden scanner activated, lines of blue light tracing the outline of his palm. Adam watched in fascination as the wall responded, sliding apart with a soft hiss to reveal a brightly lit corridor beyond.

“Follow me,” Reynard said, stepping inside without a glance back.

Adam hesitated, staring at the high-tech marvel before him. He swallowed hard, his throat dry, and followed Reynard into the unknown.

The corridor was sleek and sterile, the walls lined with faintly glowing panels. The air was warmer here, carrying a faint hum of machinery. Adam’s unease grew with every step.

“Are you part of some hidden organization?” Adam finally asked, his voice shaky. “Planning world domination or something? And the World Order is your rival?”

Reynard stopped abruptly, turning to face him. For a moment, Adam thought he saw the faintest hint of a smirk on Reynard’s otherwise stoic face.

“No,” Reynard said simply, before turning and continuing down the corridor.

Adam stared after him, the weight of Reynard’s brief answer leaving him with more questions than before. Whatever he had gotten himself into, it was far more complex than he had imagined.

The labyrinthine hallways seemed to stretch endlessly, twisting and turning in ways that disoriented Adam. The faint hum of machinery accompanied their footsteps, a subtle reminder of the high-tech nature of this hidden facility. Reynard walked with purpose, his flashlight casting sharp shadows against the sleek walls.

As they continued, Reynard began to speak. “There are three Great Powers that govern the known world: the Government, the Hunter Association, and the World Order.”

Adam listened intently, his unease tempered by curiosity. Reynard’s tone was calm, almost clinical, as he provided a crash course on the structure of the world Adam thought he understood.

“The Government,” Reynard continued, “is self-explanatory. It governs, enforces laws, and maintains order among civilians. The Hunter Association operates separately, training and managing those gifted with extraordinary abilities. Their focus is on neutralizing threats, be they rogue individuals or cryptids. The World Order exists to mediate between the two, ensuring that the Hunters don’t overstep their bounds and that the Government doesn’t misuse its authority over Hunters.”

Adam frowned. “Sounds like the World Order’s role is pretty important. Why would you want to replace it?”

“Because it’s corrupt,” Reynard said bluntly. “The World Order was meant to be impartial, to maintain balance. But it’s become a self-serving entity, more interested in preserving its power than doing what’s necessary to adapt to the changing world. The political climate is shifting, and the Order refuses to change. It’s time for something new.”

Adam processed this in silence, his thoughts racing. The scope of Reynard’s ambitions was staggering. “How many of you are there in this... organization you’re planning?”

Reynard glanced back at him. “Two.”

“Wait… you don’t mean by two: you and me, right?” Adam stopped in his tracks, staring at Reynard in disbelief. “Two? You’re telling me this grand plan to overthrow one of the Great Powers consists of just two people?”

“For now,” Reynard said, his expression unchanging.

Adam shook his head, incredulous. “Then what’s the point of all these circuitous hallways if it’s just the two of you?”

Reynard’s lips twitched, almost forming a smile. “This place is rigged with traps. Security is paramount, no matter how few we are.”

Adam sighed, rubbing his temples. “Fine. But what are we doing here?”

“To get our third member.”

The answer silenced Adam. He followed Reynard down one final corridor, his apprehension growing with each step. The hallway opened into a spacious chamber, the air cooler here, tinged with a sterile scent.

At the center of the room stood a large transparent vat filled with a viscous, pale blue liquid. Suspended within was a woman, her pink hair fanning out like a halo around her serene face. She was completely naked, her body pristine except for a metallic patch on her chest where her heart should have been. The metal gleamed faintly under the soft lights of the chamber, a stark contrast to her otherwise human appearance.

Reynard stopped in front of the vat, his gaze steady. “Selena Fair,” he said, his voice quieter now, almost reverent.

Adam stared at the woman, his unease returning. “Who... who is she?”

“Our sleeping beauty,” Reynard replied. “And the future of this organization.”