Chapter 20: Mikasa's Discovery

His expression was impassive as he raised his hand to the other man's face and allowed a single drop of his own blood to fall on his lips.

"Would you like to see a magic trick?"

Instantly, the man's body convulsed as if electrified. His eyes rolled back, then refocused, their dark color replaced with the same blood-red as the figure's.

Kneeling, the newly turned man bowed his head. "My Master," he murmured, reverence thick in his voice. "What are your orders?"

The original figure smiled, a faint, chilling expression that sent shivers through his servant. "Fetch him," he said simply, glancing at the other man who had attempted to flee. "He is my meal tonight."

Obediently, the transformed man leaped forward with speed that matched his Master's, capturing the fleeing man before he could reach the mouth of the alley.

Ignoring the pleas for mercy, he dragged him back, the man's cries fading into silence as he pulled him before his Master.

The crimson-eyed figure leaned in, his expression one of cruel satisfaction.

Without hesitation, he sank his fangs into the man's neck, drinking deeply.

The life drained from his victim as his body withered, his skin clinging to bone, until nothing remained but an empty shell.

The figure discarded him, watching as the husk collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

"My Master," the newly turned servant whispered, still kneeling, "shall I find more sustenance for you?"

The figure shook his head. "No, return to your life. Blend in as you always have. Let no one know what you have become."

The servant nodded solemnly. "Yes, Master. Your will is my command."

With a single gesture, the crimson-eyed figure disappeared, vanishing into the shadows as if he had never been there.

---

As evening settled in, casting a soft glow across the streets, the clock struck 6:00 PM.

Ani walked alongside Adam toward the station, her steps slightly hesitant, her mind lingering on the day they'd shared.

She glanced at Adam, her heart racing slightly as she found herself speaking, a shy smile creeping onto her face. "I had a really good time today," she admitted, her cheeks faintly flushed.

Adam looked at her, an equal hint of shyness in his own expression as he replied, "Me too."

His voice was soft, sincere, a rare vulnerability flickering in his dark eyes.

They paused at the station entrance, exchanging a final look before Ani took a step back.

"Alright then… see you tomorrow?" she said with a little wave, her heart fluttering with a mixture of excitement and nervousness.

With that, she turned and walked away, her pace quickening as she tried to conceal the warmth that had risen to her cheeks.

As Ani left, Adam's gaze lingered on her retreating figure before he turned and headed home.

---

Later that night, Ani lay on her bed, her dinner long finished. She clutched her phone, the dim screen illuminating her face in the otherwise dark room.

Adam's profile picture was open on her screen, and she had typed out a simple "Hello" in the message box—but her finger hovered over the send button, unable to press it.

"What would he think if I messaged him?" she muttered to herself, biting her lip in frustration.

She deleted the message, only to retype it again, hesitating as doubts began to swirl in her mind.

"No, no… this is silly," she whispered, canceling the message once more.

Letting out a frustrated sigh, she buried her face in her pillow.

"Why am I even waiting for his message?" she groaned, her voice muffled.

"He didn't even text me tonight. Does he think I'd be the one reaching out first?" The thoughts churned in her mind, a mix of irritation and embarrassment clouding her judgment.

But then she recalled how he had been waiting for her at the station earlier, the way his eyes softened when they spoke, his quiet warmth that lingered even after she left.

A smile crept onto her lips, unbidden, as the memory replayed in her mind.

Feeling a surge of restlessness, she lifted her face from the pillow and whispered, "Adam… just text me already. I want to talk to you…" Her voice was barely audible, a quiet wish to the night.

She fell back on her bed, clutching her phone close, waiting.

---

Meanwhile, deep in the shadows of the virtual world, Mikasa worked tirelessly at her investigation, scanning through countless layers of encrypted data.

She was tracing signals from hidden towers, her fingers flying across the virtual keyboard as she tracked the digital threads that led back to the seven individuals who were key players in a dark web of deception and crime.

After hours of meticulous digging, she finally caught a lead.

Her search had led her to a man named Ran, an old associate of Ani's father, though she doubted Ani's family had any inkling of Ran's double life.

Ran appeared to be a man of respectable standing on the surface, but he had deep connections to a criminal organization, one he had been secretly involved with for years.

He wasn't just anyone—he was a silent enforcer for this powerful network.

"Interesting…" Mikasa muttered as she accessed his phone's data.

Ran's recent calls and messages provided a disturbing insight into his intentions, and Mikasa's expression hardened.

She realized that Ran was merely a client, a man with money and personal vendettas.

He had paid the organization to kidnap ani, all to settle an old grudge with Ani's father, who had humiliated him years ago.

This grudge had smoldered in Ran's heart, turning into a dark desire for revenge that now targeted Ani and anyone close to him.

"Disgusting," Mikasa murmured under her breath as she sifted through more encrypted files.

The scope of the organization's network was vast, and she quickly understood that this group was no simple gang.

They had layers upon layers of security, firewalls that would stall even the most skilled hackers.

Each digital step she took was like maneuvering through a labyrinth designed to disorient and mislead.

Her fingers paused briefly as she caught sight of a recent call in Ran's records.

He had contacted his superior, seeking updates on a mission related to "the girl."

Her eyes narrowed as the pieces began to fall into place. She realized now why this group was targeting Ani, and the full weight of Ran's hatred became disturbingly clear.

"What kind of man does something like this?" Mikasa muttered, feeling a pang of anger on Adam's behalf.

To be connected....