Chapter 93

Fields piloted the Quinjet smoothly through the night, the soft hum of the engines vibrating through the cabin, blending with the whir of air currents as they soared over the city lights below, now fading into darkness. Inside, Kage and Camille sat in the back, the quiet punctuated by occasional beeps from the control panel.

Camille turned to Kage with a soft smile. Rustling as she shifted in her seat* broke the silence. "Thank you," she said, her voice sincere.

Kage returned her smile. "It's my pleasure," he replied warmly, leaning forward just slightly, his voice steady and laced with concern. "Are you all right?"

Camille sighed, the sound of her *exhale gentle but weighted*. "I am… Fine. But I keep thinking, 'He's dead. Now what?'" Her voice held a hint of strain, a struggle beneath her words.

Kage nodded, the subtle creak of the seat as he leaned back reflecting his own weariness. "Well," he offered, his tone calm and supportive, "you could join my group and help us. After all, the dam we saw will have to come down, and there'll be others, too. Someone who worked for Greene could make a real difference."

Camille's lips curved up thoughtfully, a slight rustle as she adjusted her posture. "Not a bad idea. But I need some time to make peace with myself."

Kage reached over, the soft brush of his fingers against her hand. "Take all the time you need. You can reach out when you're ready."

They shared a deep, unspoken understanding as their gazes met. A brief pause filled the air, then Kage leaned in, his hand gently cradling hers. The soft rustle of clothing was the only sound as they drew closer, and then they shared a brief, passionate kiss. As silence hung between them , as they pulled back, glancing into each other's eyes with a mutual, quiet understanding.

As they reached the safe house and prepared to disembark, Kage glanced over his shoulder, giving Fields a grateful smile. *The faint click of his boots echoed in the cabin* as he took a few steps closer. Fields caught his gaze, her expression softening as a sense of trust and camaraderie settled between them.

With a quiet smile, she reached up and pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek, a subtle gesture of both affection and gratitude. Kage leaned in slightly and whispered, "I've talked with Hawks. Once you're back, you'll be my consultant too."

Fields' eyes brightened, and she smiled warmly. "Thanks, Kage," she replied, her voice carrying both appreciation and determination.

Kage entered the grand, elegant foyer of the Andean Grand Hotel, and the hotel receptionist, whom he'd previously tipped, quickly spotted him and waved him over with a friendly nod. The hum of voices and clinking glasses drifted from the bar, where General Hawks sat nursing a beer, waiting patiently.

Kage strode over and joined him. "So, has everything been set up?" he questioned, his gaze sharp and focused.

General Hawks looked at Kage for a moment, sizing him up, before giving a nod. "Yes, we've already contacted the girl—a witness. She's set to meet with the head of Bolivia's secret service in Sucre."

Kage hummed, nodding slightly as he muttered, "Camille. She's with Bolivian intelligence."

"Correct," Hawks confirmed, leaning back. "She told them everything. After Sucre, they're heading to Washington, D.C., demanding answers. It's making big news." Hawks gestured to the TV in the corner of the bar, where footage of the burning La Perla de las Dunas hotel flashed on the screen, surrounded by emergency vehicles.

He continued, "We set up a fake dead body of Greene, just as you proposed. Only a few people know Greene is actually alive."

Kage gave an approving nod. "One problem solved. But Mr. White is still out there."

Hawks raised an eyebrow. "Do you have any leads?"

Kage shook his head. "Nothing solid yet. But there's Nambutu, another country facing drought. But for more leads, I'm thinking Greene might know something—could lead us closer."

Hawks took a thoughtful sip of his beer and nodded. "All right, we'll see what he has to offer."

Hawks continued, "We were able to capture Greg Beam on corruption charges. However, when we attempted to raid the residence of Russian politician Gregor Karakov, we found him dead on arrival. It appears someone got to him before we could."

Kage narrowed his eyes, his mind running through the implications. "And what about Guy Haines and Moishe Soref, the telecom giant?"

Hawks's face darkened. "Guy Haines is dead. We believe it's connected, possibly silenced to cover tracks. As for Moishe Soref, he's gone completely off the grid. Every trace, every lead—wiped clean. It's as if he vanished."

Kage absorbed the information, nodding slowly. "We'll need to find out who or what could make someone like Soref disappear without a trace. Keep digging, Hawks. If there's any way to flush him out, we'll need every angle covered."

Hawks nodded and then added."You should take some time out before entering the field again."

Kage smiled and raised his glass in agreement."I have to visit my Uncle and Aunt, it's been a while I visited them."

Hawks nodded and walked away.

Kage slowly remembered his pas, after fleeing the orphanage, Kage found himself adopted by the Arashikage Clan. For the first time, he felt he had a home—a place where he was more than just another lost child. Under the guidance of the clan's masters, he trained relentlessly, shaping himself into a skilled warrior and earning the honor of becoming the clan's heir. Yet, despite the sense of belonging, a quiet longing remained within him. He needed to know where he truly came from.

Driven by this desire, Kage began to piece together the mystery of his origins. Countless hours of searching finally led him to a pair of names: Arthur Gates and Erika Watanabe. His parents. They had once lived in Japan, like he now did, but fate had been cruel. When he was only a year old, they died in a car crash, leaving him alone in the world. He felt an ache he couldn't quite explain—a bond to people he would never remember but was connected to by blood.

Yet his discovery did not end there. As he dug deeper, he uncovered another layer of his father's history. Arthur Gates, too, had been adopted. And he was not an only child.

Arthur had two siblings: Patrick Henry Gates and Teddi Bruin. Like Kage, they had been torn apart after losing their parents, separated at a young age and scattered by the currents of fate.

He got in contact with them years ago, he kept in touch with them. He even had a side gig with his Aunt about finding missing individuals, it was called Rewardist.