Prelude to Genesis [2]

Even though they were indoors, it felt like they were standing naked in an open, frozen wasteland.

"Who did you say leaked our plan...?"

Zoran's low, chilling voice slithered into their ears.

"A-Azriel Crimson… son of Joaquin Crimson, the Crimson King of East Asia. He was supposed to have been killed two years ago."

Bran's words were swallowed by yet another suffocating silence.

"...."

They wanted to breathe, but each attempt felt like drowning. Every gasp of air stuck in their throats, unable to escape.

"Are you telling me that a dead child leaked our plan? A plan that was nearly impossible to execute because we've barely any foothold in Asia? And now it's ruined... because of a kid who's supposed to be dead?"

Bran and Brian bit down hard on their lips, tasting blood.

"T-that's not true, Lord Zoran…"

Dante's voice broke through the tension, though it trembled like a thread about to snap.