Time flew rapidly in the Card Mage Headquarters. After his discussion with Danzan, Kaior left for the boarding of their transport. Their departure would be set in a few hours and he still needed to talk with Mirelle. But unfortunately, Kaior couldn't meet her in her office.
"Officer Kaior Veyne, yeah, on the list—you can get in," the officers at the doors said after going through his tablet. The security in this part of the headquarters had almost tripled. It was impossible for non-valid members to get past this place.
They are doing everything they can to make sure the information about the two convoys doesn't leak. I hope it will be enough. Kaior wanted to believe there was no traitor in the Card Mage Police, but it was hard to say what all these people had in mind.
Going through the building, Kaior's eyes flashed in surprise—it was like he had suddenly moved into some sort of port. The officers were currently moving boxes back and forth while preparing their equipment and other stuff for the journey.
But what Kaior found the most interesting was the pool at the edge. We are going through a submarine, Kaior's eyes flashed in excitement as he got closer. This was his first time seeing something like this in real life. The submarine looked like a shark—clearly the designers had much fun drawing it.
While Kaior crouched to the level of the water to drop his finger into it, he felt it was abnormally cold and had a very distinct navy blue color. This doesn't look like normal water, he thought. While pondering, he heard a figure call out from behind.
"The departure is in about five hours. There is still some work to be done. If you're here, it's to help, Kaior," the voice said.
Startled, Kaior quickly stood up only to notice Mirelle behind him. He had been looking for her for quite some time already, and now she was here. Yet Kaior didn't even know where to start.
"We can't include all the officers of the headquarters since this mission's details need to be kept secret. We currently lack helping hands here. If you want me to answer your question, there are quite a few boxes here that don't yet have legs," she said.
Kaior peeked at the infinite pile to the side and felt like he would be better off running away now. It was like a hill that would take a century to finish. But he had too many things to figure out for now. Thus, he said, "Then let's get started."
"I didn't expect less from my... from you, I mean," Mirelle quickly said. Kaior's expression had a subtle change, but before he could process anything she added, "The water in the pond is a little special as it doesn't lead to the ocean as you might expect. Instead, it relies on a special canal created from a card called Navy Domain. We usually use this special route for transporting all sorts of goods that need to be hidden from the general public. It's like our back door."
"Oh, I get it. No wonder it felt so different," Kaior said. While about to get the boxes moving, Kaior was surprised to see Mirelle actually carrying a box herself. Blinking twice in surprise, he asked, "You don't have to do that, you know?"
Kaior wasn't trying to be gentle—it was simply that, with her status, it felt quite strange for her to do such a thing.
A smile on her face, she simply said, "Would you believe it took me two years more than the average officer to get a single star? When I got here, the first year, I was so clumsy I was sent to this place to arrange boxes. And that's when we met, Magnus and I."
While moving the boxes, Kaior listened attentively. "At that time, he was already the best among the new officers. Many called him the Shooting Star, succeeding at all his missions with a near-perfect record. He felt so far…"
Kaior nodded inwardly—this was indeed his father. From the very first day he stepped into this place, he was destined to be extraordinary. Kaior sometimes wondered if he could ever reach his heights. In Mirelle's eyes, Kaior could see sometimes admiration, sometimes frustration, and sometimes something different as she spoke.
"What was your relationship with my father?" he couldn't hold his tongue anymore.
Mirelle's movement slowed down a little, surprised by Kaior's boldness. Kaior felt her eyes dive into his soul, as if she had known him for a very long time. But that was impossible—they had never met before he came to the Card Mage Police, Kaior could assure.
"We were close," she said and kept moving the box.
"You didn't come all over this place just to listen to me while we move boxes. You want to know why Nyx is not coming with you, right? Also wondering if I could change my mind and add her to the operation. And the answer is no, Kaior." Mirelle said. "Although she is skilled, you two get distracted when you are together. For a mission of this magnitude, any distraction could be dangerous—not only for you, but also for the others."
"What are you talking about? We are the best partners in the world. Our abilities naturally complement each other. Our reasoning aligns in all aspects. Keeping her out for such a reason is being too egoistic on your part. You aren't my mother to take that kind of decision," Kaior spoke his heart. If it was limited to Nyx not being skilled enough, he would not have insisted, but it was clear Mirelle was obviously against them—but why? He had never offended her.
For the first time since they met, Kaior saw Mirelle's face change, flashing with a hint of anger—as if she had been pierced by a sharp needle.
"The truth is, she is exactly like me few years back. She is bound to get to great heights. If she doesn't focus on her path in the Card Mage Police, she will be left in the dust, overshadowed by your accomplishments. It is for her own good—and yours—that I would prefer you two to stay away from each other. If you can promise me that, then she will be on board with you."
Kaior fell silent, unable to refute Mirelle's words. Being praised by her was indeed impressive. If Nyx could reach her heights one day, Kaior would be very happy for her. But now that their relationship had progressed to this level, could he simply step back like this?
"My head is going to explode. These things are too complicated," Kaior thought.
"Think of it, Kaior. Do you want her to grow and reach the sky she can, or stay in your shadow like you are in your father's shadow? It's the same situation, just different persons. Now I have things to do," Mirelle placed the box halfway, and an officer quickly rushed to them, picking it up where she left.
His actions were so clumsy, it felt like he was scared of her. Unlike Kaior, who had been in Magnus' presence all his life, the aura of the captain didn't feel that intimidating to him—but that didn't mean it was the same for others. After taking a last look at Kaior, Mirelle walked away.
Kaior said no more and also left the area. He wasn't ready to keep carrying those boxes anymore. His plan had failed, but now he was clear—it wasn't lack of skills that kept Nyx away, it was Mirelle who didn't want them together.
"It's not going to end like this," Kaior decided.
A few hours later, the group arrived once more at the embarkment. This time around, everything had been loaded and the team was ready to depart in moments. The second convoy with Magnus would also be departing at the same time on Tiran. All they waited for now was the last signal before moving. While the officers were making the last check of passengers,
Kaior, hiding in the crowd with someone, kept murmuring.
"Are you sure she agreed with me coming, Kaior?" Nyx asked.
"Of course she didn't say explicitly no. Why do you keep asking the same question? Don't you trust me anymore?" Kaior feigned being hurt.
Mirelle just said she was not going to change her mind; she never said Kaior couldn't bring Nyx with him if he wanted. So although Kaior didn't say the whole truth, he didn't lie—at least not completely in his head. He was counting on the fact that both he and Nyx loved adventure to help his sweet lie to pass.
"We are going to get caught, Kaior."
"Of course we are if you keep acting like that when we are on board. Just let me do the talking," Kaior reminded.
As they got closer to the ship, it would soon be their turn to embark. Kaior felt his heart banging in his chest. This was the very first time doing something like this.
"Breaking the rules feels so sweet. No wonder Danzan listens to no one," he said.
"Next in line. Kaior Veyne and... you are?" the officer asked with an angry face. Clearly this wasn't the first fool who tried to sneak on board.
"Mirelle Dorothy, captain of the intel department, inquisitor, and chief interim of the boss, didn't say no. She can come with me. As an additional member, remember she said we needed firepower—but survival is also as important," Kaior listed about all the titles he knew about her, hiding his trembling fingers swiftly in his pockets.
The officer squinted his eyes at the unsettled Nyx and Kaior.
"Hmm… on board," he said—not because he trusted Kaior, but because he believed no one in the Card Mage Police would dare to lie on her name. Then, turning to Donsentos,
"We are complete."
"Great, then let's go for some fun, mushroom," Donsentos smiled, taking the first step into the submarine. The mission had officially begun.