Morning broke cold and gray.
Despite the successful sealing of the Will of Reincarnation, tension loomed. The Bureau's upper floors were unusually quiet.
Then came a letter—delivered in a black envelope with a blood-red wax seal.
Kai Lin opened it in silence.
> **Black Rose Tribunal Summons – Mandatory Attendance**
> **Charges: Unauthorized use of forbidden techniques, concealment of deceased agent Lin Qian's data, endangerment of Bureau protocols.**
> **Judgment: Noon tomorrow.**
"They're calling you to trial?" Lu Feng's voice cracked as he read over her shoulder.
"They've been waiting for a reason."
"Because you uncovered the Soul Market?"
Kai Lin nodded. "And because I led *you* to the truth."
---
The next day, in the depths of the Bureau, the Tribunal convened.
Seven masked figures—judges of the Black Rose—sat behind a veil of shadow. The hall was silent but for their questions.
> "Kai Lin. Did you perform the Soul Binding ritual with Agent Lu Feng?"
"Yes."
> "Did you withhold intelligence regarding Lin Qian's final message?"
"Yes."
> "Did you awaken and enter the Forbidden Zone with a non-authorized entity?"
"Yes."
Lu Feng, seated high above in the gallery, could hardly breathe.
Then came the final question:
> "Do you regret these actions?"
Kai Lin raised her head. "No. Because if I hadn't, the real criminals would still be hiding behind your robes."
The court gasped.
Then—
> "Judgment: Position revoked. Authority suspended. Subject Kai Lin will be confined pending further review."
Guards approached.
Lu Feng leapt to his feet. "You can't do this!"
A hand stopped him. "Stay seated," said a guard. "You're not on trial."
Kai Lin looked back once, smiling.
As if to say—*this was always part of the plan.*
---
That night, in the now-empty Spirit Division office, Lu Feng stared at her untouched teacup.
She had always known.
And now, it was his turn to fight for her.
To finish what they started.
To bring down the real enemy hiding behind the Black Rose.