𝐑𝐎𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝐘𝐎𝐔⭑.ᐟ 𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐎𝐔 (✔)

chapter 03

"So... you're Silvereyes?"

The question lingered in the air, heavy but not explosive, as if they had all been expecting something like this from the moment I stepped into the room. No one panicked. No one overreacted. Instead, they watched me—carefully, quietly, like predators observing something unfamiliar but potentially valuable. It wasn't the cleanest way to reveal my identity, and definitely not the safest, but lying here would've been pointless. These weren't ordinary people. They would've seen through it eventually. So instead of overthinking it, I simply nodded, slow and deliberate, before silently mouthing a small "yes," my gaze steady despite the tension building around me.

For a moment, nothing happened. Then suddenly, the silver-haired man in front of me pushed himself up from his seat with surprising energy, the chair scraping softly against the floor as he stepped forward, completely unfazed by what I had just admitted. "Damn, that's crazy," he said, like I had just told him an interesting fun fact instead of confessing to being one of the most dangerous people alive. He extended his hand toward me without hesitation, his movements relaxed but carrying a weight that didn't need to be announced. "I'm Manjiro Sano. But you can call me Mikey. I'm the head of Bonten."

I paused for just a second, my eyes flickering from his face to his outstretched hand, trying to read him, to understand what kind of person could react like this in a situation like this. He didn't look intimidating in the traditional sense. If anything, he looked... calm. Almost careless. But something about that calmness felt intentional, like it was hiding something far more dangerous underneath. Slowly, I reached out and shook his hand, my grip firm but cautious, still unsure of where this was going. Before I could even fully process it, he tilted his head slightly, studying me with quiet interest before speaking again. "If you were serious about that earlier... about being hired," he said casually, as if this was a normal job interview, "then I'll do it."

The words didn't register immediately. For a second, I just stared at him, my mind trying to catch up with what was happening. Less than a day ago, I was running for my life, crossing borders, cutting ties, leaving everything behind without looking back. Less than 24 hours ago, I had nothing—no safety, no plan, no certainty that I would even survive the next week. And now... I was standing here, being offered a position in Bonten. Not just any position. A place among some of the most dangerous people in Japan. It almost felt unreal, like things were moving too fast for me to fully grasp. But one thing grounded me instantly.

Money. Protection. Survival.

"...Sure," I muttered, the answer slipping out quieter than intended, but without hesitation. Because no matter how strange this situation was, it made sense in the only way that mattered. This world wasn't new to me. If anything, it was familiar, just in a different country.

A subtle shift in the room pulled my attention away from Mikey. I didn't turn immediately, but I felt it, the weight of someone's gaze settling more heavily than the others. When I finally looked, my eyes landed on the man sitting slightly to the side, his posture relaxed yet undeniably controlled. His hair fell neatly around his face in soft curtain strands, tinted faintly purple under the lighting, and his half-lidded eyes carried a quiet sharpness that hadn't been there before. He wasn't just observing anymore. He was assessing me, slowly, thoroughly, like he was trying to peel back layers I hadn't even revealed yet.

There was no judgment in his expression. No approval either. Just interest. And somehow, that felt more dangerous than anything else in the room.

"You'll be Bonten's spy."

Mikey's voice cut through my thoughts so casually it almost felt misplaced, but the reaction it caused was immediate. Even without looking around, I could sense it. Subtle tension, small shifts in posture, a slight pause in breathing. When I did glance around, I noticed that even Sanzu seemed caught off guard, his usual detached demeanour cracking just slightly as his eyes flickered toward Mikey.