Jun sat behind his desk, sifting through reports when the door to his office opened. A rare smile crossed his face as Jaden stepped in.
"Jaden! It's good to see you."
Jaden gave a small nod, standing near the chair without sitting. "You too."
Jun gestured toward the chair across from him. "Have a seat."
Jaden hesitated but eventually sat down.
"How's Master Shang?" Jun asked, leaning forward slightly.
"He's fine. He asked me to extend his greetings to you," Jaden replied flatly. "Now, let's talk business."
Jun observed him for a moment. Jaden wasn't one for small talk, and after everything he had been through, it was no surprise. The young man had trust issues, and Jun didn't blame him. Lord Zu had left wounds far deeper than the ones visible on Jaden's skin.
Jun exhaled and leaned back. "I'd like you to meet someone."
He stood, prompting Jaden to follow as they exited the office. They took the elevator down to a restricted level of the DC headquarters. When the doors slid open, they stepped into a dimly lit room. A man stood there, his presence imposing.
Dressed in a sleek black suit, the man was tall, broad-shouldered, and carried an air of dominance. His piercing eyes assessed Jaden with quiet scrutiny.
"Jaden, this is Luca. Luca, this is Jaden," Jun introduced.
Jaden simply nodded, offering no handshake.
"You two will be working together," Jun continued. "There's a demon terrorizing a remote village. The situation is escalating, and we need it handled immediately. I'll leave you both to discuss."
With that, Jun walked away, leaving Jaden and Luca in silence.
Luca smirked as he folded his arms. "Let's get a drink."
Jaden didn't respond but followed.
They soon arrived at a bar filled with mercenaries and demon slayers, the air thick with smoke and the scent of alcohol. They took a table in the corner, both sipping their drinks in silence for a moment.
Luca finally spoke. "So, the son of Lord Zu... the Weakling... is working for DC now?" His tone was laced with mockery, his smirk widening. "How amazing."
Jaden didn't react. He continued sipping his drink, his face void of emotion. But his eyes—cold, piercing—spoke volumes.
Luca leaned in, clearly hoping to provoke a reaction. "Does that scar your father gave you still hurt? I bet it does."
Jaden's grip on his glass tightened slightly, but his face remained unreadable.
Yes, it still hurt.
Wounds might heal on the surface, but the ones inside remained raw. The memories of that night, the betrayal, the fall—it was all as fresh as if it had happened yesterday. But Master Shang had taught him patience. Tolerance. He would not give Luca the satisfaction of a response.
Instead, Jaden leaned back and smirked. "Looks like someone's been digging a lot about me. I like you being my fan."
Luca's smirk faltered for just a second before he masked it with a chuckle. He didn't like being outplayed, but he wasn't going to show it.
Jaden finished his drink, stood up, and without another word, left the bar.
Luca watched him go, his smirk returning. "Interesting..."