The next day, Jaden woke up early, took his bath, and got ready to leave for DC. His body was still sore from the last mission, but he didn't let it slow him down. The scar on his face burned slightly as he splashed water onto his skin, a cruel reminder of his past. He ignored it, got dressed, and left his apartment without a second thought.
As he approached the DC headquarters, something felt off. A presence lingered nearby, quiet but persistent. He scanned his surroundings and immediately spotted her—the same young woman from yesterday. Mia was hiding behind a tree, eyes fixated on him like a curious child observing a dangerous animal.
Jaden narrowed his eyes. This was no ordinary bystander.
The moment Mia realized she'd been caught, she panicked and quickly leaned against the tree, attempting to hide her face. But it was too late—Jaden had already seen her. He could have confronted her right then and there, but he had more important matters to attend to first. He turned away and entered the DC headquarters, leaving Mia with her heart pounding in her chest.
Inside, Jaden met with Jun, his long-time associate and one of the key figures in DC.
"It's good to see you, Jaden," Jun said with a small smile, leaning back in his chair.
Jaden gave him a nod, cutting straight to the point. "What's the mission?"
Jun sighed and pulled out a file, sliding it across the desk. "This demon has been terrorizing the city for weeks now. We need someone skilled to take it down. You up for it?"
Jaden flipped through the file, scanning the details. "Consider it done."
Jun smirked. "That's what I like to hear."
With that, Jaden left the office, preparing himself for another hunt. But before he could focus on the mission, he had another issue to deal with. He had fully expected Mia to be long gone by now. Yet, as soon as he stepped outside, there she was—still lingering, still spying.
Jaden's patience wore thin.
He moved swiftly toward her, and the moment Mia saw him advancing, she tried to flee. But Jaden was faster. In a split second, he grabbed her wrist, his grip tight and unyielding.
Mia gasped in pain, her small frame no match for his strength. Jaden wasn't used to handling people gently—his entire life had been about training, survival, and fighting. His grip was naturally firm, built from years of combat.
His deep, cold voice cut through the air. "Why are you spying on DC?"
Mia opened her mouth, but no words came out. Instead, she mumbled incoherently, her wide eyes locked onto his scarred face. Jaden noticed her staring, and for a brief moment, he felt something unfamiliar—self-consciousness.
He scowled and released her wrist, stepping back. "Speak."
Mia hesitated before finally finding her voice. "I... I just wanted to see how the demon slayers operate. I swear I'm not a spy!"
Jaden studied her, his expression unreadable. She didn't seem like a threat, but her curiosity was dangerous.
"If you come back here again," he warned, his voice sharp as a blade, "you won't be leaving in one piece."
Mia swallowed hard, fear flashing in her eyes. Jaden turned and walked away, hoping his words were enough to scare her off. But something told him this wouldn't be the last time he saw Mia.
And that unsettled him more than he cared to admit.