For a mid-evening, the Hedonas command center was exceptionally silent. The normal low buzz of analysts and computers working had been replaced by a dense, uneasy quiet.
Arms crossed, Darkas stood next to the main table with a stone-carved expression.
Meha trailed him leisurely, fingers tapping methodically on his thigh, a seldom indication of anxiety. Hoping for any fresh signal, Jellal kept repeatedly updating the same screens over and over.
Eyes intense but mute Ultema leant against the wall. Nemo's preferred seat at the table was free.
The door hissed open.
Nemo walked clumsily.
Dried blood and grime covered his ripped garments. His lip split open, one eye almost totally closed, his face puffy. Though the actual harm was psychological, he moved like every stride hurt. His eyes were wild, red-rimmed, blazing with something much more threatening than suffering.
First reaction came from Darkas. "Nemo? What the hell happened to you?"
Meha halted pacing right away. "Where is Pero?"
The entire room shifted towards him.
Nemo stopped there for a second, chest heaving and breath heavy. Then the words surfaced, unprocessed and fractured.
"He is dead, he.. died."
The command center went suddenly silent.
Jellal stopped his fingers on the keyboard. Ultema started from the wall. Darkas let his arms fall to his sides.
Meha moved closer, his voice subdued but urgent. "What do you mean he's dead? Tell us something, Nemo. What the hell happened during the meeting?"
Nemo curled his fists so tightly his knuckles went white. He began with a deep, shaky voice that turned into something wild.
"Orced... that white-haired bastard played us. The teahouse shut down. The meeting location was a snare in the forest. He grinned the entire time, conversed like we were close pals, then when Pero shook his hand, he pummeled him. Crushed his jaw. He then became hostile toward me. Kicked me till I passed out."
Though his voice broke, he persisted, louder now, almost screaming.
"Pero was at the ravine's bottom when I opened my eyes. Burned. Melted from within. That beast compelled acid to pass down his throat. Twice. But he was yelling. He leapt off the cliff only to stop the suffering. He killed himself to flee what Orced did to him."
The room was totally quiet.
Darkas developed a cold and dangerous frown. "Orced did this personally?"
Nemo chuckled, a harsh, terrible sound far from actual laughter.
"Personally. Smiling constantly. He instructed me to greet you all. He then strolled away as though nothing had occurred.
Meha closed his hands. "That son of bitch is a different species..."
Tears joined the blood on Nemo's face now, his eyes wild. He struck the table so hard it broke.
"I'm going to kill him. Piece by piece I will rip apart this floating island I am going to locate. I will make him endure everything he did to Pero and more. I will pour acid down his throat until he begs for death. I'll incinerate all he values. I'll—""Nemo!""
Darkas's voice sliced through like a whip. "Stand down."
But Nemo wasn't paying attention. His eyes were red with unadulterated fury, his breath like that of an injured animal, shaking.
"I'll tear his fucking heart out! He doesn't get to smile after what he did! He doesn't get to live after what he did to Pero!"
Meha grabbed Nemo's shoulders, trying to steady him. "Listen to me. You're hurt. You're not thinking clearly. We need you sharp, not suicidal."
Jellal stood up. "We'll get him. But not like this. You're basically falling apart."
Ultema's voice was cold. "He's right. If you rush in now, Orced will just kill you too. We need a plan."
Nemo shoved Meha's hands off, chest heaving. "Plan? Are you serious? Plans will not make Pero back! That smiling monster looked me in the eye and laughed while he killed my best friend! I don't want a plan. I want his head!"
Darkas stepped forward, placing a heavy hand on Nemo's shoulder, voice low and commanding.
"Enough. You're no use to us or to Pero's memory if you get yourself killed. Sit down and breathe deep. We will make Orced pay but we do it smart. Not like this, it would never help."
Nemo stared at him for a long, trembling moment… then his legs gave out. He sank into a chair, burying his face in his bloody hands as quiet, broken sobs finally escaped him.
The command center stayed silent, the weight of Pero's death settling over everyone like a shroud.
Meanwhile, high above the clouds on Sky Boys Island, the mood was completely different.
Orced had just finished telling the team what happened. He stood in the middle of the plaza, hands in his pockets, speaking casually like he was recounting a normal training session.
"…so I handled it. Clean. No loose ends. They won't be bothering us for a while."
The team stared at him for a few seconds, processing.
Then Macker broke into a wide grin. "Holy shit, master. You lowkey started a cold war. They are in shambles and have nothing to do"
Nix whistled. "That's brutal. But… effective."
Ema leaned back against the wall. "Respect, it is what our leader supposed to be."
Aftor smirked. "Shit is cold as ice. I like it."
Sano gave a single, approving nod.
Kruna was the only one who didn't immediately congratulate him. He just looked at Orced with that faint, knowing smirk of his.
Orced smiled at them all, the same charming, confident smile he always wore.
"Like I said — handled. Now let's get back to work. We've got a world of things to change."
The team slowly relaxed, the earlier tension melting into their usual energetic chatter as they started heading toward the main building.
But high above, hidden in the clouds, Sky Boys Island continued its silent drift.