With a look of confusion, Susanoo was summoned to the conference room for her briefing back at HQ. Her father wasn't there to defend her. Long interview short, her career was safe. For now. But not without getting burned.

  “It’s... It’s not like I do not understand you, madame...” she spoke with trepidation. "What you are proposing, I have no problem with. But what is the reason?"

  Hikari glared at her.

  Susanoo tried her luck again, “What is the reason--?”

  "I believe that two heads are better than one. And in this case, two teams should have been better than one." Hikari suggested.

  “Did the Imperial Knight approve of this?” Susanoo asked.

  “Yes,” Hikari answered. "I have already instructed him. He'll play along. But I advise everyone to do the same."

  Susanoo didn’t show any expression, “Understood.” She agreed.

  “And Susanoo? We are all trying to show good faith." Hikari instructed.

  She used her first name. Hikari never used her first name, especially someone as highly decorated as Susanoo.

  Susanoo nodded slightly and left the office. She made her way down the street as it was a bit crowded. Susanoo warned her about the meeting being vague, but not that vague. She immediately went to her phone and texted her teammates.

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  Susanoo walked a few blocks and sat on a park bench near the river. A few moments later, her father joined her. She was holding two small cups of cappuccino.

  “Father,” Susanoo greeted.

  Marcus nodded, handing her one of the cups.

  Susanoo accepted it. She could smell the sweet caramelization of the sugar as she took a sip. It was just what she needed on this cold day, "I have been reassigned and been relived from my duties as your administrator.”

  Marcus gave her a stoic look.

  Susanoo shook her head, “I love how not they are pretending to care about everyone instead of themselves." Taking a sip of her coffee. "She is still retentive after losing the campaign. That's all this is." She debunked.

  “Was Hikari involved with the decision?” Marcus wondered.

  Susanoo scoffed, “None of us were ready for this.”

  “She just didn’t want me to be the Imperial Knight, because she never trusted me. Nothing more," Marcus informed.

  “Disgusting...” Susanoo growled. "She doesn’t like me. I could tell them both thinking I am not good enough for their son.”

  “You don’t think Stryker knows about all the cheap parlor tricks I taught you, Susanoo? Who do you think squared me away?” Marcus questioned.

  She shook her head, “We have been in the dark for so long; now she is sending her pets to spy on us.” Susanoo said. "We have no choice but to play this game. The Crux will now has seven Sentinels, with its Queen being the player/coach. In MUSCA, Dolph has proven to be a weak leader. He is not running the show anymore. And I don't think he ever wanted to be the grandmaster.”

  “That is why we must be ready. The Society always talk about absolution, but all they want is violence. It's not a matter of if but when for them. I got another case for us, forget about Marco. Get ready to work tomorrow,” Finishing up his cup of coffee.

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