Chapter 130: Ambush In The Alley

Kane tensed, his fox instincts prickling as the shadow moved again.

He brushed his fingers against Cyrus’s wrist—a subtle signal.

Cyrus didn’t break stride, but his posture shifted slightly.

"The suits should fit perfectly," he said conversationally, his voice carrying in the evening air.

"Hoshino’s measurements were precise."

Kane nodded, playing along while his eyes tracked the alley’s mouth.

"I’ll try them on tonight."

Cyrus made a show of checking his phone, angling toward the streetlight.

"Actually, I think I left something in the shop. Wait here."

Instead of returning to Hoshino & Sons, Cyrus strolled past the alley entrance, hands in his pockets, the picture of casual indifference.

Kane counted to ten, then doubled back through the adjacent street, approaching the alley from the opposite end.

His heart hammered as he crept along the brick wall, listening for any sound of movement.

A figure crouched near the alley’s center, watching Cyrus’s retreating form.

"Now," Kane whispered into the night.

They moved simultaneously—Cyrus blocking the street exit while Kane emerged from the shadows behind their stalker.

The figure spun, trapped between them.

"Don’t move," Kane commanded, reaching for his gun.

The figure lunged toward Kane, movements fluid and serpentine.

Kane dodged a strike aimed at his throat, recognizing the precise, calculated technique even in the darkness.

"Wait—"

The figure twisted away from Kane’s reach, but Cyrus materialized behind them. One hand clamped down on the stalker’s shoulder while the other caught their wrist.

"Enough."

Cyrus’s voice carried the weight of absolute authority as he dragged the struggling figure toward the street lamp.

The light revealed pale green hair spilling from beneath a trench coat, ice-blue eyes wide with fury and embarrassment.

"Ginsei?" Kane’s eyes widened.

His rival stood trapped in Cyrus’s grip, serpent-graceful even in captivity.

The white scales along Ginsei’s throat caught the lamplight as he finally stopped fighting.

"Let me go, dragon."

Ginsei’s voice held its usual cold composure, but Kane caught the underlying tension.

"What the hell are you doing following us?"

Cyrus’s grip loosened but didn’t release completely.

"Speak. Now."

Ginsei straightened his coat, ice-blue eyes flicking between them.

"I surrender. Just—allow me to explain."

Cyrus’s hand dropped away, but he remained close enough to strike if needed. Ginsei rolled his shoulders, working out the tension from Cyrus’s iron grip.

"I’ve been watching you since the emergency meeting at headquarters." His ice-blue gaze fixed on Kane.

"Your behavior doesn’t add up," Ginsei said, voice sharp with accusation.

"Your nervous look when Qi mentioned Rina’s disappearance. Dodging his questions about your whereabouts. Acting like you have personal stakes in a case you shouldn’t even know the details of."

Kane opened his mouth to protest, but Ginsei pressed on.

"My serpent instincts don’t lie, Kane. You’re hiding something significant, and it involves more than your little undercover assignment."

Ginsei’s gaze shifted to Cyrus, calculating.

"Both of you are."

The white scales along his throat shimmered as his head tilted, predatory and patient.

"Kane owes you nothing." Cyrus stepped forward, placing himself between Kane and Ginsei, his presence radiating controlled menace.

"What you’re doing is harassment."

Ginsei’s serpent smile widened, all teeth and cold amusement.

"Funny, coming from the dragon who shows up at Bureau headquarters with breakfast feasts."

The scales along his throat glittered as he tilted his head.

"Nothing suspicious about a CEO delivering McDonald’s to his ’assistant’ at a government facility."

Cyrus’s eyes flashed crimson.

"Careful, snake."

"Or what?" Ginsei’s voice turned silky, dangerous.

"You’ll incinerate me in the middle of downtown? That would certainly solve Kane’s credibility problem."

Kane felt the temperature around them shift—Cyrus’s heat rising while mist began forming where Ginsei stood.

"Both of you, stop—"

"Stay out of this, fox." Ginsei’s ice-blue gaze never left Cyrus. "Your boyfriend and I are having a conversation about territorial boundaries."

Cyrus’s hands clenched into fists, crimson energy sparking between his fingers.

"Call him that again."

"What? Boyfriend?" Ginsei’s smile turned predatory. "Or should I say pet?"

Ginsei’s words hit like ice shards, and Kane felt Cyrus’s fury spike through their bond.

Kane stepped between them before violence could erupt, hands raised in mock surrender.

"Wow, Ginsei. Following me around dark alleys? That’s not creepy at all."

He forced a laugh, deflecting the tension.

"What’s next, hiding in my shower?"

Ginsei’s serpent smile faltered slightly at Kane’s casual tone.

"This isn’t a joke—"

"You’re right." Kane’s amber eyes glinted with mischief.

"It’s pathetic. The great Ginsei, reduced to stalking his competition because he can’t solve cases the normal way."

The barb hit home—Ginsei’s scales rippled with irritation.

"I’m investigating suspicious behavior—"

"My suspicious behavior?" Kane gestured dramatically.

"Having a boyfriend who buys me breakfast? Shocking scandal right there."

Cyrus’s tension eased fractionally at Kane’s performance, though his eyes remained locked on Ginsei.

Kane pressed his advantage, weaving truth with misdirection.

"Look, if you must know—yes, I’m keeping some things private. Dating the CEO of the company I’m investigating creates certain... complications."

Ginsei’s eyes narrowed, parsing Kane’s half-truth for deception.

"I’m just as worried about Rina as you are," Kane said, letting genuine concern color his voice.

"But stalking me and Cyrus won’t help her. We’ve been too... occupied with each other to focus properly on Bureau matters."

He gestured vaguely between himself and Cyrus, hoping his embarrassment looked authentic.

A faint smirk tugged at Cyrus’s lips as he watched Kane navigate the minefield of half-truths.

Cyrus knew exactly what Kane was doing—and found it dangerously attractive.

"Personal relationships complicate professional duties. You know how it is."

Ginsei’s ice-blue eyes studied Kane’s face. The tension stretched between them like a taut wire.

Finally, Ginsei’s posture relaxed slightly. "I suppose that explains your distracted behavior at headquarters."

His scales settled into their normal pattern, no longer rippling with agitation. "Romance does make people act foolishly."

Kane exhaled in relief, but Ginsei’s serpent smile returned, sharp and knowing.

"Very convincing performance, you sly fox."

The temperature around them plummeted as Ginsei’s true nature emerged.

"But I have reason to believe Rina is at Veyr Corp. My contacts aren’t limited to Bureau channels."

Kane’s blood turned to ice.

Ginsei stepped closer, voice dropping to a whisper that carried the chill of arctic winds.

"You tell me everything—Rina’s condition, your real investigation, whatever game you and the dragon are playing."

His ice-blue gaze promised consequences.

"Or Commander Qi hears it from me."