Chapter 188: Back To Business

The trio moved through the BSA’s glass doors, and immediately the familiar chaos of the headquarters lobby washed over them.

Agents bustled between elevators, their voices creating a low hum of urgency and bureaucracy.

"Rina!" Agent Martinez called out from the reception desk, his face breaking into a relieved grin. "Thank god you’re back. We’ve been worried sick."

"Just needed some mountain air," Rina replied smoothly, waving at the gathered agents who had begun to notice her return.

More voices joined the chorus of greetings as word spread through the lobby. Agent Thompson abandoned his coffee to rush over, followed by three junior investigators who had been huddled around a case file.

"Mountains?" Thompson’s bushy eyebrows knitted together. "You hate camping."

"Desperate times," Rina said with a laugh that sounded almost genuine. "Sometimes you need to get away from civilization to remember why you chose to live in it."

Kane watched her navigate the questions with ease, admiring how she deflected each inquiry with just enough detail to satisfy without inviting follow-up.

The elevator chimed, and Commander Qi emerged, his bronze antlers catching the fluorescent light. His green eyes immediately locked onto Rina.

"Agent Nakamura." His voice carried the weight of authority and barely concealed concern.

"My office. Now."

The lobby fell silent, conversations dying mid-sentence as agents exchanged glances.

Rina straightened her shoulders. "Of course, Commander."

As they walked toward Qi’s office, Kane caught fragments of whispered conversations resuming behind them.

"Mountain retreat, my ass," someone muttered.

"Bet she was chasing some guy," another voice added.

Ginsei fell into step beside Kane. "Think she’ll stick to the story?"

Kane watched Rina’s confident stride as she followed Commander Qi. "She’s tougher than she looks."

The office door closed with a decisive click, leaving Kane and Ginsei waiting in the corridor, both knowing that Rina’s real test was just beginning.

Kane followed Ginsei through the familiar corridors toward their shared work area. The BSA’s institutional lighting felt harsh after days in Cyrus’s penthouse, and Kane realized how long he’d actually been away from this place.

"Feels weird being back," Kane admitted, settling into his desk chair. The ergonomic seat creaked in protest, a stark contrast to the luxury he’d grown accustomed to.

Ginsei pulled up his computer, ice-blue eyes scanning multiple case files spread across his monitor.

"You’ve missed quite a bit. The spirits we rescued from that madhouse are still being processed through rehabilitation. Most are traumatized beyond belief."

Kane’s stomach twisted, remembering the horrific experiments he’d witnessed.

"The medical wing is overwhelmed trying to reverse whatever synthetic compounds were pumped into them." Ginsei’s voice carried an edge of disgust.

"And Elias?"

"Full APB issued." Ginsei pulled up a wanted notice, Elias’s sharp features staring back from the screen.

"He’s officially wanted by the BSA for spirit trafficking, illegal experimentation, and about fifteen other charges. Problem is, he’s vanished completely. No traces, no leads."

Kane frowned, unconsciously touching where his diamond pendant used to rest.

"It’s like he anticipated the bust and had an escape plan ready."

Kane nodded grimly, not surprised. Elias had always been calculating.

"What else?"

"Rogue attacks have spiked thirty percent this week. Commander Qi thinks someone’s deliberately destabilizing spirit territories, creating chaos." Ginsei gestured at his overflowing inbox.

"Plus the usual bureaucratic nightmare of incident reports, witness memory modifications, and keeping supernatural events from humans."

Kane stared at his own neglected desk, buried under case files and departmental memos. The normal world of BSA operations felt almost quaint after everything he’d experienced.

"Business as usual, then."

"More or less."

Just then, Kane’s phone buzzed against his desk. A message from Cyrus appeared on the screen:

I miss you already. The office feels empty without you.

Despite himself, Kane grinned, warmth spreading through his chest.

He angled his phone, capturing a selfie with his pouty expression and fox ear, then typed back:

Miss you too :(

Ginsei’s chair creaked as he leaned over, ice-blue eyes rolling dramatically. "Seriously? You’ve been apart for what, twenty minutes?"

"Thirty-seven," Kane corrected automatically, then caught himself. "I mean—shut up."

"Pathetic." Ginsei shook his head, but there was amusement in his expression.

"Speaking of pathetic, didn’t you promise Commander Qi those reports? The ones about your kidnapping and the facility?"

Kane’s shoulders sagged as reality crashed back.

"Right. Reports." He reluctantly tucked his phone away.

"Stop procrastinating and start writing," Ginsei advised, returning to his own paperwork. "The sooner you finish, the sooner you can get back to your dragon."

"Fine," Kane muttered, pulling up a blank report template on his computer. "But I’m not happy about it."

"When are you ever happy about paperwork?"

Kane sighed and began typing, the familiar weight of BSA bureaucracy settling over him.

Hours later, Kane finally finished his report, his fingers cramping from typing the sanitized version of events.

He’d carefully omitted any mention of the dragon egg or the shard essences—keeping to the basics of Elias’s trafficking operation.

He stretched, rolling his shoulders as he saved the document.

Kane made his way through the familiar corridors toward the forensics department, passing agents who nodded in greeting. The building felt strangely foreign after everything he’d experienced.

The forensics lab’s glass doors slid open with a soft hiss, revealing Rina hunched over a microscope, her dark hair pulled back in its usual ponytail.

Whatever passed in Qi’s office must have gone well; two hours later, Rina was back in forensics, as if nothing had happened.

"Rina," Kane called softly.

She looked up, offering him a genuine smile.

"Kane! Perfect timing. I was just analyzing some samples from the rescued spirits."

Kane approached her workstation, noting how steady her hands were as she adjusted the microscope settings.

"How are you holding up? I thought you might need more time off after..."

"After my mountain retreat?" Rina’s eyes twinkled with amusement.

"I haven’t felt better, honestly."

Kane studied her face, searching for any signs of strain or instability. "You’re sure? No lingering effects?"

"None at all." Rina gestured to her equipment. "Actually, my enhanced senses are making my work easier. I can detect trace elements I couldn’t before."

Kane reached into his pocket, pulling out the USB drive he’d stolen from Elias’s lab. The small device felt heavy with secrets.

"Speaking of analysis, I have something for you to look at. From the facility."