The next morning...
The city had finally returned to its usual rhythm.
The streets were once again crowded with people rushing toward their destinations, vehicles filled the roads, and the atmosphere felt surprisingly peaceful...
As if the recent tragedy had never happened.
Volume 2nd [ The truth they buried ]
Chapter no 10 :- crossroads begins....!
Standing near his bedroom window, Kye quietly watched the lively streets below.
Kye (thinking): "What a beautiful morning..."
A faint smile crossed his face.
"Before heading out... maybe I should grab a cup of coffee."
"Who knows..."
"This might be the last time I get to enjoy a peaceful morning here for a while."
He stretched lazily before raising his voice.
Kye: "Mom! Is breakfast ready? I'm coming downstairs!"
---
A little while later...
After finishing breakfast together, Daigo and Mira prepared to leave for work.
As they reached the front door...
Kye quietly watched them.
Kye (thinking): "It's been quite a while since they've both gone out for work together."
"Usually Dad handles most of it himself..."
"Anyway—"
Before he could finish his thoughts...
Mira turned around with a gentle smile.
Mira: "We'll be back this evening."
"Until then, take good care of yourself."
Her expression suddenly became serious.
"And don't you dare run off somewhere again."
"Otherwise..."
"You'll have to deal with both of us."
Kye let out a helpless sigh.
Kye: "Yeah, yeah... I got it."
"Can you two stop treating me like a little kid already?"
Daigo simply shook his head before the couple finally left.
The house became silent once again.
A few moments later...
Kye grabbed his jacket and stepped outside.
As he casually walked along the road, a thought suddenly resurfaced.
Kye: "Good thing I noticed it back then..."
---
Flashback — Child Research Facility
As Kye collapsed to the ground...
His fading vision caught sight of Null standing in the distance.
For only a brief moment...
He noticed an identification card partially sticking out of Null's pocket.
The words written on it...
"SS Partners."
---
Back to the Present..!
Kye stopped walking.
Kye (thinking): "SS Partners..."
"I'm pretty sure that was the name."
"If I can find that organization..."
"I might finally uncover something useful."
Without wasting another second...
Kye quietly continued walking, determined to follow the only lead he had.
---
Scene Shifts
The atmosphere suddenly changed.
Inside a quiet house...
The same mysterious stranger stood near a window, his black coat still draped over his shoulders.
The room was dimly lit, leaving only faint rays of sunlight slipping through the curtains.
A woman sitting across the room finally broke the silence.
Woman: "Did you manage to find the address?"
The stranger shook his head.
Stranger: "No..."
"But I did meet someone who seemed to recognize it."
"I gave him my contact number."
"Hopefully... he'll call me."
After a brief pause, he looked toward her.
Stranger: "By the way..."
"How's your research going?"
"Everything alright?"
The woman quietly adjusted the documents spread across the table.
Woman: "According to my calculations..."
"We'll find where he is soon enough."
Her expression slowly grew serious.
"We don't have much time."
"Anything could happen to him."
"We need to move faster."
Silence filled the room once again.
---
Scene Shifts...again!
Back to Kye.
A towering skyscraper stood before Kye.
He quietly looked up at the massive building before letting out a small sigh.
Kye: "Hmm..."
"It's Just as I expected..."
"According to the information available online, this isn't their headquarters."
"This building is only used for one of their business divisions."
Kye took out his phone and quietly snapped a few photos of the building.
Moments later, he opened a webpage.
> SS PARTNERS
"A multinational corporation founded by four co-founders."
"Currently recognized as one of the largest companies in the United States."
"Its primary businesses involve oil production, raw materials, and industrial development."
Kye continued scrolling.
"Nothing unusual..."
"Everything here makes them look like a perfectly normal company."
He lowered his phone.
"At least... on the surface."
Just then...
His eyes froze on a familiar name.
Victor Ashford.
Kye: "...What?"
"Isn't that..."
Before he could finish—
A familiar voice interrupted him.
Kyle: "Kye?"
"What are you doing here?"
"When did you come back?"
"Why didn't you tell any of us?"
Kye quickly put away his phone.
Kye: "Well..."
"You probably already saw the news."
"A lot happened..."
Kyle scratched the back of his head.
Kyle: "Forget about that."
"Just tell me when you're free."
"We should hang out sometime."
Kye gave a small nod.
Kye: "Sure."
"I'll call or message you later."
He hesitated for a second.
Kye: "By the way..."
"Victor Ashford..."
"He's your father, right?"
Kyle remained silent for a brief moment.
His expression changed ever so slightly.
Kyle: "...Yeah."
"Why are you suddenly asking about him?"
Kye forced a casual smile.
Kye: "Nothing important."
"You never actually told me his name before, so I was just curious."
He turned around.
Kye: "Anyway... I'll see you later."
Without saying another word...
Kye walked away.
Kyle silently watched him disappear into the crowd.
---
Scene Shifts
By the time Kye began walking back home...
The sun had already started to set.
The orange sky slowly faded into darkness as the streets became quieter with every passing minute.
Kye (thinking):
"Already evening...?"
"Time passed faster than I expected."
"I can't investigate all night."
"I'm only staying here for another two or three days before leaving."
"At this pace... I won't get anywhere."
As he continued walking...
His footsteps suddenly came to a halt.
A faint sound echoed through the air.
So quiet...
That an ordinary person would never have noticed it.
Kye's eyes narrowed.
Without hesitation—
He dashed toward a narrow, deserted alley.
---
The moment he arrived...
He saw three men surrounding a young woman.
She struggled desperately to free herself.
Woman: "What... what do you want from me?"
"I was just on my way home..."
One of the men laughed.
Gangster 1: "Don't act innocent."
"You already know what we want."
"Just cooperate for a few hours..."
"Then we'll let you go."
"And don't scream..."
"Unless you want everyone to hear you."
Another man slowly reached toward her...
Touching her against her will.
The woman's body went completely limp.
Tears rolled down her face.
It was as if...
She had already given up.
Suddenly—
A voice echoed through the alley.
Kye: "Whoa, whoa..."
"Mind saving some fun for me?"
The woman froze.
Seeing another man appear...
She instinctively assumed he was one of them.
One of the gangsters frowned.
Gangster 1: "What the hell are you talking about?"
"Who even are you?"
"We've never seen your face before."
"Since you've already seen everything..."
"Just wait over there."
"After we're done..."
"You can do whatever you want."
Kye smiled.
Kye: "What if..."
"I don't feel like waiting?"
The second gangster stepped forward angrily.
Gangster 2: "You little—"
He never finished his sentence.
CRACK!!
Kye's knee smashed directly into his skull.
The man collapsed instantly.
One hit.
The third gangster immediately lunged from behind with a knife.
But before the blade could reach him—
Splash!!
A single swift movement.
The attack was reversed.
The knife sliced straight across its owner's neck.
He dropped to the ground without another sound.
The first gangster seized the opportunity.
Charging from behind...
He drove his knife toward Kye.
This time...
The attack connected.
Or so it seemed.
At the last possible moment...
Kye raised his hand.
The blade pierced straight through his palm instead of reaching anything vital.
Kye looked at him with cold eyes.
Kye: "You insect..."
"Did you really think you could kill me from behind?"
Without even flinching...
He pulled the knife out of his own hand.
And drove it directly into the man's face.
Slash.
Slash.
Slash.
Silence.
It was over.
Kye wiped the blood from his face before walking toward the trembling woman.
He gently helped her stand.
She stared at him in complete disbelief.
Woman: "How..."
"How did you do all that?"
Before either of them could say another word—
Police sirens echoed through the streets.
Kye's expression changed.
He stepped closer until he stood right in front of her.
Placing a finger gently against her lips...
He spoke in a calm voice.
Kye: "Don't tell the police I was here."
"Don't tell them who I am."
"Just say..."
"You don't know what happened."
"Remember that."
Without waiting for a reply...
Kye leapt onto the rooftop.
Within seconds...
He disappeared into the darkness.
Moments later...
Police officers rushed into the alley and began securing the crime scene.
The young woman remained frozen.
Her eyes never left the rooftop where Kye had vanished.
Woman (thinking):
"Who... was he?"
---
Scene Shifts...
Moments earlier...
The story briefly returned to the past.
As fate would have it...
A stranger happened to pass by that deserted alley.
From a distance...
He witnessed everything unfolding before his eyes.
His body froze , Fear completely overwhelmed him.
Despite wanting to help...
He couldn't bring himself to step forward.
Instead...
He immediately turned around and sprinted toward the nearest police patrol.
Breathing heavily, he pointed them toward the alley.
Stranger: "Please... hurry!"
"There's a woman being attacked!"
"They're inside that alley!"
Without wasting another second...
The officers rushed toward the location.
---
Back to the Present
The police quickly secured the entire area.
One of the officers approached the frightened young woman.
Stranger: "Miss..."
"Are you alright?"
His voice was filled with guilt.
"I'm... really sorry."
"I couldn't help you when it mattered."
The woman forced a weak smile.
Woman: "It's alright..."
"I'm fine."
A police officer looked around at the three motionless bodies scattered across the alley.
His expression turned serious.
Police Officer: "What exactly happened here?"
"Judging by the scene..."
"It doesn't look like you were the one who did this."
The woman remained silent for a moment before answering.
Woman: "There... was someone else here."
"The moment your sirens got closer..."
"He disappeared."
The officer nodded.
Police Officer: "We'll continue questioning you at the station."
"For now..."
"Let the investigation team handle the crime scene."
---
Scene Shifts
Meanwhile...
Completely unaware of everything happening behind him...
Kye was already racing back home at full speed.
The evening breeze rushed past him as he jumped from rooftop to rooftop.
Kye (thinking):
"I'm definitely getting scolded today..."
A small smile appeared on his face.
"Still..."
"Things have changed."
"I have more paths than ever before."
"Different leads..."
"Different answers..."
"The real question is..."
"Which path should I choose?"
The city lights quietly illuminated the night...
As Kye disappeared into the darkness.
And this is how the Volume 2nd chapter 10 ends. [ Crossroads ]