"I can't promise you anything, but I will try my best to help," Kairo said. He could feel the frustration in Sam's voice.
"I just need an answer. But I could not take it from you in public," Sam said with a sigh.
Kairo noticed Luve, who had been lively a moment ago, seemed to fade slightly. Color washed away from her face, leaving nothing but a tinge of sorrow. Despite her keeping her back straight and her face as neutral as ever, Kairo could still see through the facade.
"My son... Luve's brother has been assassinated. All of this started a month ago when we got confirmation from an unknown source that the Deck of Origin might be more than a myth," Sam said.
"A month ago, you say?" Kairo's eyes flashed with understanding. That was exactly the time frame of the incident in the cathedral. It was a few days after that when Kairo got his media title of the Sky Diver. If the two events are linked, it meant the Surgeon's operations were not without reason. Selis was preparing her cannon fodder... but after we spoiled her plans, revealing the information became her best bet, Kairo guessed.
"I don't get what all of this has to do with me. I am sorry for your brother, Luve, but I can't do anything about it," Kairo said. He sympathized with their pain, but that didn't concern him, nor could he actually change something.
"We also thought the same thing until we found out that my son died exactly after investigating you. I don't know why, but after he learned the Deck of Origin was real, he started monitoring you. And that's when he was killed. His head chopped off by a katana. As if someone was trying to silence him about something you might possess or hide. So I want to know, Kairo, do you have any idea what that could be?"
"A katana, you say?" Kairo already had an idea in mind. But several questions rose in his heart. Could someone have found out about him having the Eye of Truth? Kairo's heart skipped a beat. If that was the case, then everyone around him would be in great danger. Slow down, Kairo. That was one month ago, and since then you haven't been attacked. Either the person can't confirm you have it, or they are protecting me... but why?
"Yes, Kairo. We believe it is that new member of the Order of Bounty Hunters. The one we call Card Zero. I will bet my last card he killed my brother, but I can't prove it. I need your help," Luve pleaded, her eyes almost teary, but there were no tears in them. Just buried fury she was restraining with her chains of reason.
"There is no certainty it is Card Zero, but Luve is too stubborn to listen to me. She believes without doubt it is him. To find out the truth, we need to catch him. But that's where things get complicated," Sam said.
"I get it now," Kairo's face illuminated. They weren't actually asking for his help — they were trying to leverage his position as Magnus's son to get someone in the Card Mage Police to help them. More precisely, Fabian. This was the best spy that existed in this world. With the General Eye, he could find almost anybody, and with his network and entire department at work, it was not impossible to find him.
"You can't find him alone. The members of the OBH are master assassins. They can hide in your own shadow without you knowing they are around. You believe Fabian and his department might be able to find Card Zero?" Kairo asked. Although the IMCA was huge, it wasn't as structured or well-trained as the departments of the Card Mage Police. Without their help, it would be very hard to find Card Zero.
"What is there for us to gain in this?" Kairo only then was interested enough to take a seat. Not that he didn't want to help them at first, but the Card Mage Police didn't belong to him. He could not go around ordering captains without sufficient stakes for them. Kairo guessed Sam was not going through his father directly because he was trying to appeal to Kairo's sentimentality — or maybe naivety — he couldn't tell. But Kairo wasn't going to let himself be played like this. Now he was the one in charge.
"I knew you wouldn't be easy to convince. I think I have something that might be appealing to you and your mother," Sam said.
"My mother?" Kairo asked with a raised eyebrow.
"You have grown courageous with time, Sam," Mirelle said as she walked in. Dressed in an evening gown, she looked like she was about to go out but had changed her plans midway.
The guard at the door showed a pitiful stare at Sam for being unable to stop her. Sam simply waved at them to leave, not the least bit surprised — as if he even expected her to come.
"Mirelle, why are you here?" Kairo was startled to see her.
"I was getting ready for us to talk, but Sam was faster than me. Come with me — they can't hold you here against your will."
"No miss, it's a misunderstanding. I have a deal for you both. You asked me what I could provide in exchange for your help, Kairo. Here is my offer. During the gold rush for the card Chosen Destiny, the ICMA and the Card Mage Police will form an alliance. We will work together and, at the end, find a way to decide between us who gets the card," Sam proposed.
"This sounds like a good offer, but can we trust your words?" Mirelle asked with a skeptical look.
"My father would never lie on something like this. My brother was supposed to take over the association. His assassination commands justice," Luve said, eyes full of certainty. For her, there was nothing more important than finding the culprit.
Kairo turned his attention to Sam. This was actually a good thing for the Card Mage Police. The more people they had on their side, the better it would be. This way, the overall casualties would be greatly limited. Furthermore, Kairo believed together they had a greater chance of getting Chosen Destiny.
Can we trust Sam? He doesn't show much on his face. It's hard to guess what he really thinks. One thing is certain though — he too is affected by his son's death, Kairo thought inwardly.
"On my golden card, I promise to hold onto my words. If you two do the same. This — or I am not called Sam Cort," Sam said, his eyes burning with the same determination in his voice.
"Mirelle?" Kairo called out. Although he was the one who proposed a reward for them in exchange for help, he could not take such a decision. Mirelle, on the other hand, had enough power to do that.
"Deal then. We will find Card Zero for you. I am certain he will be part of those who will try their luck to get Chosen Destiny. We will get him at that moment," Mirelle said with a nod. She was quick to assess the possible benefit for the Card Mage Police in this agreement.
"It was a pleasure doing business with you both. Let's meet when everything starts."
Kairo stood up and bid farewell. Sam didn't walk them away and simply sat in his chair, giving off an air of mystery and power.
Kairo and Mirelle left the building of the ICMA. The soft darkness had already spread all over the sky. The streets were calm and almost deserted when Kairo and Mirelle were walking.
Next to each other, Kairo had no idea how to start. They were supposed to meet at a table, but things didn't go as planned, and now they were here. What could she be thinking? I don't know what to say to her, Kairo thought. He had waited for this moment the entire day, eager to talk and talk about what could have been. But now, next to her, Kairo had no idea how to start.
"Reminds me of the last time we met," Mirelle startled. Kairo slowed down an instant. In his mind, there was a vague memory of him holding someone's hand while walking to an unknown destination. Exactly like at the moment.
"You were barely five at that time. I was holding your hand while bringing you to your father," Mirelle spoke slowly, as if gathering her courage to say something she couldn't. Kairo was patient, not pushing her nor saying anything. "I made a mistake, Kairo. At that time I was very young and blind. All I saw was how to be better than him and not lag behind him."
"I can understand that feeling. Everyone wants to be like him," Kairo said. He too was striving hard to get to his father's level, but he still had a long way to go.
"Back then he was rising so fast I felt unable to catch up. And when I found out about you... I... I thought you might be another obstacle. I had no intention of harming you. I didn't have the courage to remove you from my stomach. Once he found out that Fabian knew and was willing to help me take care of you, their friendship shattered on that day. Now he hates Fabian and myself. But you have to understand, Kairo, I am sorry," Mirelle said, trying to get closer to him.
But Kairo raised his hands, creating an invisible but real barrier between them, signaling her to stay away from him. At this point, he felt like his world had been shattered into several fragmented lies.
"Father was right... I don't need you in my life," he said. The entire story came into picture in Kairo's mind — why his father couldn't stand her and Fabian. It had nothing to do with his strict personality. No, it was this. Although she couldn't resolve herself to do it in the end, she did have the intention to do it, and that was all Kairo's mind kept at the moment.
"Your father used card magic on your still developing body to seal all your memories of me and that day at the hospital. That's why you don't remember anything. This might also be the reason why your cards are so special," Mirelle said. The regret and sorrow in her voice were heavy — so much that Kairo could feel how burdened she had been all those years.
"You have succeeded, Mirelle Dorothy. You have achieved one of the most prestigious positions in the Card Mage Police. Everyone respects you and admires you like Magnus's second. Congratulations. It was worth it," Kairo said. Turning his back to her, he walked away.
"Kairo..." she called out.
Kairo quickened his pace, desperate to leave as fast as he could from her. You didn't want Nyx and I together because you feared she might do something like you tried to do. But she is different. She is not like you, Kairo said inwardly, now feeling even more desperate to see her.