Yes, the Bureau kept the recovered serum samples. That alone was a dangerous weapon in their hands, especially now that Raiden understood just how deep their corruption ran.
What if they planned to use the serum to replace Kaina? They could manufacture the perfect killers, loyal, efficient, and without the ability to question orders, molded to serve their twisted agenda.
So if they did nothing, the Bureau would undoubtedly find a way to exploit that serum, maybe by injecting low-ranking heroes to artificially boost their power or manipulate them into doing the Bureau's dirty work.
Raiden's fingers drummed against the kitchen counter as his mind raced.
Kaina is the only one who can infiltrate and gather real information, he thought, his gaze fixed on the swirling darkness outside. But they won't just let her roam free. Not after everything that's happened. I doubt even Hawks could slip by their watchful eyes.
The more Raiden thought about it, the more he wondered if Hawks himself was trapped in a similar nightmare—just another tool the Bureau manipulated to maintain their power.
That idea made something click in his mind. Maybe... maybe that could be my way in. They could introduce me as a new asset, a fresh recruit willing to serve their interests. If I played the part well enough, I could get close. Search for something off about the Bureau from the inside, being the new "innocent" guy I could force them to reveal something, or aah, I'm not sure, If Kaina hadn't found anything in all those years what I can I search for? Unless, she did find proof but being compromised she couldn't exploit them, Also I should be abble to read their mind to some exent isn't? that something neither Hawks or Kaina had.
But even as the plan began to take shape, doubt crept in. There were flaws—too many, really. If the Bureau suspected him for even a second, the whole thing would collapse. And worse, Kaina would be dragged down with him.
He needed something more solid. A plan so well-crafted that it wouldn't just fool the Bureau but catch them completely off guard. And for that, he needed Kaina's help.
Raiden sighed, the boy was frustrated, he couldn't find a clear solution to this problem. I can't pull this off alone.
His plans always seemed to end in chaos—Even if the plans start well, somehow he ends up fighting head-on, isn't like Raiden is dumb, is just bad luck. because of this. He'd lost some faith in his judgment, knowing how often his luck, and maybe some little bit of impulsivity, got him into fights he could barely win.
But this was different. They couldn't afford mistakes. Getting caught would mean being branded as villains by the Bureau. And Raiden wasn't willing to throw Kaina's life away because of his own impatience, or even his life.
For now, the best decision he could make was to wait until morning. He needed to talk this through with Kaina, to build a plan together. Anything less would be gambling with both their lives.
Setting his phone alarm for the earliest hour he could manage, Raiden typed out a quick text to his parents, explaining he wouldn't be coming home that night. The last thing he wanted was for them to worry, not after everything that had unfolded over the past couple of months.
He tossed his phone onto the table and glanced back toward Kaina's room. She was still sleeping, lost somewhere between exhaustion and nightmares.
Raiden dragged himself to the couch and let his body sink into the cushions. His eyes drifted shut, but his mind kept turning, tangled in plans, doubts, and the overwhelming need to protect the person who had become so important to him.
The next morning, when Kaina woke up, the weight of yesterday's conversation hit her all at once.
The regret clung to her like a slime in carpet, it was a bitter and shameful feeling.
She wished she hadn't spilled everything, hadn't let her guard down so completely. Yet, beneath the shame and second-guessing, a flicker of relief lingered.
For the first time, someone else knew the truth. Someone she trusted. The feeling was strange, unsettling, but not entirely unpleasant.
She could sense Raiden was still in the house—of course, he wouldn't have just left. She knew him well enough to be sure of that. Wanting a little more time to herself before facing him, Kaina headed for the bathroom.
Stripping off her clothes, she stepped into the bathtub, letting the cool porcelain press against her skin before turning the faucet.
Slowly, the tub filled with steaming water, inching upward until it lapped gently at her sides. She submerged herself, letting the warmth seep into her muscles, trying to ease the tension wound so tightly around her.
She stayed like that for nearly an hour, her mind replaying the conversation over and over. No matter how she twisted the memory, she couldn't change what had happened. Finally, deciding she'd stalled long enough, Kaina drained the tub and wrapped herself in a towel.
When she made her way to the kitchen, the smell of freshly made waffles and coffee greeted her. Raiden sat at the table, earphones in, eyes glued to his phone. Whatever he was watching had his full attention—he didn't even notice Kaina until she was practically standing over him.
"Morning. I made waffles," he said with a smile, pulling out one of his earbuds. The casual, almost cheerful tone caught her off guard. He acted like nothing had changed—like he hadn't spent the previous night listening to her darkest secrets.
At the same time, his gaze looked over her body, she was using only a towel after all, so it was impossible for Raiden to ignore that.
She slid into the chair across from him and started eating, her eyes fixed on the plate more than Raiden. But staying silent when something important was happening had never been her style.
With a bluntness she couldn't shake, she asked, "So... now what?"
Raiden took his time, chewing thoughtfully before finally answering. "Now, you come up with a plan to bury the Bureau."
Kaina blinked, caught off guard by the conviction in his voice. "Bury the Bureau? You're saying you're with me? Even after everything I told you?"
"Not exactly," Raiden admitted, his tone steady but genuine. "I don't agree with what you did. But I get it now. They groomed you—shaped you into what they needed. And I know you well enough to trust you're not just looking for revenge. And even if it was, I probably will seeking the same, also, Whatever happens, you're going to try to make things right. I can see that,"
He leaned back in his chair, casually slathering Nutella onto another waffle. "And honestly, if they did that to you, then the list of their crimes is probably way longer than we know. There's something else, too."
"Something else?" Kaina echoed, her curiosity piqued despite herself.
"The Bureau said they only recovered part of the serum." Raiden's eyes narrowed, his expression hardening. "But how do we know that's true? What if they're holding onto more of it—waiting to use it for something worse? I don't trust them. Not anymore."
The thought made Kaina's stomach twist. The serum was dangerous—powerful enough to turn someone like her into a weapon. If the Bureau still had any of it, there was no telling what they might be planning.
"That could be a possibility," Kaina admitted, her fingers tracing the edge of her coffee mug. "It's not the first time they've lied to the public or even the heroes. So, I'll give you that—they probably kept all the samples. But even if that's true, how exactly do you plan to bring the Bureau down?"
For the first time since the conversation started, her shoulders relaxed.
Raiden shrugged, his expression almost sheepish. "Honestly, I was hoping you'd have an answer for that. Every plan I've come up with so far ends in confrontation. And that's not gonna work against them. If we go that route, we'll be labeled as villains before we even get close to exposing the truth. I don't want that."
"So, you expect me to come up with a plan?" Kaina asked, raising an eyebrow. The disbelief in her voice was genuine. She hadn't expected him to drop that kind of responsibility on her, he was supposed to be the one helping.
"Yeah, pretty much." Raiden leaned back in his chair, his casual grin doing nothing to mask the worry etched in his eyes. "I mean, I doubt you were planning to just storm into the Bureau guns blazing."
But when he saw the way Kaina's gaze faltered, her shoulders stiffening for the briefest moment, his eyes widened in shock. She looked... embarrassed. It was subtle, a fleeting glimpse of guilt she couldn't quite hide.
"You're kidding, right?" Raiden asked, though the words came out more like a plea. But Kaina's silence spoke louder than any confession.
The way she looked away, jaw clenched, told him everything he needed to know.
"Oh, come on," he groaned, running a hand through his hair in frustration.
"You can't be serious. If you go in there like that, you won't just end up in prison—you'll..." His voice faltered, realization dawning with a sickening clarity. "That's what you want, isn't it? To get revenge on the ones who gave the orders... and then punish yourself for everything they made you do."
Kaina's expression hardened, but she didn't deny it. Her eyes remained fixed on her coffee, her fingers tightening around the mug.
"That won't change anything," Raiden pressed on, his tone was more desperate now.
"Sure, you'll get locked up, but then what? You think that'll stop them? They'll just replace you with someone else and keep doing what they've always done. If you want to make things right, the only way is to make sure the Bureau stops their target killings for good. Otherwise, you'll just rot in prison for nothing, like a disposable piece they've already written off."
He hesitated, his gaze dropping to the table before he added, softly, "And... I don't want you to end up in prison."
The sincerity in his words caught Kaina off guard. She raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement breaking through her guarded expression. "That was a pretty lousy attempt at manipulation," she chuckled, the sound rough but genuine. "No wonder all your plans end up failing, you are smart, but you lack the finesse."
Despite her harsh words, there was a warmth in her tone Raiden hadn't heard in a long time. Maybe never.
Before he could respond, she reached out and ruffled his hair, the gesture rough but strangely comforting.
"But okay, fine. If you're really that determined, we'll do this your way."
Her expression shifted with a glint of determination sparking in her eyes.
"I'll use you to gather information. You and Hawks will report directly to me—no one else. The first phase of this plan is simple: infiltration."
Raiden straightened, suddenly attentive. "Infiltration? Like... undercover?"
"Exactly," Kaina replied, her gaze sharp and calculating. "Your next internship, the part-time one, will be with the Bureau. Hawks can help get you in. No forget that, I will help you to get in, he will help us once you are inside. From there, you'll gather everything you can about their operations—files, names, projects they're trying to keep hidden. Anything that proves what they've been doing. you are clean, so everything you find will work, they hadn't anything to blackmail you."
Raiden's excitement was impossible to hide. "Okay. I can do that. But are you sure about Hawks? Can we trust him? I know he is your student yo but..."
"He's proven himself enough times," Kaina answered with a shrug.
"Besides, he has his own reasons for wanting the Bureau to fall. He's not exactly their most loyal soldier."
"So... you're really giving this a shot?" Raiden asked, hope flickering in his eyes.
"I'm giving you a shot," Kaina corrected, her gaze steady. "And if you screw this up, I'll handle things my way. Understood?"
Raiden grinned, "Crystal clear. Guess we've got a lot of planning to do, but what is the Part-time intership?."
"You didn't read your study program, did you?" Kaina shot him a knowing look.
End of the Chapter.
I wanted to post this yesterday but I had an inconvenience, but it okay because the chapter is here.