### Chapter 83: Shadows of Deception**
The three Black Brothers landed in front of the Seoul Hunter Association headquarters with a thunderous *BOOM*, their arrival sending a shockwave through the air. Vodoyme stood at the forefront, his black coat billowing in the wind, a grin plastered across his face. Vapor escaped from the sides of his mouth, curling into the cold air like smoke from a dragon's nostrils. Behind him, his two subordinates, Lucius and the other cloaked figure, stood with an air of menace.
Mujin, Akebi, and Thomas stepped out of the building, their expressions calm but wary. Mujin waved his hand casually, a friendly smile on his face. "Hello, hello! Welcome to Seoul—" Before he could finish, Lucius blurred forward with a *WHOOSH*, his right hand outstretched. In an instant, he grabbed Mujin's face and slammed him into the ground with a deafening *CRASH*. The impact sent cracks spiderwebbing across the pavement.
Akebi's eyes widened in shock, but Thomas simply chuckled, his arms crossed. From within Lucius's shadow, another Mujin emerged, unharmed and smiling. "Well, well," Mujin said, brushing imaginary dust off his coat. "Vodoyme, you won't even let me greet you properly, and one of your brothers is already attacking me? How rude."
Vodoyme's grin faltered for a moment as he turned to Lucius. "Why did you move without my command?" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous.
Lucius straightened, his expression unapologetic. "I could tell just by looking at him," he said, his voice dripping with confidence. "Mujin teleported Sakamoto out of Seoul. Or have you forgotten my ability? It lets me track the last Shen-related technique anyone uses upon eye contact."
Thomas's eyes narrowed, his mind racing. *They've caught up to us already?* he thought, his fists clenching involuntarily.
Mujin, however, remained unbothered. He smiled at Lucius, his tone almost mocking. "You should try looking harder instead of relying purely on instinct," he said. Lucius glared at him, his eyes scanning Mujin once more. But this time, he found nothing. It was as if Mujin had become a completely different person. Frustrated, Lucius stepped back, his jaw tightening.
Mujin clapped his hands together, his smile widening. "Now that we've gotten that out of the way, why don't we head inside? I'm sure we have much to discuss."
---
Inside the Seoul Hunter Association headquarters, the atmosphere was tense. Mujin sat at the head of a long table, Vodoyme and his brothers seated across from him. Akebi and Thomas stood nearby, their eyes darting between the two parties. Vodoyme leaned back in his chair, pulling out a thick cigar. With a flick of his finger, a small flame ignited, lighting the cigar with a faint *HISS*. He took a long drag, exhaling a cloud of smoke that filled the room with a pungent aroma. After a moment, he coughed and sat upright, his expression serious.
"Let's cut to the chase," Vodoyme said, his voice gravelly. "The Egyptian and Russian Hunter Associations hired us to get the boy, fully permitted by SUHA, Killing An Emperor that serves the two nations wasn't exactly wise you know?. And as you know, the Black Brothers don't fail when we're hired." He paused, taking another drag from his cigar. "According to the information we've received, Sakamoto appeared in the small country that serve as a stronghold to Egypt and Russia and caused massive destruction, not only that he killed the emperor , We're here to prevent a war."
Mujin leaned forward, his hands clasped on the table. "I understand your concerns," he said calmly. "But I believe Sakamoto is innocent. I'll reach out to the affected nations and try to reason with them."
Vodoyme's grin returned, but it was devoid of humor. "Enough jokes,you think we're here to kid around?" he said, his tone sharp. "Where is Sakamoto?"
Mujin spread his hands, his expression innocent. "I don't know his location."
Lucius chuckled darkly, rising from his seat. His brothers followed suit, their movements synchronized. "You might have deceived me earlier," Lucius said, his voice dripping with menace. "But not anymore." He slammed his palms into the ground, the sound echoing like a *THUNDERCLAP* and then he muttered saying it cold and gently . "Reverse Technique: Chronostatics!"
A glowing light erupted from his hands, illuminating the room with a blinding *FLASH*. Lucius's eyes glowed as he retraced Mujin's earlier technique. After a moment, he smirked. "India, huh?" he said, his voice triumphant.
Thomas stepped forward, his fists clenched, but Mujin raised a hand to stop him. "No," Mujin said firmly. "Let them go. If we stop them now, it'll look like we had a hand in what happened in those other nations." He turned to Akebi , his expression serious. "I hope Sakamoto finds Rajesh before they find him."
With a final *WHOOSH*, the Black Brothers disappeared, leaving the room in silence.
---
Meanwhile, in a bustling Indian city, the sun shone brightly over a crowded marketplace. Traders called out to passersby, their voices blending into a cacophony of sounds. The air was thick with the scent of spices and the hum of activity. In a narrow alley between two buildings, Sakamoto appeared with a faint *POP*, his figure materializing in the shadows. He stepped out into the sunlight, his eyes scanning the busy streets. People dressed in traditional attire moved about, their vibrant colors a stark contrast to Sakamoto's dark, weary expression.
He took a deep breath, the weight of his situation pressing down on him he didn't understand what was going on or how he's been framed but he wasn't going to shut himself down . *Rajesh,* he thought. *I need to find him before it's too late.*
The chapter ends with Sakamoto blending into the crowd, his journey just beginning.