C39 A Chain to Pull

The room was quiet except for the slow drip of rainwater sliding from the eaves outside. Riku sat at the head of the long lacquered table, his cigarette burning low between two fingers, smoke curling upward into the dim light.

The door slid open, and Nakahara stepped in, bowing low before he set a small black folder on the table.

“We’ve confirmed it, Riku-sama,” Nakahara said, his voice steady