SSS-Class Profession: The Path to Mastery-Chapter 319: The Day After

The morning light felt wrong.

Too bright, too gentle, too clean after the darkness of the tunnels, after the sound of my fists cracking bone, after the feel of Hyena’s blood on my gloves.

I stood in front of the mirror, the steam from the shower still curling around me, the faint bruises along my knuckles a reminder of how close I had come.

Of how close I was to crossing that line for good.

I had scrubbed until the water ran cold, until the blood was gone, but I could still feel it there, clinging to me, to my skin, to the space under my nails.

The band Alexis had given me was still around my wrist.

I tugged on it, grounding myself.

Breathe.

The apartment was quiet as I stepped out of the bathroom, towel around my shoulders, my damp hair leaving droplets along the hallway floor.

Sienna was in the kitchen, stirring a pot of something that smelled like chocolate, her brow furrowed in concentration, eyes flicking up every few seconds to look toward the hallway.

Camille was curled up on the couch, a blanket around her, her small hands clutching a warm mug. Her eyes flickered to me, holding for a moment before she gave a small nod, her lips pressing together.

Alexis was waiting near the door, her arms crossed, her expression unreadable.

The girls had insisted I stay home last night. I had nearly collapsed the moment we got back, the exhaustion crushing down on me in a way that even Endurance Boost couldn’t fight off forever. They had taken turns checking on me, bringing water, whispering quiet encouragements while thinking I was asleep.

They had been worried.

And I had told them, over and over, that I would be fine.

But I hadn’t been.

And we all knew it.

I moved toward the door, pulling on my coat, sliding the band around my wrist so it wouldn’t catch.

I had places to be.

Reports to give.

Work to do.

"Rey."

Her voice was soft, but it stopped me cold.

Alexis stepped forward, her eyes bright, her hand reaching out to rest on my chest, just above where my heart was still beating a little too fast.

"You did it," she said, her voice trembling just a little, a small, relieved smile crossing her face. "You didn’t... you didn’t let it take you."

I closed my eyes, letting out a slow breath.

"It wasn’t easy," I admitted, my voice low.

"I know." She leaned up, pressing a soft kiss to my cheek, her hand squeezing lightly against my chest. "But you did it. I’m proud of you."

I opened my eyes, looking down at her, at the warmth in her gaze, at the quiet relief there.

For a moment, I wanted to stay.

To let the day slip away, to let the world wait while I just existed here, with her, with them.

But I couldn’t.

Not yet.

"I have to go," I said, my voice steady, even as it hurt to say it.

She nodded, stepping back, her hand falling away.

"I know," she said. "Be safe."

I gave her a small nod, pulling the door open, stepping out into the crisp morning air.

The precinct felt different the moment I stepped inside.

I had come here many times during the investigation, but it was always so quiet and focused.

Today was different.

Because the moment I stepped through the door, the room erupted.

Applause.

It was loud, sharp, echoing off the walls and bouncing through the room, surrounding me.

Officers clapped me on the shoulder as I passed, some offering grins, others just nods, their eyes holding a quiet respect that I wasn’t used to seeing.

For a moment, I froze, the sound washing over me.

The only other time I could remember being celebrated like this was when I was working in construction two years ago, when I had saved my co-workers by getting Nathan fired using a Union Paper.

This was different.

This was for something real.

I didn’t know what to do with it, so I just kept walking, giving small nods, letting it happen, letting them have their moment.

Because it wasn’t just for me.

It was for Charlie.

For the people we had saved.

Grant was waiting in his office, leaning against the edge of his desk, arms crossed, a small smile on his lips.

He nodded once as I stepped inside, closing the door behind me, muffling the last of the clapping.

"Vale," he said, pushing himself upright. "You did good."

I let out a breath, rolling my shoulders, the weight of the last few days pressing down on me.

"Hyena?" I asked.

Grant’s smile faded, replaced with something more serious.

"He confessed to everything," Grant said, moving to his chair, dropping into it with a tired sigh. "In his... deteriorating mental state, he didn’t even try to hide it."

He paused, tapping a file on his desk.

"Turns out he was abandoned as a kid. Born in an alleyway, no official name, no family, no records. He used his S-Rank Hacker job to help people in the slums when he was young, stealing meds and credit card information, fixing heating, the whole package deal honestly."

Grant shook his head.

"But somewhere along the way, he got it twisted. Got desperate to find himself a family, to build one out of nothing. That’s why he started kidnapping kids and women, conditioning them with Stockholm syndrome, trying to force them to stay, to love him."

My jaw tightened, the images of Charlie’s terrified face, of Hyena’s madness, flashing through my mind.

"Just like Mary then?" I asked.

Grant nodded.

"Thankfully the rest were as badly conditioned as her and she’s recovering. With the help of therapy it shouldn’t be too long. She’s strong you know?"

"And Charlie?" My voice cracked, just a little.

Grant’s eyes softened.

"He’s on track to make a full recovery," he said. "Paramedics got there in time. The wound was dangerous, but it wasn’t too deep. Scary, but he’s going to be okay."

I let out a slow breath, some of the tension leaving my shoulders.

"All’s well that ends well, huh?" I muttered.

Grant’s lips twitched into a small, tired smile.

"Something like that."

We sat in silence for a moment, the weight of everything settling around us.

Finally, I stood, reaching out to shake his hand.

"I’ve got other jobs to do," I said. "One of them involves the Prime Minister. I was invited to a United Nations meeting and I doubt that they’ll let me refuse again."

Grant’s grip was firm, his eyes steady.

"I know," he said. "And I appreciate what you’ve done here, Reynard. I mean that."

He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"But let me give you a piece of advice."

I tilted my head, waiting.

"Hyena was badly injured when you brought him in," Grant said, his voice low. "More than was necessary. I know what he did. I know what he almost did. But you need to be careful."

My jaw tightened.

Grant held my gaze.

"Don’t go too far," he said. "Because once you cross that line, there’s no coming back."

For a moment, I saw the tunnels again.

Saw my fist, raised, ready to end it.

Saw Hyena’s terrified, accepting eyes.

And the way my fist had stopped.

The band around my wrist tightened as I pulled on it, grounding myself.

"I won’t," I said, my voice low, steady.

Grant nodded, letting go of my hand.

"Good," he said. "Now get out of here. I’ve got paperwork to do, and you’ve got some global mission or something."

I stepped out of the office, the noise of the precinct washing over me, the energy alive, bright.

I pulled my coat tighter around my shoulders, adjusting the band on my wrist, letting it bite into my skin.

Breathe.

The world was moving.

There was work to be done.

And It was time for me to start doing it.

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