It had been almost a month since Cassian had opened his domain, and his training to use it in combat had been quite fruitful. He could now maintain it for an hour or two without much strain, though anything beyond that still pushed his limits. Over the past month, aside from the first two leisurely weeks, he had been fully immersed in intense training sessions with Julius.
His friends from work occasionally visited him, sparring with him when they could. Robert and Lumine, however, couldn't hide their jealousy, especially as Cassian proudly gloated about becoming a circle warrior before them—a trait he'd likely picked up from Julius.
Still, they were happy for him, as were Cassandra and Alix, who even secured him a bonus for his contributions to the investigation of Abraham Cronus.
As they all gathered, Cassandra pulled out a dark green book. The moment she opened it, a sudden gust of wind swept through the room, making their hair flow wildly. While the others looked on in amazement, Cassian was both stunned and impressed.
Robert, recognizing the book, remarked, "I remember you mentioning you were saving up your merits to get this."
Cassian had already guessed the book's purpose from its title. Smiling widely, he looked at Cassandra and said, "Thank you…"
Cassian truly needed this—Gale Whisper Sword, a sword technique built on the principle of precision. He had been thinking of asking Lady Katherine to help him acquire a similar technique, knowing he wouldn't be able to afford it anytime soon with its steep price of 1,200 merits.
Seeing how happy he looked, Cassandra added with a grin, "Consider this your bonus. You've still got plenty of merits left for catching criminals—some big names and other tasks. You can exchange them for more goodies once you're back on duty. So, don't take too long to return!"
Cassian looked at them all with gratitude, clutching the book tightly. "Thank you, everyone. I really appreciate this. I'm feeling much better now, so I'll be rejoining the unit soon," he said, a confident smile on his face.
But before anyone could respond, Julius cleared his throat and shook his head. "Sorry, Cassian, but that's not happening."
Cassian blinked in confusion. "What do you mean?"
Julius crossed his arms, his expression firm but apologetic. "Commandant Sher has assigned you to something else. A bit of a... special assignment."
The others exchanged curious glances, but Julius quickly added, "It's classified, so don't ask questions. All you need to know is that next time you see Cassian in action, act like you don't know him. For now, he's off the books."
The room fell into a stunned silence. Cassandra frowned, her voice tinged with worry. "Off the books? What kind of assignment is this?"
Julius raised a hand to stop her. "I said no questions. This comes straight from the top. Cassian's been chosen for something important, and it's not up for discussion."
Cassian looked between them, unsure how to feel. "I didn't agree to this yet…"
Julius placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "You don't really have a choice. Orders are orders. Besides, I think you'll find this assignment... enlightening."
Cassian sighed, glancing at the book in his hands. "Guess I don't have a say, huh?"
"Not really," Julius replied with a faint smirk.
Lumine turned to Cassian, worry evident in her eyes. "Is it dangerous, Detective Julius?"
Julius offered her a bittersweet smile but didn't answer directly. Before he could respond, Robert let out a snort and interjected, "Of course it's dangerous. Why else would it be a secret, you musclehead?"
Lumine shot Robert an annoyed glare, but before she could say anything, Cassian chuckled, breaking the tension. "I'll be fine," he said with a reassuring grin. "Though I have no idea what I'm gonna do, it can't be as dangerous as getting kidnapped by those damn cultists, right, Detective Julius?"
Julius smirked slightly but didn't respond, his eyes scanning the group. As Cassian mentioned his kidnapping, a heavy silence settled over the room. Everyone knew the full extent of what had happened to him, even if he looked fine and healthy now. Being rescued didn't mean he hadn't endured unimaginable torture at the hands of Jack the Toybreaker, another killer, and the cultists. They'd found the bodies at the cult's base, but Cassian's survival was a testament to his strength.
The guilt weighed heavily on them all. They couldn't shake the fact that it was Cassian who had saved himself, who had exposed the main culprit, Pastor, and made sure he paid the price. He was the one who killed most of the cult members in that base while the rest were taken out by Julius and the Pastor's final fight.
But Alix, in particular, seemed to carry the heaviest burden. Her face twisted with regret, and after a long moment of silence, she spoke, her voice soft and filled with guilt. "I shouldn't have sent you to that village that night... If I hadn't, none of this would've happened."
Cassian's smile softened, and he shook his head firmly. "It wasn't your fault, Detective Alix. It's not like you knew what was going to happen. It's just what evil fucking people do." He paused, his tone growing resolute. "And they're dead now. I killed them. It's done. So don't fret over it anymore."
Alix still looked guilty, but she nodded as soon as they returned. Lumine, on the other hand, stayed a little longer, claiming she wanted to spar with Cassian a bit more. Of course, that was just an excuse to spend more time with him. A few minutes later, they were in a quiet, secluded spot in the mansion's garden, hidden between dense trees and vines, where they could have some privacy.
Lumine sat on Cassian's lap, her face flushed as soft moans escaped her mouth from his sucking on her neck. But her eyes were filled with worry as she pushed him away slightly and asked in a concerned tone, "Can't you say no to this secret assignment?"
Cassian, slightly annoyed at being interrupted, sighed and relaxed, leaning against the tree. "Didn't you hear Detective Julius?" he replied. "I can't." He paused before continuing, "Besides, I need to grow stronger, and I'm not against it... It might help me become even stronger."