SICARII

The week had passed in a blur of recovery sessions and light training, but for Taizen, the frustration lingered. He'd seen progress in his physical abilities, but his inability to access his Inner loomed over him like a storm cloud. It felt like everyone else was on a path he couldn't even find, and the truth about his heritage remained maddeningly out of reach. Mionara, too, kept to himself, his focus unwavering during training, though Taizen could sense the weight of the mission they'd just returned from still hanging over both of them.

The Beast Organisation HQ was vast and full of mysteries they hadn't had time to explore. Their arrival had been a whirlwind, and before they could even unpack their questions, they'd been thrust into a mission under Rico, the former Pack Alpha. It had been more than they were prepared for—casualties, chaos, and danger far beyond what anyone had anticipated.

A sharp knock on their door jolted both of them awake, followed by the creak of hinges. Lino stepped into the room, his stocky frame filling the doorway. Medium height but built like a wall of muscle, he had the kind of presence that demanded attention without trying. His dark eyes flicked between Taizen and Mionara, a mixture of knowing and concern in his gaze.

"Morning," Lino said, his voice deep and steady. "Get up. You two have been thrown into the fire, and no one's even told you where the water buckets are."

Taizen groaned, sitting up slowly. "What's that supposed to mean?" he muttered, still half-asleep.

"It means," Lino said, stepping fully into the room, "that you've been here a week, got tossed straight into a mission with Rico—one that turned into a bloodbath—and nobody's bothered to give you a proper introduction to how things work around here." His tone softened, but only slightly. "That's not how we usually do things, for the record. What you went through... that wasn't normal."

Mionara sat up, rubbing his temples. "You're saying it was a mistake?"

"I'm saying it was a damn mess," Lino replied bluntly, his arms crossing over his chest. "That mission was supposed to be routine. Assess and neutralize. It turned into something far more dangerous, and from what I've heard, you two held your own better than most would've in your position. But still…" His expression darkened. "You shouldn't have been sent out like that. Not without knowing what you were walking into."

Taizen frowned, his hands resting on his knees. "Why did it go so wrong?"

Lino sighed, shaking his head. "That's above my pay grade, and honestly, no one's giving straight answers. What matters now is making sure you're not flying blind again. Get dressed. I'm taking you to one of the meeting rooms. You're overdue for a proper introduction to the Beast Organisation."

Mionara raised an eyebrow as he swung his legs off the bed. "And you're the one giving us this... tour?"

Lino smirked, the corner of his mouth twitching. "Don't sound so excited. Yeah, it's me. Consider this your crash course on how things run around here, who's who, and what you need to know to stay alive. You've got questions, I've got answers—or at least enough to keep you out of trouble."

Taizen stood, stretching. "And if we don't come?"

Lino's grin widened. "Then I drag you there myself, and trust me, you don't want that. Now move it, pups."

The two exchanged a glance before following Lino out into the corridor. The HQ felt quieter this morning, the usual hum of activity subdued, as though the building itself was reflecting the tension still lingering from their mission. Lino's heavy steps echoed through the hall as he glanced back at them.

"For what it's worth," he said, his tone quieter now, "I'm sorry about what happened out there. Rico had high hopes for that mission. The casualties... they're on all of us." He straightened, his commanding presence returning. "But you survived. And that means you've got what it takes. Let's make sure you're ready for whatever comes next."

Lino led them down one of the wide, brightly lit corridors of the Beast Organisation HQ, his broad frame moving with ease despite the imposing size of the space. The HQ was a blend of modern utility and rugged durability, its walls lined with reinforced steel and intricate patterns marking the influence of the various clans. Monitors displayed mission updates, clan rankings, and rotating footage of training sessions, adding to the sense of relentless activity. The faint hum of machinery and distant echoes of training drills filled the air.

"I know Jax and Zack showed you two around when you first got here," Lino said, glancing over his shoulder, "but let's be real—they probably didn't do it properly. Those two are good in the field but lousy at the details."

Taizen smirked. "You could say that again."

"Exactly," Lino replied with a grin. "So, consider this the official tour."

He stopped in front of a large room with an open archway. Inside, rows of training equipment were spread across the space: weights, resistance bands, combat dummies, and mats for sparring. Beasts of various ages were practicing, their movements sharp and calculated. A few sparring matches drew small crowds, the sound of impacts echoing across the room.

"These are the training rooms," Lino explained. "Every clan has designated time slots, but you'll find people here at all hours. Strength, endurance, combat skills—you name it, this is where you work on it. You've probably seen the basics during your recovery training, but this is the real deal."

They continued walking, passing the canteen next. It was a cavernous space filled with long, sturdy tables, the air heavy with the scent of hot food. Screens mounted on the walls displayed announcements and upcoming missions. The chatter of Beast members filled the room, a mix of casual conversations and heated discussions.

"This is the canteen," Lino said. "Food's good, better than you'd expect for a place like this. Each clan rotates kitchen duties once a month, so you'll get a taste of everyone's regional flavours. Just don't get between a hungry Winzo member and their plate. Trust me."

As they moved on, Lino gestured to a door that slid open to reveal a high-tech meeting room. A holographic display lit up the centre of the table, showing a map of Delria with marked clan territories. The sleek design contrasted sharply with the rustic charm of the rest of the HQ.

"Meeting rooms," Lino said, stepping inside briefly. "This is where strategies are planned, disputes are settled, and, occasionally, Alphas yell at each other for five hours straight. Not my favourite place, but it's important."

As they walked, Lino launched into an explanation of the Beast Organisation's structure. "There are eight major clans," he began. "Bakara, Zula, Jada, Niom, Winzo, Rupte, Onjo, and Palm. Each clan represents a region within Delria, and they all bring their own unique strengths to the table. Right now, the top three strongest clans are Zula, Palm, and Jada. But rankings aren't set in stone—they're always shifting because of training, missions, and new talent coming up."

Mionara raised an eyebrow. "So, it's competitive?"

Lino nodded. "Very. Every clan has ten packs, and each pack has twelve members. Packs are ranked from one to ten within their clan based on their performance, strength, and success in missions. Members can get promoted or demoted to different packs depending on their ability. And yes," he added with a smirk, "it's as brutal as it sounds."

Taizen tilted his head, intrigued. "What about leadership within the packs?"

"Each pack has three main roles," Lino explained. "The Alpha, who's the leader, the Omega, their second-in-command, and the Beta, the third. It's possible to be promoted directly to an Alpha role in a different pack, but that usually means starting with a lower-ranking pack and working your way up."

"Sounds cutthroat," Mionara commented.

"It is," Lino agreed, his tone matter-of-fact. "But it's also fair. Your rank is based on what you can do, not who you know. Talent, strength, and ability speak louder than anything else here. That's why it's common to see rookies rising fast—or falling just as hard."

As they continued down another corridor, Lino stopped by a large window overlooking an outdoor training field where Beast members were engaged in advanced drills. The view was a stark reminder of the relentless effort required to succeed in this world. He turned back to them, his expression serious.

"Whatever you thought you knew about teamwork, discipline, and survival, forget it. The Beast Organisation runs differently. You'll earn your place here every single day. But if you've got what it takes, it'll be worth it. Trust me."

Taizen and Mionara exchanged a glance, both feeling the gravity of Lino's words settle over them. They were starting to understand just how deep the organisation's roots went—and just how high the stakes were.