Athavan pulled into the parking lot of Sago Mall, right in the heart of Metropore City. He raised his wrist to check his watch.
8:30 a.m.
I'm thirty minutes early for the appointment. At this time, he's probably having breakfast.
He got out of the car and walked toward the general lift, pressing the button for the ground floor. The elevator glided upward.
Sago Mall—sitting in plain sight, right in the middle of the city.
And yet… it holds the hidden base of Walaysia's most secret government agency.
That's how they operate. Camouflaged. Visible to the public eye—yet invisible to the people.
According to the intel he received, the old man should be having breakfast at Nyonya Café on the ground floor—just like every day.
The lift dinged open. Athavan stepped out and made his way toward the café. It was still early—too early for most of the mall to be awake. But Nyonya Café?
Already open.
Two men in black suits were posted at the café entrance. Their posture stiffened the moment they noticed him.
"Stop. The mall isn't open yet. Who are you? What are you doing here?"
One of them stepped forward, voice deep, gaze sharp.
Athavan smiled—calm, relaxed.
"The old man inside summoned me. Didn't he tell you he was expecting a guest?"
Before they could respond, a voice echoed from inside. Aged. Measured.
"Let him in. And close the door."
The guards nodded and performed a quick body search. Athavan complied without resistance and stepped through the entrance.
"You're twenty minutes early," the old man said, not looking up.
"Would you like some coffee? They make a great one here."
Athavan walked toward the center table. The old man was dressed simply, like a grandfather waiting for a neighbor's kid. No trace of arrogance. No air of authority.
And yet Athavan knew—this was the most powerful man in the country.
Nothing happened in Walaysia without this man's permission. Not even a leaf fell without brushing past his notice.
Athavan took the seat opposite him, smiling.
"Since you say it's good… it would be a shame to decline. I love coffee. Glad to meet another addict."
The old man chuckled and signaled to the waiter. As the coffee was prepared, both men simply watched each other. Calm. Curious. Calculating.
Once the cup arrived, the old man gestured—shooing the waiter away. Understanding the cue, the boy vanished into the kitchen and closed the door.
Silence settled.
Then the old man finally spoke.
"I'm sorry for your loss. Your mother was a remarkable woman.
A brilliant General of the DLA.
I used to tease her—called her Miss Brahmani, back in those days when she worked here for top secret mission."
Athavan's expression softened.
"She rarely spoke of her time in Walaysia. I had no idea she worked with you. and My grandfather sends you his regards."
The old man chuckled, warm and weathered.
"That old bastard still thinks of me as a friend? I assumed he was still angry with me."
He leaned back slightly, his tone becoming nostalgic.
"Did you know… I was the one who introduced your father to your mother?
You're the product of my matchmaking, boy."
That caught Athavan by surprise. He said nothing. He listened.
He wanted to listen.
Because his mother had never spoken much about their history—and Athavan, mature far beyond his years, had always respected her silence.
Now… he was hearing it for the first time.
"Your grandfather and I became friends during a joint mission in my twenties. About thirty years ago, I needed assistance from the DLA for a classified research project. Your grandfather Supreme Commander at the time sent his daughter, Parvathy, to assist me in Walaysia.
"Your father, Kathirvan, was our top field agent. I… encouraged him to pursue her. I figured, if he could win her over, maybe we could keep the legendary Brahmani General stationed here. So made they work together for the mission she was assigned too."
He laughed softly.
"As per my plot, they fell in love. Married a year later. Then you were born.
"But then came the chaos—Indonesian pirates were threatening our oilfield. Your father led the war effort. Ruthless, brilliant pirates—far more cunning than the Gang Nagas ever were."
His tone darkened.
"Parvathy wanted him to resign. Wanted him to leave Department Zero and return to the DLA with her.
She feared for his life.
But your father refused.
He believed protecting this country was protecting you both."
"Your mother felt betrayed that your father choose the nation over you. She filed for divorce and left Walaysia with you."
He looked away.
"I was the one who pushed them together… and the one who tore them apart."
"That's why your grandfather hasn't spoken to me in nearly three decades."
He sipped his coffee, eyes distant.
For Athavan, this was a seismic revelation.
His father—a Department Zero agent?
His mother—once in deep collaboration with the same system?
It rewired everything.
His instincts had never flagged Kathirvan as dangerous. The man had always seemed ordinary. Quiet. Safe.
Now he understood.
The connection between his family and Department Zero hadn't just existed—it had been deeply woven into the country's fabric.
This was why his grandfather chose Walaysia as the DLA's operating base.
By maintaining ties—even dormant ones—to Department Zero, they had the perfect cloak.
A ghost alliance the newer agents would never see coming.
A cover… nearly thirty years old.
It explained so much.
And suddenly, Athavan could see pieces of the grand chessboard sliding into place. He understands his grandfather scheme completely. Department Zero will be their shield in Walaysia.
Then the old man's gaze sharpened.
"Now you know."
"The history between Department Zero and your family.
My role in breaking them apart."
He leaned in, voice low—danger flickering behind the calm.
"So tell me, Athavan…
Do you resent me for what happened?"
"Do you hate this country for what it cost you?"
"Do you hate… your father?"
He stared straight into Athavan's eyes.
Waiting.
And behind that question was more than curiosity.
It was a test.
The End.