Veil of the Devil’s Hour

The air around the table was thick. Especially between Blade and Michael — they were the suspicious ones here.

General Angel spoke again, voice smooth but pressing.

"Two nights ago, Blade, you were sent on a solo mission. A vampire-class devil. Awakened. You said in your report you couldn't capture it... so you killed it. But here's the thing — the awakening happened exactly at 3:00 a.m. And you were already there. You could've captured it."

Her tone sharpened.

"And this isn't your first time killing devils. You know why we don't kill them. I won't explain it like you're still in kindergarten."

Her last line dripped with sarcasm, mocking him. Blade felt it — like cold nails squeezing around his lungs.

Blade muttered, voice dry:

"Yeah... I figured you'd question me about that. I got no excuse this time."

Before he could say anything else, Lady Angel kept going.

"When you kill a devil at 3 a.m., Blade, that portal doesn't close. Another opens. Another devil comes through. But if you capture it — no portal, no trial.

And if they complete the ritual with a bloodline sacrifice, they return... and bring something worse. A devil that's been in the trial for three months or more. You know that. Do we have to repeat ourselves again?

You're what, 32 now? Or 36? Blade, you're getting old. Maybe the name 'Blade' doesn't fit anymore."

Blade didn't answer. No excuses. No arguments. Just a quiet shiver up his spine.

"Look who's talking," he thought. "You're pushing forty and still look twenty..."

But he kept that to himself. She'd eat him alive.

The room held its breath. Everyone waited for Blade to speak. He didn't. Silence stretched like wire.

Then, Ava broke in with a cold, even voice.

"Yes, he failed that mission. But it was an awakened one. He couldn't capture it, so he killed it. After that, we gave him another mission. He handled it clean. Two mid-level devils captured."

Lady Angel's smile became unreadable.

"Is that so, Commander Ava? Then let me ask you — do you know the details of the cleanup after the vampire-class devil?"

Everyone turned still.

"After Blade left the site, one of the cleaners we sent disappeared. With the devil.

So tell me, how are we supposed to trust anyone now?"

She leaned forward.

"And while we're at it — Michael... why did one of your cleaners make a pact? You know we forbid that. Only Hunters are allowed to deal. Not cleaners.

And how did your cleaner even reach the Presence without authorization? Was that a free devil? Or was someone helping them?"

Michael didn't flinch. He lowered his gaze and replied, calm as ever.

"No, Lady Angel. I swear, I knew nothing of this. And if I had... I would've punished them myself."

Angel didn't blink.

"And the cleaner who vanished that same night?"

Michael shrugged lightly, voice cold.

"Honestly? I don't believe Blade killed that devil. I think he's lying."

Michael looked directly at Blade. His eyes — full of quiet darkness.

"Who can really say what an empty soul is capable of?"

Blade's hands trembled under the table. His fists clenched so tight they cracked. He was a moment away from slamming Michael's skull into the floor. But he held back. Too many people. Too many eyes.

"Bastard," Blade thought. "One day I'll get you, you snake."

Blade spat, finally:

"Oh yeah? Prove it. I did the job. I killed the devil. Your cleaners? One made a pact. The other vanished. You really want to talk to me about responsibility?"

Michael didn't raise his voice.

"Okay, then. I have a proposal."

The room paused.

"Why don't we assign Blade a private cleaner — someone to shadow him on missions. It'll prove my people aren't traitors. And it'll show whether Blade is really the one who's failing to do his job. Everyone wins."

Silence. Thick. Shocked expressions all around.

Blade's face twisted.

"A private cleaner? No. I've done that before. He died fast. I don't want to babysit some scrawny rook again."

Ava sighed.

"That attitude is exactly why you've never been promoted to unit captain."

Lady Angel gave a thin smile.

"Not a bad idea, Michael.

But we have more important things now

Lady Angel straightened her posture, her expression hardening into something cold and resolute.

"We'll accept your word—for now. But if something like this happens again… you know the consequences."

Lady Angel

"We need to talk about the unreasonable number of devil portals appearing lately… and whether they're connected to the Veil."

Ava spoke first, her voice low but focused.

"From the intel I gathered in England, devils are starting to work together.

The two Blade captured — with Unit Red's help — didn't act alone.

One of them even gave a cleaner's body to a parasite devil to host inside. They helped each other."

The captain of Unit Red jack cut in.

"Yeah, we know. But that's not how it worked 100 years ago.

This is supposed to be a trial — they come alone, stay 3 months, survive the 3 am. window, and try to make a sacrifice from the Vailham bloodline.

There are rules. Devils don't work together. They're weakened during the trial. So how the hell did they pull that off?"

Lady Angel nodded.

"Yes, Jack . That's what we're trying to figure out. Something's shifting."

Blade sat in silence, still stewing over Michael's damn proposal — that brat who'd be assigned to him.

Lady Angel spoke again.

"The term they used was roommate — not exactly working together. But that's not our priority now.

What is important is that we all know this is linked to the Veil.

It hasn't moved since the Great Portal, but something's building. Let's move to orders."

---

Lady Angel began assigning missions:

"Unit Red — return to England. That's where the activity started. You'll monitor the portals from there."

Jack grinned.

"Yes, my lady."

"Unit Gray — your captain V is still away. Most of our squads are occupied, so Gray and Red are the only ones active.

You'll take up Guard Duty. The outer Black Walls of our territory need eyes."

A young Black soldier with one blind eye stood and said,

"Yes, ma'am. It'll be my honor to represent the team while the captain's gone. I won't let you down."

Lady Angel's eyes turned to Michael. Her stare was cold, her silver hair glowing under the lights.

"Michael. Keep sending your cleaners. Check them. And don't forget — the one you send with Blade... he needs to pass the Test."

Michael stood tall, his frame casting a shadow over the table as he rose.

"Yes, ma'am. I'll keep things clean."

---

Lady Angel's tone shifted.

"Ava. Blade. You'll be working under the same branch, but different roles. Ava — I'm putting you in charge of Blade's ops.

You'll lead the investigation of the Veil.

Blade — you'll move with the assigned cleaner.

Wherever Ava finds a trace — devils, portals, or signs of the Veil — you go."

Blade's fists tightened.

He slammed the table.

Then, with a mocking tone:

"Yes, ma'am."

Ava smirked.

This is going to be interesting.

Lady Angel kept handing out missions to everyone around the table, her voice calm but sharp, like a blade wrapped in silk.

When she was done, she stood.

Her voice rose—not loud, but deep, with weight.

"Everything we do… is for Vailham.

Everything we bleed… is for our Queen.

Our Earth.

Our bloodline will never break.

Will never heal.

Will never kneel—

Not to devils who once killed our Queen.

Not to anyone who's never felt the pain…

of killing those who can't feel."

Silence followed. Heavy silence.

Then the meeting was over.