Nioh and the team passed through the gate and arrived directly inside the War Hall.
The mission was complete. On paper, a success.
But in truth, it was a disaster.
Neither Akron nor Althea spoke during the return trip. The silence weighed heavily, filled with questions no one wanted to ask out loud. Each of them carried worry like a second skin. And Nioh, their leader, knew what was expected of him—to comfort, to inspire, to reassure.
He tried. He smiled.
"Let's get a drink. We just closed our first mission. We should celebrate."
It sounded convincing enough.
The trio moved through the streets of the Citadel like shadows slipping through noise. They landed at the Harvester Hall, the city's most vibrant bar. But tonight, it was different. The room was packed. Bodies pressed against walls. Voices stacked on voices. Energy overflowed.
"You guys get a table," Nioh said, nodding toward the crowd.
