CHAPTER 284: CHAPTER 284 THE HAND BEHIND THE BIRD

Liam landed softly on the edge of Lilith’s balcony, his boots touching down on the polished floor without a sound. The wind tugged at his jacket as he looked inside through the glass.

Lilith was already there, seated casually in a plush armchair, legs crossed, reading a hardcover book. Her long golden-blonde hair was tied back loosely, a silk robe clinging to her body, one leg lazily exposed through the slit. The room behind her was dimly lit but calm. A glass of red wine rested on the table beside her, half full. She looked peaceful.

The scene didn’t match the chaos outside. With the threat of the Crimson Hand growing stronger, and her whole being under silent pressure, Lilith looked like she had all the time in the world.

Liam raised an eyebrow. He hadn’t even known she read books.

He reached for the sliding door and pulled it open. The breeze rushed in, sending the curtains fluttering softly. Lilith turned her head toward the sound, eyes narrowing curiously at first.

But the moment she saw his face, she sat up straight, book forgotten.

"Liam," she said quickly, "I’m sorry for how I reacted earlier. I shouldn’t have."

He stepped inside, shaking his head. "It’s alright. I didn’t come here for that."

But Lilith stood up, moving toward him without hesitation. "No, I want to talk about it now. I haven’t been able to think straight since you left me this morning."

Liam sighed, folding his arms across his chest. "Fine," he said. "What do you wanna say?"

Lilith stopped just a few feet in front of him, her voice dropping a little as she spoke. "I was stupid. Asking you that question... ’What have you done for Black Lotus since you joined?’ That was dumb. I was just mad, but I shouldn’t have taken it out on you. You’ve done more than enough."

Her words hung in the air.

Liam just looked at her for a second, then let a faint smile slip across his face. "Apology accepted."

But Lilith wasn’t done. She stepped in, closed the gap between them, and without warning, wrapped her arms around him in a tight, suffocating hug.

Liam tensed slightly as her body pressed into his, her warmth spreading through the thin space between them.

He exhaled through his nose, barely a whisper escaping his lips. "Is she always like this..."

Lilith didn’t pull away. Instead, she leaned up a little, her breath brushing against his ear. "Shut up," she whispered. "Let me hug you. I’m relieved, okay?"

Liam just stood there. He didn’t hug her back. His arms stayed limp at his sides. But Lilith didn’t get angry. She didn’t push or complain. She just held him.

She knew she didn’t deserve anything more than that.

After a few seconds, she slowly unwrapped her arms, her hands brushing over his chest as she stepped back with a soft smile.

"I’m ready to tell you," she said, voice calmer now. "What was in the warehouse I called you to defend earlier... it’s time."

Liam didn’t even let her finish.

He raised his hand instantly and said, "Nahhhh. I don’t wanna know."

Lilith blinked.

"You blew the entire place to keep it a secret," Liam continued, stepping past her toward the bar in the corner of the room. "I don’t know what the hell is in there, and to be honest, I don’t care. I’m not gonna pressure you to spill it."

Lilith let out a short breath, somewhere between a laugh and a sigh. "You’re not pressuring me, Liam."

But he was already pulling out a stool and sitting down. He leaned his elbows on the marble counter, resting one hand on his chin. "Good. Then tell me another day. Just... not today."

She looked at him quietly, then nodded.

Lilith walked around the bar slowly, her fingers trailing over the counter as she moved behind it. She didn’t say a word at first. Just reached for a bottle from the shelf and poured the dark red liquid into a glass. Her movements were smooth, practiced, confident—as if she’d done it a thousand times.

She slid the glass across the counter toward Liam.

He didn’t say thank you. He just picked it up, swirled the contents a bit, then took a full sip.

His throat burned instantly.

His eyes narrowed slightly as the heat rolled down into his chest and settled in his stomach like fire. "What the hell did you put in that?" he asked, coughing once and blinking.

Lilith raised an eyebrow from the other side of the bar. "It’s wine. Not even the strong kind. Non-alcoholic."

Liam stared at the glass for a second, then gave a quiet chuckle and set it back down. "Tastes like it’s trying to kill me."

She grinned. "So," she said, leaning her elbows on the counter, "why’d you come? You miss me?"

Liam scoffed, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "You wish."

Lilith laughed softly, the sound echoing in the quiet room.

But then Liam’s expression changed. The playfulness dropped from his face. His tone turned serious, calm—but heavy.

"I want you to leave town," he said bluntly.

Lilith was holding the same cup Liam had just finished drinking from, raising it toward her lips out of habit—but she froze.

Her eyes lifted to him, eyebrows raised, surprised.

"What?" she asked, setting the cup back down slowly.

Liam didn’t blink. "It’s not safe to be here. Not anymore."

Lilith stared at him for a second. "What’s going on?"

Liam leaned forward slightly, his voice firm. "Someone’s supplying the Crimson Hand with drugs. Not the usual type. This stuff—it boosts their bodies. Makes them stronger, faster, tougher. Like freaks with temporary superpowers."

Lilith folded her arms, although Liam had told her this before she still listened carefully.

"But," Liam continued, "every time they take it, it eats away at their minds. They lose more of their sanity each time. Sooner or later... they will break."

Lilith’s eyes narrowed as the full weight of what he was saying landed. "You think they’re going to snap? Lose control and start attacking everyone?"

Liam nodded. "Yeah. And when they do, they won’t care what they destroy or who they hurt."

She stepped away from the bar, pacing slowly across the room.

"We should report this," she said at first, thinking aloud. But even as the words left her mouth, she stopped. Her lips pressed together.

There was a long silence.

Then she scoffed. "Right. Report it. To who? The government? The police? They’re all in bed with the Crimson Hand."

Liam didn’t answer. Not immediately. He was spinning the empty glass slowly on the bar counter, his hand tracing slow circles around its base.

But then he spoke, voice low. "What if the government is the one giving the Crimson Hand those drugs?"

Lilith turned and stared at him.

"You think they’re responsible?" she asked, not with disbelief—but with grim curiosity.

"I don’t know," Liam admitted. "But it makes sense. Who else could fund this kind of operation and cover it up this well? Who else could make sure none of it leaks to the public? The drugs, the distribution, the silence—it’s too perfect. Too organized."

Lilith shook her head slowly. "No. I don’t think that’s it."

Liam glanced at her. "Then who?"

She walked back to the counter and rested her hands on it, looking him in the eyes.

"The Crimson Hand isn’t running the show. They’re just a mirage. A distraction."

Liam’s eyes narrowed.

Lilith continued, "Everything they do, every move they make, it’s being guided. Controlled. There’s someone else. The one behind the curtain."

"The Golden Bird," Liam said quietly.

Lilith nodded. "Exactly. They’re the ones really in charge. If you want the truth, if you want to get to the source of all of this... don’t look at the Crimson Hand. Don’t waste time with the government. Dig deeper into the Golden Bird. That’s where the core is. That’s who’s really pulling the strings."