Namjoon sat at the head of the table, his fingers drumming a relentless rhythm against the wood. His eyes burned with barely restrained fury as he fixed them on Taehyung, who sat in brooding silence across from him.

"Do you even understand the mess you've put us in?" Namjoon's voice was low, sharp, and brimming with venom. He didn't shout—he didn't need to. His tone alone was enough to make the room feel like a pressure cooker.

Taehyung didn't flinch. He sat back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest, his gaze fixed somewhere on the table. His jaw was tight, his face unreadable, like a fortress no one could breach.

"Not only have you been off the radar" Namjoon continued, his words cutting like a blade, "but you failed your assignment. That girl, Taehyung. She was supposed to be taken care of. And now? Now she's running loose, and we've got Raven breathing down our necks."

Seokjin shifted uncomfortably in his seat, exchanging a glance with Hoseok, whose brow furrowed in silent concern. Yoongi leaned back in his chair, his expression impassive but his eyes sharp, taking in every word, every reaction. Jungkook, perched on the edge of his seat, glanced between Namjoon and Taehyung like he was waiting for someone to throw the first punch.

But it was Jimin who was the quietest. His gaze never left Taehyung, studying him with the precision of a hawk. Something wasn't adding up. Taehyung wasn't the type to make careless mistakes. He was calculated, always two steps ahead—so why did he let this one slip through the cracks?

Jimin's thoughts swirled as Namjoon's voice grew harsher.

"Do you have anything to say for yourself?" Namjoon demanded, his patience hanging by a thread.

Still, Taehyung said nothing. His silence was infuriating, almost taunting, and yet there was something in his behaviour—something unspoken—that made Jimin's suspicion grow.

"Nothing?!" Namjoon slammed his hand on the table, the sharp crack echoing through the room. "You're jeopardizing everything we've worked for. Do you get that? One slip-up like this, and it could all come crashing down."

Taehyung's gaze finally lifted, his dark eyes locking onto Namjoon's. He didn't apologize. He didn't explain. He just stared, a quiet boldness simmering beneath the surface.

"Taehyung" Jimin spoke at last, his voice calm but probing, "why didn't you report back sooner? And why let the girl live? What's your angle?"

The room went still. All eyes turned to Jimin, who leaned forward slightly, his expression scrawled.

Taehyung's lips parted, but instead of answering immediately, he glanced over at Jimin, his eyes glinting with a strange amusement. There was something about the question that made the atmosphere even more tense, as if the truth wasn't just important but dangerous.

For a moment, Taehyung didn't respond. Then, a faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips—so brief it was almost invisible. "No angle" he said, his voice low and even. "Just a mistake."

Jimin didn't believe him. And neither, it seemed, did Namjoon.

His piercing gaze shifted to Jimin, who returned it with a silent question of his own. Their unspoken exchange lingered for a beat, the tension deep, before they both turned their attention back to Taehyung.

Taehyung's smirk deepened, mischief dancing in his dark eyes. He leaned back in his chair, exuding an infuriating confidence. "A mistake" he said, the words rolling off his tongue with a cocky lilt, "that's going to make you proud of me."

Namjoon's brow twitched, his temper barely restrained. "Proud of you? You've been slacking, Taehyung. Hiding in shadows. And now you've put us all at risk by not eliminating the girl when you had the chance. Why the hell would I be proud of that?"

Taehyung leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table, his smirk never faltering. "Because the rescuer—the one who pulled her out of that mess—was no one other than Raven."

The air in the room shifted.

Jimin straightened, his thoughts scrambling to catch up. For a moment, he'd almost forgotten about that detail, but the memory clicked into place. "Raven... wait-" he murmured, his voice low. "That's right. When I went to check on him that day, I found him unconscious and beaten up... and then we found a weapon."

Taehyung reached beneath the table and pulled out a sleek black pistol, tossing it casually toward Namjoon. The gun slid across the table, its metal glinting coldly under the dim light. Namjoon caught it, his expression hard as stone, while the others leaned in, their curiosity pulling them closer as though the weapon itself was Raven incarnate. The familiar style and colors shined before them.

Hoseok whistled low under his breath. "It's Raven's"

Yoongi, ever the skeptic, crossed his arms. "We've found her weapons before, Taehyung. They're always spotless. No fingerprints. No leads. How is this any different?"

Namjoon's grip on the gun tightened as he glanced back at Taehyung. "How is this supposed to benefit us? Weapons don't give us Raven. She's a ghost."

Taehyung's smirk didn't waver. "It's not the weapon that's going to help us." He paused for effect, letting their frustration simmer before delivering the punchline. "It's the girl who is."

The table erupted in murmurs, everyone exchanging glances of confusion and skepticism.

Seokjin leaned forward, his tone doubtful. "What does that mean, exactly? The girl's a civilian, isn't she? What use could she possibly be?"

Taehyung's gaze swept across the room, holding each of them in silent suspense before answering. "She's the first person to meet Raven and not have a bullet drilled into her skull. The only one to be rescued and not killed. We all know Raven doesn't do rescues. If she did, it wasn't for money. No one can pay Raven enough to go soft."

Hoseok tilted his head, his expression a mix of disbelief and intrigue. "So what you're saying is... Raven has a soft spot for this girl? That's hard to swallow."

Taehyung chuckled darkly. "Soft spot? No. It's something bigger. Something we're missing. If Raven broke her own rules, it wasn't out of sentimentality. It means this girl is important. The kind of important that makes even Raven bend her code."

The realization began to dawn, curiosity sparking in everyone's eyes.

"So" Jimin said, breaking the silence. "What are you planning to do?"

Taehyung's smirk turned razor-sharp, his tone laced with dark amusement. "I already have the girl wrapped around my fingers." He tapped his temple as if plotting the whole thing out. "And she's going to bring Raven down to her knees for me. For us."

Namjoon's jaw tightened, the flicker of intrigue betraying his otherwise stern expression. "And you expect me to just trust you?"

Taehyung shrugged, his confidence firm. "Give me a free hand. No restrictions. Let me handle her my way, and I promise you, you'll be proud of me."

Yoongi arched a brow. "And what happens if this blows up in your face? We've dealt with Raven long enough to know she doesn't play by anyone else's rules."

Taehyung's smirk widened. "That's why we're not going after her the usual way. We're playing chess now, not brute force. And Cherry?" He let out a soft laugh. "She's the perfect pawn. Because while Raven might be untouchable, she clearly has a weak spot—and I'm staring right at it."

Seokjin frowned. "You're betting everything on a hunch, Taehyung. If you're wrong—"

"I'm not" Taehyung interrupted, his voice cold and assured. "Raven's obsession with staying anonymous means she never leaves loose ends. The fact that Cherry's alive? That's all the proof we need."

Jimin leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing as he studied Taehyung. "And you think Cherry's just going to go along with your plan? What makes you so sure you can control her?"

Taehyung chuckled, a dark, knowing sound. "Let's just say... she's already dancing to my tune. All I need is the time and freedom to finish the siren's song. And, before you'll know, I will already be delivering her to you in one piece."

Namjoon's eyes darkened as he studied Taehyung, his mind working through the potential risks and rewards. Finally, he leaned back, his voice hard and decisive. "Fine. You get your free hand. But if this goes sideways, Taehyung..." His tone dropped, heavy with warning. "You'll answer to me."

Taehyung's smirk didn't waver as he leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "You won't regret it, boss. Trust me, this 'mistake' is going to be the Black Knights' greatest victory."

The room fell silent, the weight of Taehyung's gamble settling over them all.