A young woman with tanned skin and long black hair stepped through the door of an apartment, looking exhausted.
The apartment was filled with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The walls were painted in neutral tones.
At the center of the room lay a plush, thick rug. It defined a cozy relaxation area featuring a deep blue velvet sofa and matching armchairs, all arranged around a dark wooden coffee table. A wooden dining table with comfortable chairs was neatly set up. A wall-mounted shelf was lined with books.
Page tossed her crossbody bag onto the sofa and headed toward the bathroom. Just as she was about to step inside, a voice called out, making her turn around.
"Well, you're back. You spent an eternity out there today," said another young woman emerging from the bedroom, glancing at the living room clock. Her skin was fair and radiant. Her facial features were delicately sculpted. Her almond-shaped eyes were a captivating emerald green.
Her silky, glossy hair cascaded over her shoulders in rich chocolate-brown waves. She wore a simple nightgown that flattered her figure without being flashy.
Page turned to her roommate with a teasing smile. "Oh, I thought you'd have been asleep ages ago."
The roommate let out an exasperated sigh. "No, I wasn't sleeping yet. I was just a little worried, you know—I thought something might've happened to you."
Page held back a laugh. "Oh, how touching of you. Still, you're not unaware that it'd take more than a simple problem to put me in danger, right?"
The roommate nodded. "You're right. But still, you're never completely safe."
Page resumed her walk to the bathroom. "Thanks for worrying about me, but don't stress too much. Everything's fine, as usual."
She lightly slammed the door behind her.
The bathroom was modern and elegant, with white tiles and stainless steel accents. A built-in bathtub sat alongside a sink and shelves that provided ample space for beauty products and toiletries.
Page sighed with relief as she heard the water running. The warmth caressed her gently, soothing her aching muscles.
After a refreshing shower, she stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped in a fluffy towel. She was finally ready to sink into her cozy bed for a good night's sleep.
"You're cheerier than usual tonight. What's got you in this mood?" asked her roommate, now sitting on the sofa, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Page plopped down into one of the armchairs. "I just had an incredible encounter today."
Surprise flashed across the roommate's face. "Really? Just an encounter?"
Page nodded enthusiastically. "No, not just an encounter. I saw my brother today."
The roommate's eyes widened in shock. "You have a brother? I had no idea!"
A nostalgic smile spread across Page's face. "He's not blood-related, but we've been so close since childhood. It's almost like we're real siblings. We lost touch for five years, but today, we found each other again."
Intrigued, the roommate pressed for more. "But what's making you so happy? I don't think just seeing your so-called brother could put you in this state. There's got to be more, right?"
Page hesitated for a moment. She looked at her roommate. "You know, Eve, when I saw my brother after all these years, I was thrown off. I hesitated to approach him. Can you believe that? Me, hesitating… I thought I'd left that kind of thing behind long ago, that I'd become a different person—someone heartless, numb to family ties. But when I saw him again, something in me shifted. I realized that despite all this time, despite everything I've been through, a part of me is still human, still sensitive.
"For so long, I thought I had no attachments, no feelings left. But that's not true. My brother reminded me that I'm still a person with a beating heart, with emotions that can shake me up. And you know what, Eve? I'm glad I haven't turned into that cold, soulless person I thought I'd become."
"Wow, if someone told me the fearsome 'Negesta' could talk like this, I'd never have believed it," Eve said, visibly surprised. "You must really care about him for it to hit you this hard."
Page shrugged with a smile. "I don't even know myself…" A strange glint passed through her eyes as her tone grew less cheerful. "That said, I'm wondering why the organization's sending me to Zaun."
Eve's expression turned serious. "From the news, it sounds like things are tense in Jayeros between the nobility and the royal family. I wouldn't be surprised if they're calling you there to help secure the organization's position."
"Could be," Page said casually.
"Zaun's one of the most influential cities in the network. They might be testing you, seeing if you can be a reliable ally in their bigger operations," Eve added.
A sly smile crept onto Page's face. "Or maybe it's a chance for that creep to get rid of me."
"Don't you ever get scared of anything?" Eve asked softly.
Page stared at her before bursting into laughter. "Scared? Me? Fear's not in my vocabulary—you should know that by now."
On that note, Page stood and headed toward the bedroom.
"That said, I'm planning to make the most of these four days to hang out with my brother," she said brightly.
"Can I meet him?" Eve asked, following her into the bedroom.
Page spun around, glaring at her roommate. "Don't even think about it. You get near him, I'll kill you."
Eve threw her hands up. "Whoa, relax. I was just asking."
Page shot her one last look before stepping into the bedroom.
"At least you care about someone—that's something," Eve muttered with a sigh as she followed her in.
***
Night had fallen some time ago.
In a dark, isolated alley, a car—an old gray sedan—was discreetly parked between two abandoned buildings.
Inside, two men spoke in hushed tones.
"Have you heard about that new series everyone's raving about? I started watching it last night, and it's seriously hooked me," said one of the men. He was about forty, with slightly graying brown hair and sharp green eyes. His angular face had firm features. He wore a perfectly tailored black suit with a white shirt and a subtle yet elegant tie. Black leather shoes completed his look. A discreet watch adorned his wrist.
"Oh yeah, I know the one you mean. I haven't had time to dive in yet, but everyone's saying it's addictive," replied the other man with a smile. He was younger, in his thirties, with messy blond hair and piercing blue eyes. He wore a charcoal pinstripe suit with a white shirt and a matching tie. Brown leather shoes and a silver watch rounded out his outfit.
The older man pulled a cigarette from his pack and lit it. He took a deep drag, letting the smoke drift slowly from his lungs.
His colleague gave him a disapproving look. "You know your wife hates that."
The older man shrugged. "I'm only doing it for this mission. It's temporary, you know."
The younger one sighed.
Just then, another car rolled into the alley.
The two men exchanged a glance, their demeanor instantly turning serious. They stepped out of their car, carefully retrieving a briefcase from the back.
The older man gripped it tightly.
Together, they approached the newly arrived car, which parked in the shadowy alley, its headlights cutting through the darkness.
Two men climbed out of the vehicle.
"Do you realize you're over an hour late?!" the younger man snapped at the newcomers, his tone irritated.
"Sorry about that, but there's a good reason behind every delay, you know," one of the arrivals replied with a mocking smile.
"The goods—did you bring them?" the older man cut in.
The two newcomers exchanged a quick glance. "Show us the cash first," one of them growled in a rough tone. "Once we see it, you'll get the goods."
The older man lifted the briefcase and opened it slowly in front of them, revealing neatly stacked rows of bills inside. "The money's here, as agreed," he said firmly.
The newcomers shared another look, this time tinged with satisfaction.
"Now show us the goods," the older man demanded authoritatively.
Again, the two hesitated, their eyes meeting. Finally, they decided to retrieve the merchandise from their car.
One of them, smirking, walked toward the two men, proudly holding a painting in his hands. The younger man stepped closer to the artwork, examining every detail—his eyes tracing the elegant curves and rich colors.
The older man, more reserved, hung back, calmly smoking his cigar. "Tell me, where'd you find this gem?" he asked cautiously.
One of the newcomers, grinning slyly, answered with a hint of excitement, "That's our little secret. Let's just say this beauty was tucked away in the darkest depths of art history."
After a brief moment, the younger man turned to his partner and nodded.
The two groups locked eyes, sizing each other up one last time to gauge the deal's sincerity. Finally, without a word, the long-awaited exchange began. The cash changed hands, sealing the transaction.
Then, in a swift, fluid motion, the younger man managed to cuff one of the newcomers, catching him off guard. Meanwhile, the older man slammed the second one to the ground, cuffing him too.
"You're under arrest for illegal art trafficking," the younger man declared.
The two handcuffed men glared back, a mix of anger and resignation on their faces. One of them spat venomously at the younger man, "You set us up! You won't get away with this!"
The older man, still pinning the second guy down, responded in an icy tone, "Save your threats. You're caught—that's all that matters."
As they prepared to load the suspects into their car, the one the younger man was holding suddenly snapped his cuffs with a sharp jerk. With a brutal shoulder shove, he sent the younger man crashing to the ground, completely blindsided.
"Oh, you thought you'd won, you cheap cop? I'll show you what I'm made of!" the newcomer roared, a sadistic grin spreading across his face.
Seeing this, the older man yanked out his gun and fired at the raging suspect. But the man dodged the bullets effortlessly, his movements backed by uncanny agility.
"What the…?" the older man muttered, stunned by the suspect's speed.
A split second later, the newcomer landed a vicious punch on the older man, sending him sprawling to the ground, dazed and disoriented.
The younger man struggled to his feet, watching in disbelief. "What's going on…? Where's this guy getting that strength? A deviant? No, the reports said neither of them were…" he mumbled, clutching his aching side where he'd been thrown against the wall. His eyes locked onto the furious suspect, who was now strangling his partner, lifting him off the ground.
A spark of rage flared in the younger man's eyes. "Bastard! Let him go now!" he shouted, charging at the assailant.
But the attacker dodged his strike with ease and countered hard, smashing his fist into the younger man's jaw. The blow was so fierce it hurled him against a wall, leaving him stunned and reeling.
The suspect, triumphant and fueled by wild rage, roared in satisfaction as he grabbed the painting and his partner. Without looking back, he fled, leaving the two men battered, bewildered, and injured as the silence of the night swallowed the dark alley.