Zack sat at a long wooden table in one of the headquarters’ common rooms. The morning sun filtered softly through the window, warming the space with a gentle glow. A moment later, Celia entered carrying a teapot and several glasses. Lori and James followed, each holding a basket filled with bread and fruit. The atmosphere was uncomfortably calm after the events of the previous night.

  James took a seat across from Zack, the look in his eyes reassuring, as if he were trying to soothe a wounded animal. Zack let out a deep sigh and asked, “Where’s Tony?” A dull, persistent ache still throbbed in his side, and every movement felt like a subtle form of torture.

  “He’ll be here any moment,” James replied with a soft smile. “You were both pretty badly beaten up, but you recovered remarkably fast.”

  Zack offered an awkward smile as the sharp pain flared again in his side. He thought to himself: I can’t remember everything anymore, but the fight with Tony must have been evenly matched… The thought was the only way he could make sense of the pain and humiliation.

  At that moment, the door opened. Lucius entered, with Tony at his side. Tony’s posture was flawless, as though the devastating blow had never happened. He gave Zack a brief nod and took a seat at the table. There was no trace of regret or mocking amusement on his face.

  Celia looked at Tony with a hint of anger. Why did he have to go that far if it was only sparring? The pain and despair she had seen on Zack’s face were still vivid in her mind.

  Lucius cleared his throat, and all eyes turned toward him. He took control of the room. “Lori, you searched the hut where Zack and Eli lived, looking for clues related to Rick Miller. Would you share what you found with us?”

  Zack’s eyes widened slightly. A mixture of tension and unease washed over him. He took a large bite of bread and looked at Lori expectantly.

  Lori stood and pulled several items from her bag. “The most significant clue is this photograph.” She held up a faded, yellowed picture. Zack’s heart skipped a beat. It was a photo of his father, with Zack as a small child sitting on his shoulders. The memory struck him like a wave—the happy moments before the disaster. In the background, the back of an older man could be seen closing the door of a small stone house.

  “I believe the man in the background is Rick Miller,” Lori continued, her voice calm and analytical. “This house is likely the one we’re looking for. I studied the photograph carefully, and I suspect it’s located in District Earth.”

  Zack’s eyes widened in disbelief. If that was District Earth, and his father and grandfather were allowed to go there freely, then why had Zack always lived in District Fire? Confusion and shock churned within him, but he remained silent.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  Lori continued. She removed two more objects from her bag and placed them on the table: a dagger and a ring. “I also found two other unusual items, though I’m not certain they’re connected. The strange thing about this dagger is that it contains demonic energy. Natasha will need to examine it when she returns.” She picked up the ring. “And this ring, completely pitch-black, has an unknown origin. It’s made of a material I don’t recognize. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

  Zack felt even more unsettled. The photograph he recognized; it was the only thing he had left from his old life. But the dagger and the ring… those were unfamiliar. His thoughts immediately turned to Eli. Could they belong to him?

  Tony’s voice broke the silence. “After we eat, let’s all go search for that house!” The energy in his voice was infectious.

  But Lucius shook his head. “You will.” His gaze shifted directly to Celia. “Celia is coming with me.”

  Celia stared at Lucius, her heart filling with anger and frustration. What does he want from me now? I’m not his puppet. Her gaze held the defiance of a warrior unwilling to yield.

  While the group prepared to set out in search of the house in District Earth, Celia walked beside Lucius through a long, deserted corridor. The walls were lined with dark, unfinished wood, and the only sound was the soft echo of their footsteps. Not a word was spoken. The tension between them was palpable, and Celia’s thoughts raced. She sensed that something inevitable was about to unfold.

  They stopped before a massive wooden door that seemed almost to blend into the wall itself. Without looking at her, Lucius raised his hand and knocked. The sound echoed hollowly through the silent corridor.

  “I’d like to introduce you to someone,” he said, his voice unreadable.

  The door slid open slowly, almost soundlessly, revealing a darkened room. In the center stood a short, mysterious figure. A large hood cast deep shadows over his face, leaving only the outline of his body visible. Celia’s heart pounded in her throat. A vague sense of dread tightened around her chest.

  “He will explain everything,” Lucius said. He stepped back and walked away, as if exiting a stage. The door closed behind him with a soft but final click.

  Alone in the room with the unknown figure, Celia felt her breath catch. The figure moved—slowly, but with quiet purpose. It was as if a shadow had taken human form. Celia instinctively stepped back, a wave of fear washing over her.

  Then, with an almost ceremonial gesture, the figure removed his hood. Light from the corridor fell across his face. Celia’s eyes widened, her mouth falling open. She stared at the face she recognized—but had never expected to see here.

  “You?” she whispered. “But… why? What are you doing here?”

  The man smiled gently. Strands of hair stuck out from his messy, bowl-shaped haircut. It was Rico, the vice-captain of the Royal Guard.

  As Celia stared at him in disbelief, Rico raised a hand to calm her. “Celia, I imagine you have many questions,” he said softly but seriously. “But the most important thing is that you’re a member of the Research Team. That means you’re safe.”

  “How? What do you mean?” Celia’s head was spinning. “Safe from whom?”

  Rico’s smile faded, replaced by a resolute expression. “The Royal Guard, the royal families—it’s all corrupt and unjust. And we’re going to change that.”

  “But… Rico…” The words came with difficulty. “You’re part of the Royal Guard yourself.”

  Rico gave a quiet chuckle. “Yes, Celia. I started out in the WDF. My senior team member back then was Lucius. But he left to join the Research Team. Not long after, he recruited me as well. Rick Miller already knew how corrupt the Royal Guard was, and he needed a spy. That’s how I ended up inside the Royal Guard.”

  Celia felt both shocked and unsteady. “Okay… and now?”

  “We’re searching for the fifth heir—the family descended from the first king,” Rico explained. “Once we find them, we can stage a coup. Overthrow the system and give this city a just foundation.” He leaned forward, his eyes locking onto hers. “Celia, you know who it is, don’t you?”

  The word coup struck her like a physical blow. She thought of her family, of their peaceful life. What would this mean for them?

  “What happens to my family?” she asked quietly.

  Rico’s gaze did not waver. “That depends on them—whether they cooperate or not. The greatest obstacle is Marcus; we won’t be able to eliminate him easily. But Celia… if the fifth heir is no longer alive, doesn’t that make you the queen of a new era?”