Ren rubbed his temples as he stared at the open window of his bedroom.

Sitting comfortably on the windowsill like she owned the place was a woman with long, blonde hair, her legs swinging freely in the air.

He let out a tired sigh. "…Even being at home isn't safe anymore," he muttered under his breath. "That's the second woman coming through my window."

The woman laughed softly, her tone amused. "Well, that can't be helped," she said, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "When a handsome man like you lives in a house with such a conveniently placed window, temptation is bound to win."

Ren gave her a flat look. "Silver, I didn't expect to see you again. I thought our first meeting was going to be one and done."

Silver grinned, leaning forward slightly on the sill. "You thought wrong. You gave me a hard time, remember?"

Ren crossed his arms. "Did I now? I thought you had a good time with me."

"Oh please." She tilted her head with a mock pout. "Do you have any idea how hard it was to not get caught by those police vehicles that followed me that night? I had to jump two rooftops and pretend to be a lost cat."

"I wonder," Ren said lazily, not even pretending to look sorry.

Her eyes narrowed teasingly. "You could at least pretend to feel guilty. So… how are you going to pay me back for that?"

Ren blinked once. "I wonder how."

Silver groaned, dramatically falling back against the window frame.

Ren shrugged. "So..." He paused, then tilted his head. "Don't tell me you came all the way here to ask for sex as repayment?"

The question came out bluntly, but Ren's face was calm, too calm.

Silver froze mid-smile, then looked at him with wide eyes. "What made you think that's what I wanted?"

Ren gave her an equally flat look. "What else could you possibly want from me? You're a woman. That's usually what they all want."

Silver blinked, then let out a burst of laughter. "You make it sound really bad."

Ren didn't answer. The faint twitch in his eye was answer enough.

Silver smirked. "Well… you're not wrong," she said playfully. "If I could, I'd have you right now. But that's not what I came for. At least, not tonight."

"That's… not reassuring," Ren muttered, rubbing his neck. "Then what do you actually want?"

She leaned forward again, her tone shifting slightly, still playful, but with a tinge of seriousness. "I want you to get close to someone. A man named Daichi Asashi. And eventually, through him, to reach Chiyo Asashi."

Ren squinted. "Why?"

Silver's lips curled into a smile that was half-sweet, half-cryptic. "Did I ask you why you did what you did when you came to me for help?"

"That's not the same," Ren said, narrowing his eyes. "And besides, I already know Daichi. Somewhat. But lately, I haven't seen him around."

Silver's smile widened. "That can be arranged."

"Arranged?" Ren repeated suspiciously. "What exactly are you planning this time?"

She crossed her legs on the windowsill and swung one lightly. "Daichi's been working at a restaurant near the dungeon market. One of those places the Asashi family owns. Apparently, since the Black Moondrop Guild can't enter dungeons without NDA's permission anymore, they're keeping busy with… other work trying to obtain the control of dungeon market."

Ren raised an eyebrow. "So the big, mighty Black Moondrop Guild is now waiting tables?"

Silver laughed. "Something like that."

Ren sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I've heard about that. So what are you suggesting? That I go work in this restaurant or just visit it?"

"Whatever you want," she said casually. "You're good at blending in when you want to. I just need you to get close to Chiyo Asashi. Nothing more."

Ren frowned. "You're not going to tell me why, are you?"

"Nope," she said cheerfully. "But you'll find out soon enough."

Ren gave up trying to argue. He knew this woman too well or maybe not well enough. With Silver, logic only went so far before it hit a wall of charm and nonsense.

"Fine," he finally said, letting out a slow exhale. "I'll do it. I'll find a way to get close to Chiyo. But if this goes wrong, I'm blaming you."

"Of course," Silver said with a smile that looked anything but apologetic.

Ren turned to his bed, clearly intending to end the conversation, but Silver wasn't quite done yet.

"Oh, and one last thing," she said sweetly.

Ren froze mid-step. "There's always a 'one last thing' with everyone."

Silver grinned, eyes gleaming with mischief. "That restaurant I mentioned? The one Daichi's working at?"

"Yeah?"

"It's… well, let's say they cater exclusively to women. For their needs."

Ren stared at her blankly. "So… it's a brothel."

Silver giggled. "Such a crude word. I prefer 'selective service establishment.'"

Ren pinched the bridge of his nose. "You're sending me to a brothel to meet a woman named Chiyo Asashi. Do you realize how insane that sounds?"

Silver looked delighted. "Perfectly. That's why I chose you."

Ren groaned. "Why do I even talk to you?"

"Because I was the best woman you had."

"Debatable."

Silver stood up on the windowsill, her balance unnervingly perfect. She reached into her belt pouch and pulled out a small grappling wire. With an elegant flick of her wrist, she fired it toward a nearby rooftop, where it latched on with a soft click.

"Well then, I'll leave you to it," she said cheerfully. "Try not to get assaulted this time."

Ren gave her a dry look.

Silver winked. "Take care! Ren,"

And just like that, she leapt out the window, her body arcing gracefully through the air as the wire reeled her toward the neighboring building.

Ren stood there for a long moment, staring at the open window as the breeze tugged at his curtains. Then he finally sighed, dragging a hand down his face.

"Chiyo Asashi...I always wanted to meet that woman. I wonder what she is like,"

***

Two women stood face to face, their gazes locked, neither backing down.

Meiling's expression was sharp, her brows furrowed, anger practically radiating from her. "Was it you?" she demanded, her voice low but threatening.

Lan Xue blinked once, her tone calm, even casual. "I have no idea what you're trying to say, Meiling."

She turned slightly, intending to walk past her, but Meiling stepped in her way, blocking her path.

"Don't play dumb with me," Meiling hissed. "Was it you who tried to kidnap Ren?"

Xue froze. Just for an instant, her confident mask cracked. But she quickly recovered, forcing a small, mocking giggle. "What if it was me?" she said, her voice playful but edged with venom. "What are you going to do, little sister?"

The next instant, a thunderous sound echoed through the hallway.

Xue's eyes widened, her barrier flared for a split second before shattering like glass. She didn't even have time to react before something hit her square in the chest, launching her across the hall.

Crash!

Her body slammed into a wooden wall hard enough to splinter it. Dust fell from the ceiling as she slid down, coughing.

Xue gritted her teeth, wiping blood from her lip as she forced herself up. "You…" she growled.

Meiling stood there, calm but seething, her golden eyes glowing faintly. Behind her, a majestic golden dragon shimmered, its translucent body coiling protectively around her like a spirit of wrath. The air around her rippled with Imperial Qi.

"You think you can just attack me because you have that?" Xue spat, fury burning in her voice.

She raised her hand sharply. In an instant, countless invisible blades formed around her razor-thin energy barriers slicing through the air toward Meiling.

The ground cracked under the force of her magic, yet Meiling didn't flinch. Each shimmering strike shattered before reaching her, breaking apart like fragile glass against her golden aura. She kept walking forward, step by step, her eyes fixed on Xue.

"How dare you…" Meiling muttered through clenched teeth. "How dare you touch Ren."

Her voice was calm, but the anger beneath it was palpable, like molten fire ready to erupt.

Xue's expression faltered for the first time. Even with all her arrogance, she could feel the sheer killing intent rolling off Meiling like a storm.

Then—

A soft, almost musical voice echoed from behind them. "Oh my… don't stop now."

Both women froze.

From the end of the corridor, a figure approached, walking slowly yet with a presence that made the entire air feel colder. Her steps were soft, elegant, but every movement carried weight.

Lan Hua, the Third Mother of the Lan Family.

Her red silk robe trailed across the polished floor, and her calm face betrayed nothing. She smiled faintly, though her eyes were like still water hiding a deep current.

"Carry on," Hua said quietly. "I was just beginning to enjoy the show."

Meiling instantly lowered her head, her dragon fading behind her as she suppressed her power. Xue, though visibly annoyed, did the same, swallowing her anger. Neither of them dared to act recklessly before her.

"Third Mother…" Meiling bowed deeply. "Forgive us. I let my emotions get the better of me."

Hua's gaze moved between them slowly. "Mmm. Emotions are dangerous things, aren't they?"

"I suppose I shouldn't scold you. After all, I came here for another reason."

Meiling straightened slightly. "Third Mother, before that…"

Hua tilted her head. "Oh?"

Meiling bowed again. "I want to offer my condolences. To you and to your daughters. They were like real sisters to me. I swear I'll take revenge on whoever took their lives."

Hua's expression didn't change. She simply looked at Meiling for a long moment before murmuring, "That's reassuring to hear."

Her voice was gentle, too gentle.

"They were innocent girls," Hua continued softly. "Barely beginning to understand their gifts. The world can be cruel, can't it? To take away children before they even have the chance to fight back."

Meiling clenched her fists. "It's unforgivable."

Xue looked away, her eyes narrowing but silent.

Hua smiled faintly again, though the corners of her lips trembled as if holding something back. "I agree. And that's exactly why I came here."

Both women went silent, listening.

"I have new orders for you," Hua said quietly, turning her gaze to the courtyard visible through the cracked wall. "You will both be working together from now on."

"Together?" Xue's voice carried disbelief. "With her?"

Meiling frowned, but Hua's calm tone silenced them both.

"Yes. Together," Hua said firmly. "You will attack the Asashi Family."

The words hung in the air like thunder.

Meiling's eyes widened. "The Asashi…? We're declaring war?"

Hua turned her gaze toward them, her expression serene. "Officially, yes. The declaration came this morning."

Her calm smile returned but there was no warmth in it. Only a cold, composed fury.

"This city," Hua said softly, "is truly going to burn now. History will repeat."

Meiling looked at her, hesitant. "Third Mother, was it Asashi's that killed my sisters?"

Hua's eyes lowered slightly. "Yes, you're right."

Xue's breath hitched. Meiling went pale.

"They sent me proof," Hua continued, her voice still disturbingly calm. "A box containing the decapitated head of one of my girls."

She closed her eyes for a brief moment, exhaling softly. "It wasn't a pleasant sight."

Neither Meiling nor Xue could speak. The weight of her words pressed down on them like a mountain.

Hua finally opened her eyes again, her calmness sharper than any blade. "That's why I want you both to show them, show what it means to stand against the Lan."

Her voice carried no anger, only quiet certainty. That made it even more terrifying.

"Do not disappoint me," she said at last, turning her back to them as she began to walk away.

The two women bowed their heads deeply. "Yes, Third Mother."

As her footsteps faded down the hall, neither Meiling nor Xue moved.

For a long time, silence filled the air again.

Finally, Xue muttered, her tone bitter, "You'd better not slow me down."

Meiling glanced at her. "Once I deal with Asashi you're next.."

Their eyes met one last time, before both of them went on their own ways.

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