"Don't you need me to do anything?"

…

Half an hour later, Axel slipped out of the Soft Love Café. Isaac's words still echoed in his mind, and he deliberately slowed his steps, careful and thoughtful.

He had expected more missions, more demands, but Isaac had given him nothing further. No orders. No burdens.

Strangely, Axel felt relieved. It meant he could focus on his training.

And deep down, he realized—it wasn't just that Isaac was using him. The old man actually gave a damn about him.

......

"Level six, Clarissa…" Axel hadn't forgotten Victor's warning, but right now his strength wasn't nearly enough.

"Before that, I can make use of you." He pulled out the Kensington Hot Springs voucher. The address was even written on it: Ebonreach, Northlands. That was Kensington territory—the most powerful family in the North.

......

The next morning, a loud knock rattled Axel's door. Half-asleep, he blinked awake just as Rosaline and Millers barged inside. "Rosaline, it's barely dawn. What, heading out on a mission already?"

"The captain's birthday is the day after tomorrow," she said bluntly. "We've got gifts ready, but I suddenly realized you didn't know. Why don't you prepare a cake?"

"The captain's birthday?" Axel rubbed his eyes.

Millers nodded. "Yeah. Every year, he makes sure to celebrate each of ours. But he never mentions his own. Last year, we finally dragged it out of him. So this year, we're giving him a surprise."

Obsidian Team's vacation was over; Axel and Millers were both back from the Abyss, and new assignments could land at any time. Free time like this was rare.

"What are you two giving him?" Axel asked.

Millers handed him a list. Axel's expression twisted after reading it.

Millers' gift was a homemade life robot—fully capable of handling chores and, in emergencies, even fighting with the strength of a Level 1 Awakener.

Rosaline's gift? A set of Blood Refining Stones worth five million.

Even Phoenix and Kaia, though their presents weren't quite as extravagant, were still handing over gifts worth hundreds of thousands.

"Rosaline, A cake's gonna cut it?" Axel said, half amused, half horrified.

"I only suggested it because you might not have time to prepare something else. If you do, then go for it."

Rosaline had another reason too. Axel might be rising fast, but he was taking few missions, and Force Consolidation devoured resources like a starving beast.

A cake was thoughtful, not excessive—and didn't dig into Axel's pocket.

"I've got something even better!" Axel's eyes lit up as he remembered. The Hot Spring voucher he had could cover eight people at once.

With the team and Annabelle, that made seven of them. If the team joined too, soaking in the Kensington Hot Springs would boost all of them.

"What is it?" Rosaline and Millers eyed him curiously.

"If it's too expensive, the captain won't accept it. You know how he is," Millers said.

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Rosaline nodded in agreement. "Better save that little money of yours for yourself."

"I'll treat everyone to a hot spring bath!" Axel declared.

"Hot springs?" Rosaline's face froze, then darkened. She suddenly recalled a very different kind of "hot spring" memory and shot Axel a glare.

"Hot springs sound amazing," Millers said, already tempted. "But Western Bridgeport doesn't have any."

"Not Western Bridgeport. Ebonreach." Axel smiled.

"Ebonreach?" Both of them stared at him.

Millers' eyes lit up. "Ebonreach's bathhouses are legendary. They say the service is… very attentive."

Rosaline cut him a sharp look. "You'd better be talking about serious service."

"Rosaline, I've changed!" Millers raised his hands defensively.

"Changed? Take a look at your own damn face. Those dark circles—do you think I don't know what you were doing last night?"

Millers' grin faltered.

Rosaline ignored him and turned back to Axel, her eyes narrowing. "You've never even been to Ebonreach. Why the hell are you suddenly inviting us all there for hot springs?"

Axel just smiled. He wasn't about to explain the voucher. It was too perfect for this occasion.

"You've gotten good at playing coy," Rosaline muttered. "Fine. I'll go tell Phoenix and Kaia to head straight to Ebonreach."

"Alright. I'll grab Annabelle. See you there," Axel said.

Once outside his room, Rosaline frowned to herself, her thoughts uneasy. "The hell's his deal? Running all the way to Ebonreach just for a bath… Axel, if you're planning some kind of shady, perverted service…"

Her eyes hardened. "…then you're dead."

"Are we really going to the hot springs? That's awesome!" Kaia breathed out a puff of white air, her eyes shining with curiosity. Even in February, Ebonreach was still blanketed with snow.

By the time Axel landed at the small airport, it was already afternoon. The rest of the team was gathered and buzzing with energy.

Miller's gaze immediately fell on Kaia's mountain of luggage. "Kaia, you're out of your mind. You bringing half your house with you?"

She rolled her eyes. "Shows what you know. When a girl travels, it's about being prepared and staying classy. Rosaline, I brought a ton of face masks—we'll do some together later."

Everyone chuckled at her enthusiasm. Even Vince, who rarely cracked a smile, looked relaxed. The team hardly ever had the chance to travel together, so this trip felt more like a rare chance at bonding.

In the car, Kaia leaned closer to Rosaline and whispered, "So… you guys are ready, right? The captain doesn't seem to realize tomorrow's his birthday."

"It'd be strange if he did," Rosaline replied flatly. "Later, just keep an eye on these idiots and make sure they don't screw anything up."

Kaia blinked, then broke into a grin. "Okay, fine—Millers, maybe. But Captain, Phoenix, and Axel? No way. They're definitely not the type."

The ride wasn't long. When the car stopped, everyone climbed out—and froze. Ahead stood a slightly run-down spa. Its wooden sign creaked in the wind: Kensington Family Authentic Spa. The place was practically deserted.

Rosaline and Vince both turned immediately to Axel.

"…You don't mean this place, do you?" Rosaline's voice was shocked.

The others just looked confused. To them it was just an empty inn, nothing worth the stares. But Rosaline and Vince knew better. This wasn't the sort of place you could just walk into.

"This is Kensington territory," Rosaline explained.

"The Kensington family? From Ebonreach?" Kaia asked, stunned.

When Rosaline and Vince nodded, the rest finally understood.

The Kensingtons—the most powerful family in the North. Remote from Everton's politics, sure, but their heritage and influence were unmatched.

"The Dragon Pond…" Phoenix muttered under his breath.

They'd all heard of it. Every Awakened in the Syndicate had. Access to the Dragon Pond was a privilege reserved for aristocratic families, and even the military could only squeeze out a handful of slots each year. Only the most talented ever got one.

"Axel, you sure you've got the right place?" Miller asked, half-joking, half-nervous.

Axel's lips curved into a grin. "Yeah. This is it."

The others exchanged wide-eyed looks. Axel wasn't the type to bluff without a plan. If they really got to soak in the Dragon Pond, their power would skyrocket.

"Let's check it out," Rosaline said, striding forward first.

The lobby inside was small and plain, guarded only by an elderly man. He didn't even ask questions, just jerked his thumb at a door off to the side. "Here for the hot springs? Good timing—someone else is here to issue a challenge today. Head in and wait."

"…Challenge?" Kaia echoed under her breath.

Still, they pushed aside the curtain and stepped through.

Rosaline's face immediately tightened. Someone she didn't want to see was already there.

"Well, well. Rosaline?" A silvery, mocking laugh carried across the room. "Didn't expect you to come challenge. That's a rare treat."

The narrow hallway opened into a cavernous space. It wasn't a spa at all—it was an arena. A square platform about the size of a basketball court sat at the center, lit by glaring spotlights. The rest of the hall was sunk in shadows.

Axel's gaze sharpened. "Her?"

The woman who'd spoken was Lilith—the captain of the Flower Poison Team.

Opposite her stood a man in his thirties, dressed in knight's garb, a longsword at his hip. He looked like he'd stepped straight out of some medieval epic.

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