Azreal rubbed his forehead like the weight of it all was trying to leak through his fingers. "The reason," he said slowly, "is because ACTS sees our café as a business threat in the future. Their main goal is to… get rid of the competition."

Jack blinked, genuinely confused. "Competition? What competition?"

Nena crossed her arms. "Yeah, Azreal, you're not making any sense right now."

Sarah's panel flickered into existence beside them—like it just slid out from the air itself—and she said, almost too calmly, "Lord Azreal is right. ACTS sees us as competition. Considering our… exponential growth."

Fredrick's eyes widened a little. "So that's what this seizure is really about."

Sarah nodded. "If you look at our business, it's actually started moving. We've completely outclassed Mrs. Frida's café in just a few days."

Laisa tilted her head, remembering. "That's true… now that you mention it, I haven't seen anyone going to her café in a while."

Aria frowned, guilt flickering in her voice. "But… it kind of feels like we stripped her of her source of income. Don't you think so?"

Nena sighed, looking down briefly. "You're right, Aria. Maybe we should've… slowed things down a little."

Sarah's voice turned colder. "The world of business isn't fair. It's filled with competition and rivalries. That's how it is. It's not our fault Mrs. Frida went out of business. She just needs to get better—or keep up."

Eric blew smoke from his lips, a lazy cloud drifting upward. "Or, you eliminate the competition. Which is what ACTS is trying to do to us. Right?"

Sarah didn't even blink. "Yes."

Shot rubbed his hands together nervously. "So… how're we saving the café again?"

Azreal straightened, the air around him settling like a decision had been made long ago. "You don't need to worry. Sarah and I have a strategy. We'll open the café tomorrow. Sell as usual. Act like everything is normal."

Hulk leaned forward. "After that? What then?"

"Our plan is to make the boss show himself tomorrow." Azreal said it like a quiet thunder. "And when he does… that's where Cain comes in. He couldn't do anything before because he didn't meet him. So now—now we're bringing the boss to Cain."

Azreal turned his eyes to him. "Can you work with that?"

Cain nodded, serious for once. "Of course."

"Good," Azreal said softly. "Then it's settled. Tomorrow, Nena's Café will run like usual."

Everyone nodded, murmuring among themselves as they walked back into the hidden passage. Nena switched off the lights before joining them.

When they reached the living room, people drifted toward their rooms one by one—like tired stars returning to the dark. Lexi was about to leave when Cain stopped her.

She turned. "Do you need something?"

"Actually… yeah," Cain said, scratching the back of his neck. "Just wait a minute."

He walked to the sofa where his bag sat, half-open and messy, and pulled out a bundle of files. He walked back to her, holding them out. "I need your help with this."

Lexi opened one, eyes scanning. "Help? With these files?"

Cain nodded. "Yeah. I need you to look for any kind of pattern between these victims. The culprit trying to turn humans into infernals… these are all the cases. If there's a pattern, we can narrow down the enemy."

Lexi's eyes softened. "You're right. That could really help our investigation."

Cain exhaled, relieved. "Exactly."

Lexi tucked the files against her chest. "I'll get started now." Then she walked away.

Cain leaned back and sighed. "Now that that's off my back… I'm relieved." He forced a tired smile and headed toward his room.

---

Morning

Aria's room was quiet except for the rustle of blankets as she rose. She brushed her teeth, showered, dressed—her routine simple but steady—and walked out.

She went to Lexi's room and knocked. No answer. She pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Lexi was slumped at her desk, lab coat still on, glasses crooked, sleeping with her head resting on open papers. A half-finished coffee mug sat beside her.

The curtain was only half-drawn, letting weak rays of sunlight stretch across the floor like sleepy fingers.

Aria sighed, closing the door behind her. She walked to the window and flung the curtains open. "Rise and shine, Lexi."

Lexi groaned loudly, shielding her face from the sudden light. "Who… is that? At this time?"

"It's me, Aria. Get up." Aria walked around the room, brushing off crumbs, straightening things without thinking.

Lexi adjusted her glasses and stretched. "Aria, you're here…"

"Yes," Aria said. "Any update so far?"

Lexi pushed her glasses up again. "No… not yet. But give me till tomorrow. I might have something then."

"I hope so." Aria's eyes drifted to the cold coffee. "Why'd you sleep so late, Lexi? Didn't you rest last night? There's even a coffee mug here."

Lexi picked up the cup, sipped, immediately spat it back. "Ugh! It's cold."

"What happened?" Aria asked.

Lexi lifted the files. "Cain asked me to help him with these last night. So… that's what I was doing."

Aria frowned. "But you should've rested at some point."

"I will," Lexi said, rubbing her eyes. "Let me freshen up. Then I'll head to the shop."

"Do that. I'll be outside."

Aria left, closing the door gently behind her.

---

Living Room

Aria arrived to find Nena already serving breakfast. The smell of warm bread and freshly brewed coffee filled the air.

"Aria, you're awake," Nena said, smiling.

"Morning."

"Come help me in the kitchen," Nena said, already turning. "Let's go."

Aria nodded and followed.

Soon they returned with trays in hand. Laisa walked in, yawning as she sat down.

"Is Azreal still asleep?" she asked.

Hulk shrugged. "Maybe. Or he just wants to be in his room."

"That's fine," Laisa said, standing up. "I'll go bring him—"

"No need," Nena cut in sharply, returning with Aria. "Azreal already told me he won't be joining us for breakfast today. Sit and eat."

Laisa hesitated. "Is Lord Azreal okay? Why isn't he eating with us?"

Aria added softly, "Yeah, Nena… what's wrong?"

"You two don't need to worry," Nena said, her voice gentler. "He'll eat in his room. I'll serve him."

Laisa sank back into her seat. Nena placed a tea cup on the tray and left.

Aria passed out coffee and bread rolls before finally sitting down.

---

Azreal's Room

Nena knocked.

"Come in," Azreal's voice came, muffled.

She entered to find him still in pajamas, sitting on his bed. He looked like he hadn't moved in a while.

Nena sighed, shutting the door behind her. "Azreal… you haven't even bathed yet."

"I will," he said, rubbing his eyes. "I was just… busy with things."

She set the tray down on his bed. "Here. Everyone else is eating. So you should, too."

"Thanks, Nena."

She smiled, soft but tired. "Eat quickly. Take your bath. Come downstairs when you're ready. I'll open the shop in the meantime."

"Okay."

Nena left quietly.

Azreal ate slowly, mind somewhere far away. Sarah's panel flickered into the air again.

"Today is the day," she said.

"Yeah."

"Do you think the boss will come?"

Azreal stared ahead. "I don't know yet. For now… we just follow the plan."

"Alright then." Sarah's voice softened. "I wish the café the best."

"The café needs it," Azreal muttered. "A lot."

"Then… I'll leave you to prepare," Sarah said, and her panel dissolved into the air like dust carried by wind.

---

Later, in the shop, Nena and everyone were already dressed in their uniforms… moving around, trying to look normal while serving customers. The morning rush sounded louder than usual, like the caffé itself was nervous.

Azreal stood behind the counter for a second, breathing once, then he slipped away—quiet, too quiet—into the secret passage.

Nobody noticed. Or maybe they pretended not to.

Then—

suddenly—

black Vans screeched to a stop right in front of the caffé.

That ugly imprint on them: A.C.T.S.

Bold. Threatening. Like they wanted the whole city to see them flex.

A man sipping his coffee by the window looked out. His eyes widened. His breath caught.

He yelled, "It's the ACTS!"

A ripple went through the caffé. Chairs scraped. Spoons stopped clinking. People turned like a flock of birds sensing danger.

Outside, men in black stepped out of the vans… too many of them, all with the same glasses, same stiff shoulders, same earpiece like they were born from the same factory.

Two walked in. The bell on the door gave a nervous little dingle, like it already knew this wasn't going to end well.

They lifted their badges.

Aria froze mid-step. Everyone did. Even the air stopped moving.

One of the men said, "We would like for you all to evacuate the premises. Right now."

Nena walked forward, her voice tight but steady. "Why? What's the matter?"

The man looked at her like she was a fly buzzing near his ear. "You're the owner, I believe."

He unfolded a paper and flashed it. "We are here to seize the caffé."

The second man faced the customers. "Everyone leaves. Now. Or force will be applied."

One by one, the customers walked out… murmuring, trembling. The door kept dinging softly as though it pitied them.

More ACTS men poured inside.

"We need you all to step outside," one of them said, already acting like the place belonged to him.

Cain stepped forward, jaw tight. "We won't step out just because you said so. You have no right to seize the caffé."

The man raised the paper higher. "We have all the rights. Your shop is suspected of selling bad products. It must be seized. If you interfere… we won't hesitate to use force."

Silence fell. A heavy one.

Then Jack cleared his throat—loud, sharp. Everyone turned.

"I suggest we settle this outside," Jack said calmly. "You're ruining the atmosphere by crowding inside."

Even the ACTS men blinked. They glanced at each other.

Finally, the lead one said, "Fine. Outside."

They marched out. Nena and the others followed, closing the door behind them like they were shutting a chapter.

Outside, the leader said, "We don't want to use force. So stand aside and let us do our job."

Nena snapped, "What job? All you want is to seize the caffé. How's that fair?"

The man raised his hand. A signal.

The others opened the van and dragged out yellow tape like they were preparing for some funeral.

——

Across the street… Caden and Carl peeked from their window.

Caden grinned. "We're finally getting rid of those pesky aliens."

Carl nodded eagerly. "Yes. But why are the officials wasting time talking? They should just chase them out."

Caden shrugged. "Doesn't matter. They're done for. Come, let's tell mom."

They ran out screaming.

"Mom! Come look! We're finally getting rid of the aliens!"

They crashed into their mother in the living room. She blinked. "Aliens? What aliens?"

The boys exchanged a stupid nervous smile.

"We meant our new neighbors," Carl corrected quickly.

Frida smiled, a little too happily. "Really? Are you sure?"

They both nodded and dragged her.

"Come see for yourself, mom. You'll have a front-row seat," Caden bragged.

She peered through their window and her smile widened.

"It seems the gods have answered my prayers."

——

Back at the shop, Nena and the others were trying—desperately—to reason.

"There must be a misunderstanding," Aria said. "Let us prove we don't sell fake goods."

But the leader wasn't listening. His patience was a thin thread.

"Wrap the caffé," he ordered. "If anyone interferes… I can't guarantee their safety."

Laisa clenched her fist. "Honestly, what's the point of reasoning with them…" she whispered.

The men walked forward.

Nena immediately stretched her arms wide, blocking them. The others joined, forming a shaky ring of linked hands.

Cain smirked. "If you want to seize the caffé… you'll go through us first."

The men marched forward anyway.

The lead one pushed against Nena. She held on tight to Aria's hand. Her breath trembled.

He gritted his teeth and raised a black stick.

"Out of the way, old woman," he snarled, swinging.

Nena flinched. Closed her eyes. Braced.

The hit never came.

Aria yanked her back. "Nena! Are you okay?"

Nena blinked, dazed. "Yes… but what happened? Did you stop him?"

"No," Aria said softly. "Azreal did."

Nena looked ahead—and there he was.

Azreal stood there, holding the stick mid-air with one hand like it weighed nothing.

The human chain broke instantly as the others backed away.

The leader leaned harder on the stick, but Azreal didn't even move.

He gripped it tighter.

"Back away," Azreal said, voice cold, "or I'll kill you."

The man froze. His blood probably went cold.

He stepped back slowly.

Azreal snatched the stick from his grip and threw it aside like trash.

The ACTS men stepped back. Clearing space. Afraid.

Azreal turned to Nena.

"Nena… are you okay? Did he hurt you?"

Nena shook her head quickly. "I'm fine, Azreal. No need to worry."

Fredrick stepped forward quietly. "What is our next step, Lord Azreal?"

Before Azreal could answer, two cars pulled up in front of the caffé.

The ACTS men scattered like ants. Some ran toward the cars.

The door opened.

A chubby man stepped out, black hair slicked back, a huge cigarette in his mouth, holding a black walking stick like it was part of his body.

Eric whispered, "Looks like the man of the hour has arrived."

Five big bodyguards exited the second car, lining up behind the chubby man like shadows.

Azreal stepped forward.

Shot, Eric, Fredrick, Cain, Hulk, and Jack followed behind him like a small army.

Azreal and the chubby man now stood face to face.

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