The scorching sun burned everything below. The explosion was so bright that not a speck of darkness remained.
Buildings dissolved into ashes as the searing ball of light enveloped the area.
Despite being nearly 1,000 miles away from the blast site, the hot wind still managed to reach him. The mushroom cloud towered over everything, so massive that even from Europe, the explosion could be seen.
Zach stared at the explosion in fear. If he hadn't retreated with the others ahead of time, he would have been killed on the spot.
Turning his head, he saw his groupmates staring at the mushroom cloud with the same fear. Then, he turned back to it.
"Good job, 3rd Platoon. You managed to escape my own 3rd Platoon's ploy." A deep, emotionless voice echoed around the vehicle, causing them to shiver in fright.
Not only them—all 3,000 passengers heard the voice. A few moments later, the vehicle burst into flames. Scorching heat engulfed it, and people melted at a speed visible to the eye.
"Zach, w-what's happening?" A man clung to Zach, but a second later, he too melted. The liquid that had been his body clung to Zach briefly before evaporating due to the unrelenting heat.
All around him, he saw people he had chatted with only hours ago melting and vanishing. His heart pounded louder and louder until it nearly drowned out the screams of his friends. Yet, while everything burned around him, he felt no heat—he did not burn.
Why? Why? Why!? Why is it always me!?
He screamed, but his voice went unheard. Suddenly, darkness enveloped his vision.
***
Zach woke up with a start. His back was coated in cold sweat as the nightmare replayed in his mind.
He brought a hand to his face and groaned.
It's that stupid nightmare again.
He got out of bed, checked the time, debated taking a shower, cooked and ate breakfast, brushed his teeth, put on his changer and clothes, and stepped out of the house.
It was early morning, the sky still dark, with the sun just about to rise beyond the horizon. Normally, he wouldn't wake up this early, but a rare reward from Oliver had made him determined not to waste a single moment that day.
Despite the early hours, the streets were already crowded. Cars zoomed past above as people hurried along.
This time, Zach wore a cap to hide his face. The wind, already hot despite the sun not yet fully risen, made him reconsider wearing a hoodie.
Still, the cap wasn't enough to fully conceal his face. People he passed by gave him surprised glances, some even showing a hint of lust.
Is this how women feel when walking alone at night?
After a while, he arrived at his destination. The café's logo featured a stylized coffee cup in dark brown with steam rising from it, designed with smooth, curved lines. Below the cup, the words "Morning Dew" were written in bold font.
Through the windows, he saw a long line at the counter—though not as long as it would be later in the morning.
Opening the door, Zach felt the cool air from the AC sweep past him. The contrast of hot and cold made him feel oddly comfortable.
As he stepped inside, several women turned their heads toward him. Noticing this, their companions followed suit, and soon, nearly everyone in the café was staring.
Zach simply flashed a polite smile and tried his best to ignore the attention. As he walked to the counter, some people returned to their business, though a few still sneaked glances at him.
I guess the women of this era are still decent.
When he reached the counter the line had already ended, and a young girl, still staring at the monitor, greeted him. "Welcome to Morning Dew. What may I get you—"
She raised her head, and her blue eyes widened in shock. An awkward silence settled between them.
Eventually, Zach broke the silence, feeling uncomfortable. "Uhm, Miss, is there something on my face?"
The young girl's eyes regained clarity, and her face turned red.
"O-oh! It's nothing! It's just that..." She hesitated, her blush deepening. "You're very beautiful, and I was wondering why someone like you would come to a café like this."
Although well-known people still commanded respect, society was more informal than in the old era. Not that Zach was well-known.
"Oh? Thank you. And don't worry, I get that a lot." Zach chuckled, flashing an embarrassed smile, which only made the girl blush even more.
Eventually, she composed herself and took his order.
"I'd like one café mocha, please."
As the girl, Felicia, turned to prepare his drink, she sighed quietly.
If only you weren't a suspect, she muttered under her breath, her voice barely audible.
Zach, meanwhile, after getting his cafe mocha refused multiple offers to sit with various women and searched for a seat of his own. Just as he found one, a familiar voice called out behind him.
"Oh, Anna? I didn't expect to see you here."
Turning, Zach saw Elanor and Custodia, the latter holding a tray with brownies and a mocha cookie crumble frappuccino.
"I also didn't expect to see you here, Miss Elanor and Miss Custodia," Zach replied, bowing politely.
After exchanging greetings, they spotted a vacant table and sat down.
"I didn't know you came here, especially this early," Zach remarked as he sipped his café mocha.
"We didn't expect you to be awake at this hour either," Elanor said. "Honestly, I thought you were a night owl when we first met."
Zach chuckled and looked out the window, where the sun had finally risen, bathing the city in golden light.
They chatted about each other's well-being, following an old custom from 500 years ago. Suddenly, Elanor covered her mouth as if remembering something.
"Oh yeah! I forgot! Anna, there's something you need to know."
Outwardly, Zach nodded enthusiastically, but inwardly, he groaned.
Another 30-minute talk… Women haven't changed.
***
As they walked, a large mansion loomed ahead. It's a large, mansion-like estate with a grand, French chateau-style facade. The building features a symmetrical design, complete with arched windows, tall columns, and ornamental moldings that give it a regal appearance. Multiple balconies line the upper floor, and the mansard-style roof is dotted with dormer windows and several chimneys.
Elanor took the lead and knocked. A series of footsteps echoed before a young girl in a maid outfit opened the door. After greeting them, she stepped aside, revealing a spacious living room.
It featured a high ceiling with an enormous chandelier at its center, casting warm, golden light throughout the room. A sweeping staircase—with ornate, wrought-iron railings and rich red carpeting—curves elegantly toward the upper floor, serving as a striking focal point.
On the couch, two women were engaged in conversation, their occasional laughter filling the room. As the door opened, they stopped talking and turned toward the newcomers.
"Greetings, Mistress," they said in unison, bowing politely.
The woman with flowing white hair, Selina, gestured for them to speak.
"Mistress Selina and Mistress Liana," Elanor began, "we encountered Miss Anna at the Morning Dew Café today. This time, the Nightwalkers were deployed. Based on their observations, they reported that Anna Galior has a high chance of being a spy for the Stravos family. Our sources suggest she may have been an excellent CIA field officer…"
She continued detailing the report submitted after two days of surveillance.
Selina listened in silence alongside Liana. When Elanor finished, she lifted her head slightly to see Selina's indifferent expression.
After a moment, Selina nodded and dismissed them.
Once the two had left, Selina's expression shifted to one of concern.
"What are we going to do? Anna is the only one who meets all the requirements to be Danica's assistant…"