"Unacceptable." Antton sat with Luma and Meliah, his voice the only one loud enough to overpower the birds' singing. "How many times have I said that Clara doesn't have enough people to manage any area? I've already figured that out from the last few times."

  He slammed the table, making some cups tremble.

  "No resources, no people, and a battery that any one of us could use in a much better way. I still stand by my decision that she shouldn’t have something so precious and use it so ridiculously."

  Luma took her cup, sipped a bit, and then placed it back on the table. Even hearing that young man say so many absurd things, he seemed to care about nothing but the battery. Antton remained the same as always, somewhat pretentious and very arrogant.

  She smiled, remembering that he had always been like that since she met him.

  "Luma, anything to say about this?" Meliah didn’t seem pleased with Antton’s shouting. "I know you have more contact with her than any of us."

  "Considering your last encounter was quite embarrassing," Luma replied, laughing. "Dante and Marcus played you like a fool. But that led to your brother’s current state. By the way, how’s Degol? I heard you ran out of bandages for his burns."

  Meliah’s face looked like it was sinking into mud, almost hidden between indifference and the sorrow his brother was in. Degol Jones had been burned by something Meliah was sure was electricity, but he didn’t want to believe someone had that kind of power.

  "His body still hasn’t recovered properly. We have no medicine, no ointments. The situation is worse because half of our workers have disappeared. And the other half wants to leave. They’re afraid of what might happen."

  Luma had expected this. Some of the residents from the Industrial Sector had already come to see her last week, wearing the same rags when the weather turned cold. Meliah might have been a great planner, with his sector excelling in mass production, but he was terrible at managing people.

  In fact, neither Antton nor Meliah were good at it. Luma had her coordination through four other subordinates, but she was never alone in that aspect. They had never listened to outside opinions, which made her doubt they even knew what was happening in Kappz’s urban sector.

  "You should try negotiating supplies," she said without hesitation. "Clara has been doing well with resources. From what I remember when I was there last week, the building they’re using has been rebuilt."

  "What do you mean, rebuilt?"

  "The walls and ceilings of every floor have been repaired." Luma watched as Antton’s face twisted with rage. "She’s creating a residential wing for the residents. Degol can stay here as long as he needs, given how much he’s already helped me, but I don’t have much to offer. Clara has Simone, who has healed more people than I’ve ever seen in my life. You should talk to her, don’t you think, sweetheart?"

  Antton tapped his finger on the table. Meliah thought for a moment but couldn’t bring himself to respond.

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  "I believe Clara is involved in something illegal," Antton suddenly said. "It makes no sense how she’s able to gather so many resources. We have people who haven’t eaten in over two days, and every time I go there, they’re cooking some new kind of meal."

  "She has capable people for that," Luma replied. "And what you’re saying offends me, Antton. Dante is the one collecting supplies. Have you seen how he works?"

  "The old man? Why should I? He’s dead weight."

  Meliah and Luma both stared at him.

  "I see you haven’t changed your attitude one bit," Meliah said, crossing his arms. "Degol and I didn’t even come close to getting that battery, and yet you still underestimate Clara and her people. You know what? I’m done, Antton."

  The elder Jones pushed his chair back and gave a direct bow to Luma. He took her hand and greeted her with respect.

  "Thank you for receiving me and for taking care of my brother. I’ll be leaving to visit Clara."

  Antton stood up immediately, nearly knocking over the cups. His chair, however, toppled backward.

  "Clara has nothing to offer, Meliah. Why subject yourself to another humiliation?"

  "I don’t want to hear any more from you about this, Antton." Meliah didn’t raise his voice or even maintain eye contact. It was clear he was more frustrated than saddened by the current situation. "My brother needs care, and you’ve never offered me anything but problems. I’m going to visit Clara for a solution. My brother needs a comfortable place to stay. Here, with Luma, he’ll be more of a burden than a help. Clara might have something to offer, far more than you ever would. I can’t even remember the last time you helped me. All you ever do is ask me to solve your problems. Now, with winter approaching, I won’t let my brother suffer just so you can have your personal revenge."

  Luma watched as Meliah stepped closer to Antton and pointed at him.

  "And don’t think that if you do something, those two will just let it slide. You got lucky the other times, but don’t push it."

  Dante stopped in the middle of the alley with three backpacks on his back. His red coat had been thrown over his right arm, allowing the backpacks to be secured only on his left.

  The sky had changed constantly over the past few days. What was once a dominant blue had now given way to dark gray. Each heavy cloud was dragged by icy winds from the north.

  "Got it." Jin emerged from one of the houses, carrying several dark sacks. "This is what they asked for, right? Socks."

  "Yes."

  I

  Dante crouched as Jix climbed onto his right shoulder, securing himself to the straps. For over two weeks, they had been scouring the city for more supplies and resources. Since then, Dante had kept his distance from internal conflicts and management issues. He was the only one conducting searches, and when he returned, he barely spoke to the residents.

  That was what he had decided when Jix told him they needed him as a shield, not a burden. In the streets, the silence was more comforting. Searching for resources nearby had become more challenging as the days passed. It had been two days since his search brought him closer to the old Research Center, but Dante hadn’t even approached it.

  If a Lagmorato appeared because of his presence, it would be a massive headache.

  "It’s getting late," Jix said, pulling him from his trance. "Want to head back?"

  "I’d like to." He was still staring at the Research Center. The doors were sealed shut with iron, yet the walls and windows remained intact. "I just don’t understand how such a large place hasn’t sustained any apparent damage. It’s a little strange."

  "Yeah, I’ve noticed that too. You should ask Clara what’s inside."

  Then, Vick’s voice sounded in their heads.

  "Sensor emissions detected from inside the facility. Proximity required to activate tracking protocol. Initial target: Lunar Stone."

  Jix looked at Dante for a second before nudging him.

  "You said Vick was the one who accessed the battery. Let’s head back and discuss this. We don’t know what’s in there."

  Dante took a step back, still intrigued.

  "Alright. Let’s go back. Vick, mark the Research Center’s position."

  The yellow marker pulsed and turned blue. Dante lingered for a moment, then turned and headed "home."