When he opened his eyes, an uncontrolled scream escaped his throat, his entire body trembling. His legs weakly buckled, first falling to his knees, then collapsing completely to the ground. Although the unbearable pain of burning had physically passed, it was still vivid in his mind - he felt as if he was reliving how each cell melted, how his skin was scorched, how his bones crackled. He could feel the presence of phantom flames in every particle of his body.

  "Hey! Get a hold of yourself. It's over now, you're safe." said Geminga. Her voice sounded irritated by the man's screaming.

  The man slowly rose, bringing his trembling hands to his face. His skin was still there, unburned - but the reality of his memory was so powerful that he had trouble believing it. He took a deep breath, as if wanting to make sure his lungs weren't burned.

  "Sir, are you alright?" Ran asked with concern.

  The man looked up at Ran. The young woman's worried eyes were on him. Looking into those eyes, the horrific scene from the laboratory flashed in his mind - her body crushed under the metal cabinet, metal pieces piercing her chest, broken bones... Most of all, those empty eyes, fixed on the ceiling, disconnected from life. His heart tightened, a wave of deep pain rose within him.

  He couldn't protect Ran. He had failed again. He relived those final moments - he hadn't even heard Ran's scream as they were thrown by the force of the explosion. Maybe she hadn't been able to scream. Maybe it had happened so suddenly that she hadn't even realized what was happening. That state of the young woman now standing before him, her shattered body, was etched in his mind like an indelible wound.

  But here she was now. Alive, breathing, looking at him with concern. Her chest rose and fell steadily, life sparkled in her eyes. This Ran standing before him was very different from that horrible sight in the laboratory. This Ran was alive. Speaking, moving, thinking. A Ran untorn by metal and glass, unburned by flames, undestroyed by the explosion.

  A strange feeling of gratitude swelled inside him. As if he was thanking the universe, fate, or whatever power he believed in for Ran being alive. The fact that those horrible images were just memories, that the woman standing before him was real and alive, filled him with an indescribable sense of relief.

  However, this relief brought with it a deep fear. What if he lost her again? What if one day that laboratory scene became real? What if he couldn't protect Ran again? As these thoughts tangled in his mind like poisonous vines, his protective instinct grew stronger. He never wanted to see her like that. Never.

  Without taking his eyes off Ran, he tried to erase that horrible scene from his mind. Right now, this moment was important. Ran was alive, and he would do everything in his power to protect her. No matter how powerful the ghosts of the past were, the reality of the present was more important. And right now, what was real was the living and warm Ran waiting anxiously before him.

  A voice inside, perhaps Geminga's voice, was telling him to stay calm. Yes, those horrible memories were still fresh in his mind. The sound of the laboratory explosion, the heat of the flames, the image of Ran's shattered body... But these were just memories. Unreal, unhappened, perhaps never-to-happen memories.

  Still, the pain from these memories was real. Although a living Ran stood before him, those images would always exist in a corner of his mind. The fear of losing her would always remain as a wound inside him. Perhaps that's why he felt the need to protect her more. Perhaps that's why every time he looked at her, a mixture of feelings awakened inside him - both love and fear, both gratitude and concern.

  Ran's worried eyes were still on him. The life he saw in those eyes warmed him inside. Each breath, each movement, each look was proof that she was alive, that she existed. And this proof somewhat eased those horrible images from the laboratory. Perhaps with time those memories would fade, giving way only to the living presence of the current Ran.

  But for now, all he could do was silently experience these complex feelings inside him. Without telling Ran anything, without explaining what had happened to her, he would carry the pain and gratitude, the fear and joy within himself. Because some wounds were too deep to share, some fears too great to express.

  "I'm fine... I just felt like flames were burning me."

  "I understand, sir. There's something strange about these flames."

  He slowly stood up and cleaned the dust off himself.

  "Geminga... Everything we do leads us to a dead end... As we get closer to the truth, I feel like we're getting further away from the crown. Please tell me that what we've learned is enough and that you've found a way to get the crown."

  "No, there are still many questions that need to be answered," said Geminga. Just as the man was about to lose hope, she continued: "But we don't need to find the answer to every question. The information we learned from Dr. Frost is sufficient. We're moving to the final phase now. We're going to steal the crown."

  "What we've learned is enough, we know who has the crown, we know where they are. Why don't we go and tell Zeta-" his sentence was cut short by the pain he felt.

  "Just as I expected. Zeta gave us the order to 'Bring the crown,' not 'Find the crown's location.' We can't disobey orders at this stage."

  "You saw them! How can we steal the crown from someone like that? And didn't you hear what the doctor said? The crown is in the man's eye... What are we going to do, gouge out his eye!?"

  "Calm down. Like I said, the order was to 'Bring the crown,' but not 'You will steal the crown.'"

  "What do you mean?"

  "We're going to hire a team of thieves. They'll help us steal the crown."

  The man thought about Geminga's words. It was actually a logical idea. Professional thieves could do this job much better than they could. This way, they wouldn't have to gouge out anyone's eye with their own hands. Moreover, if they failed, the blame wouldn't fall directly on them.

  "This... this is really clever," said the man, with a hint of admiration in his voice. "This way, we won't disobey orders, and we'll leave the job to those who can do it best."

  "Exactly," said Geminga, pleased to see that the man understood the plan. "Plus, if the thieves fail, we can hire another team. It's a risk-free plan for us."

  The man nodded in agreement. For the first time in a long while, a spark of hope flickered inside him. Maybe they could complete the mission this way.

  "Where will we find these thieves?" he asked, now starting to think about the details of the plan.

  "Ainsley," was all he said.

  Ran noticed the man's silence. "What are we going to do now, sir?"

  "We've learned where they are. All that's left is to get the crown."

  "How will we get it?"

  "We're going to hire someone to get it for us."

  It was a misty and cold evening. The wind whistled through the narrow streets of the city, howling around the corners of the buildings surrounding them. They quickened their pace, and as they walked through familiar paths, the mist around them grew thicker.

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  The neon sign of the Mist and Wind Bar flickered like a pale beam of light in the dense fog. As always, the bar was a sanctuary for those who lived in the city's shadows. The muffled sound of music and human murmur from inside mingled with the sound of wind outside.

  As they approached the door, the old street lamp in front of the bar flickered and went out. Two men standing by the door looked at them but remained silent. When they entered, warm air and the smell of tobacco hit their faces. The bar was filled with its usual patrons: groups whispering in corners, lonely drinkers at the bar counter, and suspicious characters conducting dark business at the back tables...

  He went to Ainsley, who was wiping a table with a cloth. When the woman saw the approaching customers, she put down her cloth and looked at them.

  "What would you like to drink?"

  "I could use a large glass of beera."

  "Don't you dare get drunk. We're in the middle of something."

  "I won't. I just... need to clear my head a bit."

  After Ainsley placed the large glass in front of him, she turned around to attend to her own business.

  "I also need information," the man said after her.

  "Information is expensive. What do you want to know?"

  "I need someone who can steal something for me."

  Ainsley hesitated, her eyes scanning the man. "How big of a job?"

  "Quite big. And dangerous."

  "Hmm..." Ainsley continued arranging glasses, looking thoughtful. "For jobs like this, I'd usually recommend the Black Cats, but they got caught last month."

  "Is there no one else?"

  "Of course there is..." Ainsley smiled, lowering her voice. "Try the Shadow Brotherhood. They're the best in the city. No alarm system can stop them, no lock can hinder them. They've never failed a job so far. And of course, no one's ever caught them either. They come like shadows and leave like ghosts. If you want something stolen, you won't find better than them."

  "Are they reliable?"

  "Trust doesn't exist in this business, but since you're asking—yes, they are," Ainsley said with a dry laugh. "They do their work exceptionally well. Of course, provided the price is right..."

  "Money is not an issue."

  "Then they might be suitable for you. But be careful - once you make a deal, there's no going back."

  "Where can I find them?"

  "They stay upstairs."

  "They're here? Good."

  "Go up the stairs and follow the left corridor. This building is connected to the neighboring apartment. Go up one more floor, the apartment is there."

  The man nodded and drank the last sip from his glass. As he stood up, Ran followed him.

  "Thanks, Ainsley."

  "Don't mention it."

  "What about the money? You said information was expensive?"

  "You seem quite eager to pay. I get ten percent of whatever you'll pay to the team I'm referring you to. But that's due to my agreement with the Shadow Brotherhood, not with you."

  The man nodded and they went up the stairs.

  The stairs creaked and groaned. The smell of dust and moisture hung in the air. When they reached the upper floor, they followed the left corridor as Ainsley had described. When they crossed to the neighboring building, the air became even heavier. Water droplets trickled down the walls as they walked through the dark corridor.

  When they climbed one more floor, they found themselves in a small landing. There was a single door in front of them. There was no number or name on the door. The man approached the door and knocked three times without hesitation.

  There was no sound from inside. Just as he was about to knock again, the door opened slightly. Before him stood a short girl with her face covered by a black skin mask.

  "What do you want?" asked the masked girl.

  "I want to speak with the Shadow Brotherhood. Ainsley sent me."

  The masked girl remained silent for a moment, then turned around and shouted, "BRO! Someone's here asking about you and your friends!"

  Footsteps approached from inside and the door opened completely. Before them stood a young man, probably eighteen or nineteen years old. His long, carefully braided dreadlocks fell to his shoulders. The black braids varied in thickness and length. While some braids extended to his neck, others ended at his shoulders. A few braids had slipped from his forehead and fallen in front of his eyes. His dark brown skin looked smooth even in the dim light.

  There was a thin scar on the upper part of his nose, extending toward his right eye socket. Though this scar gave his face a harsh expression, it couldn't hide the youthful sparkle in his eyes. On his chin and above his upper lip were newly emerging, not yet fully defined hairs. These first attempts at a beard gave his face a boyish air.

  His eyes carefully studied those before him. The light brown halos around his dark brown pupils added depth to his gaze. His eyebrows were slightly furrowed, but this expression looked natural, as if it were a habit. His cheekbones were prominent, his nose straight and sharp.

  He wore a black, loose t-shirt and loosely fitted jeans. A thin, knitted necklace hung around his neck. A small, silver hoop earring gleamed in his left ear. He had a tall and athletic build, but his body wasn't fully developed yet. There was a confidence in his posture that came with youth, but this confidence wasn't overly showy.

  Leaning against the doorframe, his fingers tapped lightly on the door edge as he studied his visitors. This movement might have revealed his nervousness. Or perhaps it was just the natural restlessness of a young person.

  "What is it, Selin?" he said, looking at the girl who had opened the door. His voice was unexpectedly deep, but still carried the tones of youth. His slight biting of his lower lip while speaking showed he was in thought.

  "Didn't you hear? They're asking about your Brotherhood thing."

  The young man's eyes suddenly lit up with excitement.

  "That's great! Get out of my way and mind your own business. Don't disturb us with our guests."

  The girl who appeared to be around his age suddenly shouted. "Whatever! Do what you want!" she said and headed inside.

  "Please excuse my sister, she doesn't yet understand the subtleties of our work," he said, squinting his eyes and rubbing his hands together. Contrary to his first impression, he seemed quite energetic. "Please, let's talk inside," he said, gesturing inside.

  When they entered, they were greeted by the sight of a messy apartment. Posters on the walls, half-finished coffee cups, books and papers scattered around... Everything was filled with typical young people's clutter. In the middle of the living room stood an old, worn couch. On it were unfolded laundry and a laptop. On the side table next to the couch, there were half-eaten pizza boxes, empty energy drink cans, and various snacks.

  In the corner stood a desk with multiple monitors and what looked like a high-end computer setup. Cables, hard drives, and electronic components lay scattered around it. Notes plastered on the wall created an intricate web of unfinished tasks and code snippets.

  Piles of dirty dishes and pots coming from the kitchen showed that the residents weren't particularly meticulous about cleaning. Plants in pots by the window had started to wilt, probably not having been watered for days. A bare bulb hanging from the ceiling cast a dim light over the room.

  Sports shoes scattered on the floor, old newspapers and magazines, empty water bottles... Everything reflected the lifestyle of young people. Every corner of the house had its own character, though disorganized. Even within this chaos, there seemed to be a system - one just had to be young to understand it.

  "Sorry about the mess, please make yourself comfortable," he said. "I'll go call the other members." He headed toward the rooms and knocked on each door, calling out "Meeting time!"

  A few minutes later, three women emerged from different rooms. Each was wearing comfortable home clothes. The first to catch the eye was a woman with rabbit-like features. Her facial features were delicate and cute, with large, curious eyes. She wore a pastel pink tracksuit. The sleeves of her soft fabric top hung slightly loose. Her movements were agile and graceful, almost as if she were dancing.

  Second, entering the room with a hawk-like appearance, was the woman who seemed the most mature in the group. Her eyes were sharp and had watchful looks. Silver-framed round glasses sat on her nose. She wore a gray sweater and comfortable pants.

  The cat woman who entered last was the most mysterious member of the group. Her black, shiny fur made her cheeks appear puffy and was slightly wavy. Her green eyes followed every movement in the room. She wore black sweatpants and a loose sweater. Her movements were extremely smooth and fluid.

  All three moved toward the couch. The rabbit woman began picking up the scattered items on the couch. "We never quite manage to keep this place tidy," she said with a laugh. The cat woman silently helped her, folding clothes and setting them aside while the hawk woman placed the laptop in a safe spot.

  When they settled on the couch, each took their own unique position. The rabbit woman sat comfortably with her legs tucked under her, constantly shifting her position with small movements. The hawk woman sat with a straight back and adjusted her glasses. The cat woman leaned against the arm of the couch, her body conforming to the furniture like liquid.

  "Well, we've finally all come together," said the owl woman, looking at the guests over her glasses. Her voice was calm and measured, choosing each word carefully. "Usually nobody comes to us for work."

  "Avis! Don't talk like that in front of our clients!" the man with dreadlocks scolded.

  The rabbit woman fidgeted excitedly in her seat. "Are these the people Ainsley sent? How exciting! We haven't had many visitors lately." Her smile seemed to light up the room.

  The cat woman nodded silently, her green eyes continuing to study the visitors. Her fingers tapped rhythmically on the arm of the couch. "If there's work, I'm in," she said in a soft, almost whisper-like voice.

  The rabbit woman couldn't sit still. She couldn't stay in one position for a minute, constantly fidgeting.

  The hawk woman was just like a teacher. She observed everyone from behind her glasses, not taking her eyes off anyone even while adjusting them. She watched everything as if wanting to keep it all under control.

  The cat woman had leaned against the couch arm as if she belonged there. But beneath this comfort was a state of alertness. Her green eyes, while watching the man and Ran, had a slight smile playing at the corners of her lips.

  The young man brought them each a chair from the kitchen and pulled up a chair next to the couch for himself. They were now ready to talk business.