Chapter 407: Chapter 407

The night sky above the city was clear, the streets quiet except for the distant hum of traffic. Leo, Morgan, and Lily had only just started walking again when their systems chimed in unison.

A glowing message appeared before their eyes.

Adam: Meet me at the Samael building. Urgent.

Leo raised his brows. "Well, that sounds ominous."

Morgan crossed his arms, expression thoughtful. "That was fast. We barely got out of Lucian's place and now this?"

Lily tilted her head slightly, reading the words again. Her eyes softened, though her voice remained calm. "If Adam says it is urgent, then it probably is. We should head over."

Leo nodded, already turning toward the main road. He could feel it in his gut. Whatever this was about, it mattered.

The three of them broke into a brisk walk, the quiet around them giving way to the anticipation building in their chests.

Elsewhere, Rachel was sitting across from her grandfather in his office. The Director leaned back in his chair, the faintest trace of a smile on his weathered face as he regarded his granddaughter.

The room felt heavy, though not unkind. The Director had that effect on people. His presence carried a quiet authority that demanded attention, even when he said nothing at all.

Rachel sat on the couch with Aria, Vivian, and Ethan lined up beside her in that exact order. Ethan looked the most uncomfortable, his dog ears pinned flat against his head as the Director's eyes occasionally flicked his way. Each look felt like it was peeling back layers of him he would rather leave hidden.

Rachel spoke easily enough, though, answering questions about the upcoming entrance exam as if it were just another conversation. "So it's like a test of skill and teamwork combined?" she asked.

The Director gave a small nod. "Correct. It will push each of you in different ways. Some will be challenged mentally, others physically. The exam changes each year, so I cannot tell you exactly what to expect."

Vivian shifted slightly on the couch, her arms crossed, expression unreadable. Aria simply listened, her hands folded neatly in her lap.

Ethan, however, was another story. Every time the Director's eyes slid his way, he resisted the urge to fidget. He knew that look. It was the look of a man who knew too much. At some point, he was going to have to talk to the old man directly. He needed to know exactly what the Director had found out about him and his past.

Before anyone could speak again, Rachel's system chimed.

Adam: Meet me at the Samael building. Urgent.

Rachel glanced at the message, then stood, brushing off her skirt.

"Where are you going so suddenly?" the Director asked, one brow raised.

Rachel gave him a small smile, her tone light but warm. "One of my friends needs me."

The Director closed his eyes, a wry smile curving his lips. "You really have changed."

Rachel grinned but did not answer. Aria, Vivian, and Ethan rose with her, each of them preparing to leave.

As they headed for the door, Ethan cast one last glance at the Director. The old man met his eyes briefly, knowingly, before turning back toward his desk. Ethan felt a chill crawl down his spine. That conversation would happen sooner or later.

On the other side of the city, Crystal sat with her father, Lance. It had been years since they had spent any real time together, yet tonight felt like the start of something healing. They had talked about everything and nothing all at once, slowly stitching together the pieces of a bond that had nearly been lost.

Greg and Luna were nearby, speaking quietly about something that seemed to occupy most of their attention. Crystal had not asked what it was about, sensing it was between the two of them.

When the message from Adam appeared before her eyes, Crystal stood immediately.

Her father looked at her, puzzled. "Where are you going this late at night?"

Crystal hesitated for a moment before smiling softly. "A friend needs me."

Lance frowned faintly, but then the thought seemed to pass through his mind that in this world, there was little any normal human could do to harm her now. His expression eased.

"Be careful," he said finally, his voice carrying more concern than command.

Crystal's smile brightened. "I will. Promise." Thᴇ link to the origɪn of this information rᴇsts ɪn N0veI.Fiɾe.net

Greg and Luna fell in behind her as she left the house, the three of them heading out into the night.

One by one, the separate paths of the group began to converge.

By the time Crystal, Greg, and Luna caught up, the others had all gathered outside the Samael building. The air was crisp, carrying the faint smell of rain from earlier in the night. Leo looked around at his friends and felt a warmth he had not realized he needed. They were all here, together, and for a moment, the tension of the previous hours eased.

Then his eyes drifted upward, to the towering corporate office looming over them. Its reflective glass windows stretched high into the night sky, lights from inside shining faintly like stars caught in steel. Leo's brows furrowed. "This is huge. How exactly are we supposed to get in? If Adam called us here urgently, there's no time to—"

Rachel's lips curved into a mischievous smirk before she could even finish the thought. "We could always break in," she suggested lightly, her tone teasing as if the idea itself was half a joke.

Leo started to shake his head, preparing to object, when a loud, unmistakable voice cut through the night.

The group turned toward the sound. There, standing at the front doors of the building, was Penny. She waved enthusiastically, her usual bright energy filling the quiet street.

Leo froze. "Wait… what?"

Penny's grin widened. "You didn't think we'd actually have to sneak around, did you?"

Leo's cheeks flushed slightly, and he scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "I… uh… I guess I overthought it."

Greg chuckled low, shaking his head at Leo's embarrassment.

Lily gave a small smile, glancing between Leo and Penny. "Looks like we don't have to worry about sneaking in after all."

Rachel rolled her eyes, still grinning at the contrast between her previous mischievous suggestion and the ease of the situation. "Figures," she said lightly. "Here we are, about to plan some epic break-in, and Penny just makes it effortless."

Greg and Luna exchanged glances, both shaking their heads slightly, though their expressions carried a faint amusement. Crystal simply smiled, hands clasped in front of her, sensing the group's collective tension easing.

Leo finally allowed himself to laugh, the sound bright in the quiet street. "Okay, okay. I admit it. I was overthinking."

Penny waved again, beckoning them closer. "Come on, the doors are open. Adam won't wait forever."

As they started walking toward the entrance, Leo couldn't help but glance back at his friends. It was good to have them all together again, and even better to realize that sometimes, things were simpler than he feared.

Even if somebody tried to stop them, he thought, glancing at the tall building once more, nobody would be able to. Not tonight.

The group stepped up to the doors, the faint hum of the city around them fading as they crossed the threshold. Whatever awaited inside, they would face it together.