The Lodge doors opened.
The Grand Master assembly had run for over three hours—discussions packed with strategies, operations, suggestions, and revisions.
As the session wrapped up, some hurried off to their obligations while others lingered, chatting in clusters.
Syd Barrett exited with his friends near the end of the line—his timing perfect.
This was his chance.
He stepped up beside his mother, looped an arm through hers, and gave it a tug.
"Reschedule the company meeting. Push it to next week."
Skyler: "Yes, ma'am."
His mother raised an eyebrow at the cling.
"Hm? Gift? What is it, dear?"
"Come here for a second, Mom."
"What is it?"
"Why'd you have to go so hard on Jody? I don't get it... When you showed up in the dining hall—what did you say to her?"
The questions spilled out of him. His sister and their friends stood nearby, quietly listening.
Annie simply rested one hand on her hip and countered.
"Are you upset about it, Gift?"
"Do you even know how to not upset people?"
"There's nothing to it. I just wanted to gauge your friend's personality, that's all."
"That's not nothing! Come on—what did you really do to her? No way a personality check alone would make Jody look like she just peed herself. That's Jody we're talking about—she doesn't flinch with a gun to her head."
Thump.
His mother reached out and ruffled his hair.
"It's not that serious, Gift. Anyone who gets close to you—of course I'm going to check them out. I talked to Sera too."
"But she wasn't shaken like Jody. What are you hiding from me? Why her? Just tell me what she did."
"You already know."
"?!"
"......"
She whispered it into his ear.
And just like that, Syd froze. Eyes wide.
"What... What are you talking about?!"
Annie didn't answer. She just looked at her son and gave him an unreadable smile before gently patting his shoulder.
"Go get some rest."
She turned to leave. "Training for Jody and Sera starts tomorrow. I've already assigned someone... Let them know."
"Assigned someone? Wait, what do you mean?"
"I'm sending an agent I trust to train them. If I left it to you, they wouldn't get anywhere. Not because you're not good—but because familiarity can stifle growth."
"That's not true... That's not true at all. I've been training Jody myself—she's progressing fast!"
"Which breaks protocol, doesn't it?"
"Well—technically, yes. But so what!? She's improving fast! I'll train her myself—"
"......"
He stopped mid-sentence when he locked eyes with his mother's crimson gaze.
Roxxy noticed it too. That empty, vacant stare—it was the same one Jody had when she killed Soo-min.
"Wait... are you serious?"
"........."
"You're planning to kill her?! I don't get it! Why assign someone else to train her? Why not Mickey? Or Toshi?! You know plenty of people!"
"I just want to test her, Gift."
Annie's voice was calm.
"..."
Syd faltered, clearly shaken by her answer.
But Annie shifted back to her usual tone and looked around.
"Well, since we're all here—why don't we grab something to eat?"
She looked at her two kids and their friends.
"Kan—how about Japanese food? Toshi? Mickey? You two okay with that? Bring the girls along, if you like."
Vrrt... Vrrt...
"Hm?"
Sera and Jody both got a message. It was from Roxxy.
Come to the elevator. I'm coming to get you.
Sera, still sipping tea with Jody, read it aloud.
"Kan texted."
"Hm?"
"She's coming to get us... to where, exactly?"
"Dunno. Let's just go."
They stood and headed for the elevator.
Thud!
Jody bumped into someone—an Agent carrying a bowl of soup.
CRASH!
The bowl shattered on the floor, startling both girls, the agent, and the surrounding diners.
"Oh! I'm so sorry!"
Jody instinctively apologized. Sera stepped in to help too.
"No worries at all!"
The agent—a woman—knelt to gather the pieces.
"I'm really sorry..."
Jody wanted to help but couldn't crouch. She didn't want to seem rude or careless either, so she eased herself down using a chair for balance.
"I've got it," the agent said kindly. "You look like you're struggling."
"No—really, I should help. I'm the one who wasn't looking."
"It's okay. I'll grab another bowl. Please, don't worry."
Luckily, no one was burned, and a nearby housekeeper soon arrived to clean up.
"Sorry again..." Jody bowed her head. The agent smiled shyly before parting ways.
At the elevator, Roxxy was already waiting.
"What's up, Kan?"
"Mom invited you both to dinner."
"...Huh?"
Sera froze.
"Come again?"
A bead of sweat rolled under her eyeliner.
"There's a Japanese place upstairs. Mom's treating."
"I mean, I don't hate Japanese food, but I'm not really hungr—wait, good luck, Jody—"
Grab!
A hand clamped down on Sera's shoulder. She jumped.
It was Mickey.
"You're going."
"...I-I'm not hungry—"
"You will be when we get there."
Sweating profusely.
"Fine! Let go!"
Sera yanked her arm free. Mickey backed off.
Seriously... this felt exactly like a mob movie.
"There aren't many people Annie Barrett invites to dinner."
"...Eugh..."
The girls were ushered into the elevator and taken to the top floor.
The elevator opened to reveal what looked like a hotel lobby—with a revolving door leading outside.
Mickey and Roxxy brought the girls out into the Russian air for the first time.
They stepped out and realized—the building they'd been in was a hotel.
"...A hotel... in the middle of a snow forest?"
Sera looked up at the towering structure.
It was enormous, surrounded by snow-covered scenery. If the snow melted, the view would've been stunning.
"So the secret base is under this hotel?"
"For this one—yes."
Roxxy answered Jody.
"You left this way when you bought Starbucks, didn't you?"
"Yup. Come on—get in the car. It's freezing."
"I'm not cold."
"You're wearing a turtleneck."
"I am cold."
Sera rubbed her bare arms—she'd come in a sleeveless top.
Outside, the city lights of Moscow glittered not far in the distance. Snow covered the road, except for tire tracks.
A sleek black car waited for them, flanked by suited drivers and security.
Mickey: (opens door) "In you go."
"You're not driving us to some warehouse to shoot us, right? Like in mafia mov—"
"If I wanted to kill you, I'd drown you in a toilet already."
Roxxy had had enough—she kicked Sera into the car.
The black sedan pulled into motion. As they exited the snowy woods and entered Moscow proper, the girls gazed out at the glowing city.
Eventually, the car merged with regular city traffic and pulled up to a large downtown building—clearly a commercial center with restaurants inside.
21:45
They followed Roxxy up an elevator, passing through the crowd until they reached a Japanese restaurant.
The staff, dressed immaculately, ushered them into a VIP room past other diners.
As they entered the private space, the noise outside dropped to a serene hush—like a well-crafted ASMR fade.
A kimono-clad waitress bowed, then slid open the wooden panel to reveal:
A long table. Chairs lined in order. Japanese food spread across the surface. Bodyguards politely stepping aside. Syd Barrett and Toshi Ishii already seated. And at the head of the table—Annie Barrett.
"Miss Annie..."
"Please, have a seat."
She gestured to the two chairs beside her—one on each side.
Gulp.
The girls swallowed hard. Jody only dared to enter because Syd was seated on her side.
Sera, meanwhile, had the other side—and next to her, a seat clearly meant for Roxxy.
"Do you like Japanese food?"
Annie asked kindly.
"Yes..." they answered politely and sat.
As they did, waitstaff rushed to set down glasses of water.
Jody glanced after the server, then down at her plate—white ceramic, perfectly placed.
"Gift. No games at the table."
"..."
Syd gave his mom a death stare, then reluctantly put away his phone.
The atmosphere tensed... but only for Sera and Jody. The others were used to it.
Annie smiled sweetly.
"Don't be rude, Gift. It's just two friends. No need for the attitude."
"..."
Syd popped a sushi roll in his mouth and chewed with casual defiance.
"Order whatever you like."
Annie offered gently.
Sera tried to hide behind the menu, avoiding eye contact.
But Roxxy yanked it down.
"Hey—what the hell?!"
Sera hissed under her breath. Roxxy gave her a mischievous grin.
And in that moment, Sera realized—
Roxxy was just as much of a menace as her brother.
"Kan, don't tease her."
"Eep!"
Sera sat up straight, drenched in sweat. Roxxy relented.
"Don't be nervous, Miss Sera. I just wanted to have a meal with you."
"W-who's nervous? Hoho~ N-not me!"
Mickey: "Better lock the door. I think she's gonna bolt."
"Don't you da—!"
Sera instinctively grabbed her chopsticks, ready to chuck them at Mickey over Roxxy's head. But she caught Annie's gaze and set them down.
"Ah—haha, sorry~ See? Totally relaxed. Just cracking jokes~!"
Mickey: "You're joking with yourself."
Sera: "Hey!"
Hehehe.
Annie chuckled softly, eyes fixed on Sera.
She couldn't tell what this woman was thinking—but Annie finally spoke again.
"You really have grown close."
"...W-well of course~ with Kan, absolutely, Mother~"
Sera flung an arm around Roxxy's shoulders and pulled her into a hug. Roxxy blushed.
"Ah—!?"
Annie said nothing. She just watched them for a moment, then continued:
"I've seen it often—people tense up when elders are present. I don't blame you."
Both girls paused to listen.
"It's normal. Who you are with your peers and who you are in front of seniors—it's never the same."
She delicately moved a piece of sashimi onto her plate.
"I was the same at your age. The moment someone older sat at the table, I put on a mask. Out of fear. Of judgment. Of being misread. That's not right or wrong... but I'm not that kind of elder. I've been there. I don't like it either."
The sincerity in her words made both Jody and Sera sit up and listen. Syd muttered under his breath.
"Ah, shit. Here we go again..."
He stood, grabbed his glass, and walked out—probably to refill his juice.
"Gift."
"...What?"
"No sugar, okay?"
"..."
"Ugh!"
He stomped away. Annie looked back to the girls.
"And just so you know... I do know what everyone's like behind my back."
"!"
Sera broke into a cold sweat.
"I've thought about it often. This culture of automatic deference to elders—it's toxic. Maybe not for you two, being from the West. But for me, my kids, even Toshi—we were all raised in that. And I think it's terrible."
Annie continued.
"Respect should be mutual. Just because someone's older doesn't mean they deserve it. Honestly, my generation has its fair share of idiots."
Sera flinched a little at the word "idiots," but kept listening.
"No matter what you've heard about me—don't let that shape your judgment. Decide for yourselves."
She took a bite of fish and chewed calmly.
"That's why I don't want you to call me 'ma'am' or 'madam' or anything like that... unless you decide I've earned it."
"...That's a very... forward-thinking mindset," Jody said.
"Is it forward-thinking? Or just what it should've always been?"
Annie's question lingered.
It was starting to make sense now...
Why Syd was the way he was.
"I never taught my kids—or Mickey or Toshi—to respect adults just because of age. When Syd and I argue, I don't pull rank. I'm the mom, he's the son—but what matters is reason. That's all it should ever be. Don't you agree?"
"..."
Neither girl objected. They nodded, sincerely taking in every word.
"You used to teach Agents too, right?" Jody asked.
"And I've never taught anything I couldn't do myself. If I've failed at it, I don't teach it."
Annie smiled gently, glancing at the door.
Syd had returned, glass in hand.
"But I'm not saying my approach is perfect," she added. "It's a double-edged sword."
She pointed at Syd—who was now making mocking faces behind her back, being a complete menace.
Jody shook her head. Syd cut it out.
"Well... kids will be kids. Sometimes you gotta knock 'em around a bit."
Annie's words painted a full picture of who she really was.
And both girls visibly relaxed.
Anong Wongphudee was unlike anyone they'd ever met.
And Jody now understood—just from a few minutes of conversation—why Annie Barrett commanded such deep respect within the organization, even from other Grand Masters.
Even from wild kids like Syd.
And Mickey's earlier comment?
Turned out to be true.
As the tension melted away... Sera realized...
She was actually hungry now.