The alley was unnaturally silent.
It was as if the fight had ended, yet its presence still clung to the air.
Faint burn marks lingered on the cracked walls, and scattered debris on the ground slowly settled.
Riven stood upright.
His chest rose and fell slowly.
His eyes remained locked on the far end of the alley where the shadow figure had disappeared last.
Jeong didn't speak for a few seconds.
Notebook closed, pen in pocket. Observation complete.
"Gone," Jeong finally said.
Cat glanced down the alley, shrugging.
"Typical. Dramatic entry, dramatic exit. Villains love their suspense."
Riven slowly unclenched his fists.
A faint heat lingered in his fingers—the residue of Kael's energy.
"Not a normal shadow," Riven muttered. "It was testing you."
Jeong nodded.
"You."
Cat raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? Trust issues arc starting?"
Riven shot her an irritated look.
"Shut up."
But his voice lacked the sharp hostility from before.
Jeong noticed. He always did.
"Your control stayed stable," Jeong said calmly. "No overheating."
Riven turned his face slightly.
"Just luck."
"Luck isn't repeatable," Jeong countered. "Discipline is."
For a second, Riven opened his mouth to say something then stopped.
Faint police sirens echoed in the distance.
Time was running out.
"It's not safe to stay here," Jeong said. "Let's go."
The restaurant was a short ride from the city outskirts.
Normal, warm lights.
Soft, welcoming noise.
The exact opposite of the alley.
It felt like the world had decided: "Stay normal… for now."
Cat sniffed as soon as they entered.
Her mind instantly active.
Grilled chicken. Fried fish. Spicy noodles. Desserts. More desserts.
Her eyes gleamed.
As she sat at the table, her mental calculations were already running—
which combo would provide maximum satisfaction.
The plate arrived.
Cat froze.
One bowl.
Plain.
Dry.
Normal… cat food.
"…."
She stared at the bowl.
Then at the waiter.
Then at Jeong.
"What… is this?"
The waiter had already walked away.
Cat leaned over, sniffing the bowl as if the aroma had betrayed her.
It hadn't.
Her tail slowly stopped flicking.
"I…" she said slowly, "I do death-level missions."
Pause.
"I listen to gods' plans."
Pause.
"And you feed me… this?"
Riven glanced sideways.
His lips twitched almost a smile.
Jeong let out a small sigh.
"The doctor said "
Cat cut him off.
"The doctor's an enemy too, apparently."
She stared at the bowl like it had personally betrayed her.
Then Haeun noticed.
Her eyes flicked from Cat to the bowl, then to Cat's face.
Understanding clicked instantly.
She slid her plate forward.
"If you want… you can try a little," Haeun said.
Cat's eyes went wide.
"…Really?"
Haeun smiled softly.
Cat took a tentative bite.
Silence.
Then
"Okay," Cat said. "You're officially my favorite human."
Mood restored.
The conversation gradually shifted toward a more serious tone.
Haeun placed her glass down.
Her tone soft, but her words carried weight.
"After the school incident, Minho's parents transferred him," she said.
"Official reason—safety."
Jeong listened quietly.
"He went abroad, to his uncle," Haeun continued. "Suddenly. No farewell. No closure."
Riven looked up from his plate.
"You think that's a coincidence?"
"No," Haeun said firmly.
Cat slowly chewed her food.
"I'm investigating," Haeun added.
"School records. Teacher logs. Transfers. Everything visible on the surface… it's too clean."
Jeong understood immediately.
"Clean… meaning edited."
Haeun nodded.
"Like someone neatly packed up the chaos and archived it."
The background noise of the restaurant faded.
Riven tapped his knuckles on the table.
"So… someone wanted this case closed."
"Or forgotten," Haeun said.
Cat pushed her bowl aside.
"Bad idea. I don't forget things."
Jeong glanced at Riven.
"The timing in the alley… it was perfect."
Riven's eyes narrowed.
"You're saying… it's connected."
"I'm saying," Jeong said, "you weren't randomly involved."
A second of silence passed.
Riven leaned back in his chair.
Fragments of thought collided in his mind Kael. The shadow. The alley. The school. The missing civilians.
And one more thing.
Jeong's calm.
During the fight.
During the decision-making moments.
He had never pushed. Never manipulated.
He had only… observed.
Riven said slowly,
"You weren't scared."
Jeong blinked.
"Fear is useful. Panic isn't."
Cat grinned.
"Oho. Trust meter slightly moved?"
Riven glared at her.
"Don't say too much."
But this time
there was less heat in his tone.
He looked at Jeong.
"You're not controlling me."
Jeong's answer was straightforward.
"I want to see you survive."
Simple. Honest.
Riven returned his gaze to his plate.
"…Fine," he said.
"For now."
Cat let out a dramatic sigh.
"Wow. Historic moment. Mark the calendar."
Haeun smiled quietly.
Outside, the city went about its normal life.
People ate. People laughed.
But at their table, everyone knew
This was just the calm before the storm.
The shadow would return.
The truth would surface.
And when it did
Riven would not be alone.