there’s no darkness under the spotlight.

She locked eyes with Miguel Perez—those sharp, calculating eyes etched with fine lines from years of scheming.

"Are you certain, dear Mr. Perez?" she asked, her tone cool yet laced with authority. "Next spring, the Caledara royal family will host their annual banquet. During that event, they'll choose their media partner for the year. You know as well as I do that movies based on their narratives rake in fortunes. And, as it happens, I'm the one who decides the partnership."

On a winding mountain road, Ellara sat in her sleek sports car. The wind tousled her golden hair, and on the seat beside her lay a delicate velvet box. Inside, a blue gemstone sparkled under the sun, radiating an almost hypnotic brilliance.

When Mora found Ellara, she was lying prone on an outdoor sniper range, her rifle steady as she took aim. The wind whipped through the tall grass, tugging at Mora's coat as she muttered under her breath, "Shft, I hate this wind."

But the range was exposed, and there was no escaping the blustering gusts.

Bang!

The rifle discharged, and the head of a moving target collapsed with precision. Ellara's marksmanship was flawless.

"What's going on?" Ellara asked, setting the rifle aside and turning toward Mora.

Mora crossed her arms and handed Ellara her phone. "This is from Natalie Vale's rented place in Elysian Bay. I think she's targeting you."

Ellara glanced at the screen. It displayed a chalkboard filled with a web of intricate relationships. But only one name—Ellara—was circled, leading directly to another: Clara Vale.

Ellara returned the phone to Mora without a word and resumed cleaning her rifle. "Do you know who Clara Vale is?"

Mora thought for a moment before replying, "Adopted daughter of the Vale family. She supposedly jumped into the sea years ago. Rumor has it Kieran Vale, the Federation's prodigy, was devastated for ages. Some even say he loved her—his non-blood-related sister."

Ellara froze briefly, then shot Mora a questioning look. "Where'd you pick up that gossip?"

Mora shrugged. "You'd be surprised how much chatter there is about Kieran Vale among the younger agents. Especially the girls. Gossip about him spreads like wildfire—except to you higher-ups, of course."

Ellara set the rifle down and walked toward the range exit. The facility owner was an old acquaintance who handled both firearms maintenance and training. Ellara always stored her weapons there when not in use.

"Oh, one more thing," Mora added, keeping pace. "The Vale family's convinced Clara didn't die. They believe she just disappeared."

As they exited, Ellara mused aloud, "And what connection do you think I have to Clara?"

Mora mulled it over. "Only one possibility: Natalie wants you to find Clara."

Ellara stopped abruptly, her gaze sharp as she turned to Mora. "Why would she think I could? Who told her? And who fed her the lead about Clara being in Elysian Bay?"

"You're saying someone's steering her toward you?" Mora caught on quickly.

Ellara let out a cold laugh. "Exactly. And I'd bet it's our dear Seraphina."

The pieces had fallen into place. During a recent video call, Seraphina mentioned Kieran Vale investigating the Shawn family. Later, she casually noted he was searching for his childhood friend. Seraphina was typically reserved and disinterested in small talk, so her sudden openness had felt... deliberate.

Ellara's suspicions solidified when she received a cryptic message from Seraphina after leaving the Perez estate: Protect her.

But why? What game was Seraphina playing, leading Natalie to Elysian Bay?

Ellara didn't want to say anything more; she always felt that Seraphina had ulterior motives this time.

Meanwhile, Natalie Vale had just finished dinner and was walking back to her rented villa. Passing a basketball court, she narrowly dodged a ball hurtling toward her. Ignoring the boys, she continued her stroll, indifferent to their shouts of, "Hey, gorgeous! Help us out here!"

Such antics were all too familiar from her school days, where boys would pull similar stunts to flirt. She found it tiresome and paid them no mind.

Back at the villa, Natalie immediately noticed something was off. Nothing was missing, yet subtle changes—a flower pot shifted slightly, a speck of dirt on the floor—triggered her instincts. She didn't believe in coincidences, nor did she trust her nosy landlady.

Her survival instincts honed by years of experience, she quickly drew the curtains. Someone was watching her. She could feel it.

Natalie had made plenty of enemies in Bayport—and the Vale family's influence only went so far. This time, she was alone, no bodyguards, no safety net. It was a perfect opportunity for someone to strike back.

She wasn't afraid. Annoyed, yes. But not afraid.

Grabbing her gun, she headed to the underground fight club. Time was running out, and she needed to move fast if she wanted to make contact with Ellara.

The city was shrouded in darkness, and shadows came alive as predators emerged to hunt. The fight club buzzed with energy, the crowd roaring over an intense match in the ring.

Natalie sat quietly in a corner, observing everyone. She was right—several eyes lingered on her far too often.

She tapped her fingers against the table, deep in thought. Then, decisively, she stood and climbed into the ring. Gasps rippled through the room.

A petite girl, barely seventeen, stepping into the arena?

Natalie had been observing the fight club for days, and she knew it wasn't just about boxing — any form of martial arts could be used here.

She needed to do something that would grab Ellara's attention while also drawing out those lurking in the shadows. After all, there's no darkness under the spotlight.

"Oh, look, it's a little girl!" 

"What's a kid like you doing here? Girl, quit playing around, you're gonna get a real beating. Don't make us worry about you!" 

"Yeah, get down, sweetheart. This place isn't for someone like you!"

There were taunts and warnings from the crowd, but Natalie had no intention of backing down.

She simply asked, "Who's up first?" 

Her challenge made the room erupt in surprise. 

A large, burly man climbed into the ring, eyeing Natalie with a smirk. "Hey, gorgeous. If I win, how about you come play a game with me?" 

Annoyed, Natalie moved before the man even had a chance to react. Her actions were swift, too fast for him to process. She performed a shoulder throw, sending him crashing to the mat. Without missing a beat, she swiftly landed a precise strike, disabling his jaw.

The man finally realized he was in trouble. With a roar, he swung a punch at Natalie, but she effortlessly dodged it. She moved behind him, twisted his arm, and broke it with a well-placed maneuver. 

It was clear now — this wasn't some average high school girl. Her strength was impressive, her movements fluid and practiced, and her fighting techniques were flawless.

Soon enough, the burly man was defeated, slumped on the ground.

The crowd below jeered in disappointment, murmuring about the unexpected outcome.

Her challengers underestimated her. That was their mistake. One by one, Natalie dispatched them with brutal efficiency, each fight showcasing her raw strength and honed skill. The crowd alternated between jeers and stunned silence.

By the end of the night, she had racked up enough wins to make the club's leaderboard. That alone was enough to draw attention—both the kind she wanted and the kind she didn't.

From a private box overlooking the ring, a woman in a silver gown leaned against the window. Her smoky eye makeup emphasized her piercing gaze as she watched Natalie with amusement.

"Is that the girl?" The woman in the silver gown, with smoky eye makeup, asked. "She looks like quite the prospect." 

"Definitely trouble," the refined middle-aged man remarked with a sigh. "I suddenly feel sorry for her peers back in Bayport." 

"She looks delicious, just perfect for me to have a little fun with!" The tall, thin man with strange makeup said, licking his lips as he eyed Natalie. 

"I'd advise against it," the woman with smoky makeup warned. "Don't forget what Miss Voss said." 

The strange man gritted his teeth. "Oh, that damn woman." 

"There have been a lot of new faces in the fight club today," the middle-aged man commented again. 

"Looks like the Vale family's young lady has quite the pull," the woman with smoky makeup mused.

Unaware of the discussion on the second floor, Natalie grew tired from the fight and decided to leave the arena.

She knew she had already caught the attention of some people. As she walked into a narrow alley, she could clearly sense a few small figures tailing her.

The Shadow Crescent District, a rundown area in the northern part of Elysian Bay, was home to not just underground fight clubs, but also to prostitutes and homeless people.

A drunken man, standing by a roadside restroom, kept his gaze on Natalie as she passed.

His eyes lingered for a long moment. 

He reached into his pocket, and just as Natalie was about to leave, he pulled out a handgun, the barrel aimed directly at her back.