First day in Washington

After a long journey, Kailu, Zeyu, and their friends finally arrived at Alex's café. The warm and cozy atmosphere provided them with a sense of relief after everything they had been through. As a good host, Alex welcomed them, eager to get to know Zeyu's friends better. After chatting for a while, he offered them a place to stay at his house. Without hesitation, they accepted his offer, grateful for a safe place to rest.

Meanwhile, Alizer was strolling through the city, accompanied by his two newly recruited subordinates—two massive, muscular men who followed him closely, awaiting his orders. As he observed the unfamiliar streets, Alizer couldn't shake off a strange sense of unease. After a while, he finally asked one of his subordinates, "Where's the best hotel around here?"

One of them promptly replied, "There's a decent hotel right in front of the hospital. It's comfortable and not too conspicuous."

Without further thought, Alizer decided to check in at the hotel. After securing a room, he turned to his subordinates and casually said, "You two have been quite useful. Go treat yourselves—eat and drink as much as you want."

However, the two men declined to eat at the hotel's cafeteria. Instead, they preferred to explore the city and find a place to dine outside. After a short taxi ride, they arrived at a café that seemed inviting and immediately stepped inside to order food and drinks.

Unbeknownst to them, the café they had entered belonged to Alex.

They spent a few hours there, enjoying their meals and talking among themselves without causing any disturbances. Once they were satisfied, Alizer and his subordinates left, heading back to their hotel to rest.

Nightfall

Alex finally returned home after a long day at the café. As he entered his living room, he saw Zeyu, Kailu, Yuke, Aline, and Zulian gathered around, engaged in conversation.

While taking off his jacket, Alex sighed and said,

"I met a really strange customer today."

Zeyu raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What do you mean?"

Alex hesitated for a moment before explaining, "A man came in with two massive guys. He stood out… white hair, glowing red eyes. There was something… unsettling about him."

The moment they heard that description, Zeyu and the others immediately tensed up.

Kailu leaned forward, his expression serious. "Alex… the man you saw isn't just some random customer. He's the one who's been chasing us this whole time."

Alex frowned. "What do you mean?"

Kailu locked eyes with him and said grimly, "That man… is Alizer."

Alex's face went pale with shock. He could hardly believe what he had just heard. "Wait… Are you telling me that the customer I met earlier was… your enemy?"

Zeyu nodded. "Not just our enemy… He's a serious threat."

A heavy silence fell over the room. None of them had expected that Alizer had already gotten so close to them.

The atmosphere in Alex's living room was tense. Kailu, Zeyu, Aline, Yuke, and Zulian exchanged glances, trying to process the information Alex had just shared.

"So, you're sure that man was Alizer?" Yuke asked, trying to confirm.

Alex nodded firmly. "No doubt about it. White hair, red eyes—just as you described. And those two muscular men with him looked intimidating. I won't forget that man's gaze… it felt like he could see everything and knew something we didn't."

Zeyu clenched his fists. "If he was there today… does that mean he's already suspicious of our presence?"

Aline bit her lip. "Maybe not yet. But if he came to that café by chance, there's a possibility he'll return. And if that happens, we're in serious trouble."

Kailu let out a deep sigh. "We just arrived in Washington, and he's already this close… it looks like we won't be able to rest easy."

Yuke rubbed his temples, worry clear on his face. "So what now? We just got here, and now we have to start thinking about running again?"

Zulian crossed his arms. "If he stays in this city, sooner or later, we're going to run into him. We can't keep hiding. We need to prepare for the worst."

Zeyu took a deep breath, his blue eyes glinting with determination. "In that case, we need to watch him… before he realizes we're here."

Alex frowned. "How do you plan to do that?"

Zeyu smirked. "Simple. We spy on him… before he starts spying on us."

---

Meanwhile, in Alizer's Hotel Room

Alizer sat on a luxurious chair near the window, gazing out at the city, illuminated by neon lights. The two muscular men who had recently become his subordinates stood in the corner of the room, waiting for his command.

Alizer took a sip of red wine from his glass, his expression unreadable. "That café was quite interesting," he murmured, tapping his fingers on the glass.

One of his subordinates, a bald man with a scar on his cheek, glanced at Alizer with respect. "Do you suspect something, sir?"

Alizer smirked. "Not yet. But my instincts tell me… I'm in the right place at the right time."

The two men exchanged glances before the other one spoke. "What are your orders, sir?"

Alizer crossed his legs and leaned back into the chair. "Keep an eye on that place. I want to know who frequently visits it, especially anyone who seems out of the ordinary. Give me a detailed report on the café's activities."

His red eyes gleamed in the darkness of the room.

"If there's something interesting there… I want to know about it as soon as possible."

Outside the hotel window, the night breeze whispered through the city. Washington seemed peaceful on the surface, but beneath its quiet façade, a shadowy battle had begun.

To be continued...