Chapter 6 - On The Move

Flashback – Envy's POV

"If you came for the expo… sorry to break it to you. It's been postponed to next week," Envy said to the passing kids, his voice calm but distant.

"I hope they get out of here before it's too late," he muttered to himself.

Minutes later, he checked his phone. "It's time," he whispered, eyes narrowing.

He pressed two fingers on his wristwatch and slowly glided them up his arm to his shoulder. In a blink, he vanished—completely invisible.

Slipping through the back exit, Envy climbed the wall like an assassin, reaching the rooftop of the mall. Sloth and Greed were already waiting.

"Have you cut off the phone signals?" Envy asked.

"Yes. Everything's set. Raidon's already fled with his bodyguards," Greed replied.

"Just like we planned," Sloth added.

Control Room – Villain HQ

"PRIDE, GET OVER HERE," Greed barked. "One of the bombs we strapped on the scouts just exploded. The gamma energy reacted to his fast heartbeat. Something spooked him."

Pride raised an eyebrow. "So he panicked? Was he spotted?"

"Most likely. Which is fine. If he's gone, he can't leak anything."

"True... well, glad he didn't cause trouble then," Pride shrugged.

Outside the Control Room

"Wrath says we need to prepare for Raidon's ambush tomorrow. Pass the word," Lust said to Envy.

"Why isn't Wrath telling us himself?"

"He said he's busy."

"Tch... Don't you think he's been acting weird lately? Always busy, ever since the Narita Mall plan."

Lust looked up, silent for a moment, then waved it off. "Whatever. I've got to tame the animals in the lab. Don't disturb me."

She walked off gracefully toward the lab.

Lab Room

Lust, wearing her tech-gloves, placed her hand on the head of a wild rabbit. She closed her eyes. Waves of pulsing light shimmered from her gloves. A moment later, the rabbit went calm, clinging to her like a pet.

"Ugh, I still can't forget about that lion... So annoying to tame. I'll need Sloth's help for that."

Izumi's House

Izumi paced in his room, clearly anxious. His mind kept drifting to Aoshi. Then his phone buzzed—it was a message from Sota.

"Can I come over? There's something I want to talk about."

Izumi replied with a simple nod emoji.

He sat down to write in his notebook when a knock came from downstairs.

"What? Sota's already here? It's only been seven minutes."

Izumi rushed down and opened the door—

Before he could speak, a hand grabbed his wrist and pulled him outside.

It was Kiyoshi, with Aoshi beside him.

"Izumi, we need to go to the mall. Now. Get in the car."

"Do you even know how to drive?! Do you even have a license?! Whose car is this?" Izumi asked, flustered.

"My dad gave it to me. Told me not to drive until I get my license—but this is urgent," Kiyoshi explained.

"Why the mall?" Izumi pressed.

"Remember the day we met at Narita Mall? I meant to give you your friend's phone after we talked... but I forgot. Just recently, Ana picked it up—it rang. All she heard was someone coughing and a weak voice saying, 'Anyone?' Then the call dropped."

"If that was your friend... I can't sit back," Kiyoshi said.

"Then why the mall?" Izumi asked again.

"Where else could they be?" Aoshi added from the back seat.

Meanwhile – Raidon's Suite

Raidon lay resting in a luxury hotel room when his phone rang.

"Hiroshi, it's time for the gamma gem storage cleanup. These stones smell awful when stored in bulk—we need the team to clear it out. Bring the key."

Raidon groaned. "Yeah, alright... I'm coming."

He began getting dressed, only to freeze mid-motion.

"The key... where's the key?"

Panic kicked in. He flipped through drawers, pockets, bags—

"My wallet! I dropped it at the Narita Mall... when I was there helping the police..."

His face turned pale. "It must still be there... Please, let me find it."

Without wasting another second, he rushed to his car and sped off.