Magnolia

After listening to the plan, the group of agents allowed Jody and Sera to step away for a while.

Mickey Mannix and Roxxy Barrett were still sitting at the table, going over minor details.

Syd Barrett and Toshi Ishii had left about ten minutes earlier to scout the area and check potential escape routes around the pub. They used a car Toshi had secured, while they planned to use a different vehicle for the actual operation.

Sera stood outside the house, fuming, just as Jody opened the door and stepped out to meet her.

"….."

The British girl noticed her approach. Jody walked over and handed her a cup of English tea.

Sera accepted it with a thankful nod before Jody opened the conversation.

"Heard they tested you."

"Yeah... ugh, those assholes…"

Just the thought of their faces made Sera's blood boil—especially Mickey's.

"They probably just wanted to see what you were made of. I got tested too."

"Hm? Who tested you?"

"Roxxy."

"Oh… that girl…"

Sera took a sip, then continued.

"Jody… I think…"

She glanced over her shoulder to make sure no one could overhear.

"I don't think she likes us."

"I know…"

Jody sipped her tea calmly.

"She almost froze my hand."

"That ice power of hers?"

"Yep."

"…Did you do something to her?"

Jody shook her head.

"There's not much we can say about it now. Otherwise, it'll sound like we're just being defensive."

"True…"

Sera took another sip.

"So what did they do to you, Sera?"

"That damn Mannix. He nearly killed me—tried to shove me into a fountain rigged with electricity… and you know what, Jody? After all that, he acted like nothing happened! Then he had the nerve to call me dumb!"

She started venting with full force.

"Calm down, teenager…"

"I don't want to admit it, but damn, those guys are all fine as hell... but their personalities? Trash."

"You really hate them that much? Mickey seemed pretty decent."

"No, no, no, Jody, listen to me."

Sera turned to her seriously.

"Don't be fooled by his look. Yes, he wears glasses, yes, he's quiet and neat—but I swear on my family name, that asshole is the worst of them all. You don't know the half of it."

"You're judging him by appearance again, Sera. You thought I was some arrogant snob when we first met, remember?"

"This is different. Did you see how he looked at you? His face! He stared like he was about to eat you alive! I can't explain it, but it was super creepy—ugh, Jody, I get chills just thinking about it!"

Sera pointed to her arm—she really had goosebumps.

"You mean… like that kind of stare?"

Jody pointed to the second-floor window.

When Sera looked up, she saw Mickey Mannix peering down at them through the glass, his face pressed against the window.

"Yeah… exactly like that. Except like... this close!"

Sera turned back to Jody, then looked up again.

"What the hell is he even doing up there?"

10:45 PM.

The sky had already turned dark. The entertainment district was alive and buzzing with neon lights and the throngs of nightlife.

A black van pulled up and parked behind The Night Life Society, facing away from the main road.

The inky black sky clashed beautifully with the golden glow of the club lights. Crowds of young partygoers and tourists filled the streets. This was clearly a playground for the wealthy.

Skrrkkk...

The van door slid open, and three figures stepped out: Syd, Toshi, and Jody, all dressed to blend in with the scene, matching the crowd of nightlife revelers.

"Here, just in case."

Syd handed Jody something. It was a fake ID—visually identical to her real one, except for the name, ID number, nationality, address, and age. The card listed her as twenty-four.

"...When did you make a copy of mine?"

"I swiped it a while ago. Took it to clone, then slipped it back."

"You just take whatever you want, huh?"

"Just like how you keep dumping your veggies on my plate."

"Right. Mr. Talented."

"And this."

Syd handed her a pair of white earbuds.

"Keep one in. Hide the wire well under your shirt. It's loud in there—we'll have to talk through these."

Jody took the earbuds and put them on.

They circled around from the back of the club to the front. The entrance was lit with pink-purple neon tubes bent into the shape of a sultry woman and a high heel, leaving no doubt about the kind of place they were walking into.

Two bouncers in black stood guard at the entrance, checking IDs of the people queued up.

Syd, Jody, and Toshi joined the line like any other patrons.

Around them were mostly rowdy young adults, decked out in revealing outfits and flashy accessories—chains, light shirts, and lots of skin.

"Hey there, cutie~"

Syd and Toshi were approached by a provocatively dressed girl behind them in line, clearly trying to flirt.

"Got room for one more? Even up the pairs, hehe."

"Shut the fuck up bitch"

The girl's expression immediately soured, silenced by Syd's brutal reply.

"...That was harsh."

"That's just him," Toshi added casually.

"If we weren't on the job, she'd be eating dirt by now."

"No way. Syd's that aggressive?"

"The worst."

"Shut up, you damn weeb."

Syd cut the conversation short.

They made it inside without issue.

The bouncers didn't give them a second look.

The moment they stepped in, the bass of the music hit their chests with a heavy thump, syncing with their heartbeats.

It was dark inside, lit only by flashing lights and neon strobes. People were drinking, dancing, grinding—chaos in motion.

"I'm out."

That was Toshi's voice in Jody's earpiece. She turned to find he was already gone.

"Syd... Where did Toshi go?"

"He's off finding the host. Let him be. You're with me."

Syd led her through the crowd and stopped at the bar.

It was just as Jody had seen in the photos—a long counter stretching from one end of the room to the other.

Soon a pretty bartender approached to serve them.

"Hey there, handsome."

"One Cosmopolitan. No lime."

Syd handed her a £50 note. She took it with a smile and turned around to mix his drink.

"You drink?"

"This isn't my first time working a place like this. What about you?"

"This is my first."

"Clubs are just booze dens for horny idiots. Nothing more. Milk at home tastes better."

"Here you go, handsome."

The bartender returned with his drink.

"And for you, sweetheart? Want something?"

"I don't drink," Jody replied.

"So what are you two, huh? Hooking up? A couple?"

"My girlfriend. We've been dating for two weeks now."

Syd's answer made the bartender giggle.

"Oooh~ honeymoon phase, huh?"

Syd smirked.

"Too bad if you were thinking of making a move on me."

The bartender chuckled, clearly flustered. Jody knew then—Syd had flipped into his performance mode.

"Oh! Almost forgot—your change—"

The bartender began reaching for a stack of euro notes, but Syd raised a hand.

"No, no... keep it."

"Are you sure? You gave me a big bill."

"Yeah. You're cute, and..."

"Hmm?"

"If you could maybe tell me something—does a woman named Betty Moretz work here?"

At the mention of that name, the bartender's expression changed instantly.

"...Betty?"

"Yeah. Betty Moretz. You know her?"

Syd pulled out another £50 and held it up temptingly.

She accepted it.

"What business do you have with her?"

"I'm a good buddy of Palmer Lake. That bastard told me Betty's got some real good stuff—one piece per person. I just want to see if he was bullshitting."

"A friend of Lake's?"

"That's right."

"..."

"..."

"..."

They locked eyes. Syd didn't blink.

"...Alright. Follow me."

The bartender stepped out from behind the counter and gestured for them to follow.

Syd went ahead, Jody behind him—but then someone approached her.

"Jody."

She turned to find a large Mexican man—one of the club's bouncers—walking closely behind her.

She reflexively backed off, then realized—

"Toshi?"

That's right—Toshi's power was shapeshifting.

"Just keep walking. I'll be close."

Even his voice had changed to match the new body, flawlessly.

"...Okay..."

She turned and continued walking. Toshi melted into the crowd behind them, still shadowing them closely.

Cut to the restroom—inside one locked stall was the unconscious, completely naked real Mexican bouncer.

Eventually, the bartender led Syd and Jody to the back of the club, then through a hidden passage with tight security.

They stopped at a door.

Knock knock.

"...What?"

A deep, raspy woman's voice came from within.

"Betty. Someone's here to see you."

"Who?"

"They said they're friends of Lake's."

"Lake? That trash?"

"..."

"Let 'em in."

A guard opened the door, letting Syd and Jody inside—and they were met with—

A woman in her early forties wearing a black dress, yellow eyes, brown hair. She was sipping from a glass at a lavish table, surrounded by elegant brown-toned furniture and decor.

"I'm Betty Moretz. What do you want?"