The dim streetlights and lanterns enveloped Jinzhou in a soft amber glow as Kyorin and Calcharo navigated the vibrant evening streets.
A crisp breeze danced through the alleys, intermingling with the rich aroma of the day's final batch of baked buns.
Distant chimes resonated as street vendors began closing their stalls, yet even past seven, the city was far from quiet.
People still roamed, their voices rising like a gentle tide beneath the deepening sky. Above the hustle and bustle, on a rooftop nestled between old tiled structures, one restaurant still buzzed with life.
Panhua's Restaurant—one of Jinzhou's most cherished eateries—welcomed guests with its open-air layout and hanging paper lanterns that swayed gently in the breeze.
As Kyorin and Calcharo ascended the steps and emerged onto the rooftop, a wave of warmth greeted them—aromas, laughter, and clinking of plates as the faint flutter of birds marked their quiet arrival.
They settled at an empty table, its lacquered surface glowing under the lanternlight. Without glancing at a menu, Calcharo raised a hand and called out, "Boss! Two of Set B—and some hard liquor."
Once the order was placed, he turned his sharp gaze toward Kyorin.
"Now that you're a member of the Ghost Hounds," Calcharo said—his eyes cold and distant, yet his intent quietly warm—"it's only proper for your new boss to treat you."
Kyorin blinked, then stared at him, unimpressed. His eyes narrowed. "I haven't decided."
"Hm." Calcharo leaned back with relaxed confidence, arms crossed and eyes closed. "You will, regardless."
"And if I don't?" Kyorin challenged, his tone calm but firm.
Calcharo gave an indifferent shrug. "Then it's your loss."
Kyorin fell silent for a moment before speaking again. "Your organization probably already houses strong individuals. I might have some talent, sure—but wouldn't the investment be a bit too much?"
Calcharo's eyes slid open, piercing blue locking onto Kyorin's crimson. "I'm quite good with accounting, Budding Resonator."
Though Kyorin didn't flinch, he averted his gaze—there was no spark of defiance, just a quiet recognition of the gap between them. He wasn't experienced enough to hold that stare—not yet.
Calcharo, sensing that, looked away as well. His voice dropped to a low murmur. "Don't concern yourself with vague, miscellaneous worries. Just do the job."
He paused before adding with quiet finality: "That's the first conduct of any mercenary."
Kyorin glanced at him, thoughtful. 'I guess he's not really a bad person. Kind of reminds me of myself, even,' he admitted inwardly.
"Don't concern myself, huh..." Kyorin murmured low, mulling the words over in his mind before asking, "What if I want to do something I believe I can do?"
Calcharo gave him a sidelong look, scoffing as if he'd just heard a stupid question. "Did you hit your head and lose your sense of rationality or something?" he asked dryly.
"Of course you'll do it. I'm sure you already know—every action comes with consequences. So if you're going to do it, just do it." Calcharo said this simply as a tray of liquor arrived at their table.
But as he reached for the bottle, Kyorin casually slid it toward himself. "Let me pour, Boss," he said with a small smile.
Calcharo's eyes narrowed, faintly disdainful—but inwardly, he smirked. He extended his cup without protest.
Kyorin poured the liquor carefully, then reached for his own glass. But Calcharo took the bottle first, pouring a portion into Kyorin's cup instead.
"Boss?" Kyorin asked, caught a bit off guard.
"Calcharo is fine," he replied plainly. "I don't care for titles. In the Ghost Hounds, authority comes from your actual worth—not from formalities."
"Then I won't be polite," Kyorin said, accepting the drink with both hands. "Thank you, Calcharo."
Calcharo raised his glass, "Welcome to the Ghost Hounds, Mercenary... erm."
"It's Kyorin," Kyorin replied, finally introducing himself properly.
"Right," Calcharo noddingly said. "Welcome to the Ghost Hounds, Kyorin."
Following the timeless fashion of camaraderie and brotherhood, their bond was sealed with a simple—clink of their cups.
***
In the Huaxu academy, after resolving the Sundial's irregularities, Rover and Yangyang quietly reviewed the scant progress they'd made on the deciphering the Magistrate's tokens.
At least one answer had presented itself—the sugar pearl, despite its mystery, turned out to be nothing more than a simple piece of confectionery.
No hidden mechanisms. No exotic composition. Just an ordinary candy, its significance perhaps rooted more in memory or context than in any inherent property.
The soft hum of distant equipment still resonated faintly through the Academy's halls, but the weight of unresolved puzzles pressed heavily on their minds. For all their analysis, so much still lay beyond their grasp.
The Magistrate's cryptic words echoed in their thoughts—a suggestion that some answers could only be uncovered beyond Jinzhou's walls.
Standing beneath the cold glow of a corridor lantern, Rover exhaled quietly, rubbing the back of her neck. "I suppose… some pieces just won't fit together unless we venture beyond Jinzhou. The Magistrate hinted at that much."
Yangyang nodded in agreement, her expression thoughtful. "It might be better not to overthink it for now. Some questions can't be forced."
Realizing they had reached the limit of what could be accomplished today, the two exchanged a brief glance, silently agreeing.
"Let's call it a day," Rover suggested softly.
Yangyang gave a small smile. "Yeah… we'll make better sense of it once we've had some rest."
***
It was midnight near the city's border when Kyorin awkwardly waved off Calcharo, subtly shaking his hand—careful not to jostle the five steamers he was carrying.
Calcharo looked at the amusing sight of Kyorin juggling the hot containers but said nothing, recalling what had happened just a little earlier.
"Boss, can I get some temporary steamers?" Kyorin had asked Miss Panhua, the owner of the restaurant.
She gave him a curious look. "Why?"
"I… want to keep the steam buns warm. They're for my… benefactors," Kyorin had said, unsure whether he could call Rover and the others friends or not—truthfully, he was just afraid of overstepping his boundaries.
"So, was the reason you ate so little because you wanted to eat with them?" Calcharo asked, but Kyorin shook his head. "No, I intended to eat with you too. Otherwise, I wouldn't have eaten at all."
Calcharo frowned, but seeing the sincerity in Kyorin's eyes and hearing no hint of trickery or mockery in his voice, he let it slide.
"I guess it can't be helped," Calcharo said as Miss Panhua brought out five bamboo steamers with excellent insulation.
Kyorin asked, "How much?"
"A million Shell Credits," she replied with a mischievous smile.
Kyorin froze, genuinely believing her, and felt his heart drop. He stammered, "I-Is there some cheaper alternative?"
"Hehe," Miss Panhua giggled, clearly enjoyed his dismay. 'What an adorably naive lad,' she thought.
Calcharo inwardly groaned. 'Seriously, he can't even understand she's joking.'
That was what had happened then.
"Use the card I gave you, when you register in your Terminal," Calcharo said as he headed out of the city.
Kyorin nodded. "Alright."
After that, Kyorin turned back toward the city. As he walked, his gaze drifted to City Hall, lingering on a certain spot to the north.
"That looks like a place with a great view," he muttered absentmindedly. He wanted to visit it, but since it was off-limits, he pondered, 'Should I ask Rover?'
'No.' He quickly dismissed the thought. She had already done so much for him—there was no way he could or should ask for more.
His eyes flicked down at the five steamers he was carrying. 'I occasionally glanced at Huaxu Academy but didn't see them. I hope they're still busy.'
He had bought one for each of them—Rover, Yangyang, Chixia, Baizhi—and one for himself. But as he walked, he paused, a new worry creeping in. 'Wait, will it look like I'm hitting on one of them if I just gave it?'
A bead of sweat trickled down his face—he hadn't thought of that. But since he'd already spent the money, he gritted his teeth. 'Let's not let it go to waste. At worst, I'll find a corner and eat alone to avoid misunderstandings.'
As Kyorin made his way toward the main street, the city of Jinzhou lay mostly asleep. The streets were hushed, save for the occasional patrolman or the distant hoot of an owl perched atop crumbling rooftops.
Thud—
Kyorin suddenly bumped into someone. "Ah—sorry about that, sir," he stammered, quickly stepping back.
The man's back was turned to him—a figure of similar build to Kyorin, swathed in crimson with a wild, unruly style.
His jacket hung open, cluttered with overlapping collars, and mismatched belts dangled carelessly. His boots seemed to belong to two entirely different eras.
Knives rested at his hips as if forgotten, and a gold fleur-de-lis earring swung lazily from his ear. A crown of wild red-and-white spikes adorned his head. He smirked—but remained silent.
Feeling uncertain, Kyorin offered another hasty bow. "I'm really sorry for bumping into you, sir. Please forgive me."
Still, there was no response. "...I'll be heading off, then."
As he moved past, a voice drifted behind him, smooth and menacing, like a blade slicing through silk. "Why head off... when your head can be off?"
Kyorin's skin crawled. His instincts roared in alarm.
He ducked—just in time.
One of the five steamers he carried was knocked from his grip, clattering against the stone and splitting open. Steam hissed ominously into the night air.
Kyorin winced, his heart aching. 'What a waste…'
But there was no time to mourn.
He drew in a sharp breath and shouted at the top of his lungs: "JINZHOU'S SPEEDSTER! HELP ME!"
As if answering a summoning incantation, a red-haired girl soared in on a grappling hook.
"Chi—" Kyorin's eyes lit up.
But before he could finish, Chixia grabbed him by the collar, her face flushed red. "Hey! Don't call me that! It's embarrassing, okay?"
Kyorin nodded quickly, but in his mind, he made a quiet note: 'No way I'm dropping that if it helps avoid danger.'
Chixia straightened herself, then folded her arms. "Why'd you call out?"
"Oh, right. There was this man—" Kyorin turned back, only to find an empty street. The man in crimson was gone.
"What man?" Chixia asked, eyes narrowing.
Kyorin frowned. "I was attacked just now. A strange guy in red—he was right here."
Chixia's expression grew serious. "Did you see his face?"
He shook his head. "No… just his odd red outfit. That's all."
"Red attire, huh?" She gave a curt nod. "Alright, I'll report it."
Then she noticed the steamers in Kyorin's arms and pointed. "What are those?"
"Oh," Kyorin said, smiling sheepishly. "They're for you and the others. You must be hungry, right?"
***
By the time Rover and Yangyang made their way outside, night had fully descended over Jinzhou. The warm amber glow of lights illuminated the Academy's courtyards, casting long shadows across the polished stone paths.
A soft breeze stirred the leaves of nearby trees, rustling faintly in the cool night air.
The two of them found a quiet spot beneath one of the decorative pavilions. The stars above shimmered faintly, while distant Tacet barriers flickered like translucent veils over the city's horizon.
Rover exhaled quietly, breaking the silence. "Let's review what we've gathered so far."
She laid the small tokens out — the sugar pearl, the miniature sundial, the oddly colored leaf, and the mangosteen fruit. Each object rested quietly, yet felt heavy with unspoken meaning.
"Our clues point to the sugar pearl as the key," Rover continued, her voice steady but contemplative. "Specifically, it seems to have some connection with the sundial's mechanism."
She tapped the sundial lightly, watching how its tiny shadow shifted with even the slightest motion. "Simply put — one token may lead to several different targets. And one token might even carry multiple layers of information."
Her gaze sharpened slightly. "Both the Magistrate and I had reasons for this meeting. She had information to offer, while I came seeking answers."
She paused, her brow furrowing. "But these tokens… they contain both what she wanted to say and what I hoped to ask."
"It's as if she's deliberately complicating the matter — or…" Rover's voice softened, almost musing, "...perhaps she was running out of time. And in that limited window, all she could leave were fragments of the larger puzzle."
Yangyang listened quietly, her eyes studying Rover as she voiced each theory aloud.
"Or maybe..." Rover went on, her voice lowering slightly, as if speaking more to herself than to Yangyang, "she's a strategist — leaving breadcrumbs for us to follow."
"The first clues might serve as a kind of filter. A test, even — to weed out the wrong recipients." She gestured to the objects.
She looked up at Yangyang, her tone calm but heavy with implication. "She needed to ensure that anyone stumbling upon these tokens by accident — or with ill intentions — would not be able to decipher their true meaning."
"In other words," Rover concluded, "there may be individuals out there who need to be misled."
For a brief moment, Rover fell into thought, her eyes narrowing slightly. 'It seems there may be hidden dangers lurking in Jinzhou...'
Yangyang remained silent, processing her words. The ripples of the flickering night reflected in her eyes as the distant cries of avian beasts filled the air.
Finally, Rover glanced at her. "If it were you, Yangyang — what would you do to ensure your intended recipient understood your message?"
Yangyang tilted her head slightly, considering. After a brief pause, she answered softly, "...I would emphasize my true message by repeating it. Again and again."
Her voice was calm but carried a quiet conviction.
Rover gave a small nod, her gaze drifting once more to the moonlit sky above them. The puzzle remained unsolved — but the contours of its design were starting to emerge.
***
Some time later, Chixia and Kyorin finally rejoined them. Upon seeing her friends, Chixia hurried forward, her steps light, her voice launching straight into a lively recount of her shift and the minor chaos she'd dealt with.
"I'm back, I'm back! Finally done with my patrol!" she announced cheerfully as she approached. "How's it going, Rover? Still feeling spry as ever?"
Kyorin followed quietly, joining the group but keeping a bit of distance.
Rover let out a small grumble, frowning. "Hey, you make it sound like I'm old."
"Hmm," Chixia said thoughtfully, casting a mischievous glance toward Kyorin. She nudged him with her elbow. "Well? What do you think, Kyorin?"
Kyorin already felt sweat forming. Rover was watching him closely—intently. One wrong word, and he was a dead man.
"Well," Kyorin began cautiously, "she's definitely past her... 'cute' phase, and—"
His breath caught, heartbeat skipping. He cleared his throat and added quickly, "—but she's vibrant. Like a flower. So I believe... the word 'beautiful' suits her."
"Tch. Generic," Chixia muttered, clearly unimpressed.
Still, Rover's rising aura seemed to calm a little, apparently satisfied with the answer.
Yangyang chuckled softly. "Baizhi said she's in perfect health—no issues to report."
She added, "We've also made some progress investigating the tokens. How did things go on your end?"
Chixia waved the question off with a casual wave of hand. "Nothing special. Just a typical patrol."
She took a breath and launched into her usual chatter. "Uncle Zhang's cat climbed up a tree again—on the way down it landed right on Uncle Chenpi's head. Poor guy nearly blacked out."
She shook her head, half amused. "Then some dogs were scaring people, so I had to calm them down. Oh, and I got a report about a missing person."
"I logged it and spoke to the one who filed it. You're not the one they're looking for, so relax," she assured Rover with a wink.
Chixia crossed her arms and tilted her head. "I'll follow up with them tomorrow and get more details."
As an afterthought, she added, "Also, I tried searching for Rover's terminal number again. The system came up empty. Only the entry from today shows up—when I registered you. That's it."
Rover exhaled, shaking her head. "That's a lot. Now you've got me feeling hungry."
Chixia laughed. "It's the middle of the night—of course you're hungry."
She tapped her terminal. "Lucky for us, Kyorin's made some arrangements."
"Oh?" Yangyang gasped as Kyorin placed four steamers filled with warm buns before the group. The aroma spread quickly, inviting and comforting.
"Wait," she blinked in surprise, "earlier… when you asked for money—was it for this?"
Kyorin scratched the back of his neck, turning slightly away, clearly embarrassed. "Well… since you four are my benefactors, I thought maybe I should do something I can do."
He paused, then added honestly, "I earned a bit from a small job, so I thought—maybe you'd all be too caught up thinking about the tokens to eat properly. So I bought these."
Chixia leaned in with a mischievous grin. "How smooth. Are you hitting on us?"
Kyorin quickly shook his head. "No, I—"
"Oh?" Chixia cut in again. "Are we not appealing enough?"
Kyorin raised both hands in surrender, panicking slightly. "Please don't bully me—I have a weak heart! I was just trying to be sincere!"
Rover looked at the steamer quietly, then back at Kyorin. "Since you even took the effort to get proper steamers to keep them warm… I believe you."
She didn't smile, but her expression softened. 'How thoughtful,' she mused. She could feel his sincerity through the gesture more than any words.
"Yangyang, can you deliver one to Baizhi?" Kyorin asked.
Yangyang gave a warm smile. "No problem."
Chixia tilted her head. "What about you? Have you eaten?"
Kyorin nodded. "It's not that I skipped—I had something earlier, with the client who had commissioned me."
"Still… are you hungry?" Rover asked gently. Kyorin shook his head with a small smile. "I bought it for the four of you—so please, enjoy."
He extended his hand, offering the steamer, warmth in his expression.
Rover looked at that smile for a moment. 'How naive… but—I don't dislike it,' she thought, accepting the steamer from his hands.
The group settled on a nearby bench beneath the quiet night sky. The soft rustling of leaves and faint city sounds accompanied their meal as the four of them began to eat.
Kyorin stood quietly beside them, suppressing his own hunger. Though he'd technically eaten earlier, it had been very little—and now, thanks to the earlier mishap, he had no choice but to endure.
A faint sulk tugged at his expression, his thoughts drifting.
'Even if I'd taken it by force,' he thought bitterly, 'I would've been happier than letting that go to waste…'
His mind lingered on the crimson-clad stranger from before—that hateful jester.
Kyorin looked down at his hand once again.
"I need strength," he murmured.
Yeah, that was the answer to everything—it had always been. He was far too frail right now. None of this would've happened if he'd been strong.
'I even lost my sword,' Kyorin sighed. He had even lost his weapon due to his own weakness. He knew the sword wasn't the problem—the problem was him.
But what else could he do, other than strive to become strong?
The thought settled in him like an incantation. As if spoken aloud in his heart, it cleared away the weight, the fog, the lingering sting of earlier failures. His mind steadied. The past had happened—unavoidably, unchangeably.
That's right—everything had already happened, unchangeably so. There was no way to undo it. So he decided to move on, and focus on what he wanted—what he could still do: Become strong.
***
Once the three had finished eating, Chixia muttered, "I'm stuffed."
She then quickly added, "Let's grab breakfast at Panhua's Restaurant tomorrow before my shift starts. Meet you guys there in the morning. Be there or be square!"
Everyone agreed. "Alright."
Yangyang, glancing at Rover and Kyorin with a touch of concern, spoke up hesitantly. "Do you two have a place to stay?"
Rover replied, "Yeah. Sanhua prepared a place for me in City Hall."
"Well… I don't think I have one," Kyorin said, clearly unsure of what to do.
Yangyang raised her hand slightly and offered, "I—I have a vacant guest room at my house. If you don't mind coming over—"
Before she could finish, Rover cut in. "I also asked Sanhua to arrange one for him."
Chixia stretched her arms and let out a small yawn. "Alright, enough chatter or the sun's gonna come up. Let's get Rover back to City Hall and leave the rest for tomorrow."
Rover gently shook her head. "You two go ahead. I'd like some time alone." She looked at Kyorin. "Do you want to rest?"
"I can spare some time," Kyorin responded, and Rover smiled.
The two girls exchanged a glance, an unspoken understanding passing between them. After a brief nod, they turned and departed—leaving Rover and Kyorin to wander the quiet streets of Jinzhou together.
The lamp-lit roads stretched ahead, empty yet strangely alive under the moonlight. Though the streets appeared deserted, an unmistakable sensation lingered—like unseen eyes watching from just beyond his line of sight.
At one point, Rover paused, glancing back over her shoulder.
"Something wrong?" Kyorin asked.
Rover shook her head. "It's nothing."
They continued walking, but...
Unbeknownst to them, far behind where she had just looked, two figures dressed in crimson trailed silently from a distance. Their footsteps made no sound, yet they remained—present, like shadows slipping through the gaps of night.
And a bit further behind them, standing in absolute stillness, was a woman—her beauty frozen like a sculpture of ice. Her gaze, calm yet razor-sharp, tracked their every movement.
To be continued...