The silver-haired girl “glared” at me, but her face held little expression. Only subtle shifts in her eyes hinted at anger.

“What are you doing!” the bound short-haired boy beside me shouted, thinking I was up to something shady. “You pervert, pick on me instead!” He tried hard to sound furious, but his flat tone carried no real heat.

I’d merely grabbed the silver-haired girl’s hand. “What do you think a man does with a woman?” I asked. She turned her head away in disdain, while the short-haired boy glared at me fiercely.

I couldn’t help but laugh. “You came after me first. Got caught because you’re weak. Did you expect me to treat you to dinner?” The boy shut his eyes tight. “Since we failed, just kill us!”

“Sorry, I haven’t killed anyone in a long time.” I shook my head. Time Reversal healed the hole I’d punched through the girl’s hand earlier. “I’m not kind to enemies. Honestly, I wouldn’t blink killing you—but my friend wouldn’t want that. You’re lucky.”

Ignoring them, I left the storage room. These two wouldn’t talk, and memory recall showed nothing. I didn’t know what to do. Pulling out my phone, I called my so-called older sister, Yueyue Shenlian. She might have ideas.

“Your call cannot be connected at the moment, please…” Seriously? She had to drop the ball now. So unreliable.

Nana had waited outside the storage room for ages. “Well?” I shook my head. “Got nothing. But don’t worry—they’re fine.” They’d found us so fast. K must know I exist now. Things won’t stay peaceful.

Nana snapped me out of my thoughts. “Cold Creek, are you okay?” I smiled at her. “I’m fine. But this won’t end easily. It’ll get messy. I should move out—since they’re after me.” “No!” Nana stared at me, earnest. “I can’t help much, but if you leave, I’ll have no one to talk to.”

I ruffled her hair. “Forget what I said. If I move out and they use you against me, that’d be trouble.”

“Looks like Numbers Four and Five failed.” A doll-like blonde girl with emerald eyes lifted a teacup, expressionless. “Number Three, you know what to do.” She glanced at the red-haired girl opposite her. Matching blankness, the redhead simply said, “Yes,” and left.

The blonde was Iris, who’d transferred recently. “Our target isn’t as simple as we thought.”

“What should we do with them? Just leave them tied up?” Nana eyed the bound teens in the storage room. I glanced at them. “Let them go.” Nana stared, shocked. Even the two captives looked surprised.

I untied them, but kept their weapons. The moment free, the silver-haired girl swung a flying kick at me. But under time slowdown, her move was painfully slow. I flicked her forehead hard. “Still not learning?”

She stepped back, clutching her forehead, ready to charge again—but the short-haired boy held her back. “Why let us go?”

“Are you crazy? I freed you, and you’re still asking questions?” I snapped. Truth was, I planned to follow them to their boss. Even as pro assassins with counter-surveillance skills, they couldn’t see me if I warped time around myself.

The boy watched me warily, pulling the girl away. Nana watched them leave. “Is it really safe to let them go?” I’d already decided. “It’s fine. Playing the long game. Without finding the mastermind, this won’t end.”

I called the blonde bombshell, Yueyue Shenlian. “Big sis Shenlian, I did as you said. Have the President track them now.”

Coordinates came fast over the phone. “Follow them now. Don’t get spotted.”

Gotta say, these two were sharp. They circled blocks all day, from morning till afternoon. Can I admit I’m losing patience?

They finally turned into an alley and entered a restaurant. Was it special? I waited quietly. If they didn’t come out in an hour, I’d go in.

But they emerged after just thirty minutes—just eating. Dusk fell. After tracking so long, even the President must be exhausted. “President, you holding up?” Her tired voice replied, “I’m okay for now, but using this ability this long is draining.”

Next, they entered a clothing store. They came out fully changed. Clever—if I’d planted trackers, they’d be left behind in the shop.

Night fell completely. After nearly twelve hours of tailing, they stopped at a Western-style villa. Iron fences surrounded it, red roses blooming on the lawns. The building itself was white and red—clearly, the owner loved that color.

They scanned the area, confirmed no one was watching, and went inside. Finally. Time to enter.

I’d barely gotten within dozens of meters of the villa when a bullet hole appeared centimeters from me. A sniper, probably. I doubted their aim was bad—they just didn’t want me dead.

“I didn’t expect you’d find this place.” A boy in butler’s uniform appeared before me. He was taller, but I guessed he was only seventeen or eighteen. Three others joined him: the silver-haired girl, the short-haired boy, and a twin-tailed maid. I was surrounded.

“This feels like you lured me here.” All four had doll-like, blank expressions. With the hidden sniper, they must be Numbers One through Five. But the boss wasn’t greeting me personally. “Where’s your father? Didn’t he want to see me?”

The butler boy bowed. “Apologies. Father wishes to bring you quietly.” Oh, afraid I’d memorize the route? “Then I’ll have to visit him myself.”