After the event, Noah and Asher walked back together through the quiet streets. The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the pavement, and the air held a warm stillness. Distant traffic hummed faintly.
"Well, that was a huge win for me," Noah said suddenly, breaking the silence.
Asher turned his head slightly. "Really?" Asher said, glancing at him. "I don't think you gained a lot today. Or am I missing something?"
Noah grinned, the expression sharp in the clear daylight. "Then what do you think my goal today is?"
"Figured out other members' powers?" Asher guessed. He frowned, looking ahead. "But in the end, we just saw Owen's power. So I don't think it was a huge win or anything."
"Well, that's not wrong," Noah admitted. He kept his pace steady. "I would like to see what the boss's power is, but that's never my priority."
Asher blinked. He slowed his steps a little bit. "Really? What is it then?"
"The moment I heard about Daniel's power, I could tell he would be a problem for me," Noah explained. "Probably not if he's just by himself, but paired with the right people, then he can mess up my teleportation."
"I see!" Asher said, understanding dawning. He nodded slowly. "So that's why you said some weird stuff back then."
"Weird stuff?" Noah asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Like how the bald guy looked strong or something," Asher clarified. He glanced sideways at Noah. "I was confused then because he didn't seem strong enough for you to worry about."
"Ah, that time," Noah acknowledged, a faint smirk returning.
"I get it now," Asher said. He rubbed the back of his neck. "So you're trying to provoke Owen, make him want to fight that bald guy because he's paired with Daniel, and you want our group to chase them."
Noah shrugged casually. He didn't deny it. "Can't really let the boss deal with him. If he decides not to kill him, it's going to be a problem for me."
"I was wondering why you're so reckless too," Asher observed. He gestured vaguely back towards the scene. "Teleporting immediately in the open like that."
"I can't be picky, can I?" Noah countered. His voice was matter-of-fact. "Getting to him first was more important to me. And I don't think we need to worry too much about using our powers secretly anyway," he continued, his expression carefree.
"Ah, you mean about the rising number of people who awaken?" Asher said. He scanned the deserted street. "True, our existence won't stay hidden from the public for long, I guess. But isn't that still reckless?"
Noah just laughed. It was a short, unconcerned sound. "I guess so."
Now that Asher thought about it, Noah didn't seem too concerned about hiding his power. In fact, he carelessly showed it to him, to other members of Joker Roulette, and even to the enemy. The contrast with Asher's own instinctive caution was stark.
Is he that confident, or does he get a thrill from doing that? Asher wondered. But he couldn't ask that. It felt too personal.
"So that's why you did that phone thing," Asher said. The memory felt incongruously dark under the bright sun. Thinking about how Daniel died made his throat feel uncomfortable.
"At first, I didn't even plan on killing him myself, though," Noah said. His voice was almost indifferent. "But Owen just ended up knocking him down. I had no choice."
Asher nodded silently. He watched the ground for several steps before speaking again. "Anyway, how did you even get this information, though? All of this wouldn't even have happened if you didn't have such good information leaks."
"Oh, don't worry about it," Noah smirked. "You'll meet her soon enough."
Asher didn't understand what that meant, but he didn't ask more. They walked the rest of the way in silence, the warm afternoon sun feeling strangely heavy after the day's events.
---
Arcane Keepers Headquarters.
Fiona ran inside in a hurry, her footsteps echoing sharply in the sterile corridor. She was breathing hard, having sprinted most of the way.
She rounded a corner too fast and bumped straight into Hairo.
"Wow, careful now," he said, steadying her. His hands gripped her shoulders firmly.
"Sorry I'm late," she gasped, catching her breath. She tried to smooth her jacket. "So what's the emergency? Is it about Noah?"
Hairo shook his head grimly. His usual calm was replaced by palpable tension. "I've never seen the leader that angry before," he said, his voice low.
Fiona gulped. A knot of anxiety tightened in her chest.
"What happened?" she asked.
"We believe Joker Roulette killed four of our members," Hairo stated bluntly. The words hung heavy in the air. "Everyone was furious."
"What...?" Fiona said, disbelief washing over her face. Her hand flew to her mouth. "Who?"
"Daniel and the others," Hairo confirmed. His jaw was tight. "They even killed their target. Six lives lost because of these maniacs. We can't keep letting them do as they wish!"
Fiona nodded in grim agreement. The news felt like a blow. "So the reason for this emergency meeting was..."
"I believe today's meeting was for the leader to decide that we will focus on exterminating Joker Roulette once and for all," Hairo said firmly. His eyes were hard with resolve.
---
Nighttime. Bar.
The low hum of conversation and the clink of glasses filled the dimly lit space. Smoky air hung thickly around the secluded booths.
Noah sat alone at a booth with someone whose figure was hidden by the deep shadows and dim lighting. Only the faint gleam of the table separated them.
"I should thank you for your information," Noah said, taking a sip from his glass. The amber liquid swirled slightly as he set it down. "It was very useful."
"I'm glad to be of any use," the female figure replied. Her voice was smooth and low. Her blonde hair shifted slightly as she moved.
"Feel free to drink as much as you want," Noah offered. He gestured towards her untouched glass. "And I've already transferred the remaining money to your account. Just tell me if the amount was wrong."
The girl picked up her phone beside her glass. The screen lit up her hand briefly in the gloom. She checked the screen for a moment and smiled.
"No, it's perfect," she said.
"Great," Noah said, raising his glass with a satisfied smile. The ice clinked softly. "Then let's mark this as the beginning of our long partnership, Gloria."
---