Cut to the other side.
Sera walked alongside Mickey, holding a cone of soft-serve ice cream. They had just reconciled after their earlier conflict—but before they could fully enjoy the moment, something else quickly pulled their attention. As they approached the front of the cafeteria, they noticed a group of people standing in formation around the entrance. They didn't look like regular personnel.
Before they could even guess what was going on, Sera spotted all of her friends—Syd, Roxxy, Jade, and even Toshi—among the crowd.
What was strange this time was how silent the room was. No chatting, no background noise—just the low murmur of hushed voices.
As they moved closer, their friends immediately noticed them.
"Sera! Sera!" Roxxy called out, visibly agitated, urgently waving them over.
"What's going on? What happened?"
"My mom... my mom's here..."
Mickey froze.
And if Mickey froze, that said it all.
Sera saw the change in her partner's face and instantly knew—this is serious.
"...Serapina Gilmour, is that correct?"
"Huh? You are...?"
Sera was approached by an elegant Southeast Asian woman in a suit.
"I'm Skyler, the Grand Master's personal secretary."
"Ah—yes, I'm Sera."
They shook hands. Just the tone, speech, and presence of this woman made Sera instinctively want to go back and put on a blazer.
"This is Landa, the Grand Master's personal attorney."
"Pleasure to meet you."
"Likewise..."
Mickey joined the group at the front, stepping over to Roxxy and Syd.
"When did Annie get here?"
"We don't know. One second we were eating... then bam—she appeared."
"She must've arrived around eleven then," Mickey deduced, looking toward Syd—who stood biting his nails, eyes locked on the cafeteria interior.
Mickey followed his gaze and saw it too: the massive room was empty—except for Annie Barrett and Jody Johansson. Just the two of them.
"...Jody..." he murmured.
Syd heard it—but didn't react. He was too focused, trying to read Jody's lips from afar, since his mother sat with her back facing them.
His anxiety was obvious. The Bonchon chicken lay forgotten on the ground like discarded trash.
Mickey walked over to Sera.
"Miss Sera, you're welcome to enter now," said Skyler with a polite smile. "The Grand Master is waiting for you."
"...R-right now?"
Grab.
Mickey placed a hand on her shoulder.
"That's how Annie is. Sudden appearances. You'll get used to it. Go on."
"Wait, you want me to go in there?! Have you seen how it looks in there?! It's like walking into a damn exam hall! Look at it!"
"The Grand Master simply wants to meet with you and Jody. That's all, I promise," Skyler reassured gently, still smiling. But Sera remained tense—it had all happened so fast.
"Here."
She shoved her ice cream into Mickey's hand.
"Finish it."
"...What?"
"What, grossed out?"
"A little, yeah."
"Oh, please. You've had worse from me already. Eat it."
Skyler: "Oof... 😧..."
Sera straightened her clothes and posture. Composed herself.
"I'm ready."
"Go ahead. Anytime."
Gulp.
Sera swallowed hard and stepped into the cafeteria.
The crowd parted for her. The moment she stepped through the doors, the pressure hit her like a wall.
She walked forward... and then—
Annie Barrett turned to face her, as if she'd known exactly when she would enter.
Sera froze.
Annie looked exactly like the photo Roxxy had shown her... no— even younger in person.
All of Sera's earlier doubts vanished. This woman is fifty-seven? Impossible. But here she was.
"Good afternoon," Annie said.
Her voice made Sera hesitate. It was eerily similar to Jody's... soft, low, yet commanding.
"G-Good afternoon, ma'am."
Annie stood and offered her hand. They shook.
"I apologize for arriving unannounced. That was my fault entirely. I simply wanted to meet the both of you. Thank you, Miss Sera, for coming."
The smile, the tone, the humility, the eloquence—it was no wonder she had risen to such power.
"Please, have a seat."
Annie gestured for her to sit beside Jody.
Sera glanced over at her friend—only to find her sitting rigidly still, looking utterly drained, despite trying to appear composed.
"I've already had a chance to speak with Miss Jody," Annie continued. "And I must say, I'm truly impressed with how far you both have come. Your ability to adapt... is admirable. If my children or their friends ever do anything inappropriate, please don't hesitate to speak to Jade. I'll make sure it's addressed."
Sera felt like the word "addressed" didn't mean quite the same thing coming from Annie...
"Ah—no! Not at all. We're really happy here, both of us."
"Just call me Annie."
"...Yes, Annie. Heh..."
"I've been briefed on everything. Assuming the information is accurate—Miss Sera..."
"...Yes?"
Annie gently clasped Sera's hands.
"Thank you for watching over them. If it weren't for you, they may have been in far greater danger."
"I—it's nothing, really, Annie. I just did what I could."
She released her hands.
"Their lives have depended on you. Your power makes it possible for them to keep doing what they do. Mickey and Toshi... I see them as sons. Without you, they'd have been in much worse situations."
"They're my teammates. I just do what's best for the team."
Annie nodded, her expression serene.
"Truly fitting for the daughter of Idris. He must be proud—to have a daughter this capable."
"You know my dad?"
"Different industries, but yes. We once sat at the same table during Paris Fashion Week... over ten years ago."
"Wow... What brought you there?"
"My company was negotiating import contracts at the time."
Annie smiled warmly.
"Sera... I honestly don't know how to thank you. Well—aside from the fact that my son has, unfortunately, been blackmailing you."
"Ah..."
Right. That.
Sera had forgotten all about that damn clip.
"You seemed to have forgotten."
"A-ah! N-not at all! As long as they delete it after all this, I'm good..."
Wait—how did she read that off my face??
"I'm sorry I can't interfere in your arrangement with them," Annie said softly. "But I'll personally ensure my son doesn't try anything underhanded. I give you my word."
"...That's... good to know."
And then—just as Sera relaxed a little, she felt the atmosphere around Annie change.
"That clip... I guess it's a good rehearsal for dealing with real blackmail, right? The Gilmours have always had the press on their tail."
"I'm not here to comment on right or wrong. But surely you know the weight your family name carries. Imagine if it was a journalist instead of Syd that day."
"..."
Sera wilted.
"..."
Her shoulders slumped. Just like Jody, she could no longer meet Annie's gaze.
"In any case... I trust you're adjusting well here?"
The warmth returned to Annie's tone. Like nothing had happened.
"...Yes. Very much so."
"Hm."
She nodded again.
"Just from your voice... I can tell. You've lost sight of the reason you came here, haven't you? That's called progress, Sera."
Then Annie stood.
She did it soundlessly, gracefully.
"I've been wondering how I might repay you. But now I've thought of something. In the future, if Gilmour ever decides to expand into the Asian market, I promise you this: my company will offer you a distribution deal people would kill for. We are the largest in Asia. And when the day comes... Gilmour will receive a proposal unlike anything the world has ever seen."
"!!"
Sera's eyes widened. She knew the scale of Annie's empire. This wasn't just a compliment—it was like being promised an endorsement by a world-class influencer.
"And Sera..."
"Yes?"
"Thank you—for being such a good friend to Roxxy. As for Syd, I hope he hasn't been too rough with you."
"O-oh! No, not at all, Annie! Haha..."
"You don't have to hide it. I know exactly what my son is like when he's not under my supervision. I apologize for everything he's done... Mickey too."
"!?"
Just before Annie was about to leave, she stepped toward the two of them and placed a hand gently on each of their shoulders.
"Thank you both... for filling the parts of them that were missing. Especially you, Sera. Please continue to be there for Mickey and my daughter. They've both endured enough pain."
Sera felt chills run down her spine. She nodded, sweat starting to bead on her forehead...
And it only got worse when Annie picked up a tissue from the table and gently dabbed the sweat off both Sera and Jody's foreheads. It was symbolic—she knew how they were feeling.
"We'll see each other again at the summit."
Annie gave their shoulders a soft squeeze before walking out... passing her secretary and the rest of the group.
"I need to speak with the other Masters first. I'll see you at the council, kids."
She ran her hand through Syd and Roxxy's hair before turning to the two young men who were friends with her son.
Toshi stood straight with hands clasped behind his back. Mickey, as usual, stood with composed calm.
Annie placed a hand on the green-haired boy's shoulder.
"How's the helicopter wound from the explosion?"
"Healed, ma'am."
Annie looked back into the cafeteria and then turned toward Mickey.
"I don't need to worry, do I?"
"I'll handle it, ma'am."
Pat, pat. (A firm double tap on the shoulder.)
Syd and Roxxy didn't quite understand what was being communicated between their mother and Mickey—but it wasn't new. Mickey Mannix had always been closest to Annie Barrett. He trusted no one more.
"And how about you, Toshi?"
"I'm doing well, ma'am."
"A little awkward, aren't you?"
"...Ah—well, yeah... hehe."
"Keep it up."
She gave his shoulder a firm pat before walking away.
Back in the cafeteria...
At the now-quiet table, Sera peeked over to check if the Grand Master had left. Once she was sure Annie was gone—
"...Shit..."
She slumped back in her seat, limbs like jelly.
"That woman... their mom... she's terrifying. Right, Jody?"
"......"
"...Jody?"
Sera turned—but what she found was Jody sitting motionless, her eyes hollow and glazed over.
"...Jody...?"
You didn't have to be a genius to know something was very wrong. She wasn't okay. Not at all.
But Sera's voice didn't even register with Jody. Her ears were shut tight. No ringing, no numb TV drama silence—just off.
In Jody's head, the scene kept replaying—everything before Sera entered the room.
The last thing she remembered clearly was Annie Barrett sitting calmly, listening to Jody recount the events of that day on the airplane. No reaction. Absolutely none.
Jody couldn't figure out what Annie was thinking. But if she had to guess—there wasn't a mother on earth who could sit still hearing what Jody just said.
And the most terrifying part of it all boiled down to one simple question:
"What does Annie Barrett know?"
Who told her? Someone had to. But who? Did she find out herself? Was it Syd? No—he would never. Roxxy? No, she'd been asleep. She wouldn't know.
That question looped in Jody's mind as she spoke to Annie—as if she were laying her head down on a chopping block. Powerless to predict what might come next.
Thinking back, Jody realized... when Annie first arrived, she didn't greet her—not even with a nod. And this despite having an Elementalist sitting right there. Instead, Annie greeted her children first.
That alone said everything about Annie Barrett's priorities.
"I have no intention of interfering with my children's personal affairs," Annie had said.
"But now that they're at this age... I hold no grudge against you. I understand... it's normal."
The pressure in Annie's presence was crushing—Jody could barely breathe.
She had nothing left to say but one thing:
"I'm sorry... ma'am."
"..."
"I really am... from the bottom of my heart. I swear... it won't happen again..."
Jody lowered her head, trembling. Even though Annie's words sounded forgiving, everything else about the encounter screamed otherwise.
And then—
Annie spoke again. Words that cut to the bone, because they showed just how well she understood Jody... or perhaps, how tightly she was controlling the conversation.
"You know... I've never aspired to be one of those 'mother-in-law from hell' types you see in tacky soap operas. But please believe me—I have my reasons. And I know someone like you won't back down just because of a few words from me. You won't stop. I understand people like you. You're a natural leader. I admire that. But this... this is another matter entirely.
In the future, many more people—good and bad—will enter your life. People who will come when you're alone, who won't judge you for what you've done, or who you've been. People like my son. There will be more. Go find them."
"..."
"You're not a bad person. And I never said you were. There's nothing wrong with who you are. But please believe me—there is something inside you... something any organization would desire. You have what it takes to reach the top. Easily. But in your personal life... it will be your downfall. And it will hurt those around you."
"Don't—!"
Jody looked up at Annie, panic in her voice. They were speaking in different languages: Jody pleading desperately, Annie calmly dismantling her.
Because Jody understood the subtext behind every word.
And at that moment—Jody Johansson had nothing left of her usual calm. She was breaking.
She was begging the Grand Master—
"Please! Please don't... I have potential! I can be useful to this organization! I want to be in the same unit with them! I want to work with them! I'm begging you!"
"...No, Miss Jody. You don't want to work with them... You want to work with him."
"Ma'am—!"
Jody pleaded, terrified of what Annie had planned next. But then—Annie raised a hand to stop her. And she said:
"There is something inside you... something that is you. The longer you keep doing this, the clearer it will become. And when the time comes... when it fully reveals itself...
You'll understand exactly what I meant."
"!!!!!"
Jody's eyes widened in absolute shock. Worse than an aftershock. She froze—
Like someone completely defeated.
. . .