"I think.....I think we're missing something....." Bora's voice was strained as she stared at the corpse before her. This was the 6th one these past 4 days alone. Another Animalistic found dead in a ditch after hours of heavy foot traffic. Just what the is going on? Minji mentioned the uptick in murder and violence against Listics and Demons but all of a sudden it went up exponentially. Wasn't the world supposed to be rebalanced once the gods came back? Wasn't that the whole point of the Theorem that destroyed Unit M?  

"Ah, teamwork?" Yoohyeon said as she prodded the corpse and lifted what little remained of the garments that weren't eaten away by the pollution of the Hour. Looking for either the tracking device or a tag of some sort to give any identity to the mortified corpse before them. This was not what she expected when they read the tube from their morning debrief. Nor did she expect her to be part of the recon team today. She was looking forward to working with Minji in the cafe. Seeing her smile. Seeing her cafe outfit of the day. Seeing her giving hope to those that had none. The same hope that made her believe in Minji's goal of true liberation. 

"Cohesion?" Siyeon continued the trend as she examined the cracked area around the bloating corpse. Small cracks that looked like fissures that were clawed in against the cement exposed small violet lines of flowing, concentrated Ether. As if the poor soul was trying to get their fix by forcibly trying to extract it. The scent that wafted to her nose was nothing but a haphazard mess of intermingling scents that gave her no answers. Instead what found her was riddles upon riddles. It was faint but it was her only lead in this sea of despair. This Listic was recently at their café.

"A general sense of what we're doing?" Gahyeon added as she examined the area around them. The foot traffic didn't stop. Nothing stops in the 4th hour. With as many passersbys coming and going, dust followed them all. The 4th hour was unique in that its ground was made up of cobblestone, sand, and dirt. As if a reminder of ages long forgotten to history. A past eaten by the desert of time. Giant stone tiles showed the main paths but many other paths were carved in by generations after generations that wanted to make their own shortcuts. The buildings echoed the ground as they spiralled upward due to the booming populace and limited spacing. Made up of grey stone, the buildings were cobbled together into many square and stout structures that housed many families or businesses or both. Each entrance held no rhyme or reason. Some doors were hidden behind sturdy alcoves, others had a small access to a walkway, and others still created their own walkways around other entrances in jagged terraces. As if the hour itself is constantly evolving and eating itself. 

"N-no!" Bora looked at them disturbed by their answers, "We're missing Jiu."

"We've only been separated for 45 minutes, how are you missing her already??" Gahyeon said without looking. Her eyes are still scanning at the buildings across. All of the windows are elongated and thin. Some of the windows even had their covers shut and a majority of them were covered in dirt and grime. Her shoulders sank as she sighed. No doubt there would be no witnesses. But there was something. A glint from one of the windows. The cleanest window.

"She's the only one who knows the damn code for this holo-app!!" Bora griped as she waved a metallic rod as if sheer physical force would make it work, "And she hasn't been answering my calls either! I feel like I've been replaced, discarded, and tossed to the side lately."

Bora dramatically glanced at Yoohyeon.

The three looked at the disgruntled demon before exchanging glances after it was obvious they ignored her. Yoohyeon waved a hand over the left wrist and sternum of the corpse as the skin began to move from the ever hungry maggots that lurked beneath. Gahyeon noticed the only clean window had curtains covering it but with a small slit in the middle. The perfect size for a muzzle of a gun. Siyeon followed where the trail of exposed Ether veins expanded to and how the scent followed it. The scent started to lead towards the centre of the Hour. The centre, where councilmen Vel lived and operated his empire of Ether refinement and sourcing after inheriting it from Genaritzod. 

There was only one option left. 

"I'll call her," Yoohyeon stood up and stretched. Her knees popped while her spine cracked.

"Damn, is that what old age does to a body?" Gahyeon couldn't help but comment as she walked back closer to them and ensured that her body, no matter how small, covered the corpse. Her observations resulted in only one conclusion. A conclusion like all the rest. That this murder spree will continue under the current power's at be watch and that their own goal is the only logical choice. Minji was right. For humanity to survive, for the planet to live, the over extortion by the Heavens, Paradigm, and even mortal's own political forces, will have to be brought down a notch. But not like this. Not by senseless murder. 

"Gahyeon!!" Yoohyeon started to chastise but was cut short. 

"That's nice of you, Yoohyeon. But both me and Siyeon each tried like 10 times and--"

Yoohyeon only took out her own rod, pressed the centre button to activate the grid and selected Jiu's name that was in the centre. Her other member's names were all collected into a folder stuffed away in a corner. Only Jiu's name remained exposed and larger than anything else she had on the grid.  

It only rang for half a second.

"Yes, Yoohyeon?" 

Minji's voice was professional and sublime. As if she was expecting such a call. Well, she was. She didn't send Bora out to lead this recon mission for nothing. There was a method to the madness.  

"OI, OI, OI!!! HOW COME YOU ANSWERED HER BUT NOT ME!!" Bora yelled. Her mild distraction gave Siyeon enough time to confiscate the tag that Yoohyeon exposed when she waved her hand, "WHAT KIND OF FAVOURITISM IS THIS, HUH?? I ALWAYS KNEW YOU LIKED THEM YOUNG. THAT'S WHY I DIVORCED YOU." 

"Since you're running the cafe today, can you make my favourite tea??" Yoohyeon asked. Her voice is just loud enough for Minji to hear and just low enough to be drowned out by Bora's yelling. As if this was the most mundane thing in the world. 

"Favouritism?! How is it favouritism when I've barely gotten to my rod?! We've been busy today with the new menu and all!!" Jiu defended herself. She heard Yoohyeon's code phrase so she has to drag this out for as long as possible, "Besides, you have Siyeon there! And we were never married!!"

"Please don't drag me into this. I claim second wife privilege's of my right of silence," Siyeon groaned as she stuffed both hands in her jacket. She let the tag clang against her rod in order to activate the download sequence as programmed in by Yubin. Downloading everything within the tag down to the last semi-colon of code. 

"Yah, qep xevshaiq xeiq gaganelshaqseiq? Fehqep, qoeiq jehvexlerkie yaga mehvexshaqseyaqoe, kiemeh gaiqyaqoe," Bora naturally switched into Pandemonium. She knows the humans won't be able to understand and any other demons or Listic listening will just think it's a strife between old lovers. Although, this also means her own humans won't understand. But, they know her well enough to fill in the blanks, right?

"Sua, you know I can't--" Minji's voice was tired. She can't fault Bora for switching languages. But she can fault the lack of basic teaching of Pandemonium to be the bane of her existence, especially as the leader of a unit with 2 demons and 2 Animalistics. Even if Pandemonium has been deemed unteachable as it goes against humans natural thought process, or mind in general, there's been some headway in the past couple of years. Well, at least for her and the other two. However fluency is not in their fate as the difference between how Animalistics use the language versus demons is vast and they already get confused with basic sentences. 

"Degjehnelseiq kienelwehyaqoeiq qepyaqoe pilvexnelclec, baqxevse, shaqgameha fehaiq qoe Jiu," Siyeon admitted as she stood by Bora's side. Resting her head on the demon's shoulder it was tempting to plant fluttering kisses on the exposed neck. Maybe even nibble the sensitive skin. Ah, but it was too early for such activities. Let alone in front of the kids. As much as Bora's scent called to her, she resisted such temptation. 

"Jiuuuuuuu, xeyaqoeiq~~" Gahyeon drawled as she rested her head on the other shoulder. Both Animalistics crowded the demon as they waited for the command to finally head back. The 4th Hour's heat was getting to them and the dust was beginning to corrupt their finely tailored suits.

"Ahhh, you guys are mean," Yoohyeon pouted as stared at the trio in front of her.

"I don't even have Handong here to help translate...." Minji's voice was faint as if the rod was away from her. She said something else but it was obvious she was talking to someone. 

A customer.

They needed to wrap up.

"Jiu," Yoohyeon began with a lower tone before switching to a lighter one, "What's the code for Sua's holo-app??" 

"Huh? I sent it to her in a PM? Last night too!" Minji exclaimed 

"YOU DID NO SUCH THING!! HERE I'LL LOO---" Bora's fire was squelched the moment she saw Minji's message.

A message sent the prior night.

A message that was read.

"Ah...Well...I LOVE YOU, JIU. BYEEEEE."

Without thinking, Bora slapped the rod out of Yoohyeon's hand in order to end the call.

"The ?? What did I do to you?!" Yoohyeon whined as Bora could only envelope the younger one in an apologetic hug before peeling off to log into the annoying holo-app. 

"You existed, that's what."

"Gahyeon!?!" Yoohyeon's face contorted with exaggerated pain. 

"See, Sua? Look at how you're corrupting the youth," Siyeon said as she went to hug the whimpering pup. 

"What are you talking about? That's not me, that's all Handong's doing!"

"Weren't we here for something?" Gahyeon droned as she moved to take pictures of the body and scene once it was obvious no one else was gonna do it. They were definitely slacking but it was all in accordance with the plan Minji laid out to them. 

"Let us have this moment, ok?" Siyeon stated as she continued to hold Yoohyeon and even started to pet her. 

"Finally!!" Bora's exclamation was calmer than usual, "The Taker drones are on the way for the body."

Siyeon and Gahyeon both began to hear the low buzzing hums of the Taker drones in the distance. Despite all of their years working with such devices, there's just something about the noises the drones make that makes it seem....unsettling. Unnerving. Unnatural. Maybe it's the seed-like form that's the colour of the void. Maybe it's the lights as red as a demon's eye. Maybe it's the thin robotic limbs that extend to attend the body like a grotesque insect. Maybe it was as if the drone was sentient enough to realise what it's doing and enjoyed it. 

"Which undertaker took it?" Yoohyeon asked so she could make a note of it after she made sure nothing broke after Bora's attack on the Holo-rod. The older undertakers knew what to do once they saw who issued the call for pick up but the newer ones were ignorant and sloppy. A reflection of the times. 

"Skellam....." Bora's voice was neutral as she remained still. It took everything within her to not immediately fly into a rage. 

"Skellam?? Never heard of them before, how new are they?" Yoohyeon continued to question. Observing the demon it's obvious that this was someone she knew. 

"Skellam......Skellam was my founder...."

Dust swallowed them as the taker drones arrived.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The café was bustling. Many familiar faces along with new ones occupied the tables and couches as the air around them felt peaceful for once. The oasis evaporated everyone's woes and replaced it with a sense of belonging. That no matter what, this little café will welcome them with open arms. Welcome them and their dreams.

Yubin was working the bar and made various drinks left and right. Her rhythm was hypnotic as she let herself go into a flow-like state. Every little move she did held a purpose. Her side steps moved her up and down the bar to pick up and deliver orders with ease. Her hands easily grabbed the necessary ingredients along the way. Sometimes she added a flourish in her movements like spinning a drink or juggling ingredients or even just sliding a drink along the bar and matching it's speed as she continued to make it. As she moved, she created. As robotic as it was, her movements were so fluid that it was more of an art. And she was a master of it.

Many patrons filled the bar just to watch her work. Everyone knew to respect the artist.

As Yubin continued her master craft, the other two were out and about taking care of the rest of the patrons as best they can. 

Minji tended to the regular patrons. They gave her their orders as well as any special requests. Requests that they specifically came to this café for. 

Requests for freedom. 

No matter how brief. 

No matter what kind.

It was mostly Listics that made such requests. Getting tired of the squalor and wanting a brief taste of liberation before they were dragged back by the cruel tentacles of reality. Their various coloured eyes sent their silent wishes but Minji understood them well enough. She was one of the few humans in their long lives that treated them as an equal. 

The Listic from the capital and their 'family' was the first customers of the day. 

And Minji greeted them with a bright smile. 

She already made arrangements for their escape later that afternoon. Oreb will see to them personally. That old God has been one of the few who came to her to repent. And repent he has. He's also an excellent cook with an exceptional crew. 

As Minji continued to fulfil the dreams of the few, Handong was the one handling the newcomers. The ones that don't know the cafe's true purpose. Or maybe the ones that do but don't know how to effectively use such services. She was here as their guide in this safe space. 

"Our cooks today have specified the menu here," Handong gestured towards the menu that was displayed before them from the projector at the centre of the table. Her ringed hand swiped back and forth to show the extent of the menu. Stopping every now and then to let the customers examine further. There were two languages on the menu. Common and Pandemonium. Due to the language barrier, Listics and any Demon seeking freedom could understand the underlying message of the menu selection. 

Tea equals a room for the night.

Black coffee equals wanting to make a deal.

Coffee with milk equals wanting to make a deal but there's some complications.

Coffee with milk and sugar is the same as above but there's a family to think about. 

Sandwich of the day equals sanctuary for the day.

A breakfast item in the afternoon equals guidance only.

An afternoon item during breakfast equals ready now.

And so on and so forth. As easy as it seems in written form, verbally it's different. The newbies struggled with saying what they wanted as they did not know the unwritten rules of the cafe. But, that's what Handong is for.

"Our menu is written in common and Pandemonium. If you know Pandemonium, we always recommend to say it in Pandemonium in order to get what you really want," Handong flashed a dazzling smile at the Listics before her. She could tell they were nervous about what they were doing. But there was a resolve behind their eyes, "After all, I know it so why bother with common?  Or, if your Pandemonium is a bit weak then no judgement. Remember, this is a safe space."

Handong's smile never left her face as she emphasised the last two words. Anything she could do to get the message across without compromising them. And as the Listic's eyes before her sparkled with hope, her face softened to a grin. 

Anything being done the first time is nerve racking. But doing something for the first time that could alter the course of your life is deadly. Literally and figuratively in this case.    

The Listics released a breath they didn't know they were holding as they understood Handong's words and underlying meaning. They knew she was a demon. But to them, and to any Listic seeking liberation or relief, she was an angel. 

"O-ok!" One Listic stuttered out as their confidence began to grow. 

"Excellent! I'll give you all some time with the menu then," Handong gave them all a polite nod before going to the other tables. 

The process repeated for the rest of her customers. She gently guided them to what they were searching for and gave them a comfort they didn't know they needed. The comfort of being known. The comfort of being seen. The comfort of a true ally. The comfort of a friend.

Ah, how she wishes they could all be friends in another life.

Another life with her members without the worry of tomorrow.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Siyeon sat in the middle of the leather couch as she sipped her drink. The café had died down by the time they made it back and changed their clothes to something more casual. And they somehow arrived home without the building wanting to kill Bora. Well, it was business hours and even the building knows not to pull such shenanigans and will instead opt for some manners.

The soft murmurs of the remaining guests combined with the constant noise of water from the fountain and pipes almost put her to sleep. It created a peaceful ambiance that she didn't know she needed until now. As nonchalant as she acts, as spaced out as she acts, she's been in a constant state of stress that finally having a moment to breathe feels......wrong. As if something should be happening at this very second. Well, it's always like that before a big mission. That something needs to be building up to the . Nonetheless, might as well get as much relaxation she can before--

"Siyeon...."

A certain fox needed her attention.

"Hm?" Siyeon hummed out as she barely batted an eye. 

She was expecting this eventually.

"How do I deal with it?" Gahyeon muttered as she leaned over the couch to hug the wolf from behind. Partially for comfort and partially to cover herself. 

"Deal with what specifically?" Siyeon asked as she settled into the embrace. Her eyes still half closed as she patiently waited for the fox's words.   

"Feels," The fox hid her face against Siyeon's exposed shoulder. 

"Ahh," Siyeon couldn't help but chuckle, "Good or bad?"

Gahyeon could only grumble. 

"Little fox, I'm gonna need more than that," Siyeon shook her shoulder that Gahyeon was against in order to drive her point across. The action resulted in more grumbling.

".........Bad.........."

"Hmm....Doubts?" Siyeon was cautious. She knows exactly what Gahyeon is trying to get at, but she can't just give that answer away. Gahyeon needs to find it herself if she wants any sort of internal resolution. The least she can do is shine a light on it. 

"Sort of??" Gahyeon finally looked up. At first it was to look at the wolf but then she heard the laughter that melted her heart ever since she first heard it. 

Her eyes immediately went to the source and a dreamy sigh escaped her lips within seconds. Handong was amazing, as always. Her outfit fitted her well and it was the right mix of sophisticated and delicate. The perfect balance. Her vermillion eyes were soft as she spoke and her smile was dazzling. 

It took every ounce of willpower to not peel off of Siyeon to latch herself around Handong. And it drove her mad. She wanted nothing more than peace in order to enjoy herself with the ones she loves. Is that so wrong? 

Handong laughed again and it brought her back to the present. 

She was laughing at what a customer said.

A customer that was currently smiling like a lovestruck fool.

Jealousy quickly rose up within her core. But, it only lasted for a moment before she squandered it. After all, who wouldn't fall for Handong's charm? She was amazing and went through so much to get where she is today. Anyone would want her. But they couldn't. Even if Handong reciprocated minor actions to someone else, it was meaningless.

It meant nothing if Handong had to reciprocate. It meant nothing if Handong had to feel the touch of another. It meant nothing if Handong had to be away from her. It meant nothing if Handong had to whisper the same words uttered in her ear to another. It all meant nothing in the end. She knows how Handong truly feels. Especially the feelings reserved only for her.

Right?

"Ga-Gahyeon," Siyeon's voice was strained, "Y-you're choki-ng me."

The wolf hit the fox's arms that was currently strangling her with an unconscious force. An unknown rage that everyone saw.  

The fox quickly relented and offered nuzzles and soft apologies. 

"There..." Siyeon sighed as she saw the extent of the fox's suffering.

"Why is it so hard?" Gahyeon's voice cracked and Siyeon wanted to envelop her in a hug. 

"Remember what I said? It's hard to love a demon," Siyeon kept her composure. They were too much in a public space.

"I know that!" Gahyeon's fighting spirit returned before it flickered out again, "But.......her mission......"

"It's unsanctioned, it could've been any one of us," Siyeon gently reminded the fox, "Luck is cruel like that."

Silence surrounded them in its comforting bubble. As if they were frozen in space and time. That this moment was theirs and theirs alone. The next words were crucial.

"It was supposed to be minor....." Gahyeon continued to whisper as if scared of breaking the sacred space. 

"Is anything ever minor in this line of work?" Siyeon took another sip of her tea. 

The fox said nothing as she contemplated everything and nothing.

"Gahyeon.....how much longer can you last like this?" Siyeon finally asked the obvious. As much as she wanted Gahyeon to find out for herself, it was painful to watch. Mercy is what she needs now. 

"I...." The hesitation said it all, "I don't know....."

"You two HAVE talked about it, right?" Siyeon, like the rest of them, usually did not pry into each other's private matters but this was important. She knew how Gahyeon felt about Handong but she never realised just how far it went. Knocking yourself out rather than simply walking away? Why, that was a bit extreme. Coupled with the almost dangerous obsession over a simple side mission. A side mission that results in Handong being with another. But, communication should erased any sort of doubts that either of them could've been having. Yes, the fox needed guidance in what she was feeling was not necessarily protectiveness of a loved one but possessiveness fueled by jealousy. A dangerous combination. A combination that was growing every day and needed to be snuffed out sooner rather than later.

"We have.....extensively." Gahyeon went slack. As if physically defeated. They had many talks about the damned mission. Handong was unfortunately the one that caught the eye of the councilman and as such was the one selected for the mission of espionage. They barely began their own relationship when that wrench was thrown in but they each gave each other the comfort that everything was alright once they were alone. Alone in their room were they exposed to each other in all manners beyond just physical. Alone where Handong was free to rant and release any stress gained from the mission. And Gahyeon was there to receive it all. She was the one to release Handong from said stress. She was the one to hear of Handong's woes. She was the one to hold Handong when the demon wanted to get rid of the councilman's touch. She was the one to receive Handong's true love. And she wants nothing more than for Handong to be happy again no matter the cost.  

"What about that night?" Siyeon continued to pry in order to reveal the core.

"We..." Gahyeon's voice hitched with a pain that threatened to bubble over, "She didn't want me looking at her and she was gone before I came out of the shower....."

Gahyeon's voice was steady as a thinly frozen lake.

Siyeon remained silent as she contemplated what she heard. Handong must've seen it too. The core of Gahyeon's issue. Why is she feeling so much pain and holding it. A part of her just wanted to tell the young fox that everything would be alright. That this is nothing but a mild hiccup in the grand scheme. But she knew better than to give into that part. She needs to do right by Gahyeon. By teaching her the lessons that she needed when she was young. Be the adult you needed when you were younger.

"Gahyeon.....you're lost, aren't you?" Siyeon went back to basics. Back to something so simple that it's overlooked. That's where the answers that Gahyeon is looking for await. 

"Duh, why'd you think I'm talking to you?" The growing frustration was obvious and yet the fox remained immobile. 

"Oi, don't get sassy with me," Siyeon gave a small chuckle as she reprimanded Gahyeon by giving her a small pat on the head. 

Another whimper of an apology was the only thing she heard. 

"Would you be lost if Handong didn't have her mission?" 

"What's that supposed to mean??" Gahyeon couldn't even muster the energy to be accusatory. Her gaze wandered towards Handong again and her heart squeezed. This was the first time she has ever felt like this and it's driving her mad. Mad with pain. Mad with grief. Mad with hopelessness. Are there no words to what she was feeling? Can't things be simple again? 

"I know you two are a thing, but that's been a recent development," Siyeon slowly began, "So, where do your feelings really lie, Gahyeon? Is it really for her safety and well being or is there an aspect about her mission that you despise?"

Again, Gahyeon said nothing. Partially digesting what Siyeon said and partially examining herself. 

"But what does that have to do with being lost? And besides, aren't those two one in the same?" 

"Little fox, it has everything to do with it," Siyeon looked at the new pod of customers coming in. She recognized them immediately and sighed. It was the same group that demanded her attention at all times. Ah, it's tiresome playing a part at times.

Siyeon gently unwrapped Gahyeon's arms from around her shoulders. But she didn't let go completely. She held the fox's hand in hers for a moment longer before she left.

"It's going to be rough...." Siyeon's voice was soft as if she was talking to herself, "Demons are headstrong and we're.....well, you know. We're a bit wild."

Siyeon stood tall and gave Gahyeon a hopeful smile and wink before leaving the fox to ponder.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The only light came down from the dense dome from above. The thick glass filtered the sun and softened the natural beams peering through. Fine specs of dust that looked like snow gently falling towards them. 

On the fourth floor, they all sat around the table. Papers, holos, schematics, articles, and rods were laid out before them. Beginning with Bora, they each examined the evidence in front of them. As they read each line of text, looked at each image, cross referenced names and numbers, they took their own notes. Their own view of what the story was from what they learned without outside sources. A story from facts alone.

A story they dreaded and feared.   

Minji and Handong were the only ones not sitting and instead they stood at the head of the table. They were the ones that gathered the evidence and other items. From Minji's research to Handong's espionage, everything was mixed in so the others could piece the timeline themselves without risk of influence. 

After giving each of the members enough time to digest everything, Minji began.

"So, we're due for another mission as stated in the contract. And just this morning the Order delivered," Minji held a tube in front of her. The clear cylinder was riddled with lines pulsating in a blue hue in a haphazard beat, "An order we've been expecting. To finally gather the missing gods that went MIA after the Heaven's return. But, thanks to Handong's negotiations with the Council, it was deemed necessary for us to also handle the recon instead of using a third party this time." 

Minji slipped the tube into the loading dock in the table. After a brief hum as the table read the tube, a map was projected to them all. A map they knew by heart.

It was Handong's turn to speak. 

"After examining the list from Kessler and of the victims the past couple of weeks, we found a commonality," Handong waved a gloved hand over the sensor on the table to pull up the identities of the victims and gods, "All of the gods were last seen in the 4th and 2nd hours. While the victims were last seen in our cafe before they were ultimately killed in those same hours."

Handong swiped her hand in order to showcase the victims from the cafe specifically. Everyone stiffened as they recognized the faces displayed before them. One was just at the bar a couple of weeks ago, Yubin remembered the exact drink they ordered. Another was in and wanted nothing more than a space to read a book peacefully, Yoohyeon remembered exactly what she suggested to them. Another just wanted the company of an Animalistic in order to calm down their own feral tendencies, Siyeon remembered how they shook and trembled as they fought withdrawals. Another just wanted advice on how to potentially do start ups, Gahyeon remembered how eager they were and how grand and noble their ideas were. And so on and so forth. Every face had a story to tell.  

"The 4th and 2nd Hours are the ETJs of Councilmen Vel and Meta but the nearby parishes are Keran's," Handong's voice was low as it lured them all out of the sobering horror of how death is intrinsically linked to them, "However, given the nature of this, neither of them are willing to take responsibility for either Hours and Keran is already spread thin as it is with their parishes potentially winning favour."

A unanimous groan emanated from them all. A harmony disgruntlement.  

"Well a duck, then how the hell are we supposed to our job?" Bora asked. Her red eyes glow with a subtle anger and arms crossed with defiance. She remembers how much of a nuisance both councilmen are. 

"Through the Embassy," Minji's words surrounded them with its own tendrils of regret. 

"You can't be serious," Siyeon said as her eyes darted between Handong and Minji. They made it this far without having to mingle with the Embassy. Surely they can last a bit longer.

"Why??" Gahyeon asked the obvious question that was on everyone else's faces. She's not a mind reader, but she trusts her leader with all of her being. Although a little explanation never hurt anyone. 

"Because of the ETJs, isn't it?" Yubin asked even though it was said more as a statement.

"Then shouldn't the council figure it out then?" Yoohyeon tried to recall what she read about the law, "Better yet, follow the ordinances that they adopted? Even the Judge could do something!" 

"Normally, but given how gods have been going missing, the Embassy has stepped in and you know how the Heavens are. Even the judge has chosen to remain neutral," Minji's voice was steady. Steady but the raging inferno underneath threatened to break through. Partnering with the Embassy was not part of the initial plan. 

"Why haven't they stepped in before, huh?" Gahyeon continued to question. The mission was simple. But the details were a mess. A recipe for a disaster. 

"Lack of evidence," Minji continued to calmly answer.

"Bull!! This has been happening for months, and after looking over all of this 'evidence' I don't see the tipping point," Bora gestured at the table with open hands. She was tired of being on a leash and with the Embassy that meant it was being traded out for a muzzle.  

Minji clenched her jaw and Handong stepped in.

"The tipping point was the contract," Handong pressed a button and turned a dial on the loading dock for the reader to pull up the other folder. The folder with their contract with all the legal jargon. The hue of the display changed in order to make the finer print more legible, "Part two states we needed public sponsorship. However, it's the subsections that bind us."

Silence engulfed them as their emotions stilled before rising again. There's a reason why the fine print is so important. It's where you win or lose. Or, gives you a chance to plan a bit before you lose anyway. 

"Oh, those dirty little bastards," Bora couldn't help but be impressed a little.

"Subject to the needs of the sponsorship, huh? So the Rehabilitation Board set this up?" Gahyeon's voice was flat as she continued to read. After she was done she looked to Minji and Handong. Noticing the stoic rage that held Minji together and the conflicted disgust that was on Handong's face.  

"Great, now we have to deal with their ulterior motives too," Yoohyeon huffed, "Who doesn't have a hand in this mission?? Is it Paradigm?"

Minji sighed. 

Handong offered an awkward smile.

"Ah, about that....."

Another groan of pain went around the table. 

"You know what? I don't even wanna know," Bora shook her head, "Skellam is surely Paradigm's spy, the council think they can play the big game when all they run is the ruins of their forefathers, and the Embassy still sees everything as an interesting plaything. They're just making us out to be the scapegoat at this point."

"You're not far off. From what I've learned from Keran is that the council would rather see Paradigm, the Heavens, and Listics destroy themselves in some sort of twisted civil war," Handong looked at no one as she said those words. Remembering the very moment Keran revealed the idea and rough plan to achieve such a goal. The moment that Handong started to despise every second she spent with the councilman and she never shared a bed with the councilman after that.

"Isn't that a bit too lofty for them?" Yubin pointed out, "They can barely run their own Hours and parishes as is. Logistically, pragmatically, and even ideally they are a mess so how can they even collude in such a grand scheme?"

Handong could only shrug, "We also have to consider that the idea itself is a ploy from all parties or one."

"Oh! What did you learn from the bug??" Gahyeon asked before it vanished from her mind. Stopping her brain from following the multiple threads of possibilities in order to ground herself in reality. As much as she wanted to theorise and plan around plans, now wasn't the time. They needed a full picture first. 

"That Keran is on to what we're doing but not what we're planning," Minji openly admitted. She could never hold anything back from her team for long, "But only at the surface level."

"Who doesn't know what we do at a surface level? I mean, it's only thanks to our own minor god friends, like Oreb, that protected us this long" Siyeon said as she leaned back into her chair. Her hand wrapped around Bora's in an unconscious effort to find comfort, "It seems like our fate is sealed at this point."

"A sealed fate like Unit M, huh?" Yoohyeon grumbled under her breath. Her mind is forever raw in how that Unit ruined everything they worked towards.

"Unit M's fault was that one had motives beyond the other's understanding."

All eyes were on Minji. 

"Their fate was sealed once the Theorem was misunderstood. That freedom comes not from a perfect balance of the world, but from understanding and controlling one's own chaos."

Minji swiped her own gloved hand above the reader on the dock. Swiping through all the articles and pictures until she pulled up the map again. 

The map of the Academies. 

The first stop in their recon.

"Our fate is only sealed if we let it be so," Minji stood tall before them. Uttering the words she told herself a million times, "But I don't think any one of us wants to be another pawn in this poorly thought out 4-D chess game."

Minji pinched her fingers together briefly to make the image zoom out to the next stop. 

An ancient diner.

Another pinch.

Another location.

The 11th Hour and its monument.

"But, how will this affect our own mission?" Yoohyeon asked as she noted the locations and possible significance to each. 

"We made an oath to protect, no matter the cost. We weren't chosen for the Order for nothing," Minji gave Yoohyeon a hard stare before breaking into a smile and looked at all the others, "So, who wants to some up with some malicious compliance?"

"Wow, you're so hot right now."

"Gah! Bora! Why are you always ruining my moment!?" 

The room once filled with dreaded silence became full with a chorus of laughter from around the table. Despite the seriousness of the situation, as long as they have laughter, and each other, nothing could stop them. 

At least, they hoped.