Lucia gave a small nod. "As always, thank you, Rose."
Rose let out a small laugh, a hint of amusement appearing on her face. "Do not thank me too early," she said. "I am not doing this for free. Even if you are my friend, I will still charge you."
Lucia waved her hand lightly, smiling. "Yes, yes, we will settle that later."
With that, she turned and led Max and Isabella toward the group gathered behind Rose.
The group consisted of five individuals. Two of them were young women, standing slightly apart with calm but alert expressions, while the other three were young men whose gazes carried a mix of curiosity and indifference.
None of them made any effort to approach Lucia or her group, and Lucia did not attempt to initiate contact either. Both sides maintained a quiet distance, understanding the unspoken rule of such gatherings.
Here, people traveled together.
But they did not trust each other.
