Morning crept into the mansion quietly—too quietly for the amount of chaos living inside it.
Keifer woke up first.
He didn't move.
Not because he wasn't awake—but because Jay was curled against him, her head tucked under his chin, one arm thrown possessively across his chest like he might disappear if she loosened her grip.
He smiled faintly.
Alive.
Warm.
Breathing.
His fingers brushed a loose strand of her hair from her face. She frowned in her sleep, muttering something unintelligible—probably an insult—and burrowed closer.
Keifer chuckled silently. Of course.
He leaned down and pressed a slow kiss to her forehead.
That was his mistake.
Jay's eyes snapped open instantly.
"Why are you breathing so loudly?" she mumbled.
Keifer froze. "I—what?"
She blinked. Looked up at him. Then realization hit.
"…Oh."
There was a pause.
Then—thwack.
She smacked his chest.
"You're awake and didn't wake me?" she accused.
"You looked peaceful," he said innocently.
She narrowed her eyes. "You never let me sleep peacefully."
"And yet," he murmured, tightening his arm around her, "here you are. Voluntarily."
She tried to glare but failed when he leaned in and kissed her—soft, unhurried, like the world wasn't constantly trying to kill them.
"Keifer," she warned, already smiling.
"Yes?"
"If we don't get up, Aries is going to kick the door."
On cue—
BANG.
"WHY IS THE DOOR STILL CLOSED?" Aries shouted."IT'S MORNING," Percy added helpfully. "AND SUSPICIOUS."
Jay groaned. "See?"
Keifer sighed dramatically. "why are they both behind me."
"not my fault " she said.
Another bang.
Jay rolled off him and stood up. "Five minutes," she yelled. "Or I start throwing knives."
Silence.
"…Fair," Percy muttered from outside.
Keifer laughed as Jay turned back to him, hands on hips. "You look too comfortable for someone who almost died."
"You washed my hair," he replied smugly. "I've ascended."
She threw a pillow at his face.
The mansion's drawing room looked like a war council had collided with a family breakfast.
Aces sprawled across couches.Sec-E leaned against walls.Coffee mugs, half-eaten toast, weapons casually resting beside them.
Jay walked in first—hood up, hair still damp, expression sharp.
Keifer followed, looking far too relaxed for someone recently stabbed.
Aries noticed immediately.
"Oh no," he said. "He's smiling."
"That's illegal," Percy added.
Keifer raised an eyebrow. "Miss me?"
"Unfortunately," Aries replied.
Jay dropped onto the arm of a couch. "Alright. Fun's over."
The room quieted.
Her tone changed.
Keifer straightened instantly.
Jay exhaled. "Kaizer's making a move."
That did it.
Everyone leaned in.
"he's going for League leadership," Jay continued. "And he's not doing it quietly. he's collecting support—gangs, mafias, anyone who hates Keifer enough to sell their soul."
Keifer smirked. "I'm popular."
he's also meeting people," Jay added. " so we need to go to acepoint place where we can get connections and proof too we have already find out about his hideouts now we need to make sure how many people are getting involve with him Same bar. Same backroom. Same rotten deals."
Samuel frowned. "That place is crawling with connections."
"Exactly," Jay said. "Which means evidence."
Cin crossed his arms. "But you showing up—"
sheI won't," keifercut in.
Silence.
jay turned to her slowly. "keifer."
"you stay hidden jay," he said calmly. "For now."
She met his eyes. "finee."
The tension snapped tight.
"If they know I'm alive, Kaizer disappears. We can lose his trail. We can lose the proof. so finee"
A beat.
Then—
"I'll go," someone said.
All eyes turned.
Yuri stood near the window, expression unreadable.
"I can get close," he continued. "he trusts me. he thinks I'm still on his side."
Jay studied him carefully.
"You sure?" she asked.
He nodded once. "I owe him nothing."
Keifer's jaw tightened but he said nothing.
Jay finally nodded. "You go back in. We watch. We record. We wait."
Aries cracked his knuckles. "And when we move?"
Jay smiled.
Not soft.
Not kind.
"When he's comfortable," she said. "When he thinks he's won."
Keifer's hand found hers, squeezing once.
Jay glanced at him, smirked. "Try not to punch anyone until then."
He leaned closer. "No promises."
Percy grinned. "So… war planning over?"
Jay looked around the room—at bruised faces, tired eyes, people who should've broken but didn't.
"Not even close," she said. "This is just the quiet part."
Outside, the city moved on—unaware.
Inside, something dangerous was being built.