Present.
European Continent — Country of Le Rose
"Hope, do you copy?"
Mahone's voice came through the earpiece built into Hope's helmet.
"I copy."
Hope tapped the side of his helmet.
"How are things on your end?"
Miles away, Mahone and Edmund were inside another mansion, this time accompanied by Cheryl and Holly. The estate had already been secured. Authorities, militia personnel, forensic teams, and investigators moved through the halls while men in black suits coordinated the operation.
"We've finished apprehending everyone," Mahone replied as he walked through the mansion, watching officers escort suspects into custody. "None of their leaders were here, but we'll begin the interrogations shortly."
He adjusted his earpiece.
"Any luck over there?"
Hope stood inside the mansion's office alongside the forensic team. Framed photographs covered the walls, banners hung from the ceiling, and shelves packed with books lined the room. One drawer after another came up empty as investigators searched every inch of the office for anything worth keeping.
"No."
He closed another drawer.
"The place was already a slaughterhouse by the time we arrived."
His eyes drifted toward the bodies being documented across the room.
"Everyone's dead."
Neither man spoke for a moment.
Mahone finally broke the silence.
"So..."
"Is Nona?"
Nona had been one of their undercover agents embedded within Casa Nostra, operating directly under Giovanni Bambino himself. She was among the organization's finest operatives, and today's coordinated raids had only been possible because of the intelligence she risked her life to provide. Unfortunately, she hadn't been among the survivors.
"Yes," Hope answered without hesitation. "But we're still searching the house. If they left anything behind, we'll find it."
"Understood."
"Keep me updated."
"You too."
The transmission ended.
Mahone slipped the earpiece from his ear as he approached another room.
Inside, Edmund stood with his arms crossed while Cheryl and Holly watched over a man tightly bound to a chair. His face was bruised, his hands restrained behind his back, and his breathing had yet to steady.
It was time to begin the interrogation.
"Alright, you stylist scum," Cheryl said coldly as she looked down at the man tied to the chair. "Tell us where this auction is, and I'll make sure your death is quick."
Holly blinked in disbelief.
"...Don't you think that's a little harsh?"
Mahone stepped into the room and stopped beside Edmund, who still had his arms folded as he watched the prisoner.
"What've you got?" Mahone asked.
Edmund let out a quiet sigh.
"Nothing yet. The guy hasn't budged an inch. He's terrified of saying anything."
"I gave him a little beating already," Cheryl added. "If you're planning on doing the same, save your energy. It didn't get me anywhere."
Mahone nodded.
"I figured as much."
He walked over to the prisoner and crouched until they were eye level.
The man looked up at him with trembling eyes.
"P-Please... I beg you, let me go. I can't tell you anything. I really can't."
Mahone remained calm.
"Relax. If I wanted to hurt you, I would've done it already."
The man stared at him, breathing heavily.
"Let's start with something simple. What's your name?"
"...Raymond."
"Alright, Raymond."
Mahone rested one arm on his knee.
"From where I'm standing, you don't strike me as someone who's eager to die. You seem like a man who's trying to survive."
Raymond said nothing.
"The problem is that staying quiet isn't going to help you. Everyone in this mansion is being taken into custody, and judging by what we've already found, you're looking at a very long prison sentence."
Mahone paused, giving Raymond enough time to process what he had said.
"I'm not asking you to betray anyone for free. Cooperate with us, and we'll make sure the court knows you did. It's the best chance you've got."
Raymond lowered his head.
"I wish it were that simple."
His voice trembled.
"I swear to you... I can't."
Mahone frowned slightly.
"Why?"
Raymond hesitated again before answering.
"It's Mr. Bambino."
Everyone in the room looked at him.
"His ability..."
"...Vendetta."
Mahone's expression didn't change.
"What about it?"
Raymond swallowed.
"Everyone who works under him is marked. If any of us dares to betray him... we die."
Edmund frowned.
"How?"
"It's automatic."
Raymond's breathing became uneven again.
"The moment Mr. Bambino decides we've betrayed him, one of our eyes bursts out of its socket."
He squeezed his eyes shut as though remembering something.
"Nobody survives it."
Silence settled over the room.
Edmund was the first to speak.
"And yet you're still alive."
Raymond nodded weakly.
"Because technically I haven't betrayed him."
He looked directly at Mahone.
"But the moment I tell you where that auction is..."
"...I'll be dead before I finish the sentence."
"But... you just told us about his ability." Holly frowned. "Wouldn't that count as betraying him?"
Raymond shook his head.
"No."
"Vendetta doesn't work like that. It judges intent and decides what counts as betrayal. Simply explaining how his ability works doesn't harm him, so it isn't enough to trigger it."
He lowered his eyes.
"But giving you information that could be used against him..."
"That would."
A thoughtful silence settled over the room.
Holly glanced between Mahone and the others.
"Then we need to be careful. If we push him into saying the wrong thing, he'll die before we learn anything."
"And if Vendetta works the same way on everyone in Casa Nostra," Edmund added, "every interrogation ends the same."
Before anyone could respond, Mahone's earpiece crackled.
"Mahone, do you copy?"
It was Hope.
Mahone touched the side of his ear.
"I'm here."
"I think I've found something."
"Go ahead."
"I found an archive containing every Casa Nostra auction held over the last twenty-one years."
Mahone stopped moving.
"Talk."
"The locations follow a pattern."
Hope's voice remained steady as he read through the records.
"Earth. TaQua. Nitchtron. Luve. Ferryx. Noon. Aequor."
"It repeats in reverse."
"Then shifts again."
He paused.
"If the sequence continues..."
"...this year's auction will be held on Planet Luve. Three months from today."
Mahone glanced at Raymond.
"Can you narrow it down?"
"Not yet. I haven't found the venue."
There was a brief pause before Hope continued.
"I figured I'd tell you immediately in case you've made progress."
Mahone smiled faintly.
"That's enough."
"I can get the rest."
The transmission ended.
Edmund looked over.
"What did he find?"
Mahone didn't answer right away.
Instead, he walked back toward Raymond and crouched in front of him once more.
"Have you ever been to Planet Luve?"
Raymond blinked.
"...Yes."
"What places did you visit?"
The question caught everyone off guard.
Even Raymond looked confused.
"I don't understand."
"You don't have to."
Mahone's tone remained calm.
"Just answer the question."
Raymond hesitated.
Then, little by little, understanding spread across his face.
His breathing became uneven again.
Mahone hadn't asked about the auction.
He hadn't asked about Casa Nostra.
He was asking about Raymond.
Slowly, Raymond answered.
"I've been to Loop City..."
He swallowed.
"...Twilight Country..."
His voice weakened.
"And..."
He shut his eyes.
"...Black Grin Castle Island."
Every eye remained fixed on Raymond.
Nothing happened.
Several seconds passed.
Raymond slowly opened one eye before letting out a long breath.
"I..."
He laughed weakly.
"I'm still alive."
Cheryl looked from Raymond to Mahone.
"...What exactly was that?"
Mahone stood.
"I never asked him where the auction is."
He slipped a cigar from his pocket.
"I only asked where he'd been."
He lit it before he glanced back at Raymond and gave him a small nod.
"Thanks for sharing your travel experiences."
"I'll make sure your cooperation is reflected in the report."
Without another word, Mahone stepped into the hallway and dialed Benson's number.
The call connected almost immediately.
"I've got the location."
A brief pause.
"It's Black Grin Castle Island."
He ended the call.
The first piece of the operation had fallen into place.
Their destination had a name.
Black Grin Castle Island.
[COUNTDOWN]
THREE MONTHS UNTIL THE AUCTION