Vana's POV   I groaned, feeling drowsy and sluggish as I blink my eyes open. Where am I? What the hell happened? Flashbacks flooded in my mind as I recollect the last thin that happened before I lost consciousness, snapping as I tried to stand up.   Snapping didn’t work at all, though, as I realized that my body is tied up on a chair, with my arms strapped behind the chair and my legs tied on the chair’s legs. My head slumped forward and back, recoiling from my attempt.   Damn it, the last thing I remember is Chairman Zerondale catching us and knocking us out in Detective Clorence’s office. Panic rumbled inside me as I gaze at my surroundings, trying to figure out where we are and how to escape.   My eyes landed at Jerome, who is also tied on a chair across from me. He’s still unconscious, his head lowered. I tilted my head as far away as I could, searching for anything I can use to

Vana's POV   “Yes, all those murders you solved. All of it was orchestrated by me.”   “What?” I mumbled with a cracking voice. Did he just say that he orchestrated all the missions we’ve been. “What does that mean?”   “First off, I initiated the terrorist attack on the ship to keep the public and the Special Unit distracted as I steal the Dragon Egg from the museum,” the Chairman explained.   “You bribed Reynolds McValeri.”   “I persuaded Reynolds McValeri and Clashing Seasons to start a terrorist attack, while I stea the Dragon Egg from the National Museum of Ashern,” he corrected. “I didn’t bribe him.”   “And what about our missions?” I asked, pulling myself forward.   “Duke Castiel’s death and the Cindre sisters’ death are necessary for my plans; to shake the kingdom’s pillars and slowly make my way up the ranks,” Chai

Vana's POV   My consciousness is drowsy when I woke up, vision blur as I adjust to the new place we’ve been relocated in. metal bars lined on my left and a wall against my right. The smell of rotten food and sewage water tickled my nose, the dim surrounding not helping clear my vision.   A prison cell; a dungeon. The walls were made of cobblestone, growing with moss and dirt. The dimlight in the dark cave coming from a few torches scattered around the dungeon. I adjusted my eyes on the surrounding, scrunching my eyes.   I grunted my hands that are now in front of me, cuffed up on a long chain against the wall. It clang with a loud metal noise, echoing in the empty place like a deafening shriek. So, now we’re locked up until tomorrow.   I groaned as my head ached for a moment. Flashbacks of the earlier events came flickering in my head, reminding me of the physical torment Jerome suff

Jerome's POV   “No, please, stop!” I heard Vana’s scream, turning around to find her down on her knees with her magic brewing above us.   The man who beat me up and nearly tortured us with a knife stood in front of Vana, watching her with a wide, psychotic smile in his lips. My eyes landed back to Vana, baffled at what’s happening. Vana looks as if she’s in pain, a dreadful look painted on her face.   I was caught off guard as one of Chairman Zerondale’s goons ambushed me from behind. He managed to throw a fist at me, only to be thrown to the ground by my magic. His fist was inches away from me, and with a quick flick of my fingers and a command in my magic, he was sent flying to the ground.   I returned my attention to Vana as I make sure there are no more goons around. I gritted my teeth, enraged as I saw the psychotic man take a few steps away from Vana. He still has the same misc