The brightly lit room revealed four figures facing each other.
Sahir stood still, watching Samir's stab get blocked by a black-haired boy. His gaze shifted to the veiled woman with blue eyes.
Sahir's eyes widened.
The sound of Samir's wings flapping filled the room.
Samir pulled back his poisoned rapier, lifting his left leg to deliver a straight kick toward Alex's white shield.
Alex steadied himself, channeling mana into his shield.
A light emerged from it.
On its surface, small blades formed, protruding outward toward Samir's incoming kick.
Alex smiled.
Samir's eyes widened, his foot halting mid-motion as hesitation crept in at the sight of the glowing blades.
Alex chuckled.
He pushed forward and drove the bladed shield toward the hesitating Samir.
Fwosh.
The shield lunged forward.
Samir's eyes widened, the sound of his transparent wings growing louder as he flew back to evade.
Fwosh.
Alex's attack struck only air.
One of Alex's eyebrows lifted.
Samir hovered low above the ground.
Alex took out a small stone engraved with a symbol from his smart bracelet.
He infused it with a bit of mana and threw it.
The stone split through the air.
Fwoosh.
Samir ignored it, but as it got closer, it began to glow.
Samir's eyes widened.
In an instant, a small blade flew in and knocked the stone back toward Alex.
Cling.
Alex clicked his tongue.
"Ck…."
The glowing stone flew toward Katarina.
Alex caught it before it could hit her face, and the light faded.
Alex glanced behind Samir.
Sahir was speaking.
"Enough, Samir."
Samir clicked his tongue.
"But, brother…"
Sahir let out a sigh and walked toward Katarina and Alex.
Alex brushed his hair back, while Katarina simply stared.
Sahir, with his upright posture, slightly bowed toward Katarina.
"Forgive my younger brother, Princess…."
Samir's eyes widened upon hearing Sahir's words.
Katarina sighed.
"How did you know?"
Sahir looked at her.
"There are many people with blue eyes…."
He swallowed.
"…but only one possesses the finest blue…"
He exhaled.
"And your eyes are the same as your father's…"
Katarina chuckled and removed her scarf.
Her dark red hair flowed freely.
Sahir smiled.
Meanwhile, Samir approached and lowered his head.
"My apologies… Princess."
Samir glanced at her.
Katarina gave a small nod.
"It's fine…"
Alex let out a heavy sigh and whispered to Katarina.
"If they already know you're a princess, why bother covering your face, damn it?"
Katarina looked at Alex, a faint smile forming.
"For fun?"
Alex's eyebrow twitched.
Katarina turned to Sahir and Samir.
"Can we talk?"
Sahir nodded and gestured for them to sit.
Alex and Katarina sat side by side, while Sahir and Samir sat across from them.
Sahir cleared his throat.
"So… what brings you here, Princess?"
Katarina looked at him.
"I want you to guide us to the Golden Desert…"
Samir massaged his forehead.
"We don't do that, Princess…"
Sahir nodded.
"With all due respect, we still want to live."
Katarina nodded.
Alex rested his head on his hand.
"Is it that dangerous?"
Samir scoffed.
"If it were you, you'd die on the first step."
Alex clicked his tongue.
"And you? You'd die on the second?"
Veins appeared on Samir's forehead, his antenna twitching, but Sahir held him back from getting carried away.
Katarina nudged Alex.
Alex just chuckled softly.
Katarina massaged her forehead.
"You don't have to do anything, just accompany us."
Sahir traced the wooden table with his fingers.
"Have you ever been there?"
Katarina shook her head.
Samir asked,
"What exactly do you plan to do with that cursed flower, Princess?"
Katarina was about to answer, but Alex cut in first.
"That's a secret. Just tell us—are you in or not?"
Sahir tapped the table, his antenna moving slowly.
Alex's gaze focused on it.
Sahir let out a breath.
"We can't, Princess…."
Katarina smiled faintly.
"Have you considered it? Even with the last thing I mentioned?"
Sahir's expression turned serious.
Samir swallowed.
Sahir spoke in a firmer tone.
"How do you know we're searching for the Komodo?"
Alex looked confused and glanced at Katarina.
Katarina brushed her hair.
"From a bird?"
Alex sneered at her answer.
Sahir stared at her seriously.
"We've been searching for it for years… it's very elusive."
Samir nodded in agreement.
"Even when we cornered it, that lizard escaped in an unexpected way…"
Katarina spoke.
"I know where it is, what it's doing right now, and how you can catch it…"
Sahir looked at her in disbelief.
Katarina continued.
"…I can also help you capture it… because there's a perfect moment."
One of Sahir's eyebrows rose.
"What is it?"
Katarina laughed softly.
"Accept my offer, and I'll tell you the details…."
She looked at both of them in turn.
"You don't both have to guide me. One of you is enough…"
Sahir and Samir exchanged glances.
Alex became serious as he watched Katarina, his brows furrowing.
'This princess is acting strange again, right? Krystal?'
Krystal agreed.
'I told you… she's been strange from the start!'
Alex scratched his head.
'Her secret seems as big as ours… especially that bird informant.'
Krystal agreed.
Alex clicked his tongue.
'If only you were as useful as Katarina's bird… I wouldn't have such a hard time.'
Krystal snapped.
'You ungrateful bastard.'
Alex's thoughts were interrupted by Sahir's voice.
"Can we trust you, Princess?"
Katarina smiled faintly.
"Of course…."
She looked at them, still hesitant.
"If I'm lying… I'll have my father personally capture that Komodo."
Sahir and Samir's faces turned pale.
Sahir shook his head.
"No need, no need. We trust you."
Samir nodded in agreement.
Katarina smiled in satisfaction.
Sahir scratched his temple.
"Will you be staying here as well?"
Katarina nodded.
"Of course…"
Samir stood and began walking away.
"Then we should clean the rooms."
Sahir followed.
They both headed upstairs, but Samir stopped and looked at Katarina.
"Can we take your photo while you're here, Princess?"
Katarina raised an eyebrow.
"For what?"
Samir chuckled.
"To attract customers, of course."
He spread his arms.
"I'll write, 'Princess Katarina once stayed here' hahaha!"
His laughter stopped as Sahir dragged him upstairs.
Katarina smiled faintly.
Alex looked at her from the side.
"Hey, Princess…"
Katarina turned.
Alex rested his cheek on his left hand and looked at her.
"You're a princess, right? Can't you just send someone else to get that life-or-death flower?"
Katarina mirrored his pose.
"I am a princess…"
Alex sighed, still looking at her.
"Then send someone else… isn't that place dangerous? Does your father know?"
Katarina chuckled and nodded.
"Maybe? I just said it's a vacation, but some people are following us. Didn't you feel their presence?"
Alex's eyes widened, he swallowed, goosebumps rising.
"Really?.."
Katarina smiled faintly.
"The main goal is actually the beastman capital…."
She chuckled.
"…going to the Golden Desert and finding the flower is just along the way."
Alex sighed.
"If that dangerous place is just a side trip… what about the beastman capital?"
Katarina shrugged.
"I don't know. It's been a while since I went there…"
Alex pressed his cheek against the table, the cool surface touching his skin.
"Can you see the future?"
Katarina's eyes widened, her heart pounding. She looked away and stood up.
"As if something like that exists, idiot."
She walked out.
Alex followed her with his eyes.
"Why is she like that?"
—
The wind carried grains of sand against the building. The dark sky slowly turned pale.
Curtains fluttered slightly in the dim room.
Katarina lay on the bed, her dark red hair spread out.
Her eyes were covered by her arm.
A faint laugh escaped her lips.
"Seeing the future?..."
She clicked her tongue.
"If I could see the future, would he be someone else possessing Alex's body?"
"Doesn't he realize how drastically he's changed?"
She lifted her arm, revealing her glowing blue eyes in the darkness.
Katarina sighed as sunlight slowly filled the room.
Birds chirped outside.
A knock echoed.
Tok tok tok.
"Princess, everyone is waiting."
Katarina answered hoarsely.
"Yes… I'll be there, Reva."
Reva walked downstairs.
Katarina sat up, her hair like a lion's mane, dark circles under her eyes.
"Because of that bastard, I couldn't sleep. Damn it."
She cleaned herself up for a while.
Afterward, she went downstairs.
Alex, Ken, and Reva were already seated.
A fragrant aroma filled the air.
Sahir and Samir were serving food.
Katarina sat beside Reva.
Alex, mid-bite, looked at her with a frown.
"What's wrong with you?"
Katarina stared blankly.
"Nothing."
Ken, concerned, asked,
"Did you not sleep well? Are you uncomfortable, Katarina?"
Katarina sighed and shook her head.
Reva looked closer, her eyes widening in shock.
"Oh my, Princess! How did you end up like this?! Should we postpone the trip?"
Katarina shook her head.
"No. We don't have time."
Alex clicked his tongue, pointing at her with his fork.
"What's with you, Princess? You're the one who dragged us here…."
He looked at her face.
"But you look like this. I told you we should've stayed at a five-star hotel!"
Veins popped on Katarina's forehead, a low growl escaping.
A voice came from behind Alex.
"My apologies if this place made you uncomfortable…"
Everyone turned.
Sahir approached.
Ken glared at Alex and stepped on his foot, making him yelp.
Katarina laughed in satisfaction, then looked at Sahir.
"Have you decided who will guide us?"
Sahir stopped beside the table.
"Yes… Samir will guide you, and I will go there."
Katarina nodded.
"Then let's talk in private. There's something I need to tell you."
Sahir nodded and led her to the back.
He looked at her.
"So?"
Katarina sighed.
"The Komodo is doing something. It's disguised inside the Overmas family mansion…"
Sahir's eyes widened.
"How is that possible? Are they unaware?"
Katarina shook her head.
"The disguise is nearly perfect…"
She crossed her arms.
"I'll get you inside…"
She took out a small pin with a blue flame symbol on a dark red background and handed it to him.
"You know the Overmas family is involved in something, right?"
Sahir nodded.
"Yes…"
Katarina continued.
"The mansion is heavily guarded. Only Julian is there…"
She scratched her head.
"Meet Eveline Jergis first, then follow her when she visits the mansion."
Sahir hesitated.
"Should I disguise myself?"
Katarina thought briefly and nodded.
"Of course…"
She stroked her chin.
"Eve comes every day… you can go with her…"
She looked at him seriously.
"…but don't attack the Komodo yet…."
Sahir looked confused.
Katarina explained.
"…wait until it makes a move. And please…"
Her voice grew heavier.
"…help Julian when he fights it. Then kill the Komodo immediately."
Sahir rubbed his forehead.
"Would it really go that far? How do you know?"
Katarina sighed.
"Just do as I say. Your revenge will be fulfilled."
Sahir's eyes widened, swallowing hard.
Katarina reassured him.
"Just do it, Sahir."
She walked away, leaving him frozen.
Her steps felt lighter.
'We failed to capture the Komodo before…'
'…not knowing its disguise made us react too late.'
She wiped her slightly teary eyes.
'He should be sleep-deprived right now too.'
A smile formed.
'You can endure this, Julian.'
—
Warm sunlight filled the room, landing on the back of a blond young man.
He rubbed his teary blue eyes, dark circles visible.
He leaned back in his chair.
A wooden desk cluttered with papers lay before him.
He sighed, squinting at the light.
'No data at all… how could they change overnight?'
He exhaled.
A memory surfaced.
His eyes widened.
'Right… the old man said they had dinner before the incident…'
He straightened.
'…if it happened after dinner, or through the food…'
His heart raced.
'…that could be the alibi.'
He pressed a button on the desk.
His thoughts drifted.
A knock pulled him back.
"Sir Julian, did you call for me?"
Julian sighed.
"Come in…"
A well-dressed old man entered.
"What is it, sir?"
Julian rubbed his eyes.
"You said you had dinner with Ophi, Darla, and the others the day before they attacked the city, right?"
The old man swallowed.
"Yes…"
Julian stared at him.
"You remember the restaurant, right?"
The old man smiled.
"Of course, sir…"
Julian stood.
"Has Eve arrived?"
"Not yet."
Julian walked toward the door.
"Then I'll wait for her."
He stepped into the hallway.
The old man followed behind.
"May I ask what you plan to do, sir?"
Julian replied without turning.
"You don't need to know. Just tell me the restaurant's name."
Veins appeared on the old man's forehead.
"Very well, sir."
He kept following Julian.
A faint growl escaped him.
'This brat… has he figured something out?'
His nails lengthened.
'If I kill him… it would be easier, right?'
His eyes turned reptilian.