Syd was absolutely sulking.
He walked off right after finishing his gym session, leaving Mickey to chase after him—even if Syd snapped at him along the way.
Meanwhile, in the mess hall, only Jody, Roxxy, and Sera were present.
Sera sat in front of her meal, thoroughly unenthused.
Boiled chicken breast and steamed veggies? Gross.
Jody hadn't forced her. She'd merely pointed out low-calorie options that allowed you to eat more without breaking your limit. The decision was all Sera's. But ironically, being given that freedom only made her overthink more—and reluctantly, she complied.
"By the way…"
Jody stabbed a piece of chicken and popped it in her mouth.
"Your mom—Annie—she's fifty-seven this year, right?"
"Someone did her homework."
"Well, we're talking about a major figure here… I had to dig a little. But there's barely anything out there."
If you searched online, you'd get about half an A4 page—something you could finish in under 20 seconds.
"Mom's the stay-at-home type. She barely goes out. Honestly, both she and Syd are like that…"
"And you?"
"I stick with Syd."
Sera: "So same difference."
"When is your mom arriving?"
Jody asked.
"…You're asking me? I have no idea. Big shots like her have their own schedules. She's probably on her way now… but if it's Mom specifically, she'll be here in less than two days, max. She's probably just clearing her calendar right now."
"Yeah… someone at her level isn't exactly going to walk out of her office on a whim."
Sera nodded in understanding. But still—less than two days? That was fast.
Roxxy pulled out her phone.
"Or she could show up right now. It's happened before—she once called saying she'd arrive tomorrow, and ten minutes after hanging up, she was knocking at the door. No one ever guesses her timing right… Anyway, here—maybe you've seen her photos online, but they don't really reflect what she's like now. This is what she actually looks like."
She scrolled to a photo in her gallery—
A woman standing in front of a temple-like structure.
This was the woman Mickey once called the most influential person in his life.
The woman Toshi revered as a role model who gave him a second chance.
The only person in the organization who could make Syd Barrett behave.
This was Anong Wongphudi—better known as Annie Barrett.
Sera was stunned by the sheer grace and power radiating from the photo. It was hard to believe this woman was nearly sixty.
Even from just a picture, you could tell—she was the quiet, calculating type. Sharp, no-nonsense, and brilliant.
"She looks so different from the photos online…"
Jody said.
"She changed her image. And most of the online pics are super old—like from '94, '95. They don't get updated much."
"No way… she's really pushing 60?"
"It's possible…"
Jody added, glancing at both of them.
"Agent Autumn at the airport was the same. Martial artists tend to look way younger than their actual age."
"Exactly… That's why I wanted you two to get familiar with her face. She's been keeping an eye on you, Jody."
Just hearing that made Jody sweat a little. The pressure was setting in.
Who else was watching her? What were they planning? She didn't know…
But one look at her expression, and Roxxy already understood—
It's normal to fear the unknown.
"What's she like?" Jody asked. "Your mom, I mean."
"She's kind of like Mickey."
No surprise there. No wonder Mickey looked up to her.
Wait—like Mannix??
Sera nervously chewed a piece of veggie. Yeah… she was definitely someone hard to approach.
Meanwhile, across the facility—
Jade was sitting with none other than Syd Barrett, freshly back from the gym.
Why was he here?
His sister had made a requisition for a new device, and he was stuck picking it up.
"She's getting bolder, that one…"
Syd muttered, throwing his feet up on the table.
"What do you mean?"
"You wanna know what I mean?"
He dropped his feet with a thud.
"That damn purse dog and Gayboy McGee—both of them got big mouths. Now everyone knows my nickname."
"Oh? They found out?"
"They wouldn't have if no one talked…"
"Why? You think they're not close enough to know your nickname?"
"That's… part of it."
Syd slumped in the chair.
"Now that gimp's gonna fist-bump me every damn day. Screw this…"
"Call it… poetic justice?"
"Poetic my ass."
"What Jody did to you is basically the same as what you did to Agent Denji."
"It's not the same."
"Oh? How so?"
"Knight's one thing. This one's… completely different."
"I'd say they're the same."
"…God, f**k you."
"Swearing doesn't suit you, Gift."
"…What?"
"You take after your mom a lot, you know. If you just managed your charm a little, you'd be ridiculously popular."
"Yeah, and then get gold-diggers all over me, or die of AIDS in some alley? Nah, I'm good."
Syd looked away.
"I've got better things to do than drop my pants for people. They're all selfish anyway. Just chasing their own happiness."
"So what is your type, then?"
"…Huh? Uh… well…"
He rested his chin on his hand, then asked Jade:
"What do you think?"
Jade smiled knowingly.
"I'm guessing it's not the sweet, innocent, wide-eyed type?"
"That… is correct!"
Syd smacked the table. Spot on.
"That crap? Get the fuck outta here. I like girls who could dropkick me."
"Sounds like a rare breed."
"A diamond belongs to a queen, not a maid."
"God, your ego's massive. No wonder you're single."
"Eh—"
He almost fell out of his chair.
"Try me."
"I'll report you to your mom."
"Why you gotta be like that, snitch."
No, Gift.
You've got it all wrong.
You're not some diamond waiting to be claimed—
You're a beast waiting for someone who knows how to raise you right.
"Oh—here. The new device for your sister."
Jade handed over a gadget that looked like a slimmed-down tablet.
"Wow, look at this! Amazing!"
Syd took it.
"Wait, not a laptop?"
"It's the latest model. Approved by development."
"Wow. Amazing."
Vrrr—Vrrr!
Syd's phone buzzed.
"…Who's calling—oh."
It's her.
"Speak of the devil…"
"Who is it?"
"My aunt."
"…What?"
Beep.
It was a private call. Jade only heard Syd's side in Thai.
"Hello? Yeah, what is it?"
"...…"
"No, I don't want to—come on—ugh…"
Jade saw him rubbing his forehead.
"Fine. Do whatever you want. What time you getting here?"
"...…."
"Liar. I don't believe you."
"...…."
"Whatever. Just don't come crying to me if you can't afford the cab back."
"...…."
"...…"
"No."
"...…."
"I said no!"
"...…"
"Ugh…"
"Big baby talking about how much he loves his mom… pathetic…"
"...…"
"...…"
Syd sighed.
"…Love you, mom. Dickhead."
Click.
He hung up immediately, scowling.
"…Forced to say that?"
"She made me do it in English once she realized you were here."
Syd pocketed his phone.
"She's in Korea. Clearing up her final tasks. Supposed to arrive tomorrow evening… maybe. Who knows. She's unpredictable."
"One more day to mentally prepare then?"
"Maybe. Knowing her, she could be here in ten minutes. Remember that time she said she'd come in two days? Called—then showed up ten minutes later. Jesus…"
"Well, she said her meeting was cancelled, right?"
"Excuse, that's all it was!"
Time passed.
As evening fell, everyone settled into their personal downtime. It was one of those rare, fully free days—everyone had a moment to breathe.
Jody Johansson and Sera Gilmore had grown familiar enough with the facility's layout.
They sat in a garden-themed dome, surrounded by greenery.
Sera sipped matcha, legs crossed on a bench, and glanced at Jody.
"So. You and Roxy… all good now?"
"…Yeah. We're good. She's a good kid… I'd love a little sister like her."
They clinked cups.
But Sera sensed something still lingering on Jody's mind.
"Something else bothering you?"
"Huh? No, nothing."
"Liar. Spill."
"…I'm nervous about the meeting."
"Ah."
"And…"
Jody's eyes drifted toward nothing in particular. Her focus sharpened.
"You remember when Jade said that someday… this symbol—"
She summoned her wind vortex emblem.
"…will evolve into a triangle?"
"Yeah, that was wild. If it wasn't Jade saying it, even an Oxford PhD couldn't convince me."
"It's unbelievable…"
"…But?"
"There's something else."
"What?"
"You remember when I summoned it for fun? Not beside me, but near my feet?"
"Yeah, I saw."
"Well, when I did it… I glanced at Syd. Just for a second. And I saw him glance down at it—before quickly looking away."
"…Huh? You sure?"
"You didn't notice, did you?"
"…Jody, I think you're overthinking. That guy looks everywhere. He never sits still."
"..."
"Think logically. If he did have powers, why the hell wouldn't he use them in a crisis? Explain that."
"..."
"Plus, what does lying get him? Remember day one? When y'all ganged up on me in the cathedral?"
"…Still…"
"Jody, your gut might be onto something. But even if he is involved, there's no use obsessing over it."
"Yeah… you're right."
Jody finished her tea and stood.
"I'll head out first."
"Cool. I'll stroll around a bit."
When talking about "Strolling around" what Seraphina Gilmour literally meant was .. She'll go fuck around on the outside for a while.
It was the Russian nightclub, not far from the secret underground base.
She had aimed for that since day 1 of her visit. Heard the agents talking about it. And she'd love to go there to entertain herself after all the stress she had.
Without knowing, that event will change her relationship with someone... forever