After her treatment, Jana decided to head to the tavern early to plan for the upcoming auction. It was evening, and the sun cast a golden hue over the landscape. As she was leaving, she spotted a familiar silhouette approaching her bedroom—it was Sir Gareth. Not wanting to meet him today, she didn’t hesitate and slipped out the window, leaving Sir Gareth knocking on her door. After some time, he left, realizing she wasn’t in her room.

  Jana had already informed the timekeepers at the tavern about the auction through her bracelet, and as the timekeepers gathered in the hidden room, they began discussing their plan for infiltrating the auction. Agent Leon leaned over the table, studying the map of the coliseum. "We need to blend in seamlessly. I suggest some of us pose as workers—easy access to the lower levels where the auction will take place."

  Sergei nodded in agreement. "Workers will be able to move freely without drawing too much attention. But we also need a presence among the nobles, to keep an eye on the guests."

  Jana, considering her options, spoke up. "I can pose as a minor noble. Someone with a fortune, but low enough in rank that I’m not well-known. It’ll give me the excuse to be there without attracting too much scrutiny."

  Thomas, the youngest of the group, hesitated before speaking. "I could go as a servant, maybe? I’m not as experienced, so it would be safer for me to stay out of direct attention."

  Jana nodded. "That’s a good idea, Thomas. Servants will have access to the less guarded areas, and you can report back on anything unusual."

  Sergei glanced at Amina. "Amina, you should join us at the auction."

  Amina, however, shook her head firmly, a shadow crossing her face. "I appreciate the offer, Sergei, but it’s not a good idea. These people... they hold ancient prejudices. Someone with my appearance wouldn’t be viewed as a guest, but as merchandise. I’d draw too much unwanted attention and endanger the mission. I’d rather stay here and monitor everything from a distance. It’s safer for everyone if I do."

  The group exchanged glances, understanding the logic in her decision. Just then, Hassan, who had been quietly observing from his usual spot in the corner, leaned forward with a grin. "Well, don’t look at me. I’m not about to play dress-up for this mission."

  Jana almost rolled her eyes at his comment, suppressing a smile. "I didn’t think so," she replied dryly, turning her attention back to the round table. In the center, a holographic display flickered to life, casting a modern, ethereal glow that contrasted sharply with the medieval setting of the room—the stone walls, the rustic wooden beams, and the coarse, era-appropriate clothes they all wore. It was a strange blend of the familiar and the foreign, as if they had managed to bring pieces of home into a remote place in a remote time.

  The display showed the profiles of various candidates currently stationed at the safehouses. The group leaned in, inspecting the options. Elowen pointed to one of the figures. "What about Zack? He’s resourceful and blends in well."

  Leon frowned slightly. "Zack’s good, he would blend too well... he’s a bit of a wild card. The last thing we need is for him to wander off and start his own illegal business in this era. He was hard enough to control in the UTCA, and that was when we had eyes on him 24/7."

  Stolen novel; please report.

  Jana nodded in agreement. "Exactly. We need someone who won’t go rogue the moment we take our eyes off them."

  Her gaze lingered on one of the profiles. "Doctor Azalea," she said thoughtfully.

  Sergei hesitated. "Are we sure about this? Azalea’s great, but she’s not exactly... inconspicuous in a high-stakes situation."

  Jana nodded decisively. " She’s got an incredible medical record. We don’t know what might happen if my brother shows up, or if things go sideways."

  The group exchanged determined looks, the plan was set, and now it was up to them to execute it flawlessly. After their meeting in the hidden room, Jana made her way out to the main area of the tavern. She scanned the room, searching for Jack, but he wasn’t in his usual spot. Concerned, she approached the bar, where Meridia, the barmaid, was tending to the patrons. Her clothes were smudged, and she was busy wiping down the spills of alcohol on the counter.

  Jana leaned in and greeted her, "Meridia, how’s everything going? A cup of water, please!"

  Meridia glanced up, smiling faintly as she recognized Jana. "Boss!! things are as busy as ever. These folks don’t know how to hold their liquor," she said with a chuckle, pouring Jana a glass of water.

  Jana took a sip, then asked casually, "And how are the kids?"

  Meridia sighed, rolling her eyes. "Those rascals are driving me mad. The youngest just won’t stay out of trouble. I swear, if I catch him climbing the neighbor’s tree one more time…"

  Jana smiled sympathetically, then got to the point. "Have you…seen Jack around?"

  Meridia paused, her brow furrowing. "I haven’t seen him in a while. Honestly, I thought you fired him for slacking off lately."

  Jana’s confusion deepened. She hadn’t fired Jack. She had planned to have him accompany her to the auction since he was good at navigating those environments. But now, his absence had become a new problem.

  Her thoughts spun with countless scenarios.. What if this was more than just Jack wandering off for a drunken spree in the woods? It wouldn’t be the first time he woke up in some stranger’s bed without knowing how he got there. But this time, something felt different. The fact he had gone missing sent a chill down her spine.

  Was her business at risk? What if this disappearance was a sign of something more sinister? Jack knew so much about Jana’s operations—he was the only one who could connect her as the Foreseer, the guild owner, and Maid Agnes. Jana couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of a much larger issue, one that could threaten everything she had built.

  The night was heavy with silence as Jana slipped out of the tavern, the cool air clinging to her skin like a familiar yet unwelcome touch. Lanterns flickered, casting eerie shadows that seemed to shift and follow her down the cobblestone path. Each step echoed faintly in the quiet, but her mind was elsewhere, wrapped tightly around Jack’s sudden and troubling disappearance. The pit in her stomach deepened with every thought of what could be unfolding behind the scenes.

  Before she realized it, she was already crouching near the small hole in the fortress wall—a hidden entrance she had used countless times. This dingy gap, nestled in the overgrown palace garden, was where rats and other stray animals scurried unnoticed. Her usual stealth abandoned her as her mind raced, the late hour lulling her into a false sense of security.

  She crouched down and crawled through the tight, dirty space, her fingers brushing against the damp earth as she moved—distracted and careless. Oblivious to her surroundings, she failed to notice the approaching sound, probably drawn by her reckless entrance.

  As her eyes trailed upward, she suddenly found herself inches away from a pair of polished leather shoes. Her breath hitched, heart pounding in her chest. Slowly, her gaze moved higher, revealing a figure looming over her in the darkness, shrouded in silence.

  The figure was tall, with a shadowed face, but she could see the faint glow of a cigarette in hand. The smoke curled lazily in the air, and there was something unsettling about the way this person stood—calm but intense, with a dark, almost heavy presence that made her stomach twist.