They waited outside the hotel for a few minutes before the man finally stepped out alone. Raphael moved first. With a swift, precise motion, he closed in from behind and pressed a handkerchief soaked in anesthetic over the man's face. The man only had time to gasp before his body went limp, collapsing without a sound.
Ethan quickly called an ambulance, his voice tense yet steady as he reported an unconscious man outside the hotel. It didn't take long before paramedics arrived and carried the man away, none of them suspecting what had truly happened.
Once the man was gone, Raphael, Ethan, Kaivan, and Radit entered Hotel Melati. The old building felt gloomy, its hallway lights dim, its peeling walls and worn-out carpet swallowing the sound of their footsteps. Guided by the room number mentioned in the Omnicent Tome, they advanced with quiet caution.
At the door, Kaivan knocked softly. Tension clung to the air. Footsteps approached from inside. The door creaked open.
A young girl stood behind it, Livia.
"Who are you?" she asked, her voice gentle, her eyes puzzled yet cautious.
Radit stepped forward dramatically. "We're here to save you… from the cruelty of this world!"
Kaivan immediately flicked Radit's forehead. "Stop it. We're not a cult."
But the lighthearted moment vanished when they took a closer look at Livia. The small blonde girl appeared innocent and shy. Her gaze was clear, not fearful, just confused. Like a child lost in a place she didn't understand.
Ethan approached her calmly, crouching a little to meet her eye level. "What are you doing here? This hotel isn't the kind of place someone your age should be hanging around."
Livia smiled innocently, unguarded. "I'm meeting a guy from an app. He said talking here would be safer. Then he went to buy candy at the minimarket."
The four young men exchanged looks, each understanding the danger without needing a word. Ethan's jaw tightened, Kaivan's eyes sharpened, Raphael sighed quietly, and Radit… well, Radit grinned like he was watching a bizarre comedy scene unfold.
Radit smirked and leaned against the wall, folding his hands behind his head. "Candy, huh? Maybe he meant buying 'protection' too."
Livia tilted her head like a child faced with a riddle. "Protection? But this place is already safe."
Radit nearly burst into laughter, but Kaivan stepped in, face serious. Standing beside Ethan, he spoke bluntly, "He means condoms. To… stay safe. Got it?"
Livia stared at Kaivan with the same innocent expression, her head now tilted the other way. "What's a condom?"
Time froze.
No one answered. The only sound came from the old ceiling fan humming above.
Ethan closed his eyes. Raphael looked away. Radit covered his mouth to stop himself from laughing.
But beneath the silence was something heavier. They all understood it now: Livia was too pure. Too untouched by the ugliness they were dealing with. For a moment, the four of them felt like guardians, desperate not to let the world stain her innocence.
Kaivan exhaled slowly and glanced at the others. They all nodded, an unspoken agreement.
Ethan stepped closer, now with a softer smile. "So… where do you want to go after this?"
Livia's face lit up under the warm glow of the setting sun. "Do you guys know a good meatball stall? I really want bakso!"
The four men were speechless, not confused, but charmed. Just like that, the tension dissolved.
Radit laughed, ruffling his own hair. Kaivan shook his head gently. Raphael's lips curved into a faint smile. Ethan patted Livia's head. "Alright. Let's find you some good bakso."
A little later, they sat at a small roadside stall famous for its meatballs. Steam drifted from their bowls, filling the air with the comforting scent of broth.
Livia happily ate her soup, nodding over and over as though she had found a tiny safe world just for herself.
"This is delicious! I've never had bakso this good!" she said with sparkling eyes, scooping another meatball with childlike enthusiasm.
Kaivan watched her from the side, a quiet relief softening his gaze. Seeing Livia enjoy her meal without fear, without danger, let him breathe a little easier.
Across the table, Raphael, Ethan, and Radit chatted lightly, though their eyes wandered back to her every now and then, still watching over her, still protecting that fragile innocence.
"Strange, huh? This time feels easier. No kidnappings, no fighting," Kaivan said, half joking, half relieved.
Raphael lifted an eyebrow. His voice was light. "Better this way. No drama. So… what's next?"
Kaivan opened his bag and took out the Tome Omnicent. His fingers brushed each page as if touching a living history. But before he could focus, Livia's sweet voice chimed again.
"Kaak, can I order more? Livia's still hungry," she said innocently, cheeks puffed like a child begging for extra candy.
Kaivan let out a small laugh. "Go ahead, Liv. I'm full."