"To enter the ballroom, we need a special invitation," Ethan murmured, his eyes sweeping the room.
Kaivan frowned. "We don't have one. And I don't have the Tome. If I keep calling, they might get suspicious."
Livia leaned closer. "I think we can sneak in. As long as the guards aren't watching."
Ethan suddenly narrowed his eyes at a corner of the room. "Cause a little distraction… just for a moment," he muttered. His gaze fixed on a young man. "Kaivan, look. You remember him?"
Kaivan followed Ethan's line of sight, his expression tightening. "Darius… gang leader from Cimahi. He once tried to sue me."
Felicia immediately tensed. "Which one? Let me beat him up, "
Ethan held her back. "Not now." Then he looked at Zinnia, Livia, and Felicia in turn. With a half-joking seriousness, he asked, "Among you three… who's the best at flirting?"
The girls exchanged looks. A hush settled between them.
Felicia took a breath. "Zinnia… you once pretended to be under Omnidream's influence, right?"
Zinnia jolted, her cheeks flushing crimson. "N-No! I don't want to. I've never even been close to boys my age," she whispered, her voice trembling. Old memories brushed the edge of her mind, too close, too sharp.
Felicia watched her with soft sympathy. Livia, who had been quiet all this time, murmured gently, "Then… let me do it."
Kaivan shook his head immediately. "No, Liv. It's too dangerous for you. Especially after what happened yesterday. Someone still has to protect you."
His gaze shifted to Felicia. "But the Tome Omnicent mentioned you and Zinnia. Start first, Fel. Zinnia will hold my weapon. If something goes wrong, you can move fast. Take his invitation, then act embarrassed or upset if he notices. Can you do that?"
Felicia hesitated, then slowly nodded. "Alright."
She stepped forward with calm confidence, taking a glass from a passing waiter before approaching their target, Darius, a ghost from Kaivan's past. Her eyes were soft yet alluring, her smile subtle and deliberate.
"Haven't seen you around before," Darius greeted.
Felicia smiled gently. "It's my first time here."
"Where do your parents work?" Darius asked, his gaze narrowing with curiosity.
Felicia answered smoothly, "The immigration office," sneaking a glance toward Kaivan now and then. The conversation flowed without a hitch, and from afar, her teammates watched in quiet anticipation. So far, the plan was holding.
Meanwhile, Kaivan whispered to the others, "We still need one more invitation. But who has it?"
Ethan scanned the room. "Hard to say. Everyone here looks important. There's no way to guess."
Just then, a small commotion broke out in the corner of the lobby. A group of guests began arguing loudly, drawing attention. Kaivan seized the opportunity in an instant.
"Zinnia," he said, gentle yet firm. "Bump into the man walking toward the guards. Fall, then pretend your invitation slipped away. Ask for help."
Zinnia froze, doubt clouding her eyes. "And if it doesn't work?" Her voice trembled faintly.
Kaivan offered her a calm smile. "Felicia will distract them. I'll back you up too. It's just a matter of timing. While the guards are thrown off, Livia and Ethan can slip inside."
The ballroom that night shimmered like a painting of living luxury. Crystal lights hung from the high ceiling, scattering glimmers over cold white marble. Guests moved with elegant ease, glasses catching the glow. Yet beneath the beauty, every corner hid danger, for Kaivan and his team.
They gathered in the shadows of the hall, whispering through the final details of the plan. There was no space left for hesitation. Though still uneasy, Zinnia drew a deep breath and finally nodded. She stepped forward, lightly, but with a quiet resolve, heading toward the ballroom guards.
Her frame was delicate, her steps naturally graceful. She didn't need to act much; a soft glance, a brush of her hair, the subtle way she carried herself, Zinnia knew how to draw eyes. The guards turned toward her, just as planned.
At the same time, Kaivan approached the man involved in the earlier quarrel. "What happened, sir? Is everything alright?" he asked gently, fanning the spark.
"That man spilled something on my shoes!" the guest snapped.
Kaivan replied in a low, coaxing tone, "People like him should apologize properly, and clean your shoes while he's at it. Someone of your standing shouldn't be treated like that."
The man's anger flared. He stormed off toward the culprit, fury boiling over. And Kaivan knew: this would draw every eye.
And it did, within seconds, the tension erupted. Onlookers turned their heads. Some whispered, others stepped closer. Even the guards split their focus.
That was the moment.
Zinnia moved. She walked forward, then deliberately bumped into a passing man. "Ouch!" she cried softly, collapsing with a dramatic grace impossible to ignore. Her position was just vulnerable enough to startle the guards, who hurried toward her at once.
The argument Kaivan fueled grew hotter. Two men shoved each other, attracting even more attention. A few guests tried to intervene, while others simply watched with gleaming curiosity.