The room remained silent.
Ryan was reviewing several files related to Nexum when one of the black coins resting on his desk began to emit a faint purple glow.
He looked up.
—About time.
He picked up the coin between his fingers.
Then placed it on top of a blank sheet of paper.
A moment later...
Lines of ink slowly began to appear across the page.
As if an invisible hand were writing.
Ryan watched in silence until the message was complete.
---
Report
Justin and Jack continue to be extremely friendly.
They did not display any aggressive behavior during the second date.
However, they continue to avoid answering personal questions.
Whenever we tried to obtain important information, they gave incomplete answers before naturally changing the subject.
They never seemed to improvise.
It felt as though they already had those answers prepared.
Justin is more sociable.
Jack is far more observant.
On several occasions, we felt that he was analyzing our reactions while we spoke.
During our walk through the park, we were also unable to discover anything significant.
By the end of the date, both of them still appeared completely normal.
However, we have the impression that they suspect we are trying to learn more about them.
We have no proof.
Only a feeling.
That concludes our report for now.
—Vivian, Brittany, Ana, and Madeleine
---
Ryan finished reading.
He remained silent for a few seconds.
Then leaned back in his chair.
—Good work...
It was a short report.
But a very useful one.
He hadn't expected any major discoveries after only two dates.
The small details were what mattered.
He picked up a pen.
Then began writing several notes beside the report.
Conclusions.
One.
Justin and Jack possess exceptional emotional control.
They never respond impulsively.
Two.
They deliberately avoid revealing personal information.
That confirms they either have training...
Or a very important reason to conceal their past.
Three.
Jack appears to be the more observant of the two.
He is probably the more dangerous one.
Ryan paused.
He gently tapped the desk with the pen.
There was another point.
One he couldn't ignore.
—They suspect the girls...
It wasn't a certainty.
Only a possibility.
But it was enough to alter the plan.
If they had truly begun to grow suspicious...
Continuing to send Vivian and Brittany on more dates would only increase that suspicion.
Ryan closed his eyes for a few seconds.
He considered every possibility.
Finally, he reached a decision.
—There will only be one more date.
The last one.
He had already gathered almost everything this approach could provide.
It was time to change the rules of the game.
Ryan looked back at the report.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
—Not bad...
For a group of students with no experience.
Just a few days ago...
None of the four of them knew the first thing about investigating someone.
Now they were writing reports that were clear.
Precise.
And useful.
They still had a great deal to learn.
But they were heading in the right direction.
He picked up a fresh sheet of paper.
Then began writing his reply.
---
Ryan set the pen down on the desk.
He placed the coin on top of the letter.
The rune engraved into its surface glowed softly.
A moment later...
The sheet disappeared.
Ryan let out a quiet sigh.
—Perfect.
The communication system was working exactly as he had envisioned.
And for the first time since he had started that improvised organization...
He felt that he was no longer the only one moving the pieces on the board.
---
Meanwhile...
In Vivian's living room...
The four girls continued chatting around the table.
Their black coins rested in front of each of them.
Then...
Knock.
Knock.
Something lightly tapped against the window.
Vivian smiled in resignation.
—Again...
She stood up and opened the window.
A bird-shaped balloon slowly floated inside.
Attached beneath it was a small black envelope.
And a wooden box.
The balloon drifted gently toward the center of the room.
Vivian untied the envelope.
—Another message from the Clown.
The four girls gathered around her.
Vivian began reading aloud.
---
My Dear Employees:
I have received your report.
Good work.
You obtained exactly the kind of information I needed.
After analyzing everything that has happened...
I have made a decision.
Justin and Jack already suspect that someone is trying to learn more about them.
If we continue using the same method...
We will only increase their level of suspicion.
Therefore...
You will have only one more date with them.
It will be the last.
After that, I will completely change my strategy.
I've already obtained everything I could from this approach.
It's time to change the rules of the game.
Inside the box, you'll find your payment.
Along with a small bonus.
Keep up the good work.
—The Clown
---
For several seconds...
No one spoke.
Madeleine slowly opened the box.
All four girls froze.
Inside were four neatly arranged envelopes.
Each one had a name written on it.
Vivian.
Brittany.
Ana.
Madeleine.
Brittany opened hers first.
Her eyes widened.
—What...?
Ana opened hers as well.
—No way...
Madeleine quickly did the math.
—This...
—It's twenty thousand dollars...
Vivian looked up.
—Twenty thousand?
All four looked back into the box.
There was another small folded note inside.
Vivian opened it.
---
You're probably wondering why there's so much money.
The answer is simple.
Brittany...
Do you remember Loren and his organization?
Well...
Let's just say that money has a new owner now.
So don't worry.
I'm not exactly short on funds.
And yes...
I still remember the day you tried to play the hero.
You almost ended up becoming Loren's brother's victim.
Gabriel.
If my memory serves me correctly...
That was his name.
Fortunately...
I arrived first.
See you soon.
—The Clown
---
Silence once again filled the room.
Brittany slowly lowered the letter.
Those words had awakened a memory she would rather forget.
That day.
Gabriel.
And how everything would have ended...
If the Clown hadn't appeared.
Madeleine was the first to break the silence.
—So...
He really wiped out that entire organization?
Ana looked at the money spread across the table.
—I guess he did...
Vivian carefully folded both letters.
—That explains how he can afford to pay us this much.
Brittany remained quiet for a few seconds.
Then she let out a long sigh.
—I guess I can finally believe him when he says money isn't a problem.
The four girls exchanged glances.
The next date would be the last.
And somehow...
All of them had the feeling that after it was over...
Things would stop being a simple game.