Juniper: [Second, I want that piece of rare red sandalwood in the left drawer of yourb.]


    A heavy silence followed her message.


    Shanley knew the wood she was talking about. It was said to be centuries old, blessed by multiple masters, and worth several Rolls-Royces. The old man treasured it like his own eyes. His grandfather had once merely touched it, and the man had given him the silent treatment for a month.


    Juniper: [No deal? Then forget about me training your student.]


    Baldy Fox: [Please, ask for something else! Anything but that!]


    Juniper: [No.]


    Another silence. After a few seconds, Juniper typed again.


    Juniper: [Fine, I''ll trade you that reagent you''ve been eyeing.]


    Baldy Fox: [Two vials! I want two vials!!!]


    Juniper: [?]


    Baldy Fox: [Okay, okay, one vial it is. But my dear, what do you need my sandalwood for?]


    Juniper nced at Shanley''s wrist. A hand that handsome would look even better adorned with a string of beads carved from that very wood.


    Juniper: [None of your business.]


    Baldy Fox: [Alright then. I''ll leave my student in your hands.]


    Juniper didn''t reply, instead opening her chat with Harold.


    [Be at theb in the suburbs tomorrow at 6 PM.]


    She needed to see what he was made of. She had no time to waste on someone with a slow mind.


    Harold: [Understood.]


    "Tomorrow afternoon?" Shanley pursed his lips, cing a peeled grape by her mouth. "What a coincidence don''t have any work tomorrow afternoon. How about i go with you?"


    “Such a coincidence?" Juniper popped the grape into her mouth, a knowing smile ying on her lips.


    Just then, a knock came at the door,


    and Dana''s voice followed. "Sir,


    Felton just called to remind you. about the important meeting tomorrow afternoon He said not to forget."


    The entire room fell silent.


    ...


    The next day, after school, Juniper had to fight her way through a crowd of admirers. To show their gratitude for the autographed


    photos, her ssmates had Stuffed her backpack full of snacks.


    Shanley was already waiting by the school gate. "Tired?" he asked, stepping forward as she emerged.


    "I''m fine." Juniper slid into the car and sat next to him, immediately pulling out her phone to check her group chat. The chat included her, Jimmie, Melvin, and now Shanley.


    The team at Binary Oracle was also searching, but so far, there was no news of their other lost brother. If even she couldn''t find him, was he still alive?


    Jimmie: [I have a vague memory that one of our brothers has a scar near his heart. He got it saving Juniper.]


    Melvin: [Just checked. Not me.]


    The scar was in a ce that wouldn''t normally be visible. Just when they thought they had a solid lead, it went cold.


    Juniper: [Saving me?]


    Jimmie: [Yeah. You were climbing something high, you slipped and fell. He shielded you, and a branch scraped him. It was a close call, almost pierced his heart.]


    A heart injury? And a scar?


    Juniper exited the group chat and opened her direct messages with Lue.


    Juniper: [You have a collection of ab photos of handsome men from all over the world, right?]


    Lue replied, panicked and defensive: [Don''t you dare nder me! The whole world? It''s not that many... just... a few tens of thousands...]