[Italy, Mn - Navigli District]


    "...Even in spring, it''s still cold." I shivered, pulling my jacket tighter against the breezy winds. I had just taken an Uber from the mercenary base to the Navigli District.


    The beautiful view of the flowing river brought back memories of my time studying in Italy while aspiring to be an author.


    I had read a lot about the history of this area. These canals, built in the 12th century, were once the lifeblood of Mn''s trade, connecting the city to major rivers andkes.


    Leonardo da Vinci himself supposedly had a hand in designing some of the canal systems.


    It was hard to imagine that now, with the trendy bars and restaurants lining the waterfront. The history remained, but the ce had certainly evolved.


    As I walked down the canal, I spotted Jan and Cam sharing a hot drink at a cafe.


    "Jaaan, can''t we have another before we meet up with everyone else?" Cam clung to Jan''s arm.


    "You know we can''t, Cami. You promised we''d head there after this." He tried to pull away, but she wouldn''t budge.


    This wasn''t the time for their new-couple antics. They were blocking the pathway to the cafe where we were supposed to meet.


    "Are you two done?" I intervened trying to hold in my smirk.


    "AH!"


    Both Cam and Jan jumped apart in surprise.


    It was clear they hadn''t wanted me to discover their rtionship. How typical.


    Cam was flooding red, and Jan looked like a deer caught in headlights.


    "Rel, it''s you!" Jan stammered, clearly searching for an excuse. I simply raised an eyebrow, waiting for an exnation.


    "Yeah, I know. I am me."


    "Well, what are you doing here? Everyone''s on the other side."


    "This pathway is shorter and less cramped, the bridge is also just a few meters ahead."


    "I see—"


    GRAB!


    "Sorry, Rel! I just got a call that we need to head there now, Please forget everything you saw!" Cam still red-faced, grabbed Jan and took off.


    Heh serves them right.


    Suckers...


    **


    [Italy, Mn - Navigli District - Viavagano Cafe]


    "Oh, Cam, there you are! Everyone''s arriving soon,"


    Lyra said, taking a seat across from her friend.


    "Really? Well, the day is long, so let''s order something, right?"


    Lyra and Cam settled in at the table Lan had reserved for their club''s breakfast meeting.


    "So, I thought Jan was with you. Where did he go?"


    Cam''s ears turned crimson, and she quickly covered them with her hands.


    "Ehem... Jan went to the toilet. He''ll be here soon."


    "Oh, okay, that''s good!"


    Lyra smiled, and Cam couldn''t help but feel her cheeks flush at her friend''s warmth.


    "ACK!" Lyra yelped."Hey... what was that for?" She rubbed her cheeks and pouted.


    "Nothing,"


    As the two waited for the rest of the group, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the sweet scent of pastries.


    Despite the early hours, the cafe bustled with activity. It was known for its quick reservation turnover, but Lan had secured a table overlooking the canal for his prized club members.


    Lyra fidgeted, scanning the cafe for familiar faces. She couldn''t wait to enjoy her weekday trip with her friends.


    Cam patiently sipped her hot chocte, still recalling the events of earlier from Rel''s encounter earlier.


    Then, amotion arose as whispers rippled through the cafe.


    "Oi, waiter! Where''s the food? I''m starving!"


    Three men dressed in ck, thuggish clothing appeared at the entrance, the symbol "M-H" emzoned on their jackets.


    Their leader marched towards the counter and mmed his fist down.


    "Hey! We''re waiting for a table, and we''re not waiting much longer."


    The waiter, a young man with a nervous tremor in his voice, stuttered, "I-I''m sorry, sirs, but there are no avable tables at the moment."


    "No tables?" the leader scoffed.


    "Then make one avable." He nced around the cafe and his eyes settled on their table.


    "That one will do."


    He pointed towards Cam and Lyra''s table, which had at least nine empty seats.


    Then his two otherckeys looked at each other with a mischievous smile and headed over.


    "Hey, what are you doing? give us this table," one growled.


    "...?"


    Cam froze, shocked at being confronted by these men.


    "Robert, with all these seats, they can sit with us," the other thug suggested, and his partner agreed.


    But Lyra wasn''t about to have their table taken. She stood up to face them.


    "Hey! We''ve got peopleing! It''s reserved!" she said confidently.


    "Pffft... Haha!" The thugs bursted outughing.


    "Reserved?" one sneered. "We don''t care about no reservations. We''re here, and we want this table. Now scram."


    "You think we''re just gonna listen to you because you said so? Well, we''re not!"


    "You heard her," Cam added. "This table is reserved. Find another one."


    The menughed again and inched closer to Lyra, trying to iste her.


    "And what are you gonna do about it, little girl?"


    As Cam sensed Lyra was about to be grabbed, Cam extended her hand, ready to cast a spell.


    But before she could, a waiter rushed over, halting the thugs.


    "Please,dies, don''t cause any trouble," he pleaded.


    "These men... they''re not worth it. We can get you another table."


    Relieved, Cam sighed. If they could get another table, it probably wasn''t worth the fight.


    "Lyra, let''s just go. It''s not worth it."


    Lyra hesitated because she knew getting another table in a full cafe meant waiting.


    She turned around, and the leader grinned cruelly.


    "Yeah, listen to your friend," he mocked. "Run along and y nice. This is our table now."


    "You... you think you can just walk in here and take what you want?" She turned to give him onest look before moving out of the way.


    The man''s grin widened. "That''s exactly what we''re doing."


    That was until then her patience finally snapped.


    "Have what you want, you disgusting pig!"


    "What did you say to me?"


    He raised his hand, and Lyra realised she was going to get hit.


    She raised her arms to block. But it nevernded.


    DUN!


    "You bastards... what do you think you''re doing?"


    A figure appeared out of thin air, blocking the thug''s path.


    Lyra''s eyes widened as she lowered her guard.


    She didn''t recognise who this person was at all.


    All she could see was the back of him and his short ck hair.


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