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  Septis, 01 Lus 911 Aven

  8:00 PM

  Inside a circular room, smooth benches arranged in arcs surrounded a massive blue screen, itself circular, placed at the center.

  Little by little, the room began to fill with people wearing a variety of outfits.

  The first to enter was someone who looked like a young girl: Aliss. The moment she crossed the threshold, she put on a mask that quickly adhered to her face, giving her the head of a black rabbit marked with the number 1. From that moment on, she would be called First. Her body grew slightly taller, taking on the appearance of a teenage girl around fifteen years old.

  She did not move far. Immediately stepping aside, she sat down on one of the ten seats in the first row, taking the very first place.

  Once seated, others entered through the same door.

  A teenager bearing the number 9 entered next. He would be called Nine, short for his nickname Nine Tails Sword. He wore a short jacket with long sleeves and a fur-lined collar over a tight, sleeveless top, along with black pants folded at the bottom to reveal an orange lining matching the inside of the fabric. A rapier hung at his hip.

  He walked past Aliss—First—and sat down in the fourth row, in the second-to-last seat of the column aligned with hers, carefully adjusting his cat tail as he settled in.

  Just after him came another rabbit, wearing the number 13. Nicknamed Thirteen Shadow, or simply Thirteen, he wore a full ninja outfit adorned with purple trims and held together by a belt of the same color, adding a stylish touch to the ensemble.

  After him appeared number 55, known as Five Fifth. He entered wearing a black leather jacket, a tight gray long-sleeved shirt, black jeans, and polished leather boots. He wore a black gauntlet and dark glasses. Moving toward his seat with a disturbing sense of multiplicity, he casually sat down on the fifth chair of the third row, his feet resting on the table in front of him.

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  Soon after, another boy entered. He bore the number 63 and was nicknamed Sixth Third. A long blood-red coat covered his black pants. He was barefoot. A visible rage inhabited him as he took his place on the second chair of the second row in column six.

  Finally, the last one arrived. Number 3, Third. Nonchalant, almost bored, he took a seat on the second chair of the second row in column one—the same column that began with Aliss.

  Once everyone was seated, Five Fifth was the first to speak:

  “Damn it… what’s the source of all this agitation? Dragging me here for this.”

  Sixth Third replied through clenched teeth:

  “We have a small problem. My sister has been captured. She was the one acting as the transporter. Without her, everything is lost.”

  Five Fifth snapped back, surprised and irritated:

  “How is that even possible? The only explanation is that you’re completely useless.”

  Frustrated, Sixth Third answered:

  “No. There was an unforeseen complication.”

  Unimpressed, Five Fifth asked sharply:

  “And what would that be?”

  Sixth Third continued, more composed:

  “We were confronted by a ranked hero.”

  Five Fifth didn’t believe it and dismissed the explanation immediately:

  “Nonsense. That’s completely—”

  He was cut off before he could finish by a voice from elsewhere, instantly imposing silence:

  “Interesting… truly interesting.”

  When calm returned, the voice spoke again. It was First’s:

  “So they hired a ranked hero. Which one?”

  Sixth Third replied:

  “Third Wonder.”

  First continued:

  “Not very impressive, but… not bad at all. That’s rather interesting.”

  Another voice echoed then—more childlike, softer, like a child’s dream:

  “Isn’t it? You would say so too, I’m sure…”

  It was the speaking rabbit, Oz. He continued, gesturing toward the room around him:

  “Look around you, black rabbit—First. Around you is what we need to take what we have seen and declare it ours.”

  First showed no visible reaction. She observed for a moment, then asked solemnly:

  “What did they ask for after capturing her?”

  Oz tilted his head, a grin crossing his face, then locked his gaze onto First:

  “It’s very simple. They want a meeting with the leader of this new organization that’s been making more and more noise. That’s what he said… but you know the nuances.”

  First remained impassive before replying:

  “They really think they have the right to test us in such a simplistic way… It’s obviously a trap. They gravely underestimate us if they believe they can stop us like this.”

  She clasped her hands on the table, resting her chin on them.

  “No matter. Give me the place and the time. We recover everything immediately.”

  Oz answered without hesitation:

  “They’re not very fair-play, but I forgive them for believing it was that easy. They’ll be transporting everything—the objects and the person—tonight. It will be in Psira, Fecran. So… how about a race against time?”

  Five Fifth replied then, while First and Thirteen remained silent, Sixth Third and Nine showed clear enthusiasm, and Third stayed indifferent:

  “You should’ve asked them whether they can keep up with the pace of a real tortoise like us. I’ll make them pay for the hare’s arrogance.”

  Oz concluded with a wide smile, the number 0 visible on his forehead:

  “Then I’m counting on you to arrive right on time… before the proud one.”

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