11:10 A.M. – At Syd Barrett's Home
Everyone had gathered in the living room. The mission had officially begun.
"Betty's got a lot of connections... but tracking down the guy named Candy won't be that hard."
Roxy explained while pulling up a photo of a well-dressed man with slick black hair in a suit. One look, and they all knew: this was the next target.
"This is Candy Candido, former Republican politician from the U.S. He's retired from public office now, but he's currently facing a case with the FBI."
"What kind of case?"
"Tax evasion."
"Classic."
Sera quipped. Roxy gave her a quick smirk, then continued:
"But according to the intel we've collected… tax evasion is the most serious charge the FBI has managed to pin on him. Candy's also been a suspect in human trafficking cases in the Middle East, and he's even been accused of involvement in the assassination of political rivals. But here's the part that matters—his travel records from four to five months ago show he's been flying back and forth between China and the Middle East… a lot. That's where we pick up the trail."
"So he's just another corrupt asshole... but I don't see what he has to do with that woman or the power-boosting drug," Sera muttered.
"…Central Command managed to squeeze one more secret out of Betty," Roxy said, this time directing her words to her brother.
"Before Bett Dormergue was stationed at that nightclub, she'd been operating in the Middle East."
"?!"
"See the connection now?"
"…Oh. That makes sense."
"The last confirmed location of Candy is here in London. The last time he was spotted was at The Sea Life Aquarium."
"!?"
"An aquarium?"
Sera raised an eyebrow—Toshi did the same.
"Why an aquarium?"
"Do I look like Candy to you?" Roxy deadpanned.
"…Oof."
Toshi gave her a sheepish look, clearly wounded.
"Well, do we have a reason why it's the aquarium?" Sera asked—curious but careful.
This time, Roxy answered differently.
"Candy's a shareholder. And remember the tax evasion case? He's losing that one. He's planning to flee to China. I checked—he booked a flight to Shanghai two days ago. It departs tomorrow."
"So we need to get to him before he leaves London."
"Exactly."
Roxy nodded toward Mickey.
"Which means we go in… today."
The next step: team division.
Roxy pulled up a layout of the aquarium.
"Candy's likely to be in the upper floor—an area off-limits to the public."
"We split into three teams. One team stays outside. Two infiltrate. But… Christ, this place is huge."
Syd grimaced at the sheer size of the venue.
"Roxy, you'll be on the outside," he said.
She nodded.
"But this time, the place is crowded—probably packed. Even in the VIP area, there's no way we avoid people."
"That's not all…" Mickey added, crossing his arms.
"This isn't like the nightclub. Sure, the club had a lot of people—but they were just civilians. Here, they might all be armed. This guy's a former Congressman, remember. With a venue this big, we're looking at a minimum of thirty minutes."
"…You've got a point."
Syd mulled it over, gears turning before making a call.
"Then we leave Jody out. Her legs snap after standing for ten minutes, and this kind of space doesn't suit her powers."
"So it'll be the three of us going in, then," Toshi said, then paused.
"…What about Sera?"
"..."
"..."
"She won't be able to do much. Three steps and she's already whining she's tired," Mickey said flatly.
"What did you just say, Mannix?!"
Sera grabbed Mickey's collar and yanked him close, shouting in his face.
"You've been riding my ass since day one! What the hell is your problem with me?! Huh?! Just say it already!! Spit it out!!"
She was truly pissed—veins bulging in her temple.
But Mickey's reply was calm.
"…So you're coming with us?"
"Hell yes I am!"
"…If something happens to you, I'm not helping."
"I can take care of myself just fine, thank you very much, Mannix!"
After the briefing, everyone split up to prepare their gear.
Jody, having been benched from the active team, was assigned to standby support outside with Roxy.
While she was checking over her kit in the living room, her ears picked up the sound of two girls chatting in the kitchen. Curious, she moved closer.
Roxy and Sera.
That was surprising—last she checked, those two barely spoke to each other.
In the kitchen, Sera handed Roxy a small black cosmetic pouch.
"Here. Try these. You said you liked cool tones, right? I packed every shade of blue I had. Just take it."
"…You're seriously giving me this?"
Roxy opened the pouch.
Inside was an entire collection of high-end lipstick and luxury skincare products—all perfectly arranged.
"My house has dozens of these. You're rich too, aren't you? How do you know nothing about this stuff?"
"…I…"
Roxy fumbled, clearly flustered—an expression Jody had never seen on her before.
"Do you just spend your days beating people up or what?"
"Uh… not exactly…"
Sera sighed dramatically.
"Seriously though. How are you not losing your mind surrounded by all those brutes every day?"
"…I got used to it."
"Well, I'm not! I'm losing my mind, Roxy! See this?! Do you see this vein on my forehead?! That wasn't there before I met your gang of psychos! Just Syd alone makes my temple throb. Add Mannix? Boom! Aneurysm incoming! You wouldn't believe what that creepy bastard did to me yesterday! He's a total psycho!"
"What did Mickey do?"
"He totally peeked at me while I was showering, I swear! He knew exactly where I put lotion and everything! I'm begging you—begging!—can't you switch with him and be my bodyguard instead?! Please?!"
"…That's just how he is."
"…Huh? Just how he is?? No! Roxy! Peeping on someone in the shower is not normal! That's voyeurism, for god's sake—!"
"No, I mean… Mickey has a really sharp sense of smell."
"…What?" Sera froze.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Mickey has a really sharp nose," Roxy replied. "He can distinguish scents easily… One time I switched to a new body wash, and he noticed. He could even smell the candy Syd was hiding in his jacket pocket. Back when we were in Thailand, the only reason we survived a gas trap was because Mickey smelled it first."
"…R-Really?"
"You've got it rough, huh…"
"Obviously… Hey, since I gave you those lipsticks, can you talk to the guys for me? Please? Pretty please?"
"…Are you trying to bribe me?"
"Lipsticks and luxury creams. You want 'em or not?"
"…I want them."
Roxy packed up the lipstick set, and the two girls shook hands to seal the deal.
"But seriously… how do you do it? Is there some secret to surviving in a den full of lunatics without losing your mind?"
"You'll get used to it."
"…Nope. Not happening."
Sera shook her head violently.
But Roxy stood by her words.
"I mean it. I think they're just excited, honestly. You and Jody… you're probably the first female friends they've ever had."
"…Excited? More like thrilled they've got fresh victims. Especially that pervy little freak in the glasses…"
"I know you don't like Mickey… and yeah, sometimes he acts weird. Maybe a little like…"
"A pervert? Yes! He totally said something inappropriate to me! He came into my room without permission! And the way he talks—it's like he's straight-up unhinged sometimes! Ew!"
"…That's a little harsh."
"Why is he like this?! I hate him, Roxy! You have to help me!"
"…Well…"
Roxy's face shifted—visibly more serious.
"…Mickey has… some mental issues. Just a little."
That landed deep in Sera's chest.
"…What kind of issues?"
But when she saw Roxy hesitate, Sera didn't press the question.
"..."
The silence lingered—until Roxy's eyes landed on someone watching them.
Jody.
Standing right by the kitchen doorway.
The half-Brit and the American girl locked eyes. A beat later, Sera noticed her too.
"..."
Roxy's expression snapped back to neutral.
She stood, and walked past Jody without a word—heading out the front door.
"..."
Jody didn't watch her go.
She could tell Roxy still wasn't ready to open up to her.
"…When did you two get close?" Jody finally asked.
"…Just recently," Sera replied, quieter now. "…She's actually kinda sweet, you know…"