[The Next Day]
Kevin sat slouched in his unmarked car, eyes fixed on the glowing arcade entrance across the street.
The neon light reflected against his windshield, buzzing faintly like some eternal reminder that he was wasting yet another day staring at a young man who, by all appearances, was perfectly ordinary.
Luke entered the arcade like clockwork.
Every other day, same rhythm, same pace, same casual slouch of his hoodie over his head. He'd swipe his membership card, vanish into the VR chamber, and stay there for hours before emerging, tired but calm, then heading home.
At first, Kevin thought the arcade was a cover—some kind of safehouse for the Nine Headed Dragon Alliance, or maybe a discreet laundering front.
