It was a tense moment.

While it wasn’t the kind of situation that would spiral into chaos, everything we’d worked toward could dissolve in an instant. All I could do now was wait for the results.

The pretty elf receptionist at the desk finally spoke in her smooth, melodic voice after confirming something on her computer.

“...Identity confirmed. Raven, Alice, and Lily. The banquet hall for external guests is one floor up via the elevator.”

It worked?

Alice and I locked eyes, sharing a silent but giddy laugh. We quickly hurried toward the elevator under Raven’s urging.

Somehow, an undocumented stray like me had managed to slip into a corporate event hosted by one of the biggest companies in the city.

It was all thanks to a simple trick: borrowing Alice’s older sister Lily’s identity for the night.

It wasn’t as difficult as it sounded. The Nemesis Corporation’s event was more relaxed than most, so the security checks weren’t overly strict. And since I was wearing a mask, it was impossible to tell I wasn’t who the credentials claimed I was unless someone investigated me directly.

Sure, if someone came over to verify my identity, things could get dicey. But based on my knowledge of the original story, no such confrontation should occur this early.

Wow… this place is like another world. Everything looks so expensive.

Clinging to Alice’s hand, I trailed behind her as we moved through the lavish surroundings.

The venue wasn’t Nemesis’s headquarters but a luxurious hotel nearby. Their HQ was likely too focused on research and corporate operations to be suitable for hosting guests.

They had apparently rented the 32nd through 34th floors of the hotel for this launch party. Every piece of decor screamed extravagance, and I couldn’t help but clutch Alice’s hand tighter, thinking about how any one of these items could be worth more than my entire year’s salary.

“The elevator line is so long. Should we take the stairs?”
“You’re right; it’s packed. It’s just one floor up, so stairs should be fine. Yuria, are you okay with that? Want me to carry you?”
“….”

Being carried up the stairs? No thanks. That’s just embarrassing.
I shook my head and scurried up the stairs with them.

When we finally reached the banquet hall, we couldn’t help but gasp in amazement.

“Wow… it’s huge!”
“They didn’t hold back, did they?”

The hall was enormous, elegant, and bustling. Designed for events like this, the space was open and grand, without a single column obstructing the view. Everywhere I looked, there were people, tables, and more people.

So many people… this must be at least a three-digit crowd.

I wasn’t a fan of large crowds, and the sheer number of attendees was already draining me. But Alice, who seemed utterly captivated, was practically drooling with excitement.

“Ssss… What should we eat first? I’m craving seafood!”
“You think about food the moment we walk in? Hold on a second.”

Raven grabbed Alice, who looked ready to dart toward the buffet, and opened the pamphlet we’d received at the entrance.

“Let’s see… The opening ceremony is at 10, and food will be served after the schedule ends, sometime past midnight. Until then, we’ll have to make do with finger foods.”
“What?! I have to wait two hours?!”

Alice looked like her entire world had crumbled.

She had skipped breakfast, claiming she wanted to save room for the banquet. Now, faced with a two-hour wait, she seemed on the verge of collapse.

See? This is why you should’ve taken the bread I offered earlier. A launch event like this isn’t going to start with a feast.

“Ughhh, nooo!”
“Relax. There’s some finger food on those tables over there. Just have some of that for now.”
“Okay! Yuria, let’s go!”
“…?!”

Before I could protest, Alice grabbed my hand and dragged me toward the finger food table.

I didn’t particularly want anything, but I wasn’t in a position to argue.

The table was manned by an employee in a uniform similar to the elf receptionist’s. Alice, her eyes locked on the spread of food, quickly asked,
“Excuse me, is it okay to take these?”
“Feel free to help yourself.”
“Really? Thank you!”
“Just remember to dispose of trash in the bins located around the hall.”
“Of course!”

Alice wasted no time piling her arms with food, her speed and efficiency almost alarming.

As the growing mound of snacks in her arms became more and more embarrassing to watch, I turned my attention elsewhere and grabbed a modest mandarin tart.

This looks good. I’ll just have this one.

Sliding my mask slightly aside, I popped the tart into my mouth.

Wow, this is delicious.

The refreshing citrus tang of the mandarin paired perfectly with the buttery crust, making me smile involuntarily.

Nemesis really didn’t cut corners, even on desserts. I savored every bite.

“Mmf! Sho good! What d’you think, Yuria?”
“…?”
“Mm… Yuria, do you like it?”

Oh, she was asking if I liked it.

I wiped my mouth, adjusted my mask, and nodded.

Of course, it was good.
Mandarin and tart—what’s not to love?

Satisfied with my response, Alice ruffled my hair affectionately before declaring it was time to return to Raven.

Despite feeling a bit like a child being doted on, I didn’t mind. Alice was cute, so I could let it slide.

When we returned to Raven, we found him deep in conversation with a striking woman.

Oh, that’s her.

Even from a distance, her distinct appearance made her unmistakable.

Her navy blue hair was tied into a high ponytail, and she wore a leather jacket over a bikini top that showed off her sun-kissed skin. Paired with tight jeans and a skull-patterned eyepatch, she exuded an aura of danger. A coiled whip hung from her belt.

It was none other than Lexi, a bodyguard and fixer as flamboyant as Alice in her modified kimono.

“Uhh…”
“Hmm?”

Unlike me, who recognized her immediately from the original story, Alice seemed stunned by Lexi’s bold appearance. Lexi, in turn, looked intrigued by Alice’s pink-haired, kimono-clad figure.

Admittedly, encountering someone dressed like Lexi outside a beach or pool would leave anyone momentarily speechless.

Alice, quickly recovering, asked Raven,
“Um, who’s this?”
“Oh, Alice, you’re here. This is Lexi.”
“Aha! Calling me ‘this’ is harsh, Raven!”

Lexi laughed loudly, slapping Raven’s shoulder with enough force to make even me wince. She then turned her attention to Alice.

“Oh, I get it. You’re that pesky kid, right?”
“Who are you calling a pesky kid?!”

The tension between them was palpable.

A battle of fixers and personalities. Let’s see how this unfolds.

I watched eagerly as Alice and Lexi clashed, silently rooting for the drama to continue.

Just as things started heating up, Raven intervened, knocking both on the head lightly.
“Hey, cut it out, you idiots. You’re bothering everyone. If you want to fight, take it outside.”

“But she started it!” Alice protested indignantly.

Lexi smirked. “Fine, my bad. I got worked up seeing a new face next to Raven. Anyway…”

Lexi handed something to Raven, a faint smile softening her usual sharp demeanor.
“It’s been a while. Call me if you ever have time. Everyone’s waiting to hear from you.”

Raven nodded. “I’ll think about it.”

With that, Lexi left the hall, her figure disappearing into the crowd.

Finally, I could breathe again.
Lexi’s presence had been suffocating—her charisma and confidence undeniable.

Before I could dwell on it further, the hall filled with the sound of a voice from the stage.

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for being here! We are about to unveil a groundbreaking innovation for meta-humans. Please turn your attention to the stage for a historic moment in technology!”

It’s starting.

This was the beginning of the Nemesis Corporation’s downfall, a pivotal event in the original story.

But as the audience applauded and the stage lights brightened, a thought struck me like lightning.

Wait… where is the client?

The one person meant to connect the agency to its third member—she was nowhere to be seen.

Something was wrong.