EVERYONE WITH THEIR OWN PLANS

Alaya smiled slyly as she confidently declared, "I have a plan in place for how to lure them out."

Everyone remained attentive, eager to glean insights from Alaya's mind. Adrian, too, fixed his gaze on her, curious about uncharted territories. He was determined to understand the intricate workings of their plan, should the day come when he needed to navigate similar terrain.

"We will start a killing spree," Alaya said with a starry face.

"Simple and straightforward, just how I prefer it," the bald man declared, and his companions nodded in agreement. They appreciated a no-nonsense approach.

Adrian found himself viewing Alaya in a different light, realizing that she didn't hesitate to take lives for her own gains, consequences be damned. Perhaps this was simply her way, and Adrian acknowledged that he had no moral high ground to preach from about the value of human life.

"I'm on board with your plan, but I'd like an exit strategy for myself too. What if their higher-ups show up and I find myself trapped?" Adrian inquired, seeking a way to ensure his own safety.

Alaya glanced at him with a playful smile and replied, "Figure it out on your own. We didn't bring you here to babysit you." With that, she instructed everyone to start packing before heading to her room.

Adrian cast a sly look at the remaining members, entertaining the thought of rallying them to confront Alaya. The idea couldn't help but cross his mind.

A sudden eerie feeling gripped everyone present, as if they were being watched by a lurking predator.

"We're heading out, Emilie," Adrian announced as he rose from his seat and extended his hand, treating her like a younger sibling in front of the group. Emilie, not wanting to embarrass him in front of the others, took his hand to save him from any unnecessary embarrassment.

In the present moment, as they finished packing, the two made their way out. Emilie couldn't suppress her curiosity and asked Adrian, "How long have you been living in this house?"

Adrian responded with a curious smile, "That's a sudden question, but I've been here for four years. There are not too many memories in this place." He cast a wistful glance back at his house.

Emilie couldn't resist making a playful comment, saying, "Don't look at it as if we're not coming back."

"Yeah, yeah, I heard you. Let's go now," Adrian said playfully. Just as Adrian was about to get into the cab, a car pulled up and stopped in his driveway. Alan stepped out of the car and waited. Adrian was taken aback by Alan's sudden appearance, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. He wondered, 'Will I feel something if somebody plans his murder someday, without him even knowing why he's dying?' Without pondering the answer further, Adrian approached Alan and greeted him.

"Where are you going, Adrian?" Alan inquired, thinking that Adrian might be leaving because of the case. "It wasn't your fault, Adrian. We know it wasn't you who murdered them, but your leaving like this will give the reporters and officers reason to believe it was you. Your hard-earned reputation here will be tarnished."

Hearing what Alan had to say, Adrian couldn't help but chuckle. "It's nothing like that, Alan. I'm going on a vacation. Plus, Emilie is missing her parents, so I have to take her there for a week. I'll be back in a week. Stay safe during this time. I'll feel bad if you die before me," Adrian said with a wry smile before getting into the cab and driving away without looking back.

Alan kept his gaze fixed on the departing cab until it disappeared from view, his thoughts shrouded in mystery.

.....

"Do you think he will take the bait? Questioned the man in a full suit, Kove remained silent.

.

The man in the white suit exuded an air of confidence and authority. Standing at an imposing height, his broad shoulders were adorned with a perfectly tailored longcoat that fluttered gracefully with his every movement. The fabric was as white as freshly fallen snow, a stark contrast to the dark, enigmatic aura that seemed to surround him.

His six cores were a testament to his incredible power, their presence palpable even to the untrained eye. With an aura of subtle menace, he was a force to be reckoned with. His chiseled features and piercing eyes betrayed a mind as sharp as his appearance was immaculate. As he awaited the outcome of their plan, his sly smile hinted at a cunning intellect that could only be rivaled by his formidable strength.

"He might, especially because it's something he can't let go of even if he wants to. He needs it more than anyone," replied Kove to the man he was currently conversing with, a pureblood of the Gentle Tablet.

The hierarchy was structured with their chief at the top, followed by the second-in-command, the purebloods, and then those like him, individuals bestowed with the unique ability to possess cores, known as core bearers.

"You don't know him," he said with a contemplative tone. "I've known him since we both had just two cores. He's as cunning as a fox. The thing he loves most is making other people wait for him. This bait was laid out especially for him by the third second-in-command. Let's hope he loses his patience and comes here, which would be very unlike him." His eyes closed, and he fell into contemplative silence, leaving the outcome of their plan to fate.

Kove stood there, a shadow of uncertainty clouding his thoughts. What would become of him if he truly got involved in this battle between pure bloods? He wasn't someone who could easily handle the clash of such powerful beings. But this was the path he had chosen, one of uncertainty and danger, and he had to face the consequences of his decisions.