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Leo continued following Diego through the chaotic streets, each step taking him further from Atlanlane and deeper into the sprawling, ever-growing suburbs. The weight of being far from home began to sink in.

When they reached the base of a hill, Leo stopped, his eyes fixed on the scene before him. It was both mesmerizing and overwhelming. The mountain was covered with a mass of compact homes, each unique in shape and color. Some were made of recycled metal, with irregular panels gleaming under the light of makeshift streetlamps and flickering neon signs. Others were constructed from rough concrete, with haphazard extensions that seemed to spring from necessity, as though another room had been added in a rush.

The faded colors of the facades ranged from vibrant blues, reds, and yellows to muted grays and browns. Vibrant graffiti covered the walls, telling stories or marking territories.

Leo’s gaze followed the narrow alleys that snaked up the hill. Barefoot children played, chasing malfunctioning drones or kicking holographic balls that flashed colorful lights with every move. At the top of the mountain, the structures seemed almost to touch the gray sky.

Leo had never seen anything like it. He was used to the chaos near his home, where everything was loud and oppressive. But here, there was something different. The hill had a life of its own, a personality shaped by the resilience of its residents.

As they climbed, Leo felt a growing discomfort—not just from the harshness of the place, but from the sense of belonging the hill exuded, something absent in the rest of Atlanlane. Here, among the crowded houses and narrow alleys, there was a sense of community, even in the chaos.

The gazes of some residents standing on corners or leaning against makeshift balconies followed him closely, like scanners. Their eyes were cold and analytical but not hostile. When Leo’s eyes met theirs, he felt the weight of being out of place.

Diego broke the silence. With a quick nod or a brief smile, the residents’ expressions softened. Arms lifted in greeting, and the atmosphere eased slightly.

As they slowed down, Diego pointed ahead. Leo spotted a small, bustling shop with a crowd gathered at the entrance, everyone vying for service. The walls were lined with shelves packed with electronic components: colorful wires, circuit boards, chips, gears, and prototypes. Holograms hovered over the items, displaying prices and descriptions.

Diego exchanged a few quick words with the exhausted-looking attendant, who was struggling to manage the crowd. Leo followed him to the back of the shop, where the environment changed abruptly. The narrow hallways were illuminated by LED strips along the floor and ceiling, blinking in shades of blue. The air was cooler and cleaner, and the concrete walls gave way to smooth metallic surfaces.

Emerging from the cramped corridor, Leo found himself in a vast space, far larger than the shop’s modest exterior had suggested. Engineers and technicians worked at benches, soldering components with laser tools while three-dimensional holograms of prototypes floated in the air. Industrial machines hummed in the corner, and glass-walled rooms revealed intense meetings, with people debating over maps and data-filled screens.

Leo stared wide-eyed, stunned by the energy and efficiency of the place. His thoughts drifted to Lucy, imagining how she would feel in a place like this. Her restless, idea-filled mind would have thrived here, finding the structure it needed. The thought tightened his chest.

At the end of the corridor, they entered a larger room, the heart of the facility. The metallic, modern environment carried an air of tension, as though every piece of information within was guarded and scrutinized. LED lights illuminated the steel walls, creating a feeling of isolation. People moved with precision around large holographic tables, their actions deliberate and efficient.

Diego led them to a quieter corner, where a figure stood waiting. At the sound of their footsteps, she turned slowly, as if she knew exactly when they would arrive. Diego greeted her with a slight bow, more formal than Leo had expected.

“I’ve returned, Grandmaster. But there were… complications.” Diego’s voice carried a tone of restraint and reverence, contrasting with his usual relaxed confidence on the streets.

The woman stood over a translucent table projecting holograms in shades of blue and amber. Her gestures were precise, her hands moving fluidly as though the space around her extended her control. Her presence was magnetic, the kind that made the air feel heavier, more charged. Without lifting her gaze, her aura seemed to silence the room.

“What kind of complications?” she asked. Her tone wasn’t curious but sharp, cutting as if her words were calibrated to test Diego’s response.

“Lucy didn’t show up at the meeting. On the way back, I ran into some Vanguard agents… They attacked us.” Diego gestured subtly toward Leo. “He was with me.”

The woman finally lifted her eyes, fixing them on Leo. Her gaze cut through him like a blade, studying him slowly, mercilessly. A chill ran down his spine as if he were being deconstructed under her scrutiny, examined beyond his surface.

“And why was he there? Why did you bring him?” Her tone was more direct now, as though Leo’s very presence was a puzzle demanding resolution.

“He’s Lucy’s brother,” Diego said, his posture stiffening. He hesitated briefly before adding, “She’s dead, Alice. She was murdered—likely by the Vanguard.”

The air in the room grew heavier. Alice remained silent, her piercing gaze still on Leo. The secretive atmosphere of the place made every word carry more weight.

Alice stopped manipulating the holograms and took a step toward Leo, her movements deliberate. She placed a light hand on his shoulder.

“I’m sorry for your loss,” she said softly. “My name is Alice. And yours?”

“Leonardo,” he replied, his voice trembling. Saying his name aloud seemed to anchor the tragedy that haunted him.

Alice nodded without further expression and returned to the table, her focus divided but still unrelenting. “If the Vanguard attacked her. And now you. It means Lucy had critical information. We need to understand what she knew.”

“When she asked for help, I didn’t think it was anything big,” Diego interjected, his arms crossed. His stance had relaxed, but his eyes remained locked on Alice. “But if the Vanguard is involved, we need to be careful.”

“Exactly.” Alice activated a new holographic projection, displaying detailed maps and reports. The blue and amber light reflected in her eyes, but she didn’t blink. “And the fact that they acted so quickly…”

“If our intelligence hasn’t uncovered anything, it could mean this is just beginning,” Diego said.

“Or that it’s already too far along,” Alice concluded, her tone icy, making the air around them feel even heavier.

Leo stayed silent. With every word Alice spoke, the tension pressed down on him. The room, with its metallic walls and the hum of computers, made him feel small and out of place—a trespasser in a world that wasn’t his own.

“Alice,” Diego said, breaking the silence, “we need to act fast. I’ll reach out to my contacts, and see if they’ve picked up on anything.”

Alice gave a brief nod, though her eyes never left the data projected on the table. “I’ll notify Rubi. She might be able to intercept some data movements. As for you…” She turned to Leo. “You’re at risk. You can stay here with us. This is a safe place.”

It was a pragmatic offer, but the idea of standing still was unbearable to Leo. He stepped forward unconsciously as if challenging the weight of the room itself.

“I can’t stay here. I have to find out who did this to Lucy. Hiding won’t change anything.” His voice was firmer now, though still laced with an almost palpable tension.

Alice raised an eyebrow, giving him a measured look. Her lips curved slightly, forming a subtle smile filled with distrust.

“You don’t understand what you’re stepping into,” she said, her tone impassive. “One mistake and it won’t just cost your life. It’ll cost everyone around you.”

“I can fight.” Leo turned to Diego, seeking validation. “Ask him. I fought alongside him.”

“He’s rough, but he’s not the type to quit,” Diego said after a brief pause, his tone light, though his eyes betrayed a deeper calculation.

Alice sighed, her arms folding tightly across her chest, the tension in her posture making her doubt clear. “Diego, you know what this means, don’t you?”

Diego nodded once, his expression unreadable. “I do. And let’s face it. Even if we said no, he’d still go after them.”

Alice stayed silent, her gaze fixed on Diego as if weighing his decision. After a long moment, she turned back to Leo.

“Know this. There’s no room for second chances. One mistake, and it’s over.” Her tone was cold, as though she were placing his future on a scale. “You’re certain about taking him with you, Diego?”

“I think it’ll make things less monotonous,” Diego replied, his tone light and almost dismissive.

Leo exhaled deeply, feeling some of the weight leave his body. As the two began to walk away, Alice turned her focus back to the holograms.

“We’ll see what you’re capable of,” she murmured to herself, her words not meant for them.

As they left the room, the silence that followed was as heavy as the charged atmosphere before. Diego, sensing Leo’s discomfort, tried to lighten the mood in his usual carefree way.

“So, what did you think of her?” he asked, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

“She’s… intense,” Leo replied, carefully choosing his words.

Diego let out a low laugh. “Yeah, that’s her. Always serious, always in control. Trust me, you never want to see her lose her temper.”

Leo glanced at him, curious. “Has that ever happened?”

“Let’s just say… no one who saw it wanted to experience it again.” Diego gave a playful wink, trying to pass it off as a joke, though Leo could sense the seriousness beneath his words.

They walked in silence for a few more moments before Diego’s tone shifted.

“Look, kid, I know you want to do the right thing. Go after the people who killed your sister and all that. But you need to understand what you’re getting into.”

Leo frowned, his voice steady. “I know how dangerous it is, Diego.”

“No, you think you know.” Diego stopped and turned to face him. “The Vanguard isn’t just a bunch of thugs with guns. Every move we make could be our last. You have to be ready for that.”

Leo took a deep breath, feeling the weight of Diego’s words. He knew he couldn’t back down now, but he also knew he wasn’t invincible.

“I’m not backing down, Diego. I’ve already lost everything that mattered. I won’t stop now.”

Diego studied him for a moment as if trying to gauge the determination in Leo’s eyes. Then he gave a faint smile and patted him on the shoulder.

“Good. I like that.”

Leo returned a small, nervous smile, more out of unease than confidence.

The two continued walking at a more relaxed pace, though they remained alert to the narrow corridors of the hideout. The silence between them was broken only by the sound of their footsteps echoing against the cold walls.

“Let’s get you ready,” Diego said, breaking the silence. He gestured toward a door at the end of the hallway. “Rubi’s got something for you. Something that’ll make this more… interesting.”

“What’s she got for me?” Leo asked, suspicion lacing his tone.

Diego grinned, though his eyes held a seriousness that unsettled Leo. “She’ll show you.”

Leo furrowed his brow, his hands curling into fists at his sides. The familiar discomfort gnawed at him, pressing against his resolve. Still, he nodded, knowing there was no turning back now. Whatever lay ahead, he’d face it—no matter what awaited him in the shadows.