[Ann's POV]
I had been walking for what felt like hours, my senses stretched thin over the festival's chaotic tapestry. My efforts felt strangely mundane. I'd intercepted three pickpockets and one clumsy cutpurse, handing them over to the harried village watchers. It was a different rhythm from my past work—reactive instead of proactive, preventing petty crime instead of executing precise, lethal missions. The stakes felt both lower and somehow more confusing. Yet, my primary target remained frustratingly elusive. I hadn't seen another glimpse of the man wearing a red mask. I wondered if Sir Ray had better luck in his search.
A sudden, sharp cramp in my stomach cut through my focus. A low, gurgling growl emanated from my abdomen. Right. I had only eaten that single piece of squid for dinner. The rich, savory aromas from the food stalls, which I had been ignoring, now became a persistent, physical demand.
