Interesting… so they're suspecting Brittany.
Heh.
Interesting.
Well… what can you do?
Brittany is pretty. A cheerleader.
Just like Vivian, she's the sub-captain.
And now they're watching her like she's a criminal.
I tilted my head slightly.
I began following Loren's car.
Relatively simple. I teleported a few meters ahead each time—far enough not to be seen, but close enough not to lose them.
The night city passed by like an illuminated game board.
Then an idea came to me.
Hehehe.
Why wait?
Why not speed things up?
If I want to talk to Loren… I just need his number.
And getting it is easy.
The car finally stopped in front of a nightclub.
Neon lights. Heavy music vibrating even from outside. Guards at the entrance.
Hmm.
Their base?
Probably.
I tilted my head thoughtfully.
Doesn't matter.
I just need a phone.
I entered using illusion magic. Adjusted my appearance—taller, older, sharper features.
I walked in without difficulty.
Inside, the atmosphere was thick with smoke, alcohol, and forced laughter.
I scanned the room.
There they were.
Loren and his group, in an elevated VIP section, surrounded by women and armed men pretending to be important.
I don't need to kidnap anyone.
Just steal.
One of his men stood up.
Headed toward the bathroom.
Perfect.
So did I.
---
In the bathroom
I entered before him.
Leaned against the sink, pretending to fix my hair in the mirror.
He walked in seconds later.
Unsuspecting.
He stood in front of the urinal.
I activated a light illusion.
The bathroom door vanished from his sight.
The lights began flickering.
The club's music cut off completely.
Silence.
"What the…?"
He turned.
I no longer had the adult face.
I wore the mask.
The clown.
I slowly tilted my head.
"Good evening."
He tried to reach for something at his waist.
Too slow.
An invisible thread of magic wrapped around his throat and slammed him against the wall.
I wasn't going to kill him.
Not yet.
I slipped my hand into his pocket.
Took his phone.
Smiled beneath the mask.
"Thank you for your cooperation."
I leaned toward his ear.
"When you wake up, tell your boss… the show is just beginning."
I let him drop unconscious.
The illusion vanished.
The music blasted back in.
I walked out of the bathroom like nothing happened.
---
Outside the club
I calmly walked to a phone booth a few streets away.
Used magic to soundproof it and create the illusion that it was just a normal call.
I found Loren's number in the stolen phone.
Dialed from the landline.
It rang once.
Twice.
"Hello?"
"Who is this?" Loren said.
I didn't answer.
"Hey! If you're going to call, at least speak."
Then I laughed.
A clear laugh.
Cheerful.
Distorted.
Silence on the other end.
"How's your brother?" I asked playfully. "Is the castrated one doing well? Or should I visit the hospital and give him a special performance to lift his spirits?"
"…You're that clown?" he spat angrily.
"The one and only."
"Damn you, you'll pay for what you did to my brother Gabriel."
"Hey, hey… calm down. Your brother didn't accept the offer to leave that girl alone and go get ice cream. It's not my fault he shot at me afterward."
Pause.
"But tell me… did you like my proposal? I could visit him. Sure, he'll never use that thing again… but he's alive. That's what matters."
"You think you're untouchable, clown?" he growled. "In this part of the city, we have influence. One phone call from me and your life is over."
I smiled.
"You're just like your brother. You don't accept offers."
I sighed theatrically.
"I'll give you a surprise."
I hung up.
---
Inside the club
"Boss, it was that clown," one of the men said.
The guy who had gone to the bathroom returned, staggering.
"Boss… he was here. Knocked me out. Took my phone… said the show is just beginning."
Murmurs.
Tension.
Suddenly, the club lights went out.
At first, no one paid much attention.
Then something appeared near the ceiling.
A balloon.
Shaped like a dog.
Floating slowly.
Everyone stared.
A dog-shaped balloon… in a nightclub.
Strange.
Barking echoed through the room.
Real barking.
The balloon slowly rotated… pointing directly at Loren and his group.
Silence.
Customers began stepping back.
Loren's phone rang.
He answered without taking his eyes off the balloon.
"Do you like my surprise?" I said cheerfully. "A brave little dog came to give you a clear warning."
My voice sounded theatrical.
Playful.
"This is my warning. The show officially begins now."
I hung up.
The balloon began inflating.
Bigger.
Bigger.
The "dog" distorted.
And then—
BOOM.
It wasn't a destructive explosion.
It was an explosion of paint.
White.
Red.
Blue.
Yellow.
The entire club was covered.
Walls.
Ceiling.
Faces.
Expensive suits.
Everything.
Laughter echoed through the speakers.
Applause.
Confetti falling from above.
Then more balloons appeared.
But these formed letters.
They floated slowly, aligning in the air.
Everyone stared.
The words formed clearly:
"Did you enjoy the official opening of the show?"
Absolute silence.
Then screaming.
Panic.
And somewhere in the city…
I watched.
Smiling.