The meeting had come to an end with a brief yet firm agreement between all Rankers after Bai Mina had spoken. There were no further arguments, no drawn-out deliberations, only a shared conclusion. Each of them would do their part: investigate, prepare, and gather a team of their strongest for the coming Disaster that loomed ahead like an unavoidable storm.

Shortly after, every Ranker began to exit the association building without lingering for long.

While some engaged in quiet conversations with Rankers they were familiar with, exchanging a few words before parting ways, others simply walked off with no reason to remain, their minds already occupied with whatever plans they intended to carry out next.

Oliver had no reason to wait.

So he simply made his way to leave the association building, his steps calm and unhurried. As he passed by Kyle and Trisha, he noticed Kyle’s gristly glare fixed on him—sharp, filled with a silent hostility that lingered even as Oliver walked past without a single reaction.

He entered the elevator alongside a few others, one of them being Bai Mina.

Strangely, she had chosen to stay close to him the entire time without saying a word.

Not even once did she attempt to speak.

’She’s probably on her way out as well,’ Oliver thought, dismissing it for the moment.

But as soon as they exited the association building and stepped out into the open streets, blending into the steady flow of passersby, something felt... off.

They were still walking side by side.

On the same path.

In the same direction.

The silence stretched longer than expected, until Oliver finally stopped, turning to face her.

"Why are you following me?" he asked.

Bai Mina halted as well, clearly caught for a brief moment before she gathered herself.

"I wish to talk to you about something... really," she said shyly.

That alone was strange.

For a woman like Bai Mina, who always carried herself with composure and quiet confidence, this slight hesitation felt out of place. Oliver said nothing, simply watching her as she rubbed her fingers together, taking her time before finally speaking.

"The first time we met, you gave off this same energy... like you were depressed," she began carefully. "I thought maybe it was simply because of the work you put into being a Ranker."

She paused briefly, her gaze lowering before lifting again.

"But even now... on your birthday, it’s almost as if you’re completely unmoved by anything that happens around you."

She lingered for a moment.

"It’s almost like you feel there isn’t anything left the world can offer you."

A small breath escaped her lips.

"It’s none of my business... but I just want to make sure you’re okay."

Oliver could tell she meant every word she said.

Of all the Awakeners he had known across both lives, she felt like the most human.

For her to even care about something as worn and tarnished as his mental state... that alone said enough.

His gaze drifted away from her eyes, settling briefly on the passersby moving along the street. People walked past them with different expressions—laughter, indifference, forced smiles, quiet exhaustion.

Then, in a slow and steady voice, he spoke.

"Every single person that walks past you carries something different on their face," he said. "A happy expression, a sad one, an empty look, a smug grin, a forced smile..."

"All of them are facades. Masks we humans adorn ourselves with just to get through every day of our lives."

"And at some point... we grow tired of them. Tired of switching between identities, tired of pretending."

"That moment in a person’s life... is where depression sets in."

Silence lingered between them.

"The human soul is cold... and corroded," he continued. "It rarely seeks to be real. Why else do you think we spend hours staring at the screens of our phones? Feeding our minds with new identities to assume."

His eyes returned to hers.

"It’s not that I am depressed, Bai Mina. It’s simply that I do not wear a facade."

"That is why things like birthdays... anniversaries... they hold no value to me."

"To the real me... it is all just another day."

Hearing his ideology, Bai Mina instinctively took a small step back, her hands dropping to her sides as his empty gaze settled on her.

"Then what do you value, Oliver? What makes you happy?" she asked.

For a moment, Oliver fell silent, as though tracing through every action he had taken from the very beginning up until now.

"Would you believe me if I said my goal... is to rid humanity of the Game?" he said at last.

His tone did not change.

"For reasons I will not mention. But that... is my end goal."

He turned away from her.

"If that is all, I will be on my way."

He began to walk forward.

One step.

Two—

Grab!

Bai Mina’s hand suddenly wrapped around his wrist, stopping him from moving any further.

Oliver’s brows furrowed slightly as he turned back to her.

"What?"

Bai Mina shook her head, a bright smile forming on her lips, one that stood in contrast to everything he had just said.

Slowly, she raised her hand, her palm opening.

Resting in it... was a silver necklace.

Her necklace.

"Your ideologies are a bit messed up," she said with a soft smile. "But that doesn’t change mine."

She extended her hand toward him.

"So this... is my birthday gift to you, Lord Crow."

Oliver’s brows lifted slightly as he stared directly into her eyes, a faint trace of suspicion flashing within his gaze before his expression returned to its usual emptiness.

He did not refuse.

Instead, he stretched out his hand and took the necklace from her palm.

It was warm.

Still carrying the faint heat of her body.

He lingered for a moment, studying it carefully. His fingers traced its surface as he silently checked—whether it was a tracking device, a hidden weapon, or something meant to be used against him.

But it wasn’t.

There was nothing unusual.

This was simply a necklace.

A genuine gift.

At that, he turned once again to Bai Mina.

"What are you waiting for? Put it on," she said, her voice carrying that same gentle warmth.

For a moment, Oliver hesitated, staring at her for a second too long.

Before he could act, she stepped forward, taking the necklace from his hand. Rising slightly onto her tiptoes, she leaned closer, her presence unexpectedly near as she carefully placed it around his neck.

Her fingers brushed lightly against him as she secured it in place.

"There," she said, stepping back with a satisfied look.

A smug grin formed on her lips as she waved lightly.

"See you later, Lord Crow."

With that, she turned and began to walk away, her figure gradually blending into the moving crowd.

Oliver remained still for a brief moment.

His gaze lowered to the necklace resting against his chest, his fingers rising to touch it, feeling its texture once more as if confirming its reality.

Then he turned and began to walk his own path.

Leaving the bizarre encounter...

And the thoughts and feelings it stirred within him lingering quietly where they remained, unresolved and undefined.

"How Interesting."