On a quiet street, inside a plain-looking tea lounge, a man in a tailored teal shirt walked in with a man and a woman trailing behind him.

All three carried a calm but commanding presence as they stepped through the door.

The tea house owner rushed over with a beaming smile and a deep bow. "Sir, you've arrived!"

The man in teal gave a light smile. "Mm. Has the person I'm meeting shown up?"

The owner nodded repeatedly. "Yes, Mr. Ulrich is already inside, waiting at your usual spot, Mr. Byrne."

Marcelo nodded and walked toward the private rooms with his two trusted aides.

The woman beside him sneered. "Mr. Byrne, Mason is nothing but a spineless coward. Total dead weight. Teaming up with him is honestly beneath us."

Marcelo replied with a warm smile. "Using people isn't about status, it's about suitability. Sure, Mason is nothing more than an insect to me. But if he can help lure Andrew into the trap, then he's done his job."

The man behind them chuckled. "Springflow, we