Even though it was meant as a compliment, Miyeon couldn't help but feel slightly offended.
"You thought my good reputation was an exaggeration?"
"I didn't think anything of it, actually. I don't form opinions until I see things with my own eyes. Only then do I draw my conclusions."
"You really have a way of talking yourself out of any situation,"
Miyeon remarked.
"What a smooth talker."
Nephthys simply smiled in response before changing the subject.
"What do you think this tattoo is?"
Miyeon grew serious as well.
"I don't know. I've never seen anything like it before."
"Then draw it on a piece of paper and research it. Meaning, gangs, origins,"
Nephthys ordered.
"I understand."
"This could help us identify the killer's next victim."
"I agree,"
Miyeon said. He had been thinking the same thing.
"But how exactly do we do that?"
"The victims are all people of importance—politicians. I assume the rest of the group belongs to the same social circle. So tell me… how do you get people of status to come out in the open?"
Nephthys asked.
"A ball,"
Miyeon answered immediately.
"That is correct. A ball will draw anyone out, whether they want to attend or not."
Miyeon silently agreed.
"Do not release the information about the tattoo yet—at least not until after the ball."
Miyeon understood. If word about the tattoo spread too soon, it could compromise the mission.
"We will observe potential victims at the ball. If you identify one, inform me. We will then tail that person twenty-four seven and see what we uncover."
"Understood."
"That will be all. I left my student buried under books. It is time I make sure he hasn't suffocated beneath them. You, meanwhile, should continue researching the tattoo."
With that, Nephthys left the morgue, leaving Miyeon behind.
Miyeon decided to stay a little longer, studying the tattoo shared by all the victims, hoping to uncover any additional clue that might help identify it.
**
Nephthys had expected Avner to either fall asleep or abandon the classroom altogether. Instead, she found him studying diligently.
Seeing him like that, she chose not to disturb him and simply observed from afar…
—or at least that's what she thought she was doing.
"Holy shit, you scared me!"
Avner clutched his chest, making sure his heart hadn't actually leapt out of it.
Nephthys looked confused.
"Did I… scare you?"
she asked.
"Did you scare me?"
Avner repeated incredulously before continuing.
"You are standing on the window frame watching me like some kind of demon!"
And he wasn't done.
"Did I forget to mention it's dark as hell outside—and THIS ROOM IS ON THE THIRD FLOOR?!"
"So yeah… you did scare me."
Unlike his frantic explanation, the last sentence was delivered surprisingly calmly.
Hearing this, Nephthys realized that her behavior might indeed be considered unsettling to normal people.
"I apologize for that."
"It's alright…"
After accepting her apology, Avner finally asked what had been on his mind all day.
"Where have you been?"
The question came out more possessive than he intended. Realizing that, he quickly cleared his throat.
Nephthys didn't read into it and answered as she always did.
"I was with Miyeon."
She didn't feel like going into detail and kept her response short—unfortunately unaware of how easily it could be misunderstood.
And misunderstand it Avner did.
The thought that she had spent the entire day with Miyeon made jealousy boil inside him. The more he dwelled on it, the angrier he became—until suddenly…
The table beneath his hands burst into flames.
"WOAH!"
Despite his shock, Avner immediately stood up, rushed to Nephthys's side of the table, and pulled her into a protective hug, placing himself between her and the fire.
Nephthys, however, remained completely unfazed.
She calmly pushed him away.
"Step aside."
With a single movement of her hand, the fire vanished—as if it had never existed.
Avner already knew how strong she was, so that didn't surprise him.
What did make his blood pressure skyrocket was something else entirely.
"Looks like you have a fever again."
Nephthys placed her palm against his forehead.
Avner could hear his pulse pounding—beating louder and louder until it drowned out everything else.
"You're completely red. You should rest before it gets worse."
She placed both hands on his cheeks, cooling him slightly with her power.
But Avner knew the truth.
The fire, the heat, the redness—none of it had anything to do with a fever.
When Nephthys pulled her hands away, he suddenly felt cold despite the heat raging inside him.
"Go rest. I'll clean up here."