“I’ve got a plan,” he declared, his voice brimming with enthusiasm.

Light, perched on a chair near the window, raised an eyebrow. “Let me guess, something reckless?”

Mark smirked. “Oh, it’s more than that. It’s genius.”

Riya crossed her arms, leaning against the wall. “This better not be another one of your ‘brilliant’ ideas that almost gets us killed.”

Mark waved off her skepticism with a dramatic flourish. “No, no, hear me out. There’s an auction happening tonight. Big one. Black Market kind of big.”

That caught their attention. Light straightened up, and Riya’s eyes narrowed.

“And what exactly do you expect us to do at this ‘Black Market’ auction?” Riya asked, her tone dripping with doubt.

Mark’s grin widened. “Simple. We sneak in, grab something valuable, and sneak out. Easy money.”

Light frowned. “You want us to steal from the Black Market? From people who probably kill for fun? Are you insane?”

“Maybe a little,” Mark admitted, shrugging. “But think about it. The stuff being sold there is worth a fortune. One score, and we’re set for months. No more scraping by, no more odd jobs.”

Riya’s voice was cold. “And no more breathing if we get caught. It’s a terrible idea.”

“I agree,” Light added. “This sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.”

For a moment, Mark looked genuinely disappointed. But before he could argue further, Light suddenly stiffened.

“You have to go,” Aria’s voice echoed in his mind.

Light blinked. “What?”

Both Mark and Riya turned to him, puzzled. “What do you mean, ‘what’?” Riya asked.

Light shook his head, trying to cover his slip. “Nothing. Just… thinking out loud.”

In his mind, he whispered angrily, “What are you talking about, Aria?”

“The Phoenix Feather,” she replied. “You’ll find one there.”

Light’s heart skipped a beat. “What feather? What does that mean?”

“You’ll understand when the time comes. Just go.”

Light sighed, rubbing his temples. “Fine.”

Mark looked surprised. “Wait, you’re in?”

Riya gave him a sharp look. “What changed your mind?”

Light hesitated, searching for an excuse. “I… thought about it. We need the money.”

Mark clapped his hands together, grinning. “That’s the spirit!”

Riya looked between the two of them, her distrust evident. “This is a bad idea. But if you’re both going, I’m not letting you get yourselves killed.”

Mark beamed. “Now that’s teamwork!”

The trio spent the rest of the day preparing for the mission. Mark led them through the bustling streets to a run-down shop tucked away in a forgotten alley. Inside, an older man greeted them with a toothy grin.

“Ah, Mark! Back for more trouble, I see.”

“You know me, old man,” Mark replied with a smirk. “We need some gear.”

The man’s eyes sparkled with interest. “What kind of gear?”

Mark listed off their needs, and soon the trio was browsing through an assortment of weapons and equipment.

Mark chose a pair of reinforced batons, testing their weight with a few practice swings. “Perfect.”

Riya gravitated toward a sleek set of dual laser guns, her fingers brushing over the cool metal. They were compact yet powerful—ideal for her precision.

“Nice choice,” Mark said, impressed.

Riya smirked. “I don’t miss.”

Light, meanwhile, settled on a simple but sturdy dagger. It wasn’t flashy, but it felt balanced in his hand. He also picked up a dark coat with reinforced fabric, offering some protection without hindering his movements.

Their final stop was a secondhand clothing shop, where they found dark, inconspicuous outfits. Riya’s new attire, a sleek, black widow-like ensemble, complemented her assassin’s precision and grace.

By the time they were ready, the sun had set, and the city was cloaked in shadows.

The entrance to the Black Market was hidden beneath an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city. Mark led the way, his confidence unshaken, while Light and Riya followed cautiously.

The air grew colder as they descended into the underground space. The faint hum of voices and the occasional burst of laughter echoed through the tunnels.

When they emerged into the main chamber, the sight was both mesmerizing and unnerving.

Dozens of stalls lined the walls, each one displaying forbidden items: rare artifacts, illegal weapons, and vials of glowing liquids. A raised platform in the center served as the auction stage, where shadowy figures bid on treasures worth more than the trio had ever seen.

“Stay close,” Mark whispered, his tone unusually serious.

They moved through the crowd, blending in as best they could. The atmosphere was tense, the air heavy with unspoken threats.

Riya scanned the room, her sharp eyes catching every detail. Mark’s gaze flicked from one stall to the next, already calculating the best targets.

Light, however, felt a strange pull. It was faint at first, but as they ventured deeper into the market, it grew stronger.

“Aria?” he thought.

“It’s close,” she replied. “Stay alert.”

Light’s heart raced. He couldn’t afford to let Riya and Mark notice his distraction.

The trio found a spot near the back of the crowd as the auctioneer took the stage. His voice boomed, listing off the first item: a rare Etherea crystal that radiated a faint glow.

The bids started high and climbed rapidly, each bidder more intimidating than the last.

“We need a distraction,” Mark muttered.

Riya’s lips twitched into a smirk. “Leave it to me.”

She slipped away, blending into the crowd with practiced ease. A moment later, the lights flickered, and a surge of commotion rippled through the room.

Mark grinned. “That’s our cue.”

As the crowd’s attention wavered, the trio sprang into action. Mark darted toward one of the stalls, slipping through the shadows with practiced ease, his fingers itching to grab anything valuable. Light, his mind still preoccupied with the mission from Aria, scanned the room, waiting for any sign that the feather was near. He didn’t know what to expect, but he couldn’t afford to let the others down.

Meanwhile, Riya had already made her move. She blended into the shadows like a ghost, silently maneuvering through the crowd, her eyes locked on the auctioneer. A few strategically placed distractions—a spilled drink, a fallen crate—sent the market into chaos. People scrambled, their attention diverted, and the trio seized the opportunity.

Light, heart racing, moved swiftly but cautiously, avoiding the eyes of the more dangerous figures around him. He wasn’t just looking for a prize anymore; he was searching for the feather.

The auctioneer’s voice was drowned out by the rising noise around them, but Light could feel the pull growing stronger. Whatever this feather was, it was close.

A flash of something red caught his eye across the room—something iridescent. For a fleeting moment, Light thought it might be a trick of the light, but the sensation deepened. His pulse quickened as he followed it.

Just as he was about to step forward, a loud bang echoed from the auctioneer’s platform. The room froze for a second. The commotion had drawn the attention of everyone present.

"Don’t move!" a gruff voice ordered.

Light froze. He knew that voice. It was time to move quickly.