Ratree quickened her pace.

She moved quietly, slipping behind a large dumpster, then flattening herself against the corner of a building. Her eyes never left the man ahead of her.

He’s trying to lose me… she thought.

The man kept walking, melting into narrow alleys, one after another. Not once did he look back.

Ratree slowed down.

Something felt wrong.

She glanced behind her, then back to the alley in front.

Her eyes widened.

This… wasn’t the same alley.

The man was gone.

Silence poured into the space. No footsteps. No voices. Only the whisper of wind and the faint splash of water beneath her boots. Her heart began to pound.

She swallowed.

Step by step, she backed away, clutching her tablet tightly.

Thump.

She bumped into something solid.

“Aah!”

Ratree spun instinctively, swinging the tablet with all her strength.

The man moved.

His body bent backward in a smooth, almost unreal motion. The tablet missed him by inches.

Crash.

The device slipped from her grip.
Ratree fell hard, landing flat on the ground.

“Ugh…” She winced, rubbing her hip.

“Are you okay?”

The voice was rough, low but calm. No anger. No panic.

Ratree opened her eyes.

The man stood in front of her, holding her tablet. He knelt, picked it up, and extended it toward her.

His face was blank. His tired eyes carried no curiosity, no hostility. As if the world itself had already disappointed him long ago.

She hesitated before snatching the tablet from his hand.

The man said nothing. He turned away and started walking.

“Human…?” Ratree stared at the tablet screen.

No Zing readings. Nothing.

“Wait!”

He stopped and turned back.

Ratree stood up quickly, brushing dirt from her clothes. She straightened her jacket, adjusted her sling bag, and slipped the tablet inside. She clapped her hands to shake off the dust.

She looked at him again.

Those dull eyes made her throat tighten.

“Y-you…” Her voice cracked.

The man frowned slightly and cupped a hand to his ear, signaling he couldn’t hear her properly.

“You’re a Pelesit, aren’t you?!”

She shouted.

Ratree clenched her fists, bracing herself. Her eyes squeezed shut, waiting for an attack.

“Pe… le… sit?” he repeated slowly, confused.

Ratree opened her eyes.

“Yes! You’re a Pelesit!” She pointed at him.

The man shook his head, brows knitting together.

Her jaw tightened.

“You’re a Pelesit, and I have proof!”

“I don’t understand Thai,” he said calmly.

The air froze.

A crow cawed somewhere in the distance.

“Oh.” Ratree slapped her forehead. “Sorry. I thought you understood.”
She laughed awkwardly, trying to mask the embarrassment.

“So you—”

“No.”

He cut her off immediately.

“No, it’s not mine.”

“Can you let me finish one sentence?!”

Her voice rose.

The man didn’t react.

He’s hiding something, she thought.

Ratree cleared her throat, forcing herself to calm down.

“If you don’t cooperate, I’ll hand your data over to Zingforce—”

Before she could finish, the man turned and walked away.

“Hey! Where do you think you’re going?!”

She grabbed his arm.

He sighed, visibly uncomfortable.

Grrrkkk~

A loud stomach growl echoed between them.

Ratree grinned.

“My treat,” she said, eyes sparkling. “I know a really good place nearby.”

She raised her eyebrows repeatedly.

The man exhaled deeply.

Defeated.

Ratree smiled in victory.

There’s something about him.

This could be gold for my research.

She walked ahead. The man followed behind, shoulders slightly hunched.

In the distance, red and blue lights flashed around Muae Market.

“Left clear!” “Right clear!”

Zingforce units moved swiftly, their blue suits gleaming, red and blue tubes glowing along their backs.

One squad stopped at a destroyed stall.

“Zing traces detected,” an officer reported, holding up a scanner. “But no physical evidence.”

Another studied a tablet. Two intersecting graph lines. One far higher than the other.

“Sir.”

He handed it over.

“Readings from ten minutes ago.”

The squad leader stared at the screen.

Now, only one signal remained.

He looked at the wreckage for a long moment.

“We were late,” he murmured. “He got here first.”

“Over. Muae Market secured. Report to Intel.”

“What do you mean, sir… he?” one of them asked.

“A hero from across the border.”

“Sir, the press is here.”

“Give them a statement. Zingforce has the situation under control. The Pelesit threat has been neutralized.”

The officer nodded and stepped toward the waiting reporters.

Cameras clicked. Microphones surged forward. Questions flew nonstop.

Until one froze the air.

“Was it Kenz who fought the Pelesit?”

The officer paused.

Camera shutters filled the silence.

“For now,” he said carefully, “that remains a rumor.”