New enemies.

Hellington is closing in around them.

—

Dawn was approaching.

The night had clarified nothing — it had only made everything more complicated.

Sharlok walked alone through the narrow alley. Smoke from his cigar drifted through the mist of Hellington while his gaze remained still, lost in thoughts that were becoming less and less clear.

Three pawns. All in the same place.

There was no irritation in his eyes. Only interest.

He activated his earpiece.

“Surez. Do you read me?”

“Loud and clear, Captain. I’m finishing the report on the Hellington operation.”

“Forget the report.”

The reply came sharp, without hesitation.

“At dawn we’ll meet on the beach where the Imperial boat was found. You’ll come alone.”

A brief silence followed on the other end, almost reluctant… then the voice returned, disciplined.

“…Understood.”

A barely perceptible pause, then Sharlok continued, his tone lower.

“I want observers in plain clothes at the edges of the city. No uniforms. No official movements. Silent eyes… we must not alert the Hellington base.”

A restrained breath.

“Understood, Captain.”

Sharlok inhaled slowly from the cigar.

“Two recruits don’t make it this far without outside help. And this bastard… I want to see him step into the open.”

He closed the communication.

The cigarette butt fell to the ground, crushed under his boot.

Then he moved again, with absolute calm.

The chessboard was ready.

At dawn, the hunt would change shape.

—

A pale light filtered between the buildings of Grey Wall, reflected in the windows and broken by the iron fire escapes.

It entered Steven’s room without truly warming it.

On the table, two cups steamed quietly beside a pair of croissants still wrapped in paper.

Sky opened his eyes halfway, still trapped in drowsiness.

Behind the dark lenses of his glasses, his gaze was still clouded with sleep.

A warm, sweet smell floated through the air.

His brain didn’t even have time to process it.

His body reacted first.

He shot out of bed like a bullet, arms already reaching forward, convinced he was about to grab a freshly baked croissant.

The floor welcomed him with a dull thud.

“Ah!”

Sky lay there for a few seconds, groaning, his cheek pressed against the cold floor. His glasses were still in place.

He inhaled.

The sweet smell was still there.

He slowly opened one eye.

“…So I wasn’t dreaming.”

Steven moved between the stove and the table with precise motions, his wheelchair gliding silently across the kitchen floor.

He arranged cups and plates without hurry, occasionally glancing back at the open laptop on the table.

It seemed like he was following something only he could perceive.

Sky appeared at the kitchen doorway, still messy-haired and half asleep.

Then he saw the table.

The steaming cups.

The warm croissants.

For a few seconds he remained perfectly still.

A thin line of drool slowly slipped from his lips.

“Croissants and warm milk,” Steven said without turning around. “Eat while you can. I don’t know how long you’ll be able to stay here.”

Shark stood by the window, arms crossed.

He didn’t touch the food right away.

First he checked the street below, his sharp gaze scanning the early morning activity for suspicious movement.

“Damn…” he muttered quietly. “I keep feeling like we’re being watched.”

Sky took the first bite with enthusiasm, and his eyes immediately lit up.

For a few moments everything else stopped existing: no thoughts, no worries… just the taste of food finally pulling a satisfied smile from his face.

It wasn’t a moment of peace.

Just a pause before the storm.

And yet Sky’s instinctive harmony managed to make it feel lighter… at least for a moment.

“Thanks for letting us stay here, Steven!” Sky said loudly, talking almost over another bite.

He chewed quickly, nearly choking just to keep eating, while Shark watched him with an expression somewhere between embarrassment and disbelief.

A faint smile appeared on Steven’s face.

“It’s not a problem. In here you’re not soldiers of the Empire… you’re just people.”

He paused briefly, his gaze cold but sincere.

“And besides, you’re Level Ups. It’s not often I get to observe two up close.”

Shark raised his eyes, more curious than suspicious.

“You say that like it’s something special.”

Steven leaned back in his chair.

“In a way. Not because you’re criminals… or heroes.”

His gaze moved over them with calm analysis.

“Simply… because you’re different. The world revolves around Level Ups — for better or worse.”

His fingers tapped lightly on the armrest.

“Some destroy. Others hold up what’s left.”

For a moment, no one spoke.

From the window came the distant sound of Hellington waking up, metallic and relentless.

Shark snorted quietly.

“Yeah… when you put it like that, it almost sounds like a responsibility.”

Steven gave a faint smile.

“It is. A Level Up never stays neutral for long. Either you join the Empire… or a clan. Anyone who tries to remain in the middle eventually gets crushed.”

Shark lowered his gaze briefly.

“Responsibility, huh… as if we didn’t already have enough. Right now it’s crushing us.”

Steven froze.

For a moment he stayed perfectly still, as if something had caught his attention.

Then his fingers moved quickly across the keyboard beside his wheelchair.

The screen reflected a flow of imperial data racing across his eyes.

“If you’re fugitives, you can be sure they’re already looking for you…” he murmured as a new tab opened with a sharp click.

He stopped.

His pupils narrowed.

“…Well, that’s interesting.”

Shark raised an eyebrow.

“What is it?”

Steven swallowed slowly.

“Castle Rock is under the command of Captain Sharlok.”

He looked up at them.

“That’s who you’re running from?”

Sky and Shark nodded without hesitation.

Steven flinched slightly.

His fingers stopped over the keyboard.

For a moment he remained still, then they began tapping slowly against the edge of the table.

His expression darkened.

His voice lowered almost instinctively.

“That man is a problem. If you faced him directly… you wouldn’t stand a chance.”

Sky didn’t step back.

Steven’s words slid over him without shaking his calm.

“I don’t know how strong he is.”

He raised his chin slightly, eyes hidden behind dark lenses.

“But maybe Shark and I together could beat him.”

Steven’s eyes widened.

He remained silent for several seconds, as if reviewing every possible outcome.

When he spoke, his voice was lower. Sharper.

“Do you really think a captain of the Empire is interested in measuring himself in a fight? It’s far more likely he’ll end the capture as quickly as possible.”

His fingers tightened on the edge of the keyboard.

“The gap between a recruit and Sharlok is an abyss. With him… it wouldn’t even be a battle.”

Shark clenched his teeth.

“Then we just stay away from him. Avoid him.”

Steven didn’t answer immediately.

His eyes scanned the data on the screen.

“An imperial captain never operates alone.”

He opened another file, the monitor’s cold light illuminating his face.

“According to these records… his second-in-command is Commander Surez.”

He inhaled slowly.

“Another man far beyond your reach.”

Shark clenched his fists.

“You talk like you already know how this will end. But you have no idea how strong we are.”

Silence filled the room.

Steven raised his gaze toward them, cold and lucid.

“That’s true. I don’t.”

His eyes returned to the screen.

“I can only read the data. But the statistics are quite clear.”

He slowly scrolled through another page.

“Also, Hellington is under the command of Captain Benjamin. Fortunately for you… he’s currently away on a mission. In his place, Commander Rione is operating. And he’s not someone you should underestimate either. In short… recruits against imperial officers.”

Steven inhaled slowly.

“This isn’t a balanced fight.”

For a moment he remained silent, staring at the screen.

“If you want to survive here, you’ll need to move with extreme caution.”

Sky slowly lifted his gaze.

His voice was calm, but something in the tone shifted.

“Sharlok… Surez… or whatever the other guy’s name is.”

Steven stared at him.

His brain took a full second to reorder the words.

“You mean… Rione?”

Sky stood up, adjusting his glasses calmly.

“Names don’t matter.”

He inhaled quietly.

“The important thing is never giving up. No matter the obstacle.”

Shark suddenly moved, like an animal reacting to instinct.

“Sky, we need to move. Sharlok could already be in the city. Staying here isn’t safe… not for us, and not for Steven. If they find us, they’ll take him too.”

Sky nodded, serious now.

“You’re right.”

Steven slowly rotated his chair toward them.

“Don’t worry about me.”

Then he turned back to the computer.

“For now, this remains our base.”

His fingers touched the keyboard.

“But you need to change your clothes immediately. The way you look now… you’d last five minutes.”

He gestured toward his bedroom.

“My wardrobe. Take whatever you want.”

He glanced up briefly.

“And maybe take a shower too… you stink.”

—

A little later, Sky and Shark came out of the bathroom wrapped in warm steam.

In front of the wardrobe, Sky immediately chose his clothes.

For Shark it was harder… until Steven pulled out a box from the lower shelf.

“My father’s clothes. They should fit you.”

This time the size was perfect.

Steven watched them for a moment, then tossed them two thin black earpieces.

“We’ll stay in contact twenty-four hours a day.”

His eyes returned to the computer.

“I can’t fight… but I can guide you. The earpieces have an integrated GPS. I can always see your position.”

Sky smiled faintly.

“I knew you were the right partner.”

Steven nodded slightly.

“The Empire will use Hellington’s cameras to look for you. Before that happens… I’ll erase the recordings from the last two days. Hopefully they haven’t already checked.”

Shark crossed his arms, still cautious.

“Smart. But breaking into imperial systems is dangerous.”

Steven didn’t even look up.

“Relax. I’ve been having fun making the Empire’s technical division lose their minds for years.”

He almost sounded annoyed that he had to explain it.

“I don’t mean to brag… but most of their programmers follow protocols without actually understanding what they’re doing.”

A faint smile appeared.

“To me, they’re just predictable obstacles.”

Shark narrowed his eyes, as if something had just clicked.

“Wait…”

He stepped forward slightly.

“That’s why you shot at us the moment we entered your room wearing imperial uniforms.”

He looked at him more carefully.

“You weren’t just being cautious… you’re wanted too, aren’t you?”

Steven remained silent for a moment.

Then he tilted his head slightly, as if the answer were obvious.

“Yes.”

He raised his gaze toward Shark, expressionless.

“With one difference.”

A shadow of a smile crossed his lips.

“The Empire doesn’t know my name… or my face.”

Silence filled the room.

Sky’s eyes lit up.

“Seriously?!”

He stepped forward, almost excited.

“You’re even more incredible than I thought!”

A wide grin spread across his face.

“A phantom genius messing with the Empire… you’re perfect for our clan!”

Shark rubbed his face in exasperation.

“Only you could get excited because someone’s wanted.”

But a small smile escaped him.

Steven watched them quietly, then lowered his gaze to the screen again.

“If you’re done celebrating… you should get moving. Hellington won’t stay blind for long.”

Sky nodded. His enthusiasm shifted into determination.

He adjusted his glasses and turned toward the door.

His gaze was already fixed outside.

“Let’s go see what’s happening out there.”

The door opened with a soft creak.

Without looking back, Sky and Shark stepped out of the apartment into a city ready to devour them.

—

Next Episode — The Third Among the Waves