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  ~~~~~

  The m sun had barely risen over Pi, casting long golden streaks through the frosted windows of the Pi Police Department. The station was already alive with the usual m routine—officers rushiween desks, muffled magical transmissions calls, and the occasional smming of case files onto wooden surfaces.

  Detective Wolfe walked in, coffee in hand, expeg another day of paperwork, iigations, and training rookies.

  He should've knower.

  A voice rang through the office, loud and firm.

  "Wolfe! My offiow."

  It was Captain Era.

  The room went silent for a brief sed before people hurried back to pretending to be busy.

  Wolfe sighed. "Here we go."

  Ihe captain's office, Era stood behind her desk, arms crossed, her sharp golden eyes sing over a stack of reports on her desk.

  Wolfe stepped in and saluted zily.

  "M, Captain. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

  Era didn't waste time.

  "gratutions, Detective. You're now Sergeant Wolfe."

  Wolfe blinked. "Wait, what?"

  Era tinued, pletely ign his rea.

  "I need you to oversee Divisions B, d E. They're barely holding together after the ret arrests, and I need someone who actually gives a damn running things."

  Wolfe raised a hand. "Hold on. I never applied for—"

  "I know," Era cut him off. "You already passed the sergeant's exam. You've just been holding off on taking the promotion. Just like before, when you were reinstated as a detective, you kept deying it by pying around as a training officer. Well, no more. Take your sergeant badge ao work."

  Wolfe sighed heavily. "Ma'am—"

  Era narrowed her eyes. "That wasn't a request."

  A tense pause.

  Then, finally—

  Wolfe exhaled through his nose, rubbing his temples.

  "Yes, ma'am."

  He turo leave but stopped at the doorway.

  Without looking back, he said, his voice quieter but firm,

  "For the record, ma'am, being a TO isn't 'pying around.' Training new officers is a noble cause. If I didn't do it, more corruption would've gotten to these rookies before they even passed their FTO. Me being a TO wasn't a waste of time. It revention measure."

  Era didn't respond immediately.

  Then, just as Wolfe was about to leave—

  "I know."

  He paused, gng back at her.

  She was still reading the reports, but something about her voice was less anding, more uanding.

  "That's why I put you in charge. Now get out of my offid do your damn job."

  Wolfe chuckled. "Yes, ma'am."

  …

  Night had fallen over Café Lebnd for the first time all day, Zero, Soma, and Erwin were finally off-duty.

  , refreshed, and wearing fortable clothes, the three of them sat around the café's cash register, staring at the shimmering dispy of numbers.

  1,756 Gacha Points.

  Zero cracked his knuckles. "Alright, boys. Let's see what luck has in store for us today."

  Soma grinned. "Oh, this is gonna be good. Or terrible. Either way, I'm eained."

  Zero tapped the "11x Roll" button.

  Like before, several tarot-like cards slid out from the register, lined up ly in front of them.

  Zero grabbed the first one. "10 Magical Energy Points." The card vanished as soon as he read it.

  card. "10 Magical Energy Points."

  Then another. And another.

  By the eighth card, Soma was already grinning like a bastard.

  "Oof. I'd hate to be yht now."

  Zero's eye twitched.

  "Shut up, I still have three left."

  He flipped the ninth card.

  "10 Magical Energy Points."

  Soma let out a low whistle.

  "Ouch. Your luck is actually tragic."

  Zero flipped the sed to st card.

  "e on, just give me one good—"

  "10 Magical Energy Points."

  There was silence.

  Soma tried very hard not to ugh.

  Erwin leaned back, pletely unimpressed. "Well, that was a massive waste of time."

  Zero gritted his teeth and grabbed the st card.

  "Alright. If this st one is anical energy card, I'm flipping the register."

  He flipped the final card.

  The illustration was different.

  Instead of a solid figure, the image was of a faceless silhouette, blending into a crowd of people.

  The the top read:

  "Background Character."

  Description: Just a person who is always there in any fi. Blends in effortlessly.

  The room was silent for a few seds.

  Then—

  Soma burst out ughing.

  "PFFFFFT—OH MY GOD. YOUR LUCK IS ACTUALLY CURSED."

  Zero just stared at the card.

  "This has gotta be a joke."

  Erwin, however, picked up the card, iing it carefully.

  Then, as if a realization clicked in his brain, he suddenly smirked.

  Zero and Soma both noticed.

  They exged a gnce.

  Then, at the same time—

  "Ahhhhhh."

  Erwin nodded. "Exactly."

  Soma shook his head, still grinning. "I still don't know how you're making this sound useful, but sure. Expin."

  Erwin held up the card.

  "Think about it. The ability to blend in perfectly, to be overlooked and fotten in any crowd. It's the ultimate tool for undercover work."

  Zero perked up. "Wait. You mean—"

  "Yes." Erwin nodded. "This could be perfey future police work. As Erwin, I'll be the public face—the serious, petent officer. But when I o go underground? I use this ability to disappear entirely. No one will remember my fao one will look twice at me."

  Zero's mood instantly flipped.

  "Alright, that's actually kind of awesome."

  Soma scoffed. "Yeah, yeah, sure. But let's not fet the most important part."

  Zero raised an eyebrow. "What?"

  Soma grinned, slinging an arm around Zero's shoulders.

  "Your luck is still horrible."

  Zero groaned, shoving Soma off.

  "Shut up, y pan."

  Erwin chuckled. "Anyway, let's get some rest. My 'drunkeive' act is about to start bringing in real work. I o be ready."

  Zero stretched. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say, officer."

  As the three of them settled in for the night, the world outside tinued moving—unaware that, piece by piece, the foundation of their rise was already being built.

  …

  M sunlight spilled through the café windows, casting warm golden hues across the wooden floors of Café Lebnc. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and toasted bread filled the air, marking the beginning of another busy day.

  At the upstairs dining table, Zero, Erwin, and Soma sat together, enjoying the breakfast Soma had prepared.

  Soma cpped his hands together, stretg. "Alright, eat up, gentlemen. I've got a café to run."

  He stood up, grabbing his apron. "Don't choke and die while I'm gone."

  Zero smirked. "No promises."

  Soma rolled his eyes and headed downstairs, leaving the two alone.

  As they fiheir meal, Erwin pulled out a small espresso cup and pced it in front of Zero.

  Zero eyed it suspiciously. "Uh. Why is it empty?"

  Erwin adjusted his gsses. "I need a bit of your blood."

  Zero blinked. "Excuse me?"

  Erwin sighed. "I to absorb the Background Character card."

  A beat of silence.

  Zero suddenly narrowed his eyes. "Wait. Is that why you bit me yesterday?"

  Erwin casually took a sip of his coffee. "Yeah. I was thirsty."

  Zero gaped at him. "That's all you have to say? I was thirsty?!"

  Erwin shrugged. "What do you wao say? I knew what I needed, so I took it. You're fine."

  Zero rubbed his arm, muttering under his breath. "Damn vampire-ass e."

  Erwin pushed the espresso cup closer. "Quit whining. Just a little drop."

  Zero huffed but pricked his finger, letting a single drop of blood fall into the cup.

  Erwin nodded in satisfa. "Good. Now, the card."

  Zero took the Background Character card and pressed it against Erwin's forehead.

  A faint glow pulsed through Erwin's form as the card merged into his being.

  Then, Zero handed him the espresso cup.

  This time, it went smoothly.

  A subtle shift occurred in Erwin's presenething that Zero felt more than saw.

  "Alright, try ging."

  Erwin closed his eyes for a moment, then his form began to shift.

  He didn't disappear—irely.

  Instead, something more subtle happened.

  Zero frowned.

  He could still see Erwin, still perceive his body, but his face… his preseself felt muted.

  His features became so painfully average that it was difficult to remember what he looked like, even while staring directly at him.

  Zero squinted hard. "Ugh. That's freaky."

  Erwin sighed. "It's not an invisibility card, Zero. It's a blend-in effect."

  He gestured toward the window, where people bustled through the streets below.

  "If I use this in a crowd, no one will notice me. They won't be able to describe me, even if I walk right past them."

  Zero tilted his head. "So… you just bee fettable?"

  Erwin nodded. "Essentially, yes."

  Zero grinned, leaning back. "Alright. Whatever works for my soon-to-be Chief of Police."

  Erwin smirked but said nothing.

  After a moment, Erwin g Zero. "Are you not going to try making another e?"

  Zero shook his head. "No. I still feel that barrier. I don't think I yet."

  Erwin hummed in thought. "You should train more. The more magiergy you gather, the sooner you'll be able to break through."

  Zero scoffed. "Yeah, yeah, I'll get to it."

  Before Erwin could reply, Soma's voice called from downstairs.

  "Erwin! Your t is here."

  Erwin and Zero exged gnces.

  Zero smirked. "Well theive. Time to prove yourself."

  "That's the pn."

  Erwin closed his eyes for a moment, letting the effects of the Background Character card fade before shifting bato Erwin's form.

  His posture ged instantly—his broad shoulders slumped slightly, his hands ran through his hair as if troubled, and his sharp eyes carried the weight of a man in a midlife crisis.

  The transformation was more than physical.

  His entire aura shifted—not just someone pretending, but someone living the role.

  Taking a deep breath, he desded the staircase.

  At a er table he window, a middle-aged man sat beside his younger sister. The man was rough around the edges, with a worker's build and calloused hands. His sister, Mandy, looked meek, her posture slightly curled in on itself, as if she didn't want to take up space.

  As Erroached, the man's gaze flickered to Soma, then back to Erwin.

  Suspi was clear in his eyes.

  Before he could say anything, Erwin spoke first, his tone calm yet weighted.

  "Good m."

  The man didn't return the greeting. He just studied Erwin, as if trying to measure him up.

  Soma remained behind the ter, subtly watg the exge.

  Erwin exhaled softly, shaking his head.

  "I know I 't vince you with any words in the diary."

  The man's brows furrowed slightly, caught off guard by the statement.

  Erwin tinued.

  "But I know myself better than anyone." His voice was steady, unwavering.

  "And I know that there is always someo there who needs my help."

  A brief silence.

  Then, with a small, fident nod, Erwin pced a hand on his chest.

  "So, sir and ma'am—Detective Erwin at your service."

  The man studied him a moment lohen sighed.

  "…Alright. Sit."

  Erwin pulled out a small notebook, flipping it open.

  The man turo his sister, his tone firm but gentle.

  "Go on, Mandy. Tell him what you told me."

  Mandy shifted unfortably, wringing her hands in her p.

  Her voice was quiet, hesitant.

  "For several months now, my husband has been ag… strange."

  Erwin's pen hovered over the page.

  "Strange how?"

  She swallowed, choosing her words carefully.

  "He's not himself. He stays out te, he won't tell me where he's been, and he—he's beore… aggressive."

  Erwin jotted the notes down, nodding. "Has he ever been violent with you?"

  Her eyes widened. "No! Never! He'd never y a hand on me!"

  Her brother scoffed, crossing his arms. "That bastard is definitely cheating on you."

  Mandy shook her head firmly.

  "No, he 't be! I know my husband! It's… something else."

  She hesitated, then bit her lip before tinuing.

  "It all started happening when the police began crag down s across the kingdom."

  Erwin's pen froze mid-stroke.

  A small shift in the air.

  Even Soma, still ing gsses behind the ter, subtly paused.

  Erwin's eyes lifted, sharp but unreadable.

  "The ret drug busts?"

  Mandy nodded.

  "Yes. It's like… the more the police shut down drug operations, the more anxious he bees."

  Her brother leaned forward, resting his arms oable.

  "I don't trust him. I never have. But she refuses to believe he's up to no good."

  Erwin tapped his pen against the notebook, thinking.

  "What's his profession?"

  "He's a mert. He handles supply deliveries from the kingdom's ports to the inner city."

  Erwin hummed. "Any unusual purchases? Money disappearing? New tacts he won't tell you about?"

  Mandy lowered her gaze. "I… I don't know. But I have seen him arguing with someoly. A man I didn't reize."

  " you describe him?"

  She hesitated.

  "…I think he was an elf. But he had scars on his face. And a—a tattoo on his wrist. A snake ed around a dagger."

  Erwin's pen pressed against the page.

  That was a gang insignia.

  A very specifie.

  But he didn't react. He just nodded, flipping the notebook shut.

  "Alright. If that's everything, I need both of you to do something."

  Mandy and her brother looked at him expetly.

  Erwin's expression darkened slightly.

  "Fet this meeting ever happened. Go back to your normal routine. Act like you never spoke to me. If your husband really is involved in something dangerous, we don't want to make him suspicious."

  Mandy nodded quickly.

  Her brother, however, was still skeptical.

  "How do we know you're actually gonna find anything?"

  Erwin stood, slipping his notebook into his coat.

  His voice was calm, but firm.

  "Because I don't take cases I don't io solve."

  With that, he turoward Soma.

  "You'll be their tact. If I find anything, I'll let you know."

  Soma saluted zily. "Got it, boss."

  Mandy and her brother exged ghen slowly stood up.

  "Thank you, Detective." Mandy bowed slightly.

  Erwin gave her a small nod.

  Her brother hesitated, then finally muttered, "Just… don't get yourself killed."

  Erwin smirked slightly.

  "No promises."