Thivi quickly answered, "About 192 rupiah every ten seconds. It adds up, especially since Kaivan kept calling earlier."
Kaivan paused, thinking. "Good point… maybe we should switch to walkie-talkies. Or I can ask the Tome directly."
At once, the screen lit up with a reply: "System development can be accelerated using pre-built algorithms, integrating OCR and TTS without repeated testing. For voice transmission, use FM/AM transmitters or walkie-talkies. For short range, Bluetooth is sufficient; for long range, use 2G/3G cellular networks."
Felicia frowned, her breath unsteady. "And where exactly are we building this radio tower?"
Kaivan looked tired. "For now, I'm focusing on the TTS. Everything else can wait. Our funds are limited anyway."
The workshop fell quiet again, with only the soft murmur of machines filling the air. Zinnia broke the silence, her voice gentle yet firm. "How many grams of gold do we have so far?"
Thivi lifted her head proudly. "We've reached 265 grams in total," she said with steady confidence, the weight of their hard work shining in her tone.
Zinnia glanced toward Frans, who stood near the pile of phones. "How many units left to dismantle?"
Frans pointed at the stack in the corner. "About 142 phones still untouched."
Zinnia nodded lightly, calculating. "Raphael already sold 100 grams from that batch," she murmured, then looked at Thivi. "You'll need to bring in more units in two weeks, alright?"
Raphael cut in, his voice calm but firm. "The problem is, selling gold from phone components is getting harder."
Everyone turned to him. He continued, "Some buyers are starting to get suspicious. They might refuse to buy from us soon."
Kaivan nodded slowly, his expression composed yet watchful.
"Exactly. And how do you know that?" Raphael asked. But before Kaivan could answer, Raphael raised a hand with a faint smile. "Forget it. I already know where you heard it from," he said, glancing at the Tome Omnicent.
Kaivan replied with a quiet smile. Despite everything, the pressure, the risks, he remained the one thing that kept them steady.
To ease the rising tension, Kaivan spoke up, "How about we eat together today?"
The atmosphere shifted at once. A few faint smiles bloomed across the room. In the midst of all their burdens, that small invitation felt like a warm blanket, reminding them that they were still a team, still a family.
Across the region, the economy trembled. The government had just issued a strict ban on illegal gold trading. The policy came in response to the surge of large-scale gold sales that threatened the stability of the market. Behind the grand walls of the government building, a secret meeting was held, the acting governor was receiving a very particular guest.
The meeting room was spacious and serene. Classical paintings adorned the walls, adding a refined weight to the air. At the large table, the governor sat with a composed posture, though his eyes betrayed a quiet unease. In front of him sat an elegant woman named Vella, an accomplished business figure, but above all, the bearer of the Tome Omniphilos, the artifact that governed the flow of energy. Beside her, Rapi stood watchfully, calm yet alert.
"Thank you for reporting the illegal activity," the governor said softly, studying Vella with interest.
Vella offered a poised smile, graceful, yet edged like a blade. "Not only for the sake of law, Sir. I simply hope we can maintain a good partnership going forward." She slid a brown envelope from her leather bag and placed it gently on the table.
The governor understood immediately. He chuckled and nodded. "Hahaha… of course. As long as you speak directly to me, everything can be arranged."
Their exchange ended in a silence more eloquent than words. Vella bowed politely, rose to her feet, and walked out with Rapi at her side. The evening air greeted them softly as the sky deepened above the courtyard.
Rapi finally spoke, his voice soft yet filled with quiet curiosity. "Miss Vella… why did you hand over that information?"
Vella paused mid-step. She turned her head, a sly yet enchanting smile curving on her lips. "To catch a rat, you have to send the smoke into its nest first, don't you?"
Her reply was calm, yet sharp enough to cut through the quiet. She understood that this game was never just about power, it was about influence. With every step she took, Vella wove an almost invisible web of strategy, delicate yet deadly. Rapi merely nodded, realizing how deep and shadowed the world before them truly was.
Night descended slowly, wrapping the city in a gentle breeze that carried the faint scent of dust and coffee from narrow alleys. On the rooftop of an old boarding house, now renovated, stood a small café bathed in warm light. Its dark mahogany floor shimmered softly, and vintage hanging lamps cast a golden glow over round wrought-iron tables decorated with candles in glass cups, turning the space into a cozy little dream.
The city lights below twinkled like an upside-down sea of stars. Faraway traffic hummed in the background, making the rooftop feel even quieter. At the main table, a group of friends gathered. Kaivan sat in the center, arms crossed, smiling now and then at Radit and Ethan's jokes.
Beside him, Felicia appeared calm, though her sharp eyes never strayed far from Kaivan. Her black hair fell neatly over her shoulders, glowing beneath the warm lights. Not far away, Isabel sat with her legs crossed, one hand propping her chin while the other played with her phone. Her soft pink hair shone brightly against the night as she let out a small laugh.
Across from them, Thivi lounged casually in an open crop-top jacket. She twirled her straw, her legs swinging lightly as if following an imaginary tune. Radit, loud as always, burst into laughter. "Wait, seriously? I just found out something that stupid?" he shouted, making everyone laugh.
In a dimmer corner sat Raphael, silent. His gaze drifted over the city, one hand holding a glass, the other brushing his temple. Though warm-hearted, a quiet tension always lingered around him. Moments later, Ethan appeared from the right, bringing with him a faint scent of tobacco. He dropped into a seat, lit a cigarette, and asked softly, "Got an ashtray?"
Suddenly, the rooftop door swung open. Frans appeared in a rush, pulling along a pretty girl with shoulder-length hair. "Sorry! I'm late. Had to pick up my girlfriend first," he said with an awkward smile. Tira, standing shyly behind him, swept her gaze across the group, her hand gripping Frans' tightly.