"Are you sure…?" Leo's voice trembled. "Maybe you're wrong…"
Lana immediately shook her head.
"No. I'm not wrong." Her eyes locked onto the ring. "But wait—you said someone gave you this. Who is that rich… and dumb person?"
Leo frowned.
"…At least don't call her dumb."
Lana's expression sharpened.
"Her?"
"Yes, her."
"And who exactly is rich enough to casually give away something like that?" Lana pressed. "And why would she give it to you?"
Leo crossed his arms.
"Why are you asking so much? Are you jealous or something?"
"Jealous? Of her?" Lana snapped. "Why would I—"
Click.
The door opened.
Null stood there.
"…That's enough."
His calm voice cut through the tension instantly.
Both of them fell silent.
He walked over to Leo and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I know that ring," Null said quietly. "And I understand that the person who gave it to you might be important."
Leo stiffened slightly.
"But we're asking because that ring…" Null's gaze lowered briefly, "…is dangerous. Something that valuable will bring trouble."
He paused.
"And if you don't want to tell us—we won't force you."
Then he turned.
"Let's go, Lana."
"But brother—"
"We're giving him space."
Reluctantly, Lana followed him out.
The door closed.
Silence.
Leo stood there, unmoving.
"…Why did I argue like that…?" he muttered, gripping his head. "For a girl I barely even know…"
His thoughts felt tangled.
What am I doing…?
Outside the room—
Lana looked confused.
"Brother… why are we giving him space?"
Null raised a finger to his lips.
"Shh."
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"…Because I'm suspicious."
Lana's eyes widened.
"Suspicious? Of what?"
Null's gaze remained fixed on the door.
"Didn't you notice?"
"…Notice what?"
"Yesterday evening," Null said quietly, "when he came back… something was different."
Lana frowned.
"…Different how?"
"It felt like he was only with us physically," Null replied. "Not mentally."
Lana's expression grew serious.
"And he went out late at night…" she added.
"And came back late," Null nodded. "Then this morning's argument…"
A brief silence.
"…All of it doesn't feel right."
Lana clenched her fists.
"If he's not Leo, then why are we standing here? We should go in and—"
"No." Null cut her off.
"We don't have proof."
Inside the room—
Leo still held his head.
"…This doesn't make sense…"
Suddenly—
The ground beneath him vanished.
"What—?!"
He fell.
A moment later—
He landed.
Hard.
Leo quickly stood up, breathing heavily.
"…Where am I?"
He looked around.
A city.
Tall buildings.
Bright sunlight.
Crowds of people moving busily through the streets.
It looked like a completely normal world.
"…This is…"
Leo ran toward a passerby.
"Hey! Excuse me—where am I?"
No response.
The person walked straight past him.
"…Hello?"
Another person.
"Can you hear me?"
Nothing.
No one reacted.
It was as if—
He didn't exist.
"…What the hell is this…?"
"So this is the world you wanted."
A familiar voice echoed behind him.
Leo froze.
Slowly—
He turned.
"Iris…"
She stood there, calm as ever.
"…What is this place?" Leo asked. "And what are you doing here?"
Iris stepped closer.
"…Tell me, Leo," she said softly. "What is a house owner doing in his own house?"
"…What?"
Leo frowned.
"Then… this is your house?"
Iris sighed slightly.
"…I don't like explaining things."
She raised her hand—
Clap.
The world shattered.
Buildings. People. Light.
Everything disappeared.
Only white remained.
An endless, empty white space.
Leo's eyes widened.
"…So that's how it is…"
Two chairs appeared.
Facing each other.
They both sat.
For a moment—
Silence.
Then Leo spoke first.
"…So you're here to kill me."
Iris froze.
Just for a second.
Then she smiled faintly.
"…I don't know how you figured it out," she said calmly. "But you're right."
Leo didn't look away.
"My brother and I…" she continued, "…were assigned to kill you and your friends."
A quiet pause.
Leo's voice dropped.
"…Then everything you said…"
His fists clenched.
"…your feelings… your words…"
He looked straight into her eyes.
"…Was it all a lie?"