Candado appeared in front of the gates of Sara’s mansion.

  “Great, I love this way of traveling.”

  “Ha, don’t get used to it, kid.”

  “Stay invisible.”

  “Of course, Your Excellency.”

  Tínbari vanished.

  “I’m right beside you, sir.”

  “Yes, that’s why I said ‘invisible,’ not ‘disappear.’”

  “Can I laugh?”

  “No.”

  Candado knocked on the door, and the one who answered was Sara’s adoptive mother.

  “Oh, are you a friend of Sara’s?”

  “Is she home?”

  “She’s playing with her friends upstairs.”

  “Would you mind if I come in?”

  “No, of course not. Please, come in.”

  Candado removed his beret before stepping inside.

  “She’s upstairs. If you need anything else, I’ll be in the garden.”

  “Very well.”

  With that, the woman left the room. Candado looked at the stairs and ascended, heading straight for Sara’s room. He knocked on the door.

  “Come in.”

  Candado opened the door.

  “Oh, Candado, welcome.”

  Inside the room were two familiar and not-so-friendly faces: Luis and Esteban.

  “You told me he wasn’t coming,” Esteban hissed furiously.

  “He wasn’t supposed to because I didn’t call him.”

  “Hiiiii! Want a hug?”

  “Get away from me, vermin.”

  “Oh, your words wound my heart.”

  “You seem happy.”

  Esteban cleared his throat.

  “I’ll be leaving now.”

  “You’re leaving already?”

  “I don’t want to breathe the same air as him. Excuse me.”

  “What a shame.”

  Esteban walked past Candado, stopped for a moment, and without looking at him, said:

  “I haven’t forgotten what you did. Watch your back, Candado of Kanghar.”

  “I’m sorry, and I understand.”

  Esteban left the room.

  “Well, this is wonderful,” Candado said, looking at Sara. “I didn’t think I’d come, and certainly not today.”

  “I came to talk about your moves, Sara.”

  “Do I need to leave?” Luis asked.

  “No, stay. This concerns your boss too,” Sara replied.

  “Luceros, when you told me that story, I thought the world was bigger than I knew. I even met two of them—I hope they’re well. But now tell me, Sara, when were you planning to tell me about this?”

  “It wasn’t a secret. I didn’t intend to hide it, least of all from you.”

  “The agents are involved.”

  Sara’s hands trembled for a second.

  “I see. Was it serious?”

  “One casualty. A Lucero, or so they want us to believe.”

  “So, they came into contact with one?”

  “Unfortunately, yes.”

  “Where is the other one?”

  “Safe, under my custody.”

  “Great.”

  “So, where are the other six?”

  “I see you’re well-informed.”

  “I gave my word to the Congress that you weren’t dangerous.”

  “Do you care about your image?”

  “No, what I care about is making sure you don’t get hurt.”

  Sara was taken aback.

  “Wow, I wasn’t expecting that.”

  “I gave my word that nothing would happen to you.”

  Sara smiled.

  “You don’t have to worry; they’re safe.”

  “And Rucciménkagri?”

  “She agreed to help me when the news reached her ears. She said she wanted to help her brothers.”

  “Very well.”

  “On another note, do you know where the eighth Lucera is?”

  “No, but can I ask you something off-topic?”

  “Go ahead.”

  “Since when has Eva been working for you?”

  “Two years before I met you. I told her to find the Luceros.”

  “Why did so many suddenly start appearing?”

  “I asked them to. In exchange, I would provide nutrients for the lake they love so much. They agreed, but they could only send one per year to avoid damaging the ecosystem.”

  “Why did two appear out of nowhere?”

  “The wind changed, Candado. War is very near.”

  Candado was petrified when that word left her mouth.

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  “War?”

  Sara turned her wheelchair.

  “A few months ago, the wind stirred terribly.”

  Candado pressed his fingers to his tear ducts.

  “I’ve been wasting time. I haven’t solved anything.”

  “Who said this was something you had to do?”

  “Sara, no one asked me to. I just wanted to do it.”

  Sara sighed.

  “I’m a fool for saying this so openly, but listen, I want to prevent it too. That’s why I want to see my project through.”

  Candado closed his eyes and sighed, trying to calm himself.

  "Then I'll help you. I'll speak with the Congress of Kanghar so they can assist us."

  "That would be a kind gesture."

  "You're a truly wonderful person."

  "Look, you'd better not talk to me."

  "How cruel. You have no idea how much I love you," Luis said, pretending to cry.

  "You're so dramatic. Shut up."

  Candado sighed and continued.

  "Look, I'm not in a position to dictate what you should do, Sara, but keep in mind that Rucciménkagri is a fugitive. She's in danger too."

  Sara turned her wheelchair to face Candado.

  "I'll keep that in mind."

  Candado shifted his attention to Luis.

  "Hey."

  "Yes, my love?"

  Candado clenched his teeth.

  "That idiot Sheldon is playing with fire. It's bad enough that he looks like me, and now he's taking care of his misdeeds. Keep him in check."

  "Sheldon won’t cause any trouble, I give you my word."

  "I don’t want your word, nor do I need it. Consider this a warning. Do it, unless you want me to be the one to stop him."

  Luis smiled.

  "That won't be necessary."

  Candado found that smile disgusting.

  "Sara, where are the Luceros?"

  "Didn't you already ask that?"

  "You didn’t answer me."

  Sara sighed.

  "Alright, the Luceros are safe," she said, then pointed upward with her index finger. "In the sky."

  "No kidding. You achieved your goal, but the question is: where?"

  "Where men fear to send planes or fleets: the Bermuda Triangle."

  Candado closed his eyes and scratched his temple with his index finger.

  "Hey, I don’t know what kind of movies you've been watching, but just because there are many cases of missing ships doesn’t mean you can just place an island there."

  "Don’t worry, Candado, the barrier protects them."

  "It must be some artifact capable of surrounding an entire island, right?"

  Luis smirked at Candado’s dry remark.

  "Actually, my boss has provided Sara with an artifact that makes things much easier."

  "I don’t even want to know how Hachipusaq managed to get something that makes a huge piece of land float in the air. What about oxygen? Can they breathe?"

  "There’s nothing that artifact can’t solve."

  "Look, Luis, stop talking like a saleswoman…"

  "It works, Candado," Sara interrupted.

  "I see. I apologize."

  "No need. I like it when you get angry, you look cute."

  "Give me back my apology."

  "No, I don’t want to," Luis said, sticking out his tongue.

  "(A flaw is still a flaw, huh?)"

  Sara smiled.

  "But going back to the previous topic, could you bring her with me? The…"

  "Anen, that's her name."

  "I see you've started to like her."

  "No, I've been too busy to get attached."

  "Oh, I thought you'd get along with her right away."

  "Luis, shut up," Candado then looked at Sara. "The truth is, she doesn’t speak Spanish, she speaks… I forgot… No, wait, it was Ikmo, yes, Ikmo."

  "I think you need some rest, Candado."

  "Luis, shut up."

  Sara cleared her throat.

  "Candado."

  "Sara, shut up."

  "...What?"

  "No, sorry."

  Luis struggled to keep from laughing.

  Sara cleared her throat again.

  "About the girl, Anen, can you bring her?"

  "Honestly, that would be a good idea. She’d be safer in your hands than in mine. I’ll use my methods to search for Amjasta."

  "Who?"

  "The missing Lucero. They couldn't leave in a hurry, so I’ll find them."

  Sara trembled.

  “The agents? Is there really a chance?”

  “They're adults, unlike the young ones. Their egos are through the roof. They'll be cautious, but that same caution will make them more suspicious.”

  “Does it really work that way?”

  “For me, yes. For others, I wouldn't know.”

  “I trust you.”

  Candado stepped closer to Sara, took her hand, and brought it to his lips.

  “There is nothing to fear.”

  Luis's palm brushed against Candado's cheek.

  “And what about me? I'd be happy with just a bite.”

  Candado was irritated. However, he had a personal rule of never refusing a greeting from someone who did their job well. So, begrudgingly, he took Luis's wrist and kissed it.

  “Now I can burn my mouth with a red-hot iron... damn, that's disgusting,” Candado complained.

  “I'll never wash this hand again,” Luis said with a grin.

  Candado even reached for the handle of his knife.

  “I have a terrible urge to cut my lips off.”

  “So cruel and bloodthirsty, yet still cruel.”

  Candado adjusted his beret.

  “I'm leaving, Miss Sara and... thing Luis.”

  “Your words don’t hurt me.”

  Candado left the room, leaving Sara and Luis alone.

  “Well, I made progress. I got him to kiss my hand.”

  “Congratulations, Luis.”

  Outside the house, Candado stopped and looked around.

  “What a beautiful day, che.”

  “Ha, ha, ha, you're joking, right?” a familiar voice asked.

  “Shut up, Steeman.”

  “Hey, Candado. You've been busy.”

  “Make sure you’re working.”

  “The club and the guild are my passion.”

  Suddenly, a third person appeared.

  “Candado Barret, I challenge you.”

  “What a shitty day,” Candado muttered.

  Steeman laughed.

  “Look, go play hopscotch and leave me alone.”

  “I am Raymond Brett, from Circuit 55, and I challenge you for your secret.”

  “Want me to help?”

  “No need, Steeman.”

  Raymond took a fighting stance.

  “Prepare yourself.”

  Candado yawned.

  Raymond lunged at Candado, transforming his fist into stone. Candado stopped it with his palm.

  “How boring.”

  Candado grabbed Raymond’s wrist, pulled him in, and hurled him into the sky. Then, he snapped his fingers, and a small flame appeared in his hand.

  “Oyik.”

  Candado launched him again, and the tiny flame engulfed the young man, triggering a spectacular explosion.

  “Whew, you held back this time.”

  “No, I didn't.”

  Steeman began to sweat at his words.

  A second explosion rang out, and then Raymond crashed onto a car.

  “Candado...”

  “He’s not dead,” Candado said before turning. “Put the damages on Joaquín’s tab.”

  “Barreto won’t be happy.”

  Candado stopped.

  “Right, I have some news.”

  “Yeah? Spill it.”

  “The agents are here.”

  Steeman wiped the smile off his face.

  "I see. What do you suggest?"

  "Go inform Joaquín. From now on, all traffic lights should be on high alert."

  "Right away."

  Steeman turned around and rushed toward headquarters at full speed, not before helping the poor devil Brett.

  "Alright, now I’ve got a lead." Candado pulled out his phone and dialed.

  "Hello, Nelson."

  "Funny, I was just about to call you."

  "Looks like we’re in sync."

  On the other side of the line...

  "Yeah," Nelson said as he reloaded his Magnum and shot a man in the head, the very same man who had been pressing down on his chest. "I need you here, according to the contract we signed."

  "Were those gunshots?"

  "No, of course not. Just the car engine. Ha, ha."

  "Alright..."

  Nelson stood in a room alongside Perón and Bruno.

  "I see you’ve found something."

  In front of the trio, a chained creature wailed and struggled.

  "Come quickly. The location is on the phone Bruno just sent you."

  On the other end of the call, Candado hung up, checked his phone, and pinpointed the meeting place.

  "I don’t like the way he said that," he muttered.

  Then, snapping his fingers, a flaming dog appeared before him. He mounted the beast and shot off toward the destination at full speed. Since it wasn’t far, he arrived within ten minutes. The site was deep in the forest, where a dilapidated cabin stood.

  "Over here!" called a voice from what appeared to be a window.

  "Oh, Bruno, good day," Candado replied, despite the fact that the situation was far from good.

  "Heh, there’s nothing good about it anymore. Now get inside," Bruno shot back.

  Candado stepped into the cabin, and Bruno led him toward a door with a staircase leading downward.

  "Well, that’s original," Candado remarked, glancing around.

  He descended the stairs and found Nelson and Perón waiting for him at the bottom.

  "I see you made it," Nelson said without looking up.

  "No, actually, I’m still in the plaza. What do you think, Nelson? Obviously, you’re looking at me," Candado replied sarcastically.

  "It’s comforting to hear you," Nelson said with a faint smile.

  "Listen, old man..."

  "Perón," Nelson interjected.

  "Yes," Perón responded, understanding the order immediately.

  He stepped forward and placed both hands over Candado’s eyes.

  "What’s going on?" Candado asked, slightly bewildered.

  Nelson, without wasting time, pulled out his Magnum and shot an agent who was still crawling on the ground.

  “Damn, I thought I had taken them all out,” Bruno commented with a grimace of discomfort.

  “Old man, I think it would be ideal not to bring me here if you’re going to shoot and kill someone,” Candado said, irritated.

  “Sorry, things happen,” Nelson replied.

  “Perón, you can let go of me now,” Candado said, though somewhat impatient.

  “Not yet. Bruno, help me with this,” Nelson ordered.

  “Alright,” Bruno responded.

  “For Isidro’s sake, it’s not like this is the first time I’ve seen a corpse,” Candado complained, crossing his arms.

  “It would be best if you didn’t get used to it,” Nelson replied while assisting.

  “And what are you going to do to me?” Candado asked mockingly.

  “Calm down, it’ll be over quickly,” Nelson said. “Bruno, grab him by the shoulders, not the head.”

  Three minutes later...

  “Alright, you can let go now, Perón,” Candado said, rubbing his eyes.

  “For Isidro’s sake,” he sighed, clearly annoyed.

  “Sorry about that,” Perón said apologetically.

  “I suppose you’re going to show me something suitable for minors, right?” Candado asked sarcastically.

  “Yes and no,” Nelson replied, walking toward a room that led into a hallway.

  “There!” Nelson pointed. “We thought it was just a lost child with Rucrenian magic, but we were wrong.”

  Candado furrowed his brows and narrowed his eyes.

  “There’s something more to this,” he commented in a grave tone.

  He began walking toward the room, with Nelson and the others following closely. The door separating the hallway from whatever was inside was in terrible shape.

  “Looks like it was a tough fight,” Candado said, running his hand over the dents in the door.

  “I didn’t want to fight. When things got out of hand, I backed off and thought it would be better to bring you here,” Nelson replied.

  Candado let out an ironic laugh.

  “Yeah, sure,” he said, clearly not buying the explanation.

  Slowly, he pushed the door open.

  “Oh, for Isidro’s sake! What a stroke of luck!” he exclaimed, astonished at what he saw on the other side.

  Candado had found it.