1.Chapter 1 The Ace Operative

It was midnight on Boaz Street, Orsin City.

Beep beep beep—

Sirens screamed as the Royal Special Forces—elite operators—surrounded the auction house, making it impossible to escape.

"All units, lock it down!"

"Fox has been spotted at Waylen Auction House! Her target tonight—Rothialand's 'Blood Ruby'!"

"She can't get away!"

"Seal every exit! Not a single bug gets out!"

But they were already too late.

Inside, a thick, smoky fog had knocked out everyone—guards, big shots—leaving them slumped on the floor.

Among the unconscious crowd, a woman in a sleek black velvet gown walked confidently toward the stage.

She took a gas mask from her bag, sliding it on with practiced ease.

Anyone watching the feed might've thought she was just another rich guest... until she pulled a hairpin from her hair, bent it into a lockpick, and jammed it into the lock of the safe holding the Blood Ruby.

Click. The "unhackable" lock popped open like a cheap toy.

"Sorry, folks," she said with a sly smirk, winking at the security camera. "Thanks for the party, but I'm taking this shiny rock home.

"Night-night."

Right there, with everyone watching, she snatched the Blood Ruby and pocketed it like it was no big deal.

Yup, that was her.

No one knew her past. No one knew who she worked for.

But everyone knew her name—Fox. The greatest thief in the world, slipping in and out of palaces and vaults like they were nothing.

The only agent ever given a 5S "global threat" classification.

But deep in her mind was another name: Narissa Everton.

"Little Narissa... my sweet flower..." That lullaby from her mother.

Too bad time had blurred the rest. All Narissa could remember was her mother's warm smile—nothing else about where she came from.

With the Blood Ruby in her grip, Narissa was ready to ghost, same as always.

But then—

Bang!

A gunshot shattered the quiet.

Narissa dodged in a split second, the bullet zipping past her ear and smashing a vase behind her.

"Not so fast, Fox." The deep voice echoed through the room.

A tall figure dropped from the second-floor balcony.

Dressed in black tactical gear that showed off his ripped build, the guy stood a towering six-foot-two, radiating pure, don't-mess-with-me vibes.

His sharp jawline carried a deadly edge.

Narissa grinned. "Well, well... if it isn't Bastien. Been a minute, huh?"

Bastien was Rothialand's top combat commander, the baddest dude around. Word was, nobody ever escaped him.

Even Fox had been burned by him three times. No lie—this guy was the biggest thorn in her thieving side.

But she'd also snatched 58 relics right under his nose, which was a straight-up middle finger to his ego. Safe to say, this chase had become personal.

"Sorry, man, but this Blood Ruby's mine," Narissa said, her grin fading as she flicked a handful of silver needles his way.

Bastien dodged like a pro.

Narissa didn't wait, vaulting onto the auction stage and flipping up to the second floor.

"Get her!" Bastien barked into his earpiece, eyes glued to her. "Seal every exit!"

And just like that, a wild chase tore through the auction house's corridors.

Narissa moved like a wildfire, sly and untouchable. Even in a tight gown and killer heels, she was unstoppable.

Bastien was hot on her heels, relentless.

They clashed in the stairwell.

"Hey, Bastien, you've been chasing me from Primaland to North Ekloria, now Oravine," Narissa teased, throwing punches. "You got a crush on me or what?"

Bastien's face stayed ice-cold. "Shut it, Fox. Hand it over."

Narissa backflipped out of his grab, landing a quick kick to his wrist. His gun hit the floor with a clank.

Bastien switched to close-quarters combat, every move sharp and military-grade, backing Narissa into a corner.

She saw it coming. In a flash, she yanked a dagger from her thigh strap and swung at him.

They went at it, blade against fists, neither giving an inch.

Then—slash! Narissa's dagger nicked Bastien's sleeve, drawing a thin line of blood.

He grabbed her wrist, twisting hard.

Clank! Her dagger hit the ground.

"Fox, you're done," Bastien said, catching his breath.

Narissa just laughed. "You think?"

With her free hand, she flicked a smoke bomb from her wrist. It hit the floor, bursting into a blinding flash and a cloud of thick smoke.

Bastien flinched, shielding his eyes. When the smoke cleared, Narissa was gone.

"Damn it!" Bastien slammed his fist into the wall. That was when he noticed a playing card tucked in his sleeve—an Ace of Hearts.

"Commander Harlow, target spotted in Corridor Three!" his team shouted through the earpiece.

Under the moonlight, Bastien saw Narissa sprinting down Corridor Three. She even had the nerve to turn back and blow him a cheeky kiss.

"Fox!" Bastien growled, teeth clenched. "I'm taking you down myself!"

He stormed toward the command center, barking into his earpiece: "Lock every exit. No ID, no one leaves!

"She's not slipping out of this one!"

*****

Narissa dodged Bastien's relentless pursuit, slipping into the men's restroom at the auction house.

That guy was like a dog on a scent, setting up a trap tight enough to choke. If she wanted to slip away, she'd need something clever—fast.

In a stall, she grabbed her hidden toolkit and got to work. Off came the disguise, revealing her true face—soft, oval, with skin so flawless it could make one jealous.

She swapped her outfit for a flowy white dress, looking like an angel who'd tripped into this chaos.

No one would peg her as the sultry vixen from minutes ago.

Truth was, nobody knew this was the real Agent Fox.

As she stepped out, her ears caught a faint sound.

'Damn it,' she thought. 'They are closing in quick.'

A new outfit wasn't gonna throw Bastien off her trail this time.

She bolted down the left hallway, heart pounding. Three seconds later, a searcher's voice echoed. "Commander Harlow, this is the last unchecked spot!"

"Keep looking!" Bastien's voice cut like a blade. "She's close. I can feel it."

"Yes, sir!"

Meanwhile, Narissa hit a four-way corridor, stomach dropping. Dead end ahead, and boots closing in from every side.

'Is this it? Am I really done for?' Her heart pounded like crazy.

Creak.

A door swung open, and a group of fancy auction guests spilled out of a private lounge, all chatter and clinking glasses.

Narissa's fingers twitched, a thin blade sliding from her sleeve. 'No escape? Fine. Time for a hostage.'

She scanned the crowd, picking her target, when—

"Cressida? What the hell? I thought you were back home!" A stunned voice broke through.

Narissa froze. A classy woman, arm-in-arm with a sharp older guy, stared at her, eyes wide.

But when their gazes locked, Narissa's breath caught. That face stirred something, a blurry memory from childhood.

"No, wait!" The woman squinted, shaking her head. "You're not Cressida."

It wasn't just her face—her whole vibe, her energy, it was all wrong.

Then her gaze zeroed in on the small teardrop mole under Narissa's left eye, and something snapped into place.

"You… oh my God, you're…" Tears spilled as she rushed forward, voice breaking. "You're my Narissa! My baby girl, gone thirteen years!"

She pulled Narissa into a tight hug, sobbing. "We've looked for you for thirteen freaking years."

Narissa wasn't one for touchy-feely moments.

She could've dodged that hug in a dozen ways, but that voice—so warm, so familiar—and that face, so much like the mom she half-remembered.

'Is this really my mom?' she thought.

For once, Narissa didn't pull away. She remembered she had a twin sister out there, too.

Thud, thud, thud.

Heavy boots hit the hall. Bastien's sharp, chiseled face appeared, sharp eyes scanning like a predator closing in.