Lucian was delighted. "Tough girl... That word’s a perfect fit! When you were holding that crossbow, no doubt about it, you were the toughest woman there!"

Paige couldn’t help but laugh too.

Feeling relaxed, the two of them crossed the Fourth District and arrived at their destination in the Third District.

However, Paige was taken aback for a moment as soon as she stepped out of the car.

The building across from the parking lot, the one Lucian had pointed out, was utterly unremarkable. You could just faintly make out that it was a massive courtyard. The lights flanking the arched main gate were dim, and there wasn’t even a name on it. If not for the four capable-looking men standing guard outside, it would have been incredibly easy to miss on a street filled with nightclubs.

"Very low-key."

Lucian, who was pulling on a low-brimmed hat that hid most of his face, chuckled. "You’ll see once we’re inside."

As expected, they were stopped at the entrance. Lucian handed one of the guards a small card. Before Paige could get a clear look at what was on it, the man quickly pocketed it. In its place, he handed Lucian a keycard.

The two of them passed through a deserted, narrow hall and soon entered an inner courtyard.

The layout of the place was bizarre.

They passed through a total of five consecutive archways before someone finally came out to greet them and lead them to a door that required the keycard.

Paige glanced back at the archways. She had the faint sensation of a light scanning her body, and she was sure it wasn’t just her imagination. ’So they aren’t just archways, are they!’

’Detectors?’

’The security is surprisingly tight!’

After he swiped the keycard, the door before them opened. The moment it did, a cacophony of sounds flooded out from within, and Paige quickly snapped her attention forward.

The door shut immediately behind them as they entered. The silence from outside was gone, and they felt as if they had stepped into another world.

They were in a spacious hall, which seemed to be a lounge area.

Men and women were scattered throughout, some standing, others sitting. A few whispered amongst themselves, while others spoke in loud, booming voices. At first glance, the room seemed sparse, but Paige soon realized it only looked that way because of its immense size. In reality, there had to be at least a hundred people there.

The interior decor, however, was the complete opposite of "low-key."

Aside from the soft lighting, the decor was absolutely dazzling, so opulent it nearly blinded Paige.

Lucian saw her blinking repeatedly and chuckled to himself. Fortunately, he’d been given a heads-up, so he didn’t look completely bewildered.

’A place like this exists in the apocalypse? Is that even conceivable?’

’Actually, yes.’

’The more desperate the times, the more people need a place like this!’

He led Paige straight through the lounge and deeper into the establishment.

Along the way, they got quite an eyeful.

A bar, a casino, a bathhouse, even a gladiatorial arena... Whether you sought excitement, sensuality, or just a place to blow off steam, you could find it here.

Paige didn’t finally let out a breath until the two of them reached a small, dimly lit hall.

’An "entertainment and social club"? What a lame name. This is clearly a den of opulence!’

Besides, most of the construction materials used here were highly soundproof and sealed, which explained why no light or sound escaped to the outside.

’What an extravagant undertaking!’

’The owner of this place is the *real* tycoon. Compared to them, everyone else, including Marcus Monroe, probably looks like a country bumpkin...’

"This way!"

Lucian tugged her toward one side of the small hall.

The area was lined with small, private booths. They took a number from a counter and entered one of them.

A young man came in to assist them shortly after.

He had an ordinary face but a very professional demeanor. Wasting no words, he asked directly, "What kind of information are you looking to buy?"

Paige and Lucian exchanged a look, and he gestured for her to speak.

"Her name is Leanne Walsh. Female, between twenty and twenty-five years old, a Water Ability User, Fourth Rank or higher. She came from the direction of Glimmerlake Base. I want all information on her." She thought for a moment before adding, "I can provide a portrait if needed."

The young man looked very pleased and immediately began searching on the laptop he had with him.

In the end, the portrait wasn’t necessary.

Leanne Walsh hadn’t changed her name. After Paige paid with Crystal Cores, she successfully obtained a complete and detailed record of everything Leanne had done since entering Central City, including her movements, preferences, and schedule...

Leanne Walsh on her own would certainly not have warranted such close surveillance.

But as it happened, she had entered the city with a man named Kevin Howell.

This Kevin Howell’s status was complicated. He was connected to the influential Howell Family of the First District—the illegitimate son of Marco Howell, the Clan Leader’s younger brother.