Ares POV

　　"To search for Dana?" I replied, a smirk playing at the corners of my lips, the mockery evident in my tone.

　　Bathel's eyes sparked with anger at my jest. "Don't you dare look for her in this place when you have hurt her," he growled, his voice laced with barely contained fury.

　　I chuckled dismissively. "I didn't hurt her. You don't know the reasons behind my actions. There are valid explanations," I retorted, addressing his accusations with a hint of defensiveness.

　　His jaw clenched in frustration. "Hurting her and humiliating her is a testament to your disrespect towards her," he declared vehemently, his anger palpable in his voice as he confronted me.

　　I observed Bathel's escalating anger, noting with some satisfaction that my presence had succeeded in rattling him more than I had anticipated.

　　"Oh, I am sorry to hear that," I replied coolly, maintaining an air of nonchalance despite the tension crackling between us. "But I know for sure about Dana's disappearance, and I've been looking for her," I asserted, my tone firm and unwavering.

　　"And she's here-" I began, only to be abruptly cut off by Bathel's seething interruption.

　　"She's missing," he spat, his eyes ablaze with rage as he fixed me with a piercing stare. "Are you trying to mock my situation?" he demanded, his voice sharp with indignation, while his beta stood beside him, their combined gaze bearing down on us with unwavering intensity.

　　"No, I am here because I am worrying," I finally admitted, allowing the weight of my words to settle between us like an unspoken truth that demanded acknowledgment. It was a moment of vulnerability, one that stripped away any pretense of indifference or detachment.

　　Bathel's incredulous reaction was swift, his features contorted with a mixture of disbelief and simmering anger. "You're worried!?" he exclaimed, the words ringing out with a tone that bordered on accusation as if my concern for Dana was somehow incongruous with my past actions. "After you fucking pained her...?" His voice crackled with disappointment and frustration, each syllable carrying the weight of his disillusionment.

　　"I did everything to protect her," I explained, my voice laced with a hint of desperation, fully aware that Bathel's trust in my intentions was likely nonexistent.

　　"Oh, I didn't expect that," I overheard Ander whispering beside me, his words tinged with surprise and perhaps a hint of skepticism.

　　"You can't be here because she's missing-" Bathel began, his words interrupted by a sudden accusation that cut through the air like a blade.

　　"Or you might be hiding her!" I boomed, my frustration boiling over as I seized upon the opportunity to deflect attention away from myself. Bathel's eyes widened in shock as I grasped at my necktie, his howl of outrage echoing through the tense atmosphere.

　　His Beta and Ander both sprang into action, attempting to intervene and diffuse the escalating confrontation.

　　"You're the one who's always been her enemy. You might be the one who's involved in doing this... Your selfishness leads you to do such a thing-" Bathel's accusations cut through the air like a knife, each word heavy with suspicion and disdain.

　　"I could never physically harm Dana," I murmured, my words barely audible amidst the chaos of the moment. But before I could elaborate, Bathel pushed me away, his actions fueled by a potent mix of anger and distrust.

　　"You're out of Dana's life. Leave me alone to find her because it's my job. You have no right to suspect me because I could never hurt her..." Bathel's words were laced with anger, his frustration evident as he ran his fingers through his hair in agitation. In his hand, I noticed a handmade bracelet, identical to the one Dana had given me years ago-a token of our childhood friendship.

　　"She crafted it, right?" I remarked, a laugh bubbling up despite the tension in the air.

　　Bathel's jaw clenched in response. "And what about it?" he demanded, his tone sharp with irritation.

　　"She also made one for me-" I began, but my words were abruptly cut off as he lunged towards me, his anger nearly boiling over. Before the situation could escalate further, a woman intervened, stepping in to restrain Bathel and prevent any further altercation.

　　"It's Anna, his sister, I noted inwardly as her eyes bore into me with a fierce intensity, her anger palpable even from a distance.

　　"What are you doing here? And why are you trying to create a mess?" she yelled, her voice cutting through the tension like a knife. Behind her, another woman stood, her expression mirroring Anna's disapproval.

　　Despite the accusations being hurled my way, the eyes of the onlookers didn't faze me. If anything, their scrutiny only served to heighten my sense of intrigue.

　　"I am not trying to create a mess. I am looking for Dana-" I began, attempting to defend my actions against Anna's accusations.

　　"Well, you have no right to do that when you're the reason that she's suffering!" Anna shouted, her voice brimming with anger and frustration. "You have to leave this place or else-"

　　"I won't leave until you tell me where she is-" I insisted, my determination unwavering despite Anna's heated objections.

　　"It's none of your business!" Bathel interjected, his voice laden with anger as he stepped forward, his frustration palpable.

　　"You cannot push me away until-"

　　"Leave," Anna interrupted me, her eyes flashing with a fierce glare that brooked no argument.

　　I hesitated for a moment, taken aback by her commanding presence before she continued with a tone of finality.

　　"Dana is not here. She was taken by your very own Luna. So, is that enough for you now? You have to leave and better assist your Luna who did everything to harm the future of Dana," Anna declared, her words cutting through the tension with a bitter sting of truth.