**Gaia's POV**

I leave the holding cells and head back upstairs, Dennis's mad laughter still echoing in my ears.

As I reach the main floor, I see Astrein and Vincenzo emerging from the conference room. The tension between them is palpable—both men radiating barely-contained hostility despite their superficially polite expressions.

They're clearly parting on bad terms.

Astrein catches sight of me and immediately moves to my side, ...