The Decision to Follow Their Unknown Enemies
After Caspian's spectacular failure with the alleyway confrontation (the pizza slice threat was truly embarrassing), Zephyr, Solene, and Caspian knew they had to act fast.
Whoever was watching them?
They weren't going to stop.
Which meant—they had no choice but to chase them down first.
Step 1: Creating a Chase Strategy (Which Immediately Falls Apart)
Zephyr, in full CEO mode, decided they needed a structured plan for tracking their enemies.
His proposed strategy:
Follow them discreetly, blending into crowds.Take photos, collect information, analyze movements.Determine their identity before making a move.
The others nodded. Sounded solid.
Execution?
Instant disaster.
Horrific Mistakes That Immediately Happened:
Solene dressed like a celebrity undercover, complete with oversized sunglasses, a wide-brim hat, and a silk scarf—drawing MORE attention instead of less.Zephyr insisted they "move like shadows", but forgot how basic walking worked and nearly tripped over a trash can mid-pursuit.Caspian, for absolutely no reason, brought binoculars—which he used dramatically in public, looking like a cartoon spy instead of an actual investigator.
People noticed them immediately, ruining any chance of blending in.
Step 2: The Messy Stakeout
After failing spectacularly at subtlety, they decided on a different approach.
They found a location where their mystery enemies frequently met—a coffee shop across the street from an old office building.
The new plan?
Stake out the place, watch their movements, collect information.
The execution?
Once again, horrific.
More Mistakes That Immediately Happened:
Solene ordered an expensive latte for "detective aesthetic," only to immediately spill half of it on herself, ruining her disguise.Zephyr tried to decode their conversations from a distance, but ended up analyzing the wrong people—two tourists discussing pizza toppings instead of corporate espionage.Caspian, bored of waiting, tried making small talk with the café workers, accidentally asking weirdly aggressive questions that made everyone uncomfortable.
Hours passed.
Nothing was happening.
Until—suddenly—one of the men got up and started leaving.
And just like that—they had their chance.
Step 3: The Actual Chase (Where Everything Goes Wrong)
Determined not to lose him, they immediately jumped up from their seats and followed.
Fast-paced.
Focused.
Ready for action.
Except—none of them had experience following people, which resulted in complete chaos.
How the Chase Instantly Became a Disaster:
Zephyr tried to "calculate the best pursuit strategy," only to overanalyze directions so badly that he almost got them lost within three minutes.Solene, in an attempt to stay unnoticed, took off her sunglasses—only for the man they were following to immediately recognize her from fashion articles and stare at her suspiciously.Caspian attempted "quick-foot chase tactics," but had never run in regular shoes before—leading to him tripping over a sidewalk planter and dramatically crashing to the ground.
The man noticed them almost immediately.
And without hesitation—he started running.
The Moment Everything Changed
As the chase unfolded, as they ran through the streets, nearly colliding with pedestrians, making every possible mistake, something unexpected happened.
The man turned a sharp corner—leading them into an old industrial district.
And suddenly—they weren't chasing him anymore.
Because waiting in the alley, waiting for him to arrive—was someone else.
Someone important.
Someone they recognized from their father's corporate world.
Someone they weren't supposed to see.
And in that moment, they knew—this was bigger than anything they had expected.
Now?
They weren't just bad investigators looking for answers.
Now?
They were fully involved.
Their exile was never just about responsibility.
Now, they knew for certain—something was happening at Sterling Enterprises.
And whatever it was?
They had just stumbled directly into it.