The moment they entered, the air shifted.
Not physically.
But in tension.
A figure stepped out from the shadows.
Then another.
Three in total.
Positioned.
Prepared.
"…So it is a setup," Kael muttered.
Andres didn't respond.
His attention sharpened instantly.
Positions. Distance. Intent.
Everything became data.
"You're Andres," one of them said.
Not a question.
A confirmation.
"…And if I am?" Andres replied calmly.
The man smiled slightly.
"Then you're exactly who we're looking for."
No further explanation.
No negotiation.
Which meant—
This wasn't about the job.
It was about him.
The first attack came suddenly.
Fast.
Direct.
Andres' body reacted before his thoughts fully formed.
Motion Acceleration triggered instinctively.
He shifted just enough for the strike to miss.
Not dramatic.
Not overwhelming.
But precise.
"…Fast," the attacker noted.
Kael moved immediately, intercepting the second opponent.
Steel clashed.
The third remained still—watching.
Assessing.
Andres steadied himself.
This wasn't chaos.
It was controlled pressure.
A test.
And now—
He had to decide how much of himself to reveal.