Sophie hummed a popular tune as she wove the latest style of belt, with four handpicked maids attentively observing nearby. These four were the most skilled among the servants, each leading a team of twenty. The captains would learn from Sophie first, then teach the squad leaders, who in turn would instruct their team members individually. Even the slowest learners received patient guidance.
Just then, Bai stumbled in from outside, collapsing on the floor the moment he spotted Sophie.
"Sophie... Charles is gone!" Shaking his head, Bai tried to clear his dizziness, but it was no use.
"What? Bai, what's wrong?" Sophie hadn't caught his words clearly, but seeing him limp on the ground, she shot up and rushed over, scooping him into her hands. "Bai, what happened? What did you say?"
Ignoring the maids' shocked expressions, Bai repeated, "Charles is missing!" Normally too lazy to speak, Bai's sudden words were startling enough—but the content was even more shocking. *How could Charles just disappear?*
---
Agatha crouched in the corner, guilt gnawing at her as she stared at the unconscious boy on the floor. *If only I hadn't followed him... He wouldn't be here. He'd still be living happily, like other kids.*
Touching the whip marks on her arm, tears blurred her vision.
She didn't know how she'd ended up in this place. When she woke up, she was already here. The only thing she remembered was her name—**Agatha**.
There were other children here, all older than her, but none were friendly. At first, they'd even stolen her food—if the disgusting slop they were given could even be called food. And even that wasn't guaranteed every day.
Glancing at the locked door and then at the boy, Agatha crawled over and gave him a gentle shake. No response. *The boss's sleep-inducing flowers must be really strong.* If she hadn't taken the antidote beforehand, she'd have collapsed just like him when she handed over the flower.
Though she'd done it to survive, guilt twisted her stomach. *The others must be out stealing by now. If they don't bring back enough today, I won't get fed either.* Curling into a ball, she pressed closer to the boy, seeking warmth.
This was the boss's domain—a crumbling, abandoned brick kiln that doubled as a home for street kids. Every child under the boss's control was forced to pickpocket in the city. The amount of loot determined their meals.
Agatha, clumsy and slow, had earned countless lashes for her failures. Her once-smooth arms were now crisscrossed with scars. When it became clear she'd never master theft, the boss gave her a new task: **lure lone children with the sleep-flower.** The boss would then trade the kidnapped kids with traffickers from other cities, ensuring a steady supply of fresh "workers."
Wandering the streets with the flower in hand, Agatha had watched enviously as other children laughed with their parents. Though she occasionally crossed paths with lone kids, she'd never used the flower on them—she couldn't bear to doom them to her fate.
But this boy... something about him had mesmerized her. Maybe it was his cheerfulness, the tune he hummed, or the way he happily licked his snow cone. Whatever it was, she'd followed him—until he noticed her.
When he turned, Agatha had frozen, unable to flee. His expression shifted from surprise to delight, and despite herself, she'd smiled back. But that smile died when he bent down, took the flower, and inhaled its scent—along with the little white dog on his shoulder.
As he collapsed, panic had seized her. *I didn't mean to! I just wanted to feel his happiness, just for a second...*
Then the boss appeared, dragging both her and the boy back to the kiln, locking them in this room. Guilt and hunger finally overwhelmed her, and she passed out beside him.
---
Brandt, the self-proclaimed king of his grimy little empire, sipped the expensive wine his underlings had stolen, letting out a satisfied belch. Today's haul was decent—plenty of silver coins, plus an **elf boy** who'd fetch a high price. *Should I sell him to Chiqpan? Laboton? Or maybe Kaxina?*
Though only a third-rate magic apprentice, Brandt had learned enough shady spells and tricks to control his "subjects." His "special pills"—harmless laxatives—were passed off as "antidotes" to keep the kids obedient. *Swallow these, or the poison in your belly will kill you!* The lie ensured they stole for him daily, too terrified to run.
But Agatha... she was hopeless. After all this time, she still couldn't pick a pocket. *Waste of food.* Still, she was pretty. He'd fatten her up a bit longer, then sell her. For now, she could keep luring kids with the sleep-flower.
Checking the darkening sky, Brandt stood. "That new brat should be waking up soon." Dusting off his already filthy clothes, he headed for the locked door.
---
Back at *Magic Doll*, chaos reigned. Every employee, even the usually unflappable clerk Claude, had rushed out to search. **The boss's son—young master Charles—was missing!**
The streets were suddenly flooded with frantic figures stopping passersby:
"Excuse me, have you seen a boy? Twelve or thirteen, pointed ears, light blue hair, blue eyes—very pretty."
Each shake of a head sent them sprinting to the next person.
"What do we do? No one's found anything! Bai, can't you track Charles?" Sophie cradled the still-dizzy fox, though she knew it was futile. *Maybe Libor will have better luck... though his daytime powers are limited.*
She longed to join the search, but if Charles returned to an empty shop... *No. With Bai this out of it, Charles must be worse.*
*Do kidnappers exist in this world? But Charles is too old to be snatched! Bai said it was a little girl—what's going on?!*
Pacing like a headless chicken, Sophie forgot to even ask Yax or Milta for help—they had *official* resources!
"Would they... harvest his organs? No, medical science here isn't that advanced. And he's too old to be adopted. Then why take him?!" Scratching her head, Sophie's thoughts spun wildly. "Wait—**ransom**?!" The idea jolted her. *If it's money they want, fine! Take it all! But once Charles is back... oh, they'll pay.*
Strangely, the possibility calmed her. Now, she just had to wait for the kidnappers' demands.
*But... what if it's* not *a ransom?*
**What fate awaits Charles in the hands of these traffickers?**