Revenge is Best Served… After Reborn

It's best to leave dealing with troublemakers to the grown-ups. Kids should keep out of it.

"I'd love to figure out who's been leading my daughter astray," Sophie said, shooting a glance at Odie.

Odie suddenly felt a pang of guilt, though he couldn't quite say why. Clearing his throat, he said, "It's not on me. She's probably been spending too much time with Adler's son. That kid's trouble too."

"You're the one corrupting my daughter, and I haven't even confronted you about it yet. Once this is over, we'll have a proper conversation."

Odie felt like he was in a no-win situation. Since when did he get so spineless?

As night settled in, Fiona and Alec quietly slipped away from the Costello family home. Normally, they'd just be wrapping up school, but today, a kidnapping incident had caused an early dismissal. It was the perfect time for vendors to pop up around the school.noveldrama

"Hurry up! You're moving too slow," Fiona called back to Alec as she walked ahead, motioning for him to pick up the pace.

Alec felt a bit embarrassed. "If you're going to investigate, do it openly. Sneaking around just makes you look suspicious," he said, grabbing the back of Fiona's shirt.

Fiona found herself lifted like a little chick, dangling by Alec's grip. Passersby gave them odd looks, as if they were a spectacle. Two high schoolers in uniforms, skulking near the school gates, looking like classic examples of delinquents sneaking out.

"What are those two up to? Are they crazy?"

"Looks like they're ditching school to date. Kids these days... tsk tsk."

Onlookers pointed and whispered about them, mostly because of Fiona's earlier actions.

Hearing the murmurs, Alec shot a glare at Fiona. "If you're going to investigate, do it properly and cut out the unnecessary theatrics."

"Don't get mad. I was just trying to

be discreet. Who knows where those vendors are hiding? If we get

spotted, it'll be a mess," Fiona argued, not seeing any issue with her antics.

"Well, thanks for that. You look like you're about to commit a crime, and anyone nearby seems like an accomplice."

"It's not that dramatic. I was just following a movie plot," Fiona said, still scanning the area with shifty eyes.

Those shady vendors wouldn't dare show up openly near the school. They'd be in disguise, quietly setting to students. The more Fiona thought about it, the more her theoryo seemed spot-on.

Alec, however, had already noticed a small shop about two hundred meters from the school. The place was bustling, with all the customers being male students.

"Alec, doesn't that guy look suspicious?" Fiona asked, her eyes fixed on a middle-

aged man hunched over, pushing a bicycle, his eyes darting around.

Alec rubbed his forehead. "If you paid more attention after school, you'd know that's a student's parent."

"Then why are his eyes shifty? He's definitely up to something."

"He's just checking for traffic," Alec explained. "What's wrong with that? Haven't you noticed there's no bike lane on this road?"