Early the next morning, Klein Moretti was awakened by a knock at the door. He climbed out of bed, picked up the pocket watch on the table to check the time, and saw that it was exactly seven o'clock.
Melissa was preparing breakfast for the family, while Benson was washing up in the bathroom. Klein could only rub his slightly puffy eyes and go answer the door.
Standing outside 2 Daffodil Street was his colleague, Angel Granger, who had also recently joined the Nighthawks.
The beautiful blonde woman looked deeply apologetic as she said, "Sorry, I won't be able to keep our appointment on Saturday."
Still not fully awake, Klein took several seconds to understand what she meant before asking blankly, "What?"
Only then did he notice the leather suitcase beside Angel. Instead of her usual trench coat, she wore a long hooded cloak over light casual clothes.
"After you left yesterday morning, the captain informed me that there was an urgent mission I needed to join." Angel smiled bitterly and pointed east along Daffodil Street. "He told me to pack my weapons and daily necessities overnight, then take the steam train to Enmat Harbor first thing this morning."
Klein glanced in the direction she indicated. The rising sun cast gentle light over the entire street, and that way lay Enmat Harbor, about four hours from Tingen City by train.
"Did he say what was going on?" Klein asked, turning his gaze back to Angel. "About how long will you be gone?"
The woman before him lowered her head in thought, seemingly hesitating over whether to tell him the details of the mission. Standing inside the doorway, Klein could not clearly see her expression because of the height difference created by the front steps.
But Angel soon raised her head,