"This place isn't safe anymore. We need to talk somewhere else," The Stick Monk said solemnly to everyone.
"Not safe?" Jessica opened her mouth. "But we've only been here for a little over ten minutes."
"Heh! Do you know why The Hand hasn't come after us in those ten minutes?" The Stick Monk said expressionlessly. "Because True Pure Society held them back. To speak with the few of you face-to-face, one of True Pure Society's teams willingly accepted this mission with an extremely high mortality rate. By now, it should be about time."
"You're joking, right?" Luke said in disbelief.
"No." Matt's tone turned grave. "This really doesn't match The Hand's usual efficiency. Their pursuit should have come like the tide, wave after wave."
"They're here," The Stick Monk suddenly said.
Matt had heard the sounds outside the restaurant as well. "Weapons. Several guns. They're loaded."
"So soon? How did they find us?"
"It was bound to happen sooner or later," The Stick Monk said calmly.
Jessica twitched at the corner of her mouth. "Since you mentioned changing locations, you must know how we're getting out of here, right?"
The Stick Monk gave an astonished hum. "You're slightly smarter than I thought."
"I'll skip the modesty. How are we getting out?"
"There's a sewer by the back door. Open the manhole cover and jump in," The Stick Monk said. Then his tone shifted. "But before that, we need to deal with someone."
He slowly looked toward the last table in the restaurant. Alexandra was sitting calmly in a chair, smiling at them.
"This wouldn't have been my first choice, but I do love fortune cookies. I think we should have a proper talk, like adults."
The Stick Monk looked at her evenly. "What do you want?"
"You surprise me, Stick