She looked toward the doorway and saw three individuals steering a cart toward it. They didn't swipe their ID cards. The man in front typed a long string of digits into the keypad. Beep. The door slowly opened. "One minute. Grab them and leave," the leader instructed. The trio shot inside, urgency in every step. Less than a minute later, the door to the restricted zone opened again. They emerged, pushing a cart loaded with items. Theresa's eyes went to the items on the cart. Encased in a glass box were numerous reagent bottles, each labeled. As they surged past her, a puddle of water leaked from the bathroom. The floor became even more slippery. Instantly, the cart lost its footing, sending the bottles into a noisy clatter. "What are you doing?" a voice yelled. The cart-pushers froze, guilt written all over their faces. "We have no idea how the water got here! We didn't mean to!" Theresa's gaze swept over them. "Well, clean it up now!" The three A-Rank staff exchanged a tense look. "Officer, that's C-Rank's responsibility." "You think I don't know? There's no time to fetch help. Those wheels are wet; if anything expensive gets ruined, you'll have to pay for it." Under the force of her voice, the three went rigid. "Clean the floor and wheels now!""Yes..." Though their instincts told them otherwise, the staff, trained to obey, pushed the cart toward the bathroom. One of them entered to grab a mop. The instant he entered, an attack erupted. Hearing the commotion, the remaining two dashed inside. Inside, a man in an inspector's uniform waited, head cocked, a faint smirk playing on his lips. At his feet lay a man, fully unconscious. Enemy attack! They opened their mouths to shout, but pain lanced through their necks. Their heads drooped, and they slumped to the floor. Theresa knocked them out—one with each hand. With the immediate threat subdued, she eased their cart into the bathroom. Looking at the cart, she thought of the specimens Sage had talked about. So these are the specimens—likely the result of their newest research. Unexpected, but a worthwhile find. I'll keep them. She contained the cart within her domain. A voice spoke behind her. "You're bold—stealing right where you shouldn't be." A man in a suit stood at the bathroom door, hands tucked loosely in his pockets; his gaze rested on them as they looked up. "Sage!" Theresa spat the name through clenched teeth. Sage adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and gave a faint smile. "Ms. Hall, it's been a while.""D*mn you!" The curse left her lips as her fist flew. Sage remained calm as he watched her punch. "If I make a sound, everyone will rush in and your mission will fail." Her fist hung inches from his face. Theresa relaxed her hand at his confident smile—but the moment his brow softened, she struck, her fist slamming into his gut. "Ugh—" Sage gasped, his body twisting in pain. From outside, someone immediately called, "Mr. Arlen, what's wrong?" Theresa's hand snapped to his throat. Sage met her murderous stare and forced out, "I'm fine." His reply silenced the people outside. He didn't expose her, yet she had no intention of sparing him. Her fist rose again. He seized her fist. "If you hit me again, I'll respond in kind." "Do it!" "Theresa, this isn't like you! Are you crazy?" "Yeah, I'm crazy! You took my aunt, didn't you?" Sage's gaze softened—too sincere to be real. "It wasn't me. You're mistaken." "Save it," Theresa hissed. "I don't believe you." He laughed softly, and the sincerity in his face evaporated. "Fine. You got me." "You b*stard!"