章 263: Shadows in the Night    

[LYANDER]

Unbeknownst to Iraya, Lyander De Santis had been present on the other side of the bar earlier, casually watching the scene unfold.

He wasn't one to meddle without reason, but when Iraya arrived, he instructed that guards to let her in. Now, as he sat leisurely, a guard approached, shoving a nervous young waiter forward.

"Boss, we caught this guy talking with Miss Lee," the guard said, his grip firm on the waiter's shoulder.

Lyander, lounging in his chair, didn't immediately respond. Instead, he calmly downed the shot of whiskey in his hand, the glass clinking softly as he set it down. His eyes, cold and unreadable, flicked toward the trembling waiter.

He didn't bother sizing the boy up—it wasn't necessary. People like him always broke under pressure.