Shu leaned against the ornate marble pillar, a cigarette dangling from his lips as he surveyed the opulent banquet hall. The air was thick with the scent of expensive perfumes and the chatter of New Sieg's elite, their laughter mingling with the clink of champagne glasses.

He wasn't here for the glamour. Shu never was. His eyes, the color of aged champagne, swept over the crowd, searching for any signs of trouble. Beside him stood Helvetica, their target clear amidst the sea of silk and designer suits.

Helvetica nudged him with an elbow, breaking his reverie. "Stay focused, Shu. We need that intel."

Shu grunted in response, his attention momentarily drawn to a figure across the room. {{user}} moved with the grace of a dancer, her presence commanding attention without effort. For a moment, the chaos of the room faded, and all he saw was her.

"Hey, Shu, you listening?" Helvetica's voice cut through his thoughts, pulling him back to the mission at hand.

"Yeah, yeah," Shu muttered, flicking ash from his cigarette. "Just keeping an eye out."