Cote and Lyra step into the Romanian Ministry of Magic's meeting room, the faint hum of enchanted lanterns filling the air. Rachel and Morien are already seated, their expressions curious but serious. The atmosphere is tense but not uncomfortable—just the weight of unfinished business hanging over the room.

Rachel greets them with a nod as they take their seats. "Welcome back. Judging by the number of people you brought back in cuffs, I'm guessing things got pretty wild. Care to fill us in?"

Cote leans back in his chair, crossing his arms. "Wild's one way to put it. That bank wasn't just shady—it was set up by the people we're after. They built it to cover their tracks, plain and simple. Everything about it was designed to make sure no one could follow the money."

Lyra picks up where Cote leaves off, resting her elbows on the table. "It looked like any other bank, but the second we started digging, it was obvious something was off. The manager couldn't explain anything about the accounts, and when we pressed, things got ugly fast. It was like the whole staff decided to play security guard."

Morien raises an eyebrow. "The staff turned on you? That's not normal for a bank."

"Exactly," Cote says, nodding. "They weren't just clueless employees caught in the middle. They knew what was going on, and the second we pushed too hard, they tried to shut us down. It was coordinated."

Rachel leans back, letting out a slow breath. "So, the bank's a front. Makes sense. It's clean enough to avoid suspicion but set up just right to make it impossible to figure out where the money's going."

"Pretty much," Lyra says. "And whoever's running this show? They're good. We didn't get much before they tried to take us out."

"But," Cote adds, his tone sharp, "the fact that they panicked tells us something. We hit a nerve. They wouldn't have gone all in like that if we weren't on the right trail."

Rachel taps her fingers on the table, her expression thoughtful. "If these people have set up an entire bank just to cover their tracks, we're not dealing with random criminals or rogue actors. This is an organised group, and they're playing a long game."

Morien nods, leaning forward. "It's not just the resources it takes to set up a bank—it's the coordination. They've thought this through, likely with contingencies for every scenario. Groups like this don't just disappear when one operation is disrupted. They adapt, and they retaliate."

Rachel sighs, the weight of the situation evident in her posture. "That's the problem. This isn't just about following money anymore—it's about dismantling an entire network. And the longer they've been operating, the harder it's going to be to root them out."

Morien gestures to the documents on the table. "We'll need to expand our approach. More surveillance, more tracking of magical signatures, and probably more cooperation with international agencies. This group clearly knows how to exploit loopholes in the system."

As Rachel and Morien discuss strategies, Cote, seated next to Lyra, seems to drift out of the conversation. Leaning back in his chair, he reaches out and places his hands on Lyra's cheeks, gently cupping them. With a playful smile, he begins to slowly push one cheek up and the other down, alternating the motion as though trying to create the most ridiculous expression he can.

Lyra, clearly amused, doesn't resist. Instead, she smiles warmly, letting him carry on with his silly gesture. The tension in the room seems to melt away for them, their dynamic a sharp contrast to the serious discussion happening at the other end of the table.

Rachel pauses mid-sentence and narrows her eyes at the two of them. "Alright, what on earth are you two doing?"

Cote looks up, his hands still on Lyra's face. "Just another one of the silly things we like to do."

Lyra chuckles softly, her cheeks still being playfully squished. "To be fair, I'm the one who came up with it," she adds, her voice light and cheerful. „Cote's just perfecting the technique."

Cote and Lyra straighten up slightly as Rachel directs her attention back to them. "Alright," she says, her tone professional once again. "Did you manage to get any useful information out of the arrested personnel?"

Cote shakes his head. "Not yet. That's why we brought them in. They're tight-lipped, but I reckon the Ministry's interrogation teams will have better luck."

Rachel nods, then turns to Morien. "The Ministry will keep Trowel Industries informed as soon as we discover anything useful. If there's even a shred of intel that can help us connect the dots, you'll know about it."

"Good," Morien replies, his expression grim. "If this group is planning to become the next Cult of Kagan, Trowel Industries needs to be prepared. We've already seen what happens when people like this are underestimated."

Rachel leans back slightly, crossing her arms. "Agreed. The way they've gone about this—using financial fronts, training staff to resist—suggests they're more than just a rogue faction. They're building something, and we'll need to stay ahead of them."

Morien nods, his focus intense. "And quickly. We can't afford to let them gain the same kind of traction the Cult of Kagan did eight years ago."

As the two continue discussing strategy, their attention drifts to Cote and Lyra, who appear to have checked out of the conversation once again. This time, they're shoulder-bumping each other in a familiar back-and-forth rhythm.

"Tomas and Violetta," Cote proclaims with conviction.

"Leon and Violetta," Lyra counters, her tone equally resolute.

Rachel furrows her brow, glancing at Morien, who raises an eyebrow in quiet amusement. "Do I even want to know what's going on this time?" Rachel asks.

Cote looks up, unabashed. "Oh, this? We're still trying to settle a debate from when we were kids."

Lyra nods, laughing softly. "The show ended when Cote was sixteen and I was ten, and we still haven't decided."

Rachel leans forward slightly, her curiosity piqued. "Alright, I'll bite. Wasn't one of the couples supposed to be official by the end of the show?"

Lyra grins. "Yeah, Violetta ended up with Leon."

"And she would've been better off with Tomas," Cote interjects immediately, leaning back in his chair with a playful smirk.

Rachel shakes her head, unable to suppress a small laugh. "Of course. You two never stop, do you?"

Morien chuckles as well, a rare moment of levity breaking his otherwise serious demeanour. "Well, at least they're consistent,"

He then shifts his attention back to Rachel, his tone returning to its usual seriousness. "So what's the Ministry's plan until we get something useful out of the suspects?"

Rachel leans back in her chair, folding her arms. "Same as it's been so far. We'll keep Cat Noir on high alert and maintain a close connection with Ladybug. The two of them are our best assets for keeping this situation contained while we piece everything together."

Morien nods thoughtfully. "Fair enough. We'll make sure Trowel Industries is ready to assist as soon as we know more. These aren't the kind of people you take lightly."

Rachel starts to respond, but her words falter as she notices Cote and Lyra once again shoulder-bumping each other. This time, Cote declares, "Simon and Luna."

"Matteo and Luna," Lyra counters, her voice equally insistent.

Cote looks at Rachel and Morien, completely unbothered. "We've watched a whole bunch of soap operas."

"And Cote always picks the losing couple," Lyra chimes in, smirking.

"You mean the losing couple that should've won," Cote retorts.

Rachel lets out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "I don't know what's more impressive—that you've watched so many soap operas or that you've made a habit of this."

Lyra grins at her. "It's just how we unwind. Besides, these debates are practically tradition at this point."

Cote nods enthusiastically. "Exactly. It's not just about the couples—it's about the principle."

Morien shakes his head with a faint chuckle. "I suppose there's some comfort in knowing you two can find humour in the middle of all this chaos."

Morien adjusts his posture, his tone growing more serious as he addresses Rachel. "That's all well and good, but what if the enemy manages to get their hands on Ladybug and Cat Noir's Miraculouses? Given how powerful they are, it's a risk we can't ignore. Does the Ministry have a contingency plan for that?"

Rachel considers this for a moment before responding. "It's a valid concern, but the system in place makes it highly unlikely. The Miraculouses are in the possession of two people who keep their identities secret from everyone, even from each other. Ladybug, in particular, doesn't work directly for the Ministry—she operates for an anonymous ally whose identity is also a mystery to us. Only the Minister knows who it is. Even if the group we're investigating manages to take one Miraculous, they'd still have to find and obtain the other. And with the powers of one able to counter the other, the remaining Miraculous would be enough to neutralise the threat."

Morien nods slowly, his expression thoughtful but still concerned. "Fair enough. It's reassuring to know the system has some safeguards, but I'd still advise staying vigilant. If they're as organised as we believe, we can't rule out the possibility of them finding a way."

Rachel nods. "Agreed. It's something we'll keep monitoring closely."

Before they can delve further into the discussion, Rachel's attention shifts, and she sighs audibly. Cote and Lyra are shoulder-bumping each other again.

This time, Cote says, "Left Twix."

Lyra counters with equal intensity, "Right Twix."

Rachel blinks, completely thrown by the absurdity. "What on earth are you two on about this time?"

Cote grins, unbothered by the interruption. "We came up with it for soap opera love triangles, but it works with everything."

Rachel pinches the bridge of her nose, though a faint smile tugs at her lips. "I honestly don't know how you two function."

Lyra nods, smirking. „We're not entirely sure ourselves."

Morien chuckles softly, shaking his head. "Well, at least they're creative."

Rachel leans forward slightly, her expression serious. "What's the likelihood that we're actually dealing with a group as big and powerful as the Cult of Kagan from eight years ago—or potentially even bigger and more powerful?"

Morien's gaze hardens, and he exhales slowly. "Quite likely, I'm afraid. While Nosgoth loyalists aren't many compared to the general vampire population, those that do exist are relentless. They'd stop at nothing to re-establish the old ways of Nosgoth. These loyalist factions are opportunistic and quick to turn on one another. When one faction falls, others are eager to seize its place, taking over its resources and manpower."

He pauses, his tone growing darker. "And let's not forget what Kagan himself claimed during the war—that his cult needed outside help to develop the Shroud. It's entirely possible that some of Kagan's helpers saw the aftermath of the war as an opportunity to take over the remnants of his empire. They could very well be trying to rebuild it, bigger and stronger than before."

Rachel frowns, her brow furrowed in confusion. "Nosgoth? I've heard the name in passing, but I've never fully understood what it means. What does it have to do with vampires here?"

Morien sits back slightly, folding his hands on the table. "Nosgoth is where it all began. Vampires didn't originate on Earth; they first came to this world in ancient times, from the land of Nosgoth. In Nosgoth, Emperor Kain ruled with an iron fist. Under his empire, humans were enslaved by vampires, treated as little more than cattle."

Rachel's expression tightens, a hint of unease crossing her features. "Charming."

Morien's tone softens slightly as he continues. "But Kain's rule wasn't absolute, even among his own kind. Many of his vampire subjects followed him out of fear rather than true conviction. So, when Nosgoth fell and vampires found themselves on Earth, they were free from Kain's tyranny. For the first time, they had the chance to live peaceful lives among humans."

Rachel leans forward slightly, her interest piqued. "But not all of them did, I take it?"

"Correct," Morien replies, his expression grim. "Among Kain's followers, there were true believers—those who worshipped his ideology and clung to the old ways. They're the ones who became the hostile vampires we've fought over the centuries. To them, Earth isn't a fresh start. It's an opportunity to rebuild Kain's empire, to reclaim what they see as their rightful dominance."

The weight of Morien's explanation hangs heavily in the room, and Rachel sits back, digesting the revelation. "So, if I'm understanding correctly, the group we're facing now could very well be the ideological successors of Kain and Kagan. And their goal isn't just chaos—it's to establish another Nosgoth here on Earth."

"Exactly," Morien says, his tone resolute. "Which is why we need to take every precaution. If this group is as resourceful as we suspect, they could already be further along than we realise."

The meeting gradually winds down as Rachel gathers her notes and Morien rises from his seat. "I'll ensure Trowel Industries is ready to assist wherever necessary," he says, his tone measured. He glances at Lyra, who stands to join him. "Come along, Lyra. Let's go over the data we collected from the bank."

Lyra nods, offering a quick smile to Cote. "Catch you later," she says, following her father out of the room.

Once the door closes behind them, Cote shifts his attention back to Rachel, leaning slightly forward in his chair. "Alright, Rachel. What's the next step?"

Rachel sets her notes aside and folds her hands on the table. "We've received some intel that might give us another lead. Apparently, some stolen Trowel Industries technology has made its way to a hostile vampire hideout in London."

Cote raises an eyebrow. "London? Any idea how it got there?"

"Not yet," Rachel replies. "Whoever's running the hideout may have bought the tech on the black market, but it's just as likely that they're another branch of the group responsible for the original theft. Either way, it's worth investigating."

Cote nods, his expression turning serious. "So, what's the plan?"

Rachel meets his gaze, her tone resolute. "You and Ladybug will head to London to investigate. Your mission is to confirm whether this hideout is connected to the group we're tracking and, if possible, retrieve the stolen tech. We need to know exactly how far this network reaches."

"Understood," Cote replies, a hint of anticipation flickering in his eyes. "When do we leave?"

"Tomorrow. I'll get everything arranged," Rachel says. "Be ready to move as soon as we have confirmation from Ladybug."

Cote rises from his chair, his mind already racing with thoughts of the mission ahead. "Looks like it's time to pack."