Inside a temporarily requisitioned shop opposite Tranquil Clinic, everyone wore tense expressions. Their disbelief was evident in their furrowed brows and doubtful gazes.

"Confirm the information again. I find it hard to believe," said a burly middle-aged man, his imposing presence hinting at years spent in a position of power.

He was none other than the Warlord of Thunder, one of Dragonia's five mighty warlords, and a figure of immense authority and influence.

"The suspect currently holding a hostage in the clinic has claimed over the phone to be Candace, ranked as the Five of Hearts among the Thirteen Aces, a group of Super S-rank wanted criminals. It's still unclear whether the claim is genuine," Alistair reported.

This was precisely why the Warlord of Thunder was skeptical. The Thirteen Aces, and not just any member but the fifth-ranked, appeared suddenly in a bustling city and personally called the authorities—it was absurd to the extreme.

Xena, the Phoenix Warlord, was also