ONE MONTH LATER
Justin strolled through the bustling marketplace, his eyes scanning the vibrant racks of clothing, when suddenly he spotted her—the mysterious girl from before. His heart raced as a wave of longing washed over him, but words eluded him like smoke slipping through his fingers.
Nearby, Nancy's flower shop beckoned. As if drawn by fate, the girl entered the shop. Mustering all the courage he could, Justin stepped forward, but a hand clapped down on his shoulder, halting him.
"Yo, Justin! What brings you here?" Mucho's booming voice broke through his thoughts.
"Oh, Mucho! Nothing much, just... buying some flowers," Justin replied, trying to keep his composure. Mucho was a strong and boisterous young friend of LGT.
"For whom?" Mucho inquired, raising an eyebrow.
"It's for that... you know... that—" Justin faltered, glancing back toward the flower shop, but before he could finish, the girl emerged, heading home.
"Yo, Luna! What're you doing here?" Mucho called out, spotting Justin's wife.
Luna, kind-hearted but hopeless in the kitchen, much like his own mother, replied, "Oh, Mucho! Just picking up some flowers."
"For whom?" Mucho asked again, curiosity piqued.
"Well, it's for a colleague's birthday at the LPS detective agency where I work," Luna explained, glancing at Justin with a warm smile.
"Oh, I see," Mucho nodded.
"Okay, I'm running late. Bye!" Luna waved before heading off.
"See ya!" Mucho replied, turning back to Justin.
Justin listened quietly, a thought forming in his mind. So, she's a detective, huh?
"Who's she, Mucho?" he asked, curious.
"Luna? My classmate from high school," Mucho answered, looking bemused.
"Oh!"
After a moment of contemplation, Mucho leaned closer and asked, "Justin, is she the girl you want to buy flowers for?"
Caught off guard, Justin blurted out, "Yes."
"Then what are you waiting for? Go talk to her!" Mucho urged, enthusiasm bubbling in his voice.
"Really?" Justin hesitated.
"Absolutely! Go!"
With newfound resolve, Justin approached Luna. "Hi."
"Hi," she replied, her smile brightening the moment.
"Well, you're really cute and, um, beautiful, so I—" he stumbled over his words, feeling the heat rise in his cheeks.
"Hey, you're that thief, aren't you?" she interrupted, a teasing glint in her eyes.
"---"
An awkward silence fell between them. Justin turned to leave, but then—
"I like your work," Luna said, surprising him.
He stopped, stunned. "What??"
"Yeah, you steal and help poor people with that money, right?" she asked, her tone sincere.
In that moment, Justin seized his chance. "Yeah, it's just like that."
They began to talk, exchanging numbers, and soon enough, they were going on dates, laughter intertwining with their growing connection.
One day, as they sat beneath a mango tree, Baba strolled by, reciting one of his riddles, as he often did.
"Mango fell from the tree of an apple,
Something happened called a miracle.
Once who were ours have become strangers,
Betrayed us and caused a miracle."
Luna and Justin pondered the riddle, each grappling with its meaning, but understanding remained elusive.
Two months flew by. Justin and Luna wed, and at her urging, he left behind the dangerous world of the underworld government to pursue a career as a writer.
Meanwhile, Pablo found love with Suzan—a cook renowned for her culinary skills. Suzan was a master in the kitchen, always experimenting with flavors.
Stella, on the other hand, married Henry, a curious blend of a movie director and vegetable seller—a man of peculiar talents who often surprised everyone with his creativity.
Though Justin departed from LGT, the group carried on. Pablo and Stella remained active members, while LGT welcomed a new recruit—Pixar, a man with the ferocity of a lion.
For nine months, LGT thrived under Pixar's leadership. However, as family life took precedence, Pablo and Stella's performances waned, leading them to exit the group.
Yet, LGT persevered, driven by Pixar's unwavering spirit. But how long could one man carry the weight of a team? Despite his lion-like strength, he was still human.
After a year of relentless effort, the government's patience wore thin. Ultimately, LGT was disbanded, paving the way for the emergence of a new team—The Dark Golden Trio.