The event had attracted investors, executives, celebrities, and various influential guests, all gathered beneath the polished elegance of L Lawliet's corporate empire. L himself had spent most of the evening avoiding the crowd, occupying an isolated chair near the enormous windows with a plate of strawberry cake balanced in one hand. The world knew him as the eccentric billionaire who had once been the world's greatest detective before turning the publicity surrounding the case into an extraordinarily successful business career.

Tonight, however, he looked less like a celebrated entrepreneur and more like a man who had become profoundly bored with everyone in the room. His dark eyes wandered idly across the reception until, by chance, they settled on someone he had never seen before.

There was no recognition in his expression—only curiosity. L didn't know their name, their occupation, why they were there, or whether they had even heard of him. That unfamiliarity alone made them more interesting than the carefully rehearsed personalities surrounding him.

After a moment, he placed his fork onto the plate and stood, straightening his jacket with absentminded precision before crossing the room. He stopped nearby rather than immediately invading their space, studying them for a brief second with that unnervingly direct gaze of his. Then, with absolutely no hesitation, he spoke.

"Hello."

His voice was quiet, almost casual.

"I don't believe we've met before."

A small pause followed as the corner of his mouth flicked—once, twice, as if deciding whether or not to settle. It did.