"Don't worry, I'm fine. But I think we need to gather everyone for a quick eting," Kisha said, her expression still troubled.
Since receiving the new mission, it was clear that the mission had begun imdiately. She couldn't afford to waste any ti now; the consequences of failing the S-Class Mission were uncertain but potentially dire, possibly resulting in her own death or harm to those close to her, which she was determined to prevent.
Seeing her flustered state, Duke sensed that sothing was amiss, but he refrained from pressing for answers. Instead, he gestured to Bald Eagle to secure the dungeon and then dispatched soone to Villa #9 to check on Tritan and the others, ensuring they joined the eting promptly.
Bald Eagle wasted no ti and swiftly gathered a few of his n to rush to Villa #9 and confirm if Sparrow and the others had completed their mission. He also took the initiative to inform Duke's family about the eting and ensured they were escorted to Villa #1, where Duke and Kisha were heading.
Before joining Kisha, Duke skillfully removed all the listening devices and surveillance caras around the villa, ensuring that their eting place was thoroughly protected and secure.
Confident that their conversations would remain private, Duke led Kisha back to his villa. He had a feeling that what Kisha was about to discuss was of utmost importance, potentially even a matter of life and death, and he treated it with the sa level of seriousness.
After they arrived at the villa, Marcus and his grandchildren, who were busy tending to the property, noticed them approaching. They quickly set out so biscuits and canned drinks on the coffee table before resuming their tasks.
Duke gently guided Kisha to sit on the sofa and pulled her close, cuddling her as he soothingly rubbed her back in rhythmic strokes to calm her. Feeling his silent protection, Kisha looked up at Duke, and her worries began to lt away.
'Right, as long as Duke is with , I can find a solution to any challenge that cos our way. I'm sure of it,' Kisha thought, burying her head into his chest and inhaling his masculine scent. Her anxiety began to fade away.
That's right, no matter how difficult the challenges in her previous life, whenever Duke was by her side, there was always an answer. Both of them were determined not to lose, especially when it concerned the lives of their loved ones. Together, they always found a way to figure things out.
Seriously, she had forgotten that she was no longer alone, no longer dealing with everything by herself. If Duke hadn't died in her previous life, she was sure they would have continued tackling whatever life threw at them together.
Now, Kisha understood her feelings even better. She realized that in her last life, it wasn't that she lost to the two scumbags; it was because she gave up. She gave up on living her life because Duke was no longer there, and she had no other reason to continue. She was simply hoping to see him again.
With this realization dawning on her, Kisha suddenly smiled, her eyes brimming with tears before she burst into a crying ss.
"Hahaha! I am so stupid!" she muttered as tears stread down her face. Duke, on the other hand, was flustered and distraught, seeing Kisha act so uncharacteristically.
He believed that sothing must have triggered her. He could accept any challenges or pain, but what he couldn't bear was seeing Kisha in tears. His mind beca a ss, leaving him flustered and unsure of what to do, so he instinctively reached out to wipe her tears.
"What's wrong, baby? Tell ," Duke coaxed gently, continuing to wipe away her tears and kissing each trail on her cheeks and eyes. He peppered her face with kisses, trying to comfort her as best he could.
He never considered himself skilled at comforting others; he was simply following his instincts. Soon enough, Kisha let out a giggle as Duke continued to pepper her cheeks, the tip of her nose, and her eyes with kisses. Occasionally, a stray kiss would find its way to her lips too.
Kisha was amused by how Duke always managed to find her soft spots and make her smile. In her previous life, he would cook for her or simply listen without trying to offer solutions unless she asked for them. Duke understood that Kisha needed soone to hear her out rather than tell her what to do.
"Nothing, I suppose. I'm just overwheld with happiness being with you," Kisha replied teasingly, watching Duke's eyes widen in slow motion as he realized she was poking fun at him.
In retaliation, he tickled Kisha's side, sending her into fits of laughter that seed endless.
"Ahem! Did we arrive at a bad ti?" The Patriarch quipped, drawing the attention of both Kisha and Duke. The Wyatt family and several of Bald Eagle's n stood to the side, observing keenly as their usually stoic Master transford from a block of ice into Mr. Sunshine.
"Grandpa?! How long have you been there?" Duke asked, his expression returning to its usual cold and indifferent deanor as if the earlier warmth had never existed.
"Well..." The Patriarch glanced around mischievously, drawing out the mont before answering. "Long enough to see my young boy growing up and learning how to coax his wife." His grin widened as he watched Duke's indifferent facade crack, revealing a hint of amusent.
Everyone shared a laugh for a little while as they waited for the others to arrive.
Once everyone had gathered, including Tristan, Sparrow, Vulture, Aston and his team, Reeve, Bald Eagle, and so of his n, Kisha led them all to Duke's office. The space was a bit crowded, with everyone standing side by side around the large, sturdy mahogany desk where Duke was seated, and Kisha sat in his lap.
Everyone had grown accustod to this arrangent and now found it quite normal. Kisha had stopped struggling because Duke didn't want to let her go. Besides, she had already found a comfortable position where she could talk while Duke gently massaged her palm.
Kisha took a deep breath and scanned the crowd. "Everyone, thank you all for coming to this eting. This is the first eting after the establishnt of 'HOPE Base,'" she said with a calm, emotionless tone, causing montary tension as the group processed and absorbed the significance of her words.
"What?!"
"Ah?!"
"What do you an, Young Madam?" Sparrow voiced the question on everyone's mind.
"I an exactly what I said," Kisha replied, her tone steady as she began to play with Duke's slightly calloused fingers. "Since we've taken down the key figures behind City B, the shelter needs a new leader to take over. And there's no better solution than us stepping in."
"Besides, it's better for us to take charge than to let others benefit from our work and potentially turn hostile towards us," Kisha added firmly.
Duke's eyes bore into Kisha's as he asked, "What about our base in City A? Hawk and Eagle are still there, along with your grandparents and brother."
He tried to grasp her intentions. 'Was this why she was so moody earlier?' Duke wondered silently.
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