As Elian’s party entered, the muscular bouncers halted at the door, forming a periter.
Inside, they were greeted by a large group of beautiful won. Each looked like an angel that ca down from heaven. None of them were scantily clad but all gave an air of poise and refinent.
"Welco back, Mistress Velvet."
A gorgeous blonde woman ca forward and bowed in a curtsy. Her voice was soft and lodic, deliberately trained to please. Her dress clung to her ravishing figure, emphasizing every curve. It showed an ample heaping of cleavage.
"Mistress Velvet, it’s been decades. Thank you for gracing us with your presence. Your beauty continues to amaze; you even managed to find a man willing to put up with you. Congratulations."
Did she just...
"Relax, Char is Bianca’s frienemy. They basically hate each other’s guts but survive by using each other. She is trustworthy. And Bianca loves insulting her," Fluffy remarked in a bored tone.
Bianca made a small smile and retorted in a voice that dripped with condescension and elegance.
"Charlotte. I am surprised you haven’t kicked the bucket yet. Your husband has already left you, I assu? Seeing as you are flaunting those bloated lumps of fat, he must have run off with so tramp, like I warned you years ago, yes?"
Elian could practically see Charlotte’s face twitch. She raised her head and tried very hard to keep her composure. But anyone could see the woman’s fingers digging deeper into her skirt.
"I would appreciate it if we refrained from ntioning him. My late husband is already resting in peace."
"Oh? He’s dead? So, he finally succeeded in his life goal of escaping your sadism."
He saw Bianca’s lips curl up in satisfaction. Charlotte restored her poker face and gestured to the right. "Surely you have so business for , Mistress Velvet? Otherwise, I would like to promptly ask you to return to whatever hole you ca from."
Elian initially wanted to silence the arrogant woman, but he saw Bianca’s face warp in pleasure as she traded barbs with Charlotte. He understood it as when two families tried to one-up each other in quiet rivalry.
If her sore spot is her husband, then I should play up Bianca’s success.
Without waiting for Bianca’s permission, Elian slipped his hand around his lover’s waist and pulled her close. Then, trying his best to appear sweet, he took her hand and kissed it affectionately. He then murmured, "Velvet, darling, stop bullying your friend. I want to go ho quickly."
Bianca froze at his touch. Her cheeks flushed, but her eyes narrowed in delight. Capitalizing on Elian’s play, Bianca went for his lips and gave him a light kiss. "Mmm, apologies, darling, I will try to finish up soon."
Not only Charlotte, but the rest of the won behind her all grew flushed as she gasped, "Oh, my! And who might this gentleman be?"
"Pleased to et you, Lady Charlotte; call Silver." Elian hugged Bianca against his body and introduced himself. "I am the man who loves Velvet the most," he shalessly added.
Charlotte pulled out a fan and opened it. Hiding behind it, she ca closer. Her eyes studied Elian like a predator. "My, my. Where in the world did Velvet manage to find a specin like you?" She then offered her hand, "Charlotte Daniels, owner of Arcus Kiss."
Elian was about to reach for her hand, when Fluffy suddenly lunged forward and licked her hand.
"Kya! What is this animal doing here? It attacked ! Velvet, is it yours?"
Bianca began to massage Fluffy’s scalp as she retorted, "Yes, her na is Fluffy. And I love her very much."
"Well, lucky you. Can you please get her out of here? I don’t know how much you bribed the bouncers, but this is strictly a no-animal zone."
"Fine," with Bianca’s words, the Weapons moved on their own outside, leaving only Elian and Bianca.
Charlotte lost her act and wiped her hand in frustration with a handkerchief. "Sigh, why are you here, Velvet? I thought you died. Should I call you Winter now? Or would you prefer your real na?"
Bianca smiled as she pulled Elian to the left, "News travels fast. Velvet will do. Let’s talk in your office. You still have it on the eastern part of the building, right?"
"You snobby, crooked criminal! How many tis have I told you to stop acting like you own the place!"
"Should I buy you out then?"
"DON’T YOU DARE!"
***
Charlotte begrudgingly offered Bianca and Elian tea in her opulent office. A few won made them tea and quickly left. Bianca, seemingly pleased with Elian’s growth, sat not on the couch but on his lap.
Elian noticed so grapes in a fruit bowl and took so, offering them to his lover. Bianca gazed into his eyes as she seductively took each morsel from his fingers.
"Would the two of you stop it already! I am about to get diabetes! Stop acting like love-struck idiots! Velvet, what did you co in for? My n had a hard ti driving all your tails away."
Basking in her victory, Bianca licked Elian’s finger one final ti before turning to Charlotte.
"Two things. One, we’re not acting. Two, with the amount of money I am about to give you, you should treat better," she teased.
Charlotte sighed and drank her tea in one gulp. She called out to Elian, "Mister Silver, how much would it take for you to leave Velvet and beco my lover instead?"
"I refuse."
"Zero hesitation, huh? I am quite rich," Charlotte countered. "With your looks, you must be staying with her for money, right?"
"I exist for Velvet." Elian hugged Bianca as he added, "She’s the only one for ."
"Ugh, why can’t I find a good man? Fine, enough gas, Velvet, tell what you want. Considering how you swatted the birds earlier, it’s going to cost extra."
"How did you even know about it? It’s barely been an hour."
Charlotte grimaced and ranted, "Are you stupid? Anyone and everyone in our line of work has at least one Crow in their back pocket. Suddenly announcing to the world that you’re the lover of a Tyrant Candidate goes beyond reckless!"
Bianca gave Elian one last kiss on his cheek before turning to face her friend.
"Well, I tried being subtle; it doesn’t work," Bianca then pulled out the folders from the Crows and threw them on Charlotte’s desk. "I need four strike teams, hit them all at the sa ti. I want at least 1 S-Ranked breaker and 100 A-Ranks on each team."
Charlotte looked through the docunts and grimaced, "Are you for real? Do you know how bad the riots are in the other cities? Losing the Fla Swallow Dungeon crippled our infrastructure. And you want to hit four more?"
But despite the gravity of the situation, Bianca crossed her legs and asked curtly, "Will you do it or not?"
"If you do this, you will have attacked all three factions. Have you really lost your mind? They will trace this back no matter how good I may be."
"That’s fine. Tell them I did it," Bianca answered confidently.
Charlotte went wide-eyed. "Velvet, if you fight back, thousands are going to die."
"So, I should just hide in a hole and die? No thanks, I already tried that; it didn’t work. You know how useless the Big Three are. Isn’t that why you are raising Breakers for your own faction? Do you really think they do not know?"
"What do you an?"
Bianca threw another folder. It was the one that had caught her attention earlier.
"Your husband cheated on you with the Pope, Charlotte. You were wondering why the ones you trained keep leaving, right? It’s because of him; and the hush money you paid the Crows? pointless."
In anger, Charlotte stood up and threw the files back to Bianca. Elian blocked them reflexively. His face turned grim at the attack.
The woman’s body trembled under Elian’s gaze, but she continued to stamr, "Fine! I admit it. He sold out, and I’m terrified of being assassinated! But you’re no better! I have no idea what this man promised you, but he will just use you and throw you away! They’re all the sa!"
Elian gently lifted Bianca and placed her on the couch. He then approached Charlotte.
She began to back away in terror, "D-Don’t co near ! I have S-Rank breakers in my employ. If you kill , they won’t stay quiet."
But against everyone’s expectations, Elian didn’t attack her. He calmly bent to gather the scattered papers. Elian then stared at Charlotte with pity. Uncomfortable with his gaze, she tried to cover her chest.
Bianca didn’t comnt and simply watched.
Elian handed the docunts back to Charlotte and spoke. His voice was stern and calm.
"Miss Charlotte. This matter is important to us. Velvet believes you can do it, so I do too. I would appreciate it if you could help us."
Bewildered, she stamred, "But..."
"Bianca didn’t want to fight."
"Huh?"
"Bianca didn’t want to fight. She ran away and tried to live in peace. You know how that ended, right?"
Nod.
"I am the one out for blood."
"You?"
Elian nodded, "Yes, for the suffering Bianca endured. I’ll kill every last one of them."
"Lord Reed. I may not like the way the Big Three handle things, but without them Earth won’t be able to survive what is to co! I was there! The day Vulkanus arrived on Earth! We need them!" Charlotte scread.
But Elian simply grabbed Charlotte’s shoulder.
"I cannot tell you to stop being afraid. But I will get stronger. Strong enough to protect Earth. Strong enough to ensure nothing can hurt Bianca ever again. So, believe when I say this: I will win."
Charlotte bit her lip, looked down, and hesitated.
Elian couldn’t bla her. To soone from Bianca’s generation, his words were nothing but hot air. But as he knew he would deliver on his own promise, he didn’t need so random woman to believe him.
Bianca does, and that is enough.
But just as Elian turned around, Charlotte dashed and yanked the files from him. She covered her lower mouth with them as she murmured, "I’m not doing this because you convinced or anything. But I need a guarantee."
"Guarantee?"
Charlotte paused before answering. "Yes, give a child."
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