Charlotte scrolled through her phone, lips twitching. "Unbelievable."
The thousandth post, the millionth share. All about the man in her office.
"Really unbelievable."
One of the onlookers finally groaned. "Will you just accept it already, Charlotte? It was funny for the first few hours; now you’re just being a nuisance."
"The nerve! This is my office, you white-haired imp! Why are you even here?"
Charlotte snapped, pointing at the woman stretched across her favorite couch.
Bianca, lounging like royalty, sipped from a cocktail glass without a care in the world. She was absentmindedly scrolling through a smartphone. Bianca pointed to Elian and then Charlotte.
"Elian needs Ned. Ned is here. I need Elian. So I’m here."
The Tyrant was kneeling beside Ned, who was in full armor. He had a hand buried in Ned’s shoulder plate.
Charlotte’s thumb scrolled faster, but her thoughts couldn’t keep up. The comnts, the selfies, the absolute madness—they were all laughing while the world hunted him.
"But seriously, how does any of this make a single bit of sense? There were three bounties placed on him by the guilds’ factions that control the world. Yet all I can see are posts about influences racing to co here tomorrow! All for a few crowns? It’s insane!"
"You obviously have never been poor," Elian retorted.
"Here here," Ned agreed, "I actually think the people going for the bounties would find it harder to act due to social dia people covering Elian’s battle."
"That was the intention. Those truly interested would not risk being seen by so many. They would need to kill everyone who is there. Besides, why do you even care that we are here? It’s not like you have any friends."
"W-What? I do have friends! Stop slandering !" Charlotte snapped.
"No, you don’t. You pay your squad leaders just so they hang out with you. It’s like 10,000 Crows an hour, right? And you ask them all about their love lives." Bianca then sat up with a mischievous smile, "Just say the truth. You want us gone so you can flirt with your boyfriend!"
"T-That’s! Ned has left the Church and is now under my employ. Us being together is a legitimate employee coaching; it isn’t lewd." The woman awkwardly explained.
She reminds of how guarded Bianca was when I first t her.
Elian chuckled at Bianca’s ta teasing of her friend. Compared to the verbal abuse she normally gave to those she truly didn’t like, it was way too llow.
"Charlotte, please forgive her. Bianca truly is fond of you," Elian apologized like a thoughtful husband.
"I don’t really mind that, Elian, but please stop your crazy girlfriend from going overboard."
However, Ned began to snicker as he added, "Lottie really likes Bianca, though; her earlobes turn scarlet when she is embarrassed. They even flap like wings sotis. It’s so adorable, Elian. I will show you a video next ti."
"Ho? Interesting. Then you must have been looking at her very closely. What do you find most attractive about Charlotte, Ned?"
The young breaker pushed up his glasses as he tapped his chin with a finger, "Honestly? I like everything about her. But if I have to pick... definitely the beauty mark on her lip."
"AHHH!!! NED! WHAT ARE YOU SAYING? AND YOU, ELIAN, PLEASE STOP TALKING!" Charlotte scread.
Adding to the chaos, Bianca stood up and walked up to the two n. "Hey, Ned. I will share a secret about Charlotte if you give one about Elian," Bianca offered like a devil.
"Deal. Elian hates long nose hair with a passion. One ti he saw mine, he tried to pull it out. Does that work?"
Charlotte stood up and got in between Bianca and Ned. "Uh, hello! Is no one going to ask about how I feel about this deal? Sir Elian, you say sothing to!"
"I don’t really mind," Elian replied.
"See? My Elian is way more adorable. Anyway, that one is too safe; I have a real big one. It is worth at least three secrets, Ned. Give more dirt on your friend. The more embarrassing, the better."
"Just what are you going to tell him, Witch?"
Elian ignored the noise and resud his calibrations on Ned’s armor. He was currently changing the commands each part had to increase performance.
"Two more embarrassing secrets, huh? Elian once tried to propose to our English teacher, Miss Jacky, in the fifth grade but got shot down mid-proposal. And Elian once shaved his head, but he had a weird penis-shaped birthmark above his left ear. He never tried it again."
Bianca nodded while tapping her finger on her phone. "Good enough, I guess. I want her full na. And the school she works at. Just curious. As for Charlotte’s secret. Although she has been married before, she is actually a virgi—"
"AGHHHH! Look at the ti! Sir Elian, didn’t you need to prepare for the invasion? Why are you wasting ti here?" Charlotte panicked as she practically sealed Bianca’s mouth with her hands.
Elian could only laugh at the chaotic energy of their group. Finishing up the new instructions he had for Ned’s armor, he got up and wiped his hands.
The Tyrant then picked up Bianca in a bridal carry. She didn’t even react much, which showed just how familiar the action had beco. Bianca rely stretched her arms to make it easier to pick her up and leaned on Elian’s chest as if it were her instinct.
Ned and Charlotte blushed at the affectionate relationship of their friends.
"Thank you for the hospitality, you two. We will be back again," Elian bid farewell.
"Please leave that witch at ho!"
"Bye, Elian, see you later."
They excited Arcus Kiss using one of the custor exits. Elian created a veil for Bianca and altered their faces and body structure. Although technically hardly anyone paid attention to them. The entire city was alive as if it had a festival.
A large flock of Fla Swallows circled around, creating a beautiful scene up above. Those unconcerned with flas above the skyline were too busy doomscrolling. Their comnts revolved around the sa three topics.
Finding enough phones and people to shoot a video. Doing sothing to sohow reach 5 million shares. And finally, the reality that by this ti tomorrow, Crestfall City will either be celebrating in triumph or lying in ruins.
The city had fractured. There were those who tried to leave.
A bunch of kids rehearsing their lines for tomorrow’s videos. Just a block later, a large group of people was desperately bartering with a at vendor for food that wouldn’t spoil for a long journey.
There were vagrants offering themselves up as caran to be hired. And entire driveways packed to the brim with cars trying to leave the city.
People who were partying like it was the end of the world. Right next to religious people doing prayer vigils of various religions. It was an absolute ss.
And those that chose to stay. Each had correct points. But there was one thing for sure: Crestfall knew that the rest of humanity had abandoned him. In fact, if not for Elian and Bianca’s quests, the situation would be grim.
Tomorrow an alien race would be coming for Elian Reed. And to prove that he had what it took to rule over Earth, Bianca advised to live stream the battle. But they had no idea how to do it. That was when Fluffy suggested turning it into a quest.
Elian watched the people around him. Half of them were frantic and were running desperately to abandon the city. Everyone else would stay, and the only thing that stood in the way of their deaths was Elian and his faction.
Tom Reed’s words resonated in his mind like a never-ending echo. Whatever hesitation he might have gotten vanished upon rembering his wisdom.
"If you are to kill ten. Save a hundred. For a thousand, save ten thousand. If you must kill a million, then save a billion. This is how you show your repentance."
Tomorrow would mark the beginning of his reign. His first act as king. And he wanted to do it right. Just as he lost himself in contemplation, a soft kiss touched his lower lips.
"Yes?"
Bianca grinned. "Nothing, I just wanted to kiss you."
Such exchanges made his heart extrely light, and they would continue as long as Elian grew stronger. Wishing to never forget, Elian pressed his forehead against Bianca’s and closed his eyes.
"Darling?"
"Let’s just stay like this for a second."
While the world raced by the minute, Elian and Bianca slowed their ti and just enjoyed each other’s warmth.
"For our happy ending," a gentle voice murmured. Bianca’s voice was calm, clear, and resolute. Yet when the Tyrant opened his eyes, he saw her flushed scarlet.
With a chuckle he returned the gesture and vow.
"For our happy ending."
It encapsulated everything they wanted to do. From how they wished to live to how they would die. This battle and all the ones that would follow after it were just stops on their way to their final destination.
Reminded of their vow, the two leaned on each other in silence, as Elian carried Bianca back to the high-end district. Specifically the bank, where Silas resided in.
"Oh! Lady Winter, and sir HSK, I was starting to think that you weren’t ever going to co back."
Bianca made a soft smile, "Sorry, Silas, a lot of stuff happened."
"Oh, I have no doubt. Well then. Shall we begin?"
"Yes. Let’s," Bianca replied excitedly.
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