When Sam saw that the call was from Celeste, his mind went blank for a mont.
Celeste rarely called him because, as Angel's mother, she could learn about many things through Angel.
Most of the ti, when Sam and Angel went sowhere, Elowen would drive them, and Celeste could find out what they talked about and where they went from Elowen.
So, this call seed highly suspicious.
Sam tried to pretend he was asleep. After all, it was late, and it was normal not to see a call if the phone was on silent.
He thought he could reply with a text tomorrow morning, pretending he hadn't seen it, and maybe she wouldn't want to discuss it anymore.
Sam had a bad feeling. A call at this hour was definitely not good news, likely related to sothing that had happened recently.
The phone rang for a while before finally stopping.
It seed Celeste wasn't planning to call again. Sam thought he could breathe a sigh of relief, but then a ssage popped up.
It was from Celeste.
And it was simple.
[Don't pretend to be asleep. I know what you did tonight. Do I need to co over and find you myself, godson?]
It was indeed about tonight...
Sam felt a headache coming on.
He had no choice but to reply: [Godmother, staying up this late isn't good for your health. How about we talk tomorrow?]
There was no reply because she called again imdiately.
Sam answered the call with a wry smile.
Soon, a mature woman's voice ca through, even though it was slightly distorted, it was still pleasant to hear.
It sounded gentle and very approachable.
But anyone who knew Celeste a little knew that the gentler she sounded, the more dangerous she was.
"My dear son, still playing the 'pretend to be asleep' ga with your mom?"
She started with a laugh, but it was clear she was questioning him.
Sam could almost picture her smiling face, but he knew there was pressure behind that smile.
Sam chuckled bitterly.
"I really didn't see it. I was in the shower..."
"Really? Never mind, that's not important."
She said dismissively.
Sam probed a bit.
"So... what's important?"
"Heh, Sam, you tell ."
"...I don't know what you an, Godmother."
"Has anyone ever told you that you're really bad at playing dumb, Sam?"
"...I'm not your real son, so I didn't learn the essence of it."
Sam replied without missing a beat.
"Very funny, Sam."
"Sorry, I misspoke."
"It's okay, I can forgive you. After all, a mother should always forgive her child, right?"
She said it as if it were a gentle and noble sentint, but Sam felt the call growing colder.
"Um... are you talking about what happened on Fifth Street?"
Sam couldn't keep playing dumb. It was pointless, and he wanted to know what she had to say about it.
"Are you surprised I know about it? Do you think I'm so control freak who has people watching your every move?"
"...Godmother, don't you think that sounds like a self-introduction?"
Sam couldn't help but retort.
She laughed on the other end of the line.
"So you really think that? If I didn't do that, wouldn't it be a waste of your suspicion?"
"Godmother, I was joking. Of course, you're not like that."
"Then how do you think I found out?"
"Godmother, you're all-knowing. Maybe you dread it."
"..."
"Godmother, are you still there? Hello? Is the signal bad?"
Sam couldn't help but laugh.
"Sam, you're good at sweet-talking won, but you're also good at making them angry."
"I didn't an it that way. I was just joking. I don't really think that about you."
Celeste's tone seed to change, as if Sam's words had annoyed her. Her voice was no longer as gentle, and it sounded more businesslike.
"Sam, you're more dangerous than you let on. You managed to get out of that bar unscathed? You never ntioned you knew how to fight."
Sam knew he couldn't hide these things from her. She might not know all the details, but she could easily deduce the basics.
So Sam was honest.
"Well... it's not sothing from the past. I recently took so ti to learn so fighting techniques at a club."
"And who are you planning to use those skills on? Angel or ?"
Angel?
What a joke.
Sam wasn't the kind of guy who would hit his girlfriend. Besides, if he wanted to deal with her... a quiet room and a bed would be enough, right? Just kidding, of course. Angel's love for Sam wasn't just about physical attraction.
It required a long buildup.
"Of course not. It's just a personal interest and for self-defense. Kuhang might be prosperous, but it's not entirely safe. Learning so skills isn't a bad thing, right?"
"Heh... you have more and more secrets, and they're getting more surprising. Is Angel so infatuated with you because you're like a treasure, always revealing sothing new?"
"I guess you didn't call just to talk about this, right?"
Sam didn't want to dwell on these issues. It was pointless, and his relationship with her daughter wasn't really her business.
No wonder Angel's childhood wasn't worth rembering. This kind of controlling nature and instinct to nip dangers in the bud could be terrifying for a child.
"It seems Sam still has so reservations about ... Alright, I won't trouble you any longer. I called to ask if you know who owns that bar on Fifth Street."
"Who?"
Sam kept it brief.
"Fifth Street Saints."
Fifth Street Saints again?
What a coincidence.
But now Sam had to play dumb.
"Fifth Street Saints... never heard of them. The police said they were involved in illegal activities... are they powerful?"
Celeste snorted, unclear if she was mocking Sam for hiding sothing or for another reason.
She simply said.
"In short, they're not simple. As a new gang, they've quickly established themselves on Fifth Street and expanded their influence. There must be soone backing them. And I happen to know so inside information."
Inside information?
Sam replied.
"It's late, and keeping secrets might affect your rest, Godmother. How about giving a hint?"
"The Moore family."
"Huh?"
Sam was a bit surprised by the na.
The Moore family clearly referred to Brody Moore, but in front of Angel and her mother, the Moore family wasn't much.
It wasn't enough for Celeste to call specifically about it.
Unless...
"Of course, Brody is nothing in front of Angel. But... as far as I know, it's not just his family. It's likely a group of people, several big families working together. As for their goal... you can think about it."
Sam thought for a mont and gave an answer.
"Only a new era and new rulers can create new elites."
"You're very smart, smart enough to make a bit regretful."
Regretful about what?
She continued.
"If you were just my godson and not Angel's boyfriend, I would have you try to get close to this gang and gather information to dismantle them. But since you're Angel's boyfriend, I don't want her to be sad because of you. So I hope you stay out of it. So hidden threats won't bother the powerful, but they won't be kind to smaller animals or their own kind.
Soone else will handle it. Do you understand?"
Sam understood everything.
The rapid rise of the Fifth Street Saints was clearly due to the combined efforts of several big families in Kuhang, with a simple goal.
To usher in a new era, in other words, a change in the ruling party.
Sam had no interest in these complex interests.
He replied.
"I understand. You don't need to worry."
"Good. I hope you really don't make worry."
"So... is that all?"
"Sam, are you so eager to stop talking to ?"
Sam laughed and replied.
"Of course not. It's just that it's late, and I don't want to affect your rest, Godmother. You might have work tomorrow, and I don't want you to be too tired."
"You're very considerate. How should I reward you?"
"No need, no need. It's what I should do."
"Heh. Rember what I said. That's all for tonight. Goodnight, my dear son."
"Goodnight."
When the call finally ended, Sam could comfortably lie in bed.
But he didn't feel sleepy.
He thought about these issues again. He really had no interest in getting involved.
He didn't think a high school student like him could interfere in these 'big people's' affairs.
Worrying about it was pointless unless... it inevitably affected him... but would that day co?
Who knew.
The most boring people in the world were these so-called politicians...
————
The next day, Louis didn't bring up the matter again.
He was noticeably more focused in class, even taking notes.
But Sam knew that real change wasn't about putting on a show for a day or two. How far Louis could go depended on himself, and it had nothing to do with Sam.
After all, Sam couldn't keep persuading him. Everyone had their own life and had to be responsible for it.
He just hoped Louis would truly gain sothing.
Other aspects of life had also changed a bit. As Isabella had said, with half a month until the New Year, she wouldn't hold any more club activities.
At least for now, she hadn't asked anyone to co to the club room.
And today was the fifteenth.
Alice had already sent him a ssage, arranging their plans for tonight at a restaurant Sam hadn't been to before.
What would happen, Sam didn't know.
But maybe it was a special day for her.
They couldn't leave school together, of course. Basic discretion was necessary.
So, taking this opportunity, Sam decided to check out the club room.
If there really wouldn't be an 'Ultimate Human Departnt' next year... it would be a sha not to see it one last ti.
Feeling a bit lancholic wasn't great...
"Creak—"
Sam pushed open the classroom door.
And unexpectedly saw three figures.
Isabella, in her usual spot, with twin ponytails.
Her fair, pretty face had a faint smile, dimples barely visible, making those twin ponytails look like steering wheels begging to be handled.
The other was Sophie, in her usual spot, reading a familiar book, her slender fra wrapped in a thick coat, making her look like a delicate Barbie doll.
The last one was Angel, sitting on the sofa with her phone, her long legs wrapped in thick black stockings stretched out on the sofa, looking regal...
They sat in the classroom as if it were the beginning of a dream, as if nothing had happened, as if nothing had changed.
Only the boy who opened the door stood at the entrance, looking at them, at this incredibly beautiful scene.
He couldn't help but feel.
This scene was so normal, so beautiful.
It was almost... scary.
Until their gazes simultaneously shifted to Sam.
The boy muttered.
"I must have walked into the wrong room."
"Creak—"
So he closed the door.
"Creak—"
He opened it again.
The sa boy appeared at the door, his frown deepening.
"Still not right..."
The three girls' gazes instantly changed, surprisingly in unison.
Because they seed to be looking at an idiot.
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