" All you have to do is force him out of this city. Once he steps outside Munich’s jurisdiction, I will handle the rest — from convincing the mayor here to coordinating everything that follows. "
Aaron said with composed confidence, her tone calm but decisive. Removing soone like Bronte from Munich’s protection wasn’t simply about arresting him; it was about shifting the battlefield. If he could be drawn outside the city where his network of protection weakened, the legal pressure could finally reach him.
Aaron clearly believed she could persuade the Munich mayor and the right people once Bronte was no longer shielded by local influence. To her, this wasn’t just helping Max — it was an opportunity to remove a long-standing stain from the city.
" Consider it done. "
Max replied without hesitation, a confident smile appearing on his face again.
Even though he barely knew Bronte personally, Max had already begun forming plans in his mind. The challenge itself didn’t intimidate him — if anything, it awakened the sa calculating instinct that had carried him this far.
Across the table, Linn raised his brows slightly at the speed of Max’s response, while Finn looked between them with renewed excitent. The tone of the dinner had shifted again — what began as a problem discussion had quietly turned into the start of a solution.
" Well, that’s that then. Call when you’re ready, and I’ll make sure things start moving. "
Aaron said calmly, the faint smile still resting on her face before she returned her attention to the dish in front of her. The tone of the table had changed noticeably now. The heavy uncertainty that had filled the room earlier was gone, replaced with a quieter sense of direction.
Max simply nodded once in acknowledgnt and resud eating as well. The conversation gradually softened after that point, the tension replaced by the natural rhythm of a long dinner.
The fourth course finished slowly as everyone enjoyed the veal dish, the rich jus and truffle potato complenting the at perfectly. Waiters moved in and out of the room with discreet precision, clearing plates only when every guest had finished.
The next course followed shortly after — a lighter transition dish designed to reset the palate before the final parts of the al. Small plates arrived carrying a delicate lemon and basil sorbet, served in chilled crystal bowls, the sharp citrus cutting through the richness of the previous dishes and refreshing the table. The cool aroma of lemon and herbs lifted the atmosphere slightly, encouraging quiet conversation and relaxed pacing.
After the palate cleanser was cleared, the kitchen presented the dessert course, an elegant composition of dark chocolate mousse layered with hazelnut praline and a thin crisp of caralized sugar, accompanied by a small quenelle of vanilla bean ice cream. The plating was artistic without being excessive, with a brush of chocolate sauce across the porcelain and a scattering of crushed hazelnuts adding texture.
Coffee and digestifs were offered afterward, the staff maintaining the sa smooth professionalism that had guided the dinner from the beginning.
By this point the table felt far more relaxed than when the evening began. Even Finn had eased into the atmosphere, though he still remained noticeably quieter than usual under his mother’s presence. Danica seed to be enjoying herself among the group, while Jennifer’s earlier anxiety had softened considerably now that there was finally a clear direction for dealing with Bronte.
When the dessert plates were cleared and the room settled into the final stage of the evening, Max gave a subtle signal toward the maître d’ standing near the door, gesturing quietly for sothing special to be brought to the table — an expensive bottle of champagne to mark the mont.
The maître d’ returned a few minutes later with two attendants following behind him. One carried a silver ice bucket while the other held tall crystal champagne flutes arranged neatly on a polished tray. Inside the bucket rested a bottle of Dom Pérignon P2 Plénitude Brut Vintage 2003, one of the rarer and more expensive releases from the house, the dark label catching the warm candlelight of the room.
Because there were eight people at the table, the staff had prepared two bottles, ensuring each guest could enjoy a proper pour without the glasses running short. Eight tall crystal flutes were placed carefully before each seat, their thin stems and curved bowls reflecting the soft light across the table.
" This looks nice. "
Jennifer said softly to Danica, who had beco surprisingly easy to talk to over the course of the evening. Jennifer’s eyes shimred with quiet excitent as she looked at the champagne bottles.
" It’s costly. "
Danica replied with a light chuckle, her tone relaxed as she waited for the glass. Her eyes then shifted briefly toward Max.
When she had first t him, she had instinctively tried to be careful around him, even subtly warning him about prices when they were shopping, thinking he might not fully understand how expensive certain things were. Yet that sa young man had casually bought her and her sister necklaces worth nearly ten thousand euros without hesitation.
Her gaze lingered on him for a mont as she thought quietly to herself.
So n show what they’ll beco long before they actually grow into it. Age doesn’t decide that — instinct does.
Because she had seen enough grown n in their thirties and forties still stumbling through life, unsure of themselves, while soone much younger could already carry the calm certainty of a man who knew exactly where he was going.
The champagne server opened the first bottle with practiced elegance, the cork released with a restrained pop rather than a loud burst, followed by the gentle hiss of bubbles rising through the neck. The golden liquid was poured slowly into each glass, the foam settling into a fine stream of delicate bubbles climbing toward the rim.
Once all the glasses were filled, the servers stepped back quietly and the maître d’ gave a polite nod before leaving the room again, allowing the group their private mont.
Max lifted his glass slightly.
" To us. "
" To us. "
Aaron replied with a smile, raising her glass along with the rest of the table. The crystal flutes touched lightly together around the table, producing a clear, bright clinking sound that echoed softly in the private room.
The champagne was smooth and layered, the kind of drink ant to close an evening rather than simply accompany it.
After the final drinks were finished, Aaron and Linn stood up first, Finn rising right after them.
" Thank you for the dinner, I really enjoyed it. "
Aaron said with a relaxed smile. The authority she had carried when she first entered the restaurant was gone now, replaced by the easy warmth of soone who had simply spent a pleasant evening among acquaintances.
" Yes, today was fun with your huge family. "
Linn added with a friendly smile, clearly having understood the dynamic around the table. Max’s life was unconventional, but the way everyone interacted made it feel strangely natural.
Danica heard the remark and simply smiled quietly without objecting, even though she had joined the dinner unexpectedly. If anything, she seed amused at how easily she had blended into the group.
The Müller family gathered their coats as the maître d’ and staff returned to assist them. Aaron stepped out first with Linn beside her, Finn following closely as the staff guided them back through the corridor toward the main entrance of Dallmayr. Outside, the evening air had grown cooler, and their car was already waiting to take them ho.
Max walked with them until the entrance, exchanging brief farewells before the family stepped outside under the soft lights of the street. Aaron gave him one final nod of acknowledgnt before entering the car, the door closing quietly as the vehicle pulled away into the Munich night.
Once the guests had departed, Max returned inside. As the host, it was customary for him to settle everything privately. He approached the maître d’ near the reception desk, where the bill had already been prepared discreetly.
" So... how much is the damage? "
Max asked with a small chuckle as he stood near the reception desk with the maître d’. Behind him, Jennifer and Danica were standing together quietly near the corridor entrance, continuing their conversation in low voices.
While a few steps away Machina and Josefina were deep in discussion about training and fighting. Josefina was already describing her gym routines with visible enthusiasm, even inviting Machina to visit soti, clearly intrigued by her strength and posture.
The maître d’ checked the prepared folder briefly before answering with professional calm.
" Sir, the total for the private dining reservation, wine pairings, and champagne cos to €12,840. "
The number was delivered politely, the tone practiced — expensive but not unusual for a private dinner at Dallmayr with premium selections.
" Add twenty percent for the staff. "
Max nodded once without hesitation, then pulled out his Palladium card and placed it calmly on the tray for paynt.
*CLING*
The soft sound ca from the paynt terminal confirming the transaction.
For a brief mont the maître d’ looked slightly surprised before quickly composing himself again. Tips at a place like Dallmayr were expected, but a full twenty percent on a dinner of that scale was generous even by their standards.
" Thank you very much, Sir. We truly appreciate it. "
The maître d’ said with a respectful bow of his head, and the staff mbers nearby exchanged small grateful looks. For them, evenings like this ant the difference between a normal service and an exceptional one.
The manager stepped forward personally after that.
" Sir, if you and your guests are returning ho, we would be honored to arrange a vehicle for you. It is quite late, and we prefer our guests to leave comfortably. "
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