The café downstairs was full of laughter and the clink of silverware, but inside the private room, the air had turned to glass. Mr. Stone leaned forward, his reflection caught in the polished surface of the table, and for the first time, he looked less like a businessman and more like a man holding a detonator.

  Mr. Stone cleared his throat with a quiet cough, steadying himself.

  "Three days ago," he began, "all the heads of Portland City-of course, just us Big Six-met as we always do to discuss the affairs of the state." His tone hardened. "But this time, the meeting turned into arrows aimed directly at me and my wife. All because we allowed the growth of certain individuals into the social firms."

  Sele sighed, irritation clear. "Those scumbags are just afraid of being caught red-handed."

  "Exactly," Mrs. Stone said sharply. "So naturally, it created... some unwanted outcomes."

  Mr. Stone nodded and continued. "If we want to keep pushing forward-if we want those at the lower tiers to finally climb the corporate ladder-we're going to step on some very dirty business."

  He paused, letting the weight of it sink in.

  "Hence," he said quietly, "well... you can figure out the rest."

  "Right... about that," Muuey said, looking away.

  "Boss," Sele pressed, disbelief clear in her voice, "you're not trying to make a contract with the Stones, are you? Since when did you get into politics?"

  "Hm."

  Muuey avoided her gaze, still refusing to answer.

  During all of this, Lara quietly tugged on Luku's suit.

  "Yes, Lady Lara?" he asked softly.

  "What contract are they talking about?" she whispered.

  "I'm not entirely certain myself," Luku replied, lowering his voice. "Let's keep listening."

  "Okay," Lara said, turning her attention back to the table, listening intently.

  "Boss! Come on-what did you drag me into!?" Sele demanded.

  Muuey didn't respond. He stayed silent.

  Mr. Stone seized the opening. "Ms. Sele?"

  "Huh?" She turned to him. "What is it?"

  "If you don't mind," Mr. Stone said carefully, "how do you two know each other?"

  Sele glanced at Muuey. Their eyes met for a brief moment.

  Then she chuckled. "He's my savior."

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Mr. and Mrs. Stone froze-shock written plainly across their faces.

  Muuey let out a quiet sigh. "Anyway... the contract?"

  Mr. Stone gave Luku a subtle signal. Luku responded at once, moving with practiced haste.

  He placed an empty sheet of paper on the table, smoothing it carefully as if it already carried weight.

  Then Mr. Stone looked directly at Muuey.

  "What exactly is it," he asked calmly, "that you want with us?"

  "You can set the terms," Muuey said evenly, "but I want to protect your children until all of this is over."

  The words landed heavy.

  Everyone-everyone but Fei-froze.

  "Boss!?" Sele blurted out, disbelief written all over her face.

  Mr. Stone stared at Muuey, stunned. "But... why?"

  "There's no way," Alcy blurted out, disbelief spilling over, "no way Mom and Dad are going to agree to that creep being our bodyguard!"

  Luku heard him and let out a soft laugh. "Haha... I don't know about that, Sir Alcy."

  "What?" Alcy snapped, eyes wide. "You're not saying our parents are actually going to make that creep our personal bodyguard, are you, Luku?"

  Luku didn't answer right away. He only smiled at him-calm, knowing, and completely unbothered.

  "Five years," Mrs. Stone said sharply.

  Mr. Stone didn't object.

  That silence alone stunned the siblings.

  "What!?" Alcy exclaimed. "That's crazy!"

  "Boss, you're not-" Sele started, disbelief flooding her voice.

  "Okay," Muuey replied calmly, without hesitation.

  Sele froze. "No way. Boss... are you serious right now?"

  "The five years..." Muuey said quietly. "It's for them to finish their training, isn't it?"

  Mr. Stone looked at him, a flicker of surprise crossing his face.

  "...So you could tell that much," he replied.

  Mrs. Stone tightened her grip on her husband's hand. Her voice was firm, leaving no room for doubt.

  "You are to stay with our children for the next five years-until they graduate. You will enroll with them. You will protect them from harm."

  She met her husband's eyes. He didn't hesitate. He understood immediately.

  "I swear on my life," Mr. Stone said, voice steady but heavy with resolve, "in those five years we will do everything in our power to set things right in Portland City. But we can't do that while our children are constantly being targeted, so-"

  "Okay," Muuey cut in.

  Just one word.

  Final.

  Mr. and Mrs. Stone exhaled as one, relief finally breaking through the tension that had strangled the room. Joy flickered across their faces-raw, unguarded, almost fragile.

  Sele, however, felt none of it.

  She shot to her feet so fast her chair shrieked against the floor, the sound cutting through the room like a blade.

  "Boss!" she snapped, fury and disbelief crashing together in her voice. "I need an explanation-right now."

  Muuey didn't hesitate.

  "Luku."

  Sele froze. Her eyes snapped toward him. "Him!?" she shot back, stunned. "But why!? You don't even kno-"

  "Sele," Muuey cut in calmly, "have you forgotten about him already?"

  The words hit harder than she expected.

  Sele said nothing.

  Muuey watched her for a moment, then spoke again, his tone flat.

  "Looks like you did."

  "I'm not buying it, boss," Sele snapped at last. "You owe me money-and an explanation-after this."

  She turned on her heel and stormed out.

  "Wait, Miss Sele!" Mrs. Stone hurried to her feet and rushed after her.

  Gasilin took a step forward to follow, but Luku lifted a hand, stopping him. Then Luku himself moved, heading after them.

  Lara hesitated only a second before going too.

  Alcy stayed behind.

  Outside the private room, Sele stormed down the hallway, her footsteps striking the floor hard enough to echo.

  "That guy...!" she muttered through clenched teeth. "Unbelievable."

  "Ms. Sele, please-wait!" Mrs. Stone called, rushing after her.

  Sele spun around sharply, anger flashing in her eyes. "He already agreed, damn it! What else do you-"

  Her words died.

  Mrs. Stone stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her, holding her tightly.

  "Thank you," she said, her voice trembling. "For saving my daughter all those years ago. Thank you. I never got the chance to say it then... so thank you. Truly."

  Sele stood frozen, caught completely off guard.

  Down the hallway, Luku and Lara finally caught up. They slowed to a stop and watched quietly from a distance, not interrupting the moment.

  "Muuey is officially the siblings' bodyguard for the next 5 years! What are you most excited to see?"