"When did you get back?"
"Just landed. Lord Wei and Lady Fumizuki invited me to dinner at the Taotie Restaurant… but it's still early."
Felix glanced at the real-time display on his terminal, then took Ch'en Hui-chieh's hand and led her back into the lobby.
The LGD officers there were receiving proper treatment. Medical operators carefully examined them at their sides, while Shirayuki stood some distance away with the shaken civilians. Several police officers were doing their best to calm everyone down.
"After Chernobog and Kursk fell, the Ursus people flooded into Lungmen like a tide. These outsiders really deserve it!"
"Hey, keep it down. Their cities are gone too. They're pitiful in their own way."
"Does being pitiful give them the right to kill?"
The residents argued among themselves. Ch'en Hui-chieh gave a light cough, reluctantly letting go of Felix's hand as she walked over to the medical operators to give them a few instructions.
"The New Year's almost here. Go back and get some rest."
She then turned to the shield-bearing officers who had followed her. "Your response was swift. Thank you for your hard work, everyone."
"Yes, ma'am!"
The officers finally relaxed. With the New Year approaching, all they wanted was for Lungmen to stay calm so they could go home and celebrate properly. But the fall of two Ursus mobile cities had forced them to keep maintaining security in dangerous areas right up to the holidays.
They began carefully collecting the Originium bombs for unified disposal. Faced with such a dirty-bomb attack, the LGD officers were both shocked and furious. Their attitude toward the captured Ursus Infected spoke for itself.
"Let's go," Felix said.
Ch'en Hui-chieh hesitated. She was still debating whether she should return to the LGD headquarters to write the follow-up report.
"…Okay. Where are we going?"
"To rest."
Shirayuki watched as Felix led Ch'en Hui-chieh into the extended limousine. Beneath her mask, the corner of her mouth lifted slightly. She said nothing, signaling the driver to continue, while she resumed her role as escort.
The aftermath here would be handled by the LGD. Ch'en Hui-chieh still looked worried, her concern written clearly on her face, though she didn't say a word.
The Taotie Pavilion wasn't just a place to dine. It also functioned as a hotel. Under Shirayuki's guidance, Felix entered the presidential suite. The fruit, pastries on the table, and the attentive service of the attendants constantly reminded him of his status and position.
The door was quietly closed behind them. Ch'en Hui-chieh felt restless. She wasn't used to this kind of atmosphere. Though her standing in Lungmen more than qualified her for such treatment, she simply wasn't that kind of person. All she felt was discomfort, especially in such surroundings, which gave her the uneasy sense of being led like a lamb to the slaughter.
"Aren't you going to rest?" Felix asked, looking at her unease. He leaned back in the chair behind the desk. "There are still a few hours before dinner. You can get some sleep before then."
"…Alright."
A faint blush crept onto Ch'en Hui-chieh's face. She had assumed Felix brought her here for something else, but it was clear she had misunderstood. He had already projected a virtual keyboard and was working, fully focused on the screen, with no such intentions at all.
Once inside the bathroom, Ch'en Hui-chieh finally let out a breath. She removed the clothes that had grown sticky from the mission and set them aside, then looked at herself in the mirror and sighed again. As warm water washed over her body, she felt her consciousness sinking, sinking deeper and deeper.
She forced herself to stay alert. After drying off, she wrapped herself in a bathrobe and quietly opened the door a crack.
Felix was still where he had been, working steadily, fingers tapping on the keyboard, his gaze fixed on the screen.
Her face grew warm. After being apart for some time, Felix seemed… more attractive than before. For a moment, she even wondered if someone like him was truly her partner.
No… her fiancé.
Ch'en Hui-chieh restrained the urge to step closer. She moved softly into the bedroom. As the lights dimmed and the curtains closed, she lay down and slowly closed her eyes.
This was the most restful sleep she had had in a long time. No, that wording was misleading. Ch'en Hui-chieh had never truly "slept" these days. At most, she merely dozed off, usually for no more than four hours. The turmoil in Ursus and the ever-shifting situation in Lungmen had piled immense pressure onto her shoulders. Thankfully, Hoshiguma and Swire were able to share part of that burden.
When she woke again, the city lights were already glowing. Ch'en Hui-chieh climbed out of the warm bed and realized it was nearly seven o'clock.
Her bare feet touched the floor as she rubbed her eyes. Though she had rested for only a few hours, she still felt the urge to crawl back into bed. But the emptiness in her stomach forced her up, and her mouth was dry. She grabbed a complimentary bottle of water from the hotel and drank deeply.
"You're awake. I thought you'd sleep until tomorrow morning."
Ch'en Hui-chieh looked up to see Felix sitting in the living room, looking as though he was ready to head out at any moment.
"Change your clothes and come eat something with me. Lord Wei and Lady Fumizuki will be there. You don't mind, right?"
Ch'en Hui-chieh shook her head. She was indeed hungry. And while she wasn't particularly fond of Wei Yenwu, she was very close to Lady Fumizuki. She naturally considered whether this dinner might involve work or future business arrangements, but from Felix she learned that the dinner was originally meant for just three people. If Wei Yenwu wanted to discuss cooperation, Lady Fumizuki would not have been present.
"Here. I asked Shirayuki to buy these at a nearby shopping district. They're all durable, tasteful brands."
Felix pointed toward the shopping bags outside the bedroom.
Ch'en Hui-chieh was momentarily speechless, her face flushing slightly. "How did you know my size?"
Felix gestured toward the floating terminal nearby. "It doesn't just know your size. It records everyone's physical data."
Ch'en Hui-chieh felt utterly defeated. She shot him a glare, then picked up the shopping bags and went into the bedroom. Five minutes later, she reappeared, completely refreshed. Now she no longer looked like the decisive head of the Inspection Unit, but more like a young lady from a wealthy family. Just one who might draw a sword and cut you down at any moment.
The dinner was a private one. When Wei Yenwu saw Felix arrive with Ch'en Hui-chieh, dressed formally, he stroked his beard. Deep in his eyes was clear satisfaction and approval. He had already learned about what happened at the LGD earlier that day, and he understood Felix's intervention well enough. To be able to bring Ch'en Hui-chieh here so obediently made him think that perhaps this was what people meant by a grown daughter no longer staying close. Ch'en Hui-chieh would not listen to him, but she would listen to Felix.
And if the invitation had not come from Felix, Ch'en Hui-chieh would not be standing here now. Uninvited, or simply unwilling to attend such a gathering, she would have been sitting in her office instead.
Lady Fumizuki's smile was gentle. She stood to welcome Ch'en Hui-chieh, giving her a warm hug, then led both of them to their seats at the table.
"Have you been busy lately?"
Wei Yenwu greeted them like a familiar uncle. The attendant poured wine for everyone. Wei Yenwu raised his glass toward Felix. "I've heard about Chernobog. After you took over that mess, did Ursus say anything?"
Though his tone was relaxed and casual, the topic inevitably turned to serious matters.
Felix smiled and clinked glasses with him. "I never even saw the Ursus army, let alone their government. Those nobles left behind compensation and returned to their respective cities. Chernobog is already destroyed. It's been abandoned and has become a source of contamination. If the key to activating the mobile city hadn't been in my hands, it would've quickly turned into a breeding ground for crime."
"How long are you planning to stay this time?"
"About a month. You've already received the news, haven't you?"
"Ha, that's one of the reasons I wanted to get in touch with you and Rhodes Island."
As the two men casually discussed official matters at the table, Lady Fumizuki sighed softly. She seemed to have expected this, and simply took Ch'en Hui-chieh's hand, speaking quietly with her instead.
Wei Yenwu's expression grew slightly serious. "Rhodes Island Pharmaceutical's ambitions are far greater than I imagined. Their goal is even farther than yours, but their strength is nowhere near that of Tomorrow's Development. I find it dangerous."
"Especially Kal'tsit. Remember to keep your distance from her. She's not an easy woman to deal with."
These were sincere words. Felix nodded to show he understood.
In Wei Yenwu's view, Rhodes Island's ambitions were indeed exaggerated. They wanted to develop a cure for Oripathy, something even Columbia's research institutes had failed to achieve. How capable could Rhodes Island's team really be, to set such a goal?
He knew that time was what would ultimately prove everything. Perhaps they might succeed in the future, but many of the people who joined Rhodes Island for that ideal would never live to see the result.
An unattainable dream.
Therefore, in Wei Yenwu's view, the sheer scale of Rhodes Island Pharmaceutical's ambition lay precisely in this: the operators within Rhodes Island had already made their resolve. They did not care whether that ideal would ever be realized within their own lifetimes.
That was what made it frightening.
The dinner concluded with both host and guests thoroughly satisfied. After the meal, Felix and Wei Yenwu went out onto the balcony for a walk, while Lady Fumizuki stayed behind with Ch'en Hui-chieh.
"Tonight, you'll be staying in the same room as Felix."
"Ah! Th-this…"
Ch'en Hui-chieh's face instantly flushed crimson, her gaze darting everywhere in panic. She would rather fight terrorists than deal with the emotions surging through her right now. Her cheeks burned, and under Aunt Fumizuki's gaze, she felt like digging a hole and disappearing.
"That girl Lin Yühsia has been by Felix's side for so long. Who knows how far things have gone between them already. This time, she returned to Lungmen a few days early and has started handling Old Lin's affairs."
Ch'en Hui-chieh froze in shock. "That's… Lin Yühsia is already back?"
Aunt Fumizuki nodded gently, looking at Ch'en Hui-chieh with a mix of affection and helplessness. "You were all once in Lungmen, but that child Lin Yühsia sees things more clearly. She wasn't content to cling only to Lungmen. She chose to go out and see how vast the world really is."
Ch'en Hui-chieh pressed her lips together. "I'm not Lin Yühsia. I can't let go of Lungmen, especially with the recent Ursus incidents happening so often. Lungmen is taking the brunt of it. How could I possibly choose to leave at a time like this?"
No, that was really just an excuse. Ch'en Hui-chieh knew it herself. What was it that she truly wanted? Justice? A better Lungmen? Or perhaps… something tied to her own bloodline?
So many tangled thoughts piled together that even she could not convince herself.
Fumizuki saw her inner conflict clearly. She simply reached out and gently stroked Ch'en Hui-chieh's hair, trying to calm her through the gesture alone.
"Tonight, I'll be staying at the hotel."
Ch'en Hui-chieh took a deep breath, as if she had made an important decision. She glanced at Aunt Fumizuki. "That's… fine, right?"
"Yes. Tonight will be an important night. Hui-chieh, remember to prepare well."
"Prepare?"
While Fumizuki imparted her wisdom to a blushing, flustered Ch'en Hui-chieh, Wei Yenwu and Felix stood on the balcony, letting the cold wind sober them up.
"Lungmen is going to be unstable for a while. Is that what you want to see, Lord Wei?"
Felix reached out and caught a falling snowflake. "I can understand opening the borders, but letting them enter the city so quickly, isn't that a bit hasty?"
Wei Yenwu grinned. "You should know that Yan and Ursus have always had a lukewarm relationship. Now that Ursus has suffered such a catastrophic event, one city abandoned, another hijacked and heading straight toward Lungmen, it's practically handing us leverage for free. The next time we meet, they might even have to bow and thank us."
"Secondly, there's been quite a bit of filth building up inside Lungmen lately. This is a good chance to clean it out. That's what Old Lin thinks, and I feel the same."
"There were already many infected within Lungmen. Compared to the total population, they seemed insignificant. Some had long since been worn down by life, others carried hatred in their hearts. As long as someone stirs them up, they'll act on their own."
"And this time, the ones stirring them up are clearly Reunion."
Wei Yenwu lit one last cigarette and turned his head slightly. "I'll share the detailed city defense layout with you. What worries me is that they'll break up into small groups and gradually slip into Lungmen. Today's Originium bomb was just an appetizer."
———
That night, Felix and Ch'en Hui-chieh returned to the hotel room. Ch'en Hui-chieh had already accepted that she would be staying there tonight. She glanced at the bag in her hands, her face tinged with embarrassed frustration.
That Shirayuki… the moment Lady Fumizuki said something, she went and bought these things. Even the underwear styles were enough to make her blush.
She checked herself in the mirror one more time, then pushed open the bedroom door.
"?"
Felix stared at the usually proud Madam Ch'en before him, face red, teeth clenched, clearly resigned to her fate, dressed in underwear so bold and provocative it made one's heart race. A question mark practically appeared above his head.