As Alister continued chatting with Kaela, Livia, and Selene, a Union server carrying a tray of drinks paused nearby, her gaze lingering on him a bit longer than usual.
She softly clicked a button on the earpiece in her right ear, her voice low as she reported, “Confirmed visual on the target.”
Meanwhile, outside the grand hall, on a skyscraper rooftop just a few hundred meters away, a figure stood ready. The woman had striking silver hair that gleamed in the moonlight and intense blue eyes, a jagged scar running down her right eye.
Dressed in a sleek black tech suit and a mask covering the lower half of her face, she held a massive sniper rifle with a calm, deadly aura. She was none other than The Annihilator, the pricey assassin Liang had hired to put to rest their little Summoner issue.
With her left hand, she tapped the earpiece embedded in her ear.
“Roger that. Keep eyes on him and notify me the moment he steps up to give his speech.”
The Union server’s voice crackled over the earpiece, questioning her plan. “Why wait? Wouldn’t it be easier to take the shot now?”
The sniper woman’s eyes narrowed, her gaze fixed on the illuminated windows of the Union’s grand hall.
“I don’t have a clean shot.”
“Besides, that was what our employer requested, so stick to the plan. Let him make his entrance. The more attention on him, the easier your escape will be.”
Her grip on the rifle tightened slightly as she observed the room from afar, her steely patience evident in every careful movement. “When the time is right, we’ll have the perfect shot.”
“Understood.”
As the female server ended the communication, she narrowed her gaze on Alister, observing him closely before continuing to serve other guests.
She expertly made her way through the crowd, but what she didn’t notice was Alister’s sudden pause in his conversation.
His sharp yellow eyes were fixed on her retreating figure, the gears in his mind turning.
The girls surrounding him noticed his sudden change in demeanor. Selene tilted her head, a look of concern crossing her face. “Sir Alister? What’s the matter?”
Snapping back to the present, Alister quickly hid his curiosity with a polite smile. “Apologies. I just got lost in thought for a moment.”
He shifted his gaze back to them as he then said, “Why don’t we continue from where we left off?”
…
As Cinder stood by Alister’s side, watching him engage in conversation, her gaze wandered around the grand hall, taking in the bustling atmosphere filled with laughter and chatter.
The elegance of the decor, the finely dressed guests, and the shimmering chandeliers all created a sense of wonder, but amidst it all, something caught her attention-a familiar scent wafting through the air.
“Chocolate?” she mumbled, her eyes widening in recognition. A smile spread across her face as she scanned the crowd, her senses honing in on the source of the delightful aroma. It wasn’t long before her gaze landed on a male server carrying a tray adorned with an array of decadent chocolate pastries, including what seemed to be a chocolate parfait.
“There it is,” she said to herself, feeling a spark of excitement.
She momentarily glanced at Alister, remembering how he had confidently demanded the juice earlier. Cinder thought back, trying to recall his tone and demeanor, hoping to emulate that same assertiveness. Taking a deep breath, she gathered her courage and called out, “Hey, you! The one with the dark blue hair!”
The male server turned around, slightly startled to hear a voice ringing out across the hall. He blinked in surprise upon realizing it was a woman with silver hair, red eyes, wearing a black and white dress that clung perfectly around her frame. He recognized her intently due to all the pictures that had been circulating online.
It was Cinder who was calling him, his expression a touch of confusion and awe.
“H-how can I help you, ma’am?” he stuttered, clearly caught off guard by her directness. Cinder smiled, her eyes glinting with a touch of mischief as she pointed emphatically at the tray.
“I want that chocolate!”
The server’s eyes darted to the chocolate parfait on the serving dish, and he blinked rapidly. “R-right away, ma’am!” he replied, almost stumbling over his words as he hurried to fulfill her order.
Cinder watched him scurry off, a small playful grin appearing on her lips. She couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride at having made her request so boldly, just like her lord Alister had done earlier.
As the server approached, the excitement in her eyes could clearly be seen. “Here you go, ma’am. One chocolate parfait,” he said, presenting it to her with a slight bow.
Cinder took the dish, her face lighting up with joy. For a moment, she noticed she wasn’t acting like herself, so she cleared her throat as she replied, “You may go.”
As he left, she eagerly began digging in with a spoon. The rich chocolate melted in her mouth, and she closed her eyes in delight, savoring the moment.
Meanwhile, Alister, noticing the sudden stream of excitement due to their bond, glanced at her for a moment.
He couldn’t help but chuckle at her reaction, noticing how her tail swayed slightly. He wanted to tease her a bit, to see how she would react, but he felt that he probably wouldn’t get an immediate response, seeing as she was clearly too absorbed in her chocolate bliss to think about anything else.
With a small smile, Alister turned back and continued his conversations.
…
Meanwhile, at a couple of hundred tables away, at a mahogany table, Lord Han Li, Jian Li, and Liang sat. The table, masterfully carved with complex patterns and designed with silverware that gleamed under the light, served as both a gathering point and a battleground for their conversation.
Around them, guests mingled and laughed, oblivious to the storm brewing within the Li family, or perhaps the storm the Li family was brewing.