Finally, unable to handle the humiliation anymore, Ren and Dany stood up and left the resort angrily.
The moment they disappeared from sight—
The table behind the decorative wall exploded with laughter.
Shin was literally holding his stomach while laughing.
“I—I can’t breathe—”
Roy covered his mouth, trying to stay quiet, but even he couldn’t stop laughing completely.
Suzumi leaned against the table with tears in her eyes.
“The way you said ‘This resort belongs to me’ so casually—”
Jennifer shook her head while laughing softly.
“And Ren’s face after the waiter confirmed it…”
Even Shuyong, who usually stayed calm, was laughing openly now.
“That was the most painful destruction I’ve ever witnessed.”
Meanwhile—
Aria slowly adjusted her glasses while standing silently a few steps away from them.
Her expression was completely blank.
One by one, everyone slowly noticed her standing there.
The laughter immediately stopped.
Silence.
Aria crossed her arms and stared at them coldly.
“…You all were following me?”
Nobody answered.
Shin slowly looked away.
Roy suddenly found the ceiling very interesting.
Jennifer quietly picked up a menu and pretended to read it upside down.
Aria narrowed her eyes dangerously.
“So not only did you all skip school…”
She stepped closer.
“…but you secretly followed me here too?”
Shuyong immediately pointed at Shin.
“This was his idea.”
“TRAITOR!” Shin shouted dramatically.
Suzumi instantly defended herself.
“We were just worried about you!”
Aria raised an eyebrow.
“Worried?”
Roy nodded calmly.
“To be fair, we thought you might actually murder someone today.”
“…Reasonable concern.”
Jennifer crossed her arms proudly.
“But honestly?
That was worth skipping school for.”
Aria stared at all of them for a few more seconds before finally sighing tiredly.
“You people seriously have no future.”
Shin grinned proudly.
“Thank you.”
“That wasn’t a compliment.”
Then Aria suddenly smirked slightly.
“…But did you at least enjoy the show?”
Everyone immediately nodded together.
“Absolutely.”
After calming down from laughing, everyone looked toward Aria again.
Aria casually picked up her glasses and stood up from the couch.
“Alright, I’m leaving now.”
Shin blinked.
“Where are you going?”
“I have to pick Muichiro up from the airport.”
Then she pointed around the luxurious resort proudly.
“And you all stay here and enjoy yourselves.
If anything happens, just send me a message.”
A playful smirk appeared on her face.
“After all, you’re currently at Aria’s hideout.”
Shin immediately pointed at her dramatically.
“YOUR HIDEOUT?!”
Aria flipped her glasses onto her face confidently.
“Yes.”
Then she grinned proudly.
“My hideout.”
And with that, she walked away.
A while later, Aria arrived at the airport to pick Muichiro up.
The moment she entered the arrival area, she instantly spotted him.
Unfortunately—
So had a bunch of girls.
Several girls were surrounding Muichiro while trying to ask for his number.
One of them smiled shyly.
“Can we please have your contact?”
Muichiro looked completely done with life already.
Before he could answer, Aria suddenly appeared behind him, grabbed his ear, and pulled it hard.
“MUICHIRO.”
He winced immediately.
“Ow—”
Aria glared at him suspiciously.
“So you’ve grown up enough to start giving your number to random girls now?”
Then she narrowed her eyes dramatically.
“Do you have no shame?”
The girls around them instantly stepped back awkwardly.
Meanwhile, Muichiro simply sighed helplessly.
“You’re still exactly the same as before.”
Aria scoffed.
“The way you’re talking makes it sound like you’ve been gone for years.”
Then she crossed her arms.
“Don’t forget—it’s only been one month since you left.”
Muichiro laughed softly.
“Alright, alright.”
Then he picked up his luggage.
“Are we going to continue arguing here at the airport, or are we actually going home?”
As they started walking together, Aria casually spoke again,
“By the way, Elli Grandma and Bali Grandma fixed my engagement.”
Muichiro stopped walking instantly.
“…What?”
Aria continued walking like it was nothing.
“It’s tomorrow.”
Muichiro stared at her in disbelief.
“And you didn’t tell me?!”
Aria waved her hand casually.
“Relax.
I already met the guy today.”
A mischievous grin slowly appeared on her face.
“And I showed him exactly how uncivilized I can be.”
Muichiro instantly understood what that meant.
“…What did you do?”
Aria looked proud of herself.
“Nothing much.”
Then she smirked confidently.
“Now just sit back and watch how I completely ruin this engagement.”
Muichiro sighed tiredly.
“One day your confidence is going to destroy the entire world.”
“Thank you.”
“That wasn’t praise.”
As they reached the parking area, Aria suddenly stopped before opening the car door.
“Oh, and we can’t go home yet.”
Muichiro frowned.
“Why?”
“We have to deliver invitations at the company first.”
“…Of course we do.”
Soon, both of them got into the car and headed toward the company building together.
After some time, the car stopped in front of a massive skyscraper belonging to the Nightfall Group.
The moment Aria entered the building with Muichiro beside her, employees immediately straightened their posture respectfully.
But while walking through the lobby—
Aria’s gaze suddenly stopped on one particular employee standing nearby.
Aria suddenly stopped walking and turned toward Muichiro.
“Muichiro, you give the invitations to everyone.”
Then her expression became serious for a moment.
“I need to discuss something important with Hutaro.”
Muichiro raised an eyebrow suspiciously.
“…Whenever you say ‘important,’ something illegal usually happens afterward.”
Aria ignored him completely and walked away with Hutaro.
The two of them entered a private room, and the door quietly closed behind them.
For a few seconds, silence filled the room.
Then Aria slowly turned toward him with a calm smile.
“So, Hutaro…”
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
“Your turn has finally come.”
Hutaro looked confused immediately.
“…I don’t understand.
And right now… who exactly are you?”
Aria leaned casually against the table.
“Right now, I’m just Aria.”
Then her smile faded slightly.
“Because I don’t currently have my powers, I can’t use them myself.”
Hutaro’s expression instantly became serious.
Aria crossed her arms.
“My engagement is tomorrow.”
Then she sighed dramatically.
“And if Kyojuro or Toshiro finds out about this…”
A dangerous smile appeared on her face.
“…then your future is finished.”
Hutaro immediately straightened his posture nervously.
“…What exactly do you want me to do?”
Aria looked at him calmly.
“You remember, don’t you?”
Her voice softened slightly.
“I once saved you when you were almost dead.”
Hutaro lowered his head respectfully at once.
“How could I ever forget?”
Then he looked at her seriously.
“Only a fool could forget someone like you.”
His voice carried genuine admiration.
“A fearless warrior who mastered everything she touched… and the person who saved my life.”
Aria smiled faintly.
“Then you also remember that I can freeze people like a curse trapped in ice…”
Her eyes became colder for a second.
“…and I can break that curse too.”
Hutaro nodded immediately.
“Yes.
I know.”
Then he placed his hand over his chest respectfully.
“You saved my life once.
So now just give the order.
What can I do for you?”
Aria suddenly asked casually,
“You know what the mafia is, right?”
Hutaro blinked once.
“…Yes.”
“Good.”
A mischievous grin slowly appeared on Aria’s face.
“Then tomorrow…”
She leaned closer slightly.
“…you’re going to help me escape from my engagement in complete mafia style.”
For the first time, Hutaro looked genuinely shocked.
“…What?”
Aria looked completely serious.
“You heard me.”
Hutaro frowned immediately.
“But there will be so many security guards there.
How are we supposed to get through all of them?”
Aria smirked confidently.
“Use your powers.”
Silence.
Then Hutaro suddenly sighed in defeat.
“…Understood.”
A small smile appeared on his face afterward.
“Don’t worry.
I’ll handle everything.”
Aria nodded proudly.
“Good.”
A few minutes later, Aria returned to the main hall where Muichiro was waiting with the invitation cards.
The moment he saw her, he narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
“Where were you?”
Aria answered casually,
“I was talking to Hutaro.”
Muichiro instantly understood.
“…So you already finished planning how to destroy the engagement?”
Aria smiled proudly.
“Yes.”
Then she crossed her arms dramatically.
“Everything is perfectly planned.”
Muichiro stared at her for two seconds before sighing deeply.
“That sentence alone scares me.”…