"Bel....Nha....Belin....Belinha!"
"?!"
Belinha opened her eyes and sat up while breathing heavily.
"Belinha, are you okay?"
She turned her head and Batu was holding onto her.
"What happened?"
She touched her face.
"I'm still alive?"
Batu nodded and looked behind him. Mikel and the others were checking on Impactor, who was lying on the ground. There weren't any injuries on him, but he was practically naked.
"What happened with Alala?"
She tried to get up, but her legs gave out. Batu caught her before she fell.
"I don't know what happened, but she and her Generals are nowhere to be found."
"Then, does that mean we fought them off?"
Tears started gathering in her eyes.
"We somehow survived?"
Batu nodded.
"Hell yeah!"
Her sudden shout made Batu flinch.
"We're drinking all night tonight! Hey, Celso! Wake up, we're going to France for that boeuf bourguignon!"
"Seriously?!"
Impactor revived and instantly sprang to his feet.
"Hell yeah!"
He and Belinha burst out laughing while Batu and the others smiled; all except Mikel, who wore a bitter expression.
"......."
Meanwhile, Alala was floating in a lake near Müggelberge.
"Commander, are you alive?"
She turned her head and saw Eris waving at her from the land. Phobos and Deimos were next to her. The water exploded and she landed in front of them.
"Damn that Sinvula. He had to interfere."
She mumbled before sighing.
"What goes around comes back around, I guess."
"....You aren't angry?"
Phobos asked.
"No, I'm just exhausted at this point."
"Then what about Impactor and his team? If you want, we can go and...."
"That would make me look worse."
"Then are you accepting this as a loss?"
"Lost? Anyone with a brain will know that Impactor and his crew aren't anywhere near me. They got lucky."
"True, but trolls will use it as a chance to drag your name through the mud. This will taint our reputation."
"Then do you want to destroy the GHF HQ?"
"....What?"
"If you're so worried, then destroy their HQ."
"That will start an all-out war."
"Same with going back to kill Impactor."
She pointed at the sky.
"Sinvula is still here. Yet, he didn't try to kill Impactor. Why?"
"....Because it would make him look bad."
"True, but that's not all."
She looked up at the sky.
"It's because he attacked me, and now we're even. We both lost to Impactor twice. Both of our reputations have taken a hit."
She looked at her Generals.
"Anyway, we'll put the Impactor thing on hold for a bit. Also, I'm declaring that everyone will go on vacation."
"Let's gooo! Mother Russia, I'm coming home!"
Deimos roared in excitement until Phobos covered his mouth.
"Why so suddenly?"
Alala put her hand on her hips.
"Would you rather we push the issue, and a war breaks out between us and Iron Rain?"
"…I heard Chiang Mai is really nice this time of the year."
Phobos turned away from her.
"Good."
Alala clapped her hands together.
"Then the Bellum Company is dismissed until further notice."
Barcelona, Catalonia, a few days later. A luxury car drove down the busy streets. Inside this car, a man was dressed in a grey and blue suit that looked like it was made from the finest cloth. The suit complemented his radiant dark skin. His black curly hair brushed against his broad shoulders as he leaned his head while looking at his phone. His handsome face and strong jawline reflected on the phone's black screen. The phone lit up and a message came in. The message reflected in his dark brown eyes that hid behind his thin frame silver glasses.
"We've found the target."
He read the message with an uninterested tone and operated his phone.
"Follow the directions I've sent you."
He spoke to the driver.
"Yes, sir."
The man crossed his leg over the other and leaned back. After nearly 15 minutes, the car stopped and the driver opened his door.
"We're here, Mr. Albrecht."
The man nodded and got out of the car. He was standing outside of a lounge named Reial.
"Wait here."
"Of course, Sir."
He entered the building and was greeted by a sharply dressed attendant.
"Good evening, Sir. Welcome to Reial, the most inclusive lounge in Catalunya. If it isn't rude to ask, may I ask for some kind of ID?"
The man took out a platinum card and handed it to the attendant.
"Thank yo—?!"
The attendant's eyes nearly fell out of his head when he read the card.
"M-Mr. Albrecht, my sincerest apologies for not recognising you."
The attendant returned the card with trembling hands.
"There's nothing to apologise for."
The man took the card and pocketed it.
"Is there anything I can assist you with?"
"Yes, actually. I'm looking for a customer of yours."
After a few minutes, the man was walking through the lounge. The space was enormous, and the interior was screaming luxury. Even so, the man looked unimpressed with everything around him. He spotted a table not too far away with women happily chatting away, while sipping on various drinks and eating expensive treats. He approached this table with a smile on his face.
"Good evening, ladies."
The women at the table all turned towards him and he performed a gentleman's bow.
"Sorry to disturb you, but can I speak with Hiraya?"
He looked at one of the women. She was a light, brown-skinned woman with long, wavy hair with floral clips in it. With her dressed in a floral-themed sun dress and her beautiful oval face, her overall impression could be summed up as stunningly adorable.
"Hiraya, who is this?"
"He looks like quite the gentleman."
The women around the table spoke while looking at the man and the woman called Hiraya.
"My apologies. I forgot to introduce myself."
He straightened his back and smiled at them.
"My name is Amadi Albrecht."
"?!"
The women's eyes peered open and some of them stood from their seats.
"The Amadi Albrecht?!"
"As in the heir of the Albrecht Clan?!"
The man, Amadi, nodded.
"My god..."
The women looked at Hiraya.
"Hiraya, why didn't you tell us you knew him?!"
"He's one of the richest people on the planet, you know?!"
Hiraya laughed dryly without answering. The women quickly surrounded Amadi.
"I'm a huge fan, Mr. Albrecht! I have all the magazines you've modelled in?!"
"My father always spoke of how much he admired you for leading such a large conglomerate, despite only being 28."
"Mr. Albrecht, how do you know Hiraya?"
Amadi glanced at Hiraya, who was sitting with another woman. They were both frowning at him. He smiled at the women surrounding him and spoke—
"We were once in a romantic relationship for a short while."
"She's your Ex?!"
The women squealed in excitement.
"Yes, now if you could excuse me."
He walked past them and stretched his hand towards Hiraya.
"Can we talk, Hiraya?"
Hiraya looked at his hand and took it. She showed him a smile.
"Of course."
Amadi glanced at the woman next to Hiraya.
"Sorry, Scarlett. I'm borrowing her for a bit."
The woman slowly nodded her head. Some minutes later, Hiraya and Amadi were at a table by themselves.
"Did you have to come and interrupt my playdate with my friends? I haven't seen them in a while, you know."
Hiraya was wearing a frown while Amadi was smiling.
"I figured as much. You have been busy recently."
"Why did you tell them you were my ex?"
"Am I wrong?"
"No, but this complicates my personal life quite a bit."
"Then, I'm sorry. My bad."
"Don't give me halfassed apologies when you don't mean it."
Amadi leaned over on the table.
"I can't help it. I kinda enjoy pissing you off."
"Kinda? It's a fetish for you at this point."
"Well, I won't deny that."
Amadi chuckled a bit while Hiraya kept frowning.
"Amadi, let's cut the chitchat and get down to business."
"Why the rush?"
Amadi lifted his hand and a female attendant came over.
"A drink menu, please."
"Right away, Sir."
The attendant handed Amadi a tablet with a menu on it.
"I interrupted you while you were drinking, so let me make it up to you. Otherwise, I'll feel guilty."
"You're capable of feeling guilty?"
"Only towards people I care about."
Amadi selected a few drinks and returned the tablet.
"Aren't you the same?"
Hiraya looked past him and at the attendant.
"Bring your most expensive champagne."
"Yes, Ms. Del Rosario."
The attendant left with hurried steps. After some time, the two had their drinks and were deep in conversation.
"So, after being fed up with their two-faced behaviour, I decided to destroy their company and buy it. Cole is now in charge of it."
"You really know how to abuse your power, Mr. Billionaire."
"I hate dealing with business stuff; it's too suffocating. All everyone cares about is money and status."
Amadi took a drink of his liquor and smiled.
"Which is why I destroy capitalism on the side."
"Please, you're just a terrorist."
Amadi laughed.
"Says the woman who committed every war crime known to man."
"That's just my job. Money is blood, blood is money."
"And you're currently on vacation. It's good you're taking breaks from being a menace to society."
He glanced over at the table Hiraya was before. The women there were looking at them while whispering.
"Your friends seem nice. After the excitement of me appearing died down, they're watching us to make sure everything is okay."
"They're good girls. A little naive, but it's fun to be around them."
Hiraya drank her champagne with a smile. Amadi playfully swirled his finger around the mouth of his glass.
"I wonder how they would react if I told them I can hear everything they're whispering."
"Don't tell you're upset because they're wondering if you're trying to force me back into a relationship with you? It's natural."
Hiraya hugged her shoulders.
"After all, I'm a poor 24-year-old upstart with no parents or backing."
She pointed at him.
"And you're the Grandson of the Albrecht Family, a clan so rich and powerful they're considered modern royals."
She grinned.
"Of course, they'll be worried about me. There's a clear misbalance of power."
The woman named Scarlett started laughing in secret while at the other table. This didn't miss Amadi and Hiraya.
"I see."
Amadi stood up and walked over to Hiraya.
"Then how about I give them something to talk about?"
He placed his hand on Hiraya's cheek and caressed it while looking in her eyes.
"Does this make me look like a billionaire infatuated with his ex?"
He lifted her hand and placed a kiss on it. Noise came from over the other table, but neither of the two looked in their direction.
"...Don't you have an ounce of shame?"
"Not when it comes to those I care about."
"Sit back down."
"Yes, ma'am."
Amadi returned to his seat with a grin on his face. Hiraya sighed.
"Although I don't like to talk business when on vacation, but considering you're the one who forced me to take one in the first place, this can't be avoided."
She put on a serious expression.
"Let's discuss the issue of Impactor, Sinvula."
Amadi's grin grew wider.
"Let's do that, Alala."