When Bella reached the Head Office, she knocked on the door. The voice from inside said, "Come in."
She entered, but immediately stopped in her tracks, surprised to see Officer Noah sitting in Head Ace's room. She quickly masked her surprise and said, "Good afternoon, Head Ace, and Officer Noah."
Head Ace smiled warmly and nodded his head, gesturing for Bella to sit down.
Looking at Bella with a gentle expression, Head Ace said, "This my grandson, Noah. He never visits me this early, but since Bella joined the training, he's called me several times. And look, today, he's finally come to see me."
Officer Noah chuckled, leaning back slightly in his chair. "Grandpa, I miss you a lot. You know how busy and hectic life as a SID officer can be. But today, I made the time especially to meet you."
Head Ace laughed and shook his head. "Then, what was all this talk about a candlelight dinner?"
Noah burst out laughing.
Bella, who had been quietly listening to the playful banter between the grandfather and grandson, smiled softly.
After a moment, Head Ace looked at Bella and said, "After theory class, you can go for dinner with Noah." He then turned to Noah and added, "But you must bring her back by 10 o'clock."
Noah smiled and nodded. "Okay, I will."
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Noah chuckled, looking at Bella with amusement dancing in his eyes.
"Here I was," he said, "thinking you'd finally confess that you're in love with me… and instead, you're asking me about those murder cases — the ones that are confidential, by the way."
Bella stared at him, unflinching. "Are you going to give me the information or not?"
Noah shook his head slowly, still smiling. "So, when you said, 'I miss you' on the phone… that was just part of this, huh?"
Bella leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, silently watching him.
Noah sighed, finally giving in. "Alright, alright. Yes — it's confidential. Five high-ranking officials. All murdered in the same manner, days apart."
"I know that much," Bella cut in. "Which Wings were they from?"
Noah's expression shifted as he answered, "Two officials from the West Wing. Three from the North."
Bella's face tensed. The concern was immediate and visible.
Seeing it, Noah reached across the table and took her hand gently. "Don't worry," he said in a low, reassuring voice. "Security's been tightened across both Wings. We're on high alert."
"But they were already on high alert," Bella replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
"You don't trust Uncle Luke? August? Simon and Clary?" Noah asked, his tone firm. "Nothing will happen to them."
Bella's eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "Do Dada and Saaz know?"
Noah hesitated before answering. "No. Uncle Luke has strictly forbidden telling them. Not yet."
There was a long pause. Then Noah, trying to lift the weight of the moment, said with a half-smile, "Okay, can we order something now? I'm starving. And I still have to get you back to the training camp before ten."
Bella gave a small nod, but her mind was clearly elsewhere.