Velara reached them, her security personnel creating a small bubble of space. Up close, she was even more striking—the pink skirt swaying with her movement, the overcoat elegant, her makeup subtle but perfect.
"Max!" she said warmly, as if they were old friends meeting for coffee rather than in front of thousands of people. "I saw you in the VIP line and thought I would say hi."
Max's brain short-circuited for a moment. "Velara—uh, Yuki. Hi."
She turned to his mother with a gracious smile. "You must be Max's mother. It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Yuki Takahashi."
Max's mother, despite her earlier elegance, looked starstruck. "Oh, yes, hello. I'm Yuki as well. Thorne Yuki. This is... unexpected."
"I've heard a lot about you from Max," Velara said. "He speaks very highly of you."
"He... does?" Max's mother glanced at him, clearly surprised they had discussed family.
Velara then noticed Keiko and Ryota, who were standing frozen, clearly recognizing exactly who they were dealing with.
"I'm sorry, I don't want to intrude on your family outing," Velara said politely.
"Not at all!" Keiko jumped in, her voice suddenly honey sweet. "I'm Tanaka Keiko, Max's aunt. This is my son, Ryota. What an honor to meet you, Miss Takahashi. Your father's work on the IAOO framework has been remarkable."
"Thank you," Velara said with a smile. Then she turned back to Max.
"Actually, Max, I have a favor to ask. My father arranged for separate processing for Phoenix Guild members. Rather than waiting in these lines, we could get you and your mother registered through the guild channel. It's much faster."
"We wouldn't want to impose—" Max's mother started.
"It's no imposition at all," Velara assured her. "Phoenix takes care of its members. That includes making sure registration goes smoothly."
She glanced at Keiko and Ryota.
"Though I'm afraid the guild processing is only for Phoenix members and their immediate family."
The implication was clear: Max and his mother were coming with her. Keiko and Ryota were not.
"Of course, of course," Keiko said quickly, though Max could see the disappointment and jealousy flickering across her face. "You go ahead, Max. We'll manage fine here."
Ryota looked like he had been slapped. "Wait, you're actually in Phoenix? Like, for real?"
"Trial member," Max said. "For now."
"He's being modest," Velara interjected. "Max's performance in our recent raids has been exceptional. The guild leadership has high expectations for him." She turned to Max's mother. "Shall we?"
"Yes, thank you," Max's mother said, still slightly dazed.
Velara took Max's hand and began leading them away.
Max glanced back to see Keiko trying to maintain her composure while Ryota's face was a mixture of shock and envy.
"That was..." Max started.
"Necessary," Velara finished quietly, her voice low enough that only Max and his mother could hear. "Your aunt was about to spend the next three hours subtly putting you down. This was more efficient."
"You didn't have to—"
"Max, you're in Phoenix." She smiled. "Besides, I actually do have separate processing arranged. Might as well use it."
They walked through a restricted area, past security checkpoints that opened immediately when they saw Velara. They entered a private wing of the facility—quieter, more controlled, with far fewer people.
"This is the Sanctioned Gaming Organization registration area," Velara explained. "Only for members of IAOO-recognized guilds. Much more efficient than the general registration."
Max's mother was looking around in awe. "This is incredible. And you arranged all this?"
"My father's position helps," Velara admitted. "But Phoenix Guild also has official standing. We take care of our people."
She led them to a private registration booth where a professional-looking attendant waited.
"This is MaxThorne, Phoenix Guild trial member, and his mother, Thorne Yuki," Velara told the attendant. "Full registration package."
"Of course, Miss Takahashi," the attendant said with a respectful bow.
Velara turned to Max and his mother. "I'll leave you to handle the paperwork. It should take about thirty minutes. When you're done, I'll be in the Phoenix Guild lounge—third floor, west wing. Come find me, and I'll help you navigate the trading system setup."
"Thank you," Max's mother said sincerely. "This is incredibly generous."
"Phoenix takes care of family," Velara said simply. Her eyes met Max's. "And Max is family now."
She walked away, leaving Max and his mother alone with the attendant.
Max's mother sat down heavily in one of the chairs. "That girl... she's the Finance Minister's daughter. And she just called you family."
"It's guild terminology," Max said, sitting beside her.
"Max." His mother looked at him seriously. "What exactly have you gotten yourself into?"
"Something bigger than I expected," he admitted.
His mother smiled slightly. "Well, at least you're not doing it alone."
The registration process began, and Max realized that in less than a week, his entire life had transformed.
And it was only going to get more complicated from here.