"You- you didn't tell me about this!" Melanie almost screamed. She glared at Emersyn who was sighing heavily.
"No, you're wrong. I am his subordinate. I just came with him."
"Then why are you clinging to him?!"
"Calm down, jeez!" Emersyn said as she quickly untangled her arm from Elodiaren. Her eyes suddenly caught people who stared at them as they whispered. She groaned, however, Elodiaren decided to add fuel to the fire.
"My Lady, don't be shy---"
This time, Emersyn put enough force in her hand and smacked Elodiaren's back.
"Ouch! My- my Lady, don't be too rash, I say!"
"... I say?"
"Ah."
"Hoh~ I never knew you have a habit like that," Emersyn smirked, not minding the stares directed at them. On the other hand, Melanie was fuming as she interrupted the two from their bickering. "Excuse me?! You're only a subordinate, so how can you act like that in front of sir Ashford? If you won't---"
"It is true, but she is the closest to me. Please don't create a fuss," Elodiaren interjected.
"But---"
"Melanie, if you proceed any further, I am going to cancel our contract."
"..."
"Good," he said before pulling Emersyn towards the buffet.
Melanie stood aghast as she watched the retreating figure of Ashford and that cursed witch Emersyn. She seethed in anger as she clenched her fist; she should have been the one clinging on him, she should be the one taking his hand, she should be the only one who receives his love, she should be… she should---. Blinded by frustration, she approached a man as she gritted her teeth. She called, "Father, is the plan still okay?"
"Oh? You're going to join us? I thought you were against it."
"However, leave Ashford and Emersyn to me."
"Emersyn? 'That' Emersyn?" Her father's, Simon's, eyes went wide as he almost let go of the glass he was holding.
Seeing the reaction of her father, she asked worriedly, "What's wrong, Father?"
"Mel… do you know about Voltaire's newest executive member?"
"Yes, I've heard of it."
Simon leaned closer and whispered, "Emersyn is that Phoenix."
"..."
"I don't know what she is capable of, but she easily did her job when it was about the Bombing Case of the Hansom Laboratory. The spy reported that she wouldn't be here since she was caught up in another matter when they escaped. She was also widely searched by the Blanche. She isn't an easy opponent for you neither Ashford would be. Give it up and just do the menial task of---"
"It won't be hard if I caught them by surprise, right?"
"... yes, but---"
"Then I will do just that."
Simon sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose.
"I will kill Emersyn, and you will capture Ashford for me."
"Mel---"
"Father, I beg you."
"... you just have to love Ashford that much," Simon sighed once again.
Melanie pressed her lips into a thin line as her gaze never tore away from her father.
"Fine."
When she got the reply she wanted, she bursted in joy as she hugged her father tightly. "So, when will we start?"
Simon's gentle expression turned cold as she smirked, "When CEO Henri gets shot on the stage."
Meanwhile, Emersyn was eating gracefully as Elodiaren offered her more food. She could only accept it as a gesture of a friend rather than that of a potential lover. After all, she was not in the position to love someone. Her heart was stoned and her eyes lost its light.
"My Lady?" Elodiaren called.
"... nothing. I was just wondering if I am permitted to do just that."
"What is?"
Emersyn shook her head as she gave Elodiaren a smile. "Eat all of these, of course!"
"Haha! You can eat as much as you want!"
Even if her body was focused on the food in front of her, in her consciousness, she was already compressing as much power as she had to for the upcoming event.
"Excuse me, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am CEO Henri of Percival Corporation." When everyone's chattering died down, he continued, "First of all, I would like to thank you all for coming to this gathering for me. As I see, everyone I invited came! It even exceeded the number I expected. I am really glad for all of you. Before we get started, I would like to offer my sincerest appreciation towards those that helped me to make this gathering possible. Sir Percival, sir Simon of Downe Incorporation… and sir Partradh of Junichi Company," he raised his glass towards those that he called as an acknowledgement.
After a long speech, he ended it with, "... toast for our successes!"
Just as he raised his glass, a bullet was released and directly penetrated the nasal bone of his skull. Blood and fluids gushed out as Henri collapsed dead on the carpeted stage. Screams echoed in the hall and chaos erupted. The hall was soundproofed, and the people here are afraid to be caught by the police just in case they were suspected of smuggling and illegal works, which they were.
Some of the people simultaneously retrieved their guns hidden in their clothes as they aimed at the most influential people present in the gathering. They also blocked their means of escape.
Under the panicked state of the people, Elodiaren was pulling Emersyn towards the entrance of the hall. However, he felt his hand become heavy as he looked behind just to see Emersyn collapsed on the floor. His eyes tore away from Emersyn to the woman who shot her; Melanie. Suddenly, he felt a muzzle aimed on his skull. When he was about to fight back, he saw that there were also a lot of men that pointed their guns at him. He slowly raised his hands, letting go of Emersyn.
"Ashford Wiltshire."
"Simon Midlands."
"Did you plan all of these?"
"What is your deduction, Mr. Wiltshire?"
"My gut instinct is screaming at you, Mr. Midlands."
"Then your gut is correct."
"Why are you doing this?"
"It's all for money and power."
"Ahaha! You're being blinded! You think you will be happy after all of these?"
"It is none of your business, Mr. Goody-two-shoes. The one that proposed to punish criminals when they are criminals themselves! Are you happy? You are? Or maybe, you aren't?" Simon said as he pointed his chin towards Emersyn who was taking kicks from Melanie.
"..." his face became rigid as his eyes never tore his glare towards Simon.
"She's the one that is closest to you, right? How naive of you to bring her to this place filled with wolves! Also, do you know? I sent my men towards your headquarters and to your branches. After all of these, your Voltaire will be wiped out in the world and will remain as history! Oh right, you all aren't worthy of it. Hahaha!"
"..."
"You are dead now, btch? Huh? How weak humans are!" Melanie's voice entered Elodiaren's ears as he clenched his raised hands. Simon smiled cynically when he noticed and ordered his men, "Search this guy's clothes. Maybe he has a gun in him."
As they searched his belongings, Melanie clicked her tongue as she kicked Emersyn on her stomach one last time. She flicked her hair as she turned her back against that dead weight. However, a hand found its way on her neck with a force enough to break her bones. She screamed in fear and it alerted her father's men around her then pointed their guns towards the woman who was responsible for this new found commotion.
"Let her go at once or I will shoot!" One of them said.
However, Emersyn only displayed her evil smirk as she lifted Melanie from the ground. "Humans are indeed weak, don't you think?" Her red eyes stared dangerously at them, squeezing her hand tighter. Melanie screamed in pain, loud enough to be heard in the hall.
"Let the young lady go at one!"
"Or you are going to shoot me, isn't it?"
"..."
Emersyn threw Melanie on the floor as the woman released a heaving breath. She slowly approached the woman on the floor and said, "Your kicks lack power. I will show you what true strength is," then she spun her whole body then kicked Melanie. The force was enough to be felt by those around them.
"Melanie!" Simon screamed as he saw his daughter flung towards the wall that cracked to contain the momentum of Emersyn's strength.
The hall became silent as they held their breath when Emersyn's heels clacked on the floor, approaching the disfigured body of Melanie. No one dared to move or even talk. Emersyn chuckled as she noticed that the woman before her fainted and got her joints dislocated.
"You bastard!" Simon angrily shouted as he fired his gun towards Emersyn. She only waved her arm as she caught the hot bullet in her hand. She opened her palm and grabbed the bullet by her fingers. Simon fired more rounds as he screamed. However, it was all caught by Emersyn.
"You dropped your bullets, Simon. I will return them to you, alright?" Then she flicked the bullet and it penetrated his skull into his brain.
Suddenly, a man who got out of his stupor, aimed his gun towards Elodiaren. He shouted, "Surrender or I will shoot this man!" Those were his last words before he died by a bullet.