Chereads / Ruler's Conquest / Chapter 4 - Gathering

Chapter 4 - Gathering

Tom and Leon entered the café, stepping into a cozy yet dimly lit atmosphere. The café exuded a warm ambiance, with soft lighting casting a gentle glow over the wooden furniture and exposed brick walls. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, creating a comforting and inviting atmosphere.

As they made their way inside, the café was sparsely populated, with only a few customers scattered around, engrossed in their conversations or lost in their thoughts. The quiet hum of chatter and the soothing background music set the stage for a relaxed gathering place.

Spotting their friends in the corner, Tom and Leon walked toward them. The group consisted of two young men and two young women, all eagerly waving them over. However, as they approached, one of the young men, Kam Law, stood up abruptly and delivered an unexpected kick to Tom's stomach.

Caught off guard, Tom was unable to evade the blow and stumbled backward, landing on his back. Kam, flexing his muscular frame and sporting a somewhat handsome face with tousled dirty-blond hair, had controlled his strength to avoid causing significant harm. He leaned over Tom, expressing his frustration, "That's for missing the previous meet-ups without checking in on us. And this—"

Before Kam could finish his sentence, he swung a punch toward Tom's head. Reacting swiftly, Tom managed to lean to the side, evading the blow. With a quick reflex, he grasped Kam's incoming hand, stopping it mid-air. Looking directly into Kam's eyes, Tom uttered, "Don't you think that one blow is enough?"

Kam, wearing a mix of annoyance and concern, responded, "You deserve more than just one hit, man."

Tom replied, still holding Kam's hand, "Yes, I know, but still, that's not a reason to want to harm my handsome face don't you think ?" tom said it with grin on his face.

Kam gazed at Tom, annoyance giving way to a begrudging understanding. "Fine," he muttered, "But if you ignore us again, it won't be just a kick next time."

Tom nodded gratefully, "Thank you."

"wait...just a kick ?, and not even in the balls... you greatly disappoint me kam" said leon with a disappointed sigh.

"..."

Tom looked at leon like he was some madman and whispered to kam "act like we don't know him"

That's exactly what they did, they fastened theirs step and left him standing alone in the middle of the café like some fool.

"Hey! you bastards"

Tom and kam approached the table where their friends were seated. As they arrived, Tom scanned the faces of everyone present.

The first person he noticed was Sarah,

gracefully around the table. Her impeccable, radiant fair skin exuded a sense of purity, while her flowing blond hair framed her face with captivating charm. Her piercing blue eyes possessed a breathtaking clarity that seemed to delve into the depths of one's soul. With an elegant and alluring silhouette, her generous bosom accentuated her sensual curves. Clad in refined attire, she exuded sophistication and mystery, captivating everyone around her with her natural charm. Every movement she made was imbued with grace and a natural confidence, drawing admiring gazes from those who crossed her path.

As the secretary of the disciplinary council, Sarah combines organization, clear communication, discretion, and impartiality to maintain discipline and create a safe school environment.

Next to Sarah sat Abigail, also known as Abi among her friends, who was responsible for communication within the disciplinary council. She was a kind and friendly young woman, with sparkling clear blue eyes and brown hair framing her face. The glasses she wore accentuated her natural beauty. She possessed beautiful curves, a generously proportioned yet tasteful bosom, and voluptuous buttocks.

As the communication officer within the disciplinary council, she embodied a unique blend of exceptional communication skills, captivating charisma, and a kind nature. With empathy, deep understanding, and a gentle demeanor, she listened attentively and diplomatically resolved conflicts. Her creativity and innovation allowed her to convey disciplinary messages in an engaging and compassionate manner. Through these combined strengths, she fostered trust, promoted open communication, and contributed to maintaining a harmonious and caring school environment.

Beside these young women sat Nicholas, or Nick, who hadn't been part of the students council, he was the representative of their class. Although not as long as tom and laila he was still a friend of tom and leon since they were kids. He embodied intelligence with his sharp, perceptive gaze that seemed to grasp everything in an instant. His physical appearance surpassed the average, with an imposing stature and a well-groomed look that reflected his attention to detail. Beneath his kind and benevolent nature, he exuded an aura of calm and serenity. However, one must be cautious not to provoke him, for when pushed to his limits, he transformed into a completely different person. His temper would flare, releasing an explosive energy that could catch anyone by surprise.

'the others aren't present' tom thought to himself.

After observing his friends, Tom greeted them, and they each responded in their own way. Abigail joyfully exclaimed, "Good evening, boss, it's been a while..." trailing off and blushing slightly, she murmured, "You should have checked in on us." Tom looked at her apologetically and replied, "Sorry, it won't happen again." Sarah, adopting an accusing yet somewhat content tone, chimed in, "You better not, hmph."

Tom grinned at sarah and teased her "you little tsundere should just admit that you missed me", due to him getting close to her face while speaking she slightly blushed but remained composed and replied " you dream".

Tom glanced at her from the corner of his eye, thinking, 'She still holds a grudge,' for they used to get along well, even very well, before their dispute with Leila. However, their relationship had become strained since then. Nonetheless, they remained good friends, and Sarah's behavior was a way to push him into reconciling with Leila, as she was close to both him and Laila.

Tom turned to Nicholas and said, "Long time no see." Nick replied with a smile, "Glad to see you again, Tom."

Tom, Leon, and Kam took their sat in front of Abi, Sarah and Nick and began chatting, catching up, and checking in on each other. Suddenly, the café doors swung open, and a familiar voice echoed through the room. "Well, well, well, what do we have here? A bunch of losers hanging out in a place like this?"

Tom looked toward the source of the voice, his calm expression turning for the first time into anger and contempt.

"What are you doing here?"