Ai's declaration naturally left them wavering in indecision, their thoughts pulled in conflicting directions.

Yet, at this moment, there was fundamentally nothing they could do to alter the situation.

All they could hope for was that Al might at least be detained for a short while, granting them a narrow window of opportunity to send him to Bahari Academy for the ritual they had planned.

However, the involvement of the Alasia Group, combined with the declaration of war made in court, had significantly worsened their position—especially with their businesses and finances currently standing on unstable ground.

Darius leaned in toward Lefon and whispered,

"Do you really not have any ideas? My business is falling apart, and I refuse to gamble my life by stepping into court. Losing there could completely ruin me," he said, anxiety lining every word.

"So am I," Lefon replied sharply.

"But… stop putting everything on my shoulders. I've already helped you far more than necessary even though none of this is actually my business." His tone carried a hint of irritation.

"My family isn't fully disconnected from Alasia yet, and even if I were to side with you, the risk would still be enormous."

"Arghh… all of this happened because that brat dragged the police into this," Darius muttered with frustration.

"If I had known it would reach this point, I would have ordered those cannibals from Mirianmar to be more aggressive instead of merely watching him." He grumbled helplessly.

Lefon could only shake his head lightly, unsure how to respond.

Kugo and Santo exchanged silent glances, both looking equally troubled.

Meanwhile, the principal could only release a long, weary sigh.

Becoming a pawn of the elites came with enormous risks, and this was precisely the fate he now faced.

He no longer knew whether Alasia would still entrust him with the position of principal or not.

Al and his group heard the whispered conversation clearly thanks to their heightened sense of hearing, and they naturally recognized the truth—that these men had indeed dispatched the cannibals.

Sebastian immediately looked toward Al, fearful that Al might grow emotional again after hearing such statements.

Fortunately, there was no excessive reaction—only a slight sharpening of the eyes and an expression that darkened subtly.

"Master, are you all right?" he asked through telepathy.

"I'm fine," Al replied curtly.

That alone was enough to ease Sebastian's heart.

"By the way… is there any update from Kian and Bata?" Al asked again.

"Nothing yet, but they should have made their move earlier," Sebastian answered.

Al merely gave a light nod. And at that moment, Ai's telepathy reached him as well.

"Master, what did they mean about the cannibals targeting you?" she asked anxiously, having received no information about that matter.

"Ah… it's nothing. Michaelis and Sebastian have dealt with it already," he answered calmly.

"Can't you tell me now?" Ai asked again, her curiosity intense—too intense.

"I can tell you anytime. But for now, you need to finish this boring case first," Al replied.

But Ai's curiosity only intensified. She even turned around to look at him anxiously.

"Master… I can easily finish this case. It's already done, anyway," she insisted.

"Are you really all right? They dared to send cannibals to attack you? Y-You hate… cannibals, don't you? Doesn't that remind you of…?" Her eyes glimmered with worry.

Al turned to her as well, but Ai continued,

"Master. Hans is outside. I can send him right now. Just tell me, and I'll handle it. You must be struggling with this. Let me—"

Grab!

Her anxious words stopped abruptly.

She froze.

Al had clasped her hand firmly beneath the table—a warm, steadying grip only the two of them could see. Perhaps even the CCTV wouldn't catch it.

Al looked at her calmly, then let out a soft laugh while shaking his head lightly.

"Ai… I'm fine. Calm down, okay?" he said in a soothing tone.

"Besides… I'm the one who should be worried about the cannibal thing. But somehow you're the one panicking," he teased lightly.

Ai composed herself, her heart warming instantly, her face subtly flushed.

"Of course I'm worried, Master!" she snapped lightly, refusing to let her concern be brushed aside.

"Haha… yes, yes. I understand. So relax. Everything's fine," Al replied.

"Are you sure, Master?" Ai asked again, seeking clarity.

Al simply nodded this time.

And that alone was enough to convince her and ease her heart.

"Very well," she said softly. "Don't forget to tell me afterward."

"Of course," Al replied, gently patting her hand before letting go. He didn't wish to hold her hand too long, especially not in public.

Ai felt a slight sting of disappointment as their hands separated, but she understood and held it in her heart. Though her faintly pouting expression betrayed her feelings.

Reina caught the interaction and could only feel amused, though this was hardly the place to laugh. Sebastian felt similarly.

Their group now appeared far more harmonious and warm compared to the other side of the table—rigid and filled with unease.

After a moment, Santo finally spoke.

"M-My apologies, Miss Aiza… apologies to all the gentlemen here, and everyone present," he said politely.

"Considering that no agreement has been reached in this mediation—regarding the objections and demands made by this boy—along with the need to give the victims' families time to decide on the next step for this case…"

"…We from the police will conduct a reassessment and a follow-up investigation according to the boy's request. This case may or may not proceed to the next stage, so I ask for your understanding and readiness."

Everyone seemed to accept this, and no one raised further objections.

And with that, the case concluded with the signing of an agreement requiring the victims' families to restrain themselves from launching any form of retaliation against Al.

It also affirmed the Alasia Group's readiness to secure the boy and ensure positive cooperation in any follow-up inspections or monitoring involving Al.

The fathers were, deep down, far from satisfied, believing this had been their best opportunity to defeat Al. Yet the final outcome was nowhere near what they had hoped for.

Now they had no idea how to navigate the situation. Everything felt disastrously tangled.

They bid farewell with clear discomfort among them.

Leaving Santo as the mediator who needed to maintain a neutral image. Fortunately for him, Ai did not pressure him over his slightly biased attitude throughout the process.

"Well then, I'm taking him with me. I'll wait for further information." Ai said as she excused herself, her tone still carrying that dominant air.

"I hope there will be no bias or pressure from the opposing side," she added.

Santo merely nodded.

"Understood. We will contact you soon. And thank you for your cooperation, Miss Aiza," he said formally, helplessly accepting a reprimand from an eighteen-year-old girl.

Reina moved to prepare their path, as did the bodyguards.

Al rose to his feet as well. But before leaving, he turned around.

"This is over, right?" he asked in a flat tone.

"For now, yes. Just prepare yourself, because in the coming days, we will conduct monitoring and further examinations," Santo replied.

Al nodded, slightly uncomfortable with the idea of being observed, but there was little he could do about it.

And so they left.

Santo escorted them only to the door; the rest of the way, they were accompanied by other officers since he still had to remain with the elite fathers.

Al briefly turned to look at the elite fathers, then gave them a wide grin and waved, as if proudly displaying that they had never stood a chance against him.

Neither in physical confrontation nor political warfare.

The fathers looked visibly irritated but could do nothing. Their sharp gazes followed Al, who looked boldly arrogant—as though mocking them outright.

That boy could win and walk away so casually. This was unacceptable, Darius thought bitterly.

Kugo grit his teeth, his eyes sharper than the rest—especially toward Al, and… Sebastian of course, who had defeated him.

However, the sharp looks from the fathers were immediately met with far more terrifying stares from the two bodyguards.

That alone was enough to make them recoil. In the end, all they could do was blame themselves for their own foolishness and weakness.

But that would only last for a while.

---

A short while earlier.

Outside the police station, the scorching heat still dominated the air, and time itself seemed to crawl unbearably slow for those who were waiting with suffocating impatience.

Yura and the others were taking shelter beneath the shade of the lush trees in the small garden at the front courtyard of the police station.

Although the sunlight was mostly blocked by the thick canopy above them, the oppressive warmth of the day refused to fade.

Yura looked visibly frustrated.

Rina and Dila weren't much better, both wearing faces of mild irritation.

Devy remained the calmest among them, her composure rooted in her confidence that nothing bad would truly happen to Al.

Meanwhile, the only one who was being dramatically noisy was Karen, fanning herself vigorously as the heat continued to bother her.

"They'll come out from that door, right?" Yura asked.

Dila nodded.

"There are a few exits, but they'll most likely come through that one. Especially since the cars of those elite fathers are all parked right there." She pointed toward the parking lot.

Yura could only click her tongue in response, clearly agitated and unsure what else to do with herself.

Rina let out a small giggle at Yura's behavior.

"Yura, the way you're acting… I honestly can't tell. Do you just want to use Al, or do you actually like him?" she teased.

Karen nodded while still fanning her neck with her small portable fan.

Yura immediately glared at the two, her sadistic aura flaring up almost instinctively.

"You two! You better not tease me right now," she snapped, visibly annoyed.

"Especially after the two of you blatantly rejected my calls earlier." She reminded them, her tone carrying clear displeasure at the memory.

That was more than enough to make the two go quiet, lowering their heads like obedient servants being scolded by their superior.

Devy found the situation slightly amusing and was about to soothe Yura a little—

But then—

WOOOOSHH!!

A massive pressure suddenly erupted from the direction of the police station.

Heavy—so heavy that even from the outside, they could feel it pushing against their chests, as if the immense force inside sought to crush something within those walls.

Rina and Devy's eyes immediately widened. Both possessed high magical sensitivity, making the disturbance feel even more jarring.

Yura, though not as innately sensitive as they were, also felt it clearly—an eerie, foreboding sensation blooming in her chest.

The three shot to their feet simultaneously, startling Dila and Karen, who looked around in confusion.

"W-What is it? What happened?" Karen asked frantically.

But none of the three answered immediately. Their expressions were frozen in shock, their eyes locked on the imposing building ahead.

Finally, Yura muttered, "This is bad."

Without hesitation, without waiting for explanations, she immediately darted forward.

But Devy swiftly blocked her path, grabbing her arm.

"Lady Yura. Don't act on impulse." Devy said firmly—although her anxious eyes betrayed the steadiness in her voice.

Rina hurried closer as well, with Karen and Dila following behind, still looking completely lost.

"Why are you stopping me, Devy?! You felt it too, didn't you?! That kid could be in danger!" Yura snapped angrily.

"Al is in danger?" Dila asked, turning to Rina for some kind of confirmation. But Rina only stared silently at the building, face tense.

Her expression alone was enough to make Dila understand—whatever was happening inside wasn't something ordinary people could comprehend.

Devy shook her head lightly.

"Of course I felt it. But nothing is certain yet. And that pressure…" she paused briefly, her tone darkening.

"…I cannot guarantee our safety if we interfere."

Yura looked at her in disbelief before turning to Rina for verification. Rina only nodded, agreeing with Devy's judgement.

Yura clenched her teeth, feeling both frustrated and powerless.

But a moment later, the overwhelming pressure dissipated as abruptly as it appeared. Everything fell silent again.

There were no screams, no commotion, no panicked movement from the officers inside. Nothing.

The building stood calm and normal, as if the earlier disturbance had never happened.

Rina lifted her head and glanced sideways.

"It stopped? And it looks like nothing happened," she said.

"It might've just been a powerful person releasing intimidation," Devy commented.

Rina nodded.

"Probably Mr. Kugo. He's a strong martial artist… though I didn't know he could release a pressure that intense." She added, still doubtful.

But none of them had a definite answer.

Yura simply stared at the building silently, hoping Rina and Devy's analysis was correct.

The five of them stood under the sweltering heat, but the lingering tension in the air numbed them to the discomfort. Nobody spoke for a while.

Eventually, Yura exhaled deeply and turned around. She walked back toward the bench in the garden.

The other four followed—like loyal subordinates trailing after their queen.

Back at the bench, no one said much. The tension from earlier hadn't fully dissipated, and all of them were still feeling its ghost.

Minutes passed.

The front doors of the police station finally opened, drawing all their attention.

As they had hoped, Al appeared.

He walked out casually beside Ai—an extraordinary woman whom they had rarely, if ever, seen before.

Yura felt uneasy immediately. She noticed the closeness between Al and Miss Aiza—too close. Uncomfortably close.

And something about that, felt wrong. Al was supposed to be nothing more than a scholarship student under Alasia's care.

She wanted to walk toward him, but an inexplicable discomfort twisted in her chest.

Devy and Rina noticed it and understood. They rose from their seats as well, but none of them dared to approach.

Al happened to glance toward them.

"Oh, they're still here," he murmured. Enough for the others around him to turn and look.

"Who are they?" Ai asked.

"Ah, I told you about the two before. That's Rina and Dila." Al said, eyes shifting briefly toward them.

"The others I met recently. I'll explain later. They're… unique." He added, referring to Yura, Devy, and Karen.

"Unique?" Ai raised an eyebrow, puzzled and slightly uneasy for some reason.

Al simply nodded and waved toward the girls.

"Oii, you guys came too! You have business here as well?" he shouted from afar.

Rina and Dila wanted to respond, but seeing Yura's expression tighten, they hesitated. They ended up only waving back awkwardly.

Al didn't walk toward them. Instead, he turned and continued toward the line of Alasia personnel waiting for him, where Hans already stood prepared.

Yura's expression twisted. She crossed her arms, her face darkening. Her mood sank instantly—an unidentifiable jealousy burning somewhere deep inside her chest.

What is wrong with me?! Don't tell me… this is jealousy?! she thought, horrified.

Devy noticed her expression. Yura had been desperate to see Al just moments ago—and yet, now that she finally saw him, she only stood there sulking like a furious cat.

Ai, meanwhile, sensed the hostile aura directed at her. Instinctively, she turned back toward Yura.

Their eyes met, and sparks flew—an intense, silent clash, like two predators attempting to tear each other apart with their gaze alone.

Fortunately, the tension was broken when Lefon and the school principal finally appeared.

"Miss Aiza… I believe there is something we need to clarify with you?" Lefon said politely.

The principal nodded quickly, anxiety clear on his face as he worried about his future.

Ai turned away, visibly annoyed. She was not in the mood to deal with either of them. Without offering the slightest response, she got into the car with Al and the others.

Lefon and the principal froze, shocked at being ignored so blatantly. Fortunately, Reina stepped forward to handle it.

"Miss is not in the mood to deal with you right now," she said flatly.

"This morning we went to the school unannounced and discovered that neither of you were present," she continued.

"The staff informed us that you were busy dragging our scholarship student to the police station."

Reina let out a soft sigh.

"For now, we'll postpone the meeting. We'll discuss it again after the national exam." She concluded.

Without further discussion, she entered the car as well.

Lefon and the principal looked troubled but could only nod helplessly.

"Understood…" they said in unison.

And with that, the car departed, leaving behind the elite fathers—and the group of girls, who were still dealing with their tangled emotions.

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