The atmosphere inside Room Virgo 01 grew stiflingly tense following Leyra's cryptic words to Nox. Beside her, Rhax and Zigh fixed their sharp, piercing glares at Nox.
"Leyra! Leyra!"
A middle-aged man's voice echoed from behind the door.
"Father..." Leyra murmured.
Without hesitation, she stepped forward and opened the door.
As soon as the door swung open, the middle-aged man rushed in and immediately enveloped the girl in a tight embrace. His hands gently cupped her cheeks, his eyes scanning her.
"Are you alright, my daughter? Leyra?"
"Yes. As you can see, Father," she replied.
Her father let out a long, heavy sigh of relief.
"Do you have any idea how terrified I was when I heard about the Begepe Pier incident? And then the bomb threat at our own hotel?"
Leyra fell silent for a moment. "Father, how did you know I was here?"
"Rhax informed me."
Leyra spared a glance toward Rhax. The bodyguard instantly bowed his head, avoiding her gaze.
Meanwhile, the other men in the room stood still, silently observing the unexpected family reunion.
The older man gently stroked her waist-length black hair. "Leyra, my sweet daughter, I am not angry. I was just worried sick. Your father is getting old, you know."
"I..."
"Say no more, my child."
Releasing his embrace, the Father turned his attention to the rest of the room. His eyes swept over Nox and Ron, before settling on Zigh and Rhax.
"Young Eosvile, it has been quite a while, hasn't it?"
Zigh stepped forward. "Indeed, Mr. Roy. My apologies for the chaos, but could you please escort Leyra away from the hotel premises at once?"
"Yes, of course. I noticed a couple of police officers inspecting the hallway just outside this room."
Zigh offered a smile. "Thank you for your understanding, Mr. Roy."
Roy turned back to Rhax, who had remained silent. "Rhax, assist young Eosvile here. I will expect your full report later."
Rhax snapped into a rigid, upright posture. "Understood, Mr. Estogazt."
Before they could leave, Leyra approached Nox. "Do you want to come with me, Nox?"
Roy's jaw dropped. How could my daughter say something like that to a man named Nox? Even when she first met Rhax, she was never this forward.
Zigh clenched his fists tightly. Damn you, champ.
Meanwhile, Rhax could only click his tongue. Why is Lady Leyra acting this way toward a man she just met today?
Seeing his younger brother become the center of Leyra's peculiar attention, Ron stepped forward to intervene. However, Nox extended his arm, blocking his older brother's path.
"Nox..." Ron muttered.
Nox let out a weary sigh, looking at Leyra. "Nah, thanks."
Leyra closed her eyes, a faint smile playing on her lips. "What a pity."
The raven-haired girl then shifted her gaze to her bodyguard. "Rhax."
Rhax quickly focused all his attention on his master. "Yes, Lady Leyra."
"Find out everything you can about Outer from them."
"Consider it done, Lady Leyra."
Roy took a deep breath. "Leyra, my daughter, we must leave. It is not safe here yet. Am I right, young Eosvile?"
Zigh nodded. "Correct. Please evacuate the premises as soon as possible."
Leyra walked back to her father's side. "Father, let us go home."
"Yes, of course, my dear."
With that, the father and daughter exited the room, the door clicking shut behind them.
The moment the tension of their presence lifted, Zigh marched toward Nox. "What on earth did you do to Leyra?"
"Huh?! Colonel, you know I just met that rich girl today!"
"Watch your mouth, Nox Eosvile!" Rhax snapped.
Nox whirled around, facing Rhax head-on. "If you guys are jealous, just say it! Stop throwing tantrums like literal toddlers!"
Instantly, both Zigh and Rhax flushed crimson. A sudden silence fell over Room Virgo 01.
"Wait... seriously?" Nox blurted out.
Rhax averted his gaze. Why am I letting myself get riled up like this?
Zigh ran a hand through his hair. He is just as exasperating as Lian.
"So, what is your next move, Zigh?" Ron asked, breaking the silence.
Zigh walked over to a painting hanging on the wall, staring at it. "Ron, how do you think I should handle Lian?"
"You've been around him for a while now, haven't you? You should know by now," Ron replied.
Zigh smiled. "Do you really think that's enough, Ron?"
Nox remained quiet, while Ron kept his eyes fixed on him. "That is—"
"Who exactly are you all talking about?" Rhax cut in.
"Leuliang Esculenta," Zigh revealed.
Ron's eyes widened in shock. "Zigh!"
"Colonel! Are you seriously leaking information about Lian?!" Nox yelled.
Zigh turned around, his gaze sweeping over the three men before him. "Rhax, even if I don't tell him, Leyra will eventually find out on her own, won't she?"
Rhax gave a firm nod.
"That girl..." Nox muttered under his breath.
Ron massaged his temples. "Well, if we're talking about Lady Leyra, I can't say I'm entirely surprised."
"What do you mean, Ron?" Nox asked.
"She actually asked Rhax and me to spar earlier."
Zigh blinked in surprise. "Leyra did? Why?"
"She claims we look alike," Ron explained.
Zigh scrutinized them for a moment. Now that I think about it, they really do share a resemblance.
Rhax scoffed, while Nox snapped his fingers. "See! I told you so, Ron!"
"Enough. Let us get back to the matter at hand," Ron suggested.
Zigh ran his fingers through his hair once more. "Fine. Rhax, what is it that you want to know?"
Rhax took a seat, crossing his arms. "Leuliang Esculenta is an unfamiliar name. Who is Lian?"
"His nickname," Nox answered.
Rhax stared at the three men standing across the table. "So, Leuliang Esculenta is his full name, and Lian is what you call him."
Ron nodded.
Rhax tapped his chin. "Then who is this 'Outer'?"
"Lian's friend," Nox stated.
"Lian's power," Zigh countered simultaneously.
"A part of Lian," Ron added.
Rhax frowned. "Huh? Why are the three of you giving me completely different answers?"
Nox, Ron, and Zigh exchanged glances before finally taking their seats across from Rhax.
"The truth is, we haven't known Lian for very long either," Ron admitted.
Zigh and Nox nodded in unison.
"I see..." Rhax murmured.
"Anything else?" Zigh asked.
Rhax leaned back into his chair. "Did you know from the very beginning that there was a bomb planted in this hotel?"
Zigh shook his head. "No. I found out through Lian."
"How could he...? Don't tell me it was Outer!" Rhax guessed.
"Spot on," Zigh replied.
Rhax tilted his head. "Then what exactly is Outer's power?"
Zigh took a deep breath. "Outer's power is—"
Tok, Tok, Tok.
A sharp knock interrupted them.
"Come in," Zigh commanded.
A police representative entered, saluting before speaking. "Colonel Zigh, we have successfully located the evidence!"
Zigh stood up, approaching the officer. "Excellent. What is the current status of the evidence?"
"My colleagues have already secured it, Sir."
Zigh exhaled a long breath. "What type of explosive was utilized?"
"After conducting a preliminary scan, the explosive compound does not match any known records in our defense and security database."
"Understood. Return to your positions. If any reporters approach, inform them that the case is still under active investigation."
"Understood, Sir." The officer then glanced briefly at Ron. "However, Sir Ron mentioned earlier that there might be a faction of suspects at the western side of the hotel."
"The west, huh..." Zigh pondered.
"The clock tower," Rhax chimed in.
"Ah, right. Check the Begepe clock tower. Dispatch the bomb disposal unit there, and be careful," Zigh ordered.
"Right away, Sir!" The officer saluted once more and promptly exited the room.
Zigh glanced over at Rhax. "Take note of that, Rhax."
"I've already done so without you telling me, Eosvile," Rhax retorted, his fingers already rapidly typing out the information on his smartphone.
Once finished, he looked up. "Eosvile, what truly is the extent of this Lian or Outer's power?"
Ron crossed his arms. "If you call out Eosvile, all three of us are going to answer, Rhax Brown."
Rhax gaze locked onto the Colonel. "Zigh Eosvile, I am asking you one more time. What is the power of this Lian or Outer?"
"Open your phone," Zigh instructed. "Look up the breaking news regarding Begepe Pier."
Scoffing, Rhax quickly typed Begepe Pier into his search engine. The incident already dominated the front page. He clicked on the top article and read through it.
"Begepe Pier... vanished? What is the meaning of this?"
Zigh sighed. "Exactly what it says. That is Lian's power, manifested through Outer."
"What? Without even an explosion?"
The three Eosviles nodded in unison.
"This... makes absolutely no sense..." Rhax muttered, stunned into a heavy silence that soon enveloped the entire room.
"By the way," Nox spoke up, shattering the quiet atmosphere. "Have you two ever fought each other before?"
Ron nudged Nox's leg.
"Ah, what is it, Ron? Might as well clear the air once and for all," Nox complained.
Zigh clicked his tongue. "Why are you bringing that up, champ?"
"Because back in the lobby, when we first ran into that girl Leyra, you mentioned something about a runner-up, Colonel."
Zigh sat back down in his previous spot. "Fine. Yes, myself, Asley, and Rhax once participated in an amateur boxing tournament—"
"And I narrowly missed the victory," Rhax cut in.
"Oh, so you lost by points," Nox deduced with a smirk.
Zigh clenched his jaw.
Ron watched the exchange. Why does Zigh look like he was the one who lost?
"Are you still pursuing it, Rhax?" Nox questioned further.
"Of course. I am a world champion now," Rhax stated.
Nox glanced sideways at Zigh. "Well, I retired the moment I won the tournament."
"I think I see where this is going," Ron noted.
"Right?" Nox grinned.
Ron tilted his head slightly, looking at the two proud boxers. "Instead of me, why don't the two of you just face each other?"
"He's not on my level," Rhax shot back. "I am a professional, and he is nothing but an amateur."
Zigh lowered his head, biting his lower lip.
Ah, so that's how it is... Ron thought.
"Oh? So if it's pro against pro, you're willing to fight, Rhax Brown?" Nox challenged.
"Without a doubt."
"Then how about you and I duke it out?"
Rhax locked eyes with Nox. "Huh? I have never even heard your name, Nox Eosvile."
Nox's smirk widened. "Believe it or not, I happen to be a world boxing champion myself."
Rhax slammed his hands onto the table, standing up. "You're a liar! If there were another world champion out there, I would definitely know about you, Nox!"
Zigh and Ron flinched at the sudden outburst. Nox stood his ground, leaning over the table to meet Rhax face-to-face. "If you want proof, let's settle it inside the ring."
Before the confrontation could escalate any further, the sharp ringing of Rhax's phone broke the tension.
Exhaling a sharp breath, Rhax snapped the phone open and answered. "Yes, Lady Leyra."
"Accept the challenge. I will be there to watch."
Rhax blinked. "What do you mean by that, My Lady?"
"..."
The line dead-ended with a series of dull beeps. Leyra had already hung up.
Rhax turned his head toward Leyra's desk. "So from there, huh…"
Lowering his phone, Rhax stepped closer to Nox. "When are we fighting?"
Ron stood up to intervene. "This is hardly the time for a match, Nox, Rhax."
"You know, Ron," Nox said, his eyes never leaving his opponent, "I've wanted to wipe that smug look off his face from the very beginning."
"What a coincidence. I feel the exact same way about you," Rhax barked back. "But I don't just want a simple match. There needs to be a wager."
"Fine by me," Nox agreed. "If I win, you have to fight Zigh. And if I lose, you get your sparring match with Ron. How does that sound?"
Rhax, Ron, and Zigh stared at Nox, their eyes wide with absolute shock at his stakes.
Meanwhile, inside the sleek luxury car driving away from the hotel, Leyra and Roy sat in the backseat.
A serene smile graced Leyra's face.
Noticing the change, Roy turned to her. "Is something the matter, my daughter?"
"No, Father. Everything is fine," Leyra replied.
Roy's eyes widened as he looked at her. I have never... ever seen her smile like that before.
To be continued...