Gwen opened her mouth to speak, hesitant at first. But after a moment of deliberation, she recounted the events of their visit to the TNT Law Firm and her observations of Locke's interaction with Lawyer Laun.
George listened, feeling a strange sense of displacement.
'They really know how to play the game,' he thought.
George looked at his daughter. "So, do you think Locke's approach is... a bit too severe?"
Locke's comment about money not being an issue made one thing crystal clear: he intended to escalate this to the absolute limit. George had no doubt Locke could pull it off. The America was a society built on gold; with money and physical evidence, putting someone in prison was child's play.
However, Gwen shook her head. "No."
George blinked. "Then what is it?"
Gwen looked up, her gaze searching. "I just feel... like I lack the ability to truly help him. He handles everything so perfectly on his own."
George: "..."
'Where's my gun? Where's the rifle I just bought for hunting? Shit. I shouldn't have come up here.'
A wave of bitterness washed over George. Watching his Little cabbage being carried off by a wild boar was bad enough, but now he was essentially being forced to speak in defense of the boar. And the thought that he'd eventually have to pay for the wedding and the honeymoon... George felt physically ill.
Seeing her father sway slightly, Gwen jumped up to steady him. "Dad, are you okay?"
George waved her off, though he felt a small spark of relief. At least his daughter still worried about him. He took a breath, his thoughts racing, and motioned for her to sit back down. "You don't need to 'help' him in the way you think," he said softly.
Gwen looked at him, confused.
"All you have to do is believe in him," George explained, drawing from his own life. "Back when I was a detective, every time I went on a dangerous mission, I knew your mother was worried sick. But she always told me she believed in me. That trust is the greatest support a man can have."
Gwen blinked. George opened his mouth to add more, but finding himself defeated by the sheer earnestness of his daughter's love, he beat a tactical retreat.
A moment later, Helen appeared at the door with a knowing smile. She shot George a sharp glare, essentially telling him his turn was over, and stepped into the room to take the "baton" of emotional support.
...
The next day: Campaign Speech Day.
"Good morning, Locke."
"Good morning."
Locke watched Gwen as she opened the passenger door, radiating youthful energy and vitality. He gave her a light kiss before starting the car and heading toward Midtown High. "You seem very happy today, Gwen."
Gwen leaned her head back, smiling at him. "I suddenly realized something."
"Oh? What's that?"
She tilted her head. "I'm going to read you like a book. I'll make sure I understand every single page."
Locke: "..."
Last night, Helen had explained that Gwen's feelings of helplessness were natural. Gwen liked to be in control; her confidence was built on that foundation. When faced with Locke's autonomous, hyper-competent nature, she naturally felt adrift. Helen had told her: Unless you want a weak boyfriend who follows your every command, this is a hurdle you have to cross.
Gwen had recoiled at the thought of a "soft" boyfriend. She wanted a man like her father—or better yet, Locke. Helen had taught her that love is the process of two people learning to "read" each other. Once the book is understood, confidence is rebuilt as a partnership. That, Helen said, is what marriage is built on.
So, Gwen had set a goal for herself: Four years. She would spend the next four years fully "reading" Locke. By then, they would be twenty-one.
Locke looked at the stars in Gwen's eyes—the look of a scholar determined to master a difficult subject—and felt a slight pang of inner panic. He laughed it off. "Sure. My book is open to you twenty-four-seven."
'Well, this is problematic,' he thought. 'The father-in-law wants to read the Peerless Assassin, and the daughter wants to read me. Can't panic. Stay calm. Even if I'm exposed, I can control the fallout. After all, I'm the Player with the cheats.'
...
At Midtown High, in the parking lot:
They ran into Sam Malik, who appeared to have been waiting for them.
"Locke!" Sam tossed his cigarette butt and approached. He gave Gwen a polite nod before extending a hand to Locke. "I'm looking forward to your campaign speech."
Locke shook his hand with a chuckle. "I didn't prepare one."
He really hadn't. Ever since Nina Bell played the "discrimination card" against Sam, Locke knew it was only a matter of time before she tried it on him. He'd planned to play along for a bit, but then he thought: Why bother with this child's play? He wanted the mission rewards sooner rather than later.
Two candidates require speeches. One candidate? That's an appointment. A coronation.
He looked at Gwen. "What's my current support rating?"
"Sixty-five percent," she replied. It had dropped two points after the "Star Tower" leak, as some parents advised their children to distance themselves from anything that could be branded as controversial.
Locke shrugged at Sam. "See? I don't even need a speech to win." He paused, then added, "By the way, thanks for the recording device yesterday."
Sam blinked. "You're welcome."
Gwen glanced at Sam. 'So it was his recorder,' she noted.
Locke smiled. "Let's go, Gwen. Let's end this farce."
His plan was simple: finish this by the morning, give a few witty remarks during the inauguration in the afternoon, and collect his hundreds of thousands of experience points by evening.
....
In the corridor outside the Principal's Office:
They encountered Nina Bell and the boy she had manipulated. Nina smirked when she saw Locke. "If you're here to beg for a truce, it's too late. I gave you your chance."
With grace she pushed open the Principal's office door.
The Principal, startled, looked up with annoyance. However, his expression immediately shifted to a broad smile when he saw Locke and Gwen following her in. To the school, those two were golden geese. Their Grand Slam victory meant a massive increase in state funding. They were investments that paid for themselves ten times over.
"Locke, Gwen," the Principal beamed. "Is there a problem with the speeches this afternoon? Just say the word, and the school will handle it."
Nina Bell cut in loudly. "Mr. Principal, I was in here first."
The Principal waved her off without looking. If it weren't for public image, he would have dealt with her long ago.
Locke smiled. "Principal, I'm actually here to say that the speech this afternoon is unnecessary. Can we just change it to an inauguration speech instead?"
Nina Bell laughed. "Locke Broughton, it's too late to withdraw. I gave—"
*Knock, knock, knock.*
The Principal looked at the man in the doorway. "You are... Lawson Laun?"
Locke stood up. "Mr. Principal, allow me to introduce Mr. Lawson Laun, the lead counsel of my legal representation team."
The Principal froze. Nina Bell's brain seemed to stall. The boy beside her looked absolutely terrified.
Lawson Laun walked in, shook the Principal's hand, and then turned his cold, professional gaze toward Nina Bell. "You must be Nina Bell?"
"I am. Who are you?" Nina barked.
Laun reached into his coat and pulled out a document, handing it directly to her. "This is a summons from the Manhattan Upper East Side Civil Court. You are required to appear at 3:00 PM this afternoon."
Nina stared at the paper. "Appear? For what?"
The Principal's brow furrowed. But then, Laun pulled out a recorder and pressed play.
As the audio filled the room, the Principal reached a sudden, profound state of enlightenment.
***
We're very close to 500 stones, just 50 more.
I'll drop 3 chapters if we reach it today.
***
Read 40 Chapters early on P-atreon.com/Redestro666