CHAPTER 80: CHAPTER 10.8 : CLASH AT CAFE (2)

The private room inside the café was cozy yet exclusive—soundproof walls, warm lighting, and elegant furnishings created an atmosphere where guests could talk freely without disturbance. It was the kind of place reserved only for regular VIPs or those who could afford the hefty price.

Inside that room—

Two young men and two fashionable young women sat together. Their looks were striking, with the chic aura of elite youths in stylish yet casual outfits, confident smiles, and presences that drew attention. They sipped their drinks and nibbled snacks as they chatted warmly.

"Rina sure is taking her time," one of the young men said. He had a friendly face, neatly cut dark-brown hair, and wore a slim-fit casual shirt with a light jacket—tidy yet relaxed.

"Relax, you know how she is. Besides, she’s bringing a male friend tonight. Maybe that’s why she’s late," one of the young women replied. She had long straight golden-black hair with light bangs, dressed in a cropped sweater and high-waist jeans. Simple, yet elegant.

The other young woman—cheerful, with shoulder-length hair streaked with bright highlights, wearing an oversized branded hoodie and white sneakers, exuding the energetic vibe of a trendy socialite—spoke teasingly,

"Aren’t you jealous, Jo? Rina bringing a male friend?"

The second young man, who had been absorbed in his phone, only cleared his throat lightly. He looked colder, aloof, with slightly messy yet stylish hair, a premium sports hoodie, and a luxury watch. His masculine vibe stood out among them.

"Ehem... Why would I be jealous? Rina could never look at another guy. In her heart, there’s only me," he said calmly, as if declaring his dominance.

"Ughhh... I really hate that narcissism of yours," the first young man retorted.

The group burst into light laughter and continued their banter.

Before long, people began pressing toward the café’s front entrance, peeking out the window as if something major was happening outside.

The four of them, however, stayed seated, watching curiously and making it part of their conversation.

"They’re gathering over there. I wonder what’s going on?" one of the young women said.

"Probably just some minor commotion. Maybe some politician’s kid showing off his power," Jo assumed.

"Or maybe that politician’s kid is bullying some poor-looking guy—who actually turns out to be from a wealthier family, hahaha." the other man added.

"Hahaha, I think you’ve been reading too many hidden-elite drama novels," the other woman teased back.

Their laughter continued at their own silly theories, until a waiter passed by their room.

One of the young men, curious, called him over to ask what was happening outside.

The waiter explained that it seemed to be the son of a tycoon bullying a young man who looked like some country bumpkin—or at least that’s what people assumed.

The four looked at each other and then—

"Hahahaha!" They laughed loudly, not believing that their wild imagination had almost been spot-on, with only the detail about the tycoon’s son missing.

The waiter looked awkward at their reaction and excused himself.

Jo nodded with a wide grin still plastered on his face from their joke, until—

BANG!!!

A loud crash shook the café, followed by a surge of energy.

Jo froze. He recognized the energy instantly.

"This energy..." His expression shifted into seriousness and worry.

He turned to the others, telling them to stay put while he went out to confirm his suspicion.

They understood and agreed, not wanting to get involved in something dangerous.

Jo nodded once, then swiftly darted out.

Outside, a crowd had gathered, watching as two figures clashed with powerful blows. Smoke billowed, obscuring their forms, though the exchange of strikes and counters was obvious.

But one familiar figure caught Jo off guard. Gerald. He was there, smiling with satisfaction, while Mona clung sweetly to his arm.

"Why are Gerald and Mona here?" he muttered.

As the smoke began to clear, the fighters became visible—trading powerful, rapid attacks.

And the one Jo feared might be involved... was indeed there. Rina. She was battling a large, muscular man. Jo recognized him: Egen. A notorious name in Indorosia’s underground world, especially in the central region. There was no way someone of Gerald’s stature would move around with just a single bodyguard—unless that bodyguard was far from ordinary.

Rina’s strikes clashed hard against Egen’s, sending shockwaves rippling through the area. Onlookers were shaken by the pressure of energies they couldn’t comprehend. To them, it seemed like a normal fight, but the aftermath left many dizzy, sweating, and nauseated, as though their bodies were under attack too.

They prayed for security to step in, but even the guards were frozen, unsure how to handle it. Some had already called for reinforcements or the police.

Meanwhile, Al stood silently, already losing interest in moving the moment Rina disrupted his fight. It felt like the stage no longer belonged to him.

Rina sighed, stepping forward with clenched fists, thin energy flowing over her body.

"If you think you can trample people here as you please, you’ve picked the wrong person!"

Egen chuckled, scanning her from head to toe. "Interesting. You should run instead of protecting that boy."

The fight intensified. Rina moved quickly, agile and fierce. But Egen was no pushover—his reflexes sharp, techniques solid. Again and again, he forced her back, her breathing ragged. He seemed to be toying with her.

Pitying her, Al sighed deeply, preparing to intervene.

Revealing this much power shouldn’t be a problem, he thought.

But before he could step in—

Jo suddenly appeared, bursting forward with Vita strengthening his upper body. His stance was firm, aura steady—clearly, he too was a formidable fighter.

He blocked Egen’s strike, which was powerful but still manageable for him.

Egen blinked in surprise at the newcomer.

"Sir Egen," Jo addressed him coldly as he parried.

Egen leapt back to create distance, eyes narrowing. "You? Hmph. Johan, isn’t it?"

Jo—or Johan—nodded.

Rina stared at him, her eyes softening, her cheeks flushing—not from anger or exhaustion, but from something else entirely.

"Johan," she breathed.

Johan turned, gave her a warm smile, and gently patted her head. Rina flinched shyly, covering her mouth with both hands, embarrassed by the sudden romantic gesture.

"You’re late again, as usual, Rina. But I suppose we’ll have to settle this before talking about it," Johan said warmly.

Rina nodded, and together they took their stances, ready to face Egen.

Now it was two against one—Rina and Johan versus the mighty Egen.

Behind them, Al gawked, covering his trembling mouth. The scene unfolding looked like a cheap soap-opera romance. Nausea rose in him, but he held back his laughter and the urge to vomit.

Spotting the chaos escalating, one of the café’s security rushed forward, trying to mediate. They knew who Rina was, who Johan was—and of course, who Gerald was. Their position was precarious. If even one of them ended up harmed, the café could suffer negative consequences as well—its reputation might be ruined, or it could even face closure.

"This is enough! Young Master Gerald, Miss Rina—let’s settle this peacefully..." the head guard tried to intervene, his body leaning slightly toward Gerald, whose status clearly outweighed the others.

Gerald scoffed coldly.

"Relax. No matter the outcome, your café will be safe. Their families won’t trouble you. Just let my bodyguard take care of these three. I don’t have time to waste here."

The head guard felt relieved at Gerald’s assurance. As long as the café wasn’t damaged, they could allow it.

"What’s going on here, Gerald?" Johan called out.

Egen stepped forward, muscles tensing.

"How dare you call Young Master Gerald by name!" he barked.

But Johan stood firm, his focus still on Gerald, whose arrogance was only growing.

"You’re Johan, aren’t you..." Gerald said coldly. He turned to Mona. "What do you think, baby? Isn’t he your cousin?"

Mona glanced at Gerald, then at Johan, before answering, her voice firm yet still coy,

"A little fun won’t hurt, baby."

Gerald smirked, lifting her chin, brushing his lips against her soft, red ones. A small kiss deepened her blush, matching her lips’ color.

"You always know what I want," Gerald whispered.

Mona only smiled and nodded, indifferent to her cousin’s plight.

Johan, who had half-hoped Mona would at least give him a little help, felt his frustration rise, but he chose to refocus on Rina.

They exchanged nods.

Egen began moving again.

The crowd fell silent.

Except Al.

He exhaled, unconvinced that Johan and Rina could really win. Even if they did, a "romantic night" ending in a hospital bed wasn’t ideal. Especially when all this began because of him.

He stepped forward, deciding to finish it before more innocent people got caught up—and to shatter Gerald’s arrogance once and for all.

"I’ll end this quickly," he muttered casually.

He rolled his shoulders, ready to step in.

But before he could—a white creature darted toward him. Al, still in his normal human mode, couldn’t react fast enough. The creature slashed at his legs with sharp claws, then leapt at his head. Its eyes gleamed dangerously, ready to rip him apart.

Al froze, wide-eyed, stunned by the sudden assault.

The creature’s claws gleamed, inches away from his throat.

And in that instant—

a chilling pressure filled the air, as though something terrifying had finally revealed itself.

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