Luv clamped his hands over his ears, wincing as he squinted one eye shut. "C'mon, they're not gonna notice. Or pay attention to it that much."
"Are you insane? How are they not gonna notice?! They aren't blind!" The President gestured wildly at the abomination before him. "You literally painted the whole room pink—and—" He jabbed a finger at the ceiling, face contorted in horror. "Why is there a disco light?! You expect us to read documents and give presentations while these things flash in our faces?! And—seriously—where did you even find this much glitter?! It's everywhere! You literally—wait… Where is Kai's seat?"
"Oh, that?" Luv blinked innocently. "I prepared something special for Kai."
He pointed toward a stage. A stage. God knows where it had been summoned from. And right in the center of it stood a tall, shining pole.
The President paled. He gripped his head as if his soul were about to escape his body. "Luv…" he said, voice sickly sweet. Then, in a thunderous roar, "DO YOU HAVE A DEATH WISH?! You definitely aren't planning to make Kai do pole dance, ARE YOU?!"
"You bet I am!" Luv grinned, throwing up two thumbs-ups. "What's a victory celebration without Kai's grand performance?"
"Since when has he been a dancer?!" The President hissed. "If he hears you, you'll be dead before you can blink—"
A voice cut in from behind, making Saurav nearly jump out of his skin.
"Greetings, President of Apostle."
Oz.
Saurav turned around stiffly, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. "Huh— Oh, it's you." He cleared his throat, trying very hard to act normal. "Aren't you… a little early?"
"Regarding Meryt's case, I thought it best to arrive early and apologize." Oz's gaze, however, remained locked on the room's horrifying transformation. "President, you have rather… an aesthetic, I assume? The colors. Aren't they a bit… bright?"
"Bright?" Saurav wanted to weep. Bright was an understatement. His office looked like a unicorn had exploded in it.
"If it weren't for Detective Luv—" He turned sharply, grabbing Luv's ear and twisting it with all the frustration in his soul.
"AAARGH—PRESIDENT! IT HURTS LIKE HELL!"
"You deserve it! You aren't even a member of Apostle! What made you think you had the right to decorate the meeting hall?! I should send you to prison!"
"Prison?! Just for this?!"
Before Luv could defend himself further, the door creaked open.
Their heads snapped toward the entrance.
Kai strolled in, one hand tucked lazily into his pocket, his face holding its usual unimpressed expression.
"Everyone's here," he said simply, stepping inside.
The President paled even more. "Already?!" He groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "Guess we'll have to tolerate this disaster for now…"
People started trickling in, settling into their seats. The usual plain-faced bureaucrats took their spots, but today, a few new faces graced the meeting.
First, a woman strolled in as if the entire room existed solely for her entrance.
Uriel Luminara—Head of the Luminara Clan, Founder of the Mana-Openings Detection Bureau—wore a pristine white jumpsuit, an expensive purse dangling from her wrist, and oversized sunglasses perched on her nose. She radiated main-character energy, her golden hair fluttering in an invisible breeze like she had just stepped out of a Hollywood movie.
Then came a man—the exact opposite of her.
Theo Varyon.
Deathly pale eyes, an unimpressed scowl permanently etched onto his face. He already looked like he wanted to murder someone, but the second he took in the disaster that was the meeting hall, his expression somehow worsened. His brows furrowed so hard they could've crushed coal into diamonds.
Saurav wanted to cry.God, just take me now.
And then, yet another notable guest arrived.
Qin Xuanxuan—one of the 9 Juries of the Ethereal Court—floated in like a celestial vision. She was dressed in a traditional Hanfu: an emerald ru jacket over a white robe, with a deep blue sea-skirt underneath. Her sea-blue hair was braided intricately, cherry blossoms woven into the strands, her long lashes and soft blue eyeliner making her look downright ethereal. Oh, and she was also very pregnant.
The attendees took their seats.
Kai approached his usual spot—only to find his chair missing.
"Hmph?" He grunted, narrowing his eyes at Luv, who was casually lounging in his seat, legs propped up on the table like he owned the place.
"What?" Luv asked, hearing Kai's silent curses.
"Where is it?"
"Where is what?"
"My seat."
"Oh, that?" Luv shrugged. "I ate it."
Kai sighed. With a flick of his wrist, a throne of gleaming ice materialized beneath him. He sat, crossing one leg over the other, resting his fist on his chin, looking as regal as a king awaiting his subjects.
Meanwhile, Saurav felt a chill down his spine.
Lady Qin's seat was way too close to his. And, as if the universe hadn't tormented him enough today, she was leaning even closer, a sinister smile playing on her lips as she stared at him.
Saurav coughed. "I apologize for the inconvenience, Lady Qin. Just say the word, and I'll personally throw this fox out of the meeting."
Luv tsk-tsked loudly, making the President twitch in irritation. But he continued, trying his best to remain composed. "Are you perhaps… disturbed by the surroundings, Lady Qin?"
She didn't respond.
She just smiled.
Saurav swallowed. What is going on in this woman's mind?
He turned forward, ready to start the meeting. The beginning was already a mess—why had Hollow insisted on doing this again?!
Before he could speak, the doors burst open.
A member of Apostle stormed in, panting as if she had sprinted all the way here.
Saurav groaned. "What is it? Why disturb such an important conference?"
"Sir, I apologize, but it's urgent!"
The President exhaled sharply but gestured for her to continue. She hurried over, whispering in his ear before slipping a pendrive and a stack of documents into his hand.
The moment she finished speaking, a slow smirk crept onto his face.
"This meeting ain't going to waste today."