They could have stayed longer.

They could've stirred the pot, leaned into the circus, let the cameras swarm them, and milked the attention for every drop of publicity.

Kaiden knew better than most how to play an audience. And so did his girls.

Drama, buzz, trending waves - all of that was their playground.

But they didn't do any of it this time, doing their utmost to appear as professional awakened combatants.

Why?

Because every single one of them respected what they were walking into.

A high-danger zone.

A hotspot that had chewed up and spat out awakened far stronger than they currently were.

A battlefield where one wrong move meant someone died.

They weren't level 100 giants strolling in to flex.

They weren't even level 50.

The six of them were talented, ambitious, coordinated, and had some unique advantages, yes. But they were also painfully aware they were not untouchable.

Acting like divas in front of the press on a day like this would send the wrong message: that they thought they were above the danger, above the grind, above the reality of what it meant to fight.

Kaiden wasn't letting that image define them.

Not when people's lives were on the line.

And neither were his girls.

So they walked away from the questions, from the attention, from the chance to stir drama like they always loved to do, and headed straight toward the staging area.

Where the real work waited.

Where the air felt heavier, thrumming with the tension of awakened that were preparing for a serious fight.

And waiting right at the edge of that organized chaos was…

"Took you long enough!"

Tessa, guild leader of Nova Circuit.

Aside from his own parents, this was the first guild leader Kaiden had met in his life, and the first person in power who thought of their ragtag bunch as anything more than ragtag nobodies.

Bright smile.

Hands on her hips.

Zero shame.

Radiating confidence like she owned the whole damn plaza.

Before Kaiden could say anything, she stepped forward and threw her arms around Aria as if they were twins.

"Welcome! Let's continue working together!"

Aria blinked in shock as she was hugged with the enthusiasm of a woman greeting a long-lost sister.

Luna snorted.

Nyx raised a brow.

Calypso grinned.

Bastet's tail made a lazy, amused sway.

Kaiden just sighed while fighting back a shake of his head.

This woman was far too much of an opportunist.

Tessa, meanwhile, squeezed Aria and made sure every camera around caught the moment. A guild leader of a low-tier guild hugging one of the original members of the greatest upstart group known to men.

And judging by the rapid clicking in the background, they absolutely caught it all.

The message she was sending to the world was obvious:

Look how close Nova Circuit is to Valhalla's Sinners! Look how friendly we are! We might be low-tier right now, but don't you dare underestimate us! We're connected to the Anomaly Gang!

Playing diva?

She embraced it with both arms… Literally.

As for why she didn't hug Kaiden instead? By all rights, if she did that, then the same message would be even louder.

Well, the answer was simple.

The woman valued her life.

Aria might have been surprised by the hug, but everyone with a functional brain cell knew the truth:

Her jealousy could peel paint off walls.

For another member of the female gender to touch Kaiden without her explicit permission (which would not be given) was like signing a death contract.

Tessa was bold, not suicidal.

And, well, Aria made a lot better target as hugging Kaiden affectionately like this would send quite the mixed image in general, even if there wasn't a yandere queen with watchful eyes prowling around the man at all times, on the lookout for opportunistic bitches trying to shoot their shot with her man.

Aria finally exhaled and patted Tessa's back stiffly. "Um. Hi?"

But then, before waiting for an answer, she whispered, "Sorry, I'm not only taken but also hopelessly Kaidensexual-"

Tessa grinned wider, already expecting something like this. "Shh… Just a few more clicks. Please, pretend."

"Haaah… Okay. You know, you're a professional leech, Tessa."

The cameras clicked rapidly. The positive relationship between Nova Circuit and Valhalla's Sinners was already known, as one of their most-watched videos, the desert dungeon clear, featured Vaelira and other members.

Well, back then, the tensions were high, making the guild catch quite a lot of bullets. But over time, as the sinners interacted more with the guild, it became clear to those who paid attention that they were at least on good terms professionally. However, it wasn't quite clear how truly close they were.

Their guild leader was acting like she was besties with the yandere queen!

This was big news.

As for Aria's serious accusation… "Hey, I do pull my own weight!!" Tessa scoffed cutely. "You wouldn't be here without me! It's Nova Circuit that has a dungeon with monsters here. No monsters, no permit. No reliable old Tessa, no coming here."

Aria smiled, amused. "And that gives you the right to hug me in public, because…?"

"It's a favor, a favor! I'll pay you back. Jeez, hugging down bad, obsessive yanderes is expensive business. I should've gone for Nyx."

"That girl might appear easily approachable on the surface - and she is - but she would've squeezed you dry right now. You made the right choice."

Tessa amusedly shook her head, finally pulling back. "… You are all impossible chicks. How does Kaiden deal with you all?"

Aria smiled a gorgeous smile, appearing as if she was saying something very friendly to the guild leader. "We're his most accommodating, wonderful little angels, of course. We only behave like this to outsiders, not the love of our life."

"Ouch. You could be a bit less mean with your words, you know…"

"I haven't yet ruled out the possibility that if given the opportunity, you will jump into Kaiden's lap. So, no, I will not be less mean until I'm certain you know your place- I mean the right boundaries not to overstep."

"Hey, I have my own honor and pride! I might be a shameless weasel in your eyes, but know that I would never part my legs like that! What do you take me for?!"

Aria just looked down at the woman's hands, which were still holding onto her arm.

"… Point taken."

Tessa grimaced while pulling back, though it only lasted a moment. A fraction of a moment. Then, she moved on as easily as breathing, waving at the cameras for a few final shots.

Then, the gang began moving again, entering an official tent of the Awakened Association. While the term 'tent' might imply a modest little movable building, this one was anything but that.

Inside, the noise of the staging area dropped away. It felt like stepping out of a storm and into a courtroom. Long tables. Stacks of papers. Officials in Association uniforms who looked like they hadn't slept in a week.

One man, tall and all business, stepped forward.

"Valhalla's Sinners," he said, nodding to each of them. "Before you join the hunt, the Association requires you to review and sign the standard conduct agreement."

He brought them into a private room and placed a thick folder on the table.

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