One of Bryce's men walked over carrying what appeared to be an ordinary briefcase.
But when he opened it, the contents immediately revealed themselves to be something far more sinister.
A modified explosive device.
Bryce grinned. "My second surprise~"
"In all fairness, for you to still have the means and connections to pull something like this off, I have to say you've made me see you in a new light," Tristan said, completely devoid of panic.
Bryce suddenly found himself more annoyed by Tristan than Shin.
"If I were you, I'd start thinking of a way to get out of here," Bryce said. "But then again, we're thousands of feet in the air. Unless you can fly, there's really no possibility."
"You think so?" Tristan challenged.
"How much?" Shin finally spoke, glancing impatiently at his watch.
Bryce stared at him, then his expression twisted with irritation.
The two of them were treating him like a clown performing for an audience.
He suddenly charged toward Shin, reaching for his collar as though intending to beat him senseless.
But Shin saw it coming and the two immediately clashed.
Bryce's men exchanged glances, uncertain whether they should interfere. Without an order from Bryce, however, they remained where they were, keeping their weapons trained while watching the fight.
It didn't take long and Shin overpowered Bryce, slamming him against the floor.
Had one of the men not immediately pointed his gun at Shin, he would have stomped down on Bryce's neck.
With a mocking scoff, Shin restrained himself.
Bryce showed no humiliation, and instead laughed. "There is strength in numbers, right?"
Suddenly, the plane jolted again.
One of the men hurried toward Bryce. "Boss, we can't delay this any longer. The pilots are already down."
Bryce's expression immediately turned serious.
"Transfer fifty billion dollars, and I'll activate the plane's emergency parachute system. Otherwise, the two of you can crash along with this plane."
He grinned coldly.
"One is the CEO of KGG. The other is the man behind Hexion. I'm pretty sure the entire Keir clan will have a wonderful time running around like headless chickens if that happens."
"Fifty billion?" Tristan scoffed. "I've heard of daydreaming, but are you sky-dreaming now? Even if Shin had fifty billion dollars sitting around, nobody could transfer an amount like that with a simple phone call. The banks and financial institutions would trigger multiple verification protocols."
Bryce sneered. "Did you think I don't know about the verbal authorization code?"
He gestured toward Shin's phone.
"Shin Keir is the CEO of a technology conglomerate. You think he doesn't have his own secure systems?"
In Bryce's mind, Shin's phone could serve as the final authentication device for a secure transfer. A voice command combined with biometric verification could authorize the transaction through a heavily protected private system.
Shin and Tristan exchanged a brief glance.
"Hurry up and do it!" Bryce shouted impatiently, and turned toward the man holding the briefcase. "Start the timer."
"Bryce Gate."
Shin's voice suddenly cut through the cabin.
"You really shouldn't have come seeking my attention. But since you've already come this far..." His gaze settled on Bryce. "...you're leaving me no choice but to fulfill your death wish."
-
Back at the wedding rehearsal, Yeri glanced at her phone. There was still no new message from Shin, but she assumed he would arrive at the airport in less than an hour anyway.
"Alright, CEO Keir can simply join us later," the wedding planner announced loudly. "The groom's role isn't particularly complicated anyway. He only needs to wait at the altar."
She clapped her hands. "Okay, everyone, take your positions. Let's begin the procession."
"Big Sis, where's the ring box I'm supposed to carry?" Xati asked. "Can I hold your hand while we walk?"
Yeri smiled. "I'm supposed to walk down the aisle with my dad, so I'm afraid that's not possible."
"Then can both of us walk with you instead?"
"Xati, that's not possible," Elder Madam Keir said from the side. "If you're nervous, how about Great-Grandma walks with you?"
Xati pouted before walking away, clearly dissatisfied.
Seeing her beloved great-grandson upset, Elder Madam Keir gave Yeri a displeased look before following after Xati.
Yeri "???"
"Are you sure you'll be okay entering the Keir family?" Madam Zhi asked carefully.
She could tell that the old matriarch didn't particularly like her daughter.
Yeri merely shrugged and lowered her voice. "It's okay. Brother Shin said she's always like that. I can just ignore her."
Madam Zhi sighed deeply, looking even more worried.
Of course, Shin Keir could do whatever he wanted. After all, Elder Madam Keir was his grandmother.
But it would be different for Yeri. Once she officially married into the Keir family, she would have to face the old matriarch herself.
-
An hour passed, and they were almost finished with all the wedding arrangements. Yet there was still no sign of Shin Keir or Tristan Felan.
Saeki approached Yeri.
"Did Big Bro say when he'll arrive? Actually, there's an investment contract I want him to look over."
Yeri shook her head, glancing down at her phone. There were still no new messages from Shin.
Not long after, Natalia and Allen joined the conversation, asking about the wedding arrangements since they were planning to have their own wedding the following year.
"I still haven't recovered from what happened to us," Natalia admitted. "I'm relieved that Sergei was caught, but what about Bryce Gate? That guy is completely unhinged, isn't he?"
"Have you ever considered learning how to shoot as a hobby?" Yeri suggested. "I've heard that confronting the source of your trauma can sometimes help with overcoming it."
Natalia blinked before immediately shaking her head. "I can't. I know I sound cowardly, but I just can't."
Yeri quickly reassured her. "It's okay. Don't force yourself. It was only a suggestion, so don't take it to heart. I have things I'm scared of too."
Suddenly, the venue doors were slammed open.
Someone rushed inside and hurried straight toward Master Keir, looking extremely anxious.
Yeri immediately looked up.
It was Secretary Yun.
"Oh my God, is this for real?!" Someone exclaimed.
Before Yeri could understand what was happening, more and more people began looking agitated.
Whispers spread through the venue as people hurriedly pulled out their phones.
"Yeri... Yeri! Come here!"
Jj rushed toward her and grabbed her arm, holding out his phone.
Yeri frowned, something about the frantic atmosphere made an ominous feeling settle in her chest.
At the screen, a breaking news report was already spreading.
An aircraft had exploded while traveling toward their country from a neighboring country. Authorities were reportedly investigating the cause.
Then came the shocking confirmation.
The aircraft was Shin Keir's private jet and among those aboard was Tristan Felan.
Before she could even process what she had just read, Elder Madam Keir's terrified shriek echoed throughout the venue.
She looked as though she were about to suffer a cardiac attack.
It wasn't simply the thought of Shin Keir dying that terrified her, but rather the consequences of losing him.
Most importantly, when she learned that her beloved grandson, Tristan, had also been aboard the plane, the old matriarch seemed completely overwhelmed.
Xati tried to run toward Yeri, but Elder Madam Keir suddenly grabbed him tightly. Her face had gone ashen, her eyes dimming as she stared at him.
For a moment, it looked as though the old woman wanted to memorize his face one last time.
"Great-Grandma, are you dying?" Xati asked nonchalantly.
He remembered this old human was the same subordinate who had once given him a bank card without hesitation.
Thinking about it, Xati suddenly placed his small hands on her head and began chanting under his breath.
Elder Madam Keir's medical assistants hurried over when she suddenly fainted.
The entire venue descended into chaos.
"Don't worry. She just fell asleep," Xati announced calmly. "It's better than letting her heart take any more shock."
Obviously, nobody believed him. People scrambled to call an ambulance while others tried to get through to Shin's people.
Yeri's parents, Jj, and her friends worriedly circled around her, ready to comfort her if she suddenly broke down.
Master Keir had already rushed out along with Secretary Yun, while Saeki Jie followed.
Everyone understood that this wasn't simply about whether Shin Keir had survived. Everyone who had connections with the Keirs, especially through business, had something to lose if he were gone.
And it couldn't have been worse that Tristan Felan was on the plane as well. They were two of the most prominent figures and driving forces behind the Keirs' strength.
If anything, the ones who were more shocked then pleased were Ellis and Hiro.
Initially, they were just as dumbfounded as everyone else. But after the first wave of shock passed, it was almost as if heaven had finally pitied them and handed them a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity on a silver platter.
Not just Shin, that demon, but Tristan too?! How could they possibly be this lucky?
Without waiting, the two rushed out as well, already tapping on their phones and making calls.
"There's no confirmation that Shin Keir actually boarded that plane, nor is there any news about..." Master Keir paused, realizing that saying the word 'bodies' at a time like this would be inappropriate.
"Don't you think this was deliberate?" Jj asked. "With both Shin Keir and Tristan Felan on the same plane?"
Madam Keir patted her chest, her eyes never leaving Yeri. "Princess, maybe you shouldn't look at your phone for now. There are so many fake reports circulating already. They'll only make you anxious for no reason."
Yeri forced a smile as she listened to all the comforting words around her.
However, there was something she needed to confirm.
Her eyes suddenly caught sight of Xati running toward them.
"Just a moment. I need to talk to Xati."
"Ah..." Madam Zhi felt a sudden pang of anxiety.
The adults had nearly forgotten about Xati. After all, Tristan was his father, which meant that, out of everyone there, he was the one who needed reassurance the most.
Yeri moved to a quieter corner and crouched down in front of him.
"Xati, you've heard what happened. They said Brother Shin and Brother Tristan were involved in a plane crash. Is there any way for you to know, feel, or see what's happening to them?"
Xati shook his head.
"My abilities are sealed. Even if they weren't, I wouldn't be able to feel anything unless I went there myself and teleported over to take a look."
Yeri sighed heavily. "I know they aren't dead, but what about their human bodies? They're only vessels... What's the possibility of those bodies recovering?"