About twenty-three minutes later, the meeting room doors burst open.
"Sorry for being late!"
Mimi rushed in, slightly out of breath as she skidded to a stop in front of the Propositions Group.
Lena Corviss turned toward the guide immediately, ready to question why she had taken so long. But instead of their assigned guide, she saw—
"Mimi?" Lena said, her brows knitting together. "What are you doing here?"
Mimi straightened, trying to compose herself after having sprinted the entire way.
"I was told you needed someone to assist with guidance right away," she replied. "So I came."
A brief pause.
"That may be true," Lena said slowly, folding her hands in front of her as she leaned back slightly, "but why are you here?"
"I'm here to help," Mimi answered simply. "Isn't that what you needed?"
Before Lena could respond again, Vivienne Carrow stepped forward smoothly.
"I believe what Miss Corviss is asking," she said, her voice calm but pointed, "is where Miss Rosie is. Wasn't she supposed to be our assigned guide?"
"She got busy," Mimi said lightly with a shrug.
Lena opened her mouth to press the issue further—this was neither proper procedure nor acceptable—
—but before she could say a single word, someone rushed past her.
Mimi barely had time to react before she was suddenly tackled into a tight hug.
"Thank you! You're a lifesaver!"
Isolde Farren clung to her dramatically.
"I'm so hungry, you don't understand. I'm starving. Thank you for coming!!!"
Lena froze, staring at the absurdity Isolde had just created, her irritation cut off before it could even fully form.
It just… died there.
Vivienne, standing nearby, gently patted Lena's shoulder in quiet, wordless sympathy.
Lena inhaled once, slow and controlled, then let it out.
"…Fine," she muttered under her breath.
"I'll let it go. Just this once."
Hearing those words, Isolde finally pulled back, now visibly relieved.
"Anyway," Isolde said, glancing around, "I really hope this banquet is worth it."
"Then let's not stand around," Cassandra Riel called out. "Come on."
The group began moving.
Before leaving, several of them gave their final confirmations to Jessie, who nodded and finalized the arrangements without missing a beat.
Just as they were about to head out—
"Wait."
Serena Veylan turned back.
"Jessie," she said, "can you send the location of where we're heading, and confirm that it's finalized?"
Jessie checked briefly, then nodded.
"It has been confirmed."
A few seconds later, notifications were sent out.
Serena glanced at hers, then blinked.
"…Oh."
Selene leaned over. "What?"
"It's been a while since I've had food from here," Serena said quietly.
There was a subtle shift in tone.
The destination wasn't just any restaurant.
It was a high-tier establishment located deep within the upper districts, a place where the higher one went, the more refined and intricate the cuisine became.
And more importantly—
It was under the Piao family's business umbrella.
Which meant one thing.
They did not need to hold back.
Not even a little.
That realization alone was enough to noticeably lift the group's mood.
They began walking.
Ten minutes passed as they moved through maze-like corridors, their conversation naturally shifting toward food.
What to order.
What not to order.
What would be appropriate.
What would be embarrassing.
"It can't be too simple," one of them said. "That would be disappointing."
"But it also can't look like we're trying too hard," another added.
"So… expensive, but casually expensive," someone summarized.
"Yes," a voice agreed. "Exactly that."
A pause.
"…That makes no sense."
"It makes perfect sense."
Somewhere in the middle of that debate—
"…Wait, are we even taking a hover limo?" Cassandra Riel suddenly asked. "Or are we doing something else?"
The group slowed.
Selene tilted her head slightly.
"I think we should split," she said thoughtfully. "One car for the couple, and the rest of us take a limousine."
"A 'couple car'?" someone repeated.
"Yes," Selene continued, completely serious. "It gives them privacy, and it keeps things efficient."
"Isn't that car faster?" Isolde added immediately. "Like, significantly faster?"
Cassandra shrugged. "That's kind of the point."
Mimi, who had been quietly observing, keyed in on the shift.
"That arrangement is doable," she said, then turned toward Camille Dreyer and Dr. Lucian Harrow.
"What do you think?"
Camille didn't hesitate.
"That won't be necessary—"
"Oh, no," Dr. Lucian Harrow cut in immediately.
Everyone turned toward him.
He straightened, adjusting his posture with sudden, deliberate seriousness.
"It is necessary," he said firmly. "For safety."
A beat.
"…Safety?" Camille repeated slowly.
"Yes," he continued, doubling down on his reasoning with complete confidence. "Ensuring proper distribution allows for better protection coverage. If everyone is concentrated in one vehicle, it creates unnecessary risk."
The room went quiet.
Camille stared at him in disbelief.
There was a very clear moment where she was about to dismantle that entire argument in under five seconds.
And everyone knew it.
Which was exactly why—
"I think it's reasonable."
Angel Piao stepped in.
All attention shifted.
"If all of us enter a single limousine," she continued calmly, "there won't be enough space for accompanying personnel."
She glanced briefly between them.
"If the two of you go ahead, you can confirm the reservation and secure the location. The rest of us will follow with proper coverage."
A pause.
"…That does make sense," someone murmured.
Camille narrowed her eyes slightly.
She knew exactly what had just happened.
They had coordinated that.
Before she could respond—
"Let's go."
Dr. Lucian Harrow started moving toward the couple's car, pulling Camille along with him.
Camille blinked, then let out a quiet breath before allowing herself to be led, her fingers naturally slipping into his as she walked beside him.
And just like that, the moment passed.
Mimi clapped her hands lightly.
"Alright," she said, gesturing forward, "is everyone ready?"
Angela Piao gave a small nod. She was starting to feel low on energy and wanted to eat before it got worse.
Everyone else… didn't respond.
The silence stretched.
Mimi slowly closed the hover limousine door she had been holding open.
"…I'll wait," she said carefully.
A few seconds passed.
Then—
"I think," Cassandra Riel said, "we're all planning something slightly different."
That got everyone's attention.
She crossed her arms.
"If we're being honest, splitting into pairs might actually be better."
Isolde nodded. "I agree. Moving in pairs gives us more flexibility, and it doesn't present us as a single clustered group."
"Right," Selene added. "It also avoids unnecessary attention."
One by one, they began sorting themselves out.
"I'll go with Serena," Selene Veyra said, casually looping an arm around Serena's shoulders.
Serena lightly patted her arm in response, signaling her to behave.
"I'm with Vivienne," Lena Corviss said, and Ms. Carrow nodded in agreement.
"And I'll go with Isolde," Cassandra Riel added, pointing toward her with a playful grin.
That left—
Angel Piao.
And Angela Piao.
Cassandra glanced between them.
"You two can go together," she said. "Same family. It works."
Angela opened her mouth to ask something—
—but Angel swiftly covered it.
"Come on," Angel said.
Before Angela could react, she was already being pulled toward the limousine.
Mimi quickly stepped forward to open the door, making sure the two of them got inside before following after them.
The door closed.
Without any ceremony.
No countdown.
The vehicle moved.
And just like that—
They were on their way.