Zumi spoke again, saying it seems Serfina, or at least a clur, to find her in a monastery in Tibet, China, so I'll be travelling there with you. Still, first there are some things I have to take care of as we will be gone for about 2-4 years," Hina said. "Okay." They departed from the monastery. Zumi ran to the Hyatt Centric hotel, and this time, he noticed Hina was running directly behind him. She could now keep up with his speed enough to tail him. They arrive at the Hyatt Centric hotel, and Zumi slows his pace at the entrance, walking in casually and using his outfit changer skill to shift his attire mid-stride. In an instant, his clothes ripple with a shimmer of gold light, weaving seamlessly into a suit of dominance and refined menace.
The long black coat with molten-gold trim sways behind him like a royal banner, its embroidered dragon motif at the hem catching the glint of the hotel lights with every step. Beneath it, his black tailored vest hugs his frame with aristocratic sharpness, accented by a gold chain and pocket watch that gleam like treasures from another era. The golden silk tie at his throat radiates authority, framed perfectly by the angular cut of his suit jacket, which carries both elegance and a faint threat in its design.
Polished shoes strike against the marble floor in slow, commanding rhythm, the faint echo drawing eyes toward him. Black gloves flex around his fingers as if concealing dangerous intent, while the golden accents across his lapel and chest brooch sparkle with a subtle, ominous glow—less fashion and more like enchanted sigils of power.
Zumi doesn't need to speak; the outfit itself speaks for him. It whispers wealth, it screams dominance, and it promises danger to anyone foolish enough to test it. By the time he crosses the lobby, every guest and staff member can feel it: the man in black and gold has entered not as a visitor but as a king reclaiming his throne.
Zumi gave his phone to Hina, his voice calm yet commanding. "Call the Gale brothers. Use this code—tell them to meet me in the lobby immediately." His golden eyes never left the vast marble expanse of the Hyatt Centric's entrance as he handed her the device.
Hina nodded sharply, her fiery red hair glowing like molten magma beneath the soft chandelier lights, radiating waves of heat that seemed alive. The aura around her was fierce yet beautiful, a rare balance between danger and allure, making her presence an extension of Zumi's own. Standing a step behind him, she was the perfect shadow, her loyalty burning visibly for all to see.
Zumi remained still in the center of the lobby, his black-and-gold attire catching the gaze of everyone who dared glance his way. The coat's golden lining shimmered faintly with every subtle movement, the chain at his waist gleaming like a badge of power. He wasn't just dressed as a leader—he embodied authority itself.
Minutes later, the doors opened. The Gale Brothers entered. Legends of the underworld, two men whose names carried weight like thunder across decades of blood-soaked streets. Their mere presence had made men tremble for ninety years… but as their eyes fell upon Zumi, they froze.
For the first time in their storied lives, the brothers—giants of reputation and ruthlessness—felt something they had never felt before: awe.
The sight before them was not simply a young man in a suit, nor even a rising power in the underworld. It was a figure who radiated absolute command. Every detail—the sharp cut of his coat, the molten gleam in Hina's hair, the calm fire in his stance—spoke of destiny.
Their gazes hardened, not out of defiance, but respect. In that moment, both brothers exchanged a look that said more than words ever could. Ninety years of being kings of their own empire, and never once had they bowed to another soul. Yet as they approached Zumi, their instincts screamed the truth:
This man stood above all.
The Gale Brothers lowered their heads ever so slightly—a gesture subtle to others, but monumental for men like them. For the first time, they had found someone whose authority eclipsed their own.
The man before them was not merely Zumi.
He was inevitable.
The Gale Brothers stopped a few paces away, the weight of silence pressing across the marble lobby. The younger men and women lingering nearby could feel it—an invisible shift in power, as though history itself had chosen this moment.
Sebastian Gale, the elder, cleared his throat, his gravelly voice deepened by nearly a century of command.
"Zumi Kogane," he said slowly, the name rolling from his tongue with a reverence he had never given another. "In ninety years of ruling the streets, we have never once lowered our heads to another man. Not once. But standing here… before you… there is no denying it."
Alex Gale stepped forward, his silver hair catching the light. "You are no ordinary man. You stand as if the underworld itself bends to you. You've earned what no one else ever could: our respect."
The two brothers, feared as the titans of the underworld, lowered their heads in unison.
"We pledge ourselves to you," they said together, their voices like a vow carved in stone. "From this moment forward, our loyalty belongs to Zumi Kogane."
A subtle smirk tugged at Zumi's lips. He inclined his head just enough to acknowledge their devotion, then spoke, his tone steady and commanding.
"Good," he said. "Because tomorrow morning, I leave for Tibet, China. I will be gone for two to four years. This hotel—" he swept his gloved hand to the towering walls around them—"will be in your hands."
He turned sharply to Sebastian, his golden-lined coat swaying with the motion.
"Sebastian, across the street is a restaurant you've been eyeing. Buy it. Do not keep it as it is—turn it into a casino. Integrate the restaurant into it if you must, but make it an empire. The casino will draw the crowds, and the hotel will house them. Together, they will feed each other."
Sebastian nodded firmly, eyes gleaming. "It will be done."
Then Zumi's gaze cut toward Alex, sharp and unyielding.
"Alex. While your brother builds the casino, you will oversee this hotel. In one year, I want the world to know that the Hyatt Centric and the casino across from it are under a new banner—a new family. The Kogane Dragons."
The name rolled through the lobby like thunder, and even the walls seemed to listen.
"Gia will serve as Vice Commander in my absence. Her word is law. If anyone questions who commands this family, give them no answer. When I return, I will reveal myself and carve my mark into the underworld of New York City."
Finally, his voice softened, though his gaze remained unshakable as he addressed Alex once more.
"And one more thing. Gia is loyal to me beyond reason—utterly, completely. She will work until she drops if you let her. Make sure she gets some rest. Be her shadow. Watch over my little Hawk as though she were blood of your blood."
Alex bowed his head, his voice steady. "I will protect her as my own."
Both brothers straightened, steel in their eyes, conviction in their tone.
"Then it is decided. The Kogane Dragons will rise."
Zumi gave them a single nod, his presence radiating finality.
"Good. That will be all. Gentlemen… good afternoon."
The Gale Brothers bowed their heads once more, their footsteps echoing as they departed the lobby. The atmosphere they left behind felt altered, as if the foundations of New York itself had shifted.
Zumi stood there for a moment longer, golden eyes reflecting the chandelier light. Then he turned, his coat swaying like a royal mantle, and walked out into the night with Hina at his side.
The moment Zumi entered the mansion, the mood shifted instantly. The heavy air of authority and power he had carried at the Hyatt gave way to something warmer, though no less commanding.
Anna and Cathy came running the instant they saw him.
"Zumi!" they called in unison, their voices bright as bells.
He caught them both effortlessly, kissing them on the lips in greeting as they clung to him. Their warmth pressed against him like home.
Their eyes quickly shifted to Hina, whose fiery red, molten hair radiated heat like living magma. Both girls froze in awe.
"Hina… your hair!" Anna gasped softly, reaching out.
Cathy grinned with delight. "It's incredible. And your aura—so much stronger than before. You feel like… like a living flame!"
Hina flushed, unused to such affection, but she smiled softly. For the first time in a long time, she felt seen. The bond of sisterhood between her and the girls solidified in that instant, strengthened further by the System's invisible tether.
Zumi watched this exchange with quiet satisfaction. Hina had always been loyal, but now he saw her embraced by the others—loved for who she was becoming.
From the kitchen, he caught sight of Kaito drying dishes while Kasumi stirred a pot, humming. Zumi's eyes narrowed slightly. He knew Kaito was dating Kasumi, but Kaito's place was to protect the mansion, not handle chores. Still, he let the matter rest for now. There were more important things to address.
"Where is Gia?" Zumi asked.
Anna and Cathy exchanged a glance before Anna spoke. "She's in our shared bedroom."
"Thank you," Zumi said. Then, before heading upstairs, he turned to the girls. His voice grew heavier.
"I'll be leaving tomorrow morning for Tibet, China. He then told them everything about being a Reincarnation of the Monkey King and how he was tasked with finding the four wife goddesses of the Monkey King's past life. He also let them know the task he had given Bia letting them know that she also will not be back for quite some time. There's a monastery there—rumours say a clue to Serafina lies within its walls. I'll be gone for two to four years."
The warmth in their smiles faltered, sadness overtaking them. Cathy stepped forward first, clutching his sleeve. "Zumi… that long?"
Anna's eyes shimmered, but she nodded, steady despite her sadness. "We'll miss you… But we know this is something you have to do."
He placed a hand gently on each of their cheeks, his gaze softening. "I promise you both a proper goodbye before I leave. For now, I need to speak to Gia."
They nodded, letting him go. Hina remained with them, her presence glowing warmly as she sat with her new sisters.
Zumi climbed the stairs, the mansion quiet except for the faint hum of night. He opened the door to the shared bedroom and found Gia seated at the edge of the bed. A book rested in her lap, though it was clear she hadn't been reading—her mind was elsewhere.
The moment her eyes locked on him, something inside her broke loose. She dropped the book from her lap, shadows scattering like startled birds, and rushed forward. With a sudden leap, she threw herself into his arms, straddling him as her legs wrapped around his waist.
"Zumi…" she breathed, her voice trembling.
Her lips crushed against his, fierce and hungry, nothing like the measured calm she usually carried. It was raw, desperate—a kiss of someone who feared losing what they could never replace. Her shadows coiled and tightened around them both, as though trying to bind him to her so he could never leave.
Zumi pressed her back against the wall, his hands gripping her thighs to hold her there as she clung to him, kissing him with reckless urgency. Her breath hitched as his lips trailed to her neck, and for a moment she let her restraint shatter completely, whispering his name like a prayer between stolen breaths.
When she finally pulled back, her forehead pressed against his, her voice shook. "You've returned."
Zumi kept his golden eyes fixed on her. "I have." He carried her back toward the bed and sat, letting her remain in his lap, her legs still around him, her shadows flickering faintly like a storm. "Gia… earlier tonight, I met with the Gale Brothers. I gave them their roles. And I named you Vice Commander."
Her lips parted, her body stiffening as she searched his face. "Vice Commander…?"
"Yes." His voice was firm, absolute. "In my absence, you will lead. Gia, I trust you with this family more than anyone."
She trembled, her hands clutching at his suit. "Zumi… I am honored. More than I can ever say. But…" Her voice cracked, shadows flickering wildly. "I don't want you to go. The thought of waking each day without you here—" she broke off, burying her face against his chest. "It feels unbearable."
Zumi tilted her chin up, forcing her to meet his gaze. "I know. But I must. Serafina waits for me in Tibet. I'll be gone for years, but I need you to hold this family together until I return."
Tears shimmered in her eyes but didn't fall. Her lips quivered as she forced herself to steady her breathing. "I'll miss you more than I can stand. But… if this is what you must do, then I will endure. I'll lead them. I'll protect everything you've built. And when you return… I'll be here. Still yours. Always."
Her shadows wrapped faintly around his hand, pulsing as though sealing her vow.
"Go," she whispered, her voice breaking but strong all the same. "Find your goddesses. Build your legend. And when you return, the Kogane Dragons will rise under their king."
Zumi's golden eyes narrowed slightly. He brushed his thumb across her cheek. "How did you know about the goddesses, Gia?"
For the first time, she looked away, shadows curling faintly in hesitation. But then she met his gaze again, her voice soft but steady.
"Ever since the day we went to buy your car… something changed. I felt closer to you than I ever had before. And from that day on, sometimes… I would see things. Messages. Like fragments of a system, but I knew they weren't meant for me. They were about you. Important upgrades, instructions… hints of things greater than I could understand."
She placed a hand on his chest, over his heart. "I never questioned it. Because I trusted you with my entire soul. Whether you chose to tell me about it or not—it didn't matter. I gave myself to you completely, Zumi. And I knew that if the messages spoke of something important enough that you had to leave… or make a drastic choice… you would come to me. And you did."
Her shadows dimmed, softening like silk as her expression steadied, her loyalty burning hotter than before. "That's all I ever needed to know."
Zumi studied her for a long moment, golden fire meeting shadowed devotion, and for the first time in years, he felt the quiet power of being truly understood.
His lips curved into the faintest, rarest smile. "Gia… I love you."
Her eyes widened, her composure breaking entirely as tears welled up—this time, she let them fall. "I love you too, Master Zumi!" she breathed, the words carrying both reverence and unrestrained affection.
They collided in a passionate kiss, her arms wrapping around his neck, his hands gripping her tightly as if neither could bear to let go. It was more than a kiss—it was a vow of the soul, sealed in heat and loyalty. Her shadows melted against his golden aura, entwining until it was impossible to tell where one ended and the other began.
When at last they parted, their foreheads rested together, breaths still heavy with fire. Zumi whispered, his voice low but commanding, "I'll be back shortly. But after I leave this room… if you suddenly sense an immense amount of bloodlust, do not be alarmed. It's mine. And I'll be fine."
Gia blinked through the remnants of her tears, then nodded firmly, her voice steady despite the storm of emotion inside her. "All right."
Zumi brushed one last kiss against her lips before setting her gently back onto the bed, his golden eyes glowing with both promise and power. He turned toward the door, shadows and silence pressing close, and as he stepped out, Gia's heart tightened—yet her faith in him did not waver.