(Melissa's POV)
Melissa could consider herself accomplished, she has considerable strength, a hobby she particularly enjoys—training—and she is the leader of one of the largest, if not the largest, organizations on the planet.
With one word she could decide the fate of millions of people, few possessed that kind of privilege. However, not everything was a bed of roses.
She had power, but also responsibility.
Hell had grown into a large country, cities throughout Andrea's territory were growing every day, and she was responsible for managing everything. Even though she had employees for every position, greatly reducing her workload, the fact was that she needed to oversee every little aspect to ensure everything was perfect, in addition to the things only she could handle.
At that moment, she was experiencing one of those moments. In her office, a strong man was present. Bennet Anderson, a hero of old era.
Sitting across from her, Bennet didn't seem nervous at all, although Melissa was much stronger than Bennet right now, she didn't take him lightly.
Not because of personal power, but because she had already admired the man, if it weren't for her son's power, he would be a figure she could only continue to admire.
Bennet wasn't there just for a casual visit, but to discuss something important and...
Melissa glanced at the other man sitting next to Bennet, Melissa knew him, whether from the intelligence she had received or from the information that had come from Ringo.
Mr. Black, more commonly known as Black Phantom, one of the best assassins in the Blood Pact Society, but Melissa recognized him as Zero or Xiao Han, son of one of the leaders of Alumera, but it seems he preferred to be called Han Xiao, although Ringo referred to him simply as "Han".
A man with many names, indeed.
(A/N: Who still remembers that nickname? Mr. Black.)
Melissa remembered Ringo's advice well: treat him as close as a friend and as distant as a stranger. The man is the type who sees profit and affection as a balance, if there's too much profit and too little affection, Han Xiao might act against you, though he would still leave you some breathing room.
Based on Ringo's description, Melissa saw Han Xiao as an "honest bandit", if such a thing existed, but having worked in politics for so long, Melissa had seen all sorts of people. Han Xiao's personality could even be considered... agreeable, albeit with reservations.
Melissa looked at Bennet again and wondered how much this man knew about Han Xiao, but not wanting to antagonize Han Xiao, she didn't start a conversation with him, wanting to avoid letting slip something she shouldn't.
She looked away from Han Xiao and turned to Bennet, clearly the one in charge of this discussion. -What can I do for you, Mr. Anderson?
(A/N: Neo, is that you?)
Bennet gave a gentle smile, not the fake kind, Melissa would know, but the truly kind smile, the man wasn't there to be a smiling fox, that much was clear to her with just one look.
-President Jones, you can just call me Bennet. I know you're busy, so I won't take up much of your time. My request is simple.- Bennet began calmly. -You must already be familiar with what the Dark Net has been doing lately.
-Sanctuaries, I've heard.- Melissa nodded, leaning back in her chair.
-That makes things easier. I'd like to get permission to build some of them on Andrea's.- Bennet became serious as he spoke, causing Melissa to raise an eyebrow.
His seriousness didn't stem from threat, instead, it came from his faith. Melissa could tell that, at the very least, Bennet seemed to genuinely believe in the purpose of the sanctuaries—a place to protect the last spark of humanity.
Melissa almost sighed when she saw this, if the world were run by people like Bennet, it would be a better place, but unfortunately, Bennet is just one person, he can't decide the overall situation.
To move so selflessly not for a specific group, but for all of humanity... Melissa has to admit she couldn't do the same.
She had interests, she had attachments, she wouldn't hesitate to consume the world if it meant protecting her son, but here was a man who could stand in front of fire and wind for an ideal, not an ideal of conquest and power, but to save the world.
If there was a hero in this world, Melissa had to admit it should be Bennet. This made her admire Bennet once again, but even so, Melissa was no longer just a base commander who could act as she pleased.
She had Hell on her back and, with her knowledge of the galaxy, knew that Aquamarine was just another drop in the ocean. She had access to the galactic network, and the more she saw, the less connected she felt to the small planet where she was born.
Sure, she still had an attachment to the place, but that attachment gradually faded after she left Hesla. Now she only clung to Hell because it is something her son "built", she is proud of him, that is a fact.
Well, technically Ringo stole Germinal, but the Leader of Germinal also stole the old organization by killing its leader and taking power. So it's just dog eating dog.
Melissa's thoughts were very complicated and contradictory, but the fact was that besides Ringo, everyone else could be discarded, including Hell, Li, or even herself.
Melissa grew up with a gun in her hand, she's not afraid of dying, she's only afraid of what might happen to her son.
With a global war where there was no safe place at her doorstep, she had nothing but her frail fists, for her, everything she achieved afterward failed to give meaning to her life. It was only with Ringo's father and Ringo himself that she finally found a "safe haven", but Ringo's father was gone, and now all she had left was her son.
She lost him once, she desperately wished to become stronger so she could protect him from the world, but unfortunately she is too weak, so she clings to Hell, at least here she could feel like she was doing something.
-Bennet... Ringo had already told me what to do if you came sooner, he seemed to be expecting it.- Melissa explained calmly, looking at the man with the usual serious face she had spent years developing. -The territory has already been allocated, the expenses too. You can build a sanctuary in Andrea, but only one, financed by Hell, but there are conditions.
Bennet's eyes widened in surprise, even Han Xiao seemed surprised at that moment, but it was Bennet who broke the silence. -What's the condition?- He asked after taking a deep breath.
-First, the sanctuary must be named after Ringo, second, it must have a statue of Ringo, and furthermore...- She paused, her lips twitching slightly as she looked at Han Xiao. -The sanctuary must be larger than Black Phantom's and must have a statue of Ringo larger than Black Phantom's.
Bennet's eyes narrowed, and Han Xiao was completely stunned.
The next moment, he jumped up, his face contorted with rage. -That bastard! Is he messing with me?! Where is he?!
Bennet's lips trembled slightly, sensing that bringing Black Phantom there hadn't been a good idea, but he was even more curious about the reason for all this. Were Black Phantom and Ringo rivals? They didn't seem like enemies, but this distasteful gesture... it reminded him so much of Black Phantom himself!
They should be friends!
If Han Xiao could hear Bennet's thoughts right now, he would be furious, draw his gun, and shoot Bennet in the head. He might not kill him, but he would certainly express his current emotions.
Melissa wasn't finished, she pulled an envelope from a drawer and handed it to Han Xiao. -He asked me to give this to you if I saw you.
Han Xiao calmed down, still irritated inside. He knew it wouldn't be good, but his curiosity still prevented him from refusing.
Opening the envelope, he took out a piece of paper. Han Xiao froze, Bennet, who looked over his shoulder curiously, also froze, and even Melissa, who didn't know what was on the paper, froze.
On the paper, there was only one image filling almost the entire space: a middle finger emoji.
Bennet struggled to hold back his laughter, Melissa looked somewhere between embarrassed and amused, only Han Xiao was trembling, his face filled with justified anger.
He took a deep breath while muttering repeatedly, -I'm going to kill him, I'm going to kill him, I swear I'm going to kill him!