Henry navigated his car through the city traffic while Beast lounged comfortably in the passenger seat, practically vibrating with excitement.
"I am so incredibly excited to see him," Beast beamed.
"You've already seen him," Henry replied flatly, keeping his eyes on the road.
"Oh, right! I met him," Beast corrected himself, waving a dismissive hand. "But now I'm taking you to see him."
"I am currently the one driving," Henry pointed out.
Beast's left brow shot up. "Well, a certain someone completely destroyed my car while pulling reckless stunts, so you owe me."
"He had a priority to save the client's life," Henry countered smoothly. "The car was collateral."
"That is a terrible excuse."
"My man, you are filthy rich," Henry scoffed, glancing at him. "I am just a normal, underpaid school teacher."
"I am not rich," Beast argued, crossing his arms.
"Murphy paid you an astronomical, life-changing sum when you took down the Fourth Branch of Loop," Henry countered, a deadpan look on his face. "Your underlings are constantly working and pulling in massive revenue for you. You are practically a billionaire, Beast."
Beast paused, looking out the window as if genuinely evaluating his bank account. "Well... you're right about that. But I still wouldn't call that 'rich'."
Henry momentarily looked over at him in absolute, jaw-dropping shock.
"Focus on the road, man! You're going to get us killed!" Beast yelled, pointing at the windshield.
Henry snapped his eyes back to the tarmac, gripping the steering wheel a little tighter. After a moment, he cleared his throat. "What's the current status of the other Pillars?"
"Well, Loop has exactly three branches left," Beast replied, his tone shifting into a business-like calm. "As for the Shadow Syndicate, they've shifted their operations entirely elsewhere. They're completely outside of Canada now, I think."
Henry nodded slowly.
"Henry, my son," Beast spoke up after a brief silence. "Why exactly are these three organizations called the Pillars anyway?"
Henry parted his lips, his voice taking on a heavy, historical weight. "Because a certain individual created them. Through sheer force and strategy, they rose to become the absolute top three entities ruling the underworld. They are the strongest, most ruthless organizations in existence—going from a small group of a few to massive, sprawling organizations that control the global black market."
Beast nodded slowly, taking in the explanation.
"Henry, my son, tell me something," Beast said, a curious glint in his eye. "How exactly does someone go about stopping entities that powerful?"
Henry glanced at him out of the corner of his eye. "Why are you asking me? I'm entirely certain you could dismantle them all by yourself if you really wanted to."
Beast chuckled, but his expression remained thoughtful. "I heard a rumor that a certain kid is actively trying to destroy the Pillars. So, logistically... how can he?"
"How should I know?" Henry deflected evenly.
Beast went quiet for about three seconds, tapping his fingers against the dashboard. "Henry, tell me something else then. I'm bored."
"Beast, do you currently have any active clients operating in Japan?" Henry asked, changing the subject.
Beast shook his head in denial. Henry simply nodded in response.
"Japan is incredibly peaceful these days," Beast mused, letting out a sudden, roaring laugh that filled the car. "Especially right now!"
Henry simply nodded, pulling the car up to the curb. "We're here."
Beast climbed out of the passenger side and stretched his arms, standing right in front of a towering, ultra-luxurious seven-star restaurant.
Henry stepped out after him, his brow furrowing as he took in the opulent entrance. Did this guy seriously trick me into driving him to a fancy dinner? Henry thought, thoroughly annoyed.
He glared at Beast. Beast just flashed him a massive, unapologetic grin.
"Is the kid even here?" Henry asked skeptically.
Beast shook his head. "Henry, my son, you should know by now that keeping my stomach full is always my absolute top priority."
Henry's annoyed glare softened, a knowing, amused smile touching his lips.
They walked into the high-end establishment together, Henry maintaining a perfectly pleasant, smiling mask for the staff.
Beast glanced at him sideways, chuckling quietly. "Nice. You can really put on a show when you want to."
Before long, they were escorted down a secluded VIP hallway and into a heavily secured, reserved private room. The heavy doors shut behind them, leaving Henry and Beast sitting directly across from each other at a pristine table.
The casual atmosphere evaporated in an instant. Beast leaned forward, his entire demeanor shifting.
"Henry, my son. There is something I need you to do," Beast said, his voice dropping into a rare, serious tone.
Henry leaned back, completely unfazed. "And what if I say no?"
Beast stood up slowly, his towering frame casting a shadow over the table.
Henry didn't hesitate. He stood up as well. Both men stepped away from the table, moving into the open center of the room, the air suddenly crackling with an intense, suffocating pressure.
"It looks like your mind has gone soft from spending too much time with those school kids you teach," Beast provoked, his eyes narrowing.
"You're just trying to dump your baggage onto me," Henry countered smoothly, matching his gaze. "I'm a busy man, Beast. Final exams are next week."
"Henry, my wolf," Beast grinned, a wild, dangerous glint flashing in his eyes. "Why don't we use this private room for a quick spar?"
"Yeah, I could tell you were in the mood to throw hands the second we walked in," Henry replied, rolling his shoulders back. "I won't say no to a warm-up."
Just as their auras were about to clash, the heavy electronic lock on the door clicked. The door swung open, and a waiter stepped in, looking completely terrified, followed closely by a sharp-dressed, imposing man.
"T-this is your private room, sir," the waiter stammered quickly before turning on her heel and practically sprinting down the hallway to escape the heavy atmosphere.
Beast's dangerous aura vanished in a fraction of a second, replaced by his usual booming hospitality. "Welcome! Please, come in and take a seat."
Henry stood perfectly still, his expressions locked back into a calm, unreadable mask. Who is this? he thought, analyzing the stranger's posture, clothing, and presence.
"Mister, this guy here is Henry. My so—" Beast caught himself, clearing his throat. "I mean, my brother."
"Nice to meet you," Henry said politely, stepping forward and extending his hand.
The mysterious man reached out and firmly shook Henry's hand, his gaze sharp and calculating.
Beast stepped up beside them, his grin turning sharp and entirely business-like. "Henry, allow me to introduce you. This is the Chairman of Loop's Third Branch: Mr. Lewis."