Cassia smirked. “I was messing with him,” she admitted. “Who the hell could match me?”

  Vince paused, then let out a small, relieved laugh. “Good,” he said. “I also heard you didn’t apply to War Academy for personal reasons. I know some people. If you’re interested, I can put in a word.”

  This wasn’t charity. It wasn’t just because she knew Axel. Vince saw potential in Cassia. It would be a waste for her to just disappear.

  Cassia’s eyes lit up. She stole a quick glance at Axel in the distance before lowering her voice. “…Really?” she asked. “Thank you, Mr. Vince. But… can we keep this between us?”

  Vince smirked. He understood. He gave her a nod, and Cassia exhaled, a weight lifting off her chest.

  For the first time today, she felt like things were falling into place. How could she give up now? She hesitated for a moment, then asked, “Mr. Vince… Axel wants to join the Whisper Syndicate. Do you think I have a shot?”

  She didn’t know much about them—only that they were part of the military. But if Axel was going… She wanted to follow.

  Vince didn’t answer right away. And that silence alone was enough for Cassia to get her answer.

  Axel had already moved ahead of her. She let out a small breath. The War Academy… that wasn’t a bad option. Of course, she had only teased Axel earlier just to see his reaction. That idiot was still as dense as ever.

  Vince stood up, stretching. “I’ll send you the details later.”

  “Alright.”

  Cassia turned to leave, but before she did, she cast one last glance at Axel. A hint of pride flickered in her eyes. She was his 'big sister'.

  And next time they met— She would protect him really.

  ......

  "Axel, go home and get some rest. We'll come by tomorrow to go over the selection process with you."

  Tomorrow? "So soon?" Axel frowned. "And, Mr. Vince—why’d you send so many people to pick me up?" Vince and his team had arrived earlier than expected.

  "The assessment got moved up," Vince explained. "Plus, we have orders to gather in Ebonveil, so we figured we’d pick you up on the way."

  Ebonveil lay north of Krythos, near the border, just like Dune. But unlike Dune, it faced endless grasslands, crawling with mutant beasts. It was a major military stronghold.

  "Normally, we’re assigned clear objectives," Vince continued. "But when we’re told to assemble early, it usually means a joint operation with other teams. Looks like there’s trouble up north."

  "Alright," Axel said. "We’ll talk tomorrow. Let’s call it a night."

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  The group began to disperse, but Vincent grabbed Axel’s arm.

  "Hey, Axel," Vincent grinned. "Anywhere fun to go in Dune?" Axel did know what he meant.

  Kaia, standing nearby, immediately shot a sharp look at Vincent.

  "Vincent!" she snapped. "I’ve told you—go have your fun, but if you bring back any women, don’t you dare bring them to our hotel. I’m not waking up to weird noises in the middle of the night."

  Vincent smiled. "Kaia, what a harsh misunderstanding! You know I’m serious about you."

  Kaia rolled her eyes so hard she nearly fell backward. "Ugh, gross."

  Axel sighed. He knew exactly where Vincent wanted to go, but he had no interest in that scene. Besides, he had more important things to do tonight.

  Still, as they climbed into a taxi, Axel leaned forward and told the driver, "Elysium Club."

  The driver glanced at Axel, then at Vincent, then back at Axel again—his expression turning downright suggestive.

  "Damn," the driver whistled, staring at Vincent. "Kid, you got some competition tonight. Your friend’s too damn pretty—you’re gonna be background decoration next to him."

  Axel twitched. I'm not bad looking, am I?

  Meanwhile, Vincent let out a booming laugh, slapping Axel’s shoulder. "Don’t worry, Axel," he grinned. "I’ve got everything arranged for you tonight."

  Axel ignored him and pulled out his phone. He sent a message: "Wait for me at Elysium Club."

  Elysium was the most luxurious bar in Dune. It used to belong to Wolfe, but after his downfall, an out-of-town businessman snatched it up, threw in a massive renovation, and turned it into an even bigger hotspot.

  By the time they arrived, it was past eleven—prime time. The place was packed. Women in revealing outfits clustered in groups, laughing and chatting.

  Mini-skirts barely covered anything, their butts almost exposed. Smoky eye makeup, bright-colored contacts—some of them looked like they belonged in a neon dream. For an inexperienced guy, this place could be a dangerous trap.

  Axel barely stepped out of the taxi before he grabbed a girl’s hand. Vincent’s eyes nearly popped out of his skull.

  "Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Vincent gasped. "Axel, I get that it’s fun to cut loose, but this? You do know that’s illegal at her age, right?"

  The girl shrank back against Axel. Axel sighed. "She’s my sister."

  Vincent looked at him deadpan. "Yeah, yeah," he said. "I say that when I’m out, too." He shook his head dramatically.

  "But no, no, no—if the deputy captain finds out, she’ll kick your ass and make sure you never join the team."

  Axel rolled his eyes.

  "Brother, who is he?" Annabelle frowned as she glanced at Vincent. Sure, he was handsome, but she couldn’t stand smooth-talking men.

  Vincent, on the other hand, seemed genuinely surprised. "Damn, she really is your sister? Well." He shrugged. It wasn’t a big deal, but bringing a kid along while going out to have fun? Yeah, that was a bit awkward.

  "I’ll pass," Axel said firmly. "You go ahead and enjoy yourself."

  Vincent sighed, ready to try and convince him, but just then, two tall women walked by, immediately capturing his full attention.

  Unlike the other dolled-up women outside, these two had a more natural beauty. Light makeup, flawless skin, and long, flowing gowns that hinted at their curves without being too revealing. They weren’t loud or attention-seeking, just casually chatting as they walked past.

  In Vincent’s book? Solid eights. A welcome surprise.

  Without a second thought, he abandoned Axel and walked toward them. The easygoing grin he’d been wearing disappeared, replaced by an air of effortless charm. His golden hair framed a face too damn sincere to seem fake.

  "Hey there, excuse me."

  The women turned, and Vincent wasn’t disappointed. They were just as beautiful up close.

  Keeping a respectable half-meter distance, he smiled.

  "Hi, I’m visiting from out of town," he said smoothly. "My name’s Axel, and this guy here is my friend. But—" he sighed dramatically, "—he’s got to babysit his sister tonight, so I’m on my own. I figured I should find a local guide before I get completely ripped off." He shrugged, looking innocent.

  The women exchanged knowing looks. Clearly, they’d been hit on before. They had been ready to dismiss him—until they actually looked at him. Handsome, well-dressed, confident. Their expressions shifted slightly. One of them, smirking, threw a casual test at him.

  "Then why don’t you ask someone else?"