"Damn him! I should have ended him while I still had the chance. I never really thought he can give me this headache!" Francais ranted.


    "Then why did you not do it before?!" President Williams was really annoyed and irritated.


    Right, why did he not do it before? "I underestimated his capabilities to do this much trouble for our ns. And I really thought he is not capable of this. That''s why I just let him be. But don''t worry, I''m still confident that our ns will be sessful. I still have one person backing me up."


    Hearing histter statement, President Williams'' eyes lit up, "Oh! Interesting. May I know who is he?"


    "Nah. That''s not going to happen. Right now, let''s focus on this damnpetitions and make sure that Frederick woulde victorious in the end."


    Francais'' expression changed when he saw President Williams'' unsure face.


    "What''s going on? Don''t tell me you can''t ask your people to let him win?"


    "I can''t reassure you of that since we are mercenaries."


    "I understand. Tell them I''ll pay them a handsome amount should you guarantee he''ll win."


    President Williams only shook his head because he knew that it was thepetitor''s individual pride which was on the line, too.


    Them (mercenaries) were not only all about money. They also had pride as a mercenary. This conference was held to showcase to everyone their current skills and the chance to move up in ranks. If they would decide to lose on thepetition just because they were getting paid, they''d be like aughing stock in their league.


    But there''s no need for them to fret, this was their territory. If they really wanted to kill them and threw their bodies somewhere hidden, they could do it. No one could stop them. They could take both the money and at the same time the chance to move up in ranks for having a weaker opponent.


    "How about I''ll make sure that his opponents are the weakest? Just so he''d win." President Williams proposed for the benefit of both parties. Frederick was not a weak man right?


    Then, President Williams concern shifted to Asia whose intimidating gazes he could not still forget?


    "Asia. What about her?"


    Francais didn''t disclose much to him but he reassured that everything was under his control.


    With confidence he said, "Asia, she''s under my control. She''d not do anything without my consent."


    "No. How sure are you that she won''t ruin your ns? She''s uncontroble before. It was hard for us to kill her." President Williams was still doubtful about it.


    "Don''t worry. She doesn''t have the capabilities to do so. She''s on a leash. She will do anything I want her to do. For now, let''s focus on thepetitions."


    "Alright."


    The two best friends continued their conversation without realizing that someone was listening to their conversations.


    A spy fly was hovering on top of the vase and they were not able to see that.


    Francais suddenly became silent and President Williams became curious about what was inside his head. So he asked him, "What''s on your mind? You seemed to be nning for something big."


    Francais shed a devilish smile and he confessed, "Since he decided to hold the thepetition here in your conference, having him being assassinated won''t be difficult, right?"


    "Oho! I like that n. Tell me the price, I''ll make a silent bounty post for everyone." President Williams was sure that many would want to grab the job if the price was high.


    Then he had a better idea inside his head and so he immediately suggested it, "How about make it apetition? Whoever kills him will get the bounty."


    "Good idea. We will do that."


    Francais smiled coldly as he looked forward on the day that Mr. Alinksy would die. Well, no one should be med aside from himself. After all, he brought himself inside the den of mercenaries who could easily be ordered with the right amount of money.


    "I know this is still so early but let''s have celebrate on our future sess. What do you think?" President Williams offered and Francais responded. With a smile he said, "I like that. And besides, it''s been so long since thest time we hang out for a drink."


    The two wereughing like they were the kings of the world. They got drunk and lost consciousness.


    They didn''t realize the door opening and a woman entered with a syringe on her hands. Without any hesitation, she injected the contents of the syringe on their bodies. When she was done, she left the room immediately. She didn''t want others to see her.


    After all, securities were on a look out 24/7 and they were all current and former mercenaries. They were tasked to make sure that President Williams was safe. His safety was their topmost priority.


    However, they were sent to sleep by this woman and their colleagues must be passing by the area and saw them sleeping while on their post.


    Meanwhile, Asia roamed around the hallway when she received Frederick''s call. She was being called by Frederick to go to his room. Since she decided to not drop her pretense yet, Asia had no other choice but to oblige and went there.


    The moment she entered, she was immediately grabbed by Frederick by the shoulder harshly. As soon as she was fully inside, he kissed her harshly.


    Asia pushed him out of reflex making Frederick to be suspicious of her reaction.


    "You dared to push me?!" Frederick who clearly had a few sses of drinks earlier became angry and snapped at her. His grip on her both arms were so tight like it would snap them into two.


    "It''s not like that Master. I''m afraid it would make a bruise and Mr. Alinsky would see it." She said her alibi when in fact she really didn''t like being kissed by him.


    She thought her reasoning was appropriate given that the old man was really suspicious on things. He was very sensitive and could pick on even the smallest details when it was likely obvious.


    "Fine. You''re saved this time. However, after this, I''ll make sure that you won''t be able to escape on my strong hold." He vowed to be rough to her again after this.


    "But this didn''t mean that you''ll be able to escape from me tonight." And so he grabbed her and pushed her towards his bed and do the things that he wanted to do to her.


    "When was thest time we have done it, Ana?" Frederick asked as he made his advances towards her.


    "The other day, Master." Yes, he was able to bring her somewhere and poured his l*st on her and so he already missed her. He missed her body and how she moaned when she''s on pleasure. However, what displeased him was that he had not heard her crying his name every time they did it.


    Instead, she''d call him "Master" every time. And this made him unhappy.


    "No marks please or Mr. Alisnky would know that we have done it."


    After all, they were banned from doing couple things until thepetition was over and a victor was announced.


    The following day, the first day of thepetitions begins. But before they participated on thepetition, everyone had their breakfast first. Who knew for some, this might be their final breakfast.


    "Good morning Grandpa." Asia greeted Mr. Alinsky when she joined him during breakfast.


    "Good morning Eunji." Mr. Alinsky greeted her on a good mood.


    Asia looked around to see if both Francais and Frederick were around the room. Well, she was sure that Frederick won''t being since she ced him into a deep sleep before she left the roomst night.


    As for Francais, she had no idea where he was.


    "They told me that they both wanted to join us for breakfast. But they were both not here yet." Mr. Alinksy said after he realized that she must be looking for the two people.


    "I asked someone to check on Frederick and I was told that he is still asleep in his room and seems like he had a wild night with someonest night." Jaime intervened on their conversation as he said his report.


    "Oh? Interesting." Mr. Alinsky then threw a meaningful gaze at her. But he decided to not ask her yet.


    "Anyways, where were youst night? You''re not in your room when I asked Jaime to check on you." Mr. Alinsky immediately asked her as soon as she had taken her seat.


    "I went to have some fresh air, Grandpa. I didn''t ask for permission since you seemed to be asleep inside your room. So I went out on my own." She was not lying when she said that. She only decided to hide theter events that happened after that.


    "Eunji. Are you hiding something from me?" But Mr. Alinsky was able to put the puzzle pieces together.


    "It''s not me Grandpa. Who knows he was able to pull some random woman and sleep with him?" She lied straight in the face.


    Of course, she had no ns on telling to her grandfather that she had decided to fool around with him while also nning to eliminate them.


    "Oh? Eunji. We might be together in short period of time but I kind of get a hold on your attitude. You''re someone who would lie when the situation calls for it."


    After all, they had a simr kind of attitude.


    "Sorry Grandpa. I can''t drop this pretense yet so I have to do my part really well for them to be not suspicious. But don''t worry, nothing bad will happen to me. I have them both wrapped around with my palm.


    "Be sure that nothing bad will happen to you. I don''t want him to father your child when he''s actually unworthy."


    "That won''t happen, Grandpa." Asia confidently told him that. And so this made Mr. Alinsky to be curious, too.


    "Why?"


    "Because either of us is sterile. And please don''t ask me who. I''m not ready to reveal that yet."


    "What?" Both Jaime and Mr. Alinsky was shocked to know of that.


    They were both hoping that it was Frederick and not her who was sterile because if it was her who was sterile, then their family line ended on her. And that''s very unfortunate to know.


    This might even make her position as his heir to be in danger. Of course their people would demand someone worthy. And a barren woman who could not produce an heir was clearly unworthy. What more, she''s already a woman.


    "Let''s not get depressed over that, okay? Let''s eat, I''m actually hungry now." She proposed to him.


    Seeing that her grandfather was still troubled by what she said Asia had the urge to tell him, "Don''t worry Grandpa, hope is not lost yet."


    Mr. Alisnky decided to not wait for the two and so they had their breakfast. Jaime poured them their hot drinks and at the same time uncovered the dishes on the table.


    "Thanks, Jaime."


    While they were having their breakfast, Mr. Alinksy started talking.


    "You know, even though we seemed to be in a good rtionship with them, our connections with them is still originally limited to money and I don''t know until when they''d be like this to us. These people are unpredictable after all. And so, it''s dangerous to wander alone." Mr. Alinsky started exining their situation to her.


    Though Nathan was able to make President Williams to behave, Mr. Alinsky still didn''t trust President Williams and the rest. He viewed them as snakes.


    But Nathan reassured him that nothing bad would happen to them the moment they joined the conference and he was very confident when he said that. And he trusted Nathan''s judgment.


    "Especially when most of them are clearly after your head. Which makes me wonder."


    "About what Grandpa?"


    "What did you do to upset them like this?"


    "Well, some of them, I killed their parents, family members, etc. Unlike now, our previous conferences were far brutal. We would kill just to rank up. There''s norades or brotherhood. Everyone is an enemy that we have to eliminate. The higher the rank, the better missions we get, the higher pay we received."


    She''s on top of the rank and they envied her. She reached the top at the expense of their loved ones lives.


    "I see. That''s bloody. No wonder they wanted to kill you."


    "Yeah." She sounded unaffected still.


    She didn''t care at all. She''s already bound to die anyways. Her mission now was to finish all of these before that time arrived.


    "Anyways Grandpa, since you opened this up to me. We should also be careful for any assassination attempts while we are still here. We don''t know, someone has already raised a bounty for the both of us."


    Mr. Alinsky agreed to what she said, "You''re right. We better be careful and watchful to our surroundings."


    ***