Legal advocate?

Dawin had to return to the office. So he left first. But not without giving Alice a long look.

That guy... there was something oddly pleasant and unpleasant about him.

As much as Alice wanted to leave with him so she would not be stuck with his brother—her husband, she had come here for something else.

Even the amusement about learning Hades' ranks did not dwindle the anxiety she felt.

Hades lifted a brow, his sharp blue eyes fixed on her like she was an insect he could squash at any moment. His posture remained as relaxed as ever, one leg draped over the other, fingers tapping idly on the armrest of his couch. 

She wished she could take a photo of him. He was so main-lead character worthy—

"Why are you still here?" His voice was quiet, but there was an underlying bite to it. "I don't remember making an appointment with you."

Back to her senses. 

Alice swallowed, pushing the folder across the table toward him with slightly shaky hands. "Don't... be shocked," she started quietly, "but… there's a big problem."

Hades didn't even glance at the folder. Instead, he tilted his head, waiting for her to say whatever pointless thing she had come to say. 

That was exactly what his look told her. 

"That's a summon from the legal team," she emphasized, watching him for any reaction. 

Hades remained expressionless. "And?"

Alice blinked.

And?

"…You're not scared?" she blurted before she could stop herself.

Wasn't he scared? Or at least wary? She had heard that the legal team was the law here. No one could refuse their summons, not even a Wildfire. The security would have to get involved if necessary.

But Hades looked calm.

He let out a low, humorless chuckle. It was quiet, but it made her skin prickle.

"Should I be?" he asked, voice as smooth as it was menacing.

Well, of course, he wasn't scared. Not even a flicker of concern crossed his face. He really was an evil devil, wasn't he? No wonder they had ranked him an F. 

She suddenly realized she was doing exactly what those girls had done to Suzy—mocking a person's rank like it meant something. The absurdity of this place was rubbing off on her. 

Still, she had a job to do. Clearing her throat, she forced herself to speak. "The legal team wants you to... to hand over the CCTV footage," she said, but quickly added, "but if it's already destroyed, I wouldn't blame you." 

Internally, she prayed it was destroyed. 

She shifted on her seat. "You could just come in for the summon," she suggested lightly, even though, deep down, the last thing she wanted was for him to show up. 

But if he didn't… what would happen to her? She was already a D. If she failed her first duty, she might as well dig her grave. 

Hades continued to simply stare at her with those sharp, cold blue eyes. His silence was worse than anything he could have said. 

Alice clenched her fists. Was he going to reject it? Toy with her? Say something cruel? 

Instead, he suddenly said, "I'll attend." 

She froze. 

Wait—he agreed? 

He agreed. 

Her brain stuttered, unsure whether she should feel relieved or terrified. 

Because agreeing meant that she was going to be in trouble.

And then— 

"But," he started, "what do I get in return?" His voice was quiet, smooth, and laced with something dark. To be fair, his voice was always laced with something dark. Everything about him was.

Alice stiffened. There it is. She knew it wasn't going to be that easy.

She swallowed. "In return…?"

Hades tilted his head, observing her, "For attending the summon with the CCTV footage," he clarified. Then, after a pause, he leaned back as he added, "And for attending without it."

A shiver ran down her spine.

Oh, he knew.

He knew that she knew.

And if that footage got out, her life here would be over.

This wasn't just about compliance—he was negotiating.

Or worse… manipulating.

It wasn't easy to simply return to correct the legal team that it had been her last night. Because... why was she sneaking around in the first place? How would she explain it to the Wildfires?

Alice swallowed, her throat suddenly dry. "You… you didn't destroy the footage?" 

Hades barely spared her a glance as he adjusted the cuff of his sleeve. "Why would I?" 

She felt the blood drain from her face. She had been clinging to that tiny hope—that maybe, just maybe, the evidence had been erased. But now, sitting in front of him, she knew she had already lost. 

It had only been three days since she got here. Three days, and her life was already spiraling into something she couldn't control. 

She swallowed hard, forcing down the panic clawing at her chest. 

Hades' patience seemed to be running out quickly. She could tell from the look on his face.

She had to make up her mind now that he seemed willing to negotiate.

She hesitated for a split second, then pushed forward. "What… what do you want?" 

Hades tilted his head, his gaze locking onto hers. 

It always made her heart stop whenever he looked at her like that. The way he tilted his head made him look like a vampire ready to dip his teeth on her neck and suck her dry.

"Think about it yourself. And make me a good offer. You are going to be my legal advocate after all," Then, slowly—too slowly—his lips curled up.

Alice felt like she had been dunked into a freezing lake in the middle of winter. 

Legal advocate? Her? 

She wasn't so smart, but she knew what that meant. She would be his lawyer or attorney or whatever they called them here. She would defend him in this case. 

Hahaha. Nice. 

They were both probably going to end up in jail if that happened.