Deal!

Emily slowly dragged her bike, its wheels squeaking softly as she navigated the familiar streets of her neighborhood.

She first saw Alex when they were children—just five years old. His small hand clung to his mother's finger, refusing to let go as frightened eyes fixed on the unfamiliar world around him. Unlike the other girls who swooned over his bold, confident face, Emily always remembered that look of vulnerability. It was the first thing that made her feel connected to him.

She often reminisced about just one year when they played together on the slides, shared toys, and built sandcastles. The vivid and sweet memories felt like an imprint on her heart. After he left, she heard nothing but stories about him—the talented, successful Alex, who had become the person everyone admired. Emily joined fan clubs, hoping that somehow, some way, she'd cross paths with him again, and maybe he'd remember her.

Middle school had brought a twist of fate—Emily discovered that her best friend was actually Alex's adopted brother. It felt like a dream come true. Hope surged within her when she learned they would both attend her school.

She could hardly believe it—Alex was in their class, but he hardly ever attended until a few days ago, when he suddenly decided to show up.

Emily was excited; she was happy to see him again, recalling their childhood memories. She often found herself smiling at him, hoping he would remember her.

But cruel fate had struck again. Just when it seemed there was a chance for something more, Alex drifted away again, leaving her heartbroken. Why? Why did this always happen to her?

Lost in her thoughts, she hardly noticed the blue-haired boy standing in the middle of the road until it was too late. A sudden bump startled her as the front wheel of her bike hit between his legs.

"Hey, glasses!" he snapped, glancing back at her with a smirk. His eyes quickly shifted to the wheel wedged between his legs, and she realized she had unwittingly crashed into him.

A few other boys who looked like trouble flanked him. "Hooligans," Emily thought, instantly feeling a knot tighten in her stomach. The carefree bubble she had been floating in shattered, replaced by the tension of the unexpected encounter.

"Blue, who's this?" a guy with a scar on his hand asked, glancing at Emily. "She looks lost."

Blue looked down the road, focused on the area before him. Although she had ample space to get by, she inexplicably chose to ram her bike directly into his legs.

Thank goodness he had his back turned, he thought.

"Are you for real?" Blue laughed, glancing at his friends with a playful smile. "Do you have any idea who we are?"

Emily pushed her glasses up with one finger, her expression as serious as a tax collector's. "Yes, I know exactly who you are," she said, nudging her bike again. "A bunch of hooligans. And you, I'm guessing, are the leader of this circus?"

Blue stumbled back slightly, rubbing his knee where the wheel had hit him. He wasn't sure whether to be offended or impressed. "What… What kind of weirdo bumps into someone like that?"

"You better get off the road, or I'll run you over," Emily threatened, her voice entirely unamused. "And don't even think about showing up around here again."

Blue stood there, blinking in utter disbelief. He couldn't decide whether to laugh or call for backup. It wasn't every day that a random girl acted like she owned the place. His friends appeared just as confused as he felt.

"Damn, that girl is nuts," Blue muttered, watching her as she rolled away. But just as they started to regroup, he saw her peeking out from behind the corner.

"Come on, let's move!" He urged his friends. "This place doesn't feel safe at all."

Blue cast one last look back, a playful smirk on his face as he shook his head. "She's got guts, I'll give her that. She's fearless and a little wild, but I think I'm falling for her," he joked, guiding his crew away. Deep down, he couldn't help but admire the girl for catching him off guard like that.

The news of Alex and Seraphina's engagement spread like wildfire, sweeping the City. And why wouldn't it? After all, Seraphina was the daughter of the long-serving President Edmund Carver, and Alex was the son of General Edward Rogers. Two of the town's most influential families had officially forged a sacred bond.

As the citizens buzzed excitedly, they understood it wasn't merely a marriage but a strong alliance between two powerful families. It showcased the enduring friendship between the Carvers and the Rogers.

But what about the opposition party? They were shaken to their core. With the engagement, they realized their hopes of winning the upcoming election were slipping away. Their defeat now seemed inevitable—unless, of course, they could pull off something truly unexpected.

---

Blue and Coco sat in a busy coffee shop, surrounded by the murmur of baristas working behind the counter. Above them, a clear LED screen on the ceiling displayed the latest news feed, scrolling in holographic letters. The large glass window provided a panoramic view of the city—skyscrapers adorned with neon lights.

Coco occasionally sipped his coffee, his fingers brushing against the warm surface of the cup. His eyes stayed locked on the view, while his mind appeared to wander elsewhere.

Blue, however, couldn't help but smile as his mind replayed the earlier encounter with the strange girl in glasses. The scene kept looping in his head. What if this could lead to something good for him? What if he hung around, or what if they crossed paths again? If that happened, he was confident he would ask her out.

Suddenly, a group of elegantly dressed individuals burst in, their voices loud and assertive.

They instructed everyone to vacate the café, emptying the space almost instantly. The entire venue was cleared within seconds, with only Coco and Blue remaining.

Blue was startled, feeling a mix of surprise and mild threat. He instinctively grasped the bracelet on his wrist.

"Don't worry," Coco said with a calm smile as a man in fine clothing entered, flanked by his guards. The baristas were encircled, ensuring no one could escape or overhear them.

"Hi there," the man said, loosening the tie around his neck as he settled into the seat next to Coco and Blue. "This is quite a fascinating place for a secret meeting, don't you think?"

"We're both walking on thin ice," Coco replied without skipping a beat. "Mr. Kyle, or should I say, Mr. Future President?"

"Don't flatter me, Coco," the man in his late fifties said gruffly. "This meeting could become disastrous for me if people see me with you."

"Or perhaps a miracle," Coco joked, finally placing his cup down. "It's your choice how you want to handle it, Mr. Kyle."

"Since you mentioned it, why not turn this meeting into a miracle by handing you over to Edward?" Mr. Kyle urged, leaning forward.

Blue tensed, prepared for action, his eyes darting between the man and his bodyguards.

"This way, I can gain public recognition."

"Let's say you actually caught me right here, right now, and turned me over to Edward," Coco said, leaning closer to the table. "Then what? Open your eyes, Lesley. You need more than just recognition to win this election."

"Oh, really? Like what?" Mr. Kyle snapped, clearly irritated.

"Since Rogers and Carver are now relatives, politics have turned upside down for your party—and for you," Coco continued, his voice calculated. "You see, Carver is always one step ahead, and no matter what you do, you can't get more votes than he does."

"So what do you suggest?" Mr. Kyle asked slowly, skepticism seeping into his voice. "I should collaborate with traitors to acquire the throne?"

"I dare you, Kyle," Coco's voice dropped low, carrying a weight of warning. It filled the space, leaving the café quiet despite the tension in the room. Mr. Kyle shifted uneasily, his hand tightening around the armrest. "Don't cross the line. I don't care who becomes president. All I care about are my motives."

Mr. Kyle nodded thoughtfully. "Yes... I'm listening."

"Good," Coco said. "I'll help you ruin Carver's reputation before the election. In return, you assist me in getting into a position where I can do this effectively." He stood up and glanced out of the wide window at the presidential buildings. "Help me get there, and I'll make it worth your while."

"Impossible!" Mr. Kyle exclaimed, his voice rising in disbelief. "You can't! Edward won't allow it. He has a whole army of Rangers. What can you do against him?"

"That's why I called you here," Coco said calmly. "I heard the Rangers are undertaking a joint operation in another city."

Mr. Kyle fell silent, wondering how this rogue obtained inside information like this. Blue observed, impressed by how effortlessly Coco was managing the situation.

"I need to know when, and I will strike and at what exact time," Coco said.

Sweat began to form on Mr. Kyle's brow as he processed the gravity of the situation. He knew that the second most powerful figure in the city—Coco—was a force to be reckoned with. If he could use this "monster" to his advantage, he might be able to deal a significant blow to his political rival.

"What do you plan to do?" Mr. Kyle asked, uncertain if Coco had ulterior motives lurking beneath the surface.

"I want to capture the Parties Building and force Carver to confess all his wrongdoings on live broadcast," Coco declared, his tone steady. "We, the rogues, will get what we desire, and he will lose his throne."

Blue smiled at the daring nature of the plan. "That seems doable."

Mr. Kyle was lost in thought, considering the risks. If he proceeded with this, it could seriously harm Carver's reputation. He clearly understood the political games at play, and Coco's vendetta against Carver was well known.

He also understood the balancing act Carver had been performing: depicting the rogues as villains while quietly allowing them to go unchecked in his own city. While it may have been the right thing to do on a larger scale, in the public's view, it was a crime—something that shouldn't exist.

Carver, and even Kyle, understood that humans, as a unified entity, needed both the Rangers and the Rogues to compete in the tournament.

The gods, or whoever managed the tournament, saw no distinction between the participants. They randomly summoned one hundred champions to compete in the tournament, including Rangers and rogues, without regard for allegiance.

Kyle swallowed hard. If he played his cards right, following the breach in the Presidential Building, he could turn the situation around for himself—and later shift the blame entirely onto the rogues.

"Let's agree on this," Mr. Kyle proposed,