Explosion

Tyson adjusted the rubber suit underneath his formal bodyguard attire, grimacing as he examined his reflection in the lobby of the presidential headquarters.

The building was a marvel—its exterior walls were constructed almost entirely of glass, except for the concrete foundations supporting each floor. They stood on the fifth floor, listening to the hustle and bustle of the crowd below, all gathered for the president's major announcement.

"Is all of this really necessary?" Tyson grumbled, already feeling the heat rising beneath the layers of his uniform.

Alex, reflecting Tyson's discomfort, looked at him. "That's the wrong question. The right one is, why are we here in the first place?"

Tyson raised an eyebrow. "We're here to safeguard your future wife."

Alex rolled his eyes. "Please. Plenty of Rangers are around, and even Captain Barnes is here."

Captain Barnes—Edward's subordinate and the Ranger with a power score of 51—walked past them as if on cue. His uniform was crisp, and his short, slightly graying hair resembled Edward's, though he was smaller.

He walked up to Tyson and Alex, a younger man trailing closely behind, appearing somewhat overwhelmed by everything around him, including the presence of the two Rogers sons.

"Guys, this is Shaun," Captain Barnes said, giving Tyson a friendly pat on the back. "He recently joined us and is now under your care."

Tyson glanced at Shaun, observing the bewildered expression on the new guy's face. Captain Barnes smirked. "And try not to tease him too much, Alex."

With that, the captain turned, leaving them with their new responsibilities.

Alex glanced at Shaun and then at Tyson, muttering under his breath, "This is too much."

"My name is Shaun Carter. I have seven power points," Shaun declared, his voice somewhat too loud. "Reporting for duty, Sergeants!"

"We're not officially sergeants yet; we're trainees," Tyson replied with a frown. "And stop shouting. Just calm down."

"Aren't you more than qualified to be sergeants?" Shaun asked, his voice still filled with confusion. "You need at least fifteen points to become a sergeant, thirty for a lieutenant, and forty-five for a captain..."

Tyson observed the recruit, noting how lost he appeared in his own world.

"Why are you still trainees if you've met the criteria?" Shaun asked, clearly puzzled.

"Because he's lazy," Alex replied casually, pointing at Tyson. "And I'm too good-looking just to be a sergeant."

"Huh, speak for yourself," Tyson muttered, rolling his eyes. "I'd rather concentrate on studying."

"Stop messing around. You're going there to sleep," Alex said with a grin.

"Oh really? Is that the reason you just started going to school?" Tyson smirked, locking eyes with Alex as if they were poised to leap at each other and fight right there in the lobby.

"I'm there to watch over you," Alex retorted, moving closer.

Tyson smirked again, mirroring Alex's stance. However, before things could escalate, Shaun stepped in between them, attempting to defuse the situation.

"Hey, there are a lot of people around," Shaun said nervously. "What if the captain sees us acting rebellious? Or worse, what if the General catches us fighting?"

"He's not here," Seraphina said, smoothly entering the conversation. "He went to the opposition's side. What a great way to balance things out."

"Oh my God, it's the president's daughter!" Shaun shouted, his voice rising again. "I'm Shaun, and I'm at seven power-"

Alex quickly shoved him aside, interrupting him. "Where were you? And when will all of this be over?"

"I was speaking with my father's colleagues," she replied, remaining calm. "But who is this new guy? Is he your subordinate?"

"I'M SHUAN and I—"

"Stop being so loud," Tyson interrupted, frowning. "We heard you the first time. Just don't keep telling us, okay?"

"Alright, Sergeant," Shaun mumbled, stepping back reluctantly.

Alex rolled his eyes, obviously annoyed.

Alex hesitated for a moment before reaching out to take Seraphina's hand. As he got halfway, she sensed his intent and willingly accepted his hand, stepping closer to whisper something in his ear.

A commotion suddenly erupted in the lobby. The sound of reporters chattering and camera shutters clicking filled the air as the buzz grew louder. It didn't take long for a flash of realization to spread across the room—whispers of speculation and rumors they had been chasing for weeks finally began to take shape.

"It's true!" one reporter shouted excitedly, her camera flashing repeatedly.

More reporters quickly gathered, eager to capture the moment as their voices overlapped in disbelief.

"Are they engaged? This is the first time we've seen them like this!" another reporter inquired, moving closer with a microphone.

The questions came rapidly and intensely, each one more urgent than the previous.

"Is the president's daughter involved with Alex Roger? So it's true that they're engaged?" someone else asked.

Seraphina, unfazed, smiled slyly. She felt the eyes on her, the moment's importance settling in. With composed grace, she stepped forward, allowing the questions to swirl around her but not answering directly. It was clear she was in control now.

She had done it. She had created the buzz she had been aiming for, carefully setting the stage for this very moment, and now the headlines would write themselves. The rumors would no longer be mere whispers; they were about to become reality.

Tyson glanced at Alex, both caught in the whirlwind, while Seraphina's smile grew more confident. She had just made her move, and there was no turning back now.

"Alright, guys, let's go. It's time for Dad's announcement," Seraphina said as the three guards lined up behind her.

--

"Thank you, General, for coming here at my request," Mr. Leslie Kyle, the leader of the opposition party, said with a smile, giving Edward a side hug in front of the reporters.

"You invited me, so it's only natural I'd come," Edward replied, his smile calm yet guarded. Mr. Kyle ushered him into the building, where their party was gathering for an announcement about their candidate for the upcoming election.

The office building was distant from the ruling party's headquarters, yet it stood with the same grace and wealth as any others nearby, reflecting their quiet affluence. They made no apparent effort to promote themselves, yet their presence was unmistakable.

Edward sent his sons to meet their friend while he came alone. He had no intention of allowing anyone to think he was using his position and influence as a General to interfere in civilian politics. This was about preserving the appearance of neutrality in a delicate political game.

However, now that his son was engaged to the President's daughter, he knew the opposition might feel slighted. Edward had decided to address the situation himself while his sons concentrated on their responsibilities alongside Seraphina.

"I didn't think you would ever arrive, especially now that you and Edmund are family," Kyle said with a smile as he guided Edward inside.

"I hate politics. That's why I'm here with you," Edward said, greeting other party members along the way.

"Thank you for that," Mr. Kyle said sincerely. "I hope the General maintains his neutrality moving forward."

"Yeah, of course," Edward answered casually.

"So, how's the operation going?" Kyle asked as they walked through the lobby. "I heard you sent many of our personnel on this operation."

"Yeah, they really needed our support," Edward replied thoughtfully. "The rogue issue is getting out of control in their city."

"I heard about that. But don't you think our policies play a role too?" Kyle paused. "Why not eliminate the rogues immediately instead of just arresting them?"

"They have rights, Leslie, and you know it. We can't just do whatever we want," Edward glanced at him, his tone sharp. "And you damn politicians always know how to twist words to benefit yourselves. Who knows? In the next moment, you'll blame us for it."

"I won't blame you, Edward," Kyle said with a knowing smile. "But I'm unsure about the people; they act according to what they believe is right."

"Hey, General! Long time no see!" a man greeted Edward, smiling like old friends. Meanwhile, Kyle paused momentarily, pulled out his phone, and quickly sent a message: 'He's here, your turn.'

The message flickered on the screen, seen but never replied to. Kyle stared at his phone for a moment, silently waiting to confirm if Coco had read it. Damn rogues, he thought. Just wait until I become president. Then I'll show you how to finish the job properly. There won't be any mercy for the likes of you.

His gaze returned to Edward, who was engrossed in conversation with a man, then shifted down to the gathered crowd, eager to hear what the opposition had to say. Kyle's eyes roamed over the ground, scanning the faces. Not until his attention was drawn to a solitary figure standing apart from the crowd did something catch his eye.

The man was watching something on his phone, and as Kyle followed the stranger's gaze, his eyes landed on a van parked in the lot outside. A chill ran through him—That van. It's the same one Coco used when he came to meet me at the coffee shop.

Instinct kicked in. Something was wrong. Kyle's breath caught in his throat just as the van erupted in a deafening explosion, shaking the building and sending shockwaves.