Chapter 227: Duty Or Not [BONUS]

The armored SUV rolled down the private ramp into the subterranean garage of Imperial Meridian Tower just after five o’clock. Evren steered the vehicle into the secure executive bay, shutting off the engine with a quiet hum.

Amber and Zephyra stepped out onto the polished concrete, stretching their shoulders after the long drive from District Four. Evren tapped the call button for the private express elevator and turned to them with a calm smile.

"You two head up to the penthouse first," Evren said. "I’m going to stop by the seventy-sixth floor to check in with Walter."

Amber nodded, gathering her twin sabers from the back seat while Zephyra stepped into the lift with her. The elevator carried them up toward floor seventy-eight, leaving Evren to take the next car up to seventy-six.

The seventy-sixth and seventy-seventh floors served as the private living quarters and security suites for Walter and his fifty men.

When the doors slid open, Evren stepped into the central security lounge, where Walter sat at a wide desk reviewing camera feeds across a row of wall monitors.

"Chairman," Walter greeted, standing up with a respectful nod as Evren walked in. "Everything is quiet around the perimeter. The automated surveillance sweeps every ten minutes across all eighty floors, and the ground gates are locked down."

"Good work, Walter," Evren said, walking up to the edge of the tactical console. "You and your fifty men have been on continuous alert ever since we moved into the tower."

Walter smiled faintly, rubbing the back of his weathered neck. "It’s our duty, sir. The men don’t mind the overtime, especially with the facilities here."

"Duty or not, you all need rest," Evren replied, pulling his phone from his coat pocket. "I want you all to take five days off. Head back to your home town and spend some time with your families."

Walter blinked, staring at him in disbelief. "All fifty of us, sir? What about the building’s defensive perimeter?"

"We’ll keep the automated defensive grids active, and the Provost patrol cruisers are circling District One on regular rotations," Evren explained calmly. "Besides, if anyone tries to breach this place while we’re home, they won’t make it past the lobby."

Evren tapped his phone screen, authorizing an immediate wire transfer. "I just transferred five million dollars to your guild’s account. That’s one hundred thousand dollars for each of the fifty men as a family bonus."

Walter looked down at the notification buzzing on his wrist tablet, his eyes widening in pure shock. One hundred thousand dollars was more than a seasoned hunter earned from two entire years of dangerous rift raids.

"Sir... this is far too much," Walter stammered, looking up with genuine emotion in his eyes.

"You are a guild, Walter, yet you all risk your lives to protect mine," Evren said with a warm smile. "Take the money, buy your families something nice, and get some rest. That’s an order."

Walter stood straight and placed a fist over his chest. "Thank you, Chairman. I’ll have the squads pack their gear and catch the express train tomorrow morning."

After leaving the security suites, Evren rode the elevator up toward the Sky-Palace. During the ride, he opened his banking terminal to settle the remaining logistics expenses from the afternoon.

The capital’s engineering department had forwarded an invoice for the emergency repairs at Junction Nine. The bill for the two heavy military wreckers, debris disposal, and rapid asphalt resurfacing came out to five hundred thousand dollars.

Evren approved the wire transfer with a press of his thumb, clearing the balance instantly. He brought up his account ledger to track his recent spending.

Between the five million dollars paid to Boreal Chemical Synthesis, five hundred thousand for road repairs, and five million wired to Walter’s strike force, he had spent ten million five hundred thousand dollars in cash over the last three hours.

He checked the live balance on his Apex Sovereign Black Card, watching the figures refresh on the screen:

[APEX SOVEREIGN BLACK CARD: LEVEL-ZERO CLEARANCE]

[CURRENT LIQUID BALANCE: $16,262,043,992.00 USD]

Because these were factory supplies, municipal infrastructure, and security bonuses, the system generated zero rebate. Evren didn’t mind in the slightest; sixteen billion dollars in liquid cash was more than enough to handle everyday operational costs.

The elevator doors chimed softly and slid open, revealing the bright living pavilion of the penthouse. Soft evening light through the high glass bathed the marble floors in a warm golden glow.

Calista sat on the wide sofa by the floor-to-ceiling glass wall, dressed in an oversized cream-colored sweater and soft grey trousers. A pair of reading glasses rested on her nose as she checked through a folder of production logs.

Hearing footsteps, she looked up and set the paperwork on the low wooden table. A tired but radiant smile spread across her face.

"You’re back," Calista said, sliding her glasses up into her dark hair. "Raymond called me an hour ago to say Keller’s men delivered three solvent tanks to the loading dock."

"There is more on the way," Evren said, walking over and taking a seat beside her. "Two full tankers carrying ten thousand liters will arrive at the complex before eight o’clock."

Calista stared at him, her lips parting in astonishment. "Ten thousand liters? How did you manage to get that much on three hours’ notice?"

"A quick visit to District Four," Evren answered with a relaxed grin. He glanced at Amber and Zephyra, who had set their weapons on the side console, then turned back to Calista.

"None of that matters right now," Evren said, leaning back against the soft cushions. "Do you girls have the strength for an outing tonight?"

Calista blinked, looking down at her casual clothes in surprise. "An outing? Tonight?"

"Yes," Evren said, looking at the three of them with a warm gaze. "We’ve spent the entire week dealing with corporate licenses, factories, mercenaries, and corrupt officials. I want us to go out, eat some good food, and not speak a single word about business."

Amber’s golden eyes lit up instantly. "I’m definitely hungry. Testing those new sabers on the highway worked up quite an appetite."

Zephyra stepped out from the corridor shadows, a faint smirk touching her pale lips. "Good food sounds much better than listening to chemical supply reports all evening."

Calista looked between the three of them, a faint blush warming her cheeks. Evren had taken her out to The Celestial Spire shortly after he’d rescued her, but she had been in her anti-gravity wheelchair then, self-conscious under the curious stares of strangers.

Tonight was completely different.

For the first time in three years, she wouldn’t be lifted from a car seat or wheeled across a dining room; she would walk in on her own two feet.

The simple thought of walking freely into a restaurant made her heart beat with quiet excitement.

"I’d love to go," Calista said softly, her hand gently resting on Evren’s forearm. "Just give me twenty minutes to change into something suitable."