Chapter 97: Welcome to Vacation

"We’re not interested in a garden suite," Evren replied evenly. "We want the Royal Sovereign Peninsula Villa."

Laurent’s polite smile froze, turning into a look of subtle, condescending amusement.

"My apologies, sir, but the Sovereign Villa is not an open rental," Laurent said, smoothing his silk lapels. "The villa occupies the entire private western peninsula... two acres of private beach, three infinity pools, a private dock, and a dedicated staff of thirty."

Laurent leaned forward, lowering his voice.

"It is strictly reserved for Imperial High Council ministers, royal bloodlines, or tier-one guild leaders from the Capital. Furthermore, the weekly charter fee is twenty million dollars in cash. That is generally... far beyond the budget of provincial visitors."

Amber’s brow arched slightly. "Are you implying we cannot afford twenty million dollars?"

"I am merely stating resort policy, madam," Laurent replied smoothly, completely unimpressed. "The reservation terminal requires immediate full authorization. Ordinary provincial bank cards simply decline under such transactions."

Evren didn’t waste his breath arguing.

He reached into his jacket pocket, withdrew the matte-black Apex Sovereign VIP Black Card, and set it flat onto the lapis-lazuli counter.

"Swipe it," Evren said calmly. "Twenty million. Full week buyout."

Laurent looked at the plain black card. It bore no visible numbers, no commercial bank logos... only a subtle golden crest of Apex and an obsidian mana chip.

Laurent gave a quiet, patronizing sigh. "Very well, sir. If you insist on attempting the payment..."

He took the card, inserted the obsidian chip into the resort’s heavy gold-plated transaction terminal, and entered twenty million dollars.

Laurent waited for the familiar red buzz of a declined transaction.

Instead...

CHIME.

The gold terminal flared with a brilliant light. A chime echoed through the entire marble lobby, an audio confirmation code programmed only for Level-Zero unrestricted sovereign accounts.

The digital display on the terminal screen lit up in bold text:

[TRANSACTION APPROVED: $20,000,000.00 USD]

[ACCOUNT TIER: LEVEL-ZERO IMPERIAL SOVEREIGN]

[ISSUING ENTITY: EVREN CRAWFORD - APEX SOVEREIGN CONGLOMERATE]

Laurent’s smirk evaporated in an instant.

All the color drained from his face until he looked like a corpse. His hands trembled so hard that he nearly dropped the terminal, his mouth opening and closing like a suffocating fish.

"Twenty... twenty million dollars..." Laurent stammered. "Approved? Level-Zero?"

Before he could process the shock, the frosted double doors behind the reception desk slammed open.

A stout man in an expensive silver suit practically sprinted into the lobby, his forehead glistening with sweat. It was Gerard, the General Manager of the resort.

"Chairman Evren!" Gerard gasped, skidding to a halt and dropping into a deep, breathless bow. "Chairman Evren Crawford! Welcome to the Grand Azure Sanctuary! My private office terminal sounded the executive alert the moment your Level-Zero clearance processed!"

Gerard straightened up, finally noticing the scene at the counter.

Laurent was standing frozen like a statue, clutching the printed twenty-million-dollar receipt with pale, trembling fingers, looking like a man awaiting an execution.

Gerard’s sharp eyes darted between Laurent’s terrified expression and Evren’s calm, indifferent posture.

Having managed five-star luxury resorts for thirty years, it took Gerard less than two seconds to read the room.

"Laurent," Gerard’s voice dropped into a chilling whisper. "Why are Chairman Evren and his esteemed companions standing at a public reception counter? Why haven’t they been escorted to the private VIP pavilion with chilled champagne and fresh towels?"

"S-Sir..." Laurent choked on his words. "I... I told them the Sovereign Peninsula was... was reserved for Capital delegates..."

Gerard’s face turned a deep shade of red.

"You did what?" Gerard hissed, snatching the receipt and the black card from Laurent’s numb fingers. "The Royal Sovereign Peninsula belongs to whoever commands unrestricted imperial sovereign credit! You insolent fool! Pack your belongings and report to the linen cellar! You are removed from front desk duty permanently!"

Gerard turned back toward Evren, clasping his hands together.

"Chairman Evren, esteemed ladies... please accept my deepest personal apologies for this unforgivable incompetence. The Royal Sovereign Peninsula is completely prepared. Every single amenity, staff member, and private vessel on this coast is at your disposal!"

At that exact second, a chime rang directly inside Evren’s head:

[DING!]

[DETECTED HOST EXPENDITURE ON HEROINES: $20,000,000.00 USD!]

[EXPENDITURE TARGET: PRIVATE ROYAL PENINSULA RESORT BUYOUT & RETREAT VILLA]

[BENEFICIARIES: AMBER STERLING (83% DEVOTION - 200X) & ZEPHYRA NIGHTSHADE (62% DEVOTION - 150X)]

[CALCULATING JOINT HOUSEHOLD RETREAT MULTIPLIER: 150X APPLIED!]

[CONGRATULATIONS! 150X CASH REBATE TRIGGERED!]

[TOTAL REBATE: $3,000,000,000.00 USD (3 BILLION USD) HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED INTO THE SYSTEM SOVEREIGN VAULT!]

[CURRENT SYSTEM VAULT BALANCE: $203,000,000,000.00 USD!]

Evren took his black card back from the counter with an unbothered smile. "Have our luggage taken to the villa, Gerald."

"Right away, Chairman! Immediately!" Gerald bowed three more times, frantically waving for two private electric carts to pull up to the front doors.

Five minutes later, the electric carts brought them across the private suspension bridge onto the Sovereign Peninsula.

The villa was architectural perfection.

The single-story pavilion was built from snow-white limestone and polished wood, perched right on the edge of the sea cliff. It featured large glass walls that slid open, creating an airy living space filled with a warm ocean breeze.

Outside, a multi-tiered sun deck framed a massive infinity pool that seemed to pour straight into the turquoise bay fifty feet below. A private stone staircase wound down through the cliffside to a secluded cove of pure white sand, completely sheltered from public view.

Beside the master bedroom terrace, white steam drifted up from a private geothermal mineral bath fed by undersea volcanic springs.

Amber walked out onto the cedar deck, slipping off her designer sandals.

She walked barefoot across the warm wood, stopping at the edge of the infinity pool. She spread her arms slightly, letting the ocean wind whip her dark hair around her radiant, smiling face.

"It’s breathtaking, Evren," Amber whispered, looking back at him with sparkling eyes. "After everything we’ve fought through this past month... no lawyers, no boardrooms, no enemies. Just the open sea, the sun, and you. It feels like a dream."

Evren stepped up beside her, wrapping an arm gently around her shoulders as they looked out over the endless turquoise water. "It’s not a dream, Amber. Everything you see belongs to us."

Amber leaned into his side, a deep, contented sigh escaping her lips.

On the shaded terrace table nearby, the villa’s butler had already set out a crystal pitcher of chilled tropical fruit nectar alongside tall glasses filled with crushed ice.

Amber glanced back toward the open glass doors of the villa, a fond, knowing smile playing on her lips. "Where did Zephyra slip off to?"

"Knowing her, she’s probably sweeping the rooms for hidden listening devices and sniper angles," Evren chuckled.

He poured a glass of the cold nectar and handed it to Amber. "Go ahead and relax in the sun. I’ll go drag our guardian away from security duty."

"Good luck," Amber smiled, settling comfortably onto a plush poolside lounger with her drink. "Remind her that room service isn’t an enemy strike team."

Evren poured two more glasses, picked them up, and walked back inside through the open glass doors.

He stepped into the master suite, stopping in the doorway.

Zephyra was standing completely frozen beside the giant king-sized bed.

Resting on top of the white linens was a plush, silver-trimmed silk bathrobe that had been laid out by the resort staff.

Zephyra stared down at the robe.

Slowly, carefully, she reached out one gloved hand, peeled the leather glove off her right hand, and touched the silk with her bare fingertip.

She yanked her hand back instantly, as if she had touched a live wire.

Evren watched her wide, conflicted violet eyes, an amused, gentle smile appearing on his face. "It’s not an ambush, Z," he said gently, finally stepping into the room.

Zephyra stiffened, her gaze darting toward him. "It is... too soft. In the training camps, softness was punished. Comfort makes you slow. It ruins your instincts."

Evren held out a glass of cold juice, pressing it into her bare hand.

"You spent ten years fighting for your life in the shadows," Evren said in a calm voice. "And four months in an iron cage being poisoned by beasts. You don’t have to live like an animal in survival mode anymore."

Evren pointed toward the silk robe on the bed.

"Take off the combat leathers. Put on the robe. And let yourself rest."

Zephyra looked at the robe, feeling the cold, sweet glass against her palm. Then she looked up into Evren’s eyes.

"Okay," Zephyra whispered softly, a faint, genuine smile touching the corner of her lips. "I will try."

Evren smiled, taking a sip from his glass and stepping back toward the door. "I’ll be out on the deck with Amber. Take all the time you need."

He slid the terrace door shut to give her privacy.

Three minutes later, the glass door clicked softly and slid open.

Amber turned around from the pool lounger and paused, her eyes widening in delight.

Zephyra stepped out onto the sunlit cedar deck.

The combat leathers, steel-reinforced boots, and tactical harnesses were gone.

She wore the plush, silver-trimmed white silk robe tied neatly around her slender waist, her bare feet touching the warm wood. Her silver-ash hair fell loose past her shoulders, catching the golden ocean light.

Without the armor, she didn’t look like a lethal shadow assassin. She looked like a stunning, young woman.

Zephyra looked down at her bare toes, her cheeks burning crimson under the warm coastal sun.

"Does it... look strange?" Zephyra asked in a small, self-conscious voice, her hands nervously clutching the silk sleeves.

Amber beamed, walking over and gently taking both of her hands. "Strange? Zephyra, you look absolutely gorgeous."

Evren leaned back in his chair with a warm smile, lifting his glass toward her. "Welcome to vacation, Zephyra."