Morning sunlight slowly entered the mansion through the massive glass windows.
For the first time in days, the atmosphere felt peaceful.
No alarms.
No gunshots.
No emergency meetings.
But peace in Eagle and Devil's world never lasted long.
Inside the dining room, Aryan sat reviewing international reports while drinking coffee.
Nithya walked downstairs wearing an oversized black hoodie and simple jeans.
Aryan looked up from the tablet for a second.
Then paused.
Nithya noticed immediately.
"What?"
Aryan leaned back slightly.
"You look younger dressed like that."
Nithya raised an eyebrow.
"I am younger."
"Sometimes I forget that."
"That's because you're old."
Aryan stared at her calmly.
"I'm twenty-seven."
"Exactly. Ancient."
For the first time in weeks, Aryan actually laughed softly.
Real laughter.
Not cold amusement.
The servants nearby looked shocked.
They had never seen Eagle laugh openly before.
Nithya noticed their expressions and almost smiled.
Interesting.
So Devil was the only person capable of softening Eagle.
Suddenly Rohan entered the room quickly.
The relaxed atmosphere disappeared instantly.
"Sir."
Aryan's expression turned serious again.
"What happened?"
"The eastern alliance lost three more financial routes overnight."
Nithya calmly sat down beside Aryan.
"And?"
Rohan hesitated slightly.
"They're becoming desperate."
Aryan nodded once.
"Good."
But then Rohan added another sentence.
"There's also movement from the northern syndicate."
The room became silent.
Nithya's eyes sharpened immediately.
Aryan looked colder now.
The northern syndicate was one of the few organizations powerful enough to challenge both Eagle and Devil.
Interesting timing.
"Why are they moving now?" Nithya asked quietly.
Rohan answered carefully.
"They think the underworld balance is unstable."
Aryan closed the report file slowly.
"They think we're distracted."
Nithya leaned back calmly.
"Then let them believe that."
Aryan's eyes moved toward her.
Again.
Same thinking.
Same strategy.
Dangerously compatible.
Later that afternoon, Aryan and Nithya visited one of Eagle's private business towers together.
Officially, it was a legal business meeting.
Unofficially, several underground leaders were secretly attending.
The moment Aryan and Nithya entered the building side by side, everyone in the lobby became silent.
Employees lowered their heads respectfully.
Security guards stood straighter.
Fear followed them naturally.
One worker whispered nervously,
"They look terrifying together."
Another answered softly,
"They look untouchable."
Both statements were true.
Inside the private conference room, powerful businessmen and underground figures waited nervously.
The moment Eagle entered, tension filled the room.
The moment Devil entered beside him…
That tension doubled.
Aryan calmly sat at the head of the table.
Without discussion, the seat beside him remained for Nithya.
Nobody questioned it.
Because everyone understood now.
Devil stood beside Eagle as equal.
Not below him.
Never below him.
A businessman finally spoke carefully.
"The northern syndicate requested negotiations."
Aryan's expression stayed cold.
"Denied."
Another man looked nervous.
"They may start war."
Nithya calmly looked through financial documents.
"They won't."
The room looked toward her immediately.
One older leader hesitated.
"How can you be sure?"
Nithya finally looked up.
"Because the syndicate only attacks weakness."
Her eyes turned colder.
"And right now, the entire world knows Eagle and Devil are united."
Silence followed instantly.
Nobody could argue with that.
After the meeting ended, Aryan and Nithya stood alone near the top-floor glass windows overlooking Seoul.
Aryan looked at her thoughtfully.
"You command rooms naturally."
Nithya crossed her arms lightly.
"So do you."
"Most people fear me."
"And?"
Aryan's lips curved faintly.
"They respect you."
That answer surprised her slightly.
Respect mattered more than fear sometimes.
Interesting.
Suddenly Aryan's phone vibrated.
Rohan.
Aryan answered immediately.
"What?"
Rohan's voice sounded urgent.
"We captured eastern alliance communication again."
Aryan's eyes darkened.
"Speak."
"They're planning to target ma'am directly."
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Deadly cold.
Aryan's jaw tightened slightly.
"Where?"
"We don't know yet."
Nithya stayed calm beside him.
But Aryan noticed the dangerous stillness in her eyes again.
Devil was angry.
Very angry.
Aryan ended the call slowly.
Then he looked directly at her.
"You're staying close to me from now on."
Nithya raised an eyebrow.
"That sounds possessive."
"It is."
Unexpected honesty again.
Aryan stepped closer slightly.
"They failed attacking my mansion."
His voice lowered dangerously.
"They failed attacking your people."
Another step closer.
"So if they think targeting you directly is smart…"
His eyes became ice cold.
"…I'll erase their entire organization."
For one brief second, Nithya simply stared at him silently.
Nobody had ever protected Devil like this before.
Nobody even dared try.
And strangely…
She didn't hate it.
Late that night, inside the eastern alliance headquarters, panic spread rapidly.
Reports kept arriving nonstop.
Lost money.
Destroyed routes.
Missing men.
Fear.
The alliance leader finally slammed his fist against the table furiously.
"This is getting out of control!"
One member whispered nervously,
"Eagle and Devil together are impossible to stop…"
Silence followed.
Because deep down…
Everyone in the room knew that statement was true.