As Robert tried to move toward Levis, a sharp, challenging voice seized the attention of every person outside the shop.
"What is happening here?!"
Bright Aro, Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, stood with five uniformed police officers. When Levis saw Bright, he immediately rushed to him, grabbing onto his shoulder, trembling with sheer fear.
Robert's eyes went wide.
"I heard the explosions and the gunshots, so I came personally," Bright said to Levis, his voice soft with worry. "Are you alright, Levis?"
Levis could only shake his head, still too afraid to speak.
Bright turned his attention to Robert. "Prince Robert Stuar, what brings you to this district? This isn't where your businesses are located." As he spoke, Bright's eyes landed on the four dead bodies on the floor.
A Robert's bodyguard instantly stepped forward, protecting Robert with a practiced lie. "Sorry, Sir, I thought they were attacking my boss, so I shot them all."
Levis, Nora, and Stofia were horrified. They knew Robert was the killer, but the lie was already being set in stone.
Bright moved to the fifth attacker, who was still alive but injured from Levis's kick. "Is that true?" Bright asked the man.
The injured man, terrified of the Mafia, nodded quickly. "Yes. He saved the Prince."
"Fine," Bright commanded a nearby officer. "Take these bodies to the morgue. And you," he instructed the lying Robert's bodyguard, "hand over the weapon used."
Robert stood still, exuding arrogant power. Levis watched, desperate, knowing that if the police examined the gun, they would find the truth.
The bodyguard handed over a pistol. Levis noted the switch—Robert was too prepared, using a clean, untraceable weapon from his arsenal.
"Prince Robert Stuar," Bright said, a hint of suspicion in his eyes. "Be careful. Don't frame your guards just to protect yourself." He spoke as if he knew the truth, but couldn't prove it.
Robert didn't speak. He simply gave a contemptuous nod and walked elegantly toward his waiting car.
Steven paused at the car door, shooting a long, cold look at Bright—a warning—before getting in. The Stuar convoy sped away.
Only Bright, Levis, Nora, and Stofia remained.
Bright took Levis by the arm and guided him gently toward a stable counter. "Are you alright?" Bright fetched a bottle of water.
Nora and Stofia watched, speechless.
"Don't be afraid of them when I'm here," Bright said, caring for Levis. He looked Levis in the eye. "I know he was the one who shot, wasn't he?"
Stofia started to speak, but Nora quickly stopped her.
"You don't have to tell me," Bright continued, his expression grim. "I know the truth. I've only been in the FBI for a year, but I've learned that the Stuar family is untouchable. They are far too powerful for any local officer. His father is the global Mafia Godfather. His mother is from a powerful royal family. They control politics across the country."
He lowered his voice. "The most important thing? They never kill innocents. They only kill terrorists, smugglers, or their own rivals. That's why no one truly investigates them."
Bright knelt down in front of Levis, his voice earnest. "You don't need to worry. I will ensure he stays away from here. You don't have to be afraid."
Levis gripped Bright's hand. "Bright, please, don't get involved with them! I'm afraid they will hurt you!"
Bright's eyes widened with genuine happiness. He stood up and hugged Levis tightly. "You care about me! You just admitted you care!" He was ecstatic. "Okay, My fiance, your word is my command! I will follow your order, Sir!"
"It's already afternoon. I have to go," Bright said, touching Levis's chin affectionately before saying goodbye to Nora and Stofia and leaving.
Nora and Stofia turned to Levis, the silence thick with the smell of gunpowder and sugar.
"Levis, you have to tell him about the ring!" Stofia urged. "You must tell Bright about the proposal!"
"Stofia, be quiet," Nora warned. "If Levis tells Bright that the Mafia Prince proposed to him, Bright will definitely try to challenge Robert. And if the Stuars find out the Deputy Director is Levis's fiancé, they will use Bright to hurt Levis. We can't put Bright in danger."
"Stofia, listen," Levis said, his voice quiet but firm. "Bright is my friend. We grew up together. I absolutely care about him. Just because I don't love him in a romantic way doesn't mean I don't love him as a friend. That is why I have kept silent until now, and that is why I must continue to keep silent."
Nora and Stofia saw the weight of the impossible decision on Levis's face.
Back at the Stuar mansion, Nova slapped Steven across the face, even harder than Robert had. She snatched the spare pistol that Steven had used as a decoy and fired three furious shots into the marble floor.
"Do you understand the danger?" Nova screamed."My son had to use a decoy gun! What if he had used his own registered weapon? That new Deputy Director would have had the evidence!"
She turned to King Stuar. "Darling, this man is hunting Robert! Should I call my father to exert pressure and dismiss him?"
"Honey, relax," King Stuar said calmly. "As long as Robert maintains the lie and avoids killing anyone truly innocent, no one in power will question us. That Deputy Director is harmless."
"He acts like a noble man, King!" Nova complained.
"He's a young man playing a hero. He'll learn," King Stuar dismissed. "Forget him. I am worried about the attacks. Who sent them?"
"Uncle Lion Stan?" Robert suggested.
"No, that's impossible," King Stuar stated. "Stan's son betrayed us for the Mars Group. After I stripped Stan of his wealth, he can't afford two attacks. This is the Mars Group supporting him for revenge."
Everyone looked shocked by the King's deduction. However, Steven, kneeling and rubbing his stinging cheek, looked up with a shifty, suspicious glint in his eyes.