His Devious Rule

Senon looked at the two who were dead serious, uttering no word to his solace.  He again looked at the table to confirm the braille code on the paper was truly Arcane and it was.

Arcane - The global organization of skilled spies is supposed to be a myth. He couldn't believe it was real.

Taking their silence as a response, he opened his mouth but closed it without knowing how to react.

Why would Arcane reach out to Skye of all?

Is Skye in danger?

Do they want to hire Skye?

If Arcane spies are highly skilled, they should know Anya has submitted a fake resignation. Shouldn't they?

Au contraire, they wouldn't care if Anya was doing a job if they wanted to hire her.

"Argh…" Senon grimaced, throwing the laptop aside when numerous questions continued to pop in his head.

He wanted to think Anya's identity revelation was the cause of all the troubles like Alaric De Michele and now Arcane.

Jason reached the President's mansion, to take a look at the suspicious activities in the mansion. He pinched his nose bridge feeling his head throb. 

"Why are they provoking you to reach them?" That was his initial deduction. 

Jason didn't think they would hire an officer who is well known in the country while numerous people were doubting her resignation as fake.

Anya met Jason's gaze, questioning her if she ever provoked the Arcane in any way or by mistake. She knew he wasn't doubting her but trying to solve the situation.

'Click.'

Anya turned to her son who stepped out of the restroom and flashed her a sweet smile. She smiled back, pointing at the dining table where snacks were arranged. 

Zane was smart to read the intensity in the silent air and nodded in acceptance. 

Anya turned back to Jason. With Zane, she would rather give up her whole career or watch hundreds of people die instead of doing something grave to endanger her son.

She believes and wants to believe the Arcane doesn't mean any harm to her. They are trying to reach out to her. But what if Arcane isn't like the rumors said?

Because nobody is certain if Arcane was doing good or gathering forces just for their benefit and to gain power.

What if they are another criminal organization?

Jason rubbed his hand over his face. He felt like he should have expected something like this to happen when he was assigned the mission.

Anya's mission wasn't just related to a few students or the country-related. The criminal organization was scaled to a global level. They are going to notify different countries and alert the administration through Anya's visit. 

So there are chances different organizations have noticed the trouble brewing against the world.

He was concerned about the same as Anya. What if Arcane doesn't stand on its morals?

He wasn't sure if he should encourage Anya to reach out to Arcane to know the reason behind their actions or wait for them to make the move. Both had their advantages and troubles.

Anya wasn't a patriotic person. Yes, she saves people on the job because she gets handsomely paid, and she can protect herself and her son from other dangers. 

True, she helps strangers and is kind to unprivileged people. But her priority is her son and her family. However, he still asked her, "Would you like to join them or get to know them?"

"No." Anya flatly rejected the idea of it. What they knew was, that the spies of the Arcane weren't allowed to have any relationship, neither parents nor a partner. If they have any relationship, then it would be fake for their goal.

Jason stood up and shoved his hands into his pockets. "If you want my opinion, don't make a move yet." Because there could be chances Anya was being provoked against Arcane. 

After all, Arcane could have alerted her in many ways including hacking instead of using a man they could trace or using a paper message.

He glanced at Senon who was closing his mission and didn't have anything on his plate yet, "Keep an eye on that cop." The cop slid the paper into Anya's pocket.

Senon displayed an OK gesture in silent acceptance. 

Jason, who went towards the door, suddenly paused. He turned around and narrowed his eyes at Anya. He obliquely warned her, "Anya, I won't be here in Narnia for three days." To save her from the trouble. 

Anya was rendered speechless at his thought process. She accepts that the challenges of hacking or information gathering entices her. But she wouldn't put herself or others in danger for that.

'Knock, knock.' The knocks on the door cut off her response.

'Click.' Alvin opened the door of the lounge room, looking stunning as ever in his tailored suit.

Jason added as he passed by Alvin, "Notify me of the developments." She wasn't obliged to inform him but he hoped she wouldn't put herself in danger.

Anya heard Jason but pouted looking at her husband who took her breath looking like a charming devil. Slowly it clicked to her, "What are you doing here!? How did you come inside!?"

Senon wasn't expecting Alvin to attend the afterparty. So he collected his laptop and shoved the paper from the coffee table into his pocket, "I will see you in the evening, Skye."

He gave her a sideways hug and wished her, "Congratulations again." 

Anya patted his back, flashing him a soft smile while her husband narrowed his eyes at her. She whispered to avoid Alvin's ears, "Don't worry about me." She meant it concerning Arcane.

Alvin was next to her before they could break free. Senon rolled his eyes at Alvin's actions. He bade the little gentleman and left the room.

Before Alvin could frame his unreasonable words, Anya snapped at the man, "Alvin Matthews, you have no right to look so chic." She looked adorably grumpy.

Zane: "…"

He looked at his father as though his mortal enemy had come to steal his mother and her attention. 

Alvin almost thought Anya was scolding him and smirked, flattered by his wife's compliments. However, he wrapped his hand around his wife and turned to their son.

"Little Donut, the after-party will be crowded and serve alcohol. It's not good for kids. We should send Our Baby back home. Don't you think so?" He stressed Our Baby flashing a smug smile at Zane.

"Huh?" Anya looked at her husband and her son. She was planning to just drop by for five or ten minutes and leave.

Zane was annoyed, hearing Alvin sound worried about sending him away. He got down from the chair and pointed his finger at Alvin. "Chipmunk Monster, you are jealous, aren't you?" 

Anya: "…"

Alvin played the clueless father role, "Little Chipmunk, why will I be jealous of my son?"

Anya had goosebumps hearing Alvin speaking sweetly with Zane.

Zane was baffled by his father's acting. He tugged Anya behind him and revealed his father's secret in a well-composed tone with a mischievous smile. "Chipmunk Monster, you are jealous because Mommy chose me over you."

Anya: "…"

'Why are they fighting like love rivals?'

Alvin's lips twitched uncontrollably. He will never accept even in his dreams that his little enemy was a cent percent accurate. 

His little enemy's smug smile in the car was all needed for him to change his plans. Nevertheless they continued to banter leaving Anya tongue-tied the whole time.