Mandatory Monthly Meeting

Cassian’s gaze settled on me. “Ashley?” He spoke, his voice low and slightly husky, as if he had just woken up. My heartbeat inexplicably quickened as I met his eyes. “Mr. Virex…” He casually gestured toward the sofa opposite him. “Sit.” I moved over cautiously and sat down, back straight, my whole body tense. “Something to drink?” he asked lazily. I waved my hands at once. “N-no, thank you, Mr. Virex.” He didn’t insist. Instead, he shifted into an even more relaxed posture. Those amber eyes fell on me again, studying me. It made me a little uncomfortable. “A drifter on Y-926. No parents. No measurable psychic ability. Survives by scavenging…” With every line he recited, my head lowered a little more. “I’m curious.” His tone shifted, a faint edge slipping in. “How did you end up being chosen by Aegis Prime… as my match?” My heart tightened abruptly. I looked up, eyes filled with confusion. “If even you don’t know, then I definitely don’t…” My voice sounded a bit strained. “That day, I just suddenly received the notification. I… I was really scared at the time…” That same gentle, harmless smile remained on his face. “Scared?” he repeated softly. “So you ran off with the money?” “I didn’t!” My voice rose almost instinctively, like a cat with its tail stepped on. “I didn’t touch a single credit—really!” I rushed to explain. “I didn’t dare… That money doesn’t belong to me.” I held my breath, forcing my eyes to look a little red. “Mr. Virex, I know my status is low… I’m not a match for you…” My voice grew quieter. “The matching system must have made a mistake… C-could you ask Aegis Prime to cancel it?” “I can return all the money! I really never intended to run off with it…” That part was only half true. The money—I truly didn’t dare touch it. The match—I really did want it canceled. His fingertips tapped lightly against the armrest, one beat at a time. Those slightly narrowed, fox-like eyes seemed to be weighing something. My back began to tense. The room fell into a silence that felt almost oppressive. After what felt like a long time, he suddenly let out a soft chuckle. “Cancel the match? Easier said than done.” “Aegis Prime’s decisions—even I can’t overturn them so easily.” As he spoke, he rose slowly and walked to the liquor cabinet. He poured himself a drink but didn’t take a sip, merely holding the glass and swirling it lightly, leaning against the cabinet as he looked at me. There was a faint sense of superiority in his gaze. “As for the money—since Aegis Prime assigned it to you, it’s yours.” “I’m not so petty as to go back on my word over such a trivial amount with a young girl.” A trivial amount? Trillions of Pulse—and in his mouth, it was “trivial.” As expected… the world of the ultra-rich is completely beyond me. That said, his words did let me relax a little. At least for now, it didn’t seem like he intended to do anything to me. I asked carefully, “Then… Mr. Virex, why did you want to see me?” He took a sip of his drink and spoke at an unhurried pace. “Nothing major. It’s just—Aegis Prime suddenly assigned me a fiancée. Naturally, I had to take a look.” His gaze swept over me—from my obviously cheap clothes to the face I was trying so hard to keep composed. Then he said, almost absentmindedly, “Doesn’t look like you’re doing very well. Why not use the money?” I rolled my eyes internally. Not want to use it? I don’t dare to use it. Outwardly, I answered even more earnestly, “That’s… a lot of money. It doesn’t sit right with me…” My voice grew softer. “If it’s not mine, I… I don’t dare touch it…” He continued to study me, still sounding casual. “Since you’re my match, I can’t have you living out there in a place like that.” He set down his glass, returned to the sofa, and looked at me. “You’ll stay here from now on.” “…What?” This time I was genuinely stunned. I looked up at him. Stay here? With him? Wasn’t this moving a little too fast? I had no intention of becoming anyone’s gilded bird. “N-no, that won’t be necessary, Mr. Virex!” I snapped back to myself and refused immediately. “I’m fine where I am… and I’ve already found a way to make money. I can support myself…” “Oh? Make money? By fighting in underground matches?” “That kind of place is chaotic. For a girl like you trying to get by there, it’s not only unsafe—you’re bound to get hurt.” My heart sank. Did he even know about that? In front of him, I really had no such thing as privacy. So exhausting. But I didn’t dare show any displeasure. I could only persist softly, “I’ll be careful… and my friends are there too…” “Friends?” He repeated the word. For some reason, I had the distinct feeling he was displeased. “I—I mean teammates. We fight together,” I added quickly. He looked at me for a moment, then lazily lifted a hand, as if letting it go. “Suit yourself.” I hadn’t even had time to feel relieved before he added, “However—since we’ve found you, there are certain formalities to maintain.” My heart tightened slightly. “During Aegis Prime’s compatibility period, we’ll need to meet regularly each month. Just go through the motions.” I understood. He meant he wouldn’t interfere with me for now—but I’d have to show up on schedule. I lowered my head and answered obediently, “I… I understand, Mr. Virex.” Only then did he seem satisfied. “Have Kade arrange you back. If anything comes up, contact him directly.” I felt the tension leave me almost instantly. “Thank you, Mr. Virex. I’ll take my leave now.” I stood up and walked toward the door at a measured pace—while inside, I was already sprinting. Cassian Mini Scene  The moment Ashley left, I brought up the large display in front of me. Footage of her in the underground arena looped on screen—fierce, sharp, nothing like the girl she’d been in front of me. A flicker of interest stirred. I connected to Kade. “Keep an eye on her. Don’t let her die. As for those two teammates of hers—look into them. If they’re not clean, deal with them.”