UNDER HIS RULES

Half an hour before the attack.

Beatrice had just finished her lunch with Ute. They sat together in the office space that Beatrice had once entered. Many screens monitored vehicle movements and locations that were set to be observed. Ute said that all of this helped Sam move and strategize.

“I didn’t expect Ute to be able to operate all of this,” Beatrice said, filled with admiration. She thought that being left by Sam would be boring. Plus, the arrival of two people who refused to leave even when kicked out. They said those two were Alfred Quassano’s messengers. Beatrice didn’t want to know too much about why these people were around her. She was actually curious, but her focus now was on Sam and his plans.

“Well… I learned slowly,” Ute laughed. “I made a lot of mistakes at first too.”

Beatrice smiled widely. Her eyes were now filled with the image of Sam, who had just gotten out of his Jeep. Despite wearing all black clothing, holding a cigar in his hand, and having a fierce look on his face, that man had a special place in Beatrice’s heart. The muscles visible beneath his clothes were tempting. However, she could only admire him through the screen. Unfortunately, she couldn’t borrow Ute’s communication device just to compliment Sam’s appearance.

His face looked much more serious. There was an expression of discontent and anger that couldn’t be easily suppressed. Even when Sam gave orders that Beatrice couldn’t hear, from his demeanor, no one dared to oppose whatever Sam instructed.

Impressed, Beatrice ended up supporting her face with both hands. Her eyes were fixed on Sam, who continued to give directions. He also had a selected weapon in his hand.

“So, you’ve made up your mind, huh?” Ute asked, causing Beatrice to startle. Embarrassment suddenly engulfed the girl, and a warm sensation spread across her face.

“Oh, why do you say that?” Ute laughed. “Since the beginning, when you were attracted to Big Sam, I knew that he wouldn’t be able to turn away from you. You both fell in love, Beatrice.”

“Really?” Beatrice asked.

“Your face is so red. No wonder Samuel is infatuated with you.” Ute still didn’t stop laughing. It turned out teasing Beatrice was enjoyable.

“Oh, not like that, Ute.” Beatrice quickly cupped her face, hoping that the short-haired woman wouldn’t tease her any further. At the same time, whether intentional or not, Sam’s gaze was fixed on the surveillance camera in the underground weapons storage of Flown.

It was as if Sam’s gaze was intentionally directed at Beatrice.

Beatrice noticed it, including when Sam softened his expression that initially seemed fierce. There was a gentle side that Beatrice knew Sam possessed. She could feel it and believe that the gentleness was not just a facade. Even a faint smile from Sam was given there.

Then, Hugo arrived and patted the ruler’s shoulder. Sam’s gaze on the CCTV abruptly ended, as if he knew that Beatrice was looking at him from another location. One by one, the vehicles exited the headquarters, filled with various weapons needed. It was a sign that Beatrice had to suppress her ego and ask Sam to come back soon.

“I hate traitors the most, Bella,” he said, with emphasis in his tone. “Especially when they plan something so despicable.” Sam’s large hand clenched tightly, a sign that the owner was burning with high emotions. “I’ll deal with Bella quickly. I’ll also settle things with Gerald for daring to mess with Flown. That place is my pride, Bella.”

What could Beatrice do other than remain silent? Her mind was busy digesting every word Sam spoke, sitting next to her.

“I won’t be long. I’ll be back soon to the place I can now consider… home.”

The conversation suddenly ran through Beatrice’s mind. Unconsciously, a shy smile crept onto her face. What did he say? Home? Ah… Sam’s words from earlier were so sweet.

“Different people falling in love, huh,” Ute joked uncontrollably, making Beatrice even more embarrassed.

“I’ll get some drinks. Do you want soda?” Ute offered.

“Sure.”

“If there’s a call, just pick it up. It’s usually Anne giving updates on the latest situation.”

Beatrice nodded immediately. She let the person leave her side. In the room where everything was monitored on a large screen hanging in the middle, Beatrice sat back comfortably. The atmosphere in the headquarters felt familiar, just like the last time she remembered, though Sam’s subordinates were bustling around with their weapons.

A beeping sound on the screen, which previously didn’t catch Beatrice’s attention, made her pay attention. There was something strange on the screen. It initially showed the surroundings of the headquarters, where she now lived. From various angles, including the main gate where many of Sam’s subordinates were stationed.

Once again, the beeping sound resurfaced, this time accompanied by a red color surrounding the four-story building predominantly white. Something was swiftly approaching the headquarters. Beatrice’s eyes widened in disbelief at what she was seeing.

She was so disbelieving that her body suddenly froze.

The third beep, the sound from outside echoed in unison. Most of them were urging for shelter and shouting names that she didn’t quite recognize. Whether everything was moving too slow or too fast, what she realized was that she was knocked down by someone.

That happened after she heard the loud slamming of a door.

“Take cover!”

That was the only shout Beatrice could hear. The rest was a shrill noise that was incredibly painful to her ears, accompanied by strong impacts hitting her. She was thrown and pushed backward. The table she had been leaning on split apart. The window glass surrounding the room where Beatrice had been sitting and monitoring with Ute shattered. Shards of glass scattered around Beatrice’s body. Fortunately, she was tightly surrounded.

“Ute?” Beatrice asked as she regained some consciousness. She still felt pain on her right side. She felt her shoulder hit something but didn’t know what. The incident happened so quickly. Now she felt the pain and a ringing in her ears that wouldn’t disappear.

“Beatrice?”

She faintly heard Ute’s voice. Her vision was slightly blurred due to the thick smoke around her. What exactly was happening? She murmured to herself. What she felt was that she slowly held her head, hoping the dizziness and ringing that bothered her would disappear soon.

“Beatrice?”

She shook her head slowly to alleviate the dizziness that struck her. Though faint, she began to hear the shouts around her, including small explosions accompanied by consecutive gunshots. Unsurprisingly, she felt her body being forcibly dragged down. The table she had glimpsed was now split in two, and they used it as cover.

The only thing she felt now… warm liquid suddenly wetting her hands.

“Ute?” Beatrice stared in disbelief at the figure with a wide laceration on her arm. Perhaps the scattered shards of glass had hit the arm that shielded her. “Ute?”

“Keep your head down, Beatrice. We’re under attack.”

Beatrice’s heart no longer beat calmly. Ah… ever since she felt the shrill noise and the pounding sounds around her, she couldn’t feel normal anymore. Her heart pumped so forcefully due to this suddenly tense and terrifying situation.

“Attack?” Beatrice repeated to make sure she didn’t misinterpret the woman’s words next to her. She saw Ute’s hand feeling her pants pocket. The face that had left Beatrice with teasing jokes now turned panicked and tense.

“I’m safe, Beatrice, and so are you.”

Beatrice listened attentively, but her gaze couldn’t stop staring at the gaping wound. It was horrifying, but Beatrice had to act quickly, right? Her intention to simply find cloth to cover the wound was prevented by Ute.

“Let’s get out of here.”

Though trembling, Beatrice had to get out of this situation. There were cries of pain and small explosions followed by them. They walked cautiously, and Ute’s eyes were more alert. Nothing was impossible. After the airstrike was launched on this headquarters, there could be a subsequent attack that could leave them motionless.

Once they exited the room, two people whom Beatrice knew, the guards who were never far from her, lay lifeless in pools of blood. Beatrice screamed in fear, but Ute immediately silenced her to avoid making any noise. Beatrice could only nod obediently, although her steps were increasingly shaky.

The atmosphere in the dining room was completely destroyed, with fire raging in several spots. Some survivors immediately tried to extinguish the flames, while others lay helpless. Beatrice recognized some of them, but there were also unfamiliar faces.

The billowing smoke and the scent of burning flesh made the girl nauseous. But Ute’s grip on her hand kept her steady.

“Ute, are you okay?” asked Yongki. He and Ompong had been in disguise to monitor two individuals in black uniforms who were supposedly assigned to guard Beatrice. The latest information that quickly became hot gossip a few hours ago was immediately acknowledged as an undisputed order by anyone in this headquarters, including Yongki.

Besides Beatrice, who had been designated as the priority for protection, along with all of Sam’s subordinates, the girl in front of them was Alfred Quassano’s granddaughter. Hugo had requested all of Sam’s subordinates to double their surveillance on Beatrice.

They couldn’t let the girl get hurt.

“Beatrice, are you okay?” Yongki was genuinely worried, remembering Hugo’s orders before most of them followed their leader to District Savannah.

“I’m fine. And you?” Beatrice asked, her gaze unfocused on her interlocutor. Her eyes wandered, observing the chaotic surroundings.

“I’m okay, but… Ompong.”

Beatrice widened her eyes. Suddenly, they filled with tears, especially when she saw Yongki bowing with sorrow. The corners of his eyes were wet, Beatrice knew. She noticed the tears that the man was trying to hide. Which meant that Ompong didn’t survive this attack.

Sadness rained down on Beatrice. Slowly, she approached the still bowing figure. She gently patted Yongki’s shoulder as a gesture of care.

“Who else was a victim, Yongki?” Ute asked softly. She also felt the sudden loss.

“I haven’t checked yet, Ute. I rushed to find you.”

Ute understood why Yongki did that. “Beatrice and I are safe, and nothing is missing. We have to leave the headquarters quickly. Who knows, there might be a second attack.”

Yongki fell silent. “I’ll gather the others first. If we leave the headquarters, it means we’re cowards. Even in the face of an attack like this, we won’t be defeated. We’ll prepare for a counterattack.”

Ute agreed with Yongki’s opinion. This partially destroyed home held many memories. The joyful cheers that Ute used to hear suddenly turned into cries and mournful sobbing. She couldn’t let it continue, but her orders were clear: protect Beatrice.

“Both you and Kak Beatrice need to leave this place immediately. I’ll prepare what you need.”

“I’ve contacted Anne. Flown didn’t get attacked, but it doesn’t mean we should lower our guard there, right?”

Yongki thought quickly. “Who’s there?”

“Some of the subordinates who usually take care of the house are there. I think they already know that the headquarters has been attacked.”

“What do you think, Ute, should we evacuate the headquarters?” Yongki asked.

Feeling like no one else was speaking, but the situation still compelled Beatrice to think quickly and concisely.

“Gather the survivors and head to Flown with the available vehicles. Bring weapons for protection.”

“Really?” Ute looked at Beatrice with surprise. “You know that one of Sam’s subordinates is coming here, right? We should leave, Beatrice.”

“Leave?” Beatrice smirked. Her chest roared with determination. “At a time like this, I should leave? Save myself, you mean?” Laughter resounded amidst the flames and the painful cries of Sam’s subordinates. Some had already received quick medical attention from their comrades, while others tried not to burden their fellow comrades.

The solidarity among all of them in this headquarters was so strong.

So… Beatrice should just leave?

No way.

“I have no intention of leaving. Flown belongs to Sam.” She clenched her fist tightly. “That bastard destroyed the place I call home. I won’t let him destroy the place Sam cherishes.”

Ute blinked in astonishment. “But it’s dangerous, Beatrice.”Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

“Dangerous?” Beatrice still wore her thin smile. For some reason, Ute’s courage suddenly wavered just by seeing the intense anger burning in Beatrice’s eyes.

“From the beginning, I knew I was heading into danger. So… let’s finish it.”