074. A Rare Joy

Just as Yvette moved toward the elevator, its doors slid open with a sharp hiss. Dmitry, Sergei, Olga, and Litsi stepped out, their faces tight with tension. Yvette barely spared the two OCK members a glance, her steps unwavering. But then her gaze fell on the striking red-haired woman. Her breath hitched, her face draining of color. She staggered back until her legs bumped the edge of the table.
"Ymvith!" she blurted, the words barely above a whisper, but they carried enough weight to shift everyone’s attention toward her.
Andrei's voice cut through the sudden tension like a blade. "What’s going on here?"
Almost at the same moment, Pierre's eyes narrowed on Litsi. "What have you done?" His tone held a sharp edge.
Sergei stepped forward, his voice steady but carrying an undeniable urgency. "Jalu asked us to deliver his message before you act rashly. It will explain everything and ensure your judgment remains clear."
The room fell into an expectant silence, the weight of Sergei’s words pressing down on everyone. Eyes shifted toward him, waiting, tense with anticipation.
“The ymvith, Litsi, has proven her worth by aiding Jalu in securing global mobility for the Indonesian task force,” Sergei revealed, his tone careful, as if measuring each word. “She’s adapted well to human society and should be granted the freedom to live among us. Jalu vouched for her personally. However, since the ymvith originated from France, Jalu requests Mr. Balzac take responsibility for her, and, if possible, arrange a meeting with Mr. Steele of the Shadow Unit. There, they could help manage her biological urges.”
Pierre’s expression shifted from controlled curiosity to outright astonishment. His gaze flicked to Litsi, and countless questions glimmered behind his eyes. But Litsi, who had been unaware of Jalu’s plan, could only return his look, genuine surprise softening her sharp, ethereal features.
"What kind of help did she provide Jalu with?" Pierre asked hesitantly, though his tone suggested he already had a suspicion.
Sergei didn’t flinch. “Jalu commanded Miss Litsi to eliminate the head of the Orekhovskaya, using her true form, while we—and the head of the Eristovskaya—watched through a fingercam.”
A shocked silence filled the room, the gravity of the revelation sinking in. Then, Yvette’s voice sliced through the tension. “He let those criminals witness an interdimensional being?” she spat, her eyes narrowing in disbelief. “A Category One is not something you parade before gangsters! This is reckless!”
“The bratvas are far from ordinary criminals,” Andrei interjected, his voice low, contemplative. “They follow strict codes of honor. And Jalu’s reputation among them isn’t something trivial. He’s respected, feared—even revered. Gaining access to someone like the head of a bratva family is nearly impossible. But demonstrating his power—ordering a Category One to execute a task right in front of them—solidified Jalu’s legend. It instilled a new kind of fear: fear of what he can command and fear of the unknown.”
The weight of Andrei’s words seemed to echo in the stillness, leaving everyone to absorb the implications of what had transpired.
“That little rascal has grown into a mastermind, just like his father,” Pierre remarked, a glint of pride and relief flickering in his eyes. He seemed more at ease knowing that Jalu hadn’t exploited the sexual charm of the ymvith he cared for.
“Bayu did tell me and Andrei that Jalu would turn the bad to good for us when the good turns bad. I just didn’t expect it to happen so fast,” Oswald added, his gaze wandering, deep in thought. “So the route to Indonesia has opened, huh? How do we make contact with those bratvas?”
“Dmitry will act as the middleman,” Sergei responded smoothly. “Jalu said it’s time for him to start behaving like a bratva, instead of clinging to his soldierly mannerisms.”
The room erupted into laughter, except for Dmitry, who smiled sheepishly and lowered his head in modesty. But not everyone shared the amusement—Yvette’s face remained tense, her lips pressed together in clear disapproval.
“We’re not seriously going to cooperate with criminals, are we?” she half-protested, her voice edged with frustration.
“If you’ve got a better way to reach our Indonesian brothers and sisters, I’d be glad to follow your lead,” Andrei said, his tone cool but dismissive, silencing her without raising his voice.
“Let her and the council figure out another solution,” Pierre interjected, his voice light yet decisive. “In the meantime, I’ll follow Jalu’s guidance. And I’ll take this lovely ymvith to the U.S. to meet up with Jason.” He gestured toward Litsi, beckoning her forward.
But Litsi wasn’t paying attention to Pierre. Her gaze was locked onto the vorshk girl, a hint of recognition in her eyes, a memory surfacing. The subtle shift in her body language didn’t escape Andrei’s sharp observation.
“Do you know her?” Andrei asked, his tone calm yet probing, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied Litsi.
“I helped her return here from France,” Litsi answered, her voice quiet but steady. A moment passed before she spoke again. “May I have a word with Nadezhda, Sir?”
Andrei stepped aside, allowing the jasmine-scented woman to stride impatiently toward the vorshk girl. Nadezhda, her face lighting up with relief, moved quickly to meet her halfway. As they embraced, their connection seemed genuine, like two old friends reuniting after a long absence. They exchanged words quietly, their bond drawing the attention of everyone in the room. Their interaction had the simplicity and warmth of ordinary girls, leaving the group in a momentary spell of amazement.
“When are you planning to meet Jason?” Andrei asked, turning to Pierre.
“The sooner, the better,” the big man replied, his voice steady. “I’m heading there directly from here. Why do you ask?”
Andrei’s gaze briefly flickered toward Nadezhda before he spoke. “I plan to take Nadezhda there as well. I believe Shadow Unit’s advanced research and their technology can perfect her human functions.”
Pierre raised an eyebrow, curiosity sparking in his eyes, but after a moment, he nodded. “Jason’s team certainly has the funds and equipment for that. We can go together.”
As Pierre spoke, Olga approached, and Andrei instinctively wrapped his arm around her waist, his touch affectionate and protective. A soft smile crept onto his face as he continued, “I’ll be heading there after officially making this wonderful woman my wife. We’re getting married. And Nadezhda will legally become our daughter.”
“You sly dog!” Pierre laughed as he playfully punched Andrei in the stomach, joy lighting up his face. The punch was light-hearted, but the warmth behind it was clear.
“How many bullets did you put in this man when he proposed, Olga? I’m sure you didn’t accept without a fight, did you?” Oswald joined in, landing his own punch on Andrei’s gut, grinning wide as Olga blushed, unable to suppress her laughter.
Kusuma followed suit, delivering a punch of his own, but before Andrei could react, the elderly man pulled him into a tight embrace. His eyes glistened with a mixture of pride and joy, a rare moment of sentiment from the seasoned operative. “Finally,” Kusuma whispered, his voice thick with emotion, “the knife found its sheath.”