153 INTERRUPTED IN BED
Faschae stared at the gruesome trophies, his hands trembling as he ran them over his face. "I didn't think you'd actually... I mean, maybe you might cause a broken limb or two, but taking their heads—," He trailed off, shaking his head in disbelief.
Leo smirked. "The heads are yours now. You figure out how to deal with them."
The dean's sly demeanor crumbled into panic. "How can I deal with these? If anyone finds out what we plotted—what I plotted—it'll ruin me!"
Leo leaned back in his chair, his tone unyielding. "This was your mission. I've already completed it. The rest is on you."
Faschae wrung his hands, pacing the room. "What do we do now? Nobody can know about this."
Leo's eyes glinted with a spark of amusement. "Do you have connections with the city guard?"
The dean paused, narrowing his eyes. "I do, but there's no way they'd cover for something like this."
"They won't need to. You'll direct the blame elsewhere. I'll help you find a convenient scapegoat."
Faschae hesitated, then nodded slowly, desperation taking over. "Fine. I'll handle it. I'll do whatever you ask. Just make sure this doesn't come back to haunt me..us."
-----
[At Court la Mood]
Leo and Yun-Yun returned to Court la Mood, this time with Petunia accompanying them. To their surprise, the place was unusually quiet. The bustling energy of the brothel, with its maids, courtesans and workers, was conspicuously absent.
Leo flagged down a passing guard. "What's going on here? Where is everyone?"
"I wouldn't know. I'm new here," the guard stammered before hurrying away.
Leo frowned. "Something's off."
"We should find Grangya and ask her," Yun-Yun suggested.
They made their way toward Grangya's office, but before they arrived, a maid rushed up to them. "Madam Grangya is waiting for you in the main hall."
Exchanging a curious glance, the trio followed her.
As Leo pushed open the doors to the hall, a loud bang startled them. Instinctively, they braced for an attack—only to realize the sound came from balloons popping.
The lights flicked on, revealing a festively decorated hall. A massive banner hung above the dining table, its bold letters reading: WELCOME HOME SAFE.
Leo stood frozen in surprise as cheers erupted.
"Surprise!" Bara called out, her face lighting up with a wide smile—though her gaze quickly shifted to Petunia, and she darted away without another word pestering her.
"Welcome home safe," Grangya greeted warmly, stepping forward.
Yun-Yun grasped Grangya's hands, gratitude evident in her eyes.
Leo nodded, his voice softer than usual. "Thank you. You didn't have to do this."
Before leaving for the ruins of Sodom, Leo had harbored doubts about Grangya's loyalty, even testing her by entrusting her with control over his dungeon. Now, standing amid the celebration she had prepared, he felt a twinge of guilt for ever suspecting her.
Grangya smiled knowingly. "You're back, and you're safe. That's all that matters."
"So, what happened in the ruins of Sodom?" she asked.
"A lot," Yun-Yun said, steering Grangya aside to recount their harrowing journey.
Just then, Kasshyek and Grammers approached, saluting Leo.
"Welcome home, boss!"
"How's the family business?" Leo asked.
"Better than ever," Kasshyek replied. "And the old master is back—he should be here soon."
"That's great news." Leo turned to Grammers. "And you—how has your magic improved so much?"
Grammers scratched the back of his neck, looking sheepish. "Well, uh—"
"He volunteered to be my test subject," Megane interjected, appearing suddenly. "I've developed a new formula that accelerates magic growth."
"Really?" Leo's eyebrows rose in interest. "Something like that exists?"
"We'll talk business later," Megane said, dismissively waving a hand. "For now, enjoy the party." She grabbed Grammers by the arm and began pulling him away.
"Where are they off to?" Leo asked, watching them leave.
"Probably looking for a room," Kasshyek said with a sly grin. "For more of Megane's 'human trials.'"
"Right," Leo said with a chuckle, clapping Kasshyek on the back.
The party was a welcome reprieve.
Time seemed to slip away as Leo and his companions reveled in the moment. Though it had only been a month since they had ventured into the ruins of Sodom, the weight of that harrowing journey made it feel like a lifetime ago.
Letcha suddenly entered the room, carrying human-sized boxes with an air of theatrical excitement. He placed Leo on a chair and secured him with ropes, making it feel like a playful prank.
"There's no proper welcome without presents," Letcha declared with a mischievous grin.
"You…" Leo said, pointing at the Kappa in mock annoyance, his lips curling into an amused smirk.
Before Leo could say more, the boxes swung open, revealing stunning women clad in delicate lingerie. They stepped out gracefully, their tall, slim figures and porcelain skin exuding an almost ethereal beauty.
These were the newest courtesans from the brothel—Letcha's so-called "presents."
"What is this?" Leo asked, a mix of curiosity and surprise in his tone.
"They're your gifts for tonight," Letcha said, a proud glint in his eyes. "The finest of the finest. Enjoy."
The women moved toward Leo with seductive grace, their hands tracing the outline of his body. Their scant clothing slipped off with practiced ease, leaving almost nothing to the imagination. Leo felt a rush of heat as their soft touches and alluring presence stirred something primal within him- lust.
From across the room, Yun-Yun watched with a satisfied smile. "An excellent choice, Letcha. He deserves this."
"Perfect timing," Leo said with a grin. "I've got a lot of lust that needs replenishing."
Petunia chimed in, a sly smile on her face. "And I've got envy that needs refilling, too."
"It's a win-win," Yun-Yun added, laughing lightly as she clinked glasses with Letcha.
As the women pressed themselves against Leo, laughter and cheers filled the room. But the celebration came to an abrupt halt when the doors swung open.
A group of people entered, led by none other than Lillye, Lilleo Gullee's father, flanked by a few unfamiliar faces.
"Hi, Father," Leo greeted casually, completely unashamed of the scene.