Chapter 24: Explosion

Tyson adjusted the rubber suit beneath his formal bodyguard attire, grimacing as he studied his reflection in the lobby of the presidential headquarters.The building was a marvel—its exterior walls were made almost entirely of glass, save for the concrete grounds supporting each floor. They stood on the fifth floor, with the hustle and bustle of the crowd below, all assembled for the president's big announcement.

"Is all this really necessary?" Tyson grumbled, already feeling the heat building under the layers of his uniform.

Alex, mirroring Tyson's discomfort, glanced at him. "Wrong question. The right one is, why are we even here?"

Tyson raised an eyebrow. "We're here to protect your future wife."

Alex rolled his eyes. "Please. There are plenty of Rangers around, and even Captain Barnes is here."

As if on cue, Captain Barnes—Edward's subordinate and the Ranger with a power score of 51—walked past them. His uniform was crisp, and his short, slightly graying hair resembled Edward's, though he was smaller in stature.

He strolled up to Tyson and Alex, a younger man following closely behind, looking somewhat overwhelmed by everything around him, including the presence of the two Rogers sons.

"Guys, meet Shaun," Captain Barnes announced, giving Tyson a friendly pat on the back. "He's recently joined us. He's under your care now."

Tyson glanced at Shaun, noting the bewildered look on the new guy's face. Captain Barnes smirked. "And try not to bully him too much, Alex."

With that, the captain turned and walked off, leaving the them with their new responsibilities.



Alex glanced at Shaun, then at Tyson, muttering under his breath, "This is too much."

"My name is Shaun Carter. I'm at seven power points," Shaun declared, his voice a little too loud. "Reporting for duty, Sergeants!"

"We're not officially sergeants yet, we're trainees," Tyson replied, frowning. "And stop shouting. Calm down."

"But aren't you more than qualified to be sergeants?" Shaun asked, his voice still loud with confusion. "You need at least fifteen points to be a sergeant, thirty for a lieutenant, and forty-five for a captain..."

Tyson watched the new recruit, noticing how lost he seemed in his own world.

"Why are you guys still trainees if you've met the criteria?" Shaun asked, clearly puzzled.

"Because he's lazy," Alex answered casually, pointing at Tyson. "And I'm too handsome to be just a sergeant."

"Huh, speak for yourself," Tyson muttered, rolling his eyes. "I prefer to focus on studying."

"Stop fooling around. You go there to sleep," Alex corrected with a grin.

"Oh yeah? Is that why you just started attending school?" Tyson smirked, locking eyes with Alex as if they were ready to leap at each other and fight right there in the lobby.

"I'm there to keep an eye on you," Alex shot back, stepping closer.

Tyson smirked again, mirroring Alex's stance. But before things could escalate, Shaun stepped between them, trying to defuse the situation.

"Guys, there are a lot of people around," Shaun said nervously. "What if the captain sees us being rebellious? Or worse, what if the General sees us fighting?"

"He's not around," Seraphina chimed in, stepping into the conversation smoothly. "He went to the opposition's side. What a great way to balance things out."

"Oh my God, it's the president's daughter!" Shaun shouted, his voice rising once again. "I'm Shaun, and I'm at seven power-"

Alex immediately shoved him aside, cutting him off. "Where were you? And when will this all be over?"

"I was talking with my father's colleagues," she replied, her voice calm, "But who's this new guy? Is he your subordinate?"

"I'M SHUAN and I—"

"Stop being loud," Tyson interrupted, frowning. "We heard you the first time. Just stop telling us, okay?"

"Okay, Sergeant," Shaun mumbled, backing off reluctantly.



Alex rolled his eyes, clearly annoyed.

Alex hesitated for a moment, then reached out, trying to take Seraphina's hand. As he got halfway, she sensed his intent and took his hand willingly, stepping closer to whisper something in his ear.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted in the lobby. The sound of reporters chattering and camera shutters clicking filled the air as the buzz grew louder. It didn't take long before a flash of realization spread across the room—whispers of speculation, rumors they'd been chasing for weeks, finally began to take shape.

"It's true!" one reporter shouted excitedly, her camera flashing repeatedly.

More reporters quickly swarmed in, eager to capture the moment, their voices overlapping in disbelief.

"Are they engaged? This is the first time we've seen them like this!" another reporter asked, stepping forward with a microphone.

The questions came fast and furiously, each one more pressing than the last.

"Is the president's daughter involved with Alex Roger? So it's true that they are engaged" someone else demanded.

Seraphina, unfazed, smiled slyly. She could feel the eyes on her, the weight of the moment settling in. With a composed grace, she stepped forward, letting the questions fly around her, but not answering directly. It was clear she was in control now.

She'd done it. She'd created the buzz she'd been aiming for, carefully setting the stage for this very moment, and now the headlines would write themselves. The rumors would no longer be rumors. They were about to become reality.

Tyson glanced at Alex, both of them caught in the whirlwind, while Seraphina's smile only grew more assured. She had just made her move, and there was no turning back now.

"Guys, let's go. It's time for Father's announcement," Seraphina said, as the three guards fell in line behind her.

--

"Thank you, General, for coming here at my request," Mr. Leslie Kyle, the leader of the opposition party, said with a smile, offering Edward a side hug in front of the reporters.

"You invited me, so it's only natural I'd come," Edward replied, his smile calm but reserved. Mr. Kyle led him inside the building, where their party was assembling for an announcement of their candidate for the upcoming election.

The office building was far from the ruling party's headquarters, yet it stood with the same grace and wealth as any of the others around it, reflecting their quiet affluence. They made no obvious effort to promote themselves, yet their presence was undeniable.

Edward had sent his sons to meet with their friend while he came on his own. He had no intention of letting anyone think he was using his position and influence as a General to meddle in civilian politics. This was about maintaining the appearance of neutrality in a delicate political game.

However, now that his son was engaged to the President's daughter, he knew the opposition might feel wronged. Edward had decided to clear the air himself, while his sons would focus on their duties alongside Seraphina.

"I thought you might never come, now that you and Edmund are relatives," Kyle said with a smile as he led Edward inside.

"I hate politics. That's why I'm here with you," Edward replied, greeting other party members along the way.



"Thank you for that," Mr. Kyle said, his tone sincere. "I hope the General will continue to keep his neutrality in the future."

"Yeah, of course," Edward answered casually.

"So, how's the operation going?" Kyle asked as they strolled through the lobby. "I heard you sent quite a few of our personnel on this operation."

"Yeah, they needed our support," Edward replied thoughtfully. "The rogue problem is getting out of hand in their city."

"Yeah, I heard about that. But don't you think it's also because of our policies?" Kyle paused. "Why don't we just kill the rogues on the spot instead of arresting them?"

"They have rights, Leslie, and you know it. We can't just do whatever we want," Edward glanced at him, his tone sharp. "And you damn politicians always know how to spin words for yourselves. Who knows? Next second, you'll blame us for it."

"I won't blame you, Edward," Kyle said with a knowing smile. "But I'm not sure about the people, they do what they think is right"

"Hey, General! Long time no see!" a man greeted Edward, clasping him on the back like old friends. Meanwhile, Kyle paused for a second, pulling out his phone and quickly sending a message: 'He's here your turn.'

The message flickered on the screen, seen but never replied. Kyle stared at his phone for a moment, silently waiting to confirm if Coco had read it. Damn rogues, he thought, Just wait till I become president. Then I'll show you how to finish the job properly. There won't be any mercy for the likes of you.

His gaze shifted back to Edward, who was deep in conversation with a man, then down to the gathered crowd, eager to hear what the opposition had to say. Kyle's eyes wandered across the ground, scanning the faces. It wasn't until his attention was drawn to a lone figure standing apart from the crowd that something caught his eye.

The man was watching something on his phone, and as Kyle's eyes followed the stranger's gaze, they landed on a van parked in the lot outside. A chill ran through him—That van. It's the same one Coco used when he came to meet me at the coffee shop.

Instinct kicked in. Something was wrong. Kyle's breath caught in his throat just as the van erupted in a deafening explosion, the blast shaking the building and sending shockwaves through the air.