BOOK 3 CHAPTER 24: A BALL?!

Vincent and Jessica went back to their suite and what Four-Eyes did not expect, as soon as he closed the door, Jessica jumped on him and hugged him tight. His back slammed on the door behind him. Jessica was shrieking in joy,

“You’re a genius, Vincent! You truly are!” Jessica celebrated.

Vincent turned red. Not because he is suffocating, but because this is the first time a girl is this close to him. Not to mention the fact that he has a…that adds up to his excitement. Jessica finally let go and just jumped around the room happily.

“If others were to handle this mission, we wouldn’t get this far—”

“We can’t be sure, Jessica. Fast-paced actions tend to have terrible consequences. However, I am just happy that my plans worked out. I didn’t expect us to be that close with the other bosses, and I only ever planned on doing these burning cameras act, but with us being close to them, it just gave me more ideas on how to pull this act off. Now, off to our next ones.” Vincent replied.

Jessica frowned as he is being a boring person. In any case, even though it is still the beginning of something, Jessica insisted on celebrating a little with a little bit of drink. So, Jessica ordered a box of beer from room service and some food to eat while drinking.

They sat down and drank the beer from the bottle. Vincent drank the whole bottle like it was nothing. Jessica struggled a little since the beer is a little bitter,

“Can’t believe you’re a hard drinker. Not like your sister, just a few shots and she’ll pass out!” Jessica laughed.

Both sat in front of the glass window and looked out the shining city of Eagle,

“She isn’t really the drinking type. She always has friends in the manor, and sometimes they drink, so I know that she isn’t much of a drinker. I’m surprised that you are.” Vincent chuckled as he opened another beer.

And just like that, Vincent emptied the entire bottle without having any reaction to the bitterness,

“Aren’t you bothered with the taste? Beer sometimes tastes like rust, luckily, this one is just bitter. So, you’re a monster in drinking as much as you are a monster in fighting, eh?” Jessica smiled.  

“Well, I can’t really taste it. And that whole monster in fighting stuff, pfft! Nonsense, I am only a beginner and a rookie at that!” Vincent replied.

“A rookie and a beginner won’t manage to beat dragons and become a great commander, Four-Eyes. You surpassed your siblings just with those feats of yours. They must be proud.”

“I hope they were.”

Jessica then realized that she just crossed an invisible line there. Violet once mentioned that there is a conflict…a big conflict in their family, and that involves Vincent. She doesn’t know the details, and she doesn’t want to ask it from him since it might be too sensitive. Knowing that it might be too deep, Jessica just decided to shut her mouth and just drink as this is a celebration not a sad party.

“What did you choose to become a hero, Jess? You have a lot of businesses, your family, right? Not that I am questioning and pry, but I’m just curious. Violet says that you are one hell of a smarty-pants.” Vincent asked.

Jessica chuckled, “Business is not my forte. After being saved by a hero myself, I vowed to be one of them. The one who saves and protects. And now, I’m here. Standing on the dream I’ve once dreamt. Being a Vice-Captain is a bonus for me, my true goal is just to save and protect. And you? Why did you choose heroism?”

“Well, it’s complicated. I have two things in mind. First and most important is to fulfill a promise. And the second one, to do what I want and have freedom. Being free is first for me above all. Because how can you fly when you are trapped in a birdcage?” Vincent answered as he opened another beer.

Violet was right. Vincent is much more serious, he is like Victor, always thinking straight and values almost everything.

“Do you have a girlfriend?”

Vincent suddenly spats out the beer in his mouth as he was shocked by that question,

“W-Why do you ask?”

Jessica giggled, “I know you’re crushing on me, Vincent. Don’t underestimate me. However, I am engaged, so, I guess, you should find another one. There’s a lot of girls out there, less problematic, and not engaged.” Jessica says.

Vincent nodded with a slight smile on his face. He looked out the window once more. He sipped on his beer, now taking it slow. He turned off his alcohol immunity for a while to savor the moment of being drunk. And as soon as they finished the case of beer, Vincent helped Jessica get to bed as she is too drunk to even walk,

“Talk about a strong drinker, ha!” Vincent grinned as he then puts a blanket on her.

He went to the sofa and there he rested and slept for the night.

The next day, Vincent woke up hearing some puking noise from the bathroom. He stood up and maybe his alcohol immunity got turned on again as he is not feeling anything, he is his normal self. After a few minutes, Jessica came out of the bathroom, her face was wet, and her hair was all frizzy. He hasn’t seen Jessica in this state before. Normally, she is composed and a serious woman, and now, she is a mess. She’s a woman after all.

“How come you’re not hungover from last night?” Jessica asked,

“Jess, how can you be drunk with just drinking 6 beers.” Vincent laughed as he then stood up to wash his face now.

“I have low tolerance in alcohol, damn it!” Jessica cursed as she went on to put her disguise for another day of the mission.

After doing all that, Vincent and Jessica both went down dining lounge to eat their breakfast since Vincent didn’t cook any. As they eat, both Yuji and Agatha sat beside them,

“Today’s the big day, huh? You’re going to talk to the big boss?” Vincent pointed out as he ate a steak.

“Well, yeah, that would happen. However, you are not invited to come, Roberto. You are a fledgling, and besides, this is out of your business. This is our problem. Focus on your growing business first before being involved with us.” Yuji replied.

Jessica didn’t anticipate this. All that celebration last night, for this? It was pointless after all.

“We will just inform about—”

Sir Nicholas then appeared in front of them,

“In regard to the meeting with the boss, it will be postponed,”

“What?!” Yuji then aggressively stood up and that caught the attention of the dining area,

“He will come and meet you, but not today. As today is the anniversary of this gambling center, and a big ball will be held tonight. Please wear formal attires and the meeting will be rescheduled tomorrow. Sorry for this, sir, ma’am, but if you want to meet with the boss, then you’ll have to attend the ball. Thank you.” Sir Nicholas says.

He then left and Yuji sat down in disappointment.

A ball? There is no such thing in the manual or the plan or the information from the informants. What the hell is happening. Vincent is thinking about this as this is an unprecedented situation. They have never heard of a ball in their original planning; however, they must adapt,

“I say we attend the ball, Yuji.” Agatha suggested “You will be going to, Don Roberto, right?” she then looked at Vincent,

“Of course, this is—”

“We can’t just go to party when our comrade just disappeared like that! This absurd! A scandal! It seems the gambling center is hiding something.” Yuji angrily said.

“We have no choice. If we want to meet with the boss, then we will have to do what he says. Besides, having a ball and a party in these stressful moments is something to grab. I’m gonna buy some clothes for tonight, thank you, Don Roberto. Yuji, let’s go.” The two then stood up and left.

Jessica looked at Vincent, “What now?” she asked.

Vincent sighed,

“Well, we attend this ball.”