Khalifa: Queen in the Apocalypse

While Khalifa was bonding with one of the few elders in her life, someone was making a scene at his villa, thousands of kilometers away.

"THAT KAIZE! What's he doing with MY mermaid?!"

The handsome blonde exclaimed, suddenly sitting up from his lazy posture.

His thick eyebrows furrowed, as he stared at the tabloid news on his phone.

Even if she wore glasses, he could recognize her facial and body shape anywhere, okay?

His light-colored eyes zoned in on all the skin the two people had touching and he felt very, very annoyed.

However, after heaving deep, deep breaths, he opened his phone and called his secretary.

"Where's Kaize now?"

"Out of the country? Did he take anyone with him?"

But the secretary enumerated the people he was with, and there was no mention of a girl fitting her description.

Well, at least now he could gather some information. Because of the news, he now had a rough idea of the area she lived in and he could gather information from there.

It was so annoying that cyber security was so advanced. He couldn't even hire hackers anymore like his forefathers did.

The man then remembered that the bastard still owed him a favor.

Maybe he could give him his woman? It wasn't the first time he was gifted women by the redhead.

However, before he could hunt for his (soon-to-be) wife, the butler entered with news.

"There's someone who wants to meet you." He said, voice as deadpan as always.

"A visitor?" He asked, "Did he say who he was?"

The butler shook his head.

"Then how did he get in?"

The butler stared at him, mouth forming a thin line. "...it's best to see for yourself, young master."

Hugo's golden-brown eyes stared at the old man, but sighed in the end. This man had been with the family since his grandfather's time. No way he could scold him and get out unscathed.

In the end, Hugo just went to the anteroom at a leisurely pace, suddenly freezing at the sight of the visitor.

It was an incredibly dashing man (arguably almost as handsome as himself) with heavy but disciplined steps and an aura of authority.

A soldier.

Fuck, what's a soldier doing here?!

"The country hopes to cooperate with you." The man said, straight to the point.

So straight to the point that he almost lost his balance.

"What?"

The man stared, not repeating his words, knowing he had heard. Definitely a man of a few words and fewer facial expressions.

Hugo massaged his temple, before sitting down a chair, gesturing for the visitor to do the same.

There was a moment of silence before

"From what I gathered, the country's tech is still superior to mine." He wasn't omnipotent, if he was he'd have his mermaid's address by now!!!

"But they are very interested in the technology for XC42."

This made Hugo pause, looking at the man deeply.

"How did you find out about that?" He asked.

It was his accidental innovation that allowed for handheld guns to have the power of a plasma ray. Very difficult to improve and produce without enough resources.

It was also a very private endeavor.

The man was noncommittal. "The country has its ways…"

Hugo rolled his eyes.

But if he partnered with the country and secured a piece of the pie, then this would be a chance to improve and as well as the chance to be legit.

Of course the catch was that he'd have to sell nearly at cost price.

However, if the quantity was enough, there would still be enough profits. Safer, too.

He was already discovered anyway. Refusal would only get him into trouble.

Looking at this bastard, he wouldn't leave without closing this deal.

"Fine." He said, "But I won't accept losses."

The man nodded, "Of course."

As they shook hands and ironed out the details, Hugo sighed, filled with self-pity.

When will he meet his mermaid?

***

The meeting went well and the handsome Kylo got in his jeep to go to his destination.

He looked back at the mansion as he drove away, thinking of what this group of people were capable of doing.

He could only hope they really cleaned up their acts.

Fortunately, the crimes that could be tagged to them were only illegal possession of firearms, nothing else, or he'd have a troubled conscience making this deal.

He sighed, and headed off to the original plans that day before the general disrupted it.

It was supposed to be his week off starting the previous day, but the general had ordered more news.

Fortunately, Kylo was very good at his job and managed to complete the task with still a few vacation days to spare.

As he drove, his phone rang and he activated the hands-free to speak to the other line.

"I thought it was your week off today? Don't you dare cancel on me! We've been planning on this for months!!" His sister nagged and he massaged his temple.

"You sent my son on a secret mission, don't tell me you're not coming as well?!"

Obviously, everyone in the family had stoic temperaments. Why was his sister such a firecracker?

Already in her 50s, she acted like half her age…

What made things worse was that she had a tendency to go on tangents.

"You're already turning 30! When am I going to get a cute niece?!"

"My job is too demanding, sister." He paused, and added a rare afterword. "Women are troublesome."

"Troublesome?!" She screeched, offended, but it only served to make Kylo's point.

"Damnit, you brat!" She gritted her teeth, "I swear, if you actually fall for someone I would laugh at you!"

"Better yet, maybe to fall for someone who'll make you go crazy! Shall I curse you?"

"Superstition had died down a hundred years ago, sister."

"Shut up!"

About a dozen more topics of nagging were breezed through after this, and Kylo heaved a sigh of relief when his sister finally cut off the call.

However, it was indeed his day off today. And he ought to see his only family members left.

He never would've expected he'd soon have a chance meeting with someone destined to make him go crazy.

Superstitions seemed to have its bearings, after all.