"If you ever dare to make her shed a single tear, I will make you regret it," Lue warned. And the people of their base in Australis would make him regret it even


    more.


    "Don''t worry," Shanley said, standing to pour Lue more wine. His demeanor was calm and respectful. "If I ever treat her poorly, others will get to me long before you do."


    "Them?” Lue nced at Jimmie and Melvin with a cold smile. "I doubt they''d be much use. Especially our Mr. Tate here, who seems to have poor judgment."


    "You-" Jimmie''s face darkened as he started to retort.


    "What about me?” Lue''s dislike for him was palpable. If it weren''t for Juniper, she would have already broken a few of the pretty boy''s limbs for all the trouble he''d caused her.


    Juniper watched their bickering, rubbing her nose in curiosity.


    ...


    After the meal ended, Juniper and Lue stepped aside to talk while Shanley waited with the two brothers.


    “I don''t think that kid''s intentions toward Juniper are entirely pure," Melvin said, narrowing his eyes as he studied Lue. "You better be careful he doesn''t try to pull something."


    “He won''t,” Shanley replied with a light, relieved smile. “If Juniper were that easy to win over, I wouldn''t have stood a chance."


    "You seem pretty confident," Jimmie scoffed. "But he''s not as simple as he looks."


    "Oh? You''ve met him before?" Shanley asked, turning his head.


    "No," Jimmie lied, unwilling to admit he''d been bested three times already. He quickly changed the subject. “Just make sure the people at Cybeic Shadows keep up the search for our other rtives."


    "It''s ongoing," Shanley confirmed. "I''ll notify you as soon as there''s any news."


    Finding the brothers was one thing, but three sisters were still missing. Given Juniper''s tooks, her sisters were likely just as beautiful if they had been rescued after a shipwreck... Shanley frowned hoping for a good oue.


    Meanwhile, Lue wasining to Juniper "For the sake of his money was incredibly restrained, and what do I get? You ring at mel So, your f more important


    than your friend now, is that it?"


    “Well.....” Juniper said, looking a bit guilty. After a moment, she lowered her voice. "Shanley recently invested arge sum into J-Five Studio. If the Australis base needs it, you can use it."


    "Really?" Lue''s expression changed, her eyes lighting up.


    "But you have to keep my rtionship with Shanley a secret."


    “Oh,e on,” Lue groaned, stepping back. “I knew there was a catch. If those old geezers back home find out I lost track of you... they''ll have my legs for it!"


    "I''ll give you the entire next quarter''s earnings from the jewelry studio."


    "That''s not..." Lue hesitated, a conflicted look on her face. "You''re putting me in a difficult position. It''s not like I''m a person who''s motivated by money."


    "Two quarters."


    1.n


    "Deal," Lue agreed without a second''s hesitation. Her mission had been to "protect" Juniper, and she couldn''t bring the girl back, bringing back a pile of cash was the next best thing. Everyone loved money, after all.


    Their conversation finished, Juniper rejoined Shanley.


    “Until next time, Mr. Langley,” Shanley said, extending his hand.


    “Right.” Lue turned her head away, her hands stuffed coolly in her pockets. She wasn''t about to touch Juniper''s man.