Chapter 59: Scary Lady
The six massive guards narrowed their eyes, clearly baffled to see a young guy in a simple shirt approaching their head of security and calling her name so casually. They exchanged confused glances, waiting for Val to shut down the intruder.
Instead, Val’s cold, authoritative aura vanished instantly. A faint smile touched her lips as she looked at me.
"Dismissed. Return to your designated posts," Val commanded smoothly.
The six giant guards bowed respectfully and immediately filed out, shooting me curious glances as they passed.
"Whoa..." Dylan muttered beside me. But the second Val lowered her intense gaze toward him, the poor kid let out a tiny gasp and immediately dove behind my legs, clutching the back of my trousers.
I blinked and looked down at the shivering kid behind me, unable to hold back a laugh. "Wait, Dylan, what happened? Why are you hiding?"
"S-She’s scary!" Dylan squeaked from behind my legs, peeking out with one terrified eye.
Val froze. Her stoic, professional expression completely faltered as she stared at the little boy hiding behind me. A look of genuine surprise flashed across her face.
Desperate to prove she wasn’t scary, Val quickly crouched down to his eye level, attempting to force a warm smile onto her face. "Hello, young man... I am not scary... See?"
Her forced smile turned out so intensely unnatural that Dylan let out a terrified shriek and ducked completely behind my back. "AAAH! SHE’S TRYING TO EAT ME!"
Val’s forced smile instantly collapsed. She slowly stood back up, looking at me with an innocent, deeply disappointed expression in her otherwise vibrant eyes.
"Seth..." Val asked quietly, her voice unusually small and defensive. "Is my smile... truly that scary?"
Seeing my usually stoic, lethal bodyguard genuinely hurt by a ten-year-old’s reaction, I couldn’t help but smile affectionately.
"Not at all, Val," I said warmly, meeting her eyes. "I think you have a very beautiful smile."
A faint blush bloomed across the back of Val’s neck, but she quickly cleared her throat and composed herself. Unfortunately, Dylan clearly didn’t share my opinion, remaining firmly glued to the back of my shirt like a baby koala.
Val let out a soft, defeated sigh, adjusting her suit jacket. "Setting that aside... what are you doing wandering around the main stadium floor, Seth?"
"Just sightseeing with my little tour guide here," I said casually. I looked at her closely, noticing the faint trace of fatigue beneath her sharp eyes. "By the way... have you eaten anything today, Val?"
Val paused, her gaze flickering slightly. She gave a small shake of her head. "I have not had the opportunity. Managing the security grid for this facility is exceptionally demanding. We are integrating standard high-tier physical security alongside supernatural perimeter wards within a very limited timeframe. I cannot afford to lose focus."
I looked at her serious, overly dedicated expression and let out a helpless sigh. ’This girl really doesn’t know how to take care of herself when she’s on duty.’
"Stay right here, Val," I said firmly. "Don’t move an inch until I get back."
Without waiting for her reply, I turned around, took Dylan by the hand, and walked toward the nearby staff canteen.
Once we were a safe distance from Val, Dylan let out a long breath of relief, clutching my hand tightly. "Phew... Big Brother Seth, that lady was terrifying! Her eyes looked like a soldier’s!"
looked down at the little guy with a faint smile as we walked into the brightly lit canteen. "Hey, Dylan... do you want to make friends with that scary lady?"
Dylan raised his head, looking at me as though I’d just suggested he make friends with a tiger. "Why should I?! She’s scary!"
"Because," I explained patiently, grabbing a tray from the counter. "Having a scary friend is actually the coolest thing ever. When you have a scary friend, nobody will dare bully you. And besides... that scary lady might look tough on the outside, but she’s actually a very gentle, good person on the inside. She’s just bad at smiling."
Dylan crossed his arms, looking deeply skeptical. "I don’t believe you. She looked like she wanted to fight me."
I grinned down at him, wiggling my eyebrows. "Want to make a bet? I bet that if you give her a little kindness, she’ll turn into a really good friend."
Dylan tilted his head, processing the challenge before giving a firm nod. "Okay! I bet she won’t!"
"Deal," I said with a smile.
I ordered a hot meal from the canteen counter-a plate of grilled chicken, seasoned rice, and fresh soup.
While the staff member packed the meal into a takeaway box, I addressed Paige mentally.
’Paige... mind giving this food a tiny system tweak? Make it taste absolutely incredible.’
[Oho?!] Paige’s voice instantly flared up. [Host, are you seriously using god-level system authority to cheat in a bet against a ten-year-old kid?]
’Hey, it’s not cheating. It’s tactical flavor enhancement,’ I replied mentally. ’Just do it, Paige.’
[Hmph! Fulfilling request for ultimate mouth-watering culinary enchantment!] Paige huffed, though her tone was full of amused playfulness.
An invisible, imperceptible wave of system intent brushed over the takeaway container, elevating its flavor into something heavenly.
I paid for the meal, handed the warm container to Dylan, and led him back down the corridor toward the main stadium entrance.
Sure enough, when we turned the corner, Val was standing in the exact same spot where I’d left her. She hadn’t moved an inch, standing at crisp attention like a loyal soldier awaiting her commander’s return.
I stopped a few paces away and gently nudged Dylan forward. "Go on, Captain Dylan. Hand the food to her."
Dylan froze, looking back at me with panicked eyes as he clutched the warm container to his chest. "B-Big Brother Seth! What if she eats me instead?"
"I’m right here beside you, kiddo," I assured him with a warm smile, giving his shoulder a gentle pat. "Trust me. She won’t hurt you."
[She might...]
’Shut up. Don’t even think about your unhinged schemes.’
[Hmph! I got a coward host.]
’Want a beating?’
[You want to spank me? Oh my!]
’Shut up!’
[Make me with your Di—]