Cold Man And Miss Stone
72. Emilia's Desire

"I need something to hold."

Dwi turned her head from her phone at Emilia's request. "Dollies?"

But the girl nodded. "Something that's complicated but can be held easily."

Long enough Dwi was silent, until he remembered there was a shipment of goods from Mahesa Mahardika some time ago. It contained most of the Nine's computer needs, but there was something entrusted to Emilia.

Don't give it to her unless Emilia asks. That's what it says.

So Dwi went up, got the box.

"It's special chess." Dwi helps Emilia hold it. "The box is made clear, so as long as you memorize the sequence, it's easy to play."

"Senior?" guess Emilia just like that.

"Girls are scary." Dwi smiled wryly. Letting Emilia compose the chess herself, as it seemed that she memorized the order of the squares and each pawn had a different texture. "What do you need it for?"

"I need to ask first," replied Emilia, without stopping composing with a palpable hand. "What made you follow me?"

"Of course, working with you is easier than being a barista."

"But the Samuel girl claimed to be your friend."

"Nina?" Dwi's gaze was more focused on the Emilia chessboard where each box began to fill with chess pieces. "I only knew him briefly. You think I'm a traitor?"

"There must be a reason to betray, and I have more money than that girl." Emilia finished it without looking at it at all. "I asked because Senior hired you to hide me. I'd like to hire you to act on my instructions."

Dwi. He wondered for a few days what Emilia was thinking after hearing Samuel's news. Why suddenly?

"I—"

"I'm not done yet. Listen to the end, please." Emilia raised the opening pawn two steps. "I want loyalty."

Dwi sits. Because this is not light talk. "That means you want me dead when you say I have to die?"

"Yes." Yeah."

"What do you want to do?"

"Building other groups outside of Senior."

What an incredible opening. Know what Mahesa's nickname is? The richest young man in Southeast Asia. Know what Mahesa's purpose is? Fights all the countries in the world.

"For what?"

"Then?"

Emilia was getting more confident of finishing her chess position. "I will accept Samuel. Playing behind him."

"I don't see your purpose, Emilia. Say it clearly."

Actually Dwi already knew, because Nine told him, from Mahesa who analyzed Emilia's psychological condition.

This girl ... doesn't know how to take revenge on others.

"Emilia will accept Samuel." That's what Nine said, repeating Mahesa's words. "Because Emilia is king."

"King?"

"King: have pride, have confidence, have care, have cruelty. Emilia killed Ahkam because Ahkam insulted her. The king cannot be insulted. But he feels guilty about killing Soraya, as Soraya is only a 'civilian' who happens to be in conflict. In the media, I think Emilia is like a netizen's meal, and Soraya is a haters. He blocked it, but shouldn't have been killed just because one or two words suck."

Nine turned her chair, moving as she folded her hands.

"Samuel seduced Emilia in a 'diplomatic' manner'. She seduced subtly, while on the other hand she urged. Like he said, let's make peace or I'll blow up nukes in your kingdom. Of course, it's just a parable."

"And Emilia accepted it?" asked Dwi at that time, because he could not immediately understand.

"Emilia has the ability, man. He has wealth, intelligence, thoroughness, a lot of things. He was banished by Mahesh, and Emilia threw Samuel away. For days he would think what he should do. Then Samuel came in with his unique strategy. Makes Emilia think there's something she should be doing rather than him pensively alone forever."

Now Dwi saw what Mahesa and Nine had seen before that happened.

"I want to create an organization that prevents something like me from happening." Emilia needs time to say it. "Preventing a man like Argantana from acting at will, preventing anger at his actions, preventing unnecessary things from happening."

I want everyone to be better. He didn't want to say that.

Maybe because he felt he was not worth saying it.

Dwi grunting. Surprisingly, he considered this girl sincerely wanted that.

"It will help Senior, without having to join him."

"Then you need to see Samuel."

"Yes. Call him."

...*...