THE PROTECTOR
Chap 7's

"Don't hope!" Zoey would rather die than agree to such a condition.

"good.  Just wait!” Derrick grinned silently before turning to leave.

Looking at the pale Zoey, Levi clasped his hand and asked, “Zoey, what happened?  Who was that guy just now?”

Zoey shook her head.  "It's okay!"

However, he knew Derrick would not take it off so easily, so he was restless along the way.

Halfway through, a large group of people suddenly surrounded the four of them. These men were members of the security team, each of them showing a gun.

Zoey was terrified to the point of running out of sense.  His face was pale until he gripped Levi's hand tightly. Likewise, Aaron and Caitlyn are paralyzed by terror, as they know that it is Derrick's revenge.

The leader of the group, wearing combat clothes, looked at them with cold and merciless eyes under the protective goggles.  "Mr.  Johns, is this the villain you're talking about?”

"Yes, Mr Lewis!"  answer Derrick. 

“This guy just got out of jail today.  How was he qualified to attend a banquet like this?  I suspect he has something up his sleeve!  If something comes up at this banquet, can you take responsibility, Mr Lewis?”

"What's?  Is that true?”

Ethan Lewis, deputy team leader of the security team, is in charge of inside safety.  He doesn't know how they got in.

Derrick smiled complacently at Zoey, then said to Ethan, “Whatever the situation, Mr Lewis, I suggest we catch him first!  We must get rid of any risks that may occur!”

"Really!  How could he attend this banquet right after he was released from prison?  Check their invitations first!”  ethan said coldly.

Zoey and her parents are shocked. What invitation card!  No invitation card at all!

“Send the invitation!”  Derrick spoke in an arrogant manner.

"We don't have it" Levi replied calmly.

"Ha ha's.  Did you hear that, Mr Lewis?  They have no invitations at all!  There must be something fishy here!”  Derrick was overjoyed to hear that they had come without an invitation.

"Friends, catch them!"  Ethan gave his orders.

At that moment, Zoey was already panicking. ‘Mother, father, and I will definitely be fine even if we are arrested.  But Levi will definitely be the target of Derrick's manipulation and sent to prison again.’

"Wait on!  We entered through a security checkpoint.  What makes you think we don't deserve to be here?”  Zoey said angrily.

"That's impossible!"  Derrick sneering.  “Invitation is mandatory to enter this place!  Even the host of today's banquet, the God of War, needed an invitation!  Something's not right if there's no invitation!”

"Yes, I'm right!!" ethan said with certainty, knowing that everyone, including the tycoons, came up with the invitation today.  “Bring them away!”

Aaron and Caitlyn closed their eyes in horror. Zoey was terrified too.

"Thank you for your destiny, Zoey!"  Derrick chuckles.  "This is the consequence of rejecting me!"

"Who told you that someone should need an invitation to enter?"  Levi's voice sounded suddenly.

Everyone stopped and looked at him in surprise. Just then, Zoey pulls Levi's sleeve, hinting him to stop talking, while Aaron and his wife seem more horrified by Levi's reply. ‘Is he looking for disaster?’

Levi just patted her shoulder. “you trust me, right?”

"okay."  Zoey nodded.

After which, Levi's gaze landed on Ethan.  “Contact your supervisor and ask him this, can Levi Garrison enter without invitation?”

“Hahaha... Is he crazy?  Who does he think he is?”

Derrick and his friends laughed so hard that their stomachs hurt. But Ethan is angry at Levi's words, so he does as he's asked.  "OK, I'll ask the team leader if he knows you."

Standing beside them, Derrick laughed out loud and was happy to see Levi humiliating himself. At that moment, many people had gathered around the commotion, causing Zoey and her parents to bow their heads in embarrassment.

‘This is a shame!’

Ethan contacts Clement Phillips, the leader of the security team, through his headset.

When the voice came through the headset, the look on his face turned ugly.  His eyes were filled with fear and trepidation as he stared at Levi.

“A-I... I understand, T-Master..” Ethan stuttered as he struggled to make sense of his words.

Derrick, unaware of the situation, stares at Ethan with anticipation.  "Hows it?  Mr Lewis?”

Slassh!

"Mr Lewis, why?” Derrick's eyes widened as he stuttered.

Ethan steps forward and throws another punch, causing blood to gush from Derrick's wound.

"Why?  You are abusing your power and deliberately complicating Ms. Lopez!  They may not have an invitation, but they are our honored guests who came through the right way!  But you!  You have disrupted the order and ruined the atmosphere of the banquet!  Guys, catch him and lock him up for a few days!”  ethan's orders.

Two security guards next to him stepped forward and arrested Derrick, dragging him away as if he were a lifeless corpse.

 "Mr Garrison, Miss Lopez, a thousand sorry for this matter!”

Ethan did not dare to stay there any longer, he led his men and rushed away. An unexpected solution leaves Zoey and her parents dumbfounded.

‘What just happened?’

‘Didn't they come to catch us?’

‘Why was Derrick arrested?’

‘What is going on? This happened right after he mentioned his name.’

The three of them looked at Levi, with Zoey looking at him doubtfully.

"Are you not going to explain what happened?"  Zoey.

"That's easy!  We may not have an invitation, but we came legally, so we are safe.  And what Derrick did just now has disrupted the order of the banquet.  You guys saw the shoal just now, didn't you?  It shows a bad impression.  If God of War finds out about what just happened, forget about Derrick, even Jesse Nielsen herself cannot shoulder this responsibility.”

"I understand now," Aaron replied immediately. 

"It's okay as long as we prove that we're legally logged in!"  Caitlyn nodded.  “Yes, it should be.”

Although Zoey felt that something was wrong, there seemed to be no gap in her explanation.  To him, it sounded very logical and reasonable.

However, as Levi turned his head, his eyes flickered. He had heard what Derrick had just said.  Instead of locking him up for a few days, he was determined to let Derrick rot in prison.

The dinner banquet was simple, but the people present were such an incredible figure that Zoey and her parents did not dare to make a sound once they sat down.

“Bu, Father, why are you so tense?  Get around.  Isn't it fun to make friends and meet new people?”  Levi smiled.

Aaron and Caitlyn exchanged a glance.  But in the end, they decided to stay in place. Zoey tilted her head, asking Levi once more.  “Are you not afraid?”

Levi's outer calm gives Zoey and her parents the illusion that she is used to events like this “Why be afraid?”  levi.

Zoey contemplates.  He should be used to dealing with vile and evil people in prison.

So, he stopped asking.

Meanwhile, more and more people came to the banquet.

Escorted by a large crowd in front and behind, Jesse and a few large men in North Hampton have also arrived.

"Hmm?  Aaron, I've noticed that everyone comes with presents.  Even Nielsen's secretary brought some kind of gift box.  I think we're the only ones who came empty-handed” said Caitlyn.

Other family members caught a glimpse, and rightly so. Everyone brought gifts except their families.

It was clearly visible as they sat in the corner, motionless while the others gathered, waiting to give their gifts.

“That's because we don't understand the rules.  I didn't realize it, ” Aaron said as his head drooped.

"Yes.  But Dad, Samuel, and the others have thought about it,” Caitlyn said.  "Did you see the gift in their hands just now?"

Zoey sighed.  "That's all my fault.  I'm not sure if we can get in."

Aaron nodded.  “Should I have someone to send some gifts now?  There's still time."

Levi quickly refused.  “Mother, Dad, just relax.  Maybe the God of War doesn't like gifts.”

"No, this is the least we have to do" Zoey said.

However, Levi laughed a little.  “I think God of War will appreciate those who come empty-handed.  Do you believe it?"

"I'm not sure."  Zoey shook her head.