Seducing the Conqueror

004: Welcome to Bear-Hugging Restobar

"WELCOME to Bear-Hugging Restobar --- where hugs are free of charge! Table for two?"

A huge feminine man welcomed Candice and Nina to his loving restobar. His tight polo shirt, that hugs his muscular physique, was topped with a white frilly apron that matches his frilly head piece. His skinny pants highlighted his brawny legs.

Nina took her hood off. "You should really change your restobar's name --- as well as your slogan. Who would want a hug from an old fag-… ouch!"

"After you vanished for three months, that's what you gonna say to your benefactor?" Mama Bear said to Nina after he blew his fist like some dirt got into it after hitting her head.

Roberto Perez. Everyone calls him Berta or Mama Bear. He's the lovable owner of Bear-Hugging Restobar, and a loyal supporter of Black Heart Rebels. Even though he is gay, he still wears a man's clothes. But he certainly has a mother's heart: caring and forgiving.

"You only fed me for a month and I'm already indebted to you? I already worked for your stinking restobar, right?" Nina protested.

"This brat! You really have a foul mouth! I should have let you starve that cold night if only I knew how ill-mannered you are!" Mama Bear’s face is fuming from anger. He didn’t expect to see this ungrateful child after all the crying he did when she vanished without a word.

Candice stood between these bickering ladies. "Apologies, Mama Bear. If Nina doesn't want your hugs --- well, I do."

Mama Bear took a good look at the beauty in front of him. "Oh my! Our baby, Candice! It's been a long time!" He immediately embraced Candice with his two muscly arms.

"I miss you, too, Mama Bear," Candice chuckled as she embraced him back.

Mama Bear let go of Candice and took a good look again at her favorite little rebel. "How long has it been? Eight years?"

"Twelve," Candice corrected him.

She was a year younger than Nina when Mama Bear last saw her. She just got adopted by that time and was still covered in soot. Her tattered clothes gave her away so everyone knew that she is from Illbirth.

But who would have known that that illiterate and soot-covered girl will turn into a sophisticated and elegant woman? Her grease-stained tattered clothes turned into fine silk and hand-tailored clothes that befitted a socialite daughter of a rich merchant. Even without wearing a dress, her clothing emits an elegant touch.

"Sorry, Mama Bear. I would love to chat with you but I actually have some business here. Could we catch up later?"

Mama Bear snapped her finger as he remembered what the other purpose of her restobar was.

"Oh yes, I forgot! They're already in the room. I'll lead you there."

Mama Bear took Candice and Nina at the room behind the kitchen. He brought out a key from his chest and inserted it on a hidden keyhole in one of the walls of the room. The wall parted and a dark alley awaits the two girls.

"Here's your light.” Mama Bear handed a copper lantern to Candice. “Turn right, left, straight, then right. You'll see your brothers at the end of the line."

Candice nodded and Mama Bear closed the door behind the two.

Mama and the leader of the Black Heart Rebels are the only ones who have a key for this place. But to be safe, this passage is also being modified every year in case a spy got in. And to make things more complicated, the tunnel has lots of paths you could take. So, if you didn’t receive the instruction from Mama Bear, you'll surely get lost.

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"YOU are late!"

Candice rolled her eyes at the sight of the man sitting at the end of the tunnel.

"You are just early, Nat," she said.

Nathaniel Gordon. He is one of the commanders of Black Heart Rebels and been a rival of Candice for the top commander of the Black Heart Rebels.

"You're right. But can you blame me? I just wanted to see your beauty so badly that when I received the notice, I immediately came to this place."

Candice scoffed. "That's rubbish. I knew that your assignment took place here in Area 74 M, so it makes sense that you will arrive here earlier than everybody else."

Candice continued walking to the middle of the room and found a good place to sit.

"So, you're my stalker now?"

Candice turned to Nat with a bewildered look. "Excuse me?"

"I know you're interested in me, Candice. That's why you looked at my schedule, right?"

Candice scoffed again in disbelief and sat down. "Dream on, Nat. I'm not that crazy to fall in love with you," she said without glancing at him.

Nat sat beside her and leaned his head on one of his arms as he tries to have a peak of her face.

"Why not? You are single. I am single. I'm in love with you for 10 years. I have been courting you all these years, can't you just love me already?"

Nat always teases Candice so she is already used to his antics. His charms and sweet talks no longer affect her. If it was five years ago, his words might still make her heart flutter. But now that she knows how much of a playboy he is, she was always being reminded that love doesn’t exist on his vocabulary; in fact, being his girlfriend means she will be just one of his f**k-buddies.

"Try to fix your womanizing habit, and I'll think about it," Candice said nonchalantly.

Candice got a bit startled when Nat's face suddenly appeared in front of her. Her nose is no farther than 5 cm away from hers and she practically can smell his minty breath.

Nat’s lips curled into a huge playful smile, making him look a bit creepy and stupid. His eyes are sparkling like those of a boy who had found a new toy.

"My body is for everyone to admire and lust about. But my heart will only belong to you, Candice. If you are talking about those girls that I seduced, those were just part of my missions," he said teasingly.

Candice pushed his face away from her and rolled her eyes. "Oh, give it a break already!"

Nat wanted to tease her more but the sound of the gavel resounded to the whole room. He immediately went back to his seat and attentively listens to the man in front.

Everyone acted like Nat --- and that includes Candice. But her attentiveness also contains anticipation. Her heart flutters and her throat dried up.

He's here!