The music faded, and the dancers slipped out of the room. With the sudden silence, Magnus's surprised voice rang out clearly. "Y-you know Mr. Holland?" He glanced at the crowd, then quickly corrected himself. "You know my buddy?" Cassian answered calmly, "We've had dinner a few times." Magnus let out a sigh of relief. "So it's nothing serious. Just a few casual meals. Whatever he said about me doesn't matter. Our friendship runs deeper than that." Cassian smiled. "Of course, my connection with Mr. Holland could never compare to you." Beside them, Natalie nearly doubled over, fighting to keep her laughter in. Her stomach hurt from holding it back. Not wanting to dwell on the subject, Magnus tried to switch everyone attention. He yanked Amber, who had just finished her performance, closer to him and said, "These dishes on the table were made by Kelvin himself. Let's taste them!" Kelvin chuckled and said, "I'm rusty. Haven't cooked in a long time. Don't hold it against me, Magnus." Amber leaned against Magnus, delicate and soft. She tasted a bite from each dish, then lifted his glass for a sip of wine. With a smug tilt of her chin, she shot Natalie a challenging look. Natalie sighed inwardly. Here we go again. Another petty showdown. Just then, a young man burst into the room, heading straight for Kelvin. Kelvin frowned—it was the one he'd sent to fetch Cyril for the party. But his man had come back alone. That could only mean Cyril was throwing a fit again and refused to come. Kelvin snapped, "Wait for your turn. Can't you see Magnus is enjoying himself?" That young man, sweating and out of breath, blurted, "Kelvin, Cyril, he—" Kelvin cut him off with a fierce glare. Idiot! Not here, not now. Kelvin shot him a sharp glare. This kid really had no sense. Cyril had refused to join their base over and over, which already annoyed Magnus. Now on his birthday, Cyril still didn't show up. It was pure disrespect. If he mentioned this in private with Magnus, that would be one thing. But if the kid blurted it out in front of everyone, wouldn't that embarrass Magnus? So Kelvin gave his man a warning look, signaling him to shut up. The young man swallowed his words and stood silently to the side. Natalie sat close enough to hear Cyril's name being mentioned. Instantly, she sat straighter, every muscle in her body tensing, ready for action. Cassian noticed her change right away. He glanced at the nervous young man and fell deep in thought. Magnus, still eating, had heard the exchange too. But he chose to ignore it. His expression stayed calm as he sampled the food. After tasting both dishes, he grinned. "Mmm! Kelvin, I didn't expect you to be good in the kitchen too. Not just muscle, but real flavor!" "Kelvin, you've got skills. Not only can you fight, but you actually cook like a pro!" He scooped up another forkful, chewing with satisfaction. Then his expression hardened when he caught Bonnie staring at Kelvin from across the table. Magnus's brow furrowed. His tone shifted. "Still, you're a little hot-headed. Get more training and you'll be just fine." Kelvin had been glowing with pride from the praise, but out of nowhere, Magnus turned on him again. The smile froze on his face. He shot a furious glare at the underling who had just rushed over. It had to be his fault that Magnus was upset. Kelvin bent his back a little. "Magnus, you're right. I appreciate the advice." Then, with an earnest look, he added, "If it weren't for your trust and support, I'd never be where I am today. Don't worry, I'll work harder from now on. I'll make sure you're pleased." In front of everyone, Kelvin humbled himself completely. Magnus grinned with satisfaction. "Kelvin, you're being too polite. Come on, let's eat." Only then did Kelvin relax and settle back into his seat. When everyone went back to having their meal, the nervous underling hurried to Kelvin's side and whispered something in his ear. Kelvin froze, his fork hanging midair. A second later, it clattered to the floor. "What did you just say?!" His voice thundered, startling Magnus and silencing the room. The people around them, who had been chatting and drinking, all fell silent and turned to stare at him. Kelvin shot up and grabbed the underling by the collar. "Say that again!" Magnus frowned, his tone sharp. "Kelvin!" Was there really a need to cause a scene at his birthday party? But Kelvin didn't even hear him. His eyes were bloodshot as he glared at the man.The underling trembled. "M-Mr. Kelvin ... Cyril and all his men ... They're dead." This time his voice carried, echoing through the hall so everyone could hear. Magnus shot to his feet. "What did you just say?!" In the crowd, Cassian's eyes slid calmly toward Natalie. She looked as if nothing had happened, absently rubbing the silver ring on her finger. Kelvin was shaking all over. "That's impossible! How could Cyril be dead? You'd better explain yourself!" The underling's eyes brimmed with tears. "People from the resettlement block said Cyril's crew was mowed down by assault rifles about two weeks ago."