Zen let out a small laugh, the thought of his grandfather's rare, booming laughter amusing him. He'd never seen the old man laugh so freely before, especially when talking about Hera. It made him seem more human, more approachable—and somehow, it had made it easier for Zen to connect with him.
Hera smiled at Zen, unsure if he was being sincere or just trying to lighten the mood—but either way, having more allies felt better than carrying everything on her own. And as if he could read her thoughts, Zen quickly pulled out his phone and texted his grandfather:
[Zen: Grandpa, my sister Hera asked if you'd be willing to support Young Minister Dave in his fight against the mafia syndicates. They've gotten so bold that they're causing chaos out in the open now. But she said it would have to be done covertly—Dave can't deploy the military directly without tipping off the enemy, which could provoke them into retaliating and dragging civilians into the conflict.]
