Hugo froze in his tracks like a statue suddenly struck by lightning.
His body stiffened, muscles locked tight, and his brain screamed one thought over and over like a broken record:
"No. No. NO! It can't be!"
That voice—even if he died, got reincarnated, and died again—he'd still recognize it!
It was sweet, soft, yet carrying that dangerous sharpness underneath like a dagger wrapped in velvet. It was the one voice he'd hoped to avoid tonight at all costs.
Loli.
Panic slammed into him like a freight train. His heartbeat skyrocketed so fast it felt like his chest might explode.
His eyes darted around the room as if looking for an escape hatch, but there was none. No way out.
'Calm down, calm down, calm down!'
His thoughts were spiraling, so in pure survival mode, Hugo did the only thing he could: he activated the Aura of Zen.
A sudden wave of calmness washed over him—his heartbeat slowed, his hands stopped trembling, and his mind cleared just enough to think straight.
