Jeremy couldn't have been more surprised. He never expected Bonnie to have fully recovered in just one day.
He looked Bonnie over carefully, his eyes scanning her from head to toe.
"Are you really sure you're fully healed?" Jeremy asked, his concern evident. "I think you should rest for a few more days. Have you let Mayor Benjamin know that you've been discharged from the hospital?"
Jeremy was particularly interested in whether Benjamin was aware of Bonnie's actions. He wanted to make sure there was no misunderstanding.
Bonnie's expression shifted slightly, a hint of displeasure flashing across her face when she heard Jeremy's question.
"I've already called him," she replied with a bit of irritation in her voice. "He said the same thing as you—he wants me to rest more. But I feel fine now. If I'm healed, there's no reason to keep wasting time."
Bonnie spoke quickly, and before Jeremy could respond, she grabbed his arm.
"Do you remember the promise I made to you? I promised that I would show you all the important areas of the capital! Well, I'm going to keep that promise now."
Without giving Jeremy a chance to protest, she began to pull him toward the door.
Jeremy hesitated for a moment. "It's already pretty late. I think we should wait until tomorrow to explore more of the capital. Besides, I've already checked out the area around our place."
Bonnie shook her head firmly. "The area around your place is very dull. You've never seen the truly vibrant parts of the capital. And the best time to go there is at night!"
Despite Jeremy's hesitation, Bonnie was determined. She led him out of the room, and they quickly set off.
Bonnie and Jeremy rode in a car, speeding through the streets of the capital. As they moved farther from Jeremy's place, it became increasingly clear that the area around his residence was, indeed, boring and lacked life. At night, the streets near his home were nearly deserted.
But as they passed through several neighborhoods and reached the city center, the atmosphere changed dramatically.
The streets suddenly became bustling with life. Pedestrians crowded the sidewalks, and numerous shops were still open, their bright signs lighting up the streets.
Jeremy couldn't help but exclaim, impressed by the contrast. "I haven't seen a scene like this in a long time! The city center of Moonlight City is never this lively at night!"
Bonnie smiled at Jeremy's words.
"You don't think this is the truly vibrant part of the city, do you?" she asked with a playful grin. "This is nothing compared to what's coming up. The real heart of the capital is still a couple of blocks away."
Under Bonnie's guidance, Jeremy successfully drove the car to the heart of the commercial district in the capital.
Here, every skyscraper was brightly lit, shining with an almost artificial brilliance. The streets surrounding these towering buildings were filled with a large number of pedestrians, all seemingly as busy as they had been during the day.
"Why are they still so busy at night? Do they really have so many things to take care of, even after the sun sets? Or are there a lot of people who just continue playing from morning until night?" Jeremy asked, observing the many well-dressed young people around him.
Among these young people, some were clearly in full compliance with the conscription standards that had been issued by the Federation's high command after the apocalypse game began. This meant that these individuals had somehow managed to avoid the Federation's orders, indicating that their status was anything but ordinary. Some of them were members of prominent families, while others were heirs to major corporations.
Jeremy felt an instinctive sense of hostility toward these people. To him, they seemed to be of no real use to humanity.
Even after the apocalypse game had arrived, these people were still living in the same kind of extravagant, hedonistic lifestyle as before, and this filled Jeremy with discomfort.
Bonnie, noticing that Jeremy's mood was becoming increasingly sour, quickly turned to him and spoke in an attempt to comfort him.
"It's really quite normal," she said. "After all, even though the apocalypse game has begun, the Federation's high command can still maintain their existence. Are you suggesting we should completely destroy the Federation?"
Faced with Bonnie's question, Jeremy could only shake his head helplessly.
"As talented as I am, I can't just destroy the Federation. If the Federation were destroyed, humanity's civilization might collapse entirely."
Just as Jeremy finished speaking, a voice that he both recognized and despised came from behind him.
Bonnie spoke with a quiet but firm conviction, her eyes meeting Jeremy's with a sense of solidarity. Although she was not the heir of the White Family, she believed her influence within the family was significant enough to make a difference.
Jeremy looked at Bonnie, a slight frown on his face as he processed her words. The White Family, while powerful, was not without its own issues, and he couldn't help but wonder how deep Bonnie's influence truly ran. Still, he appreciated her reassurance.
"I appreciate that," Jeremy said, though his tone was cautious. "But we both know how delicate the situation is. Kean might be arrogant, but he's still a major player in the Federation. We can't afford to underestimate him or those who back him."
Bonnie nodded, understanding the weight of Jeremy's words. "I know. But remember, you don't have to face this alone. The White Family has resources and connections that can help you navigate the political landscape here. You just need to trust us."
Jeremy remained silent for a moment, considering everything. The capital was a place full of intrigue and danger, where allegiances shifted like sand. The Lannisters, the White Family, and other factions all played their part in this game of power. Jeremy knew he had to be cautious, but he also knew that having Bonnie and the White Family's support could be a key advantage.
"I'll keep that in mind," he finally said, his voice steady. "But right now, we have more pressing concerns. Kean is just one of many obstacles in our way."
Bonnie smiled slightly, her expression resolute. "Exactly. And we'll handle them all, one step at a time."
With that, they continued down the street, the city lights casting long shadows as the night deepened. The capital, with all its gleaming towers and hidden dangers, was both a world of opportunity and a battlefield. Jeremy knew that the real struggle had only just begun.
Bonnie was confident that she could leverage the power of the White Family to offer Jeremy the support he needed. Jeremy smiled and nodded, appreciating her words.
"Well then, let me thank you in advance!" he said.
Bonnie was clearly pleased by his response. "Finally, the annoying person is gone! Now we can continue exploring. And the bustling places around here are just the beginning!"
With that, Bonnie eagerly grabbed Jeremy's arm and pulled him along, leading him through the lively streets.
However, Kean hadn't gone too far. After his conversation with Jeremy, he made his way to a tall building, where he could maintain a clear line of sight to keep an eye on both Jeremy and Bonnie. He watched them for a while, carefully studying their movements and behavior.
After a few moments, the door to the room was suddenly knocked on.
"Come in!" Kean called out in his usual cold tone.
The door opened, and a young man in a sharp suit entered the room. He was composed and professional, but his eyes betrayed a subtle curiosity, as though he were trying to gauge Kean's mood.
"What's wrong? You look like you're in a bad mood. Have you run into more trouble?" the young man asked, his voice casual, though clearly concerned.
Kean didn't turn around to face him. Instead, he replied with an air of indifference. "Isn't it obvious that we have more problems than we can handle right now? Capital is already under threat from monsters, and now we have someone here who seems determined to oppose us—the Lannisters."
The young man walked over to the window, following Kean's gaze as he looked down at the street below. His eyes quickly locked onto Bonnie and Jeremy walking side by side.
"Ah, so Bonnie's finally back in Capital," the young man observed. "And if I'm not mistaken, that man next to her must be Jeremy, right? Looks like you finally get your chance to face him in a final showdown. Do you feel confident about winning?"
Kean turned sharply at the mention of Jeremy's name, his eyes filled with cold intensity.
"Jeremy is not just my enemy," Kean responded with a biting tone. "He's an enemy of the entire Lannister family! Shouldn't you, as my cousin, be offering your help when I face him? After all, I'm your blood relative! If I lose to Jeremy, the entire Lannister family will be disgraced."
Kean's words were filled with passion, and the frustration he felt was evident in his voice. The young man, however, simply smiled.
"You are my cousin, but you haven't earned the right to speak for the entire Lannister family yet," he said with a hint of amusement. "Even if Jeremy is our enemy, and even if he beats you, it doesn't necessarily mean he's won the war."
Kean's face tightened with anger at the young man's words, but inwardly, he had already anticipated such a response. He was no fool. Kean knew that the Lannisters' loyalty to him wasn't as strong as he had hoped. His reason for bringing the young man in was not to get help but to throw off any judgment and distract him from the bigger picture.
Kean had already come to terms with the fact that the Lannister family would not fully back him. He was simply using them for the moment. His real alliances lay with The Son of the Sun and The Person in the Mirror. The Lannisters, for all their power, were just pawns in his larger scheme.
The young man chuckled at Kean's frustration. "Well, I suppose that's how it is. But it's clear you're more isolated than you thought."
Kean didn't respond immediately. His mind was already set on his next steps. He knew that his future didn't lie with the Lannisters—he would rely on his real allies, the ones who would help him achieve his goals, even if it meant betraying those who were closest to him.
The young man left, and Kean was once again alone with his thoughts. He looked down at the streets below, his gaze unwavering, as his plans took shape in the shadows. This was just the beginning. He would use whatever means necessary to rise above the chaos that surrounded him. The Lannisters were nothing more than tools in his hands, and soon, he would no longer need them at all.