Chapter 137: Chapter 137: System's Celebrity

"Our boy is a celebrity now! We should charge for visits. Imagine the profits! How about we sell tickets to watch Elio bathe?"

"Kriz!" Zara hissed, her face flushing a deep crimson as she elbowed him again, harder this time.

"What?" Kriz replied, rubbing his side and adopting an expression of exaggerated innocence. "I'm a serious businessman, a visionary! Right, Mirror Shot?" His ice rabbit nodded vigorously, creating a small shower of snowflakes.

Brok, who had been silently observing, let out a booming laugh. "Yeah, right. And I'm the King of the Walls."

"Your Majesty!" Kriz exclaimed, dropping into a bow so low and dramatic that he nearly toppled over. Mirror Shot, ever the faithful companion, created a tiny ice crown atop its head.

Despite the situation, Elio couldn't help but laugh. The sound was warm and genuine, a brief respite from the weight of leadership. However, the persistent worry on his mother's face quickly sobered him.

"Mom, I'm so sorry," he said, his voice laden with remorse. "I never realized this would become such a problem. I promise we'll find a solution."

"How about an appointment system?" suggested Ren. "We could set specific times for people to meet Elio without disturbing the neighborhood. Maybe even set up a dedicated office for public meetings."

"Oh, oh, I've got it!" Kriz exclaimed, bouncing on his toes with excitement. "Let's make a life-size nickel statue of Elio! Mirror Shot can help. People can worship the statue, and we can leave the real Elio in peace."

To everyone's astonishment, Mirror Shot immediately began forming a small, intricately detailed nickel statue of Elio on the ground, its tiny paws moving with surprising dexterity.

"Kriz, if you don't have anything useful to say..." Zara began after taking the small statue for herself, but was interrupted by Lena's laughter.

"Oh, my," said Elio's mother, wiping away a tear of laughter. "Now I understand why my son appreciates you all so much. Never a dull moment with you around, is there?"

"Thank you, Mrs. E," Kriz replied with an exaggerated bow. "We strive to keep the level of madness at its peak."

Lucien, who had been watching the exchange with amusement and exasperation, finally spoke up. His voice, calm and measured, cut through the jovial atmosphere. "Elio, I believe I have a solution that could address several issues simultaneously."

The group fell silent, all eyes turning to Lucien with curiosity.

"How about we move your family to the central building? As the new leader of the city, it would be the most logical thing," suggested Lucien. "In fact, we could move the families of all your friends, even Tarec and your other neighbors. There's ample space in the section we've been clearing out."

Finally, Aria, the redhead of the group, seemed to steel herself and stepped forward.

"Von Elio," she said, her voice soft but firm. "We're sorry to interrupt, but we need to talk to you. In private, if possible."

Elio felt Ember tense on his shoulder, reflecting his own unease. The other three girls, Mei, Lila, and Valeria, approached, their expressions determined and... something else that Elio couldn't identify.

"It's about Fathoran's promises to us," Mei added, her amber eyes fixed on Elio with an intensity that made him uncomfortable. "And about the future of many young women in the city."

When Aria suggested speaking privately, Zara stepped forward, her posture tense and her eyes narrowed with suspicion. Flare, her salamander, hissed softly from her shoulder, its scales glowing with a reddish hue that reflected its owner's agitation.

"Why do you need to talk alone? Anything you have to say, you can say it here."

Mei, with a soft but calculating smile, looked at Zara. Her amber eyes glinted with a flash of malicious amusement. "Oh, I do apologize. We weren't aware that the leader required his wife's permission to speak with others. Or are you perhaps afraid we might steal him away?"

Zara's face flushed a deep crimson, rivaling the color of her salamander. "I'm not... we're not..." she stammered, struggling to find the right words.

Elio, sensing the escalating tension, quickly intervened. He placed a hand on Zara's shoulder, a gesture meant to be reassuring but which only seemed to intensify her blush.

"Zara isn't... my wife," he clarified, his voice firm but kind. "She's a close friend and a trusted advisor. One of the most important people in my life."

"Ah, I see," said Valeria, her tone suggestive. "Then there's no problem in us talking in private, right?"

Lena, noticing Zara's discomfort, approached and put a hand on her shoulder. "Zara, dear, why don't you let Elio handle this? I trust my son will make the right decisions."

Zara looked at Lena, then at Elio, and finally nodded reluctantly. "Alright, but don't take too long... And remember, we're all here if you need us."

Elio gave Zara a reassuring smile before turning to the four young women. "We can talk right here, just a little apart from the group. Is that okay with you?"

The girls nodded and moved a few meters away, far enough to have privacy but still within sight of the others.

"Alright," began Elio, "what did you want to talk about?"