The next day.
A red-plated car cruised through the city streets at a moderate speed. Viora sat in the passenger seat while her personal driver handled the wheel.
Ever since she had left her luxury home, she had been plagued by anxiety whenever she rode in her husband's government car.
Of course, who wouldn't be afraid of becoming a target of protesters' anarchism when the government car they were using was headed to a salon?
Thinking about her husband's orders earlier, Viora decided to ask the driver.
"Sir... does Yunus know anyone who's good at martial arts or has worked as a bodyguard or something?" Viora asked curiously.
Yunus, a man in his forties who had served the family for quite a long time, thought for a moment.
"Hmm—I'm not sure whether they're actually good at it, Mommy. But I do know a few young men from my village who often train in martial arts."
Yunus glanced briefly at the rearview mirror.
"Do you... need a personal bodyguard, Mommy?"
And... well, that was how it was. The title "Mommy" had replaced "Madam" for Viora, and it had become perfectly ordinary—and rather boring—to her. It wasn't used only by the family, either. Everyone in her household called her that, including the driver and the housekeepers.
At first, the people who worked there had felt awkward when Viora gave herself that title after getting married. But over time, they grew used to it, especially after the couple had a beautiful daughter.
"Yes, sir. After what happened during the protest yesterday, I feel scared to leave the house. Especially when I'm using a government car like this. It's just for my own protection—and Zera's too. You know how busy Arven has been since he ran for office and got elected, right, sir?!" Viora replied with a long sigh.
Zera—Viora's daughter's nickname—was now nine years old and attended fourth grade at an international elementary school. Viora was the one who drove her daughter to and from school every day, accompanied by her driver.
"All right, Mommy. I'll try to find the best among them—someone who's willing and serious about the job, of course."
"Hmm, I'll send Yunus a chat later with all the requirements, including the salary and benefits."
"Yes, Mommy!"
Not long afterward, the car reached its destination—a high-end salon in the city.
The driver opened the door and made sure the area was safe. As soon as Viora stepped out, she hurried toward the salon's entrance. The driver waited inside the car in the parking lot connected to the neighboring building.
Unbeknownst to them, from across the street in the narrow alleys between the buildings, several pairs of eyes were watching the red-plated car. As if they had found fresh prey, they gathered into a group driven by nothing but horrifying ambition.
Some of them already carried small protest banners. Most of them also gripped various blunt objects, ready to turn them on their target. A few even had gasoline and matches.
Like a doctrine firmly embedded in their minds, they saw the object before them as an enemy of the state that had to be eradicated, brought down, and even burned to the ground if necessary.
A man with a dragon tattoo on his arm stepped forward.
"Do you see that red-plated car in front of the salon?" he asked, looking from one person around him to the next.
Everyone nodded. The man continued.
"That's one of our targets today. Corrupt officials using state facilities for their personal business. You know what you have to do, don't you?"
Everyone agreed. One of the others stepped forward.
"We have to move fast. No negotiations. They're all our enemies!" he declared with fiery enthusiasm.
"AGREED...!"