Chapter 166 - Chapter 166 — State Your Purpose

The café went quiet in a way that hurt the ears. 😶‍🌫️🔇

Laddu opened the black bag. 👜⬛

Slowly. 🐢Too calmly. 😌

He lifted out the shotgun. 🔫Checked the weight. ⚖️Familiar.Comfortable. 😐👌

Barfi nodded. 🙇‍♂️"I modified it for you." 🛠️

Laddu didn't look at him."I can tell." 👀❌

Barfi reached into the bag again and pulled out his rifle. 🎒➡️🔫

Metal clicked. 🔩🔊Magazines slid in. 📦⬇️Two clean reloads. ✨✨

No rush. ⏳No drama. 🎭❌

The Korean girl stared. 👁️👁️

"…What are you doing?" she asked sharply. ❓⚠️

Jalabie raised his hand immediately. ✋😨"Don't shoot.""Please." 🙏

He looked at Laddu. 👀Then at Barfi. 👀

"Not needed." 🚫

Laddu didn't point the gun.

He just held it. 🤲

Low. ⬇️Relaxed. 😌

Like a farmer holding a tool. 🌾🧑‍🌾

The two bodyguards froze. 🧍‍♂️🧍‍♂️❄️Caught between training 🎖️ and very human fear 😰

The Korean girl swallowed. 😮

Now all three of them stood there. 🧍‍♀️🧍‍♂️🧍‍♂️

Guns in Laddu and Barfi's hands. 🔫🔫Silence in the room. 🤫

Laddu tilted his head slightly 🤔 and smiled. 🙂

"Hey," he said politely."Girl." 👋

Everyone flinched 😖 at how casual it sounded.

"State your purpose." 📜

The words landed heavy. ⚖️💥Not threatening. 🚫😡Official. 🏛️

The Korean girl straightened her coat. 🧥✨

"I came to take my employee," she said."He disappeared." 🕵️‍♂️

Jalabie sighed. 😮‍💨"I was eating." 🍽️

Laddu nodded. 👍"Valid reason." ✅

Barfi added, deadpan. 😐"Very valid." ✔️✔️

Laddu looked back at the girl. 👁️

"He is our friend," Laddu said calmly. 🤝"And tonight, he is family." 🏠❤️

Maya whispered. 🤫"…This escalated." 📈😬

Mother held Candy tighter. 🤍👩‍👧

The Korean girl hesitated. ⏸️

"I don't want trouble," she said. 🕊️

Laddu smiled faintly. 🙂

"Good," he replied."Neither do we." 🤝

He shifted the shotgun slightly. 🔫↔️Still not aiming. ❌🎯

"Then let's talk," Laddu said. 🗣️"No dragging." 🚫🫳"No suits lifting people." 🚫👔"No loud entrances." 🚪🔕

Barfi nodded. 👍"Inside voice." 🤫

Jalabie folded his arms. 💪"I will return to work," he said."After dinner." 🍛⏰

Silence. 🤐

The Korean girl looked at the guns 🔫At the family 👨‍👩‍👧At the child in Mother's arms 👶🤍

She exhaled. 😮‍💨

"…One hour," she said. ⏱️

Laddu nodded once. ✔️"Tea?" ☕🙂

She didn't answer. 😐

She turned and signaled the bodyguards to step back. 👉🧍‍♂️🧍‍♂️⬅️

They did. 👍

The door closed. 🚪🔒

The café breathed again. 😮‍💨🌬️

Laddu gently placed the shotgun on the table. 🔫➡️🪵Barfi did the same with the rifle. 🔫➡️🪵

Jalabie cracked his neck. 🤸‍♂️"Now," he said,"who was talking about romance?" 💘😏

Maya collapsed into a chair. 🪑💥"I need therapy." 🛋️😵

Candy whispered from Mother's arms. 👶"…That was cool." 😎✨

Laddu sighed. 😮‍💨"Next time," he said,"we lock the door." 🔐

Peace returned. ☮️Messy. 🌀Temporary. ⏳But real. 🌿💚

🔫 Opinions About Weapons (Unnecessary Edition) 🤦‍♂️

Jalabie looked at the shotgun with genuine interest. 👀✨"I also want one," he said seriously. 😐"But Korea has very strict law." 🚫⚖️🇰🇷

Barfi nodded. 👍"Very strict." 🔒

Mother finally found her voice. 🗣️"…Why do you even have guns?" ❓🔫

Laddu answered immediately. ⚡"Very simple," he said."Men love weapons." 🧔‍♂️❤️🔫

Maya stared. 😐😑"That's your explanation?" ❓

"Yes," Laddu nodded. 👍"Same reason women love bags." 👜❤️

Mother pinched the bridge of her nose. 🤦‍♀️💢

"Put them away," she ordered. 👩‍⚖️

No argument. ❌🗣️

Barfi packed his rifle carefully. 🎒🔫Laddu wiped the shotgun 🧻🔫, checked the safety ✔️, and placed it back in the bag. 👜

Zip. 🤐

The tension left the room the moment the bag disappeared. 🌬️✨

Mother pointed to the table. 👉🪑"Sit. Eat." 🍽️

Everyone obeyed. 🙇‍♂️🙇‍♀️🍚

🍚 Food Therapy Begins 🍗

Plates came out. 🍽️🍽️

Rice. 🍚Chicken. 🍗Simple food. 🥣

Jalabie ate like a man who had done two hundred push-ups for no reason. 💪😤"This is good," he said. 👍😋

Mother nodded proudly. 😊"Home food." 🏠🍳

Barfi chewed quietly. 🤫"That demon we were fighting," he said suddenly,"problem is speed. Not strength." ⚡❌💪

Laddu nodded while eating. 🍽️👍"So trap, not chase." 🪤➡️❌🏃

"Yes," Barfi agreed. ✔️"Environment kill." 🌍☠️

Maya blinked. 😳"Are you discussing demon strategy?" 👹📊

Candy whispered. 🤫"…Over dinner." 🍽️😶

Jalabie swallowed and added calmly. 😐"Same with people." 👥

Everyone paused. ⏸️😶

"If someone is noisy," Jalabie continued,"don't fight." 🚫🥊"Remove attention." 👀❌

Mother looked at him thoughtfully. 🤔"That's true," she said. ✔️

Mochi finally relaxed, sipping water. 💧😌"Problems get smaller," she said,"when everyone sits and eats first." 🍽️🫶

Laddu smiled at her. 😊"Yes," he agreed."Hungry people think badly." 🧠🍽️❌

Candy nodded seriously. 👶"I become villain when hungry." 😈🍪❌

Laughter returned. 😂🤣

No guns. 🚫🔫No shouting. 🚫📢

Just food 🍚, tired bodies 😴, and honest talk 💬

For tonight ☾

That was enough protection. 🕊️✨