I am the Entertainment Tycoon-Chapter 915: Unleashed Kraken

Flower Bunny Inn, Moon Blossom Village, Heartwood Mountains.

2:02 PM, Friday, April 30th.

After the initial barrage of messages, each one a testament to their frustration and, perhaps, a touch of playful indignation, Theo's friends and companions began to stir. The sheer deliciousness of the breakfast spread Theo had apparently indulged in, glimpsed through the earlier messages, had an unexpected side effect: it amplified their already simmering hunger. The thought of his solitary feast and his enjoyment of the mountain view while they were left to their own devices fueled a collective yearning for something more, and perhaps, a bit of playful retribution.

With renewed purpose, they all got up and started the process of getting ready to leave their respective rooms. This wasn't just about satisfying their hunger; it was about confronting Theo and his seemingly selfish enjoyment. About thirty minutes later, a small contingent of them converged on the inn's sun-drenched terrace, the chosen location for their morning reunion, eager to witness firsthand the evidence of Theo's betrayal.

Ayia, Aurora, Kaori, and Shizuka arrived first, their footsteps echoing softly on the flagstone patio. Aurora, ever the most boisterous, immediately addressed Theo, her voice laced with a teasing affection. "Big brother!" she exclaimed, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "It seems I'll have to discipline you for this."

Ayia followed suit, her expression adopting a mock seriousness that did little to hide the amusement dancing on her lips. "Theodore!" she declared, placing her hands on her hips in a classic posture of mock disapproval as she looked at her boyfriend. "What am I going to do with you?" The question was rhetorical, of course, as the corner of her mouth twitched, betraying her struggle to maintain her stern facade.

Theo, instead of offering a defense or an apology, responded with a hearty, unrestrained burst of laughter. He found their playful accusations immensely amusing.

"And he laughs!" Aurora exclaimed, pointing a playful finger at him. "Ayia, come on! Let's attack him!" The suggestion was met with an immediate nod from Ayia, who was clearly enjoying the opportunity for a bit of lighthearted revenge.

Without further preamble, the two women descended upon Theo, their hands finding the most ticklish spots with practiced ease. Theo, caught completely off guard, doubled over, his laughter escalating into a cascade of amused protests.

"HAHAHA, COME ON," he gasped between loud forced laughter, "Somebody.... help..."

His calls for assistance were met not with rescue, but with the satisfied grins of Kaori and Shizuka, who had arrived shortly after and were now observing the scene with evident amusement. They watched with a quiet contentment as Ayia and Aurora administered their discipline, a silent affirmation of their shared experience.

It was amidst this spirited display, this playful punishment for Theo's solitary indulgence, that the rest of the group arrived on the terrace. Drawn by the sounds of laughter and merriment, they joined Kaori and Shizuka, their faces breaking into smiles as they, too, enjoyed the delightful spectacle of Ayia and Aurora collectively disciplining Theo. This, they all silently agreed, was the perfect, albeit slightly mischievous, way to ensure he learned his lesson about making them jealous with his delicious breakfast secrets.

A while later, after everyone was satisfied with Theo's punishment, he was finally free from Aurora and Ayia's tickling hands.

Everyone quickly found seats near Theo, as he was seated in a nice spot with shade from the sun and a nice view of the mountains and the village.

Meanwhile, Theo was sprawled on his seat with vacant eyes as he tried to catch his breath.

"You guys are mean." It was the only thing Theo could say.

The post-tickle exhaustion settled over Theo like a warm, if slightly violated, blanket. He lay there, a disheveled heap of laughter and mild indignity, while the rest of the Detective Gang, now fully alert and united by a common enemy (his earlier bliss), began to chatter amongst themselves. The initial wave of sleepiness had given way to a gnawing, primal hunger.

Sam, ever the culinary prophet, was the first to voice the collective sentiment. "Seriously, though," she announced, patting her stomach with a theatrical flourish, "my stomach thinks my throat has been cut. I could eat a whole… well, a whole lot of pastries. Maybe even those opera-singing walnut ones Theo *might* have left."

A chorus of agreement rippled through the group, punctuated by various rumblings and declarations of impending starvation.

It was then that Gwen, who had managed to locate her rogue sock (apparently, Theo had picked the socks after she had thrown away last night), added, "It's past lunch, isn't it? The majority of the restaurants must have ended their lunch services by now."

A collective groan echoed across the terrace. The idyllic image of enjoying a leisurely afternoon was swiftly replaced by the harsh reality of empty stomachs and closed eateries.

Sayuri mumbled, "My internal clock says it's teatime, but my stomach says it's about to file a formal complaint."

Shizuka scanned the horizon. "The village seems awfully quiet. It's like everyone collectively decided to shut down for a siesta, conveniently forgetting our dietary needs."

Just as despair began to set in, Theo, with a triumphant (and slightly smug) grin, pushed himself up. "Worry not, my famished friends!" he declared, dusting imaginary crumbs off his shirt. "While the village might be taking a break, the Flower Bunny Inn is still in operation. I'm pretty sure they'd be happy to whip up a feast for our very own Detective Gang. I also woke up past the breakfast service, but I asked for room service and I was able to enjoy a delicious feast, you know? But what I'm saying, of course, you guys know, I sent a picture of it to you all." Theo said with a smug smile.

At that moment, everyone gnashed their teeth as they had to take his smug expression.

"I don't know, guys." Max suddenly said, "But I feel like Ayia and Aurora's time disciplining Theo was kind of short, don't you think?"

Everyone let out small smiles as they seriously considered unleashing the kraken once again.

"OKAY, Okay! I surrender!" Theo quickly announced his defeat before he was tortured again.

After making Theo surrender again, they considered Theo's idea, and a wave of hopeful murmurs swept through the group. The idea of a home-cooked meal, prepared by the inn's own chefs, was infinitely more appealing than scavenging for stray crumbs or confronting the terrifying prospect of making their own food.

Ayia, ever the voice of reason and a discerning palate, chimed in, "As long as we order some pies, I'm in. And perhaps something that doesn't require a search party to locate."

Samantha added, "As long as it's *food* and not just existential dread delivered on a plate, I'll consider it a win."

With Theo taking the lead, they all called for an inn employee and made their order, the promise of a delicious, albeit slightly delayed, lunch banishing the last vestiges of their morning grogginess. The Heartwood Mountains, bathed in the afternoon sun, seemed to nod in approval of this sensible, hunger-driven decision.