Half an hour later, the Reaper arrived.

Though only B-Rank, his ability was unique: glimpsing the fragmented memories of the recently deceased. This made him exceptionally valuable to The Alliance. Nearly half their forces accompanied him now—five or six SS Rank operatives trailing behind, eyes sharp with vigilance.

The Reaper knelt beside Mo Dou’s lifeless body, palm pressed to the man’s temple, eyes shut.

Raven watched in silence, awaiting the truth.

Behind the Reaper, the SS Rank guards tensed like coiled springs, staring at Raven. Their leader—the strongest SS Rank woman among them—was on her knees nearby, sobbing like a child.

Ten minutes passed. The Reaper wiped sweat from his brow and began his report.

“A year ago, during a mission, Rose implanted a rose seed inside Mo Dou’s skull. From that moment, he became her puppet. The seed lay dormant… waiting to bloom.”

“Today, Rose commanded him to strike Silver Lady during negotiations—to cripple or kill her. Her goal? To lure you out, Raven. To provoke your rage… and make you destroy The Alliance.”

His voice trembled. The notion was absurd. Everyone knew The Alliance’s might. Yet Rose’s order was chillingly clear: *Rage, Raven. Shatter them all.*

*How could he possibly do that?!*

Raven stood, exhaling slowly. “Blood demands blood. He died long ago. Now he hunts my people. I ended him. Is that a problem?”

“No,” Su Nisheng breathed.

“Good. Then let’s continue negotiations. What share does The Alliance want?”

Raven’s gaze was unexpectedly gentle. Su Nisheng couldn’t explain why it felt that way.

“One percent… is enough.” She had the authority to decide.

“Make it two.” Raven’s tone was casual. He turned to Cat Gem.

She still knelt on the floor, tears streaking her face, snot bubbles forming at her nose.

Raven crouched, producing a tissue from nowhere. He dabbed her cheeks. Cat Gem lifted her head, eyes burning like a demon’s. “I’ll kill you!”

“Patience.”

He snapped his fingers.

Shattered sword fragments levitated, reassembling mid-air until seamless. Raven caught the blade, testing its bend. This time, it resisted snapping—only curving slightly before he straightened it.

“I increased its hardness fivefold. Same weight. No need to relearn its balance.” He tapped the blade against her palm. “Next time someone tries to break it… don’t point it at me. Or I won’t fix it again.”

A playful flick to her forehead. A warning.

His eyes swept over the SS Rank operatives still glaring at him, amusement glinting in his gaze.

“Well? Are you staying to challenge me?”

“Stand down,” Su Nisheng ordered, voice low.

The SS Rank guards didn’t retreat. Their power placed them among the world’s elite—why fear now? Capturing Raven would be the ultimate triumph after years of pursuit.

Cat Gem rose, staring at her restored sword for seconds. She turned to the operatives, forcing composure through a hoarse, tear-roughened voice:

“*Stand down!*”

“Acknowledged!”

Her clearance outranked theirs. Raven watched silently as she whirled toward him, eyes locked on his.

“Next time we meet… I’ll capture you. And lock you away.”

“Try again after you break through SS Rank.” Raven shrugged lightly, watching them leave. Su Nisheng stood last, studying his eyes without blinking.

Seven seconds of silence.

Then she turned and followed the others.

………………………………

Raven removed his mask. Lin Ran stood before Silver Lady’s bathroom door. Through the fogged glass, he watched the silhouette of her body shift under the shower spray. Water whispered over her skin.

“Master… join Silver Lady?” Her voice was warm, inviting.

“Don’t be silly. How bad are your injuries?”

“Nothing serious. If Mo Dou hadn’t interfered, I’d have taken three of Cat Gem’s lives.”

“Wash quickly. I want to check your wounds after.”

“Then… Silver Lady is coming out.”

“Put clothes on first.”

“But Master’s seen everything… Silver Lady’s figure is far better than Ink Orange Ice’s.”

“Her legs *are* longer.”

“But Silver Lady’s chest is fuller. Rounder. And *there*…” Her voice dropped to a murmur. “So pretty. Pink. Master might get addicted if he tries just one bite…”

“Keep talking like that, and I’ll leave.”

“Silver Lady is dressing now!” A hint of petulance colored her reply.

……………………………………

In the office, Lin Ran stared at the rose in his palm.

“This flower… Rose made it?”

“Yes.”

“But I’ve never met her. Never provoked her.” Silver Lady frowned, puzzled.

“It’s about me. She recently learned my current title. Connecting the dots… this was a test.”

“I’ll handle it.” Lin Ran ruffled her hair gently—a gesture for a little sister, though she was a statuesque beauty.

She leaned into his touch anyway, nuzzling his palm. “Master… what games do you play with Ink Orange Ice?”

“Video games.”

“*What kind* of games? The kind where she cries and begs?”

“Normal games.”

“So… games where she cries. There must be some. Master…” Her voice turned coy. “I can do anything she does. Bind me. Use a little whip. I’ll wear a cat tail. Or a dog tail? Or fox?”

“How do you know these things?”

“She buys toys with *my* money. Of course I know where it goes.” Her tone soured.

“Alright.”

“Master… do you stay with her because you know she’ll never love you?”

“Why ask that?”

“After she hits SS Rank… what then? After years of care, she must be useful. More than just… warming your bed.”

“I’ll let her go. Wherever she wants.”

“And when you’re lonely?” Silver Lady searched his eyes, hope flickering in her own.

“What do *you* think?” Lin Ran pinched her cheek lightly.

“Silver Lady understands.”

“Understands *what*? Are you so afraid of leaving me?”

“If Master abandons me… I’ll die again. I live only because you exist. That’s my entire reason.” Her hand rested over her heart.

Lin Ran sighed, leaning close to her ear. “I want you to live for *yourself*. Understand?”

“I’ll learn… slowly. Master can teach me.” She nuzzled his shoulder, tracing his chest with a fingertip. “I’m hungry again.”

“You’re impossible. Let’s cook.”

“And dessert after?”

“No.”

“Fine… *I’ll* cook then.”

Silver Lady tied an apron. Lin Ran leaned against the kitchen doorway, watching her move. Her profile caught the light. He smiled softly.

“Stop calling me ‘Master.’”

“No.”

“We’re the same age.”

“It doesn’t matter. ‘Master’ is mine alone. My gift to you. No one else may say it.”

Lin Ran considered this, then let it be.

Her cooking surpassed his. They ate quietly, chatting. Afterward, he wiped a stray grain of rice from her lip. “I should go.”

“Wait.”

Her fingers caught his collar.

“What is it?”

“Silver Lady wants… to leave her mark on Master’s neck too.”

“…You noticed?”

He’d iced the spot all morning. Su Nisheng’s “strawberry mark” had faded to a faint shadow—yet Silver Lady saw it.

*No hiding now.*

She beamed, pulling him down for a kiss.

“I’m leaving now?”

She admired the fresh mark on his neck, radiant.

Lin Ran snapped his fingers. Vanished.

………………………………

Alliance High Command Chamber.

“I propose… upgrading Raven’s classification to Triple S Rank.” Cat Gem’s voice was ice. The words detonated in the room. Every face froze.

She gave a bitter smile. “I couldn’t touch him. Didn’t even see his ability. If he’s psychic, he shouldn’t move that fast. I don’t know how he took my sword. Even using all six of my remaining lives… I might not kill him. I have no confidence.”

“Threat assessment?” The figure at the head of the table asked coolly.

Debate erupted. Su Nisheng spoke quietly:

“B-Rank.”

Silence. The suggestion was absurdly low. Yet the leader tapped the table once. Her voice cut through the room, absolute:

“B-Rank it is.”

The chamber fell utterly still.