Chapter 51: Reunion
More than two months later,
Inside the classroom, the soft, warm light from outside the window spilled onto the back row, draping over a small head with a cluster of dark green curly hair resting on the desk.
It was a bit hot.
She opened her eyes dizzily, her eyelashes trembling as the sunlight blurred into a fuzzy, warm glow in her vision.
The pen she had been spinning subconsciously slipped from her hand and fell to the floor, rolling to the corner of a nearby desk.
A curtain of red hair from the adjacent seat hung down.
The girl bent down to pick up the pen and handed it back to her.
"Thanks, Jane." Lorna took the pen, her voice still laced with the laziness of someone who had just woken up, sounding as if it were being squeezed out of her throat.
"Sleeping in Andy's class isn't a good idea." Jane withdrew her hand, her gaze sweeping across the podium.
The female teacher stood with her back to the classroom, writing something on the blackboard as chalk dust drifted down.
"It's not my fault; it's the sunlight's fault. It makes me sleepy." Lorna shrugged, her chin still resting on her crossed arms.
"And..."
She turned her head to look at another empty seat nearby, where the chair was tilted.
"Laura has already bolted."
Ring, ring—
The bell for the end of class rang.
"Looks like I woke up right on time."
Lorna straightened up, grabbed her backpack, and slung it over the shoulder of her black leather jacket.
Sunlight streamed in through the window and bathed her face, coating her cool, pale skin in an overly incandescent halo.
She turned her head, her aggressive fox-like eyes blinking at Mary Jane, the iron ring on her earlobe swaying as she stood up.
"Uh... cough..."
Mary Jane stared blankly, as if dazed by the light, before guiltily looking away.
"Are you... planning to go back this afternoon?" She rubbed her reddened ears, a hint of anticipation showing on her freckled face, her tone feigning casualness.
"Maybe... we could go to the new bakery nearby and have some of their signature vanilla jasmine pudding."
"Hmm?" Lorna curled her lip, not thinking much of it.
"Hmm... sure. I'll go ask Laura."
"Great!" Mary Jane smiled, her eyes crinkling into slits.
"Remember, hand in your biology lab reports to my office by tomorrow afternoon at the latest."
The female teacher shouted toward the rapidly emptying classroom.
No one responded.
Compared to the dull classroom, they much preferred to take a breath of fresh air outside before worrying about anything else.
In the hallway, by the lockers.
Laura sat huddled in a corner, her back against her backpack, with a comic book spread across her knees.
She had a candy stick in her mouth, chewing away, her cheeks bulging in and out.
Over the course of two months, her messy short hair had grown to ear-length, and she had tied it into a small ponytail that sat crookedly at the back of her head.
The footsteps passing by grew more frequent, and the noisy, laughing figures fragmented the light above her.
"Hey! Laura, want to go play ball later? We're short a forward." Several tall boys stopped in the middle of the hallway.
"Not interested."
Laura closed the comic book and stood up, cracking her neck with one hand. Her knuckles popped softly, and she didn't even bother to lift her eyelids on her heroic face.
"Come on, do us a favor."
"Do you want me to break your ribs?"
The boys choked on their words, glanced at each other, and sullenly moved away, skirting around her.
"You could be a bit friendlier, Laura." Mary Janeapproached, her tone tinged with helplessness.
Laura stuffed the comic book into the front pocket of her white hoodie, picked up her flattened backpack, and gave it a couple of pats.
"They don't like me for my personality; it's because I'm strong. They want me to fit in because they don't want someone outside their group to be so powerful—it makes them look mediocre."
Mary Jane opened her mouth, then closed it again.
After all, not everyone breaks someone's leg on their first day just for being laughed at, only to show up for class the next day as if nothing happened—no punishment, no parents.
"Let's go." Lorna walked over and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Laura.
Both of them turned to look at Mary Jane at the same time, their different eyes sharing a similar cold gaze.
"I love them both!"
Mary Jane took a breath, swallowing the shout that almost burst from her throat, her lips tightening into a dignified smile.
The two girls turned and walked toward the exit.
Mary Jane stood where she was, watching the two figures walk down the hallway.
It wasn't just her.
There were also some boys and girls casting glances in their direction.
This kind of rebellious and free style was a fatal attraction for people of this age group, sparking envy and jealousy.
"Stop looking, Peter Patton. You're not good enough for Lorna or Laura."
Several burly boys in jerseys swarmed from behind, passing a boy with thick glasses.
He was huddled by the lockers like a fungus growing in a corner.
"They definitely don't like those dead rats you keep."
One of them raised a hand and slapped him on the back of the head.
"Ew~ nothing but hair grease."
The one who slapped him shook his hand in disgust and then wiped it on Patton's old jacket.
Patton didn't move, his head bowed and shoulders slumped, waiting for their footsteps to fade away.
Then he looked up, a flash of resentment flickering in his shifting eyes.
He looked left and right, catching sight of Mary Janewatching from not far away.
The moment their eyes met, he shrank back.
Bowing his head and slumping his shoulders, he quickly disappeared around the corner of the hallway.
Lorna and Laura walked out of the school gates and hopped onto a random tram.
The money Green left was enough for them to take one of those expensive yellow taxis, but neither wanted to go back—back to that room where so little of his presence remained.
It was strange; they had only spent less than two days together, yet the sense of security he provided was something that nothing else could fill.
They found a transverse seat and sat down together.
"Jane said we should go get dessert this afternoon. Are you going?" Lorna pulled out her wired earphones, plugged them into her phone, put one in, and started scrolling through videos with her head down.
"I don't mind." Laura pulled out her comic book, picking up where she had left off.
The two were silent, their gazes somewhat vacant, unsure if they were focusing on something or using something to hide their thoughts.
The sunlight behind them painted patterns of light and shadow at their feet.
There were few people in the carriage. At the other end, a few hippies were messing around. One of them, a Black man, happened to glance over, lust seeping from his narrowed eyes.
He scratched the sparse stubble around his mouth and patted his companion. Understanding his intent, several of them grabbed the poles and stood up, heading this way.
"Disgusting rats." Laura noticed immediately. Her lips thinned, and sharp wolf claws began to slowly pierce through the skin between her knuckles.
Lorna was still scrolling through her phone, her eyes downcast, but a coldness welled up within them.
Dark green energy seeped from the gaps between her fingers, and the surrounding metal objects began to creak and groan.
Just then, the tram reached a stop. The front door opened, and an exceptionally tall figure squeezed into the carriage under the astonished gazes of everyone inside.
Scars at the corners of his mouth, spiky hair hanging down as if he hadn't fully woken up, and narrow eyes.
The wired earphones on his chest swayed with his broad frame.
His eyes turned to look at the two girls.
They saw a flash of surprise and joy in his eyes, and their bodies immediately relaxed, their gazes fixed intently on him.
"Hmph." Green walked over with his head slightly bowed.
He casually grabbed the railing in front of the girls, shielding them.
Their small heads tilted up to watch him as he approached.
Meanwhile, Green looked toward those "American specialties."
Seeing Green's physique, they stopped their advance and looked at him.
"Hey, bro, we just wanted to get to know them. You want them all to yourself?"
"Exactly. We saw these two beauties first."
They joked, chiming in one after another.
However, their words didn't reach the girls' ears. Their eyes were filled only with the figure of the man before them.
"So noisy, right?"
"Yeah." The two girls nodded in unison.
Two seconds later, they were on their knees, blood dripping from their mouths as they stammered, searching for their tongues.
Blood mixed with saliva spread across the floor.
The people nearby were as quiet as cicadas in winter, silently shifting away.
Green took the tissue Laura handed him and wiped the blood from his hands.
The tissue was quickly soaked. He casually tossed it onto the floor and sat down between the two girls.
Lorna threw her arms around Green, her hair hanging down as she buried her face in his abdomen.
Her fingers gripped the fabric at his waist very tightly.
"How did you find us?" Lorna asked muffledly.
"How could I not be familiar with the scent of my own puppy?" Green casually threw the tissue onto the hippie in front of him.
The tissue landed on his shoulder and then slid to the floor. They didn't dare speak—oh, right, they couldn't speak anymore.
"You've been gone for so long."
Laura leaned back against him familiarly, the back of her head resting against his arm.
Looking at the comic in her hands, it suddenly seemed interesting again. Her small feet kicked back and forth under the seat.
"It wasn't that long..."
He had enjoyed himself out there and only remembered last week that there were kids waiting for him at home.
"Gwen, she moved back a few days ago."
"Yeah, I know." Green had gone home earlier and found out. Her things were still there, though, so it seemed Georgehad picked her up.
"Are you in a hurry to leave again?" Lorna asked.
Her face was tilted up, eyes full of anticipation. Her cool demeanor had vanished, replaced by a small, dependent inquiry.
"Do you want me to stay with you?" Green looked down, tilting her chin up with his hand as he chuckled.
Like a slippery fish, she let out a shy murmur and buried her head back in his lap, but soon, a vibrating "Mm-hmm" could be heard.
"I just want to remember you more. When you're gone for too long, I have nightmares. Waking up without you, I started to think you were just a hallucination I imagined."
"And now?"
"Now it's fine..."
"Heh." Green rubbed her small head. Beside him, Laurawas also quietly smiling, the corner of her mouth twitching up before she suppressed it.
"Let's have fish with pickled cabbage for lunch today."
"Agreed." Laura responded immediately.
"Okay."
"Three more stops. No rush." Green leaned his head against the window. The sunlight outside hit the side of his face, his eyelashes casting a small shadow under his eyelids.
A small hand quietly reached for his ear, took out one earphone, and plugged it into her own ear.
The earphone cord hung down, swaying between them like an extra connection.
There were more shadows in the carriage and less sunlight, yet it felt warmer than usual.
Although the sunlight on the floor was tinged with the color of blood, it didn't affect the girls' moods at all.
The two little ones snuggled against the big one.
One leaned against his shoulder, while the other burrowed into his embrace.
Behind them, the golden scenery receded and changed rapidly—buildings, trees, and billboards flashing by.
Chapter 52: Homelander Visits
Click.
The door opened. Laura stretched, rubbed her feet together to kick off her sneakers, and walked barefoot out of the entryway.
She took a big leap and stuffed herself into the sofa. The cushion bounced, and she picked up the remote to turn on the TV.
"Recently, the individual codenamed Hulk, also known as the physicist Bruce Banner, has escaped multiple capture attempts by the Military. He is considered an extremely dangerous individual. According to information released by the head of the capture operation, General Ross, the subject may be carrying radioactive gamma radiation. Citizens who spot him are urged to call the hotline..."
Amidst the female anchor's report on TV, the door closed.
Lorna helped Green carry in a case of beer. The box was a bit heavy, so she switched hands.
Green followed behind, carrying groceries. After putting the items away, Lorna lay down next to Laura, causing the sofa to sink again.
Green took a swig of beer.
The knife brushed the water off the cutting board. He placed the fresh fish on it, chopped off the head, snapped the spine, scooped out the innards, held down the still-twitching fish body, and scraped off the scales.
Then, he sliced the fish meat into thin fillets and cut the bones into chunks.
Salt, pepper, cooking wine, egg white, starch, and the half-bottle of leftover beer were mixed in and massaged into the fish to marinate.
He stir-fried pickled vegetables, added seasonings to simmer the fish bone broth, then added the fish fillets. Very quickly, a steaming hot bowl of fish with pickled vegetables was ready, and the rice was cooked too.
Laura appeared right on time at the kitchen door. She hugged the tableware and trotted out. The bowls and chopsticks clattered. Lorna brought the drinks, and the two little ones and one big one sat on the sofa.
"Ah—" Laura brought a fish fillet to her mouth, the steam rising.
Ding-dong—
The doorbell rang.
The three of them froze. Green picked up the remote and switched the screen to show the camera feed at the door.
Homelander was standing on the doormat, holding a can of beer and a pizza, his head tilted forward as he peered into the peephole.
"Hey! Bro, can you see me?" he shouted.
Lorna looked at the Homelander being interviewed on the TV channel, then looked at the Homelander visiting at the door.
She turned her gaze to Green.
"Extra food." Green shrugged.
Before he came back, this guy had video-called to ask when he would return, so he gave him a time.
He put down his chopsticks, stood up, walked to the door, and opened it.
"Thin-crust cheese pizza from that place on Third Avenue and wheat beer."
Homelander held up the items in his hands, the paper bag swaying in front of him. He also smelled the rich aroma wafting from the room, and his Adam's apple bobbed.
"Did you make Chinese food?"
"Should I say you came at the right time?"
"Come on, Man, let's heat up our relationship a bit more."
"Come on in."
Green stepped aside to let him in and closed the door.
"Hey! Little Wolverine, and dear Tinkerbell." Homelandergreeted the two girls.
[Note: Tinkerbell is from "Peter Pan," the little fairy (pixie) beside Peter Pan, with iconic green short hair.]
"Hmph." Laura wasn't shy; she just tilted her chin at him.
"Here." Lorna handed Homelander a cushion.
"Thanks, you're very thoughtful."
Homelander grinned, but having smiled too much, the arc of his mouth began to stiffen—it was too standard.
He pushed his cape behind him and sat down with a thud.
"Oh, right, while you were away, they called me once when they were at school. It wasn't a big deal; I already handled it."
He didn't stand on ceremony, reaching out to snatch the chopsticks from Green's hand to grab a piece of fish and stuff it into his mouth.
"American schools are just like that. If you don't join a clique, they assume you're fair game. They start by mocking you, and if you don't fight back, they just escalate."
"But back then, after I accidentally opened up someone's brain with a baseball bat, I stopped getting the bullying treatment."
"And they won't either, I promise. After all, we're best friends. Yours... I have to protect."
As he spoke, Homelander cast a look at Green, that kind of knowing, mischievous look between men.
"Hmph." Green didn't take the bait.
He also noticed a small patch of concealer on Homelander's left eye. The color was a shade lighter than his skin, the edges weren't blended, and a faint bruise showed underneath.
Seeing that Green didn't deny it, Homelander's eyes narrowed, and a smile squeezed out from the fine lines at the corners of his eyes.
His gaze slid to the side. Lorna was peeking at Green, but when she met Homelander's eyes, she quickly lowered her head.
He glanced at Laura, who had opened the pizza box and was taking big bites. She acted as if she hadn't heard anything.
"Looks like you really do like this type." Homelander turned his gaze back to Green's face.
"Though, they probably can't handle your type. Your little fangirl Zoe might have a chance, though."
"Who is Zoe?!" Laura straightened her back instantly.
"I'm full!" Lorna grabbed Laura's arm, dug her fingers into the crook of her elbow, and pulled hard.
"I want to know..." Laura was dragged away, her feet kicking backward.
Bang, the door was closed.
"Can't the food even shut your damn mouth?" Green kicked him, annoyed.
"Why don't you just go to the Bohemian Club and suck on something? It'd be better than being an eyesore here."
[Note: The Bohemian Club is the most classic "men-only club" (gay-oriented) in the United States.]
"Green, when did you become so shy?"
Homelander fell back, covering his eyes and laughing, his shoulders shaking.
"Did you come here to provoke me? Congratulations, you succeeded."
Green opened a beer and took a sip, his Adam's apple bobbing. He grabbed Homelander and pulled him up.
"That idiot Translucent got killed by someone." Homelander took over, his expression darkening.
"If he's dead, he's dead, but it's affecting my approval ratings. Now I'm searching everywhere for those anti-Supebastards, and I have to pick someone to take his place."
He snatched Green's bottle and tilted his head back for a gulp.
"And what about that bruise on your face? Did Maeve beat you up?"
Snap!
Homelander crushed the beer can with one hand; foam mixed with beer splashed out from between his fingers and dripped onto his pants.
He turned his head mechanically to look at Green, his facial muscles twitching, the corners of his mouth pulling down, his eyes fierce.
"What? Did I hit a sore spot?"
Green remained calm, picking up a piece of fish and putting it into his mouth.
"Or did she betray you? I can help you kill her; she has a girlfriend she loves very much."
Homelander stared at him for a few seconds, then his shoulders slumped.
"No, we had a disagreement."
"There was a hijacking. I accidentally killed the pilot. There were too many people, I couldn't take them all. Maeve wanted to save a few, but I ended up turning the plane into a crash. Afterwards, she punched me."
Homelander looked up at Green.
"Do you think I did something wrong?"
"Hm?" Green picked up a piece of fish and shoveled in some rice, his cheeks bulging.
"What do you care about the most?"
"Approval ratings."
"Did them being alive affect your approval ratings?"
"They would have exposed me!" Homelander said with certainty.
"Absolutely! These scumbags were begging on the plane; once they got down, their shitty conscience would definitely kick in, and they'd spread what I did online to gain fame."
"Then isn't that settled?" Green swallowed and pointed at him with his chopsticks.
"You just have too much of an idol complex. Look at me; I fully convert the value of a target that has no use or connection to me into money in my hands."
"Yeah." Homelander's eyes lit up.
He got it!
He felt great!
He looked at Green with satisfaction.
"Sure enough, every time my conscience hurts, I come to you and realize I still have a conscience." He grinned.
"It's so good to have you."
"Hey! Your moth—" Green pointed his finger, about to start cursing.
"The recommendation for the position this time is yours to pick." Homelander interrupted, his speaking speed increasing.
"The night before the press conference, I'll book a room and send her to your bed."
Green's gesture instantly turned into a thumbs-up.
"Well done, do that more often. I'm just a small-minded person; how could I compare to you?" He nodded, his expression sincere.
"You are the true model of righteousness."
"Oh~~ That feels even better."
Homelander looked at Green's shameless demeanor and inexplicably felt he was a bit more noble in his own heart, but that thorn in his mind was still stuck, neither going up nor down.
His eyeballs trembled slightly, his jaw tightened, but his brows drooped weakly. He looked harmless and pitiful, as if he were enduring something, or perhaps trying to convince himself.
Suddenly, as if he had figured something out,
his eyelids half-closed, covering half of his blue irises, and that gaze twisted into something sinister.
His face suddenly turned ferocious, and he leaned in.
"Hey, Green."
"Hm?"
"Go and kill Maeve for me!"
Chapter 53: Rogue Punch + Rogue Kick
"Isn't she your woman?"
"I love her." Homelander's face showed a conflicted expression, gritting his teeth as he spoke. He looked at Green, his eyes slightly red, but not wet.
"But I also hate her!"
"We did the bad things together, so why does she think all the mistakes were caused by me? Didn't she participate?"
"She says I'm too deep into the role, but isn't she too?"
"Vought created hype for her, and she actually thought she was a good person?!"
"I want to see how she can act arrogant with me after you've played her into a bitch!"
His mouth twitched as he said this, not knowing if it was a smile or something else.
"Besides, haven't you done it dozens of times too? Don't tell me that flight attendant before suddenly had an epileptic seizure and couldn't even stand."
"Heh, that was purely a natural gift, it doesn't count."
"Help me do this, okay?" Homelander placed his hand on Green's shoulder.
"Sounds evil, I like it."
Green felt a strange sensation inside. Their relationship had stepped halfway into marriage, yet he was being asked by Homelander to corrupt his woman.
But it didn't really count; according to Maeve's bisexual mindset, she had already come out, and both sides were playing their own games.
"Thanks." Homelander laughed.
"Being fucked by you is better than letting her fool around with a woman, what a waste."
You're thanking me? Green's expression became even stranger, but he didn't actually say it out loud.
"You should eat more, no, eat more vegetables. If I had known you were coming, I would have cooked some greens."
"Then cook for me next time. I like green, it's environmentally friendly. I'm planning a green-themed..."
"Hey, hey, alright, alright." Green interrupted him.
"The fish is getting cold, eat quickly, while it's hot."
He put a large piece of fish into Homelander's bowl, a trace of guilt appearing in his heart, but it was crushed by the evil little Green in an instant.
As they were eating, Homelander's phone rang. He glanced at Green.
Green lit a cigarette and waved his hand, signaling it was fine.
"What is it?" Homelander answered, impatiently.
"I'm eating with my best friend!"
"What do you mean an unidentified flying object destroyed a Raptor fighter jet in Afghanistan airspace?!"
"No, no matter how big the matter is, it can't delay me and my..." He said, his face changing, his eyes glancing at Green.
Green exhaled a puff of smoke.
"Ahem." Homelander cleared his throat, "Bro, I have important business to do..."
"It's fine." Green flicked the ash, "Just go."
"Yeah." Homelander stood up and straightened the wrinkles on his cape.
"I have to come to your place often."
"You should come often." Green crushed the cigarette butt in the ashtray and got up to see him off.
"Bringing me more good news is always right, unlike some old bastard."
He remembered when he returned to The Foundation to hand over tasks, that Old Priest was still saying he wanted to carve his name on it.
If it weren't for Lucia stopping him, he would have let that old thing fly down from the 135th floor.
"Their next stage is university." Homelander said with his hands behind his back, twisting the doorknob.
"Any schools you want them to attend? Or direct admission, I can arrange it."
"That's their wish, it's still early."
Homelander stepped one foot out the door, seemed to think of something, and turned back.
"When the time comes, fuck her hard. Don't feel sorry for me. You fucking her is the same as me fucking her."
"This decision won't change in the future, you remember that!"
"You can rest assured about that."
"This was a good lunch, Bro." He walked out the door and leaped into the sky.
Green closed the door.
The room behind him opened, and Laura jumped out.
She ran in front of him, puffed out her chest, looked up at him with her chin raised, her chest almost touching his arm, then shrank back half an inch.
"I saw it, you've grown a bit." Green pushed her head away and walked to the table.
"It's not that." Laura tugged at his hand, her whole body being dragged along by him.
"Am I really not as good as that Zoe or whatever?"
"You two have no comparability."
"Why!" Lorna, who had just walked out, suddenly shouted, then quickly turned her head away, the tips of her ears red.
"Just asking..." She muttered, her fingers picking at the edge of the sofa, picking out a mark.
She had just been eavesdropping through the door. Green cared about them, and she was very happy, but he was going to do... that kind of thing with other women. Her heart felt like it had been pinched by something.
"You are all still in the cultivation phase." Green took a bite of pizza, cheese stretching out, and he bit it off.
"Lambs that cannot be eaten, no matter how sweet, are useless."
"Tsk!" Laura turned her head away.
She hatefully jumped up, wrapped her arms around his neck, stepped on his lower back, and pressed her body up, hanging on his back like a koala.
"Fight me!"
"Ah ah~ I lost." Green shouted, still chewing pizza.
The girl didn't use force. With her weight, it was just play for him. What did it matter if he let her vent?
"Not allowed to eat!" Laura stepped on Green, her legs wrapped around his neck, her feet squeezing his cheeks.
The girl's fragrance and softness pressed against him, the smell of shower gel, and a little bit of sweat.
But Laura exercised often, so she had a bit more resilience. Her calf muscles pressed against his neck, a bit hard.
And, it wasn't just her muscles that were hard...
"Tsk." Green reached out to pull her down, but she was like an unmelting piece of chewing gum, sticking to his head and refusing to move.
Lorna's eyes rolled, she trotted over and picked up the pizza, smiling slyly.
"Green, I'll feed you." She tiptoed, using one hand on his chest for leverage, and sent the pizza over.
"Good girl." A bit of gratification rose in Green's eyes, and he opened his mouth wide.
"Ah—"
Lorna raised her eyelids, looking at his defenseless appearance. A sense of timidity suddenly surged in her heart, and her breathing became rapid.
But the girl's sour and sweet jealousy seemed to give her a push from behind. She gritted her teeth and moved with her heartbeat.
The moment her hand raised, the tip of the pizza hooked Green's head to tilt slightly forward.
He subconsciously stuck out his tongue to catch it. Seeing the pizza getting closer, the next second, the tip of his tongue was gently bitten by a warm little mouth.
Green's pupils shrank suddenly, rapid breathing hitting his tongue. Even Laura was stunned, watching Lorna's reckless and brave move.
"Bad girl!" Green's heart jumped uncontrollably, and he quickly leaned back and fell, like a dragon defeated by a hero.
He pushed Lorna away, but the eyes under that dark green curly hair glared at him stubbornly, biting her lower lip, her chest hitting with her heartbeat, rising and falling rapidly.
"Hmph!" She raised her chin, her nose wrinkled, as if demonstrating, or childishly accusing something.
Green was inexplicably confused, but also found it funny.
He looked down at her helplessly, picked up the pizza that had fallen on his chest and tossed it up.
Laura's eyes lit up, and she took a bite. Before she could be proud, she was pulled down by Green to be tickled.
"Hehehe hahaha..."
She had pizza in her mouth, her eyebrows overflowing with laughter, but her teeth refused to let go.
"I'll help you!" Lorna laughed and pounced on him.
The afternoon sun spilled in, the wind lifted a corner of the curtain, sending laughter into the room unreservedly.
Light and shadow intertwined intimately with skin, oozing fine beads of sweat.
On the carpet with the little yellow duck pattern, the two tired girls curled up beside their big bear.
Laura's sweaty cheek rubbed against Green's clothes, Lorna rested on his chest, staring at the ceiling with empty eyes.
Her hair stuck to him like seaweed, the tips of her hair hooking his chin, a little itchy.
"What are we... doing?" She asked softly, as if confused, or looking for a definition.
"Wasting time valuably."
"Will it always be like this?"
"Why wouldn't it?"
Green's hand rested by her cheek. She subconsciously closed her eyes and rubbed against it, the corners of her eyes curving into a gentle arc, her breathing gradually stabilizing.
"Good..."
"Take a nap, I'll send you to school in the afternoon." Green flicked Laura's forehead, and she bit his middle finger angrily, burying her head in him.
"I know... this will be a good dream."
Lorna pressed against that rising and falling chest, like leaning on a piece of warm floating wood at sea.
The two girls snuggled up and soon fell asleep.
"Tsk, kind of want to commit a crime."
Green stared at the ceiling, his eyes struggling.
He simply called up the system panel. Speaking of which, the unlock time should be up.
[Green (Unique)]
[Essence: Human]
[destiny value]: 100%
[Core Module]
[True tyrant of heaven] — Evolution degree: 57.1%
[Evolution conditions: Continuous intake of high-purity Cursed Energy]
[Characteristic 1: Passively absorb "Cursed Energy" produced by intelligent creatures within twelve meters. The higher the target's life level, the stronger the conversion efficiency. The obtained Cursed Energy will be automatically used to strengthen the host's physique, strength, speed, and other basic combat attributes.]
[Characteristic 2: Unlimited counter-punch, adaptively adapt to any nature of the enemy's offensive during combat, and retain 1% of the corresponding resistance after the battle ends.]
[Characteristic 3: When holding any weapon, positive energy characteristics can be added, which has a special attack effect on [Evil] characteristic existences.]
[slaughter value]: 108.1%, threshold broken!
[Valyrian Dragon Remnant - Drogon] — Larval growth: 12% (Liberation Degree: 0%)
[Growth conditions: Hunt marked high-value targets]
[Characteristic: Not unfolded...]
[Blood Hunter Value]: 37%
[Infinite Module]
[Fantasy Desire]: Use destiny value to grant adaptive abilities to any unlocked template of the host.
[Charging]: Can use the template's [Desire value] to strengthen the granted ability, provided the threshold is broken.
"This [True tyrant of heaven]'s characteristic... how does it look like Mahoraga's set." Green subconsciously touched the back of his head, confirming no wheel was spinning.
"And this infinite module... does it mean I can install skill slots into the template?"
He weighed his hand. Laura was like a young wolf cub, biting his finger and not letting go, with a wet and soft suction feeling.
"Use [destiny value] on [True tyrant of heaven]."
[Target template confirmed: [True tyrant of heaven]]
[destiny value consuming...]
[96%... 62%... 23%... 4%...]
[Matching corresponding ability...]
[Matching complete.]
[Adaptation complete.]
[Kamen Rider finisher series loaded]
[Rider Kick]
[Level: 1]
[Characteristic 1: Physical / Finisher / Jumping skill. Can cause physical damage of 120% lower limit attack power — maximum physical tolerance to a single enemy.]
[Characteristic 2: Can break through the physical limit of characteristic 1 through willpower, erupting a kick technique that exceeds the extreme value.]
[Rider Punch]
[Level: 1]
[Characteristic 1: Physical / Burst / Armor-piercing skill. Causes 110% attack power blunt damage to a single target in front, ignoring 5% of the target's defense.]
[Characteristic 2: Super Armor, cannot be interrupted when physical damage is over 80%.]
"Does this skill have special effects?" Green's eyes lit up, his inner Chuunibyou soul awakening.
[None.]
"What about after upgrading?" He wouldn't give up.
[None.]
"...Trash." Green's Chuunibyou soul extinguished on the spot, cold snort.
[destiny value returned to zero.]
[Re-auditing...]
[You have killed 1/5 "Hell Corpse · Jade", participation 100%]
[You have killed 1/100 "Great Demon Possessed Michael Myers", participation 100%]
[You have killed "Full Body Evil Spirit Doll Mary Shaw", participation 100%]
[You have killed 1/2 "Doppelganger Billy", participation 100%]
[You have killed "Ravens Fair", participation 76%]
[You have obtained destiny value 64%]
"That puppet... not dead?!"
Green frowned. He knew those two butchers were still alive, but he didn't expect the real error to be on that seemingly harmless shell, that ventriloquist puppet.
"Misjudged..."
He exhaled.
Indeed, he didn't perceive it at all, and Eileen, who was guarding outside, didn't notice anything either.
Most likely, that 1/2 Doppelganger Billy was outside from the beginning and never entered the field.
In this way, Mary Shaw's perfect work was still partially preserved.
However, it was just a moment of contemplation, and his expression returned to normal.
"It doesn't matter, I'll just patch it up next time I see it."
"Add the slaughter value evenly to the upgrade."
[Instruction confirmed.]
[slaughter value consuming...]
[Consumption complete.]
[Rider Kick]
[Level 1 → 5]
[Characteristic 1: Physical / Finisher / Jumping skill, can cause physical damage of 160% lower limit attack power — maximum physical tolerance to a single enemy.]
[Rider Punch]
[Level 1 → 5]
[Characteristic 1: Physical / Burst / Armor-piercing skill, causes 150% attack power blunt damage to a single target in front, ignoring 7% of the target's defense.]
"This combat power has gone up a big grade again... it's just that there are no special effects, tsk, itching."
Green pulled his somewhat numb hand from the back of his head, placed it on Lorna, and squinted his eyes.
The afternoon sun faded, as if diluted by time, gently spreading in, washing away the remaining dissatisfaction in his heart, his eyelids becoming heavier and heavier, and his thoughts began to drift.
With the thought of "what he hopes to get", he slowly sank into a dream.
Chapter 54: Little Bad Seeds
"Green! Green, wake up!"
Green Morgan was sleeping soundly when someone started shaking him.
"Mmm... just go get on yourselves... don't bother me..." He wrinkled his nose and turned over.
"You bastard, Green! Thinking about women again!"
Laura bared her teeth, pinching his cheeks and pulling them apart. Lorna tugged at his ear and shouted,
"We overslept! We're late!"
"Huh?" Green struggled to open his eyelids.
"Didn't I already graduate? What school do I have to go to..."
"It's us! Get! Up!"
Laura slammed her head down in a headbutt.
Thump!
"What the hell?!" Green woke up, clutching his forehead and glaring.
"Hurry up!" Laura slapped him expressionlessly. The cut on her forehead from the impact began to bleed, trickling down her cheek.
"Exactly! We thought you'd wake us up, but you were sleeping even better than we were."
Lorna followed suit, but her hand lost its strength halfway. In the end, she only gently patted Green's face and pinched his nose.
"Hehehe..." Her thin pink lips curled into a heartless smile.
Laura glared at her. *Whose side are you on?!*
"Cough... Hmph! That's right, you're the worst guardian I've ever seen."
Catching Laura's look, Lorna immediately straightened her face and tried to look serious.
"Really?" Green looked at her, pouting with an innocent expression.
"Uh... well... you're a little bit good." Lorna's voice weakened.
Green glanced at her with a smile.
"Move aside." He pushed away the "alarm clock" that had just headbutted him and stood up.
"Blehh~" Laura tried to push him back but couldn't budge him.
"Haaa~~ What time is it?"
Green yawned, picking up a water bottle from the table, unscrewing it, and taking a gulp.
"Hmm... orange-flavored energy drink. Good taste."
"That's mine!"
Laura jumped up, hanging onto his arm with one hand while her small feet kicked the air as she tried to grab it. Green pressed a hand against her face, holding her down.
"It's already four in the afternoon," Lorna said.
Burp~~ He let out a satisfied belch.
"Then let's just go play some arcade games."
Green casually tossed the empty bottle back to Laura.
"Tch." Laura caught it, looked down to see it was empty, and gave him an annoyed kick.
"No, we have plans with classmates," Lorna said.
"Classmates? Guys or girls?"
"Oh~?" Lorna arched an eyebrow, as if picking up on an interesting signal.
She crossed her arms and tilted her head. A few strands of dark green curls slid over her face, half-hiding the upward curve of her eyes. A bright smile leaked through the gaps in her hair.
"Take! A! Guess!"
Green fell silent, then reached out to hook his finger under her chin, looking down at her.
"Mm-hmm? What's wrong?"
The soft flesh of Lorna's chin rubbed against his fingertip. Showing no sign of fear, she stared straight back at him.
"Che, whatever." Green let go and turned toward the entrance.
Lorna's gaze lingered on his back, her smile widening.
"What? What was that?" Laura, biting the drink's packaging, looked at Lorna with a confused face.
"Nothing. Hurry up." Lorna tucked a curl behind her ear, trying to hide the faint blush creeping up.
"Oh, okay."
The two girls packed their things and walked into the garage. Green was leaning against the front of the car, his cigarette already half-burned.
"Why don't we drive this? It's so cool!"
Laura's eyes lit up as she noticed a new motorcycle in the garage—it was the Ghost Rider's.
It hadn't changed back; it remained in its current form, though without the hellfire. It sat in the corner like a skeleton of cooled black iron.
"Because it's not high noon yet."
Green dropped his cigarette butt and crushed it underfoot, then pulled up the rolling shutter door.
A BMW was parked on the slope in front of the door, completely blocking the way.
A man in a white shirt stood by the car, shouting into his phone, spit flying everywhere.
"I told you to sell your Stark Industries stock as soon as possible, but you didn't believe me! Now that billionaire with too much money has shut down his main business, and you're stuck with the stock. Who else is there to blame?"
"I'm a Risk Assessor, not Jordan Belfort! I can't pull off a massive asset scam to help you dump this trash..."
[Note: Jordan Belfort is from "The Wolf of Wall Street." He built his fortune on penny stock scams, pump-and-dump schemes, and high-pressure telemarketing; his core strategy was harvesting the get-rich-quick fantasies of ordinary people.]
"Hey."
Green walked over and called out.
The man turned impatiently. He scanned Green quickly, and seeing only cheap clothes, his face filled with disdain.
"What is it? Can't you see I'm talking?"
"You're blocking the way."
"So? You little..."
Before he could finish, Green snatched his phone and squeezed his hand shut.
Crack!
Shards crumbled from between his fingers. Immediately after, he grabbed the man by the collar with one hand.
The man felt his feet leave the ground. His vision spun, his head swam, and before he knew it, he had been hoisted up and slammed against the windshield with a loud bang.
"Ugh... cough, cough..."
The man was hit hard. He lay coughing on the hood, staring blankly at the sky as if he hadn't yet realized what had happened.
"So what?" Green's eyes were cold.
"Say it."
The man suddenly felt cold.
It wasn't a physical sensation; it was a primal fear forced down by his nerves, making his muscles tremble uncontrollably.
"I..." His brain had stalled.
"Say—it!!"
Green applied more pressure, forcing the man's sternum downward.
The man's face turned pale. His mouth was open, but he couldn't catch his breath.
The windshield behind him creaked as cracks webbed further outward.
"Hey! Boy!"
A familiar shout came from the roadside.
Green turned his head. It was George, wearing a sheriff's uniform. He had put on some weight, and the fabric was a bit tight, but it didn't diminish the aura of an old-timer ready to handle a rifle.
"Kid, you've got quite the morning temper," he said with a smile as he walked over.
"Just starting your shift?" Green let go.
The man rolled off the car and fell to the ground, clutching his chest. His face was pale, veins bulging on his forehead. He wanted to cough but couldn't. He suspected he might have a cracked rib.
"Just picked up Helen from the hospital." George grabbed the man's clothes and hauled him up.
"Now get lost, you elitist prick."
He opened the car door and shoved the man inside.
Before getting in, the man cast a terrified glance at the expressionless Green and quickly ducked into the car.
George pushed the door shut and put an arm around Green's shoulder.
"Gwen is helping her mom put things away. Let's walk together. Have a smoke."
"Sure," Green replied.
The two men walked to the side and lit up.
"Ah..." The man groaned, slumped over the steering wheel. He reached down to turn the key and started the car.
"Damn 'mole.' I'll find a way to bankrupt this nest of yours. Let's see how you beg me then!"
He glared venomously into the rearview mirror at Green, who was shrouded in smoke.
Green seemed to sense something and tilted his head.
Through the smoke, those narrow eyes seemed to cast a lingering glance in his direction.
Terrified, the man quickly lowered his head, not daring to look back.
In his peripheral vision, a figure suddenly appeared by the passenger window.
A young girl was pressed against the glass, looking at him.
Green curls, pale skin, delicate features—she was beautiful, pure.
She lowered her eyes and gave a sweet smile.
Looking at her, the man almost forgot the pain of his injuries.
"This bastard eats so well."
The man licked his lips and finally managed to get the car moving.
He rolled his eyes regretfully, watching her face recede outside the window.
Pshhh—
Beside the moving car, Laura pulled her Claws out of the tires. The Claws slowly retracted back into her hands.
The two girls tilted their heads, coldly watching the accelerating car and its rapidly deflating tires.
Lorna's eyes were somewhat vacant, as if she were focusing on something specific.
She raised her hand, a dark green energy halo dancing in her palm, and snapped her fingers at the car.
Snap!
Boom!
The braking mechanism inside the BMW snapped, sparks flying everywhere as the car left parts trailing far behind.
"What just blew up?"
The man felt a jolt beneath him. Just as he was wondering what happened...
The intersection was approaching. It was a red light. He was the first in line with a clear view, and he habitually waited until the last moment to brake.
To his left, a heavy truck was approaching.
The truck had a green light, and the driver didn't slow down.
Seeing the stop line getting closer, the man stepped on the brake... the brake... where's the brake?! Where's the brake?!
"Holy shit... HOLY! SHIT!!"
The car didn't stop. It was still going quite fast. The man's mind snapped.
He seemed to realize what had just blown up, and he knew exactly what was going to blow up next.
"I can still save this!"
He yanked the handbrake. The rear wheels locked up instantly, flinging the two flat tires right off.
They flew away, leaving decisively without a hint of hesitation.
"Huh?"
The man watched blankly as they rolled away in opposite directions. The car was still hurtling forward.
He watched the car enter the intersection, watched the front of the heavy truck close in, and saw the bewildered expression on the other driver's face.
Suddenly, he felt a sense of peace.
"Fu—"
BOOM!
His words were swallowed by the violent sound of the collision.
In the distance, Lorna's pupils focused as she watched the BMW.
Under the impact of the heavy truck, it was crushed and pushed along, grinding out blinding sparks and a piercing screech as it was dragged away from the corner.
Like a delicate white lady being roughly rammed by a strong Black worker, it finally left an indescribable mark on the ground.
"Heh heh." A hint of satisfaction flickered in the depths of Lorna's eyes.
She glanced at Laura, and the two girls understood each other perfectly.
"What the fuck?!" George cried out, rushing past them.
The two girls hid their thoughts and clung to Green's side like ordinary girls as he walked over.
Green looked down at them. Seeming to understand everything, he gently patted their cheeks.
"You two little troublemakers."
They looked up, their eyes holding a hint of caution.
But Green didn't intend to scold them; instead, he grinned.
To show malice openly without being strong enough isn't a mistake—it's a lack of qualification. If he died, it was just because his life was cheap.
How could Green blame the little puppies who had acted for him?
"Well done."
"Truly... after my own heart."
As for the sin, it could just be pinned on him.
"Repeat, car accident at the intersection of Maple Avenuein Queens. Please dispatch police for traffic control and send an ambulance immediately..."
Up ahead, George was still shouting into his radio, completely unaware that behind him stood a big villain with two little bad seeds admiring their masterpiece.
Chapter 55: Goodbye Gwen, The Hand's Prying Eyes
"Damn it, I thought I could spend more time with Helenand the others, but I have to get busy again." Georgeturned around and spat in annoyance.
"Being busy is good. These kinds of people have plenty of grease, you can always skim something off the top. Don't let some random departments snatch all the benefits." Green said indifferently.
"If you don't want it, use it to reward your subordinates. Otherwise, who's going to risk their lives for that meager monthly salary? Patriotism?"
George glanced at him from the side, a flash of sharpness in his eyes.
He took a drag of his cigarette; amidst the swirling smoke, that thought was quietly concealed.
"She was in the emergency room for eight hours, and I waited at the door from midnight until dawn. Having family alive is more important than anything else."
"It was fortunate that the emergency treatment was handled in time, or she would have lost too much blood. Indeed, I have been a bit too rigid with the rules."
He spoke slowly, as if convincing himself, or perhaps acknowledging something.
Regarding the rescue back then, he might not remember every face that showed up, but he remembered clearly who didn't. That's right, it was time to give his own people more benefits.
He withdrew his gaze, patted Green on the arm—not too hard, but with a serious look in his eyes.
"Although I know you wouldn't care for verbal thanks, I still have to say it: thank you for arriving in time."
"Yeah, it's certainly quite polite."
"You brat, spare me some face." George laughed and scolded.
The two stood side by side smoking, while the two girls beside Green sensibly walked away and got into the car to wait.
At this moment, the sound of George's front door closing came from a distance, and the sound of sirens was gradually approaching.
Gwen came down from upstairs as usual, and the two men were still waiting for her, but this time, her gaze fell on Green first.
"Hey! Mr. Green!"
A flash of pleasant surprise crossed her eyes, and she ran over quickly.
When passing the intersection where she brushed past the police car, she couldn't even come to a complete stop in time and had to hurriedly brake.
She pursed her lips, her face drooping slightly with a touch of embarrassment. She stole a quiet glance at Green, but didn't notice the dark-faced old father beside him snuffing out his cigarette.
"I... I'm going to the scene to take charge. You take Gwen to school for me."
George looked at Gwen's smiling face and sighed inwardly. He silently put on his sunglasses to hide his eyes, and as he passed Green, he raised his hand and patted his chest.
"Remember to get her there on time."
"In such a rush? Are you unhappy, George?"
"Hiss—"
George paused, took a deep breath.
"Very!"
He walked toward the street corner without looking back.
"Is this the rhythm of me becoming a blonde-haired homewrecker?" Green muttered.
"Green!"
His hand was tapped lightly, and Gwen jumped in front of him, her silky blonde hair cascading down, shimmering in the sunlight.
She wore a light gray headband, a loose white shirt, black jeans, and black-and-white sneakers; she looked like an obedient golden retriever puppy, at least in Green's eyes.
"Mmhmm..."
She smiled, biting her lower lip, a soft nasal sound escaping as she gazed at Green.
But once she was in front of him, she didn't know what to say; she just looked at him, not daring to look too much.
"It hasn't been easy these past few days, has it?"
Green looked at her slightly tanned skin and the increasingly mature expression between her brows, then spoke.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Gwen lifted her chin, her tone crisp, but it was certainly not as relaxed as her words suggested.
Perhaps it was Green's earlier cold words, or perhaps her innate stubbornness, but she didn't want to talk much about the suffering she had endured.
Yet, this stubborn girl didn't even realize that she was unconsciously revealing a bit of weakness in front of Green, a bit of expectation for comfort.
Green didn't say anything more, or rather, he really didn't have anything to say.
He let go of his cigarette, crushed it out, and lowered his head to exhale the last wisp of smoke.
Gwen subconsciously tightened her fingers on her backpack strap, tilting her head, but her body seemed drawn by a magnet, her toes swaying gently, and her whole person leaned closer to Green involuntarily.
"Let's go." Green took the initiative to put his arm around her shoulders.
Her body stiffened, her shoulders rose instinctively, and a moment of panic flashed in her eyes, but as the distance closed, she gradually relaxed and leaned against his side.
Walking into the garage, Laura was, as usual, familiarly occupying the passenger seat.
She was slumped in the seat, her feet propped up on the center console, holding her cactus pot between her feet, bright yellow sunglasses perched on top of her head, and flipping through a comic book in her hands.
"Gwen, is Aunt Helen feeling better?" In the back seat, Lorna pushed the door open and scooted over to make room for Gwen.
"She can already walk on the ground, and she's already clamoring to make thumbprint cookies."
"Looks like Aunt Helen's spirit is way ahead of her body."
Laura turned to look at the back seat at this moment.
"Are you coming back to live here, Gwen? Green is back, we can peek at his..."
Before she could finish, she was covered by Gwen, whose face had turned bright red.
"We agreed to talk about this in private, Laura, it's a secret." She whispered.
"Exactly, idiot!"
Lorna also irritably reached out her finger and pushed Laura's forehead.
"What's the big deal~" Laura mumbled indistinctly.
The eyes of the two girls in the back seat fell simultaneously on Green, who opened the door and sat in the driver's seat, and they quickly let go.
"What?" Green snatched the candy stick Laura was holding in her mouth, popped it into his own, and chewed, turning his head to look at them with their strange expressions.
"No... nothing?"
"Let's go then." Green started the engine, the car drove out of the garage, turned onto the road, and drove all the way to Midtown High School before stopping.
"Why is there a metal detector?" Green looked at the security equipment at the school gate; he vaguely remembered it wasn't there before.
"I saw a few weaklings always getting bullied, so I sold them some guns. As a result, someone had an accidental discharge and shot through their own thigh, and then that thing appeared at the gate." Laura described it nonchalantly.
"Yo, you've become a big sister now?" Green didn't see any problem with it; instead, he teased Laura.
"Hmph, my grades are very good too! With me being this awesome, of course I'm the big sister." Laura rubbed her nose with her finger.
"It's just that she always skips class." Lorna poked her head out from the side to expose her.
"It's clearly because class is too boring." Laura retorted.
"Then skip it. You're here to experience youth, not to study." Green pinched her cheek.
"Don't pinch my face outside!"
Laura pretended to fiercely bite at Green's finger, and Green laughed and pulled it back.
"You should be able to pick us up this time, right?" Lornalooked at Green.
"Got it, got it. You eat your cake slowly, I'll be there a bit later."
"Okay!"
Having received a satisfactory answer, Lorna pulled Lauratoward the school gate, while Gwen stole a glance at Green and hurried to catch up.
Green lit another cigarette for himself, and just as he lit it, a key question suddenly popped into his mind.
"Huh? What time do they get out of school?"
Just as he was thinking about it, his phone vibrated. Green took it out and looked—it was Hill.
"Didn't I just feed you full this morning? You want more?"
"Fuck you! Green, be serious! There's actual business." Hill's angry voice came from the other side.
"Hmm, you're certainly sitting very straight."
A deep intake of breath came from the other end of the phone.
"Captain America has awakened."
"Mmhmm." Green knew; in fact, one of the missions he had accepted previously was to transport that thing back to be thawed.
"He escaped from the base, and Fury wants you to act as emergency response personnel to rendezvous with him."
"What's the benefit?"
"He said he would wipe all records of you using my authorization to steal S.H.I.E.L.D. property, both past and future."
"That's a good deal." Green accepted.
After a pause, he spoke again, his tone meaningful.
"By the way, the tight suit didn't chafe against the Star of Africa I gave you, did it? Don't wear it out, it's not easy to use. You know I'm not talking about the diamond."
"Shut up, you pervert!"
At the S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, Hill gritted her teeth and jabbed the red button, cutting off the communication.
"Why did he have to give that thing such a strange name..."
"And I... actually agreed to it."
"Tsk, so uncomfortable. That bastard even bought the largest size directly! Doesn't he know to start small and add gradually?"
While muttering to herself, Hill silently added a soft cushion under her butt, then let out a comfortable moan.
"Hmph." Green looked at the screen where the communication had been cut off and chuckled.
The electronic screen in the pickup truck lit up automatically, first displaying a middle finger, then switching to a route map.
The green dot was Green's location, and another red dot was moving rapidly.
"I'm really curious what kind of expression a white man from the old century will have when he meets a black man from the new century." Green stepped on the accelerator.
Suddenly, as if sensing something, he glanced to the side.
"There are little mice too."
He didn't lift his foot off the pedal and drove straight away.
Meanwhile, on the rooftop of a tall building opposite the school,
Two ninjas in black, one crouching and one standing, followed the vehicle moving away on the street with their eyes, until it disappeared around the corner.
The one standing took out a phone.
"Confirmed. Owl is back, and those three girls are people close to him."
"Kingpin's intelligence is correct; it can be trusted. Invite those three girls over as guests. As long as they are here, Owl will be at my disposal."
On the other end of the phone, an elderly Chinese woman dressed in Oriental-style robes sat leisurely at a tea table, brewing tea with her phone placed on the table.
"One of them is the daughter of a New York police captain. Is that okay?"
"That's even better. Handle it cleanly."
"Understood."
He hung up the communication and turned around.
"Do it."
But his companion didn't react, remaining motionless.
"Hey!" He reached out and pushed him.
His companion's head slumped, and a bloody hole was shockingly visible on the back of his head. A pebble emitting a faint white halo was embedded inside, and the surrounding flesh was silently dissolving.
"When?!"
The companion's body suddenly disintegrated, turning into a pile of ash, with sparks leaping up.
At the same time, a cold chill surged from behind.
He turned his head stiffly.
I don't know when, but a tall figure was standing behind him, looking down at him.
The sky was clearly bright with gathered rain clouds, but in his vision, the daylight was very dim.
Only that pair of dragon pupils were glaringly bright.
"I thought it was someone else, turns out it's just those little cockroaches from The Hand who couldn't stand the loneliness."