In Himeko's Reformed Apartment
"I don't see the reason for doing this."
It had been a month since the group repelled the Herrscher sent by Cocolia from fron what Theresa told him. Himeko was still a little shell-shocked from that night—the sudden loss of her apartment had nearly made her faint. Fortunately, Kouga had repaired it in an instant with his magired magic, allowing everyone to get some much-needed sleep right after.
Since then, Himeko and Theresa had somehow found an excuse to celebrate every week. Theresa always brought a bottle of bitter melon juice, and Himeko dove straight into her alcohol stash. The first celebration had been for Himeko's return, the second for Kiana's improvement, the third for Mei's safety—and this one was simply because they could.
Mei had taken to the routine quickly, cooking up a storm to thank those who had protected her. She refused Kouga's offer to help, saying he had already done too much, but she accepted Rita's assistance after Rita insisted on making up for being away on Otto's mission and unable to help them with what happened .
Sakura and Hua tried to decline the feast out of humility. Higokumaru and the tiny doll Kallen, on the other hand, devoured snacks like little monsters. Kiana happily ate everything she could reach—mostly from Hua's and Sakura's plates—out of sheer jealousy that Mei was giving them attention instead of her.
She had received enough bumps on the head over the last three parties for this behavior, so this time, she stayed put.
Kouga, however, had shown no real interest in joining these festivities. He usually only showed up long enough to stop Kiana from doing something ridiculous before vanishing again to keep his routine.
But this time, Kiana and Mei had cornered him after the third party, unleashing the dreaded puppy eyes combo. He didn't stand a chance.
And so, here he was—sitting beside Himeko, who was already downing her fourth beer, and Theresa, who sipped her bitter melon juice with exaggerated calm.
"What do you mean?" Theresa asked after Kouga's comment. "You guys did great against the Herrscher, so we're celebrating."
"For weeks?" Kouga said flatly, accepting a plate of Shenzhou snacks whose contents he couldn't quite identify. After sniffing them for a bit, he tossed one into his mouth and chewed. "At some point, you've got to stop celebrating and get back to work."
"Well, if you had joined us the first time, maybe we would have," Theresa muttered.
Kouga turned toward her, and she blushed, quickly clearing her throat. "Ahem—what I mean is, the last three parties were… kind of apologies. For not listening to you about the defense breach."
Kouga chewed quietly before replying. "First, just apologize to my face instead of throwing parties to make up for it. Second, be better next time."
Theresa nodded sheepishly.
"Anyway," Kouga said, placing his plate on the table and glancing at Kiana—who was now pouting at Hua, Sakura, and Kallen for receiving Mei's attention. "Regardless of what happened, I just did what needed to be done. There's nothing to thank me for."
"Ah, shove it," Himeko slurred, wrapping an arm around him and pulling his head into her chest. "You beat that invader fair and square, so take the credit!"
Kouga grimaced and gently pried the red-faced woman off him, pushing her back into her seat—nearly tipping the chair in the process before catching it by the leg.
He sighed deeply to keep his composure—only to find Hua sitting across from him. Her glasses briefly flashed red, something that caught his attention before she blinked several times and stood up reluctantly.
"What is it, Fu Hua?"
"Nothing, Madam Principal," Hua replied calmly, stepping away from the table and stopping behind Kiana, who was still busy munching her snacks. "Overseer Otto has assigned me a spy mission."
Kiana paused mid-bite. "…I call it."
"I'm afraid not, Kiana," Hua said with a sly smile. "They said it's a basic mission, but they told me to bring a rookie."
"…Bronya?" Kiana guessed hopefully.
"You, Kiana," Hua corrected, smirking. "They wanted Kouga originally, but I convinced them to let you come instead—said it might save your falling grades."
Kouga stood from his seat immediately. "I'll come. But leave Kiana here. She's already had her mission; let her rest."
"Excuse me?!" Kiana shot up, puffing her cheeks in protest. "Did you forget what happened last time you used one of your stronger forms? What if you collapse again and no one's there to help?!"
"This is just recon. Hua and I will be fine." Kouga replied .
"That's how every spy mission starts—until it all goes wrong!" Kiana marched up and jabbed his chest with a finger, still pouting fiercely. "I'm going with you, and that's final!"
Kouga glanced around for help, only to find betrayal on all sides—Himeko and Theresa were smiling smugly, Mei looked apologetic, and Bronya and Sakura stayed silent. Higokumaru and Kallen, meanwhile, were too focused on guarding their plates to intervene.
Left on his own, Kouga finally sighed in defeat. "…Fine. But you follow every order Hua and I give. Understood?"
"Yeah, yeah!" Kiana cheered, grabbing his hand and dragging him toward the door. "Come on, let's get going!"
Kouga groaned as Hua fell into step beside her, an amused smirk on her face.
"Can I at least be allowed to walk?" he muttered as the two pulled him out the door.
Hotel Royal Queens, Singapore — 9:30 PM
"Should I?"
The surprise mission turned out not to be far from St. Freya—its destination was the neutral zone of Singapore. Before departure, Kiana and Hua had changed into more fitting attire for undercover work.
Kiana now wore a short white qipao with green bamboo designs running along the hem, black shorts underneath, and matching black shoes. Hua, ever the picture of elegance, donned a sapphire-blue dress that revealed her hips, fastened by a feathered brooch with a purple gem. A red star ornament hung at her side, completing the look alongside black thigh-high stockings and crimson heels.
As for Kouga, he wore a sleek black suit that fit him perfectly—something Kiana found herself glancing at a little too often.
When their designated flight landed, the trio took a cab straight to their destination: Hotel Royal .
The moment they stepped through the revolving doors and were greeted by the staff in scarlet qipao dresses, Kiana made a beeline straight for the buffet table and began sampling everything in sight. Thankfully, the Overseer had agreed to cover expenses for the mission, so Kiana was free to feast like a dragon without guilt.
"To do what?" Hua asked, swirling a glass of wine between her fingers as she leaned casually against the bar counter. "If you want food, you can join Kiana in her... culinary conquest."
Kouga shook his head. "No, I meant—should I stop her before she chokes on something?"
Hua chuckled lightly. "From what I've learned about the Kaslanas, their stomachs are made of steel. She'll be fine."
She placed her glass down, her teasing smile fading as her eyes turned serious."I have something to ask you, however."
"What's that?" Kouga asked, keeping his tone neutral.
Hua glanced at Kiana to make sure the girl wasn't looking their way. Then she rose slightly on her toes, leaning in close to whisper near Kouga's ear.
"Did Theresa tell you?"
Kouga didn't need clarification. A few days after the first Herrscher incident, Theresa had pulled him aside during lunch with Mei and Kiana. She'd told him what Otto's report revealed—connections leading her to both Cocolia and a supposedly dead Einstein.
After Theresa had destroyed Cocolia's robotic guards, Einstein revealed the shocking truth: the Kiana they knew was not the original, but a clone—and the only one who had awakened.
At the time, Kouga had stared blankly at Theresa for a few seconds before answering with the same words he now gave Hua.
"I don't care."
Hua drew back slightly, clearly taken aback by his indifference. After a short pause, she leaned closer again, her tone sharper this time."How can you be so dismissive when she's a Herrscher?"
'Oh, that,' Kouga thought, rolling his eyes inwardly.
"Reminder," he said, raising a finger toward himself, "you've been living with another Herrscher—and someone whose power already matches or surpasses one."
"Why," he asked, raising a brow, "does a second one suddenly make you nervous?"
Hua's eyes narrowed. "You've read the history. You know what the Herrscher of the Void did. The devastation she caused."
"Yeah," Kouga replied calmly, lifting a glass of water to his lips. "And if Kiana ever starts showing those same tendencies, I'll deal with it then. Until that day comes, I'm not judging her for something she can't control."
"What the hell are you doing?!"
Kouga was suddenly yanked backward, finding himself trapped in the arms of an irate Kiana. Her sapphire eyes glared daggers at Hua, who straightened up instantly and masked her face with a cool, unreadable expression.
"Was this the real reason you brought us here?" Kiana demanded, her voice rising. "So you could try to steal him from me—and Mei!?"
"Don't be ridiculous," Hua countered smoothly, plucking a slice of cake from a nearby tray. "The mission's simple—I could easily handle it alone. The reason I brought you was to thank both of you properly for saving me and everyone else."
Kouga sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. Kiana, meanwhile, puffed up her chest proudly at being thanked.
Then, as if remembering she was still in a buffet, she shoveled the remaining food from her plate into her mouth, swallowed, and grabbed Kouga by the wrist.
"See ya tomorrow, maybe!" she said brightly, flashing Hua a mischievous grin as she began dragging Kouga toward the elevators. "We're gonna be busy tonight!"
Kouga groaned, stumbling slightly as Hua's impassive gaze followed them toward the lift.
"Can I at least finish my drink first?" he muttered as the elevator doors slid shut.
Third floor from the top, right wing
Upon reaching their room, Kiana immediately tried to kick open the wooden burgundy door, only for it to not budge an inch. Kouga watched for a moment, tempted to turn back downstairs, before pulling out the keycard Hua had given him. Sliding it into the slot and entering the code, the lock clicked with a heavy clunk, and the door swung open easily under his hand.
A king-sized canopy bed with crimson drapes stood to the right side of the massive suite. Velvet furniture was neatly arranged at the far end, facing a wide window overlooking Singapore's neon-lit skyline. Two doors sat opposite the bed — one leading to a walk-in closet, the other to the bathroom. Strangely, the white bathroom door faced directly toward the bed.
"This... definitely feels a little too much like a love hotel," Kouga muttered, a sweatdrop forming at the back of his neck.
Kiana didn't seem to mind. She sauntered toward the bathroom, glancing back with a flirtatious wink before closing the door behind her. Kouga could only sigh and walk over to the window, gazing down at the busy streets below.
'This can't just be a simple spy mission,' he thought, rubbing the back of his neck. 'Feels like overkill sending three of us for something this small.'
His thoughts were cut short by a sudden knock at the door. Kouga turned sharply, walked over, and peered through the peephole. Standing outside was an older man in a half-open lab coat, a brown shirt underneath, and rolled-up gray pants.
"What do you want?" Kouga asked through the door, his hand tight on the handle in case of a breach.
The man smiled awkwardly and raised a bottle of wine. "Complimentary gift from the staff—for the happy couple staying in this room."
Kouga narrowed his eyes. "Wrong on both counts. We're too young to drink—and too underage for whatever else you're implying. Also, you're a terrible liar."
"W–what?!"
"Your lies stink worse than the wine," Kouga said flatly. "Take your leave, and don't come back."
The old man's face fell. He quietly shuffled away down the hall. Kouga waited until the footsteps faded before turning back to the window.
Just as he did, the bathroom door swung open. Kiana stepped out, wrapped in nothing but a towel that clung to her curves, her damp hair cascading over her shoulders.
"Who was that at the door?" she asked.
Kouga didn't answer—his brain short-circuited for a second. Kiana noticed, smirking as she posed with one hand on her knee and another on her hip.
"Like what you see?" she teased.
Kouga jolted out of it, turning away quickly as a blush crept across his face. He coughed into his fist. "L-let's... get back to the point. Some guy tried to get in. I called his bluff and—"
A metallic click cut him off. The sound of a gun hammer being pulled back.
Kouga instantly transformed into Geki Violet, the energy aura flickering around him just as the gunshot rang out. The bullet punched through the wood but bounced harmlessly off his suit, clattering to the floor.
Both he and Kiana turned toward the entrance—Kiana now fully alert, drawing her pistols in a single, fluid motion and aiming at the doorway.