Inside the training room.
Vivi had finished her shooting practice. She was about to leave, wearing a white T-shirt, wiping the sweat streaming down her body, then hanging a towel around her neck.
"You're done training."
Vivi greeted Zirkon, who was sitting beside the vending machine.
"Want one?" Zirkon extended his hand, offering a canned drink.
Vivi took the can labeled "hydro" and opened it.
Clink!
A hissing sound followed.
"So, where's Lyxander?"
Vivi turned her head, searching for her partner.
"Didn't you see him leave?" Zirkon looked at her.
"Leave?" Vivi stopped looking around.
"Yeah. He went to Simon's office."
"For what?"
Zirkon, who was drinking, flinched, then smiled faintly.
"You've only just become partners, yet it seems you already have special feelings for him."
Instead of feeling embarrassed or denying it, Vivi stared at Zirkon with disgust, as if she were looking at a pest.
Zirkon's smile vanished instantly. His hand trembled, causing some of his drink to spill.
"Oh, Vivi, Zirkon!"
Quartz's cheerful voice rang out.
'Savior,' a single word crossed Zirkon's mind.
Quartz approached them wearing a white T-shirt and training pants. He walked up and tilted his head toward Vivi.
"Didn't you go to Simon's office?" he asked.
"Simon?" Vivi looked confused.
"You didn't know? Lyxander got a mission to hunt an Entity. I thought you went with him," Quartz explained.
"Oh, so that's why he was called," Zirkon cut in. "If not Vivi, then who's with him?"
"Ah." Quartz smiled.
"Peter and Amethyst."
Pshht!
Zirkon choked and spat out his drink. He pounded his chest, struggling to breathe.
"Are you serious? Those two lunatics?!"
"Come on, they're not that crazy," Quartz replied casually.
'That's because you're just as crazy,' Zirkon cursed silently.
Zirkon turned to look at Vivi, but she was already gone.
—
Smack!
Vivi slammed her hand on Simon's desk.
"Captain, why did you let Lyxander go with those two?"
Despite slamming the desk, her expression didn't change at all.
"Come on, this will be a good learning experience for his growth," Simon said lightly, clearly downplaying the issue.
Vivi bit her lip. "If it's for learning, I can teach him too. Aren't I his partner?"
Simon chuckled. "That's true, but unfortunately, you're not as crazy as they are."
He gave a faint smile, its intention unclear.
—
A luxurious military vehicle sped toward the city center. Three Ravens sat inside: Peter was driving in front, while Lyxander sat in the back with Amethyst.
Inside the car, Lyxander had already introduced himself to Peter and Amethyst.
They were both quite friendly toward him and felt more like seniors compared to Vivi, who was younger than him.
"So, what's our plan?" Lyxander asked enthusiastically.
"Haha." Amethyst laughed. "We don't have a plan."
Lyxander's pupils widened. In his previous life, he had always been someone who planned carefully before fighting.
"Then what should I do?"
Amethyst smiled. "Just kill the Entity and don't get killed."
Lyxander gaped. He immediately revised his opinion of what made a good senior. Vivi was clearly better.
"My three-star identity is Assassin. What's yours?" Amethyst asked.
'Revealing your identity so easily,' Lyxander narrowed his eyes and put on a flat expression.
"Senior Vivi taught me that identities should be kept hidden and not shown off."
Amethyst's cheeks puffed slightly, her brows furrowing.
"Come on. Women don't like boring men," Amethyst turned her face away.
"You don't need to listen to that single thirty-year-old woman, Lyxander," Peter said while driving.
Amethyst's face turned red. She yanked off her tie and tried to strangle Peter.
"Wah!" Lyxander cried out in shock and hurriedly restrained Amethyst.
Amethyst struggled, kicking wildly at everything.
"You bastard! What's wrong with not being married?! What's wrong with being thirty, huh?!"
The car shook violently along with Amethyst's fury.
Thump!
"Ugh." Lyxander's face collided with Amethyst's head, blood flowing from his nose.
"Eh." Amethyst froze.
—
Long fingers pressed a tissue against the blood flowing from Lyxander's nose. Reflected clearly in Lyxander's eyes was Amethyst's cleavage; her clothes had loosened due to her tie coming undone.
"Ahem." Lyxander coughed and pushed Amethyst's shoulder.
"I can clean it myself."
But Amethyst moved even closer.
"I'm really sorry."
She grabbed Lyxander's hand and brought her pleading face even closer to his.
Lyxander was a professional fighter. The hardest battle in his career wasn't against others, but against himself. He had achieved many victories over desire, especially before weigh-ins, but often his body betrayed his record.
'Damn it.' Lyxander closed his eyes.
'Control yourself, Little Xander.'
He tried to keep his face calm.
"There's no need to apologize. It's not a big deal."
Amethyst pressed even closer. With just a small push, Lyxander would lose his composure.
"I'm really sorry," she said, her eyes glistening.
"It's just… it's really hard being a single woman when all your friends your age are already married."
"Just ignore her, Lyxander. Trust me, you'll only get into trouble if you deal with her," Peter said calmly as he continued driving, fearless for reasons unknown.
"Tch, shut up, you damn man. Someone already married like you wouldn't understand how I feel," Amethyst snapped. The tears in her eyes quickly turned into a deep frown.
But just as quickly, the frown disappeared and tears poured down her face.
"Huwaaah, why is there no man who wants to marry me?"
Her crying was loud enough to make the car windows tremble.
"Wait, senior, I'm sure there are men who want to marry you," Lyxander hurriedly tried to comfort her.
"Really?" Amethyst looked at him with tear-filled eyes.
Lyxander held her shoulders and looked at her seriously.
"Really. After all, you're a very beautiful woman, senior. I'm sure there are many men out there who want to marry you."
"Lyxander." Amethyst's face flushed as she tried to cover it with her hands.
"Then… will you marry me?"
"Eh!" Lyxander froze, his eyes turning white. He hadn't expected a question like that at all.
"You will, right?" Amethyst's face grew even redder.
Lyxander didn't answer. He tightly shut his mouth and turned his face away, trying to pull his hand free, but Amethyst held on.
"You… you… huwaaah! There really is no man who wants to marry me!"
Once again, the windows shook violently.
Lyxander tightened his grip and looked at Amethyst, his face red.
"It's not that I don't want to. It's just that we only just met."
Amethyst's eyes glistened.
"So you'll marry me once we've known each other longer?"
Lyxander bit his lip and forced a bitter smile.
"I'll think about it."
Amethyst's eyes widened. Her face grew even redder, and without hesitation, she hugged Lyxander tightly.
Two distinct pressures pressed against Lyxander's chest.
"Lyxander, I love you. Once you're done thinking about it, let's get married."
"Eh!" Lyxander stared at her with wide eyes.
Peter chuckled. "Congratulations, Lyxander. Just so you know, her two-star identity is Yandere."
"Eh!" Lyxander looked at Peter, cold sweat pouring down his face.
From below his chest, Amethyst was staring at him without blinking even once.
"What is it? Did you change your mind about marrying me?" Amethyst whispered.
Lyxander could only shake his head and force a bitter smile.
Amethyst smiled widely and began hugging Lyxander's arm against her chest.
Lyxander could only sit there in silence.
"Damn it! I want to go home!"
—
They finally arrived at their destination.
A flower shop that looked ordinary, with many beautiful flowers displayed in front and a clear "closed" sign on the door.
The three Ravens got out of the car. Peter and Amethyst carried black cases in their hands, while Lyxander wore only his gloves.
"This is the place?" Lyxander asked.
Without paying attention to him, Amethyst pulled a bomb out of her pocket. Without hesitation, she threw it inside, shattering the shop's glass.
BOOM!
All the glass shattered instantly, and the flower shop was engulfed in flames.
Amethyst grabbed Lyxander's hand and smiled at him.
"Let's go in."
"Haha." Lyxander could only laugh softly.
The mission had begun.