Since ancient times, heroes had always struggled when faced with beautiful women.
Lu Mingfei didn't think of himself as a hero. But now, he finally understood the power of the so-called "Hero's Tomb."
"The organization that invaded the campus that day," Zero said calmly, "I was part of it."
Her tone was flat. As if she were saying she'd eaten breakfast.
"So next, are you going to threaten me?" Lu Mingfei shrugged. "Join you, or my body turns up at the bottom of a mountain?"
"If you're going to say that, at least try to look scared," Zero replied.
"Huh?" Lu Mingfei stared at her. "You were mocking me just now, weren't you?"
The Ice Empress... could mock people?
If that deadbeat senior ever found out, it would be front-page news on the campus forum.
"I said," Zero continued, unchanged, "since the mission failed, there's no reason to keep pretending."
Her voice was the same, but her manner wasn't. The restraint was gone. What remained was directness-almost blunt honesty.
At that moment, she felt unmistakably like someone from a warrior nation.
"I just think the difference is... pretty big," Lu Mingfei said.
"Which version do you think is better?" Zero asked.
"This feels like asking whether I'd save my mother or my wife if they fell into the water," Lu Mingfei muttered, completely unprepared for her sudden shift.
"Which one is the mother, and which is the wife?" Zero pressed.
"Hiss-please, have mercy!" Lu Mingfei clutched his chest. "Monster, can you give me the original Zero back?"
"Yours?" Zero replied immediately.
"..."
Lu Mingfei shut down.
He felt like Sun Wukong-thinking he'd leapt to the edge of the world, only to realize he was still trapped in someone's palm.
At times like this, it would've been great to ask Boss for advice.
Just a thought.
He wasn't far gone enough to actually call.
And even if he did, the reply would probably be:
"Sorry, the user you are calling is out of the service area."
After all, that side was currently playing Truth or Dare in an electromagnetically isolated environment.
...
When Mai Sakatoku heard Morin say, "No one but us can hear this conversation," her heart skipped a beat.
She didn't show it.
If it was true, checking was pointless.
If it wasn't, checking was even more pointless.
"Fine," Mai said, crossing her legs. "One question each. Absolute truth."
"Agreed," Morin said. "Me first?"
"Ladies first." Mai smiled faintly.
"Alright."
Morin didn't hesitate. He drew the curtains and lay back on the sofa, openly appreciating Mai Sakatoku's figure.
To be fair, she ranked top three in his experience.
It was almost cheating.
"First question," Mai said. "What's your true origin?"
She paused, then added, "Let's add a rule. Truth or Dare. If you don't want to answer, you take off one piece of clothing."
"Tsk." Morin smiled. "So the hunter appears as prey."
"Fine. I'll answer."
"I'm from another planet. I'm an alien."
"You have to tell the truth," Mai said. "I'll let that slide once."
"People never like the truth," Morin shrugged. "Then fine. I come from a power that's been hidden for a very long time."
"What power?" Mai followed instinctively.
"One question each," Morin reminded her. "Rules are rules."
"If you don't want to answer, you can undress."
Mai sighed. "Because the pay is good. Everything's expensive now. Without money, you can't even rent a place."
She looked at him hopefully.
"Or... you could keep me?"
"Someone like you should be great at making money."
"If I could, I would," Morin said. "But we both know that's impossible."
"And we agreed to tell the truth."
"That was the truth?" Mai stared at him.
Morin didn't respond. He just looked at her.
"...Fine." Mai gave up. "You're sharp."
"When I was young, my family couldn't survive. They sold me-contract-style."
"So I've been working for a crooked boss ever since."
"Half-truth," Morin said calmly. He tapped the table. "If you don't want to answer, taking off clothes is allowed too."
"I don't mind."
"But I'll let this one pass."
"Is that how a gentleman talks?" Mai crossed her arms indignantly.
It only made things worse.
Peaks from one side, ridges from another.
"Gentlemanly manners can also be called being a clothed beast," Morin replied evenly. "The difference depends on the woman."
"And frankly, you're enough to turn any gentleman into a wolf."
"So my expectations are logical."
Mai almost laughed in anger. "Can you stop making shamelessness sound so noble?"
"One should always speak nicely," Morin said. "But lying in front of me is pointless."
"Your looks and figure are top-tier, but that saying about beautiful women lying well doesn't apply to me."
"If the person behind you lied, maybe I'd have trouble."
"You? It's exhausting, isn't it?"
Mai stood up without a word.
Still wearing her bathrobe, she walked over, leaned down, and lifted Morin's chin with a finger.
Their faces were close.
"Are you teaching me how to do my job?" she asked softly.
"Just a reminder," Morin replied calmly.
She grabbed his collar and shook him. "So you're looking down on me?"
"On my intelligence?"
"I'm smart too!"
"Calm down," Morin said easily. "Don't murder your husband."
He pulled her into his arms and set her back where she was.
Naturally, he didn't miss the chance to feel those legs.
Four words.
Legs. For. Days.
"So," Morin continued gently, "were you kidnapped?"
"Or sold?"
"And then saved by your current boss?"
Mai froze.
She stared at him.
"I shouldn't have said that," Morin said quietly. "But sometimes, facing the past means speaking it out loud."
"What exactly is your ability?" Mai asked. She ignored their distance. "At first we thought it was Heavenly Deduction."
"Then Flash."
"Now it feels like you can see thoughts."
"Just basic psychology," Morin smiled. "As for my Soul Skill..."
He stood up and took off his T-shirt.
Lean muscles. Controlled. Powerful.
No exaggeration.
Just strength.
He looked like a college student heading out to exercise.
"Hey," Mai said warily. "Are you finally losing control?"
"If you're going to say that, at least defend yourself," Morin said. "Otherwise it looks like you're looking forward to it."
"And didn't you say that if someone won't answer, they have to remove clothing?"
"Given our position, this feels dangerous," Mai said seriously.
"Then why is your hand there?" Morin asked.
"...I couldn't help it." She withdrew it instantly.
Morin sat back down. "Why does it feel like our roles are reversed?"
Mai lay half-reclined on the bed, looking at him sidelong.
She nodded unconsciously.
That face.
That body.
That strength.
...She really was getting the better deal.