Chapter 769: Why did the 'cleanup' sweep up his good friend, and in his own home no less?
Their lips parted.
Hoshiguma licked her lips, her golden eyes blazing with a raw aggression that mirrored the storm outside. Her breathing was heavy, the scent of alcohol and desire mingling in the air.
However, what she didn't expect was that Ren would be even more aggressive than her in the next moment.
A smile played on his lips—a predator's smile that made the Oni's heart skip a beat.
"Oni are very greedy?" Ren murmured, his voice low and dangerous. "I'm sorry, I'm even greedier. I want to try conquering a green-haired Oni."
"Ugh!"
Before Hoshiguma could react or retort, she was forcefully kissed again, deeper and harder than before. He pulled her into a dominant embrace, his arms like steel bands around her waist, lifting her effortlessly.
At this moment, Hoshiguma confirmed that she wasn't the only one yearning; this was the result of mutual affection, a collision of two powerful forces.
So she completely unleashed her Oni instincts. She wrapped her legs around his waist, responding fiercely, her hands tangling in his hair.
The two, intertwined like a single entity, gradually moved into Ch'en's room, leaving a trail of discarded clothes in their wake.
At the same time.
On the other side of the living room, Lin Yühsia, lying on the sofa with a throw pillow over her head, slowly opened her eyes.
A glint flashed in her purple eyes. The alcohol had made her drowsy, but the sudden shift in atmospheric pressure had woken her up.
Until she heard Hoshiguma's surprised gasp, followed by the enchanting sounds of friction and soft moans coming from the hallway.
Her cheeks, already flushed crimson from the alcohol, deepened to a rich, dripping red.
She wasn't as utterly drunk as Ch'en and Swire. Her Sand Soldier constitution gave her a higher tolerance.
She never expected to discover such a secret! The towering, battle-hardened Hoshiguma, melting in the arms of a man?
Should she pretend to be asleep now? It was the polite thing to do.
Her rat-like ears twitched slightly, picking up every rustle, every breath.
For the first time, Lin Yühsia felt that having excellent hearing might not be a good thing. It was a curse.
The key was that Hoshiguma hadn't closed the bedroom door. The sounds were unfiltered, raw, and incredibly intimate.
Ch'en's home, Ch'en's bedroom, Ch'en's bed. And her partner was in it with a man Ch'en clearly had feelings for.
"Sigh… what kind of situation is this…"
Lin Yühsia felt a headache coming on just thinking about how Ch'en would react if she found out about this. The strict, by-the-book Superintendent would probably have an aneurysm.
Now, she could only pretend not to have seen anything. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out the noise.
But why did she feel a little displeased? A strange tightness in her chest that had nothing to do with the wine?
…
Rhodes Island.
"…"
Kal'tsit rubbed her temples, feeling a headache building behind her eyes as she looked at the stubborn Skadi standing in her office.
Skadi already had a tendency to resort to force if Kal'tsit didn't let her go to Lungmen. Her hand was resting on the hilt of her greatsword, a silent threat.
Then Kal'tsit crossed her arms and frowned, asking, "Why must you go to Lungmen? It's not a vacation spot for Abyssal Hunters."
"My companion is there," Skadi replied without hesitation, her red eyes unwavering. "I can feel her."
"I want to leave, you shouldn't stop me."
"…"
Kal'tsit was exhausted. Managing these walking catastrophes was taking years off her life.
Of course, she didn't want to stop her. She couldn't stop her.
But the Abyssal Hunter's power was dangerous, and Skadi's emotional intelligence and business acumen still needed improvement. Letting a shark loose in a city of dragons and rats was a recipe for a diplomatic incident.
Kal'tsit was worried that the Abyssal Hunter would cause trouble in Lungmen, which would have a negative impact on Rhodes Island's already fragile relationship with the city.
Moreover, Lungmen was not a peaceful place; its waters ran deep, filled with political currents as treacherous as the ocean.
Wei Yenwu was not simple. He was a shark in human skin. Yet, she also didn't have the full authority to command Skadi. The hunter was a free agent.
She was not entirely a Rhodes Island operator; she only had a cooperative relationship with Rhodes Island, or rather, with her, Kal'tsit.
This cooperation was based on another Abyssal Hunter's issue—Specter.
Now, a new Abyssal Hunter had appeared. Gladiia.
Upon hearing this news from Skadi, Kal'tsit also had some thoughts. Her strategic mind began to turn.
Abyssal Hunters were undoubtedly powerful individual combatants. They were force multipliers.
Rhodes Island needed talent. They needed strength to survive the coming storms.
Therefore, she had the idea of approaching this Abyssal Hunter, hoping to establish a cooperative relationship with her as well.
So, Kal'tsit calmly said, "I permit you to go to Lungmen, but I will accompany you. I need to meet with Wei Yenwu anyway."
"No need, I can go by myself."
Skadi had no experience traveling with others. She was a lone wolf, or rather, a lone orca.
Because Abyssal Hunters would attract the attention of the deep sea. She didn't want to endanger anyone else.
However, Kal'tsit gave a reason she couldn't refuse: "Lungmen has its own rules. Destroying streets and city buildings isn't something you can just leave after doing. We need to navigate the bureaucracy."
"Trust me, you need someone to take responsibility for your actions. Unless you want to fight the entire L.G.D.?"
"..."
Skadi was speechless. She thought about it. Fighting the L.G.D. sounded tedious.
She herself couldn't be sure what the situation would be like when she met Gladiia. Would she be friend or foe?
Finally, she nodded: "Alright. But don't slow me down."
...
In the middle of the night.
Lin Yühsia's body was burning, unable to sleep at all. The sounds from the bedroom had shifted from intense to rhythmic, a steady drumbeat of passion.
At the same time, she was utterly shocked.
That demon, Hoshiguma, who was so unrestrained when she used to roam the underworld, tearing through gangs with a smile, was now repeatedly begging for mercy under Ren. Her voice was high, pleading, and completely unlike the Oni she knew.
This was truly exaggerated. Just how strong was Ren?
Just as her tail unconsciously passed through her tightly clamped legs and wrapped around to her front in a nervous gesture...
An anomaly suddenly occurred.
Before her terrified eyes, Swire suddenly slammed the table and stood up. The motion was so abrupt it knocked over several empty wine bottles.
Crash!
Her face was flushed red, her tiger ears flattened against her head. She pointed a trembling finger at the bedroom door and yelled, her voice cracking with indignation, "Hoshiguma, you—you philanderer!!! How dare you steal a march on me!"
"Ugh!!!"
Hoshiguma, who had been rolling her eyes back in ecstasy, instantly sobered up. The shout pierced through the haze of pleasure like a bucket of ice water.
Lying prostrate on the bed, she lifted her head, sweat dripping from her brow, and saw Swire glaring at her through the open doorway with gritted teeth.
It turned out she had been awake for some time. Faking sleep while listening to everything.
Finally, she couldn't bear to hear that the person she secretly admired—the man she had been trying to impress with her wealth and charm—was being stolen by a philanderer right under her nose.
That's right.
Why did Swire rush over so excitedly when she heard Ren was coming? Why did she bring the best wine?
Of course, it was because of her attention to Ren. She had marked him as hers.
While others were engaged in passionate acts, she was left on the sidelines.
A surge of jealousy caused Swire to finally stand up and accuse Hoshiguma of her actions. This wasn't fair competition! This was theft!
This commotion, as expected, woke Ch'en.
"What's wrong? Is it a Reunion attack?"
Ch'en, who had risen from the table, rubbed her still aching head. Her hair was a mess, and she looked disoriented.
The effects of the alcohol had subsided quite a bit, but the headache remained.
Following Swire's indignant gaze, she looked towards her own bedroom. The door was open. The lights were dim.
"Ho... Hoshiguma?!"
She saw her partner. In her bed. With a man.
"Uh, Old Ch'en."
Hoshiguma twitched her lips; this posture didn't seem suitable for greeting. She was currently... well, indisposed.
A moment later.
The atmosphere in the living room was extremely tense. It was thicker than the air before a catastrophe.
Ren and Hoshiguma, wrapped in bathrobes they had hastily grabbed, were being stared at by the three women.
Lin Yühsia felt helpless. She buried her face in her hands.
Things had still developed into the worst outcome she had imagined. A diplomatic incident in a living room.
Swire's eyes were both sour and furious. She looked ready to bite someone.
And Ch'en clenched her fists, gritting her teeth, her tail lashing back and forth. She asked in disbelief, her voice trembling, "Hoshiguma, how could you do this? In my house? On my sheets?"
"Uh."
Hoshiguma scratched her green hair and apologized, looking genuinely sheepish. "Sorry, Old Ch'en, we shouldn't have been in your bedroom and on your bed. It just... happened. The mood was right."
"Huh?"
Ch'en sounded doubtful, her eyebrow twitching. "You mean if it wasn't in my bedroom, then it would be okay to do... that?! That's not the point!"
Thinking of the scene just now made her choke with anger.
It felt exactly like a raid on a brothel, only to find her closest people involved. Her partner and the man she... well.
"Hmm?"
Hoshiguma innocently said, blinking her golden eyes. "Why not? Ren and I are mutually attracted. We're adults. It's natural."
"Ah?"
Ch'en looked at Ren in surprise, her anger momentarily replaced by confusion. "You two... are in a relationship? Since when?"
Ren shook his head, tightening his robe. "Not yet, you can temporarily understand it as a simple physical relationship. We were just... exploring compatibility."
Hoshiguma laughed openly, slapping Ren on the back. "It's commonly known as 'friends with benefits,' you know. Don't be so stiff, Old Ch'en."
"Huh?"
Ch'en's mind was a bit muddled. Friends with benefits? Hoshiguma? Ren?
But there was one thing she hadn't forgotten. The reason this whole mess started.
She questioned Hoshiguma, her eyes narrowing. "Have you forgotten why I called Ren over? Why I went through all this trouble?"
"Oh."
Hoshiguma leaned on Ren's shoulder, striking a lazy pose, completely unashamed.
"I know, isn't it just to see if you and Ren are compatible and if you have the look of a married couple? I was just... testing the merchandise for you. Quality assurance."
"Huh???"
This time, it was Swire who spoke, her jaw dropping. And Lin Yühsia also cast an incredulous look at Ch'en from the sofa.
There's another bombshell like this?! Ch'en wanted to marry Ren?!
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