pretty please add this story to your library.
The scent of pine lingered in the sealed office—cool, sharp, faintly medicinal.
His palm pressed against the wall beside her head. The heat of it bled through her skin, calloused from years of weaponry and war. A soldier's hands.
Avery's voice was bright. Determined.
"Commander, I—Avery Blake—am a C-rank Esper! Former elite accounting student, recently awakened, possibly upgraded by an unknown supernatural force!" She threw up her arms theatrically. "Limited edition Esper of the New Moon Federation! One of one! Custom build, zero warranty, extra chaos included!"
If he knew how much I actually need this money, he'd laugh in my face.
Her eyes sparkled. "Please hire me at a high salary! I promise, you'll get a ridiculous return on investment!"
The ice crusting the desk slowly melted—but the air dropped ten degrees.
Soren Wolfe's body, however, leaned forward by exactly three degrees.
Avery noticed. Of course she noticed.
She gave him her most radiant, job-interview-winning smile. "From the moment I saw you, I knew. That aura—true leadership."
She slipped into full CEO-sales-mode from her previous life. The cadence, the tone, the rhythm of persuasion—like breathing.
Who is this man? she had thought at first sight.
Now she was running the Avery Blake Industrial-Grade Verbal Domination Protocol™. Sweet voice. Strong pacing. Strategic emotional layering.
—Thirty minutes later—
The ice on the desk finally shattered—along with the last inch of space he pretended to keep.
Avery strutted out of the office, her new black card tucked into her coat like a trophy. She practically floated down the hall.
Achievement unlocked: Employed and financially dangerous.
She rubbed her fingers together. This was a celebration moment.
If this world had Marlboros, I'd be lighting one with flair and blowing smoke rings to applaud myself.
Back in the office, Soren Wolfe hadn't moved.
His gaze remained fixed through the glass, tracking her departure.
Keeping a high-risk unknown close for surveillance made tactical sense. Perfect sense.
And yet… why had he just given her an advance worth twenty years of a factory worker's salary?
A C-rank with A-rank potential. A liar with no lies. A mystery with no tells.
What game are you playing, Avery Blake?
He slowly curled his fingers into a fist, as if still feeling the ghost of her touch.
The girl passed every psionic scan—no anomalies, no deception. Yet that power surge... a body that upgraded itself?
Just what the hell are you?
Meanwhile, Avery was humming as she strolled through the tree-lined streets of Emberfield.
Golden sunlight filtered through the sycamore leaves, casting dappled shadows on the sidewalk. The town's layout reminded her of home—neat graystone buildings flanking four-lane asphalt roads, no taller than four stories.
The breeze carried the scent of osmanthus blossoms. Locals passed by in loose long-sleeves, chatting in mixed dialects, their hair and eye colors a kaleidoscope.
It felt... almost normal.
"Six months to live? More like six months to thrive."
She sang softly in her mind: "LUSTRA~ My sweet little 007~ Borrow me something to block psionic scans, yeah?"
[System Shop not unlocked. Item unavailable.]
"I'm not buying, I'm borrowing. You know you have it."
She ducked into a convenience store, grinning like a raccoon on payday.
[Psionic Cloaking Charm: 500,000 Federation Credits.]
"Oho! You do have it. LUSTRA, you sexy little algorithm."
[Affection parameter increased. Note: This changes nothing.]
"Don't play hard to get. You're all I've got in this weird, psionic-probe-infested world. You leave me, I'm toast."
[But—]
"007," she whispered, voice full of drama. "This cruel world. This chaotic system. My poor, fragile heart."
Ten minutes later, a transparent cube materialized in her hand.
[Usage: Carry on person. Blocks psionic scans below High Tier.]
Avery blinked.
Did... did LUSTRA just sound defeated?
Did her system actually have feelings?
She grinned, threading the crystal onto a red string she'd bought from a street stall.
"LUSTRA, you're incredible. I couldn't have asked for a better partner."
The crystal pendant glimmered with soft rainbow hues under the sun.
Her new boss wouldn't leave until noon. Then he'd take her back to the capital.
She passed a bank. Out of curiosity, she tapped her card against the scanner.
1,000,000 credits.
Avery twirled in place like a girl in a detergent commercial.
"I'm rich!" she declared to the sky.
Beautiful. Young. Superpowered. And now? Financially armed.
She all but skipped down the street.
The looming death countdown?
Not her problem today.
She hummed as she walked—completely off-key, but unstoppable:
🎵 "Oh what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day..." 🎵