Knock, knock, knock.
Victor woke to soft knocking on his door. He blinked away sleep and glanced down at Stelle curled up against him, her breathing slow and peaceful after their late-night activities in the Dreamscape. Careful not to wake her, he gently slipped free, covered her with the blanket, and pulled on his pants before padding to the door.
When he opened it, he found Markh 7th standing there with her signature energetic expression.
"Victor, there'sâ€"ah! Pervert! Can't you put on a shirt before opening the door?"
Markh squealed and threw her hands over her eyes, though the massive gaps between her fingers suggested she wasn't trying that hard to avoid looking.
Victor scratched the back of his head and grinned. "I knew it was you out here, so I didn't bother. Consider it a gift."
"I don't want your 'gift'! Go back and put on some clothes first!"
She gave him a light shove back into the room and promptly closed the door in his face.
"Sheesh. So dramatic."
Victor chuckled and reached for the shirt he'd tossed aside earlier. A minute later, he reopened the door to find Markh standing there with her arms crossedâ€"outwardly composed, but the pink tinge on her cheeks betrayed her.
"So, what's so urgent this morning?" Victor asked with a yawn. "If it's about breakfast, we already ate."
Markh rolled her eyes. "It's not about food. Someone's here to see you."
"Oh? Is it Firefly?"
She was the only person he could think of who'd visit the Astral Express specifically for him.
Yesterday, after spending hours exploring Penacony's Dreamscape with Stelle and the others, they'd all returned to the train. The adventure had been exhilarating, but they'd needed rest.
Markh nodded. "Yeah, it's her. Hurry up and don't keep the girl waiting."
Then, inexplicably, she huffed and turned on her heel, marching away with an air of indignation.
Victor stood there, genuinely confused.
Why's she suddenly mad?
Was it really just because she'd caught a glimpse of his bare chest? That didn't make sense. He was in peak physical conditionâ€"sculpted muscles, perfect proportionsâ€"the kind of physique most people would appreciate. If anything, she should've been flattered.
Women, he thought with a shake of his head. Completely unpredictable.
Well, no point dwelling on it. He had a visitor to see.
He made his way to the observation car.
Meanwhile, back in her room, Markh flopped dramatically onto her bed and began pummeling her pillow with both fists, as if it had personally wronged her.
"Stupid Victor! I'm standing right in front of him looking this good, and he doesn't even try to flirt with me! Instead, he's chasing after some Star Core Hunter! Ugh!"
She continued her assault on the innocent pillow for several more seconds before finally collapsing in a heap, breathing heavily.
In the observation car, Firefly sat on one of the plush sofas, hands folded neatly in her lap. On the table in front of her sat a half-drunk cup of coffee, still steaming faintly. Her expression was polite but strained, like someone enduring something mildly unpleasant.
"What's wrong, Miss Firefly? Is the coffee not to your liking?"
Himeko sat beside her, smiling warmly. But to Firefly, that smile felt almost dangerous.
"I-I'm sorry," Firefly stammered. "I just... don't really like coffee."
Truthfully, she'd been struggling not to gag. The brew Himeko had made was so potent it could probably kill a lesser being. Firefly had genuinely considered faking her own death just to escape the situation.
"Oh, is that so?"
Himeko looked genuinely disappointed. She didn't understand why young people these days had no appreciation for good coffee. Even Welt had stopped drinking it since boarding the Astral Express, though he used to enjoy it back in the day.
"Hey, good morning."
Victor's voice broke the awkward silence as he entered the observation car.
Firefly's face lit up like he'd just rescued her from certain doom. "Victor! Thank goodness you're here!"
"Morning. Would you like some coffee?" Himeko offered, already reaching for the pot. "A hot cup in the morning really helps wake you up."
Victor opened his mouth to accept, then froze as the memories came flooding backâ€"the unholy terror that was Himeko's coffee. He'd witnessed its destructive power firsthand. That stuff could drop a Voidranger in seconds.
He quickly shook his head. "Uh, thanks, but I'm not really a coffee person in the morning."
Then he noticed the half-empty cup on the table in front of Firefly and shot her a look of genuine sympathy.
Poor kid. Your stomach's been through something it should never have to endure.
Still, the fact that Firefly had managed to drink even half of it spoke volumes about her resilience. Lesser mortals would've been hospitalized.
"Well, in that case, I'll leave you two to talk."
Himeko stood, coffee pot in hand, and left the observation car with a graceful stride.
Once she was gone, Firefly let out a long, relieved sigh.
Victor pulled up a chair across from her. "So. You said you wanted to see me?"
Firefly nodded, her expression growing more serious. "Yes. Just as we agreed."
Victor reached into his storage space and produced a small pill. It was a luminous jade-white color, faintly glowing with spiritual energy.
"This is what I promised youâ€"a Jade Marrow Pill. It's made from ten-thousand-year-old spiritual essence and can cure your Entropy Loss Syndrome."
The Jade Marrow Pill was a high-tier alchemical treasure capable of reconstructing the body from the cellular level. It could heal injuries that would cripple even Spirit Transformation cultivators. Victor had spared no expense in obtaining it specifically for Firefly.
But when he placed the pill on the table, Firefly didn't immediately reach for it.
It wasn't that she doubted him. She simply knew better than to believe in free lunches. If Victor was going to such lengths to save her life, there had to be something he wanted in return.
"What do you need me to do?" she asked quietly.
Victor didn't beat around the bush. "I want you to be mine."
"Eh?!"
Firefly's eyes widened. Her face flushed bright red, and she stammered incoherently. "I-I-I... th-that's..."
"Whoa, hold on. I think you misunderstood."
Victor held up his hands defensively. "When I say 'be mine,' I mean join my organization. Like how you joined the Stellaron Hunters. I want you to work for me."
He wasn't lying when he said he liked Fireflyâ€"he did. She was kind, sincere, and brave despite everything she'd been through. But he'd never use the weight of saving her life to force her into a relationship. That wasn't his style.
Besides, with looks like his, charm like his, and power like his, he didn't need underhanded tactics. If he wanted to win someone over, he'd do it the right wayâ€"by being so irresistible they couldn't help but fall for him naturally.
But that required proximity. After all, you couldn't fall for someone you never saw.
Firefly visibly relaxed. "Oh. Oh. I see."
If he'd meant becoming his woman, she would've refused without hesitation. It wasn't that she found him unattractive or unpleasantâ€"quite the opposite, actually. He was exactly her type. But her shortened lifespan had taught her to value her own autonomy. She wanted to live for herself, not as someone else's possession.
But working for him? That was different.
After a long pause, Firefly nodded. "I can join you. But not right away. The Stellaron Hunters have done a lot for me. I need to repay that debt first. Once I've fulfilled my obligations to them, I'll come back and work for you. Is that acceptable?"
"Absolutely."
Victor had expected this answer. If Firefly had agreed to abandon the Stellaron Hunters immediately, he would've been disappointed. Loyalty mattered to him. A person who'd betray one employer would betray another just as easily.
Her choice actually made him respect her more.
"Then I'll come find you when the time is right."
Firefly stood to leave, but paused when Victor pointed at the pill still sitting on the table.
"Wait. You forgot this."
Firefly blinked. "You're giving it to me now? Aren't you afraid I'll just run off with it?"
Victor shook his head, smiling. "I'm not worried. I know you're not that kind of person."
Even if she did try to run, he could track her down easily enough. But he didn't think she would. Firefly had integrity.
And besides, he was determined to have her on his side. One way or another.
"Thank you," Firefly said softly, picking up the pill with both hands. "Thank you for trusting me."
She held the small jade pill carefully, as if it were the most precious thing in the world.
Which, to her, it was.
For the first time in her life, Firefly had hope.
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