"Susan, what do you think we should do with this guy?"
Ryuuto held the Blade Warrior by the collar like he was lifting a grocery bag instead of a man. He flashed Susan an easy smile.
"Huh? Just kick him out. I don't like seeing blood."
Her jade-pale cheeks reddened instantly, soft and warm in the flickering parking-lot lights.
"Sure thing. Whatever you want."
"You fools really think I'm something you can dispose of?"
The Blade Warrior snarled and violently broke free, eyes burning with humiliation.
He hurled his sword at Ryuuto and grabbed a modified machine gun from behind a pillar, spraying bullets wildly.
"Let me show you my cannon!"
"Jiang Li, look out!"
Susan lunged toward him on instinct.
Lightning Style. Ultrasonic Shock Lightning Blade.
Ryuuto didn't flinch.
He wrapped an arm around Susan's waist, pulling her safely against him while his other hand flicked a lightning-wrapped ninja blade toward the attacker.
"Relax. Let's watch him embarrass himself."
Susan's voice softened into a breathy "Mm."
"Wha—why are you this strong?!"
The Blade Warrior watched in horror as the lightning blade sliced his own sword in half, then vaporized the incoming shells.
Before he could even dodge, the blade speared straight into his chest, electricity bursting through every nerve.
He convulsed brutally, curled up like a fried shrimp… and collapsed unconscious.
"Done."
Ryuuto didn't spare him another glance.
He simply carried Susan out of the parking lot, as if the fight had never happened.
"I'm taking you home. And from now on, you don't run off to face enemies alone. Understood?"
"Mm… I'll listen. I promise."
She buried her face shyly against his chest.
When they reached home, Katie Dee was already waiting at the door.
"Oye! Brother, you really brought Sister Susan back! And um… something definitely happened between you two!"
Ryuuto just smirked and ushered both girls inside.
They ate, drank, talked.
Katie Dee demanded a full retelling of the fight; Susan turned red; Ryuuto exaggerated on purpose.
Then—
[Ding! Host has defeated the powerful foe Blade Warrior. Reward: 40,000 system experience. One spin of the Lucky Wheel obtained.]
Nice! Time to spin!
Ryuuto rubbed his hands like a gambler about to win big.
[Host, before you spin… good news. Your system experience is almost full. Completing one more task will trigger a system evolution.]
Perfect. One more job, then big upgrades.
He slammed the red button.
The wheel spun in a multicolored blur.
It stopped on a glowing dark icon.
[Ding! Host has unlocked an S-Level Mission: Locate and defeat the powerful mutant codenamed Red Bull. Rewards: Massive. Difficulty: Extreme.]
"Heh. Good. I'll find him right now."
After hugging Susan and Katie Dee goodbye, Ryuuto blurred into the night.
"Red Bull! Just sit tight. I'm coming."
He sprinted through the city, lightning speed carving wind tunnels behind him.
He didn't know Red Bull's exact location—but he knew someone who absolutely would.
He arrived at a rundown building guarded by a tattooed man.
"Who the hell are you? This place isn't for people like—"
Thud.
Ryuuto chopped the man's neck with a hand strike and kicked the door off its hinges.
Inside, men with guns and knives jumped to their feet, eyes sharpening like wolves spotting prey.
"Relax, relax. I'm here to make a deal."
Ryuuto waved casually, walking toward a bald man counting money at a table.
"Hey! You've got a guest. Why not show some hospitality?"
Silence.
Only cold stares.
"We're closed," the bald man said flatly. "Leave."
"Need me to handle this?"
A woman in black strode out of the shadows, heels clicking like countdown seconds. Her gaze locked onto the bald man with icy precision.
And that… is when the atmosphere finally shifted.