Misaki was slow to respond to Tadokoro because she was completely stunned.
Defeating monsters with bare hands?
Was he even human?
Raven walked up to Misaki, who was still recovering from her shock, and took his bags back.
"Thanks, I'll be going now."
With that, Raven strolled brazenly away from the scene.
"Wait!"
He hadn't walked far when Misaki, running in her heels, caught up to Raven. She spoke to him with great seriousness: "Please join ZECT."
Although she didn't know Raven's origins, she was deeply captivated by the sheer power he had displayed. If a person like him could join ZECT and become a Rider, he would surely be stronger than both TheBee and Kabuto combined.
"Not interested."
Raven ignored Misaki and continued walking.
This reaction was completely outside Misaki's expectations. She froze momentarily, only snapping back to reality and following him after Raven had walked a considerable distance.
After a while, she remembered to reply to Shuichi Tadokoro, briefly reporting what had happened on the scene.
"Are you saying that person defeated the Worms without using a Rider System?" Shuichi asked, incredulous.
Was there really such a human in the world? Could he perhaps be a fully matured Native Worm in disguise?
In fact, Shuichi Tadokoro himself was a Native Worm who had mimicked a human. The Native Worms were an alien species that arrived on Earth slightly earlier than the Worms. They came from the same place but were mutually antagonistic species.
The Worms molted quickly and had low intelligence, but their top-tier fighting power was numerous. The Native Worms found it extremely difficult to molt, possessed high intelligence, but had few top-tier fighters.
Due to the vast disparity in combat strength, the Native Worms' survival space grew smaller and smaller. They had always been at a disadvantage. This was why they fled to Earth and cooperated with humans, developing the Rider System to deal with the Worms.
Since the Native Worms were not as cruel and bloodthirsty as the Worms, their mimicked subjects were almost always humans who were already close to death. Thus, most of them quietly hid themselves, living in human society with very little contact even among their own kind.
If he was a molted Native Worm, it wouldn't be surprising to see Raven possess such fighting power. Although molting was difficult for Native Worms, every successful one was certainly exceptional, equivalent to at least a high-ranking cadre among the Worms.
"You follow him for now. Report back to me if anything happens," Tadokoro ordered.
"Understood." Misaki replied.
She continued to follow Raven, hoping to learn more about him.
However, after turning a corner, she lost sight of her target.
"Where did he go?" Misaki looked at the empty street before her, utterly bewildered. There were no hidden spots nearby.
The next second, a warm hand suddenly covered her mouth.
"Mmmph!" Misaki struggled violently.
"Why are you following me?" Raven locked his arms around Misaki from behind, speaking to her in a tone of feigned interrogation.
"Please… let go… of me… ah!"
Overwhelmed by panic, Misaki struggled with such intensity that she accidentally passed out.
Raven looked at Misaki, who was now limp in his arms, and shook his head.
Was she really that fragile? Or was she intentionally clinging to him?
With no other choice, he lifted Misaki and carried her to his own shop.
Inside, Beroba, wearing her black-stocking maid outfit, saw Raven return from grocery shopping with a woman slung over his shoulder. She immediately looked up. Instead of finding it strange or questioning him, she felt a little excited.
It was as if watching Raven do something naughty brought her enjoyment as well.
"What are you thinking?" Raven walked up and knocked Beroba lightly on her fantasizing head. "Am I that kind of person?"
Beroba rubbed her forehead, looking wronged, and replied, "Aren't you?"
"Of course not," Raven answered confidently. He then carried Misaki into his bedroom and casually dropped her onto the bed, ignoring her thereafter.
After an unknown amount of time, Misaki finally woke up. Seeing the unfamiliar surroundings, she suddenly realized that she had been knocked unconscious.
She got out of bed, her bare feet in nylons touching the floor, and stepped out of the strange bedroom.
Going downstairs, she saw Raven and Beroba, who was constantly sweeping in her maid outfit.
"Where is this…?" she asked.
"My house, of course. Where else would it be?" Raven answered brusquely.
Misaki looked around and realized it was a café with a vintage renovation style.
"You're the owner here?" she asked Raven. She thought, This person is so powerful. I thought he'd be the master of a martial arts dojo or something, but he's just a barista.
"I told you before, I have no interest in joining your organization. You can leave now if you have no other business," Raven said.
He leisurely brewed a cup of coffee and savored it, his gaze constantly sweeping over Beroba, who was standing before him with her black-stockinged legs and high heels.
This drew Misaki's attention. She immediately grasped the key detail: the black stockings and high heels.
She thought, Could I perhaps try to use seduction?
For today, she decided to leave. She had located the place and could take her time; there was no need to rush.
"I'll be back," Misaki said, giving Raven a deep look, as if trying to memorize him completely.
When she woke up, she felt like her bottom had been severely pinched. She didn't need to guess what had happened. However, she didn't show any reaction to it.
"As long as you're a customer, you're always welcome," Raven smiled slightly.
Shortly after Misaki left, Beroba wore a disappointed expression.
"You just let her leave? I thought you were going to do something. Hmph, you only ever pick on me."
Her thought process was simple: she thought that with one more person for Raven to torment, her own stress and the "firepower" directed at her would be lessened.
"Didn't she say she'd be back? What are you rushing for?" Raven showed a playful smile. He then slapped Beroba on her pert bottom, his daily routine of harassing her.
———————
Want to read ahead of schedule? Head over here ——— pa-tre-on.c-om/AlexandrusTL [remove the hyphen for normal access]