Chapter 87

"Rovina…" Melissa rubbed her temples, which had grown tight, "do you remember the movie plot we discussed before? The mysterious types who string people along always die horribly…"

"Pfft! It's almost New Year—don't say such bad luck! What if you jinx us?" Rovina shot Melissa a disgruntled look and tapped her lightly on the head.

"So why did you suddenly drag me out?" Melissa crossed her arms, shivering, each breath exhaling white mist, "Winter, midnight, wind and rain—freezing me to death."

As a brand-new recruit in MaxTac with zero cybernetic implants, Melissa didn't have the bizarre array of Cybernetic Implants that her seniors wore.

"Look at you, so pathetic…" Rovina chuckled softly and pulled Melissa tightly into her arms.

It felt like burying your head in a soft, blazing-hot blanket during winter—every bone and muscle melted with bliss.

"Hey, is this workplace sexual harassment?"

Melissa mumbled, deliberately rubbing her cheek back and forth against Rovina's chest.

"Then you're a female pervert!" Rovina clamped her arm around the head constantly nuzzling into her chest, growling, "Can you even talk right now?!"

"I give up… I give up…"

"Heh heh…"

Rovina loosened her grip, watching Melissa's flushed face heaving with heavy breaths, and let out a low chuckle.

Melissa rubbed her face, glared at the smug woman, then quietly glanced down at her own chest.

In every way possible, she'd been utterly defeated.

"So you dragged me out here, cuddling in the rain, to prove you're a lesbian and have no interest in Bit, right?"

"First, I'm not a lesbian…" Rovina gritted her teeth, speaking slowly, eyes rolling in exasperation.

Her new recruit's bizarre imagination was truly boundless.

"Second, I really am not interested in that Bit guy… don't you dare laugh!"

Seeing Melissa's face barely holding back laughter, Rovina clenched her fists.

"Finally…"

She suddenly sighed, and didn't continue.

The two stared at each other, neither speaking further.

The world fell utterly silent.

Only the faint sound of countless raindrops, hidden in the endless night, laughed wildly.

The warm, lively comedy atmosphere was mercilessly shattered by the icy gale, leaving not a trace behind.

"The setup's long enough… I assume you're mentally prepared," Rovina whispered, tilting her head slightly, gazing dreamily at the black sky where countless water columns flowed upward.

"Mm."

Melissa's quiet reply vanished into the wind and rain.

Rovina didn't hear her answer—and didn't need to.

She brushed aside a strand of her falling red hair and spoke to herself.

Her words fell with the raindrops, shattering into transparent bubbles.

◎

"Hey, Haiji, are you okay? Did you forget to take your meds today?" Mu Lin leaned toward the calm woman, feigning concern with a sly grin.

"Before you ask me, you should wonder if you took yours…" Haiji leaned back slightly and tapped her own temple with her index finger.

"Damn, I actually forgot today." Mu Lin slapped his thigh, sat back down, and rummaged frantically through his waist pouch for the Neural Agent.

The Japanese restaurant owner, who had been scowling moments before, couldn't help twitching his lips.

"I have extras—use mine," Haiji shook her head and tossed her Neural Agent to Mu Lin, who snatched it like a starving dog digging for food.

"You see now—my friend's got a screw loose… I'll pack some food and take him home," Haiji explained to the owner in Japanese, knowing Mu Lin wouldn't understand, so she didn't care if he misinterpreted.

As a High-Level Cyber Surveillance Agent, her authority and abilities far surpassed ordinary people—but she still followed the rules, as she believed she should.

At least, that was Haiji's thinking—and her practice.

"Hey, Haiji, what were you whispering to the owner just now?" Mu Lin touched his needle puncture, face twisted.

Every Net Watch Agent's Neural Agent must be injected via a specially customized needle.

For him, Haiji's needle was far too thick.

"None of your business," Haiji shook her head, lightly swinging the large insulated food box filled with exquisite Japanese dishes, "I'm going to meet a friend. Go home yourself."

"No way—it's pitch black out there. I won't let you walk alone in the night," Mu Lin stubbornly followed her, ignoring all her threats and warnings.

"Fine, fine…"

Finally, unable to shake off this clingy nuisance, she reluctantly agreed to let Mu Lin tag along.

◎

Rovina opened the back door, one hand holding Melissa's, the other carrying steaming late-night snacks, and returned to the Safe House.

The warm indoor air warmly welcomed them home, eagerly driving away the damp chill clinging to their bodies.

"Where's the Captain? Where'd he run off to?"

Rovina scanned the room—only Bit sat at the computer, fully absorbed in his video game.

"Bit?" She raised her voice, her tone betraying faint anxiety.

"Huh? What's up?" Bit stuck his neck out from behind the screen.

"Where's the Captain?" Melissa stepped forward slightly, standing beside Rovina, repeating the same question.

"What's going on?!" A thunderous voice boomed from upstairs, followed by heavy footsteps rapidly approaching.

"We brought late-night snacks… want some?" Rovina smiled, shaking the plastic bag full of piled-up skewers of grilled meat.

"Sure…" Beros blinked, then grinned, taking the portion large enough for four from Rovina's hands, "Whoa, where'd you buy this? So much?"

"Just a new little shop downstairs…" Rovina glanced out the window, speaking softly, "New Year's coming—people are struggling. I just bought out their whole stock."

"Being kind-hearted isn't always a good thing…" Bit, as usual, seized the chance to scold Rovina, "Who knows how long these meats have been sitting? You'll end up with diarrhea."

"Just asking, are you going to eat or not?"

"Eat, eat... of course I'll eat..." Facing three gazes of unclear intent, Bite decisively chose to back down. "I'll shut up..."

"Is there any beer left at home, Captain?"

"There should be some in the fridge... I'll go dig it out. You two clear the table and start eating while it's hot."

Beros set down the steaming bag in his hand and strode toward the nearby refrigerator.

Everything was so normal.

Like the gentle prelude to a grand symphony.