~ 💎 WEEKLY POWER GOALS 💎🔥 60→1ch | 100→2ch | 200→5ch ⏰ Resets Monday!
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A moment later.
Alpha led the group through the lavishly decorated living room and out to the open-air heated pool in the villa’s backyard.
The night breeze skimmed across the water’s surface, stirring up ripples of light.
Warm-toned ground lamps ringed the pool, flooding the area with a soft, even glow that didn’t sting the eyes.
Rias’s anxious gaze snapped instantly to the figure cutting through the water toward the edge.
The next second.
Those azure eyes flew wide open, pupils flooded with pure shock.
“…Ancheng-kouhai?!” Issei Hyoudou, trailing behind the group, kept his head rigidly bowed.
He couldn’t bring himself to look at Li Ancheng.
He had sworn to keep the boss’s secret.
And blown it before the night was even over.
SPLASH!
Li Ancheng reached the pool’s edge.
Both arms pressed down casually against the deck, and his lean, perfectly built frame vaulted out of the water with zero effort.
Crystalline droplets traced the lines of his sculpted muscle, refracting the lamplight into a dazzling sheen.
Tsubaki Shinra, who had been waiting quietly to one side, immediately stepped forward and offered a soft bath towel with both hands.
Li Ancheng took it and dragged it carelessly through his wet black hair, then crossed to the wide lounge chair and sat down.
Hualian moved obediently into position behind him, slender fingers settling onto his shoulders and neck, kneading with practiced, even pressure.
On the neighboring lounge chair, Asia had been quietly reading her Bible.
When she saw the gravely injured Akeno cradled in Rias’s arms, she couldn’t help the soft murmur that escaped her.
“…Mr.
Ancheng.” Only then did Li Ancheng turn his head, languid, as though he had only just noticed them.
His gaze drifted over the deathly pale Akeno without urgency, then settled on Rias’s stunned face.
The corner of his mouth tugged upward, the same careless grin from the rooftop this afternoon.
“Good evening, Rias-senpai.” Rias’s quick mind had already assembled the pieces.
She crossed to Li Ancheng in a few long strides, still holding Akeno, brow drawn tight.
“You’re the one who did this to Akeno, aren’t you?” “You let us in, which means you intend to save her.
Right?!” “Not exactly.” Li Ancheng chuckled softly, his gaze cutting briefly to Issei Hyoudou, who was standing off to the side looking thoroughly lost.
“The power I left with Issei only activates when his life is in danger.
Passively.” “As for who it attacks — that depends entirely on who was carrying killing intent toward him at the time.” He lifted his eyes.
His gaze drove straight into Rias’s.
“You were only ever interested in the Sacred Gear inside Issei.
Whether he lived or died, you didn’t particularly care.” “You intervened because you didn’t want a Fallen Angel killing someone on your territory.
That’s all it was, isn’t it?” Issei Hyoudou’s head jerked up.
The color drained from his face all at once, leaving it white as paper.
“That’s right.” Under Li Ancheng’s gaze, Rias didn’t flinch.
She admitted it without hesitation.
“I cared about the Sacred Gear inside him.
And about the inviolable territorial dignity of the Gremory family.
Nothing more.” Issei Hyoudou’s chest felt like an invisible hand had reached in and squeezed his heart shut.
A bone-deep cold surged up from somewhere inside him, impossible to name.
“It doesn’t matter.” Li Ancheng waved it off.
A faint wisp of breeze drifted, barely perceptible, over Akeno’s battered body.
“I’m stating a fact.
Injuring Akeno-senpai was never my intention.
That power identifies threats on its own and acts accordingly.” Rias drew a slow breath.
Her tone dropped.
“Heal her.” Li Ancheng didn’t acknowledge the order at all.
He reached over and ruffled the soft crown of Asia’s head, his smile easy and warm.
“You’ll have healing power this strong someday too.” Asia’s gaze hadn’t left Akeno.
Her emerald eyes lit up, and she nodded hard.
“Mr.
Ancheng is the absolute best!” Rias watched his utterly unhurried manner and felt her brow pull tighter.
Her voice sharpened.
“Li Ancheng!” “You—” “Watch your attitude.” Alpha’s cold cut came from the side, flat and final.
Rias glanced at Alpha.
Her lips pressed into a thin line.
In the end, she reined in the Gremory edge.
But she didn’t lower her head.
“…I was desperate to save her.
I lost my composure.” Then a faint, weak sound came from her arms.
“President…
I…
I think I’m okay.” Rias looked down, startled.
Her whole body went still.
Akeno’s clothes still bore the wide, ragged damage corroded by the power’s force.
But the skin beneath was smooth and unmarked, exactly as it had always been.
Not even the faintest scar remained.
Issei Hyoudou’s eyes went wide.
His mind stalled completely.
Wounds that bad, healed in an instant?!
He had been staring the entire time.
He hadn’t seen Big Bro Ancheng make a single move.
Li Ancheng settled back against the lounge chair and let out a quiet, merciless laugh.
“Exceptionally fine features.
Pity about the eyesight.” Rias’s cheeks went warm.
She knew perfectly well she’d been too frantic, had completely lost her composure.
For once, she had nothing to say back.
15 minutes later.
Tsubaki Shinra led the others inside.
The pool area went quiet.
Only Li Ancheng, Rias, and the fully recovered Himejima Akeno remained.
Li Ancheng turned his head toward Rias, seated beside him.
“You had me clear everyone out.
Something you want to say to me alone?” He shifted his gaze to Akeno.
“Akeno-senpai really is a loyal servant.” “You were lucky.
That jade’s capacity was severely limited.
Any more and your soul would have scattered on the spot.” Akeno rose gracefully and gave a small bow.
Her deep purple ponytail swayed with the motion, her smile warm and perfectly composed.
“Thank you, Mr.
Ancheng, for saving me.” “Should there ever be anything Akeno can do for you, I certainly won’t refuse.” “Ancheng-kouhai.” Rias shook her head slowly, something unreadable in her voice.
“I truly never imagined…
that the Demon Court’s ruler who appeared out of nowhere would turn out to be you.” “If Akeno-senpai hadn’t been so badly hurt, I wouldn’t have needed to show up like this at all.” Li Ancheng lifted his cup and responded with an easy laugh.
Akeno raised a hand to her lips and smiled.
“To have Mr.
Ancheng personally reveal his strength to save me, that is its own kind of honor.” “Let’s get to the point.” Rias raised a hand, cutting off the pleasantries.
Her expression shifted into something she rarely wore.
“Ancheng-kouhai, with the power you have, you chose to stay here and build the Demon Court.
What exactly are you after?” “I want an honest answer.” “I was bored.
Built a faction on a whim.” Li Ancheng’s tone was flat.
“That’s it.” “What?” “You’re worried I’ll move against your devil faction?” “If you truly wanted to move against us, whether I worry or not wouldn’t change anything.” Rias gave a short, self-deprecating laugh.
Then her gaze steadied into something unmistakably resolved.
“Ancheng-kouhai, could you…
do something for me.” Li Ancheng raised an eyebrow.
“I can.” “But I don’t work for free.
What are you offering that’s actually worth my time?” Rias held his eyes without retreating, without softening anything.
“My reason for being stationed in Kuoh Town is to cultivate powerful servants and earn results in the noble Rating Game!” “That is my responsibility as the heiress of the Gremory family!” “Your power is beyond anything any of us imagined.
I want to ask you to lend me your strength!” “Anything I, Rias, can offer — name your price.
I won’t hold back.” A slow, playful light stirred in Li Ancheng’s eyes.
“Since what you’re asking for is power that can break the rules themselves.” “Then the price has to match the weight of that.” He paused, holding those azure eyes.
“My price is: I want you.” Rias went rigid.
Her eyes flew open to their absolute limit.
Her mind went blank.
For a full moment, she couldn’t even process what she’d heard.
Behind her, Akeno’s fingers at her side curled inward, just slightly.
Inwardly, she was quietly astonished.
The President had just taken a fastball straight to the face and never saw it coming.
But then, before she could draw a breath.
Li Ancheng’s lazy voice rolled out again like a thunderclap.
“And Akeno-senpai.” ➤ Next: Shattered Understanding — A Longinus Removed as if by Casual Pickup?!