Hearing what Kinto said, Cypher's face couldn't help but become serious. If Yikrum really did what Kinto said, then his life was in danger.
"Are they really that bad?" Cypher couldn't help but ask, still hoping that they weren't that cruel.
"The gang isn't as close as you imagine, after all the money is little, but the people are plenty. This is much deeper than Saphi's beauty but rather the interests she represents." Kinto explained.
"I see… Well with my current strength, I'm not really sure what to do." Cypher said honestly, not having any plans.
"Don't worry, as long as you don't give them a chance to catch you alone, then even as lawless Yikrum is, he wouldn't dare do anything to you." Kinto said.
"The gang is cold and only survives because of its rules, so even Yikrum wouldn't dare challenge them."
"That's good to know." Cypher said, feeling a little relieved.
He also appreciated Kinto, feeling that he was a true friend. Most people wouldn't tell the truth even if they knew, scared of angering Yikrum, but Kinto told him regardless of the danger to himself.
"You're a good friend Kinto." Cypher said genuinely.
"Ahaha, I really am, aren't I? Now can you introduce me to Saphi." Kinto said, eyes shining.
"..." Just when Cypher thought this guy was a true friend, the truth came out, but honestly he didn't mind. Since Kinto helped him, then he should naturally send a little warmth his way as well.
"Alright, she actually invited me to lunch, so how about you join us." Cypher said.
"Really! Great! Hold up, I've got to shower, put on some perfume, get some flowers, and chocolates…!"
"Relax, this isn't a date, so you really don't need to prepare all that. Just come as you are now and act normal for heaven's sake." Cypher said exasperatedly.
"Normal, good, act normal! Alright when are we leaving?" Kinto asked excitedly.
"... When lunch starts."
"Oh yeah, perfect. I'll see you then!" Kinto said, as he ran off to do heaven's know what.
Watching him run off in joy, Cypher couldn't help but let out a laugh. Kinto was a strange guy, giving off both the vibe of being mature, and a child, at the same time.
"You ready Cypher?" Saphi asked, as the lunch hour had finally arrived.
"Let me just clean up. Oh yeah, do you mind if my friend joins us?" Cypher asked.
"No problem, but he has to pay for his own meal." Saphi said with a giggle.
"Hey, I bet if you asked him, he'd be more than happy to pay for all our meals." Cypher said, returning the laugh.
"Rich guy, huh? Well it's alright, let's not bully him."
"Hey Cypher. He-he-hello Miss Saphi." Kinto said as he arrived, wearing a fancy suit and smelling like some expensive fragrance.
Cypher nearly spat out when he saw how Kinto was dressed. He had just told this guy not to do all that, that here he was, looking like he's about to get married.
"Umm, nice to meet you Mister…"
"Kinto! Call me Kinto, no mister needed." Kinto said in his most charming voice as he shook Saphi's hand.
Cypher was trying his best to hold back his laughter as he watched Kinto's performance. Thankfully, Saphi steered the conversation away just before he broke.
"Well it's nice to meet you. Anyways, I'm starving, let's eat." Saphi said, taking the lead leaving the gang.
She wasn't only followed by Cypher and Kinto, but also by two large guards who walked in complete silence, ignoring the three of them like they didn't even exist.
Considering Saphi's background, she went everywhere with security, but fortunately these two were very well trained, so after getting used to them, you'd start to forget they were even there.
Kinto was aware of how those big families operated, so he didn't ask about the guards, instead following Saphi closely as he kept asking question after question.
"So Miss Saphi, what's your favorite color? What year were you born? What's your favorite food…"
Saphi's face started to go black, and as polite as she was, she'd be lying if she didn't say Kinto was starting to get on her nerves. Fortunately Cypher stepped in right on time, relieving her awkwardness.
"Slow down with all the questions, Kinto. We're all just friends here, so let's keep the talk casual." Cypher said as he patted Kinto on the shoulder, finally sealing his rapid fire mouth.
"Ahh, sorry, I'm just excited." Kinto said, rubbing the back of his head, feeling slightly embarrassed.
"It's okay." Saphi said with a laugh, not minding Kinto's performance.
But she also couldn't help but feel that this was why she liked Cypher so much. He didn't seem interested in her appearance or wealth, and instead just treated her as a friend.
For a person like her, true friendship was incredibly rare, and most of her relationships were shallow, people either wanting her for her beauty, or her background.
Cypher definitely loved money, but Saphi could tell that he was just honest, and he never pretended that he didn't.
If she offered him a free meal, he would always take it, not even pretending to struggle a little bit. Saphi appreciated that, preferring to deal with people who were upfront about what they wanted rather than those who always tried to hide it.
With Cypher acting as an inbetween, Kinto finally calmed down a bit, and the three finally had a chance to talk normally.
As they chatted and laughed, they arrived at a fancy restaurant. Walking up to the highest floor, they entered Saphi's private room.
"The life of the wealthy really is something else. To think you can come here whenever you want." Cypher said with a sigh as he took a seat on a comfy sofa in the room.
"As long as you reach the First Flesh Refinement, you'll also be able to live like this." Kinto said, as he sat beside Cypher.
"That's still a distance, for now it's better to just leech off Saphi." Cypher said with a laugh.
"Leech all you'd like, as long as you keep training with me, I don't mind treating you to a meal whenever you'd like." Saphi said with a smile.
"Hey I can eat a lot, so don't say I didn't warn you." Cypher said, as he picked up the menu and began ordering as he pleased.
Most people would usually be reserved, but Cypher didn't even bother with the games, just ordering whatever he wanted.
Kinto couldn't help but look at his performance with some shock. It was clear that Cypher didn't come from a noble family, otherwise he'd know just how rude what he was doing was.
Saphi didn't mind, just smiling as Cypher ordered whatever he wanted. Meanwhile Kinto acted more reserved, only ordering a dish before stopping.
"Are you sure that's all you'd like, Kinto?" Saphi asked, not actually planning to make Kinto pay for his own meal.
"Oh no, no, no, it's plenty!" Kinto said, not wanting to seem uncouth.
"Don't be shy, Kinto, she's paying after all." Cypher said with a laugh.
"It's fine, I had a big breakfast." Kinto said as he rubbed his stomach.
The three continued chatting as the food arrived, eating as they talked. Kinto was not as nervous as he was at the start, so he finally started talking normally.
The meal soon came to a close and Saphi and Kinto got to know each other. Cypher felt like he paid back Kinto's favor, so he also felt a lot smoother.
With the meal over, Kinto and Cypher headed back to the gang while Saphi headed off with her two guards.
Having just eaten so much food, Cypher was completely refreshed, and he had a feeling that today was the day he'd breakthrough.
Entering the training grounds, Cypher found an empty wooden pole and began punching it, focusing on his right arm.
Punch after punch, an hour passed by quickly, and Cypher also noticed that his arm seemed to be evolving.
Quickly pulling out some blood paste, he lathered it onto his arms, and like a sponge in water, his arms began absorbing the nutrients.
It seemed that energy was the key needed to complete the metamorphosis, because soon after, Cypher felt his right arm slowly begin pulsating as the flesh evolved towards a more perfect direction.
The process was slow, but massive, with each pulse, he could feel the strength and durability of his arm soar.
Swinging another punch, the wooden pole that usually stood unaffected by Cypher's attacks, was split into two.
Normally such a punch would leave his knuckles bloody, but looking down at his fist, he was completely unharmed, the wood no longer being strong enough to damage his skin.
At the same time his arm's metamorphosis was complete, another shocking change happened to Cypher, but this one was internal.
A loud explosion seemed to go off inside his mind, and suddenly, another sentence appeared inside his mind, this one directly below [Perfect Appearance]