The first one I hugged was Peter. I gave him a strong and affectionate embrace. Even though I could have used Kai Kai to travel between places, I wanted to experience the full journey. Feeling his arms around me and the warmth of his body, my heart calmed softly.
"I missed you, love," I said in a soft and sweet tone.
"I missed you even more," Peter replied, holding me tighter. At that moment, I lifted my head and gave him small kisses, first on his face, then on his eyelids, and finally on his warm, sweet lips. However, the moment didn't last long because I felt my shirt being pulled. When I looked back, I saw my brother with a slightly upset expression.
"Brother, I know you missed your boyfriend, but what about me? Don't you miss me too?"
Hearing this, I immediately let go of my boyfriend, picked up my brother, hugged him lovingly, and kissed his forehead.
"Of course, I missed my little brother." I also ruffled his hair slightly.
Next to us, my parents were also hugging, sharing a sweet and loving moment. My father seemed to be saying something to my mother, and for a moment, she looked serious, but she soon returned to normal. I didn't approach or ask anything about it, and after all that, we went to have dinner at a nearby restaurant.
…
We ended up at a restaurant with a Chinese cuisine menu. Sitting at the table, I picked up the menu and scanned the dishes.
"What are you all planning to eat?" Mom asked, looking at everyone.
"Whatever you want, my love," Dad replied with a loving smile.
"I'll have yakisoba and a soda, Mom," my brother said with a grin.
Peter didn't answer right away, still seeming a little shy, and looked at me. I smiled and answered for both of us, already knowing what he wanted.
"Umm, I'll have wonton soup, and for Peter, kung pao chicken. To drink, a jug of pineapple and mint juice."
After we made our choices, the waiter came to our table, but when he arrived, everyone, especially Mom, Dad, and I, tensed up a bit. This was because, although the waiter had a nice and gentle smile and appeared somewhat nervous, there was something more. He had an Asian descent, and although his body didn't appear particularly imposing, by his posture and personality, we could tell that he was highly trained in combat. His aura and energy were completely human, but he seemed to be at a level beyond the average person, comparable to Captain America, though with a different feel. There was also a slight hidden sense of danger.
"Pleasure to meet you, I'll be your waiter today. My name is Shang-Chi."
We all relaxed and placed our orders. As long as he didn't pose a threat to our family or anyone innocent, there was no need to investigate him further. After all, everyone at this table had secrets. Still, I noted his name, appearance, and location in Anturian's database. He might be a threat, but I felt he had more potential as an ally than an enemy—at least, my Haki didn't sense any ill intentions. The sensation he emitted was one of purity, calm, and serenity.
Regardless, after we ate, we returned home to rest.
…
A few days passed, and certain events unfolded, specifically, Dad left for a trip with Mom and hasn't returned yet. Because of this, my brother has been alternating between home and school, sometimes sleeping at school. Transportation wasn't much of an issue since he occasionally used his own teleportation ability to go between home and school. Although still unstable, his ability has improved significantly, thanks to my tips and his training at school.
At present, I was driving the car, heading toward Dr. Connor's lab. Peter's internship was almost over, but there were still a few days left. I planned to pick him up because we were going on a date this afternoon. While driving, I noticed a Stark Industries complex a little way off that suddenly exploded. Debris flew through the air, nearly hitting several people on the street and causing damage.
Frowning, I pulled my car to the side and parked. After getting out, I applied mental and internal energy to my eyes. They glowed with power and easily pierced through the distance and even physical objects.
I saw an intriguing scene. There were a few men with guns at a distance, watching what was happening, while simultaneously threatening and preventing people from moving. The way they dressed and the weapons they carried indicated they weren't ordinary. Of course, what caught my attention wasn't them but a massive gray metal armor bristling with dangerous, powerful weapons and another smaller suit, which seemed to be built with more delicacy and technology. I recognized it as the armor that had appeared in the news a few days ago—the same armor worn by Tony Stark. Both were fighting, and the situation looked chaotic, and worst of all, extremely dangerous for innocent bystanders.
I wasn't about to let things continue like that, and the system seemed to agree as it sent me a notification:
—Mission: An Iron Monk Must Not Harm the Innocent!—
Objective: Ensure the destruction caused by the battle does not harm innocents or cause further damage. Preferably, intervene minimally in the fight.
Reward: Small Pet Package (contains six "creatures" with minimal combat capabilities).
Description: In a battle between technological armors, innocents must not be harmed. As a hero, it's your duty to help! Go immortal and receive your little helpers as a reward.
---
Upon seeing the mission, I wasn't surprised. The reward was curious, though it didn't seem particularly useful in combat or as a major prize, but it still seemed quite interesting. After all, combat isn't always the only solution.
Secretly, I reduced my presence, and when I found an empty spot, I put on my full combat gear and activated my divine power, Vision of a Leaf. With it active, I used Kai Kai and teleported directly to where the battle was taking place.