"Why wouldn't I dare to admit it?"
Ansel struggled to get up, but Anthony's blade pressed him down, leaving him no choice but to shout, "He's a filthy old rascal, and I'm just a kid! Give it a few more years, then see!"
"Hahaha!"
Ryan couldn't help but burst into laughter, snorting like a pig. "A few more years? If Miles hadn't yelled just now, you'd have been meeting your next life!"
"I don't care! You're all just bullying me!"
Ansel's voice began to break as he choked back tears, mumbling curses through gritted teeth. "I risk my life helping you save people, fighting alongside you, and this is the treatment I get? You all get to play leaders, and I—what, I'm supposed to be this punk's lackey? No way!"
Smack!
Ansel received a hard thump on the head.
Miles, looking exasperated, scolded, "Who told you Mary was a mistress?"
"Nathan!" Ansel retorted, his neck stiff with defiance. "Nathan said Mary got pushed around by you ages ago. How else would she have so eagerly gotten you all those weapons and gear?"
"Dammit, you little brat, spouting nonsense again?!" Nathan stormed over and slapped him across the face, then turned to Anthony. "Anthony, finish him off already!"
"Like hell it's nonsense! Everyone heard you say it!"
"You little pest!"
The room erupted into chaos as fists and words flew.
"Ahem, ahem!"
From the side, Isaac suddenly coughed twice.
"Ahem! Ahem, ahem!"
Nathan, still pinning Ansel's mouth shut, turned his head, asking, "Master, are you catching a cold? Cough..."
"Uh..."
Nathan's gaze followed everyone else's to the doorway, where Mary stood, her face icy as frost. He froze, instantly releasing Ansel and shivering as he retreated to the side.
"It was you!" Ansel, still oblivious, shouted at the top of his lungs. "You even said Mary's the reserved type with a wild streak, and that one day she'd drain the boss dry!"
Smack!
"Drain me, my ass!"
Miles, crouching with his back to the door, smacked Ansel again, growling, "I'm indomitable, got it? Let her try bringing in two more! See what happens!"
"Quit bragging already, I—" Ansel tried to rise, but abruptly swallowed the rest of his sentence.
For the first time, he realized eyes could kill.
"Bragging, am I?" Miles barked obliviously. "Bring her in, and watch me handle her with ease. Drain me? Dream on!"
The room fell silent as all eyes fixed on him.
Miles slowly paused, feeling the temperature drop several degrees as though he'd fallen into an ice cavern.
"What? Why are you all staring at me like that?"
Following their line of sight, Miles turned to the door and froze when he saw the familiar silhouette standing there.
"..."
He gulped instinctively, forcing a smile worse than tears. "Uh... if I said that was a joke, would you believe me?"
He'd spent too long in this room, enjoying the camaraderie, and had let himself go.
Truly let himself go.
But the frost in Mary's expression told him she wasn't buying it.
"Step outside."
Mary's sharp, angular features carried a seriousness that silenced the room. Her icy gaze swept over everyone before locking onto Miles.
Miles hesitated, then stood and followed her out.
"Whoosh!"
The collective sound of held breaths being released filled the room.
"Damn, even when I was a kid facing my parents after screwing up, I wasn't this scared," Anthony muttered, letting go of Ansel and glancing nervously toward the door.
Even Isaac chuckled bitterly. "That girl Mary has an aura that could cut like a blade. She was genuinely ready to kill just now—her eyes were sharper than knives."
"Did... did I say something wrong?" Ansel asked dumbly, glancing at Nathan and shrinking back a little.
"Shut your damn mouth before it digs me an early grave!" Nathan snapped, visibly irritated. "Why didn't anyone notice when she came in?!"
"Hey, look outside!"
Thomas, with his sharp eyes, pointed toward the rear window. "Boss Miles and Mary are..."
Crash!
The entire room rushed to the window, even Ansel scrambling to poke his head through.
...
Outside, around the corner.
Mary stared coldly at Miles without saying a word.
Miles, looking thoroughly embarrassed, forced a smile. "It's all a misunderstanding. Really, a big misunderstanding! It's all Ryan's fault, running his mouth outside. Don't take it to heart."
Mary remained silent, her tone light but cutting. "I've been scouting Cloud City these past few days. There are some women there who aren't bad-looking. If you're interested, one piece of bread should be enough to get their attention."
Damn it.
Miles' face turned green. Just as he was about to explain, Mary continued, "If that's not enough, I can help you find someone outside. But please, stop making disgusting jokes like that."
"You—!"
Having been met with Mary's sarcasm multiple times, Miles finally snapped. "Screw it! I'll do whatever I want! If you don't like it, close your damn eyes!"
Boom!
"You bastard!"
Mary, who had been restraining herself, exploded.
Without hesitation, she kicked him hard, snarling, "Miles, do you think I'm someone you can mess with? You think I won't put you in your place? What the hell are you, anyway? Without your supplies, you think I'd give you the time of day?!"
"Ow!"
A piercing scream echoed into the air.
Miles clutched the most vital part of his anatomy, crouching in agony and bouncing in circles like a wind-up frog.
"Hiss!"
Inside the house, every man instinctively crossed his legs, their expressions contorting in shared pain.
Nathan even grabbed his crotch reflexively, grateful the kick hadn't been aimed at him.
"Mary!"
Miles, still clutching himself, shouted toward Mary's retreating figure. "If I don't make you mine, I'll take your last name!"
"Heh!"
Mary spun around, her once icy demeanor now fiery, resembling an enraged tigress. Glaring at Miles, she yelled, "Miles, you shameless scumbag! I'll make sure to teach you a lesson one day!"
"Now that's badass!"
Nathan couldn't help but exclaim, then pointed toward Miles' villa. "Ryan, is the other one like this too?"
Ryan, understanding the implication, shook his head. "In these three months, this has to be the worst injury my brother's ever taken. That woman's fiery as hell."
"Guess having too many women isn't such a good thing..." Ansel chimed in, feigning an air of wisdom. "Didn't someone say there's even a celebrity among them? Three women stirring up chaos, huh?"
Smack!
Anthony delivered another slap, scolding, "You really don't learn, do you? The boss's private matters aren't for you to gossip about!"
This time, Ansel dared not argue back. He muttered weakly, "But... didn't you all say the same thing?"