Gregory was completely taken by surprise by Lira’s direct question. The atmosphere became momentarily awkward, as neither of them expected Lira to be so direct and forward when asking the price for having sex with Gregory.

Juliette, with a disconcerted expression, was the first to speak up, trying to understand the situation. She frowned, looking from Gregory to Lira, before asking, in a slightly hesitant voice: “I didn’t expect that from you, Lira.”

Lira, with a mischievous smile, looked at Juliette and said: “Honestly, I didn’t expect it either. Maybe it’s because of the wonderful night we had today or the fact that it’s been a while since I’ve tasted Testonitus. But neither of those reasons are enough…”

Juliette leaned forward, trying to figure out if there was more to it than met the eye. “Are you really serious or are you just having fun?” Juliette’s tone reflected her confusion, still trying to understand Lira’s intentions.

But she was ignored by Lira, who stepped forward and stood very close to Gregory, without caring about the two other women beside him.

"The pheromones you emit... are messing with my senses in a curious way. Normally, this wouldn't be a problem and I would ignore it. But tonight it woke up something that was deeply dormant... So, I really want to have some fun, just enough to erase this feeling, it doesn't hurt, right?"

"Humph, and here I thought you only liked to go for walks, shop and go to saunas." Juliette commented sarcastically.

"I prefer more... discreet fun, Juliette," Lira said with a provocative smile. "No risky adventures or dangerous situations. Unlike certain people, who can't help but get involved in more daring and... intimate activities, especially at times and places that, let's say, aren't exactly appropriate." Her voice carried a clear provocation, and Lira's gaze was direct, challenging, leaving the suggestion in the air.

Juliette was visibly disconcerted. Her posture stiffened for a brief moment, but her expression remained composed, despite the discomfort that Lira's provocation had caused.

It was at this point that Gregory decided to intervene and replied respectfully but firmly: "I'm sorry, Miss Lira, but I don't do that kind of thing. And, to be perfectly clear, I would never charge for something like that. For me, any interaction of this kind has to be more than a simple transaction."

Lira didn't seem intimidated. She leaned forward a little, a mischievous smile curving the corners of her lips. "That leaves more questions than answers, boy..."

Her voice was soft, but the intensity behind the words didn't go unnoticed. "I just need a shot. Nothing more. You can order whatever you want and after that I won't bother you anymore."

The silence dragged on for a few seconds, charged with an electric atmosphere.

"I'm not interested in money, Miss Lira. But..." Gregory stood firm, his eyes meeting Lira's with an intensity that showed his conviction. "How about another dinner? Just the two of us?"

Lira hadn't expected such a firm answer, but she seemed to understand his stance. She gave him a smile, half challenging, half amusedly curious. "Hmm... So you're the type who only gets involved if there's something more, huh?"

"We could say that..." Gregory replied, keeping his cool but making it clear that he hadn't given in.

At that exact moment, Lira's car arrived, interrupting the mood. Calmly, she helped Nora into the vehicle before approaching Gregory again, her posture full of unshakable confidence.

"I like that," Lira commented, her voice full of amusement. "Very well, I'll wait for another opportunity. But don't keep me waiting, Gregory... you won't like what might happen."

Before he could answer, Lira got into the car and, with one last defiant look, drove away, making it clear that, although she hadn't gotten what she wanted, the story was far from over.

“I think we should go too…” Juliette said, breaking the silence that followed.

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Daira, still with an intimate posture and holding Gregory's arm, replied in a soft, almost provocative tone: “I thought there was a very important matter that Gregory wanted to discuss with us.”

Gregory smiled, a little disconcerted by the sudden change in the mood. “Time flew by and I didn't even notice… Are you willing to listen to me now?”

Daira, with a cheeky look, took a step forward: “I have a better proposal… Why don't we go to your house?”

Gregory hesitated, his gaze wandering for a moment, considering what might happen, especially with Vivian still apparently upset due to the pair of Wakizashis and the presence of two unknown parahumans in her home. "I don't know..." he said, weighing the consequences.

"You don't have to worry, Vivian may seem mean on the outside, but she's as docile as a little hamster. And I promise we won't cause any problems. Juliette will be there too..." Daira smiled, trying to ease any tension.

Gregory looked at Juliette, seeking her opinion. "What do you think?"

Juliette smiled back, her gaze serene and confident. "It's fine, as long as you're comfortable with it."

Gregory then turned to Daira. "Is Miss Wynne comfortable with it?"

Daira, with a cheerful expression, answered quickly: "Of course you are, isn't it Vivian?"

Vivian, without enthusiasm, answered without looking up from her glass. "Of course, of course... As long as it's brief."

________________________________________

On a normal day, the silence of a dense forest would be broken only by the soft sounds of leaves rustling in the wind and the songs of birds. But today, the sound of leaves crunching under heavy boots and human voices cut through the air, an unwelcome interruption to the natural balance.

The day was already in full swing, with the bright, strong sun approaching its peak in the blue sky. The light was intense, but the ground was still protected, which kept the climate pleasantly humid for the forest dwellers.

It was Vivian who broke the silence first, her voice thick with exasperation. “You know… when I told you to be brief, I didn’t mean to detail what you wanted and drag us into a mission with less than a few hours of rest.”

She, with her gray eyes and alert, made her way through the dense vegetation, dressed in her personalized military uniform. The ballistic helmet, in shades of camouflage green, was equipped with an augmented reality visor and night vision goggles folded on top.

The protective shirt, although simple, was reinforced with several multifunctional gadgets: reinforced wrist guards, shoulder pads with attached pockets, a modular camouflage vest and a belt with compartments for the most diverse items. Her tactical gloves allowed total freedom for her fingers, essential for her to use her magic.

Everything in her uniform was made of high-resistance material, capable of carrying everything from small explosives to cans of food organized precisely in the compartments. The tactical pants, fitted and reinforced at the thighs and knees, were made to withstand the wear and tear of the terrain, and the boots, although simple, did their job well.

“Honestly, I didn't want to do it this way either…” Gregory said, visibly upset after hearing the same type of complaint all day.

Right behind Vivian, Gregory kept the same pace while listening to Vivian grumbling. His uniform, similar to hers, had some notable differences: a large tactical backpack and the M16 rifle that he held tightly.

“You didn’t want to, but you didn’t hesitate to prepare everything—supplies, first aid kit, materials for research and sample analysis, containment measures… everything we would need for this mission… IN LESS THAN 5 HOURS.” Vivian spoke, her tone sarcastic and irritated.

“It’s an urgent mission,” Gregory retorted in a heavier tone, his voice cutting through the air like a sharp blade, “I have a little over 48 hours to complete it, or I face serious consequences. And if I didn’t want to be here, I could have just refused the request.”

Vivian stopped abruptly, her gray eyes burning with intensity. She turned in a quick movement, advancing towards Gregory, the weight of her presence carrying a palpable threat. “Now, you…”

Gregory didn’t give in, his expression hardened, and he took a step forward, challenging her without a hint of hesitation. “What is it?”

The two stood face to face, eyes staring fiercely. The muffled sound of boots on the ground was replaced by the tense friction between helmets, a noise that overflowed with tension.

Gregory, despite being taller, seemed to struggle to maintain his balance under the pressure. He felt Vivian's strength, several times greater than his, and it was clear that she was winning. The heavy silence between them lasted only a moment, but it seemed eternal.

Daira, who was right behind Gregory, could not take it anymore. "Will you stop this? We haven't even been out for 3 hours and you've already argued more than 5 times!" Her exasperated voice cut through the tension in the air, forcing them to move away from each other.

Vivian grumbled softly, an impatient sound leaving her lips. Without another word, she turned, continuing to make her way through the forest, leaving behind the aftermath of the exchange.

“Humph… Lucky for you Daira is here,” she said, her voice full of disdain, as if she had already put a definitive mark on the confrontation.

Gregory, still with adrenaline boiling in his veins, didn’t let it go. “It seems like you have the courage to do something,” he teased, with a subtle but challenging smile.

Vivian, furious, stopped abruptly. “YOU LITTLE...!” The scream exploded from her lungs like thunder, rage breaking any attempt at control. She turned quickly, glaring at Gregory with a fury that made her hair glow and levitate.