Prices Always Go Up When You Go Grocery Shopping! / [Angel of the Tenth]

Thunder's fighting instincts made her subconsciously raise her Gunblade and pull the trigger; however, the powerful bullet, along with a mocking figure, vanished into the Spatial Rift.

Then, the indifferent Valkyrie stood in the courtyard for a long time, her right hand lightly touching the still-warm kiss mark on her cheek, a strange ripple appearing in her cold eyes.

She actually... got flirted with...

As Lei Ting gradually came to her senses, she felt her heartbeat quicken, and her cheeks even felt slightly hot. An inexplicable emotion began to brew and solidify within her.

Yay! I knew you could do it, brother-in-law!

At that moment, Sera, who was hiding behind the window and peeking through a crack in the curtain, saw her sister's strange behavior and couldn't help but clench her fists and cheer.

As that little incident came to an end, the culprit walked into a secluded and quiet side room.

However, as soon as Kevin entered the door and was about to greet her, Raiden Mei, who was tidying up in the living room, turned away with a cold face.

"Mei! How have I taught you to treat guests?!"

At that moment, Raiden Ryoma, who was reading a book on the sofa, suddenly stood up and spoke sternly.

Forced by her father's authority, this well-mannered young girl had no choice but to put on airs and welcome Kevin into the house.

But as she opened her mouth, preparing to end the encounter with standard pleasantries, she suddenly realized she didn't know how to address the scoundrel in front of her.

"Just call me Kevin..."

Kevin offered to help, but the smile on his handsome face only earned him a light snort from the girl.

"Mei!"

The sudden outburst of his daughter's spoiled attitude caused Raiden Ryoma to furrow his brow.

"But Dad, he..."

Raiden Mei realized her rudeness and wanted to argue, but after racking her brains, she suddenly realized that her irritable emotions and her inner accusations against someone seemed unreasonable and unfounded.

Who am I to him? Why should I be angry with him? He clearly saved my dad and helped me a lot; I should be grateful, not unhappy.

The girl knew perfectly well that something was wrong with her, but she couldn't control her emotions.

"She's probably worried I'll take her bed; she's a big fan of sleeping in..."

Kevin chuckled softly, using a slightly affectionate joke to temporarily ease the awkward atmosphere.

"Don't worry, I'm here tonight to say goodbye..."

"What's wrong? Is it dangerous?!"

Raiden Mei, who had been hoping the guy in front of her would disappear immediately, suddenly felt a tightness in her chest and asked a question urgently.

Chapter 549 (Section 577): Prices Will Always Rise When You Go Out to Buy Groceries!

Inside the side room, Raiden Ryoma looked at his distraught daughter with a strange expression. Seeing her gripping Kevin's right arm with both hands and her face full of worry, he twitched his lips.

"I'm just going to deal with a small problem. I might be busy for the next couple of days, so please don't leave Seventh Heaven Bar unnecessarily..."

Kevin casually stroked Raiden Mei's pert nose and patiently explained part of the reason.

Compared to the Schrodinger Company and the Tendo Family, whose targets are obvious and easily attract hatred, the Seventh Heaven Bar, hidden in plain sight, is a place where hidden talents abound.

Moreover, being near the coast and protected by a giant stone monument, this place is basically the safest hiding spot at present.

When Raiden Mei's heart finally settled down, she noticed that her hand was still gripping Kevin's arm, and her father had a playful expression on his face.

"Bang!"

A blush rose on the pretty face of the young girl. She felt a burning sensation on the skin where their skin had touched, and hurriedly released her grip, running into the bedroom to avoid their gaze.

Just before closing the door, Raiden Mei didn't forget to glare fiercely at the "culprit".

So, wouldn't this be considered "saying one thing but meaning another"? I remember when she was still Mei, she was so frank it was almost suffocating. Couldn't they have complemented each other a little better?

Kevin tapped his head helplessly and sat down opposite the Raiden Ryoma.

"How does the situation compare to that time?"

Raiden Ryoma put down the magazine, remained silent for a moment, and then asked seriously.

"It's a little off, but still deadly..."

"Natural disasters aren't simply about their scale and intensity..."

"They have nothing to lose, they can keep coming back, but in this game, from beginning to end, we can only win, we cannot lose..."

"We're like hunters chasing foxes with guns at us. It's pointless to worry about how many bullets the fox has fired, because if even one shot hits, the world has to be reshuffled..."

Kevin took the coffee brewed by the Raiden Ryoma and gave a rather vivid analogy.

"If even you can't solve these problems, then this world is truly beyond saving..."

Raiden Ryoma spoke calmly, symbolically clinking glasses with the man who had once given [Anti-Entropy] a profound shock, and frankly stated in the tone of an executor.

What can I do for you?

Kevin smiled slightly, glanced at the closed door, and then looked on with a hint of nostalgia.

"Yes, please take good care of Mei for me..."

"Happy to serve, as always..."

Raiden Ryoma nodded solemnly and clasped Kevin's outstretched hand tightly.

Kevin waved casually, stood up and walked away. The moment he stepped out of the doorway, he heard Raiden Ryoma's deep plea behind him.

"This time, you must come back alive..."

"From now on, it's your turn to take over..."

"Yes, I'll try my best..."

Kevin smiled, paused slightly, and pondered for a moment.

Unbeknownst to Raiden Mei, the two most important men in her life had made a vow together.

On the dilapidated tree-lined path, Kevin glanced at Tifa's room, which was now pitch black, shook his head helplessly, and walked away from the Seventh Heaven Bar with his back to it.

And until that shadow disappeared at the end of the road, in the darkness, the curtains that had been lifted gently closed, and a silent blessing was quietly conveyed.

On the deserted street, Jill Hera, carrying an empty can, walked from the direction of the Tendou Civil Security Company and met up with Kevin.

"There's something I don't understand about your arrangements..."

Jill Hera tore open the can, leaned against a bench by the roadside, clinked glasses, and asked.

"Aren't you worried that in the two days you're gone, the Creator Jenova might wipe out all 147 million people in Japan?"

Kevin, a enthusiast of carbonated drinks, had a deep, unfathomable gaze.

"Often, killing is merely a means to an end. Jenova has gone to great lengths to invade our planet, Four Islands of Japan, which provide her with a place to recuperate, must not be lost..."

"And this nearly one-sixtieth of the world's population is the best breeding ground, so how could she possibly make the first move against her own flock?"

"Therefore, the sinking of Four Islands of Japan in the earthquake and the mass deaths of those with Star Mark Syndrome were never our primary concerns..."

Jill Hera seemed to be deep in thought, then chuckled.

"So, doesn't that make things much easier for us? We don't have to worry about Jenova's bluffing threats at all?"

"Isn't it a bit unnecessary for you to be so cautious in calling me over?"

Kevin clinked glasses with Kevin from afar, a cold sneer on his lips, his gaze sinister.

"What I want you to guard against isn't Jenova, but that fellow human being who protects us..."

"The most deadly threat often comes from behind!"

Jill Hera frowned slightly as she recalled the blind and fanatical behavior of the Star Mark Syndrome patients she had encountered earlier that day.

"So, what do you plan to do?"

Kevin's lips curled into a strange smile.

"There are too many idiots popping up; I'm handing you a cleaver in advance..."

As the snap of his fingers rang out, Jill Hera stared at the dark mass of things within the Spatial Rift and gasped in shock.

"Your knife is really big..."

After setting up the final safety precautions, Kevin stood up with a smile.

"Remember to build a bond with your knife. I've sent you the specific care instructions and action plan to your email..."

The Doll-head Mature Woman pressed her throbbing temples, her expression troubled as she angrily cursed.

"All you do is boss people around! You don't even pay me! Nobody would want to work for you!"

Upon hearing Jill Hera's complaint, Kevin paused for a moment, then chuckled lightly.

"After this is all over, I'll mediate your family conflicts, and maybe we can go on a trip together? The kind where you're unemployed..."

Jill Hera snorted softly, waved her recording phone in front of Kevin, and a smile appeared on her pretty face, making her look exactly like a fox who had stolen a chicken.

"It's settled then. Anyway, after I kill Cain, I can't go back, so you have to take responsibility for me..."

Kevin had no choice but to raise his hands in surrender and promised a bunch of benefits before he could escape from Jill Hera's clutches.

Meanwhile, Green Hair, who was lying on the stone platform eating pizza, saw that this was finally over. He lazily stood up, moved closer to Kevin, sniffed, and a mocking sneer appeared on his pretty face.

"Hmm, it's getting stronger..."

"What?"

Kevin, who was leading CC toward Mount Fuji, asked a question in confusion.

"He smells like scum, and he's very pure at it!"

"Thank you for the compliment. By the way, your food allowance for this month is gone..."

The cunning and sharp-tongued woman's eyebrows twitched, and she rubbed her lower abdomen with some annoyance.

This punishment is too cruel, it's simply inhumane...

Ideally, this scoundrel should perish together with his creator Jenova!

Just as CC was internally complaining, Kevin rolled his eyes and reminded her with a dark expression.

"Hey, stop chanting! I heard the soul contract!"

Upon hearing this, CC smiled radiantly, then her thoughts began to race.

"You heartless viper, you cunning fox..."

"Groceries are always more expensive when I go out to buy groceries! Instant noodles don't come with seasoning packets! All the cola is expired! The pizzas are all filled with durian..."

Kevin: "..."

P. S.: I have a report to submit tonight, so I probably won't be able to update this time. I'll continue with four to five updates tomorrow.

Chapter 550, Section 578 [The Ten Angels]

Mount Fuji's geological ley lines, Shinra Research Laboratory.

Above the surging, dark red river of lava, the ageless and immortal witch sat humming an unknown European nursery rhyme at the front of the observation point with its heat shield open, her pale legs swinging back and forth, her left hand outstretched.

"You have a grill but you insist on holding it up with your hands. I don't understand you..."

A weak, listless voice came from behind. Kevin slowly approached, carrying a tray, and sat down next to CC. The tray was piled high with vegetable skewers, various meat skewers, and essential condiments.

"So talkative! Lemon juice! Lemon juice!"

"What a load of rubbish! Cumin is the soul of grilled meat! And chili too!"

CC rolled her eyes at Kevin, then took the ingredients she wanted and squeezed them onto the sizzling, oily grilled meat with satisfaction. She then pointed to the remaining ingredients on the tray and gave a slight snort.

"Bake it yourself if you want, don't touch mine!"

Kevin rolled his eyes slightly, his gaze disdainful.

"Sitting suspended over a river of lava and grilling meat—only someone as fearless as you would dare to do that. Let me make it clear: if you fall in, don't beg me to save you."