人成免费拍拍视频播放

"I\'ll check in with Luna about her company when I get back tonight," he murmured, a plan already forming in his mind.

Anos knew he couldn\'t remain a bystander. Luna had been shouldering the burden of the struggling company all on her own for far too long. Now that his strength had grown, he resolved to help her. She had done so much for him, and it was time to return the favor.

"Once the company is stable and my power reaches the next level, John will pay for everything he took from us," he muttered, his voice tinged with quiet determination.

His gaze sharpened as another thought crossed his mind. Luna was more than capable of running a business, but Anos envisioned a future where she could stand beside him, not just as a businesswoman but as someone equally strong and capable in the extraordinary world he now inhabited.

"Luna has so much untapped potential," he mused, a glimmer of ambition lighting his eyes. "If I can help her awaken her strength, she won\'t just manage a company—she\'ll soar far beyond that."

He considered the path ahead. While experience fruits had been a boon so far, he knew their effectiveness would diminish as his level climbed. If Luna could cultivate alongside him, they could share the challenges and the rewards.

"Her foundation is solid," Anos said softly, his voice carrying a mix of hope and determination. "If we work together, she\'ll not only succeed but thrive in ways neither of us ever imagined."

After finishing his meal, Anos dressed and made his way to the Academy. His reputation had spread across the halls—whispers of his strength, his charm, and the intrigue he brought with him. Everywhere he went, eyes followed, some with admiration, others with caution.

The door to Sofia\'s office creaked open, and she barely had time to glance up from her paperwork before Anos stepped inside, his presence filling the room.

Her thoughts drifted, a fleeting sense of unease stirring within her. After that night, things have shifted. I\'ve tried to keep my focus, to keep control, but it\'s become harder. There\'s a restlessness I can\'t shake, and every time I try to concentrate, my mind drifts back to that moment. I didn\'t expect it to affect me like this.

She forced herself back to the present, meeting his gaze with a calm composure. Her expression was firm, though beneath it, she couldn\'t help but feel the warmth creeping up her neck. Stay professional. Don\'t let him see that he\'s affecting you.

"Don\'t you know how to knock before entering a teacher\'s office?" she said, her tone measured, though there was a faint hint of amusement that she couldn\'t fully conceal.

Anos smirked, leaning against the doorframe with a casual ease. "You seemed busy. I thought I might disrupt your focus if I knocked."

Sofia\'s eyes narrowed slightly, but there was a touch of something else in her gaze—something that couldn\'t be ignored. Always with the excuses. Always testing boundaries. But why does it seem... different now?

She crossed her arms, attempting to maintain control over the situation. "A convenient excuse for someone who refuses to follow protocol."

Anos shrugged, his expression unfazed, but his eyes gleamed with something more. "Rules are for those who lack the imagination to see beyond them. Besides, I came here for something important."

Sofia raised an eyebrow, a challenge in her voice. "Important, you say? Well, you have my attention. But you\'d better have a compelling reason for barging in unannounced."

Anos closed the door behind him with a confident smirk. As he stepped closer, a tantalizing aroma enveloped him, catching him off guard. The air was thick with Sofia\'s mature, sultry fragrance, a mix of warmth and allure, layered with a subtle, intoxicating sweetness. It was a scent so unique, almost as if the very room bore her essence—a sticky, transparent undertone of temptation that sent his senses spiraling.

Trying to maintain his composure, Anos strolled across the room and sank casually into the chair in front of Sofia, his thoughts lingering on her heavenly, irresistible presence. "Do I really need to knock before visiting my woman\'s office?" he said, his voice lower than usual, as if the scent alone had drawn him closer.

Sofia arched a brow, her arms crossing as she gave him an exasperated look. "Your woman? Since when did I agree to that?"

Anos leaned forward slightly, inhaling faint traces of her fragrance again, his tone teasing. "Sooner or later," he quipped, placing a small, frost-covered box on the desk in front of her. "Twelve Chillwater Shards. That should more than meet your mission\'s needs."

Curiosity flickered across Sofia\'s face as she opened the box. A sharp gust of cold air escaped, brushing against her skin. Inspecting the shimmering crystals inside, she gave an approving nod. "Not bad. You\'re surprisingly reliable."

"Of course," Anos replied with a grin. "Reliability is just one of the many qualities I bring to the table as your man."

Sofia rolled her eyes, though a faint smile tugged at her lips. "You\'re annoyingly full of yourself."

"Confident," Anos corrected, smirking.

Sofia sighed and said, "I forgot to bring the martial arts skill book with me. I\'ll have to give it to you later."

Anos smirked, sitting back in his chair, still faintly aware of the intoxicating aroma in the air. "Don\'t bother. I\'ll come to your house tonight to pick it up myself."

Her lips curled into a sly smile, her gaze narrowing ever so slightly. "Bold of you, Anos. Looks like someone needs a lesson in humility."

Without warning, Sofia raised a hand, and the temperature in the room dipped sharply. Frosted mist began swirling around her slender fingers as cold energy condensed in the air. The sudden chill enveloped Anos, sending a shiver racing down his spine.

Impressive, Anos thought, his spirit eye failing to sense her full strength. She\'s on another level. Definitely Spirit Core Realm Body... maybe higher. And she\'s not even much older than me.

Moments later, Sofia withdrew her energy, the icy mist dissipating as the room warmed again. She leaned back in her chair, studying him with a mix of amusement and satisfaction. "What\'s the matter, Anos? Did I rattle you?"

Anos shook his head, laughing softly. "Rattle me? Not even close. If I\'m going down, it\'ll be with a flourish. Go ahead, Darling. Ravage me to your heart\'s content! Crush me! Tear me apart! I\'ll take it all and still die a happy man."

"Bastard!" Sofia scolded, though her smile betrayed her amusement. "Hurry up and leave before you annoy me further!"

"Hold on," Anos said, leaning nonchalantly against her desk. "I\'ve got something important to tell you first."

Sofia crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. "Important? Fine, spit it out. I\'m listening."

Anos\'s demeanor turned serious as he spoke. "I ran into Owen Baker at the Iron Reavers."

Sofia\'s brows furrowed at the mention of the name. "Owen? What was he doing with them?"

Anos shrugged lightly. "No idea. Apparently, he joined two days ago. Not exactly public knowledge yet."

She studied him for a moment before asking, "Did you notice anything suspicious about him?"

Anos shook his head, his voice steady. "It doesn\'t matter anymore."

Her eyes narrowed. "Why not?"

"Because he\'s dead," Anos replied, his tone cool and unaffected.

Sofia blinked, momentarily stunned. "What?!"

Realizing her reaction, she quickly composed herself, straightening in her chair and reaching for her teacup. She took a measured sip, masking her thoughts, though her sharp gaze never left Anos. "What happened?"

Owen Baker wasn\'t someone she particularly cared for, though their shared history meant his death wasn\'t something she could ignore. His unyielding attempts to win her favor had been bothersome, but this news was still unexpected.

"I killed him," Anos said matter-of-factly.

The room fell into a heavy silence. Sofia set her teacup down carefully, her mind racing.

"You killed him?" she asked, her tone calm but laced with curiosity.

Anos met her gaze without flinching. "I did."

Sofia\'s expression tightened as she mulled over his words. She didn\'t believe Anos would act recklessly, and yet his casual tone unsettled her.

Killing demonic beasts was one thing; killing a person was another. The way Anos spoke—so unbothered, so sure—was not something she expected. He had done this before. She was certain of it. And it wasn\'t just once.

---

Anos looked at Sofia, his gaze steady and unyielding. "He wanted to kill me, so I killed him."

Sofia\'s eyes narrowed, her voice tinged with urgency. "What happened?! Tell me everything!"

Anos leaned back slightly, his tone calm but resolute. "Owen Baker was a member of the Evil Fiend Temple."

Clatter—

The teacup in Sofia\'s hand slipped from her fingers and clattered onto the table, her face a mask of disbelief.

"Owen... part of the Evil Fiend Temple?" she whispered, struggling to process the revelation.

Anos nodded firmly. "Yes. If you don\'t believe me, you can ask the Iron Reavers. They\'ll confirm it. We encountered another group of Evil Fiend Temple members in Chillwater Valley. They ambushed us, intending to wipe us out. Fortunately, we came out with only minor injuries, and they... well, they didn\'t."

Sofia\'s mind raced as she pieced together his words. She wanted to doubt him—it was almost too shocking to believe. But the Iron Reavers had no reason to lie, and it wasn\'t just Anos who had returned; the entire team had. If everyone corroborated his story, it had to be true.

After a long silence, Sofia softened, guilt flickering in her eyes. "I... I\'m sorry."

A soft chime echoed in Anos\'s mind. Ding… Feeling guilt, Scoundrel Value +30,000.

Anos tilted his head, a wry smile on his lips. "Sorry? What for?"

Sofia sighed deeply, her voice quieter now. "It\'s my fault. I shouldn\'t have put you at risk. I didn\'t anticipate the Evil Fiend Temple\'s involvement, let alone that Owen Baker was one of them. If anything had happened to you—or even your sister—I don\'t know how I\'d live with myself."

Anos chuckled lightly, trying to ease the tension. "But nothing did happen. I\'m standing here perfectly fine."

She shook her head, her guilt unshaken. "No, even if nothing happened, I failed as a mentor. I didn\'t take full responsibility for protecting you."

For a moment, Anos was at a loss for words. He opened his mouth to reply but faltered, recognizing the sincerity in her tone.

After a beat, he changed the subject slightly. "I just thought you should know about Owen. And he might not be the only one. There could be more in his family connected to the Evil Fiend Temple."

Sofia\'s expression darkened as she nodded firmly. "I understand. I\'ll make sure this is thoroughly investigated." Her gaze softened slightly as she added, "But... are you sure you\'re okay?"

Anos flashed a confident grin. "I\'m fine. Not a scratch on me. Do I look like someone who\'s been through a tough fight?"Nôv(el)B\\\\jnn

Sofia studied him for a moment, her lips pressed together in a conflicted line. Despite his reassurances, the weight of guilt lingered in her chest. A part of it stemmed from her concern for Anos\'s sister, Luna. She knew how much Luna adored her brother. If anything had happened to him because of her oversight, Sofia knew she\'d be haunted by regret for the rest of her life.