Under Morpheus's arrangement, the meeting between Erina, Ritsu, and Miowas a joyful affair.
All were beautiful girls and got along splendidly.
Ritsu unabashedly asked Erina for cooking tips, and Erina, without holding back, shared some small techniques.
While not enough to make them master chefs, it was sufficient to elevate their skills.
In the future, they could run a food stall and make a fortune.
No exaggeration—this was fact.
Erina Nakiri had the ability to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. Her tips, in ancient times, would've been closely guarded secrets, passed only to sons, not daughters.
Even now, they were her unique trade secrets.
The group talked from afternoon to evening, parting reluctantly only when the last rays of sunset faded and the stars claimed the sky.
Morpheus then escorted Ritsu and Mio home.
As for Erina, with her skills, she didn't need an escort.
After seeing the girls off, Morpheus strolled alone through the vibrant, neon-lit streets, weaving through the bustling crowds. Before he knew it, he had wandered into Shinjuku.
On a whim, he visited the Cat's Eye Café for a coffee.
The café was still open, bustling with customers. A man sat at the bar's edge, peacocking to catch the attention of the Kisugi sisters—Rui, Hitomi, and Ai.
It was none other than Ryo Saeba.
The protagonist of City Hunter.
Morpheus wasn't surprised by his antics.
Ryo Saeba was a notorious womanizer, stumbling over his lust countless times.
Yet, with his exceptional skills, he always managed to turn danger into safety.
Even so, he never learned, carrying no lessons from one misadventure to the next, always played by beautiful women.
Yet he reveled in it, unchanged in his ways—a kind of steadfast resolve, in a sense.
Unfazed by Ryo's antics, the Kisugi sisters treated him like a sideshow, smiling but unmoved.
Ryo noticed but didn't care. He believed persistence would eventually win them over.
Especially the eldest sister, who was his type.
But the next moment, Ryo was stunned. As Morpheus entered, the three sisters abandoned Ryo without hesitation, flocking to Morpheus's side.
"Welcome, Lord Morpheus."
"Here's your coffee, Lord Morpheus."
"Would you like sugar, Lord Morpheus?"
Ryo was floored. Who was this guy, commanding such devotion from the aloof Kisugi sisters?
He'd never experienced such treatment.
His competitive spirit ignited. Downing his drink, he strode toward Morpheus.
He had to see what made this pretty boy so special.
"Hey." Ryo clapped a hand on Morpheus's shoulder. "You're new around here. What's your name?"
"Morpheus."
Morpheus smiled faintly, giving his name. He didn't dislike the City Hunter.
Some say it's a man's nature, and Ryo was just a bit too fond of women. What was wrong with that?
Truth be told, few men weren't like that—including Morpheus himself.
Liking women wasn't an issue, as long as underhanded tactics weren't used. Ryo wasn't that kind of person, so Morpheus genuinely didn't mind him.
"Morpheus, huh? Foreigner?"
"Correct."
"You look like a high schooler. Here to study abroad?"
"Something like that."
Rui Kisugi gave Ryo a teasing glance. "What's with the interrogation? Checking his ID?"
Ryo laughed awkwardly, waving it off. "No, no, just a professional habit."
"Truth is, I hit it off with Morpheus-kun right away. How about a drink, Morpheus-kun?"
He decided to get this kid drunk and make him embarrass himself.
Morpheus shook his head. "I'm not big on drinking. I prefer coffee."
Ryo cursed inwardly—sharp kid—but grinned. "A man who can't drink? Let me teach you. A drinking man's got charm."
"Oh? Drinking equals charm? Where'd you get that nonsense?"
A sultry, playful voice cut in.
Ryo froze. He knew that voice—his kryptonite.
Saeko Nogami.
Ryo's eyes darted, and he shoved Morpheus forward. "Long time no see, Saeko! Let me introduce my new friend, Morpheus-kun."
"Don't let his age fool you—he's a tough one."
"Even the café's three sisters are smitten with him."
Saeko knew the Kisugi sisters were linked to the Cat's Eye thieves but lacked evidence to catch them.
Someone favored by them was no ordinary person.
She studied Morpheus, who sipped his coffee calmly, and smiled. "Pleased to meet you, Morpheus-kun. I'm Ryo's friend, Saeko Nogami."
"The vixen of the Metropolitan Police. I've heard of you. Pleased to meet you."
Morpheus nodded, setting down his coffee and extending his right hand.
They shook briefly and parted.
Ryo laughed heartily. "Saeko, I didn't know you were so famous, even a high schooler knows you."
Saeko sighed helplessly. "Sometimes I wish I wasn't. It makes investigations inconvenient."
Whenever her identity was known, people grew wary, leading to failed operations.
Fame was a double-edged sword.
Meanwhile, the Kisugi sisters, hearing Saeko was a policewoman, exchanged subtle glances, quietly raising their guard.
Saeko vaguely sensed it, feeling even more helpless.
"Whatever, Ryo. Come with me—I need to talk."
***
Bonus Chapter:
100 Power Stones = 1 BC
300 Power Stones = 2 BC
500 Power Stones = 3 BC
700 Power Stones = 4 BC
1000 Power Stones = 5 BC
***
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