Chapter 517: Justice's Abs, The Plan to Persecute Lucifer
Because they had bought a massive haul of items earlier, the afternoon's itinerary felt surprisingly breezy. Much of that efficiency was entirely thanks to Sengoku Chihiro, who operated like a living cheat code.
The reason for her overpowered shopping prowess was simple: while she might not be actively going on blind dates right this second, her desperate, active crusade for marriage had armed her with a terrifyingly sharp eye for fashion and styling. Her relentless barrage of color theory and practical wardrobe lessons left both Lucifer and Justice standing in front of the boutique mirrors, utterly stunned.
Justice blinked behind her signature shades, gesturing blankly to a rack of clothes. "So, you're telling me I can actually pull off a skirt? Seriously?"
Chihiro paused, her eyes narrowing with a professional's scrutiny. "Miss Justice, let your hair down for a moment."
Taken aback, Justice reached up. She pulled off her hairband, snapped the elastic tie loose, and shook her head, letting the silver strands cascade freely around her shoulders. She tilted her head, a playful smirk touching her lips. "And then? Why is everyone suddenly so quiet?"
Lucifer stared, her crimson eyes wide. "No... Justice... you really are just like Sonoko. The second you take off that hairband, you transform into a completely different person..."
The rest of the girls nodded in silent, unified agreement. Just as Justice opened her mouth to reply, Chihiro stepped forward, her eyes gleaming with inspiration.
"It's true," Chihiro declared. "But Miss Justice, with this untamed look, you are absolutely perfectly suited for a pleated, school-style skirt. However, you need an accessory to ground the outfit. A baseball cap would be the ultimate touch."
Justice tilted her head, running a hand through her loose silver hair. "Hmm... I feel like the other girls would laugh themselves sick. Besides..." She glanced down at her own torso. "Do women with six-packs even look good in skirts?"
"It is perfectly normal for a woman to have a toned core," Chihiro stated, waving off the concern with absolute authority. "It just means you exercise regularly."
Justice hummed thoughtfully. Then, right in front of Chihiro, Nami, and the rest of the stunned audience, she reached for her collar. Channeling the raw, overbearing charisma of a television CEO, she adjusted her tie, gripped the knot, and smoothly yanked it loose. Her fingers trailed down to her shirt buttons, popping them open to reveal the chiseled, flawless expanse of her abdominal muscles.
The dressing room erupted.
"Miss Justice! You're way too handsome!"
"Holy moly! How did you even get those lines?! Miss Justice, you could totally make half the female population fall for you!"
"Justice... you really are a menace..."
"Man, if I had a figure like that..."
"Nami! Stop right there!" someone immediately intervened. "That kind of muscle definition isn't for everyone! It would look completely bizarre on anyone else!"
Meanwhile, standing on the pavement outside the boutique, Ren let out a long, quiet sigh. Listening to the muffled chaos bleeding through the shop walls, he suddenly felt a deep sense of regret. He really should have just gone to visit Hancock and the others today. Accompanying a large group of women on a shopping spree was, without a doubt, a terrifyingly effective way to burn through a lifespan.
A few minutes later, the boutique door chimed. Justice strolled out into the afternoon light, casually chewing on her elastic hair tie as she gathered her silver hair back into its usual messy ponytail. Behind her, Chihiro and the rest of the girls trailed out, looking utterly defeated and thoroughly convinced of the demon's overwhelming charm.
Spitting the tie into her hand and snapping it into place, Justice flashed a brilliant, toothy grin. "Hey, Ren. Let me ask you a question."
Ren leaned against the wall, his expression perfectly calm. "Hmm? What is it?"
"Just hypothetically..." She stepped into his personal space, her shades reflecting his face. "If you were the one picking out clothes for me, what kind of outfit would you choose?"
Ren didn't answer immediately. His dark eyes swept over Justice, taking in her athletic frame and effortless swagger. "You'd still be wearing the sunglasses, I assume?"
Justice paused, then nodded firmly.
"If it were up to me..." Ren murmured, holding her gaze. "I'd probably throw you in a sleek racing suit. Or maybe some oversized hip-hop streetwear, paired with a black baseball cap to tie the aesthetic together."
Justice opened her mouth, clearly pleased by the mental image, but Ren cut her off with a dry, amused chuckle.
"But that would be far too ordinary. To make things genuinely interesting, I'd definitely force you into tight leather jackets and pants. Or, better yet, make you wear a skirt. The sheer contrast would be incredibly entertaining."
Justice raised a silver eyebrow, a low laugh rumbling in her chest. "Should I say, as expected of the man I've taken an interest in? But... wait a second. Why do I feel like something about that phrasing is off? You specifically said 'interesting,'not'suitable.'"
Ren nodded, completely unapologetic.
Justice sighed, shaking her head. "So, you're actually a bit of a sadist. I didn't realize you were so wicked. No, wait—incredibly wicked."
"Haven't I mentioned that before?"
"No! But honestly, if that's how your mind works, I feel like we could pull off some amazing collaborative schemes." Her grin widened, turning sharp and predatory. "How about it? Want to give it a try?"
Ren's interest was piqued. "What exactly are you proposing?"
Instead of answering with words, Justice suddenly launched herself directly at him.
Ren didn't even flinch. His arms moved on pure instinct, catching her mid-air and settling her perfectly into a smooth, effortless princess carry.
Justice blinked, looking down at her own suspended legs, then back up at his face. She paused for a fraction of a second before a wicked smile spread across her lips. "Ren, you really are a man who knows how to seize an opportunity. I originally just planned to hook my arm around your neck, but this? This is even easier."
Leaning in close, her breath ghosting warmly against the shell of his ear, she whispered a few hushed, conspiratorial words. Pulling back just enough to meet his eyes, she smirked. "How about it? Are you interested in this little plan?"
Ren shifted his gaze over her shoulder, locking onto the bewildered, increasingly anxious form of Lucifer standing a few feet away. A faint, dangerous smile touched his lips.
Lucifer's heart instantly skipped a beat. Surely these two aren't plotting to persecute me again? Her palms began to sweat.
"Ren," Lucifer demanded, her voice wavering despite her best attempts at CEO-level authority. "What were you two just whispering about?"
Ren ignored her entirely. He shook his head, looking back down at the demon in his arms. "Alright, it's a deal. But isn't the payout a little light? Where's my actual reward?"
Justice laughed, the sound rich and throaty. "As expected of a man who effortlessly makes girls fall for him. You're even more demonic than actual demons. Isn't getting to see such an 'interesting' side of Lucifer reward enough?"
"You're the one reaping the ultimate profit here," Ren countered smoothly. "If I really put my mind to it, I could break her with a single sentence."
Justice tapped her chin, pretending to think very seriously. "That's a fair point. After all, Lucifer has absolutely zero authority when it comes to you. As for your reward..." She leaned in again, her lips brushing his ear as she whispered a second, far more scandalous offer. Pulling back, her eyes glinted behind her shades. "How about that?"
Ren raised an eyebrow, the calm facade cracking into genuine surprise. "Are you serious?"
"I've never been more serious in my life," Justice purred. "How about it? I've made a massive sacrifice here. You are my man, aren't you?"
Ren's smile deepened into something thoroughly predatory. "Deal. I'll be looking forward to it."
"What do you mean I'm making a profit?" Justice teased back, her arms looping comfortably around his neck. "You're the one robbing me blind in this transaction. You truly are a greedy man... but I suppose what you said is true."
Lucifer swallowed hard, her crimson eyes darting frantically between the two of them. "Seriously, what are you two talking about?!"
Ren and Justice slowly turned their heads. They exchanged a deeply knowing, tacitly synchronized look, and then simultaneously fell dead silent, simply staring at her.
The heavy silence made Lucifer's stomach drop. She knew Justice's personality inside and out, and she knew her own fatal weakness—she was hopelessly soft when it came to Ren. If the High Prosecutor and this absolute monster of a man teamed up against her, she was completely, utterly doomed!
Breaking the silence, Ren offered her a gentle, entirely untrustworthy smile. "Don't worry about it, Lucy. It's a good thing. Would we ever do anything to harm you?"
Lucifer froze. She thought about it for a second, gave a hesitant nod, and then immediately shook her head violently.
Ren tilted his head, feigning innocence. "What's with the reaction?"
"If it were literally any other friend saying that, I'd believe them!" Lucifer snapped, pointing an accusing finger. "If it were just you, or just Justice, I might believe it! But the two of you together?! I absolutely refuse to believe a single word! Even Cerberus wouldn't fall for that!"
Ren chuckled, a dry, amused sound. "Is that so? Well, Lucy, I personally think it would be in your best interest to believe me."
"Why?!"
"Because you're the one watching the shop tonight."
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