Countless spectators and tourists felt like they'd been smacked in the face by a pie falling from heaven!
"HOLY SHIT! KAGURA FINANCIAL GROUP IS GOATED! (voice cracking)"
"Sob... Mom! I'm in love! I'll never badmouth capitalists again! The smell of money is just... too good!"
Only Cloud, watching his "future wife" basking in the spotlight radiating her "damn money power charisma," felt his heart bleeding.
"What a waste! Such a waste!"
"How... how much is this going to cost?! If we converted all this into skins and items, I could arm my entire harem to the teeth!"
He'd unconsciously started thinking of himself as the Kagura household's "man of the house," wincing at the damage to "his" family treasury.
...
Amidst the "celebration" and "gratitude" atmosphere, Cloud didn't indulge in the so-called "seven-day carnival."
He headed to a private hospital on Tokyo's outskirts—one with the highest security and best medical care available.
He was visiting someone.
In the VIP ward, Leona Heidern—the stoic "Soldier Flower"—lay quietly on her bed, staring blankly at the blue sky outside.
Her physical wounds had long healed.
But the psychological trauma from her battle with An'un still haunted her like a nightmare.
And whenever she closed her eyes, she couldn't stop her mind from replaying that moment—when she was at her most desperate, and that man had descended like a god, pulling her from the abyss.
Those eyes. So full of concern and warmth.
Creak.
The door opened gently.
A familiar figure walked in, carrying a bouquet of white lilies.
Cloud.
"How are you feeling?"
He placed the flowers in the bedside vase, pulled up a chair, and sat beside her, voice full of genuine concern.
Leona looked at this man who seemed to radiate a holy aura, and her frozen heart began racing uncontrollably again.
A rare flush crept across her perpetually icy features.
"I'm... fine."
Her voice remained cool, but there was something new in it—a girlish shyness she herself hadn't noticed.
"Good to hear." Cloud smiled. "Your captain Heidern just called me, asking me to... help you work through things."
"The captain..."
"Don't worry. I've already had a word with Ralf and Clark—those two meatheads. They'll take better care of you from now on."
Gratitude flickered in Leona's ice-blue eyes.
She understood—this man had quietly arranged everything for her.
"Um..." She hesitated, then gathered her courage to ask softly, "Why... why are you so good to me?"
"Hm?" Cloud blinked, then chuckled. "Do I need a reason?"
He reached out, naturally ruffling her ice-blue hair—surprisingly soft to the touch.
"Because we're... friends."
"Friends..." Leona murmured the word—both familiar and foreign to her.
She gazed at this man with his gentle smile, and somewhere deep in those ice-blue eyes, something began to thaw.
...
After some light conversation, seeing Leona's spirits lifted, Cloud stood to leave.
But just as he reached the doorway, his [Divine Combat Instinct]—sharp as radar—suddenly pinged with a faint alarm!
His gaze flicked imperceptibly toward the window at the corridor's end.
A familiar figure in a tight-fitting business dress—exuding dangerous sensuality—leaned against the windowsill, wearing a provocative, playful smile.
Mature.
She crooked a finger at Cloud.
Then her silhouette flickered and vanished like a ghost.
"Interesting."
A cold smile tugged at Cloud's lips.
He knew this "beautiful viper" was here for him.
He waved to Leona, mentioning he needed to use the restroom.
Then his own form dissolved into mist, disappearing from the spot.
...
The hospital rooftop. Night wind howling.
Cloud materialized at the center of the rooftop.
He watched the gorgeous figure standing at the edge, back to him, golden waves dancing in the wind.
"Speak," he said flatly. "You lured me here. What do you want?"
"Hehehe..."
Mature turned slowly.
That smile—capable of stealing any man's soul—remained fixed on her face.
But those emerald eyes glinted with viper-cold killing intent!
"I simply wanted... the two-time King of Fighters to instruct this weak woman in combat techniques."
The instant her words fell—
She moved.
No warning whatsoever!
Her form became a purple blur—faster than even Rugal at KOF 95!
"Death Claw!"
Five razor-sharp claw trails, gleaming with purple light, tore through the air with a piercing shriek, raking toward Cloud's throat!
"This again?"
Disdain flashed in Cloud's eyes!
Compared to months ago, he was already... in a completely different league!
...
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