Early the next morning, Qin Xiao woke up unusually early.
It was the most comfortable sleep he had had in a long time.
The burden on his mind had lightened, and naturally his body relaxed as well.
Today was the weekend, so there was no need to go to school.
He glanced at the clock beside him.
It was already past ten in the morning.
He had really slept for a long time.
Ding-dong.
Suddenly the doorbell rang.
Qin Xiao looked puzzled.
Someone visiting him on the weekend?
He had never told anyone his address, so who could it be?
With that thought, he walked to the door and opened it.
Standing outside was a beautiful figure.
"Good morning, Qin Xiao-kun. Judging from your appearance… did you just wake up?"
The visitor was none other than Akeno Himejima.
"Yeah. Since it's the weekend, I slept in."
"I see… but Qin Xiao-kun, aren't you going to invite me inside?"
"Please, come in."
Qin Xiao stepped aside.
Akeno entered naturally, as if she owned the place.
As soon as she walked in, her eyes scanned the entire apartment.
She had never expected Qin Xiao to live in such a tiny 1DK apartment.
Her mother had been a shrine maiden of the prestigious Himejima clan.
Even after her mother died and she was hunted by the clan, she had been rescued by Rias Gremory.
Money had never been a problem for her.
She even owned a shrine in Kuoh City and served there as a shrine maiden to honor her mother's memory.
This kind of small apartment was something she had never visited before.
"Looks like you're really short on money, Qin Xiao-kun. No wonder you're so obsessed with earning it."
Qin Xiao was speechless.
What does that mean? Just because you're rich?
"Akeno-senpai, you didn't come here just to mock me, did you?"
"Oh my, I forgot you were here. My apologies."
"It's fine. Besides, I have money now thanks to you."
"That's true."
"You handed all your responsibilities to me. Aside from the novel and pen name, you didn't participate in anything."
"You're the definition of a hands-off boss."
Qin Xiao scratched his head awkwardly.
After giving her the novel manuscript, he had left everything to her.
Contracts, paperwork, publishing matters—
She handled all of it.
Technically that shouldn't have been allowed, but with her background it wasn't a problem.
Hearing her bring it up now made Qin Xiao feel slightly guilty.
"My president told me something yesterday."
"Hm? What?"
"That you have quite a lot of… hidden trump cards."
"…For self-defense."
The same excuse again.
Even Akeno couldn't help but feel exasperated.
"Then could you tell me about some of them?"
"Just between the two of us."
Akeno smiled as she looked at him.
That was exactly why she had come.
After returning last night, Rias couldn't stop thinking about it.
How strong was Qin Xiao really?
How many secrets did he have?
She had barely slept.
So early this morning she sent Akeno to investigate.
After all, Qin Xiao owed her quite a few favors.
If Akeno made a slightly "excessive" request, he would probably agree.
And more importantly—
Akeno was a beautiful woman, and Qin Xiao had a good relationship with her.
"This was your president's idea, wasn't it?"
"Smart juniors aren't very lovable, you know."
She didn't deny it.
Because even if she did, Qin Xiao would still think the same.
"A trump card is someone's life-saving method."
"You want me to reveal it just like that?"
"Why not?"
"Don't you like your senpai?"
Akeno leaned forward.
Immediately, a pair of overwhelming curves appeared before Qin Xiao's eyes.
Actually—
It wasn't that Qin Xiao saw them.
It was that Akeno deliberately showed them.
A woman's greatest weapon was her body.
And Akeno possessed extremely powerful "assets."
Qin Xiao's face instantly turned red.
He quickly turned his head away.
In his mind he silently chanted:
"Keep the mind calm, unmoved even if the sky collapses…"
Akeno couldn't help laughing.
Qin Xiao's reaction was honestly adorable.
Especially with his handsome face and flushed cheeks.
For women, the charm was lethal.
"So? Tempted?"
"I wouldn't mind getting a little closer to you, Qin Xiao-kun."
She whispered teasingly near his ear.
"Alright, Akeno-senpai. I'll show you."
"Hm? That's disappointing. I thought you'd jump at me."
She sighed with mock disappointment.
But Qin Xiao knew very well—
If he actually tried anything, he would definitely end up being toyed with.
This sadistic beauty was not easy to deal with.
BOOST!
Ddraig's voice suddenly echoed.
A crimson gauntlet appeared on Qin Xiao's arm.
Akeno froze.
A Sacred Gear?
A second Sacred Gear?
A human possessing multiple Sacred Gears was almost unheard of in history.
Yet right now, one stood before her.
"Is that the Sacred Gear Dragon Arm?"
Dragon Arm was a normal Sacred Gear that doubled the host's strength.
The boost was limited, especially for ordinary humans.
But on Qin Xiao—
Even doubling his power would be terrifying.
Akeno was already impressed.
But Qin Xiao casually said:
"No."
"This is one of the Longinus Sacred Gears…"
"The Boosted Gear — Red Dragon Emperor's Gauntlet."
He said it lightly.
Of course—
He said it on purpose.
A small… "payback" for all the teasing.
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