Yvonne's thoughts

Holding Yvonne's phone and looking at the screen, Leo felt a shiver go down his spine.

The dullahan known as The Nine Heads looked like a mini giant in black armor with crimson engravings. The armor was thick, and his single hand seemed as large as a bowling ball.

Darkness drowned everything around him, but the nine heads floating above his headless body drew the most attention in the worst way.

They were stitched together by his dullahan power. Blood streaked down their cheeks, and their eyes were wide open, staring at everyone The Nine Heads observed.

In the background, the hands and legs belonging to those heads sprouted from the darkness, adding a grim scene to the picture. It was not edited. This was the only image a hunter managed to take of The Nine Heads before dying.

"Damn... this is a real monstrosity," Leo said. "Will he become stronger if he pops those nine heads into the darkness for a power-up?"

"Possibly," Yvonne replied.

Zeke said, "No one has managed to force The Nine Heads to use those heads. It's getting worse because other dullahans have started getting this power, but with fewer heads. None of them have reached The Nine Heads' level, but they're slowly getting there. A five-headed dullahan was spotted three months ago, but our top hunter, Darius Burnd, eliminated him. He couldn't bring him back alive, sadly."

Leo stared at the picture a little longer, recalling The Nine Heads' monstrous appearance. He also remembered the name Darius Burnd, who might have a vendetta against dullahans and not be as considerate as Yvonne.

"Ah, my condolences," Leo said, handing Yvonne's phone back.

Yvonne nodded. "It's been a long time. I'm over it."

A heavy mood filled the car, but it faded as Yvonne pulled up to a small booth on a less crowded street.

The booth was simple and served various dishes from another part of the world. Yvonne often visited it after a successful hunt and had brought many partners here before.

The owners, an older Asian man and his wife, knew Yvonne to some extent. They greeted her and Zeke warmly, then welcomed Leo, who was here for the first time.

After some quick pleasantries, the couple got to work. The sizzling oil and clanging utensils were loud enough for the three hunters to continue their discussion.

"Your armor is similar to weaker dullahans' armor," Yvonne said. "It makes sense for dullahans to grow stronger by collecting more heads. You don't threaten humanity as long as you develop by absorbing dullahans."

"Wouldn't that convince the higher-ups that I'm safe?" Leo asked.

Yvonne shook her head. "No."

Leo sighed. He imagined the higher-ups as old people living in the past with stern faces and white hair.

"Today's hunt was fruitful. Leo proved he can stay calm under pressure and think clearly in battle. Zeke, as always, handled the threat well and created the perfect opening for me. We can only get stronger from here."

I shouldn't say that everything depends on Leo's growth. Zeke is more of an initiator and enabler, while Leo's potential is boundless, and he has a lot of room to grow. There's something within Leo that can bring out my other self, too. I don't know what that is, but it feels enticing and makes me want to keep him to myself. I must be careful, or I will join their game.

It was normal for Yvonne to push Leo and Zeke to compete with each other. Zeke had been too obedient, and he needed to come out of his shell. He respected her too much, and nothing changed despite Leo's influence. Meanwhile, Leo kept growing stronger and tested his boundaries in their relationship without crossing them. His unlimited potential, along with something Yvonne could not identify, made him more intriguing than Zeke. Although she claimed she wanted no part of their game, her constant attention to Leo meant she was already involved.

"You don't know how to use chopsticks?" she asked.

Leo smiled awkwardly. "Yeah..."

Yvonne leaned in, her fragrance tickling Leo's nose, and guided his hands on the chopsticks. She was so close that he could peek into her cleavage and imagine inappropriate things. He unconsciously squeezed her hands, and she looked at him with a faint smile, as though she could read his thoughts.

Across from them, Zeke broke his chopsticks.

I shouldn't have learned how to handle chopsticks before coming here with Lady Yvonne!