Alex hid in the truck bed.
Buried under a pile of costumes.
Didn't move.
Footsteps outside.
Heavy.
"Hey."
The big guy's voice.
Rough.
Threatening.
"You."
Ivy's voice.
"Yes?"
"Seen this guy?"
The guard handed her a photo.
Ivy looked.
It was Alex.
She froze.
This...this is his surprise?
He's running from someone...
She thought.
Wanted to say no.
But...
The guard looked terrifying.
Scars.
Cold eyes.
That build.
She swallowed.
"I...I saw him earlier..."
"But..."
She pointed somewhere.
Random direction.
"He disappeared..."
"Maybe...over there..."
The guard looked that way.
Nodded.
"Fine."
He turned.
Heavy footsteps fading.
Ivy exhaled.
Then frowned.
What a jerk!
She muttered.
Just now...
I was actually falling for him...
Her face flushed.
Then anger.
Hmph!
He was just running away!
Tricked me into playing games!
Asshole!
She started organizing boxes.
Getting ready to deliver.
Didn't check the cargo.
Alex inside.
Didn't dare breathe.
Sorry, pretty girl...
But I gotta survive first...
His heart pounding.
Almost got caught...
That was close...
Ivy pushed the cargo to the black market entrance.
The big guard still there.
Not the same one.
The door guard.
"Pass."
Ivy pulled out her permit.
Handed it over.
The guard looked.
Nodded.
"Go."
Ivy pushed the cargo forward.
Past the entrance.
The guard suddenly spoke:
"Wait."
"Cargo check."
Ivy nodded.
"Okay."
Natural.
They always checked.
The guard walked over.
Opened a few boxes.
Looked inside.
Maid outfits.
Nurse uniforms.
His eyes scanned.
Then...
Alex's box.
Alex held his breath.
Don't open it...
Don't open it...
Please...
His heart about to explode.
The guard's hand on the box.
About to open it.
But—
He saw the top.
A pile of bras.
Various colors.
Various styles.
Lace ones.
The guard's face twitched.
"..."
He pulled his hand back.
"Fine."
"Go ahead."
Ivy nodded.
"Thanks."
She pushed the cargo inside.
Alex in the box.
Almost laughed.
Bras saved my life!
Thank you, whoever invented bras!
He relaxed.
Covered in sweat.
So intense...
Inside the black market.
Lights everywhere.
Crowds.
All kinds of stalls.
Shouting vendors.
Ivy pushed the cargo to a warehouse.
Stopped.
Wiped her sweat.
Started unloading.
Boxes one by one.
Alex's box got moved too.
Set on the ground.
Ivy turned to grab other boxes.
Alex inside.
Waiting.
Once she leaves...
I'll get out...
Other side, ten minutes earlier.
Bob hid in the bushes.
Focused.
Waiting for Alex's signal.
He should pull it off...
What girl can resist him?
Just don't get why he had to sneak in...
Suddenly—
Someone poked his shoulder.
Bob jumped!
"Holy shit—"
He turned.
Saw—
Luna.
Grinning.
And Raven.
Face cold.
Bob's eyes went wide.
"What...what are you doing here?!"
Luna tilted her head.
"Shopping."
She shook her shopping bag.
"We got money!"
She looked at Bob crouching.
"What are YOU doing?"
"That position..."
She held back a laugh.
"Taking a shit?"
"Ewww!"
Bob's face went red.
"I...I'm not!"
He stood up quick.
Couldn't look at Luna.
"Alex and I..."
"We're sneaking in..."
Raven frowned.
"Sneaking in?"
"Unnecessary."
She pulled out a pass.
Fancy.
Gold edges.
"Just use mine."
Bob froze.
"You...you have one?"
"Yeah."
Raven nodded.
"My family's."
Bob's mouth opened.
"But...but Alex..."
"He already got on..."
"Got on what?"
Luna asked curiously.
Bob pointed at the pink truck.
Raven and Luna looked where he pointed.
Saw—
Alex.
Standing in front of that girl.
Brushing his hair back.
Looking smooth.
The girl...
Face bright red.
Looking shy.
Then—
Alex leaned in.
Close.
Right by her ear.
That distance...
Almost kissed her!
Raven's face went dark.
Her hands clenched.
Teeth grinding.
Neck flushed.
Not from shyness.
From anger.
Luna looked at her.
Then at Alex.
"Oh my~"
She said with a smile.
"Looks like someone has lots of options~"
"No wonder..."
She glanced at Raven.
"He's not nervous around you at all~"
Raven glared at her.
"Shut up!"
Then turned to Bob.
"What is he DOING?!"
Voice icy.
Bob shrunk back.
"It's...it's all to get into the black market..."
"He said he'd..."
"Hit on that girl..."
"Then take the chance..."
Raven looked over there.
Alex and that girl.
So close.
The girl laughing.
Face red.
Raven got angrier.
I'm a beauty!
Campus queen!
I talk to him every day!
And he has time for THIS?!
She grabbed Bob's arm.
"Come on!"
"You're coming with us!"
Bob stumbled.
"But...but Alex..."
"What about him..."
Raven didn't look back.
"I don't care!"
She marched toward the entrance.
Dragging Bob.
Luna giggled behind them.
"Oh my~"
"Someone's jealous~"
Smack!
Raven's hand hit Luna's butt.
Loud.
It bounced.
Luna covered her rear.
Pouted.
"Ow..."
"So mean..."
She stopped laughing.
Followed quietly.
But her eyes still sparkled.
Raven's ears burned red.
Face dark.
Striding toward the entrance.
Jerk Alex!
...
Alex's side.
Ivy left.
Alex took the chance to climb out.
He stood up.
Covered in sweat.
Then—
He saw a mask nearby.
Bra-shaped.
Two cups covering the eyes.
...
What the hell is this?
But no time to think.
Since someone was looking for him...
Better not show his face.
He put on the mask.
Looked like...
Kind of like Batman?
But the adult version.
Very flashy.
Alex checked himself in a nearby mirror.
Actually pretty cool?
Suddenly—
System notification.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations on completing Option Three!]
[Contract Beast unlocked "Potion Digestion" ability!]
Alex froze.
Then his eyes lit up.
[Current Potions Held:]
[Explosion Potion×1]
[Vine Potion×11]
[Explosion Potion Effect:]
[Enhances slime's power!]
[Gains fire attribute skill!]
[Each jump causes area fire damage!]
[Damage scales with number and grade of digested potions!]
[Vine Potion Effect:]
[Enhances slime's defense!]
[Gains wood attribute skill!]
[Slime can separate part of its body to entangle opponents!]
[Vine quantity and strength scale with number and grade of digested potions!]
Alex's eyes got brighter and brighter.
Invincible!
This is invincible!
He almost jumped with excitement.
The difference between low-grade and high-grade contract beasts...
Is the skill difference!
F-rank slime.
Without the system...
Might only get two low-level skills by Grade 7.
But an S-rank contract beast?
Gets one advanced skill per grade!
Not to mention SS and SSS ranks!
This potion digestion function...
Perfectly makes up for that!
Alex's mind raced.
In the future my slime...
Could even have five elemental abilities!
Fire, wood, water, earth, lightning!
Unlimited potential!
As long as I have enough potions!
He checked his potion storage.
Only one explosion potion.
Better not use it yet.
He already gave Auntie some samples...
He recalled Lilian's words.
"This explosion potion..."
"More complex than the vine one."
"And nothing like it on the market."
"So copying it is troublesome."
Alex nodded.
Wait for now.
But the vine potions...
He looked at those 11 bottles.
Can use freely!
He wanted to summon the slime to test it.
But remembered the black market rules.
Can't summon contract beasts freely.
Or you'll get kicked out.
Forget it.
When I get home, I will feed the slime good!
Alex adjusted his mask.
Tiptoed.
Ready to leave.
Just got to the door—
Click.
Door opened.
Ivy came back.
They collided face to face.
"Ah—"
Ivy's eyes went wide.
Saw Alex wearing the bra mask.
Her mouth opened.
About to scream—
Alex reacted fast.
Grabbed her.
Pulled her into the warehouse.
Took off the mask.
Ivy saw his face clearly.
"It's you—"
Didn't finish.
Alex pulled her close.
Kissed her lips.
Smooth execution.
Ivy's eyes widened.
Mmph...
She tried to struggle.
But Alex held tight.
That kiss...
Warm.
Forceful.
Ivy's eyes gradually glazed over.
Hands stopped pushing.
Instead...
Grabbed his clothes.
One minute later.
Alex let her go.
Ivy leaned against him.
Face bright red.
Breathing hard.
"You...you..."
Wanted to say something.
Couldn't get it out.
Alex looked at her.
"Sorry."
He smiled.
"Emergency situation."
Ivy's face got redder.
"You...you liar..."
"Jerk..."
But she didn't push him away.
Instead buried herself in his arms.
Heart racing.
Alex patted her back.
"Thanks for helping me."
"Really."
His voice sincere.
Ivy bit her lip.
"Hmph..."
"At least you have a conscience..."
She looked up.
At Alex.
"That surprise..."
"Just now..."
"Does it count?"
Alex smiled.
Ivy's face flushed."
Counts."
"Definitely counts."