As expected, Zeke woke up the next day with Kiana's chokehold around his neck.
However, having grown accustomed to it and strengthened his physique, it didn't bother him much.
Sin, on the other hand, was neatly curled up nearby, her peaceful sleep resembling that of a drowsy kitten.
"Snap!"
Zeke flicked his finger, hitting the forehead of the white-haired girl strangling him.
"Eh... Is it morning already?" Kiana jolted awake, shivering slightly, and mumbled groggily while instinctively snuggling closer to Zeke.
'Is she becoming more clingy by the day?'
With a deadpan expression, Zeke pondered this thoughtfully as he reached out to pry open her eyelids.
"Ahh... Zeke, I'm so sleepy... Let me sleep... just a little...more..."
Overwhelmed by sleepiness, Kiana's eyes remained unfocused as she adorably groped forward, desperately longing for the comfort of dreamland.
"Just a little longer?"
"Just one, o-one, one more da-ay... Yikes!!!"
Zeke swiftly smacked Kiana's head, eliciting a dull thud followed by her startled cry.
"Get up."
"Agh... Zeke, you're a demon."
"Firstly, stop giving me those cute puppy eyes; secondly, don't randomly sneak into my bed anymore; and thirdly, wake up!"
"What's wrong with snuggling under the covers? I don't mind at all!" Now fully awake, Kiana hugged her head and playfully stuck out her tongue at Zeke.
Immediately, she received another flick on the forehead.
Reluctantly, she sat up and stretched lazily right in front of Zeke. Through her loose nightshirt, her emerging curves and vast expanses of flawless, fair skin were blatantly exposed to his gaze.
Zeke watched expressionlessly before kicking out abruptly.
"Thump!"
"Ah!!"
"Have some self-awareness already!" With a stern face, Zeke scolded the white-haired bundle sprawled on the floor by the bed, her small rear end sticking up.
Suddenly, Sin tugged at Zeke's sleeve from beside him.
She had been close to waking up anyway, and as Zeke roused Kiana, Sin also regained consciousness, overhearing their entire conversation.
"Um... Zeke...if you have any...any needs in that area, feel free to come to me anytime. Sin...Sin is okay with it...hee!"
Sin's cheeks flushed all the way to her ears as she hesitated and spoke coyly with a giggle.
Zeke, expressionless, raised his foot once more.
Whump!
The little pink puffball was also sent tumbling to the floor.
Sitting upright, Zeke emotionlessly stretched his neck from side to side.
"Crack! Crackle!"
With each crisp sound of his joints popping, he let out a long sigh.
Seriously, what is up with these girls?! Don't they have any sense of modesty or awareness of their gender?
His upbringing couldn't possibly be at fault here!
"Tap! Tap!"
"Are you two awake yet? It's time for breakfast."
After knocking on the door, Bronya entered, calmly taking in the scene before her.
Seeing the two small bundles sprawled face-down on either side, their bottoms sticking up, didn't faze her one bit—it was a common occurrence after all, not the first time Zeke had disciplined them.
However, when her gaze shifted to Zeke himself and noticed the conspicuous tent beneath his blanket, Bronya suddenly froze. Though her expression remained wooden, her snow-pale cheeks instantly turned red—a typical bashful reaction, quite adorable.
"Make sure you clean up properly and come out for breakfast."
She closed the door behind her.
Zeke nodded approvingly.
See? This is how girls should react! What kind of freaks are these shameless little rascals?!
Outside the door, Bronya leaned against the wall and slowly slid down to the floor, covering her face with a cute whimper at the burning heat she felt.
"Uh...!"
"B-Bronya, I saw it too!"
"It's so big..."
"This is amazing—the beach especially!" Raiden Mei exclaimed.
After breakfast, she arrived at the island and settled under a sunshade, watching Rozaliya and Liliya splash joyfully in the water with a delighted smile.
She had accompanied Einstein to the new continent.
To master a Herrscher's power, one needed not only a strong will and soul but also mature wisdom. Gaining experience, observing, and reflecting were all essential prerequisites. Additionally, Einstein intended to groom Raiden Mei as a versatile all-rounder.
During this internship, Einstein provided both instruction and practical guidance. Whether it was overseeing construction or engaging in debates and negotiations with representatives from Schicksal and various nations, Raiden Mei assisted closely while learning alongside her mentor.
Honestly, it left Raiden Mei utterly exhausted.
When Einstein learned that Zeke was on vacation nearby, considering their proximity to the new continent, she decided to give Raiden Mei a few days off—a well-deserved break—to reunite with friends she hadn't seen in quite some time.
Thus, Raiden Mei found herself strolling along the beach, comfortably seated under a sunshade, gazing out at the sea.
"Mei~"
Out of nowhere, a little white ball of fluff emerged and naturally threw herself at Raiden Mei, embracing her tightly and rubbing their faces affectionately together.
"It's been so long, Mei! I've missed you terribly!"
"Haha, Kiana, stop tickling me! I've missed all of you too."
"Eh heh! So, did you maybe miss me just a tiny bit more than the others?"
"Kiana, that sounds rather peculiar—ha ha!"
As they engaged in intimate conversation, the scene became momentarily idyllic. After all, who could resist the charm of two adorable girls enjoying each other's company?
Zeke stroked his chin, observing Raiden Mei with her composed and graceful demeanor, and nodded approvingly.
Hmm, as expected from a top student with elite education—a perfect addition to my hundred strategies for slacking off, along with being a handy tool.
Suddenly, Raiden Mei felt a chill, sensing something amiss.
"What's wrong, Mei?"
"Oh, nothing—it's just...I feel like someone is harboring ill intent towards me."
Raiden Mei finally noticed Zeke's presence, cautiously stealing a glance at him. The sight of his handsome yet expressionless face made her instinctively shrink back.
This was the apex predator in Anti-Entropy's hierarchy—the illustrious First Executor himself.
Zeke was a super-strong, super-intelligent individual—barely five feet tall but radiating an aura of authority that felt more like five hundred. Despite being genuinely caring, he also came across as an emotionless titanium titan who always opted for brute force to resolve conflicts among girls around him.
With Zeke nearby, one's sense of security soared—but so did their fear, albeit justified by his quiet and disciplined demeanor. To this day, he had never truly reprimanded her due to her gentle nature.
Raiden Mei trembled uncontrollably.
"Stop shaking."
"Yes, sir!"
"What have you learned during your trip with Dr. Ein?"
"Well, mainly some detailed frontline tasks, along with understanding different people's perspectives... It feels quite different from what we read in books."
"That's vague. It suggests your thinking isn't deep enough. Whenever you have free time, reflect more, understood?" Zeke patted the girl gently on her head, speaking expressionlessly.
Unable to suppress another shiver, Raiden Mei obediently bowed low and responded earnestly:
"Yes, Sir Zeke!"
"Don't call me 'Lord.' Sir or Mister will suffice."
"Yes, sir—Sir Zeke!"
Zeke nodded and walked away without another glance.
Kiana watched his retreating figure and stuck out her tongue.
"Pfft..."
"What's so great about him?! Acting all high and mighty, hmph!"
Raiden Mei scratched her face with a helpless smile. "Kiana, sometimes I truly admire you. Aren't you ever afraid?"
"Afraid of what?"
"You know, Zeke...sir? Don't you find him imposing and intimidating?"
"Huh? Let me tell you, fear is not in this young lady's vocabulary! What could mere Zeke possibly do to me?" Kiana puffed out her chest proudly.
Raiden Mei stifled a laugh, choosing not to burst her bubble.
Despite being most terrified when Zeke was angry, it was always Kiana who dared to provoke him the most during their daily antics. It was hard to know how to assess such behavior.
Suddenly, a dark shadow flashed, accompanied by a gust that lifted Raiden Mei's long hair.
"Wham!"
Kiana flew backward fifteen meters before a white volleyball rolled to a stop at Raiden Mei's feet.
Raiden Mei's smile froze for several seconds before she erupted with a shriek: "Ahhhhh!(っ °Д °;)っ Kiana!"
"It's n-nothing serious! Which idiot did that? Show yourself!" Kiana jumped up, clutching her reddened nose.
As expected, she spotted Sin nearby, wearing a sweetly mocking grin.
"Oh dear! My apologies, but your face is just so silly; I couldn't help but aim the ball at it! Perhaps you should reflect on yourself, paramecium! Right, Zeke?" Sin's tone shifted abruptly from taunting to sugary as she sidled close to Zeke, clinging affectionately to his arm, hearts practically sparkling in her eyes.
Zeke glanced at the culprit behind Sin's mischief—the volleyball.
"Just a game, then... It's fine as long as there's no fighting," he remarked nonchalantly.
Meanwhile, Raiden Mei broke out in cold sweat.
You call this a game?
With its sonic boom speed and explosive impact akin to artillery shells, any normal person would be instantly shattered upon contact!