The Spare's Second Chance in Apocalypse-Chapter 177: Ch : A Dinner Outing - Part 2

As the tension between them began to settle into something more transactional, Selene reached into her coat pocket and retrieved a small, luminous object.

It pulsed faintly in her palm, light refracting off its pristine, crystalline surface. She set it down on the table between them with a soft clink.

Nora leaned in, intrigued, as she picked up the crystal and turned it between her fingers. Its deep, iridescent glow reflected off her sharp eyes.

Selene watched her reaction carefully before speaking.

"I’d like to trade this in exchange for Rize Spencer’s debt."

At first, Nora looked unimpressed. She twirled the crystal lightly, rolling it between her fingers like it was a mere trinket.

"This looks like dungeon loot. Selene, I expected something more... substantial."

She remarked, raising an eyebrow.

Selene chuckled, shaking her head slightly.

"You’re thinking too small, Nora. This isn’t just some random dungeon drop. It’s a Genesis Crystal."

She gestured at the crystal.

Nora’s brows furrowed slightly.

"Genesis Crystal? What’s that?"

She repeated the term, as if testing its weight.

Selene nodded.

"These are extremely rare. You won’t find them in just any dungeon, and you certainly won’t get them by accident. Have your research department take a look. You’ll see its worth soon enough."

Nora narrowed her eyes, suddenly more interested. She tapped the crystal against the table lightly, deep in thought.

After a long pause, she sighed and pocketed it.

"Fine, I’ll get our research department on it. If it’s really as valuable as you claim, I’ll consider your request"

She said.

Selene allowed herself a small smirk.

"I know you’ll handle it just fine."

Nora scoffed but didn’t refute the statement. Efficiency was, after all, one of her strengths.

With the deal temporarily settled, Nora waved at a nearby waiter.

"Now that business is over, let’s eat."

She said, signaling for their food to be brought out.

Selene sat back, her senses still heightened despite the seemingly normal transaction.

When the waiter finally arrived, her Insight immediately flared—a warning ringing in the back of her mind.

She subtly turned her gaze toward the server.

A young man, perhaps in his late twenties, placed the dishes before them with careful precision.

He wore the restaurant’s uniform, and by all appearances, he seemed like any other employee.

But Selene noticed the slight tension in his shoulders.

The practiced smoothness of his movements felt... too controlled. And most importantly—he was awakened.

Her stomach clenched.

In the current state of the apocalypse, no awakened person would be working in a restaurant.

The moment they gained their abilities, most people would either join a guild, become dungeon hunters, or work for the highest bidder in security.

The rewards were simply too good. Staying in a restaurant like this—no matter how famous—was a waste of potential.

Which meant one thing.

He wasn’t really a waiter.

Selene’s gaze flickered toward Nora, who was already reaching for her food.

No.

Selene moved in an instant. Before Nora’s chopsticks could touch the food, Selene grabbed her wrist, stopping her.

Nora blinked, startled.

"What?"

Selene’s voice was quiet but firm.

"Something’s off."

Her younger sister studied her face for a moment before slowly setting her chopsticks down. Her normally playful expression turned serious.

"Do you sense something?"

Nora asked, her voice lower now, more cautious.

Selene didn’t answer directly. Instead, she glanced toward the waiter.

The young man stood too still. His hands were clasped in front of him, but there was a stiffness to his posture—a waiting, calculated tension.

He knows.

He knows that I know.

For a moment, there was silence.

Then, as they rose from their seats, the waiter’s expression shifted.

Gone was the polite, neutral face. In its place was a sharp smirk—and then he moved.

Selene shoved Nora back just in time.

The so-called ’waiter’ lunged forward, pulling a dagger in his hand. He slashed through the air where Nora had just been, missing her by inches.

The force of the attack splintered the table, sending shards of wood and ceramic flying in all directions.

Nora, caught off guard, stumbled back, but Selene was already moving.

With a flick of her wrist, a shadow blade materialized in her grip.

She met the next strike head-on, steel clashing against steel in a bright burst of sparks.

The fake waiter grinned.

"Impressive reflexes. But it won’t help you."

He said.

Selene didn’t bother responding. Instead, she pivoted, sidestepping the next attack and aiming a precise slash at his ribs.

He barely dodged, twisting away at the last second. But Nora was ready this time.

A pulse of heat erupted from her fingertips, and the air wavered from the sudden temperature shift.

Fire.

The man jumped back, narrowly avoiding a blast of flames that scorched the floor where he had stood.

His grin didn’t falter.

"Ah. Fire affinity. Figures the little Vale princess would have something flashy."

He adjusted his stance.

Nora scowled.

"And it figures you’d be nothing but a two-bit assassin."

Selene took advantage of the brief distraction.

A shadow moved.

And then, in an instant, she was behind him.

Her blade flashed.

The assassin barely had time to gasp before Selene’s sword pressed against his throat.

"Move, and you won’t have a head left."

Selene said softly.

The man stiffened. His fingers twitched, but he didn’t dare go for another weapon.

Nora dusted herself off, looking more annoyed than shaken.

"Alright. Now I’m mad. What do you think? Information first, or should I burn him to a crisp now?"

She muttered. She flicked a glance at Selene.

Selene pressed her blade just a little harder against his skin.

"Talk. Who sent you?"

She ordered.

The man hesitated. Then, slowly, a smirk returned to his lips.

"You’ll find out soon enough."

He whispered.

And then—his body convulsed.

Selene’s eyes widened.

Poison.

A faint purple hue spread from his lips as he collapsed, foam gathering at the corners of his mouth.

Nora let out a frustrated groan.

"Seriously?"

Selene sighed, stepping back. She had expected something like this.

But what worried her wasn’t the assassin himself.

It was the fact that someone had already anticipated her meeting with Nora.

Which meant that whatever game they had been playing before—

Had just become a whole lot more dangerous.