The Spare's Second Chance in Apocalypse-Chapter 216: Ch : I have a request - Part 1

The sun had begun to dip below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple. The cool breeze carried the scent of salt as the waves lapped gently at the shore.

Selene stood near the water’s edge, taking one last look at the ocean before turning back to her companions.

"Zara, Orion, head back to the center and check if everything’s running fine. We can’t afford any surprises."

Selene called out, her tone calm but firm.

Zara, who had been stretching lazily by the rocks, straightened with a playful grin.

"Ohhh,"

She drawled, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

"Are you sending us away because you want to go on a date with Ethan?"

Selene’s face turned bright red in an instant.

"W-what?! No, it’s not like that!"

Selene spluttered, waving her hands in protest.

Her flustered reaction only made Zara grin wider.

But before Selene could defend herself any further, Ethan casually draped an arm around her shoulders.

"Actually, maybe she does want some alone time with me. So Shooo...don’t disturb us."

Ethan said smoothly, a teasing smile tugging at his lips.

Selene’s face grew even hotter, her mind going blank for a moment.

She stiffened under Ethan’s touch, her mouth opening and closing as she struggled to form words.

"N-no! I—"

She stammered, trying desperately to clear up the misunderstanding. But the more she tried, the worse it got.

Zara laughed, clearly enjoying Selene’s embarrassment.

"Relax, Selene, I’m just messing with you."

Zara said with a wink.

Orion, standing quietly by Zara’s side, tilted his head curiously but said nothing.

"Alright, alright, we’ll head back. Try not to get too distracted."

Zara finally relented, giving Selene a knowing smile.

"Zara!"

Selene groaned, covering her face with her hands as Zara laughed and walked away, pulling Orion along with her.

Once they were gone, Selene let out a heavy sigh, her cheeks still burning.

"Ready to go?"

Ethan asked, his voice softer now.

Selene glanced at him, her heart still racing, but she nodded.

"Yeah... let’s go."

They turned away from the beach, the cool evening breeze brushing against them as they headed toward their next destination.

_____

Selene and Ethan arrived at the restaurant just as the last traces of daylight disappeared.

The place was upscale, with large glass windows that reflected the twinkling city lights.

The scent of gourmet food wafted through the air, but Selene barely noticed. Her eyes scanned the room, her instincts sharp as she subtly checked for anyone who might be tailing them.

No one suspicious. At least not yet.

Selene felt a small wave of relief, but she didn’t let her guard down completely. Paranoia was a survival instinct at this point, and she wasn’t about to ignore it.

"Relax."

Ethan murmured beside her, his tone low and soothing.

"I’m trying, but something doesn’t feel right."

Selene replied quietly, though her eyes were still darting around.

They were led to a private booth in the back, where their client was already waiting. Selene’s gaze immediately sharpened as she took in the figure sitting across from them.

A young girl, around their age, sat with her head slightly lowered.

She wore a loose hoodie and a cap that obscured most of her face. Even her hands were covered with gloves, as if she were doing everything possible to avoid being identified.

Selene narrowed her eyes and silently activated Insight.

The system scanned the girl immediately, feeding information directly into Selene’s mind.

[Name: Heera Dew

Status: Unawakened

Affiliation: Daughter of the President of XXX Corporation]

Selene’s heart skipped a beat.

XXX Corporation.

Her lips pressed into a thin line.

The XXX Corporation wasn’t just a random conglomerate. It was one of the most powerful and influential organizations in the world, rivaling even the Vale family.

Their resources and connections were vast, and they had their hands in everything from technology to security.

And more importantly...

They were the parent company of the guild that housed Rank #1 Awakener, Alexander Grave and Rank #2 Awakener, Cecilia Windstrider.

Selene’s posture stiffened. This was dangerous territory.

She glanced at Ethan, who had also picked up on the significance of their client’s background. His expression was unreadable, but Selene could sense the tension in his body.

They took their seats, and Selene kept her expression neutral.

"Miss Dew."

She said softly, her tone polite but cautious.

"Thank you for meeting me. Since you managed to get my name somehow, I’m even more certain that you are the right people for this job."

Heera murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. She kept her head down, her fingers fidgeting nervously on the table.

Selene tilted her head slightly, studying the girl’s body language. Something felt... off.

Heera was nervous, yes, but there was a deeper unease radiating from her. It was almost as if—

Selene’s eyes narrowed.

Heera wasn’t looking at her.

The girl’s gaze was fixed, almost unblinkingly, on Ethan.

Selene’s brows furrowed slightly.

She followed Heera’s line of sight and confirmed it—Heera’s eyes were locked onto Ethan, her expression hidden but her intent clear.

Selene felt a strange twinge in her chest but pushed it aside. Now wasn’t the time for distractions.

"Miss Dew, we’re here to discuss your request. Would you like to explain what it is you need from us?"

Selene said again, her voice a little firmer this time.

But Heera didn’t respond immediately. Her eyes were still glued to Ethan, and she looked... mesmerized.

Ethan shifted uncomfortably beside Selene. He cleared his throat and gave Heera a polite, if slightly strained, smile.

"Miss Dew?"

Heera blinked as if snapping out of a daze.

"Ah... yes. Sorry,"

She murmured, her voice barely audible. She finally dragged her gaze away from Ethan and turned her attention to Selene—though her eyes flickered back to Ethan every few seconds.

Selene’s unease grew. Something was definitely wrong here.

"We don’t have all night. If you have a request, please tell us."

Selene said softly but firmly, keeping her tone even.

Heera swallowed, her hands fidgeting even more now.

"I... I do have a request."

She murmured, but her eyes darted back to Ethan again.

Selene’s jaw clenched.

This was not going to be a normal commission.