The familiar shimmer of displacement energy rippled around Adam as he emerged at the entrance of the Takagi estate, Saya cradled in his arms like a princess returned from a dark fairy tale. The compound's guards instantly noticed his arrival, but one glance at Saya's tear-streaked but conscious face made them immediately alert the household.
Within moments, Yuriko Takagi rushed from the manor's front doors, her voice barely able to leave her throat. "Saya?!"
The mother and daughter collided in a tight, trembling embrace, their reunion soaked in emotion and relief. Saya had remained composed throughout her rescue, but now that she was safe, the tension shattered. She wept silently into her mother's shoulder as Yuriko whispered words of comfort and love.
Adam, ever the observer in moments like these, stood aside. A silent guardian whose presence lingered like shadow and steel.
After several moments, Yuriko turned to him, her eyes shimmering.
"I have no words," she said. "Whatever you want—resources, connections, money—it's yours. Just say it."
He shook his head. "It wasn't for payment. This was a favor… for Inko Midoriya."
Yuriko's lips trembled again, this time from gratitude. "Then I owe her, too."
As he turned to leave, a familiar voice called from across the courtyard. "Leaving without saying goodbye again? That's rude, you know"
He glanced back to see Bulma Briefs approaching, dressed in a slim-cut suit under a white coat that caught the wind like a cape. Her confident gait and calculating eyes marked her as the CEO she was—but also as a woman who'd seen far more than boardrooms.
She held out a sleek, matte-black card.
"Dragon Industries. For future cooperation," she said, lips curled into a faint smirk. "I don't expect you to need a job, but we're both smart enough to know connections matter. Keep it."
Adam accepted the card silently, sliding it into his coat.
"One more thing," Bulma added. She handed him a folded slip of paper with two numbers. "The first is mine. The second belongs to someone who needs a capable hunter. She's funding an upcoming raid to a dungeon in Hokkaido—her daughter will be leading the expedition. She's rich, cautious, and paranoid. Which makes her smart."
Adam nodded, memorizing the second number before burning the slip between his fingers.
"Contact her soon. She's expecting you," Bulma added, and with that, she turned and walked off, coat billowing behind her.
{Later — Hokkaido, Northern Japan}
The landscape of Hokkaido was a stark contrast to the lush Kyoto valleys and buzzing Osaka cityscapes. The air was crisp and clear, the world blanketed in snow and silence, broken only by the occasional rustling of winter birds or the groan of wind brushing through pine boughs.
After activating his teleportation skill, Adam materialized at the edge of a snowy forest. Ahead, nestled between frost-covered hills, was a mansion—twice the size and splendor of the Takagi estate, yet far more fortified.
He sent a message to the second number Bulma gave him:
"I've arrived. Instructions?"
The reply was almost instant.
"Do not enter. Someone will come to you"
He began walking up the long gravel path toward the estate's gate when he saw her.
A solitary figure, walking casually through the snow toward him with measured steps, as if the cold didn't dare touch her. She wore a dark hunter's cloak over a black outfit designed for mobility and combat. Her long, pale-blue hair was pulled into a single high ponytail, swaying with her stride. Her weapon—a massive battle axe—was slung across her back without effort.
Her beauty was sharp, her poise unbothered. Even before she spoke, Adam knew who she was.
'Mei Mei' he thought. 'No way'
From his past life, he remembered her well—from the Jujutsu Kaisen anime and manga. A woman whose elegance masked lethal intent. Now a mercenary who believed money was the only truth worth investing in.
But in this world, she had no idea who he was.
"You're the one recommended?" she asked, tilting her head slightly, her gray eyes analyzing him like a butcher inspecting a fine cut of meat.
Adam nodded. "That's right."
"I expected someone scarier," she added, teasing. "You're not bad-looking, though. Intense. I like intense."
Adam kept his expression neutral. "I thought you'd be... busier. You're A-rank, right?"
That made her laugh. A rich, bold sound. "A-rank, yes. Close to S, but I like the freedom of being a free agent. Less paperwork. More money"
She turned and began walking toward a trail that wound into the forest, beckoning him to follow.
"They're not going to let just anyone protect their princess. I was hired to test you."
Adam raised a brow. "Test, huh. So this is a job interview?"
"No. This is survival," Mei Mei said with a grin. "You either beat me or last twenty minutes. They'll take either. But let's be honest—if you can't beat me, they'll doubt you can keep their daughter alive."
He glanced at the forest's clearing ahead. "And how much are they paying you for this?"
She held up four fingers. "Forty million yen. Win or lose, I'm still paid."
Adam smirked. "That explains the enthusiasm."
Minutes Later – Forest Clearing
The clearing was a wide, flat expanse surrounded by dense pines, their branches heavy with snow. The air was eerily still, as if the forest itself was holding its breath.
Nano chimed in.
[Combat terrain optimal. No civilians. Surveillance drones active overhead. Target is being monitored from the mansion.
Mei Mei – A-Rank Hunter. Combat Style: Enhanced Cursed Tool Wielder. Proficiency: Axe Techniques. Energy Signature: High. Analysis suggests high adaptability and mobility.]
Adam rolled his shoulders and activated Blood Technique: Flowing Red Scale, his veins glowing faintly crimson beneath his skin, enhancing circulation, strength, and speed. From his palm, Blood Edge emerged—two thin, curved daggers forged directly from his own blood, gleaming with menace.
Mei Mei shifted her weight as she unslung her axe. "That's some technique. Blood user, huh? Haven't seen one of your kind in a while."
Adam smirked. "I'm one of a kind."
Her gaze narrowed with amusement. "Let's find out."
Both took their stances, weapons ready.
Snow crunched underfoot. The wind stilled.
A single pine needle drifted down between them and the fight began.