Okot had a decent build—tall and upright, standing around 1.9 meters. Dressed in a formal black suit, he wasn’t exactly handsome, but he carried himself with a certain dignified presence.

  The only flaw was that he was blind in one eye, wearing a patch over his left.

  And he had curly hair.

  Not that Caius had anything against curls, but for some reason, most of the curly-haired people he’d crossed paths with—at least in his previous life—had been his enemies.

  His old teammates used to joke that he was a "Curly Killer."

  Looks like this time was no exception.

  Caius sighed inwardly.

  And right then, a voice came from beside him.

  “You’re Caius?”

  He turned and saw Manasa standing beside him, holding a tall wine glass in her hand.

  At some point, she’d approached unnoticed.

  When Caius looked over, she lifted her chin with a proud air and subtly adjusted the hem of her gown.

  “I am,” Caius said with a gentle smile, raising the bottle in his hand like a toast. “Then this beautiful lady must be Princess Manasa.”

  “Princess?” Manasa’s eyes lit up, but she looked at him curiously.

  “Oh—my apologies,” Caius said, feigning embarrassment. “It just slipped out… You have the grace and beauty of royalty. I thought you must be a princess.”

  Manasa giggled behind her hand, unaware that the man standing in front of her—charming, witty, with a slightly rakish charm—was the very same brute who had made her life a living hell just days ago.

  Caius was a little surprised himself.

  She came to him on her own?

  Did she have a death wish?

  Not that he showed any of this on his face. He wore the perfect gentleman’s mask, and though dressed casually, there was something about his demeanor—his effortless aura—that kept drawing Manasa in.

  It was precisely this that brought her to him.

  In truth, Manasa had never been fond of soft, pretty boys. She liked her men tall, strong, and rugged—without the bulk. That’s why she was here now.

  Especially now that Caius had shown his humorous side, she looked at him differently—her gaze now carried the subtle implication that “those who get it, get it.”

  And Caius definitely got it.

  He chuckled inwardly.

  Eighteen? Nineteen?

  Already playing this kind of game?

  “I heard you took out the Serpent Gang,” she said, swirling the drink in her glass.

  “Even the Princess of Ocean City has heard? I’m truly honored,” Caius replied with a grin.

  “You really know how to talk,” Manasa chuckled again, covering her mouth.

  She wasn’t technically Ocean City’s princess—there were plenty of women more beautiful than her in that city. But right now, with those words, she felt genuinely delighted. Her impression of Caius improved even more as she raised her glass in a toast.

  Caius took the hint and lightly clinked his bottle against her glass.

  “I only speak this way to beautiful women,” he said suavely, like a true gentleman.

  No—that wasn’t quite right.

  He was a gentleman. A mercenary gentleman, to be exact.

  “But all of that I only heard secondhand,” Manasa said, leaning in slightly. Warm breath brushed against Caius’s face—undeniably suggestive. “What I really want is to hear how you did it.”

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  “Oh, I’d be delighted,” Caius replied with a smile—barely holding back a snicker.

  Smiling while holding in laughter? That was a high-level skill.

  One wrong move and he’d laugh right in her face.

  Manasa’s eyes sparkled with excitement as he agreed. She boldly reached out, intending to take his hand and lead this sturdy man to her private garden for a little… indulgence.

  Come on, she was just a brat—barely legal. Even seasoned women like Yvlan and Holan had been helpless against his charm.

  When it came to girls who were all play and no brain, Caius could handle them with his eyes closed. Easy game.

  But he had no intention of sleeping with her.

  Since arriving in this world, Caius had kept himself pure—saving his precious first time.

  Maybe for Silly Mushroom…

  Or Little Swan…

  Or Meow…

  Or perhaps that alluring instructor…

  Or the stunning Boss Lady?

  Anyway, it sure as hell wasn’t going to be this brat.

  Caius was still thinking of how to politely reject her when someone did it for him.

  “Manasa,” a voice called.

  Manasa frowned and retracted her hand.

  Caius turned to the source of the voice and saw Zachary walking over with a glass in hand. Beside him was Caius’s target—Okot.

  But what caught Caius’s attention was how Okot was staring at him.

  And Caius could feel the hostility radiating off him.

  Hostility?

  This was their first time meeting, wasn’t it?

  What was the reason for the hostility?

  No way… Did Rog run around blabbering that Caius was coming for Okot?

  Even a moron wouldn’t do something that dumb.

  So Caius quickly figured it out—it was because of Manasa.

  Okot must have a thing for her…

  Or maybe had a thing for her—and got tossed aside.

  Now seeing Manasa flirting with another man? Yeah, that would sting.

  At that moment, Caius really wanted to applaud Manasa.

  She brought herself to him—and delivered his target straight into his hands.

  Perfect!

  He had misjudged her.

  She wasn’t trash.

  She was a pig teammate—a helpful one!

  “This must be Mr. Caius. I’ve heard of your deeds,” Zachary said with a courteous smile as he approached.

  “Baron Zachary,” Caius responded with a grin. “Roxana told me you were a gentleman who stands out in a crowd—and I see she was absolutely right.”

  Zachary’s face immediately lit up with pride. “Oh, you flatter me!”

  Who was Roxana?

  Zachary didn’t know.

  Caius didn’t either.

  He just made it up.

  Men—most men—don’t mind being flattered, especially when the compliment comes from another man on behalf of a woman. Adds a layer of bragging rights.

  Of course, if the woman in question had history with the man saying it, that was a whole different story.

  But Zachary didn’t seem to catch any of Caius’s mischief.

  Instead, he happily chatted with him for a bit.

  Just polite nothings, really.

  After a short while, Zachary made an excuse to leave—he had other famous mercenaries and bounty hunters to greet.

  It was all for show, likely prompted by Okot—who had clearly taken issue with Manasa's interest in Caius and couldn’t just stand by.

  As Caius expected, Zachary left, but Okot didn’t.

  He found an excuse to stay, claiming it was to ensure Manasa’s safety.

  Zachary agreed.

  Manasa, on the other hand, was clearly annoyed—but she didn’t show it in front of Caius. After all, she was playing the part of a well-bred lady.

  But the moment Zachary left, Okot dropped the act.

  “You. What’s your game with Manasa?” he demanded, glaring at Caius, hostility clear in every word.

  No finesse. No subtlety. Just accusations.

  Caius didn’t respond. He just smiled, knowing someone else would step in.

  Sure enough—

  “Okot, are you out of your mind?” Manasa snapped.

  “But Miss Manasa, I’m here as your father's appointed guard. I must ensure your safety,” Okot said gently, suddenly adopting a much softer tone.

  As he tried to appease her, he simultaneously cast doubt on Caius: “This guy only just arrived in Ocean City. Who knows what he’s really after? For all we know, he could be the one who kidnapped you—”

  Caius smiled even wider.

  Damn, you actually guessed it.

  The moment this was brought up, Manasa instantly flared up. That memory was a lingering nightmare for her—a fear and pain she couldn't shake. And now, bringing it up in front of her beloved Caius? Wasn't that just a slap in her face?

  "Okot, get lost! I don't want to see you!" she snapped. Without another word, Manasa grabbed Caius by the hand and stormed off in one direction, muttering as she pulled him along, "Let's go. Ignore that annoying bastard!"

  Caius immediately put on an innocent expression and followed her. But when Manasa wasn’t looking, he turned his head toward Okot and flashed a wide grin—full of taunting provocation.

  Okot couldn't hold it in any longer. A vein bulged on his forehead, and the wine glass in his hand shattered under his tightening grip.

  Flirting with his woman right in front of him? Unforgivable!

  Even if, in truth, it was Manasa who was flirting with Caius, Okot—blinded by rage—couldn’t care less. Gritting his teeth, he growled each word with venom:

  "You. Are. Dead!"

  It was unmistakably directed at Caius.

  So Caius simply stopped in his tracks.

  Manasa, not expecting it, stumbled slightly when she couldn’t pull him along.

  She turned around and saw Caius still grinning at Okot as he spoke.

  “Are you threatening me?”

  “No,” Okot’s eyes locked onto his, murder written all over his face. “I’m stating a fact.”

  “Steal my woman, and I’ll show you just how many ways you can die.”

  “Heh... heh heh...” Caius chuckled darkly.

  So it’s like they say—plans never keep up with change.

  He was going to kill Okot right now.