CHAPTER 388: 0330 THE COST OF LOSING PRINCIPLES_1

"..."

*Damn it! If only this little brat were a bit dumber!*

Watching Leon’s expression of fifty percent shock, forty percent speechlessness, and ten percent deep disdain, the Red-haired Director couldn’t help but click her tongue in her heart. She then blinked her charming fox eyes and, blushing, pinched the corner of her clothes, saying,

"What nonsense are you spouting? How could I possibly get that from your mouth..."

"That’s definitely what you were thinking!"

Easily seeing through the Red-haired Director’s poor act, Leon gasped and quickly pressed his lips together, taking two steps back.

*Goodness! No wonder you’ve been so nice to me today! You’d even sacrifice such a precious birthday wish just to help me get a usable anomalous object. So this is what you were waiting for!*

*Tch! Looks like I can’t fool you anymore!*

Watching Leon, who was retreating several steps with his mouth shut and defensive as if against a thief, the Red-haired Director blinked her eyes and then said sadly,

"Leon, today is my birthday. I only have one birthday a year, and I just want to drink something nice today. Can’t you..."

"This isn’t about it being your birthday!"

Watching the Red-haired Director use emotional tactics, Leon shook his head decisively and refused,

"If you want to drink, I can treat you after we go back. At worst, I’ll borrow money from the Princess and buy whatever you want, but this..."

"But this really isn’t something you can drink casually!"

Looking at the small bottle of wine in Leon’s hand, the Red-haired Director said pitifully,

"That was steeped with the God of Wine’s bead and has a trace of the ’Fine Wine’ authority in it. All the wine in the world combined can’t match it, not even slightly less. The wine you can buy in the Capital City is at least two levels below this.

Leon, dear Leon, I just want a taste of this on my birthday. I won’t do anything else. And you already promised me before, how can you suddenly go back on your word?"

"I... I did promise you, but I didn’t know you..."

"Don’t worry, just one sip!"

Seeing Leon’s attitude somewhat wavering, the Red-haired Director was overjoyed. She quietly moved a bit closer while raising her hand to swear,

"I promise, as long as you let me take a sip, I won’t cling to you later! And I swear I won’t tell anyone about this!"

"..."

"Dear Leon, today is my birthday. I fulfilled one of your wishes, so why can’t you fulfill one of mine?"

"..."

"As you know, I left my parents at a young age to join the Purification Bureau. I’ve always spent my birthdays alone..."

"Enough already, enough... I... I agree..."

Unable to resist the Red-haired Director’s persistent pleas, and worried she’d resort to force if "unfulfilled," Leon reluctantly agreed to this strange request that threw dignity out the window.

"Haha, I knew you’d agree! Relax! It’ll be quick. Just close your eyes, it’ll be over in a moment!"

Seeing Leon finally choose to give in, a hint of triumph flashed across the Red-haired Director’s eyes. She eagerly urged,

"Drink quickly, drink! Yes, yes, take more! Keep going, take a bigger gulp!"

"Mmm!!!"

Hearing the Red-haired Director’s urging, Leon took a large gulp of wine, his cheeks puffing, and glared at her angrily.

*That’s all! If you don’t stop, I’ll swallow it myself!*

"Alright, alright! That’s enough."

Realizing Leon’s intent from his gaze, the Red-haired Director regretfully sighed. She carefully closed the cap, tucked away the remaining half-bottle of wine, and gently wrapped an arm around Leon’s neck, rising slightly on her tiptoes.

"..."

*Actually... despite her outrageous personality, the Director is quite a beauty, even on par with the Princess, who’s famed as the most beautiful.*

Bowing his head slightly, guided by the hand hooked around his neck, Leon’s gaze traveled from her fox-like eyes down past her delicate nose, finally settling on her slightly puckered pink lips. His heart skipped a beat, and his throat involuntarily moved.

*Honestly, I might have just a little bit of a heart...*

"Ah! Stop!"

Seeing Leon’s Adam’s apple move slightly, the Red-haired Director instinctively pinched it, forcing him to swallow the slipping wine, leaving Leon staring at her in shock.

?!!

*A bit of a heart cramp...*

"Uh... sorry..."

Realizing what she had done, the Red-haired Director awkwardly smiled at Leon. She quickly pressed her soft lips to his, while Leon, whose heart hadn’t fully processed before it metaphorically died, opened his mouth slightly with a darkened expression.

*Mmm...*

*Despite the absurd process and cause, because of the fine wine, this not-so-pure kiss still felt fragrant and...*

*Spicy!*

Feeling the heat surge straight to his core, Leon’s eyes widened as he instinctively tried to pull away. However, the quicker-reacting Red-haired Director had already pushed him away, turning her head to try to spit out the wine.

Unfortunately, just before they parted, the small bottle she gripped tightly revealed a rose-colored bullhorn sigil, turning the unfinished half-bottle of fine wine into bright red chili oil!

"Peh! Peh peh peh!"

Hastily spitting out the chili oil, Leon’s tongue was numb from the spice, and the Red-haired Director fared no better. Her once pale pink lips turned a fiery red, swollen from the heat.

"Humph!"

With a familiar huff from both of them, the sigil on the small bottle vanished, and the almost visibly hot chili oil inside reverted back to clear, fragrant wine, as if nothing had happened.

The chili oil they spat on the ground quickly pooled together, leaving a vivid red, angry message on the Realm of the Dead’s pale soil:

’You two, you’ve really opened my eyes!’

"..."

"..."

...

"You’re back."

Hearing footsteps behind her, Emma, sitting on a round stone by the lakeside stroking a Crow of Death Report, turned around. Just as she was about to ask how things went, she paused briefly.

The reason was simple: Although Leon and the Red-haired Director walked side by side, their gazes were cast in opposite directions and never met.

One wore a look of awkwardness and shame, like being caught stealing chickens. The other showed frustration and regret, like a failed chicken theft attempt...

*Judging by their appearances... could they have been caught stealing a coffin?*

With this thought, Emma’s heart tightened. She quickly set down the Crow of Death Report and went to them with a face full of concern,

"What happened? Was it the third generation... Hmm? Why are both of your mouths swollen?"