CHAPTER 53: CH-53

"My dad’s ridiculously rich, so that kind of cash is just lunch money to me."

I already dropped the Mercer name, so might as well milk it for everything it’s worth.

"That’s a scam! Nobody in their right mind would pay half a million for such a short duration!" she snapped.

Before things could get out of hand, I calmly pulled out my ID and held it up.

"Go ahead, search my name. Don’t be shy."

She hesitated, then did exactly that. A few seconds later, her eyes moved from her screen back to me with a look of disbelief.

May, on the other hand, could only look between us, unsure of what to think or do.

"I... I don’t know what to do. This is all happening so fast."

"If you’re having doubts, go with me. The Moonlight Guild will trap you in a contract for at least three years."

I didn’t stop there.

"Are you really going to throw away your chance of building a connection with someone of my status? My family could buy out the entire guild, and it wouldn’t even make a dent in our fortune."

She didn’t even try to argue; deep down, she knew I was right. No small time guild could stand toe-to-toe with a conglomerate.

"Besides, even without the moonlight guild, you will still have access to other opportunities. You won’t be closing any doors"

"I... I think I’ll go with him," she made her decision.

The recruiter’s face contorted with frustration. "You’re making a huge mistake."

"Perhaps," May replied, straightening her posture. "But it’s my mistake to make."

"I’ll talk to your father about this. He won’t like this at all."

"Are you sure?" I scoffed. "Because I’m pretty confident that he would be thrilled to know his daughter’s pulling in half a million just for working with a multi-billionaire."

"You..." The woman stormed off, muttering curses under her breath.

I couldn’t help but smile. Another victory for my other superpower. Being embarrassingly rich.

"Shall we discuss the details?" May asked, fidgeting with her sleeve.

"Let’s eat first before we talk about your compensation," I suggested, gesturing toward the exit. "There’s a decent place just around the corner."

Ten minutes later, we sat across from each other in a cozy restaurant with modern decor and soft lighting. The aroma of grilled meat and spices filled the air as servers bustled between tables.

"Order whatever you want," I said, scanning the menu. "It’s on me."

Her eyes widened at the prices. "Can I really order anything?"

"Absolutely. Consider it the beginning of our professional relationship."

I ordered a steak with all the fixings while she chose a seafood pasta. As we waited for our food, I studied her more carefully.

It didn’t take a genius to figure out she came from a poor family—but even so, her beauty surpassed Claire’s. And there was something about her... an innocent aura that made me feel lighter just by looking at her.

"What’s your specialty?" I inquired.

"Wind manipulation," she replied, relaxing slightly. "I can create gusts strong enough to knock people down or even fly short distances."

"Impressive. That’ll complement my abilities nicely."

Our food arrived, and we dug in.

Between bites, she asked. "What’s your plan?"

I cut into my steak, watching the juices pool on the plate.

"May, being blessed with too much isn’t easy, believe it or not. No matter what I do, I can’t escape my father’s shadow. So... I’m starting my own guild and walking my own path."

A bitter laugh spilled from her lips. "Y-you’re telling me... all that money is a burden? I can’t even wrap my head around it."

I was actually trying to be sarcastic... but it seems I need to practice that too.

"Ahem," I said, clearing my throat. "That was meant as a joke."

Her face heated up from embarrassment. "I... I’m really sorry. I didn’t get the joke."

"Don’t worry about it," I added, trying to put her at ease.

Once things settled, I shifted to a serious tone. The guild idea wasn’t a bluff. It aligned with the system’s mission.

"And the money? Half a million is..." she trailed off.

"Insurance. I want you to focus on your training , not wondering if you made the right choice."

"Besides, you’ll need to buy your own equipment, so having extra money to spend is never a bad thing."

May nodded slowly, accepting my explanation.

"So," I continued, raising my glass. "To our party?"

She clinked her glass against mine. "To our party."

***

***

***

Roughly an hour later, she found herself in a hotel room with me, caught in a kiss—breathing heavily, and unable to break free from the grip I had on her hips.

How did we go from eating to kissing so fast? Well... the Francis Card with resonance was a bit too OP for timid girls like her.

But there was a deeper reason for this. It’s not like I was leading her around because I’m some horny jerk who can’t keep his hands off every pretty girl I see.

No, no—this was for "science" and security. Very noble, really.

Right now, only Claire and Ella had that heart-shaped mark, and they were basically like puppets on strings.

I figured, why not see if the same trick works on a stranger? Call it... an experiment in human behavior.

As our lips parted, I trailed kisses down her neck, feeling the pulse quicken beneath my touch.

May let out a soft sigh, her hands gripping my shoulders as I continued to enjoy myself.

I pulled back slightly, looking into her eyes.

"You’re really sexy—I can tell you take care of your body, even with those baggy clothes."

"I... I used to play volleyball."

"Volleyball? Ah, that explains it. No wonder you’re so fit."

"Now I’m tempted to check out the rest of your body."

May’s eyes widened slightly, but she didn’t say no.

My influence had taken root, weaving through her thoughts like shadows between trees. She reached for the hem of her shirt, fingers trembling slightly.

"Like this?" she asked, lifting her top slowly, inch by inch, revealing a well-toned abdomen.

I nodded, settling back against the headboard. "Exactly like that."

The shirt came off completely, landing softly on the carpet. She sat before me in a simple black sports bra, her chest rising and falling with quickened breaths.

click!

Her bra slipped from her shoulder, revealing the faint contrast of her natural skin tone beneath the sun-kissed tan.

Unable to resist, I traced it lightly with my finger along her back

"W...Wait." She let out a soft gasp, shivering at the sensation.

"May, you’re way too sensitive. Don’t tell me you’re still a virgin?"

She clenched her fists. "I... I am. I have no experience yet. Even that kiss... it was my first."

Hearing such a wholesome, innocent confession filled me with warmth. I hugged her from behind and pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek.

"I’m really happy to hear that. Don’t worry... you won’t regret trusting me with your first. I promise I’ll take care of you."

A small smile escape her lips.

I took it as a sign to start groping her melons, and I wasted no time in doing so.

Moans spilled from her lips almost instantly. After so much training with Ellie’s gigantic assets, handling an inexperienced girl was a piece of cake.

"Just a little teasing and you’re dripping wet. I’m just getting warmed up, so buckle up, because I won’t stop until your fully satisfied."