Chapter 149: Ikaros, Targeted by Lala
Momo leaned lightly against Franklin, her face glowing with a gentle smile.
"With Mr. Franklin around, I'm sure there'll be no need for that kind of ability. I believe Mr. Franklin will definitely keep us safe from all danger…"
Before she could finish, veins bulged on Nana's forehead as she abruptly wedged herself between them.
"What's this? You think your relationship gets to advance after a heart-to-heart? Momo, you know Mom is absolutely against harems! Don't think that just because Franklin gave her that Youth Retaining Pill she's going to approve—no way! Mom will never let you and Sis marry the same man."
Momo's brows furrowed slightly, but when she recalled their earlier bet and the Bloodline Purification Pill Franklin had given her, the tension faded. Her smile returned.
"It's different now. Mr. Franklin still has plenty of trump cards. Even if Mom refuses to admit it, she'll have to recognize him in the end."
Nana shot Franklin a suspicious look, then turned to Momo's barely concealed grin. Grabbing the helpless Franklin by the collar, she yanked him up.
"Momo's terrified of Mom, yet she's so confident now. Don't tell me—you secretly did something to her?"
Meeting Nana's accusing glare—the kind reserved for a beast—Franklin looked exasperated.
"Nana, you should know me by now. Why would you think it was me? Do you really see me as that kind of person?"
Caught off guard by the sudden counter, Nana, who was used to treating him that way, froze for a moment.
"I—I didn't…"
But then she remembered how Franklin had forced a pill down her throat downstairs, making her body instantly bare, and how he'd carried her, unclothed, upstairs. Nana glared furiously.
"Don't even try! You pervert—you've already seen all three of our bodies! What else could you be if not a beast? A good guy? Yeah, right!"
The truth hit squarely, and Franklin coughed awkwardly, shrugging off her grip and darting behind Momo.
"Those were accidents, alright? I didn't want that to happen either."
Seeing Nana storm toward him again, Momo smiled and stopped her.
"Don't make things difficult for Mr. Franklin. He didn't mean any harm. What I meant earlier was… since I want to fully awaken my Origin Clan bloodline, I'll need Mr. Franklin's help. In other words, my fated one is also Mr. Franklin. Mom will have to take that into account. Plus, he's the only one who can treat her unique condition, so I believe she'll eventually yield."
"What!? You're saying your fated one is that beast too? Impossible!"
Nana stared at Franklin in disbelief. Then, recalling what their father had said that morning, her expression grew even more tangled.
"You beast—don't you dare touch my tail! Ever! If you'd really done what Dad said this morning, I'd have hated you for life!"
Seeing how serious she was, Franklin was honestly relieved he hadn't acted rashly.
"Franklin," Bulma's voice came along with a knock on the door, "aren't you and Momo supposed to settle your wager already? Mikan's been asking about it several times—I've barely managed to brush her off. If you keep dragging it out, she'll come up here herself."
The knock redirected everyone's attention. Nana shot Franklin one last fierce glare before opening the door.
Facing Bulma's curious look, she said casually, "It's already done. Momo and Franklin cleared everything up."
Without another word, she headed downstairs. Momo followed after her, offering Bulma a faint smile.
"Let's go. Everything's settled. It was just a misunderstanding—Momo's power is simply a unique ability. It's harmless. And what we told Lala earlier wasn't really a lie."
Though still curious, Bulma respected their privacy and didn't pry. She quickly followed them down.
The kitchen, once a mess, was now spotless. Ikaros sat quietly at the dining table. The other girls had cleverly arranged the seats so she was placed between Franklin and Mikan.
"Master, shouldn't I be standing by your side to serve you during meals?"
Seeing her puzzled expression, Franklin smiled and shook his head.
"Ikaros, for now, just watch and learn from them. Do what they do, get used to living here. Once you're fully adapted, that'll help me the most."
"Yes, Master. I understand."
Sitting there in silence, Ikaros exuded a sense of utter confusion, the heavy-looking collar around her neck making her seem even more out of place.
Aside from Lala, who was happily wolfing down her food, everyone else wore complicated expressions. Seeing this, Franklin cut in,
"Alright, stop staring. It's just a meal—don't let your minds wander. That collar isn't anything indecent, and Ikaros's past isn't as tragic as you think. Try her cooking first. Once she settles in, I'll tell you more about her history. It'll help her recover her memories…"
Before he could finish, Lala cheerfully interrupted,
"Lin, seriously—her cooking's great! Not quite at Mikan's level, but definitely delicious!"
Looking at Lala's half-empty plate, Franklin smiled and nodded.
"I'm sure she'll only get better. This is just the beginning. Now, eat up, all of you—we've got more important things this afternoon."
Silence returned to the table. Ikaros carefully observed the girls and began to mimic their movements, eating as they did.
Lala's eyes widened, and Bulma looked equally shocked.
"Lin, isn't Ikaros purely mechanical? She's not the same type as Eve, right? Is it really okay for her to eat?"
Franklin chuckled and nodded. "It's fine. Ikaros is no different from a normal human. Even though her body is entirely mechanical, her internal systems are so advanced that even reproduction should be possible. So don't be so surprised."
"Self-diagnostics confirm Master's statement," Ikaros said calmly. "These are just basic functions. The food I consume is fully converted into energy. Lala, Bulma—please don't worry. I won't malfunction over something so trivial."
Her explanation left Bulma completely stunned. Lala, too, looked skeptical—but after glancing at Franklin, she quickly dismissed her doubts.
Yet the spark of scientific curiosity never fades; love only makes it burn brighter. After a brief moment of hesitation, Lala turned her gaze toward Franklin once more.
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[TN: Hello everyone. I apologize for the hiatus. I had some health issues and scheduling difficulties, which is why I was inactive.
I was on hiatus from February 10 to May 29, 2026 — a total of 108 days.
To make up for the delay, I will be releasing +150 chapters later for everyone, and daily updates on WN will resume afterward. Thank you.]