With the Gamma Knife's energy exploding inside the crocodile's massive body, the creature let out one final, agonized bellow that echoed across the ruined park.
Its internal organs were completely shredded from within by the surgical energy. Its body shuddered violently, coughed up dark blood in thick streams—and then spat out a glowing yellow ability crystal that clattered across the ground.
As the thirty-foot giant reptile finally collapsed into death, Elric exhaled sharply.
It was over. Done.
He turned toward the quiet scientist standing behind him, expecting... well, something. Gratitude, maybe. Shock. Relief. The normal human reactions to being saved from certain death.
And then he froze.
Because Dr. Elizabeth Holt didn't look at him at all.
She didn't thank him. Didn't acknowledge that he'd just saved her life. Didn't even seem to register that she'd been seconds away from being eaten alive.
No—she simply walked straight past him like he was a piece of furniture.
Calmly. Expression completely unchanged. Like she was continuing a routine task that had been briefly interrupted.
She crouched beside the crocodile's still-warm corpse, picked up the yellow crystal with clinical detachment, wiped the blood off on her coat, and slipped it casually into her pocket like she was collecting a rock sample for her collection.
Then she retrieved her sealed equipment case containing the precious Ability Tree root sample, slung it over her shoulder with practiced efficiency...
...and started walking toward one of the armored SUVs that had been abandoned by the fallen military unit.
Without looking back even once.
Without the slightest hesitation.
Without a single goddamn word directed at him.
Elric just... blinked.
Then his eye twitched involuntarily.
"This woman... is she seriously treating me like I'm invisible?"
He had just risked his life to save hers—appeared at the perfect moment, fought a major threat-class monster, used one of his strongest techniques—and she was walking away like a lab technician heading home after a normal workday?
And that ability crystal? The one he had earned by killing the threat?
She just... took it? Like it was hers by default?
His eyebrow twitched again, harder this time.
"No way you actually think that belongs to you..."
FLASH!
Elric activated Exchange Position, instantly appearing directly in front of her path.
She halted, but only because he was physically blocking her way. Not out of respect or acknowledgment—just basic obstacle avoidance.
He stared her down with clear irritation.
She looked back—calm, completely unafraid, her expression suggesting she was mildly inconvenienced by this delay.
Then, as Elric stood there holding both her equipment case and the crystal he'd just reclaimed from her pocket, a transparent SYSTEM PANEL suddenly flashed into existence in front of his eyes:
System Scan — New Potential Retainer Detected
Name: Elizabeth Holt
Age: 28
Appearance: 97/100
Figure: 97/100
Quality: 100/100 (Immaculate)
System Composite Score: 97/100
Communication Reward Count: 70 per month (resets monthly)
Assessment:
Target meets exceptional high-tier retainer criteria.
Successful acquisition will immediately grant 2 Devil Fruit maturations.
High-Score Retainer Bonus Effects:
Guaranteed critical success upon recruitment Enhanced growth rate for Devil Tree Significantly higher probability of rare item/fruit drops through deep communication Unique research capabilities unlock special system functions
Elric's expression eased slightly as he processed this information.
"So she really is top-tier material... Looks like I didn't misjudge her potential."
But system notification or not—he was still glaring at the crystal now back in his possession.
Elizabeth extended her palm toward him with the mechanical precision of someone requesting a borrowed pen.
Her tone remained perfectly flat: "The crystal was produced from a creature you personally killed. Logically and legally, it belongs to you by right of combat."
She paused, then added: "However, the instrument case and the Ability Tree sample contained within are my property, collected during my authorized research mission. Please return them immediately."
Elric's jaw tightened with frustration.
This woman. This infuriating woman.
Then—
Shhhk—
He placed his blade lightly against her neck in one smooth motion.
Not cutting—not yet—but the threat was absolutely undeniable.
Most people would panic. Beg. Show fear. Something.
Her expression didn't change even slightly. She simply reached up and adjusted her glasses with one finger, as if they'd slipped during the conversation.
Elric leaned in closer, his voice dropping to something cold and dangerous.
"Funny how you talk so much about who owns what and what 'logically' belongs to whom."
He met her eyes directly, searching for any crack in that icy facade.
"So tell me, Dr...."
He let the blade press just a fraction closer.
"Who does your life belong to right now?"
Elizabeth did not blink. Did not swallow nervously. Did not flinch away from the weapon at her throat.
She simply answered in that same calm, clinical tone—almost bored, like she was reciting a paper abstract.
"I am the former Deputy Director of the National Scientific Research Institute, and the current Director of the Disaster Biology Research Institute located in Safe Zone Seven."
She continued as if giving her resume: "My expertise spans physics, biology, chemistry, energy science, and paranormal phenomenon research. Given adequate resources and a functioning laboratory, I can decipher the true nature of the fog, analyze mutation patterns in affected organisms, and determine the origin point of all supernatural creatures."
She paused, then concluded: "Therefore, killing me would represent a significant loss not only to your personal interests, but to the continued survival of the entire human race. The opportunity cost is prohibitive."
Elric raised an eyebrow, genuinely impressed despite his irritation.
"...You talk pretty big for someone who was about to become crocodile food five minutes ago."
He stepped even closer, lowering his voice near her ear.
"But here's the thing, doctor. You're completely wrong about my intentions."
He whispered softly: "I'm not here to kill you."
"My purpose," Elric said coldly, blade still resting against her neck, "is for you to become my woman. What I want is your body, not just your brain."
Elizabeth blinked once—the first real reaction she'd shown.
Then, in the absolute calmest, most clinical tone imaginable, she replied:
"Oh. You mean sexual intercourse and exclusive romantic partnership."
Elric's face twitched involuntarily.
"I— what— no, I mean—" He struggled for words. "What kind of vocabulary is that? Are you even actually a woman?"
Elizabeth adjusted her glasses again, utterly unbothered.
"My physical appearance ranks in the 97th percentile of human females according to multiple assessment metrics. You are not the first male who has requested sexual access to my person." She stated this like she was discussing weather patterns. "Therefore, I am not surprised by your proposition."
Elric actually rubbed his forehead, feeling a headache coming on.
This woman was clearly a biological genius, but socially... was she even human? Did she have actual emotions in there somewhere?
"Enough. I'm not here to debate vocabulary definitions with you."
He leaned in, the blade pressing just slightly closer to emphasize his seriousness.
"You have exactly two choices right now. Option one—you become mine, join my group, follow my orders. Option two—you lose your head and I take the research samples anyway."
A heavy silence stretched between them.
Elizabeth studied him analytically, her eyes moving across his face as if calculating complex probabilities and risk assessments.
Then she nodded once, decision apparently made.
"Although your demonstrated intelligence quotient appears inferior to mine based on this conversation, your physical capabilities and genetic traits compensate adequately for reproductive purposes."
Elric's eye twitched again.
"Therefore," she continued in that same flat tone, "I accept your request for sexual partnership and group inclusion."
Elric nearly choked on his own breath.
Before he could formulate a response to that bizarre acceptance speech, she calmly added:
"However, I have several non-negotiable conditions before I agree to proceed with this arrangement."
Elric narrowed his eyes dangerously.
"In this situation—with a blade at your throat—you actually think you're in a position to negotiate terms with me?"
Elizabeth didn't flinch or show any concern.
Her tone remained perfectly steady, logical, completely emotionless.
"My conditions are structured to benefit both parties mutually. You would be strategically wise to listen to them before making a final decision."
Condition One: Research Priority
"Science is my life's purpose and primary function," Elizabeth stated matter-of-factly. "Regardless of location or circumstances, I will continue my research activities. If I am to follow you and join your group, you must provide me with laboratory facilities and necessary equipment within reasonable timeframes."
She paused, then added: "In return, all findings and breakthrough discoveries will be shared with you immediately, granting you significant strategic advantages."
Elric thought about this for a moment.
He'd wanted to recruit her anyway—and having a genius scientist on his side who could potentially unlock the secrets of this apocalypse? That was obviously valuable beyond measure.
"Fine. I agree to that condition."
Elizabeth nodded once, satisfied with his logical acceptance.
Condition Two: Delayed Reproduction
"Pregnancy significantly reduces research productivity and cognitive function during gestation periods," she explained clinically. "Therefore, for a minimum duration of one year, I do not want to conceive children."
Elric actually shrugged at that one.
"Sure, whatever. I'm not exactly planning on becoming a father anytime soon anyway."
She nodded again, apparently pleased with his continued reasonableness.
Condition Three: Frequency Limitations
Elizabeth raised three fingers in a precise gesture.
"My final condition concerns activity frequency. Excessive sexual activity disrupts research schedules and reduces cognitive performance metrics."
Her tone remained completely clinical: "Based on optimal productivity calculations, once per month represents the ideal frequency for maintaining both partnership obligations and research efficiency."
Elric's face darkened instantly, his expression shifting to something dangerous.
"Absolutely not. Rejected immediately."
"According to the system analysis, her reward value is seventy times per month. There's no way in hell I'm wasting that potential."
"70 times, per month."
Elizabeth froze completely.
For the first time since he'd met her—the first genuine, unfiltered human reaction—
Her eyes went wide with shock.
Her jaw actually dropped open slightly.
She inhaled sharply, visibly stunned by what she'd just heard.
"...Seventy... times...?"
Her voice actually trembled with that question.
The calm, emotionless, unshakeable genius scientist—
Had finally cracked.
Her mind was clearly racing, trying to process the sheer mathematical impossibility of what he'd just proposed.
Seventy times per month meant more than twice per day, every single day.
Her face, for the first time, showed something other than cold calculation.
Horror. Disbelief. And maybe... just maybe... the faintest hint of fear.
"That's... that's statistically impossible for sustained periods..." she whispered. "The physical toll alone would—"
"Not my problem," Elric cut her off with a slight smirk. "You wanted to negotiate. Well, that's my counter-offer. Take it or leave it."
Elizabeth stood there, her brilliant mind clearly short-circuiting as she tried to calculate whether this was even survivable.
There is 60 chapter Advance, in my patreon. If you are interested can check it out.
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