Skip to content
Novel Catalog
Chapter_245
“F*cking Green Bamboo Association… they crossed the line!” Zakariah exploded, staring at the corpse with fury in his eyes.
Bang!
Justin clutched his chest with a grin as he stood up dramatically. “So… that means they didn’t make a move because of me?”
Nash gave a small nod. “I believe so.”
Justin’s grin widened. “This outfit is too cool! When Walter saw me today, he looked like he was meeting his grandfather!”
Nash’s brows rose. “You went to the Watson household?”
Justin nodded, recalling the experience proudly. As he spoke, Nash’s expression grew more serious—cold sweat beading at his temples.
Damn it…
Had Justin delayed even a bit longer, the Hidden-Ghost Juggernaut might have launched an attack on the villa. It had been a razor’s edge. Nash clenched his jaw. He hadn’t been careful enough.
When Nash finally returned inside, Hera was curled up on the couch beneath a thin blanket, gently dozing.
He walked over quietly and sat beside her. Wrapping his arms around her, he whispered tenderly, “Why are you still up?”
Hera blinked her sleepy eyes and nestled against his chest, her voice soft and affectionate. “I was waiting for you…”
He kissed her forehead lightly. “I’m back now. Sleep—otherwise you’ll be exhausted tomorrow.”
Hera shook her head, determined. “Bianca’s been taking care of Skadi all this time. I told her I’d switch with her later.”
Nash smiled helplessly. “You two really are close.”
At that moment, Justin leaned over. “Hera, go to bed. I’ll go check on Skadi instead…”
Hera eyed him. “Not in that get-up. Go change before Skadi thinks the real Smiling Grim Reaper came for her!”
Justin pouted. “But I haven’t visited her in this disguise yet!”
Nash chuckled. “Didn’t Skadi keep asking to meet the Smiling Grim Reaper? Why haven’t you gone to see her already?”
Hera laughed softly. “Well, he did go to the Watson household for a while. Then the real Smiling Grim Reaper appeared—but that guy was kind of dumb tonight, so we all thought it was just Justin. Even Mr. Zabel shouted at him!”
That gave Nash pause. Hera shifted slightly in his arms and murmured, “Wait… if that was the real Smiling Grim Reaper… how did he know Skadi was hurt?”
Nash tapped his nose thoughtfully. “My guess? Cillian told him.”
“Is that so?” Hera looked up at him with glistening, curious eyes.
She and Bianca had already analyzed the scene of the earlier confrontation in detail. And based on everything they saw, Hera was beginning to suspect—Nash might be the real Smiling Grim Reaper.
Her gaze drifted to the bruises on his face, the faint cut on his lip. She reached out with concern. “You… how did you get hurt?”
Nash flashed a sheepish grin. “I tripped. Just clumsy.”
“You think I’m an idiot?” Hera scowled.
He pulled her close, chuckling. “No, you’re my cute little fool.”
Hera puffed her cheeks and tried to resist smiling as she pushed him away gently. Her fingers traced the wound on his lip with a featherlight touch. “Does it hurt?”
“A bit,” Nash admitted.
“That’s not good. I’ll bring you some painkillers.”
Nash, ever cheeky, leaned in with a straight face. “There’s a natural painkiller in saliva, you know. It’s called opiorphin. Works wonders.”
Hera’s eyes widened slightly, then sparkled with understanding. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him.
Behind the couch, Justin’s expression twisted in agony. He buried his face in his hands. He was still there!
Just then, Bianca descended the staircase, carrying a bowl of freshly brewed medicine. “Dr. Tanner, Skadi’s fever has finally gone down…”
Brian, asleep in a nearby chair with a blanket draped over him, stirred awake at her words. “That’s good… that’s very good…” He stretched with a yawn. “Make another dose. She’ll need it again around dawn.”
Hearing them, Hera quickly pulled away from Nash, her cheeks blazing red. She lowered her gaze shyly. “Does it… still hurt?”
Nash smiled softly. “Not anymore.”
“I’ll go stay with Skadi now. You should get some rest too.” Hera hurried upstairs, her blush lingering like the warmth of a setting flame.