Apocalypse Villainess? Nah, I'm Nice

Lennon considered himself pretty lucky.

The situation had been tense lately, and many people weren’t in the mood to visit the association. His side income had dried up, and since he disliked going out of the city with the Hunting Parties, life was getting a bit tight.

But right then, Kerrin Irwin, the woman he’d had such high hopes for, had walked right into his lap!

He had been furious at first. Not only had there been an accident with her blood test last time, but she had also failed to show up at the appointed time. If a newcomer hadn’t coincidentally appeared to take her place, he would have undoubtedly gotten an earful from his superiors!

However, when she offered no explanation and instead asked hesitantly with a somber face, ”That medicine... could there be a problem with it?”

He suddenly found it hilarious!

’So typical of a woman!’

’No matter how grim or scary she acts on the outside, deep down, she’s still just greedy and timid!’

Besides, no one else had been getting results lately, and his superiors were growing anxious. If he pushed away prey that had delivered itself to his doorstep just because of a petty grudge, wouldn’t that make him an idiot?

With that thought, he immediately put on a friendly expression. ”Didn’t I tell you? If you’re worried, you can take it to a hospital to have it tested before you use it. This is a benefit the association provides for promising Superpower Users, not some forced transaction...” As he spoke, he adopted a slightly troubled look. ”To be honest, since you missed your appointment last time, your dose of the medicine has already been bought by someone else. Even if you want it now, it’s probably too late.”

”What?! How could that happen? I just, I just... Can I... Can I apply for it again?!”

Lennon savored her anxiety and incoherent speech. After a good while, he adopted a tone that said, ’I really do have high hopes for you,’ and replied, ”I can only try, but I can’t decide what the outcome will be!”

Seeing her nod repeatedly, her doubts gone, a smug look appeared in his eyes.

’As for the outcome... was there any doubt?’

Of course, he would go to great lengths to apply for the last available dose just for her!

He watched her promptly down the medicine. Only then did he feel at ease, leaving her alone in the room and heading to the third floor.

”Boss, she’s taken the medicine. We’ll know the results soon.”

The association had a somewhat substandard testing device that could roughly determine a Superpower User’s rank. They didn’t need it to be precise anyway; a rough estimate was good enough.

He was excited, but his boss grew pensive.

”Last time, there was an accident when we tested her blood, and then someone just happened to fill her spot... Are you sure there’s no problem with this woman?”

Lennon started to get anxious, but he suppressed his urgency and said tactfully, ”I reckon it’s most likely just a coincidence. If she had any connections, she wouldn’t have come here. Besides, we’ve checked her background, and there’s nothing suspicious. So, what do you think? Should we wait a while longer?”

The man across from him mulled it over for a moment before finally saying with a hint of mockery, ”Forget it. It should be fine. As long as we send her over, she can’t stir up any trouble. It’s easy to get in, but getting out is a different story! You can go for now. Keep a close eye on her. If she fails to Promote, then it’s all for nothing!”

”Yes, sir.”

Lennon returned to the second floor, feeling a bit apprehensive.

However, Kerrin Irwin did not disappoint him.

Two hours later, Lennon took her for testing. For once, a hint of joy showed on her face.

To his surprise, the amount of energy in her body had almost reached the peak of the Seventh Rank, just a hair’s breadth away from the Eighth Rank!

Seeing this result, he couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath.

’I’ve never seen it go so smoothly. This girl... she really has a ton of potential!’

If not for the current situation, she might not have needed much time to Promote to the Seventh Rank, even without taking this medicine...

Lennon should have been thrilled.

The higher she Promoted, the bigger the reward for sending her over!

He might even become the person to receive the highest reward in the association’s history!

But, for some unknown reason, he felt unusually calm.

There was even a faint trace of regret in his calmness.

’All I can say is, she’s really unlucky.’

Not long after confirming her rank, he knocked her unconscious and sent her away.

Standing at an upstairs window, watching the inconspicuous car drive further and further away, Lennon thought, ’I hope you’re reborn as someone smarter in your next life. Whatever you do, don’t be stupid enough to believe there’s such a thing as a free lunch!’

Kerrin Irwin—that is, Paige Summers—hadn’t really been knocked unconscious, of course. She had just used a little trick to control her heartbeat and breathing.

Of course, it would be difficult for an ordinary person to notice.

She felt herself being wrapped up and carried into a car. After a bumpy ride of about an hour, the car stopped, and she was once again carried and placed on a bed in some room.

The feeling beneath her was perfect—not too soft, not too hard. The moment she lay down, she knew the bedsprings had to be top-quality, something an ordinary person would never get to use.

’This must be the lair of that old geezer from the Dudley Family!’

She kept her eyes shut, feigning unconsciousness, only pretending to wake up when she sensed someone opening the door.

Her gaze fell upon a ceiling covered in reliefs. She glanced at it, then cursed inwardly. ’So he’s an old pervert!’

The reliefs depicted naked men and women in extremely debauched, entangled poses, complemented by the various instruments hanging on the walls—clearly designed for certain sordid purposes...

Paige Summers surveyed the room, her expression twisting with undisguised disgust. Finally, she fixed her gaze on the person who had entered.

It was a middle-aged man.

His features were plain, but his curving eyes were quite distinctive. Even when he wasn’t smiling, he looked as if he were.

He stood by the door, making no attempt to approach, and said flatly, ”You’re awake?”

Paige Summers glared at him warily. ”Who are you? Why am I here? Where’s Lennon?”

Her string of questions received no answer; the man acted as if he hadn’t heard a thing. ”Since you’re awake, come with me. Don’t try to resist. You should have already discovered that you can’t use your superpower right now.”

Paige Summers naturally knew that.

She had realized it when Lennon knocked her out. His superpower must be one that restricts a Superpower User’s ability to use their energy.

’Come to think of it, a superpower like that would have no chance in a hunt. It’s the perfect tool for backstabbing, though. No wonder he became a lapdog for these people.’

’However, he might have had a sliver of a chance if he were the same rank as me. As he is now? He’s really not worth a second look.’

She knew exactly what was going on, but she still had to keep up the act.

She cried out with a ”horrified” expression, ”What did you do to me?! I won’t—”

”Shut up! Come with me!” A hint of impatience crossed the man’s brow.

Paige Summers immediately and ”tactfully” shut her mouth, walking over with a gloomy, resentful look on her face.

The room was on the second floor.

Outside the door was a short, horizontal hallway with two rooms on either side. In front of her was a waist-high, carved railing.

Paige Summers didn’t immediately follow the man toward the staircase. Instead, she took a few steps forward and stood at the railing, looking down.

Only then did she discover the shocking scene that filled her vision!