SSS-Class Overlord: My Harem Rules the Realms (18+)-Chapter 65: Recruit Her.

Ethan tightened the strap of his cloak and slipped down the corridor toward the massive double

doors of the Knight Headquarters. The stone arches overhead loomed like the ribcage of some

ancient beast, shadows stretching and twisting under the torchlight.

He was mere steps away from freedom when a voice cut into his spine like a dagger.

"Ethan!"

Shit.

He froze, eyes shutting tight for half a second before he turned. Kael was striding toward him, his

cloak swirling like a dark wave behind him, eyes sharp and suspicious.

Ethan felt his chest sink in disappointment. Of all times for this idiot to show up...

Kael came to a stop barely an arm’s length away. "Where the hell are you going?"

Ethan let out a long, irritated breath. "What?" His voice cracked like ice, sharp and dismissive.

"Mind your own business, Kael."

Kael didn’t back down. His arms folded over his chest, muscles tense. "It is my business. We’re in

the same unit. You’ve been acting weird ever since that mission at the gate. You’re sneaking off in

the middle of the night. I want to know why."

Ethan’s eyes narrowed, his silver irises glinting under the flickering torchlight. "This has nothing to

do with you."

Kael jabbed a finger at him. "That’s bullshit, and you know it. You expect us to follow you into

fights, to trust you when it counts—but you keep secrets like this? Either we’re a team, or we’re

not."

The heat in Ethan’s chest flared like a wildfire. He stepped closer, his voice low, dangerous. "It’s

confidential. So shut. The fuck. Up."

Kael’s jaw twitched. For a split second, Ethan thought he’d throw a punch. The tension was thick

enough to snap.

But Kael clicked his tongue and turned away, muttering, "Tch. Fine. Don’t die out there, hero."

Ethan glared at his back for a heartbeat longer before pushing through the doors and stepping out

into the night.

The air outside was cold enough to sting his lungs. Ethan drew his cloak closer, cutting through

the narrow streets of Calsoz like a blade through silk.

The city was alive even at this hour. Lanterns glowed golden above the market stalls, throwing

splashes of warm light across the cobblestones. Merchants hawked their wares in hushed tones,

and the wind carried the mingled scents of roasted meat and incense.

But none of that touched Ethan.

Because he felt it.

That faint, eerie prickle along his skin—a presence lurking like a ghost.

He slowed his steps, eyes scanning every moving figure in the crowd.

And then he saw her.

Near a wooden stall overflowing with trinkets and tiny glass vials, a cloaked figure stood halfturned toward the vendor. One pale hand traced along the edges of delicate glass bottles, as

though searching for something rare. The lamplight reflected faint silver in strands of her hair.

His pulse thundered in his temples.

It’s her...

The same figure who’d vanished into the crowd that day. The same presence that made the air

feel thick as oil.

He drew a shaky breath and stepped closer. Each stride felt impossibly heavy, like wading through

deep water.

And then a bright, cold light blinked into his vision.

[SYSTEM ALERT]

[Quest Objective: Approach the target.]

[Secondary Objective: Recruit this individual as your companion.]

[Warning: Failure may result in future quest restrictions.]

Ethan blinked rapidly, the screen fading out as quickly as it appeared.

"Companion...?" he muttered under his breath, a sharp edge of disbelief in his voice. "The hell are

you plotting now, system?"

But he didn’t have time to argue with glowing pop-ups.

He closed the remaining distance until he was only a few feet behind her.

"Hey." His voice was quiet but edged with steel. "Turn around."

She paused mid-motion, fingers still resting on a tiny bottle of perfume. Then, slowly, she pivoted.

And there she was.

Her cloak shifted just enough to reveal a face partially hidden in shadows. Silver eyes shimmered

under the lantern’s glow. A small, secret smile curled at her lips, as if she’d been expecting him all

along.

"Well, if it isn’t Mr. Saviour himself," she purred. Her voice was soft as silk, but there was a chill

beneath it like frost creeping up a window.

Ethan’s jaw clenched. "Who the hell are you?"

She tilted her head, studying him with eyes that seemed to look right through him. "I wondered

how long it would take you to track me down."

Ethan took a step closer, his hand inching toward the hilt of Warlord’s Fang. "Answer me. Why

were you running the other night? Who are you working for?"

She chuckled, low and throaty. "Running? Oh, I wasn’t running. I was... leading."

He felt a spike of anger shoot up his spine. "Don’t play games with me."

She leaned in, close enough that he caught a faint scent—flowers mixed with something cold and

metallic. "Why not? Games are fun. Especially when you’re the prize."

Ethan scowled. "Enough."

But before he could say more, her hand shot forward. Her fingers, icy and featherlight, grazed his

cheek. The touch sent a shiver down his spine that was half fear, half something he refused to

name.

She whispered, "You’ll understand soon enough. But tonight isn’t the time."

He grabbed her wrist, squeezing hard enough to feel her delicate bones shift. "The hell it isn’t.

Who are you? Are you with the cult behind the corrupted beasts?"

She tilted her head, silver eyes dancing. "Cult? Oh... you’ve barely scratched the surface, Ethan

Graves."

Ethan felt the ground tilt beneath him. Rage, confusion, and a cold spike of dread twisted in his

gut. "You know my name... who are you?!"

She gave him a wicked smile. "Someone you’ll need very soon."

And then—just like the first time—her form began to blur. A swirling mist rose around her feet,

curling upward like ghostly snakes. Her body faded into shimmering silver particles.

"No—wait—!" Ethan lunged forward, arm outstretched.

But his fingers grasped only empty air.

She was gone.

The marketplace noise came crashing back like a wave. Vendors shouted. Coins clinked. Horses

snorted.

Ethan stood there, trembling, breathing like he’d just run ten miles. His hand fell away from the

empty space where she’d been.

And then the system flickered into view again.

[Quest Status: Incomplete.]

[Target has escaped. Recruitment attempt failed.]

[Recommendation: Pursue additional leads to complete objective.]

Ethan wiped sweat from his brow, his eyes blazing like molten silver.

"Fucking hell..." he muttered under his breath.

He turned on his heel, jaw set like iron.

"This isn’t over. Whoever you are... I’m finding out the truth."

He stalked into the crowd, his cloak swirling behind him like a shadow, determination burning in

his veins.

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