Starting With SSS-rank: I Get A New Skill Every Livestream-Chapter 26: Cornered

How could this be?

The question kept circling in Kyle’s mind as he stared at the woman before him.

There was no denying it. Veronica was beautiful.

Her platinum silver hair framed her sharp features, and the scar that traced across her face only added to her presence instead of diminishing it. She carried herself with quiet authority. Her build was strong, her arms well sculpted, and the tattoos that curved around her neck and disappeared beneath her collarbone gave her an edge that was undeniably alluring.

She was striking.

So why was someone like her behaving like this around him?

He was certain they had never met before. And yet...

"Do not think you can command me," she said sharply. "You are the one at a disadvantage here. Once your secret is exposed, you will have no choice but to work for us. Work for me. No matter what you decide, you will follow my orders."

Kyle stepped closer.

She drew in a sharp breath.

Her breathing had quickened again. That only strengthened his suspicion.

He took another step forward. She retreated instinctively.

He maintained eye contact and continued advancing until her back pressed against a tree, leaving her nowhere to go.

Kyle lifted one hand and planted it against the trunk above her head. The bark scraped under his palm, and a few dry leaves fell around them.

"You are going to command me?" he asked, his voice low and heavy.

Her face was flushed, but she still nodded. "Y-Yes... you will listen to me."

"I do not like being ordered around."

She crossed her arms defensively, but he did not miss the faint tremble in her fingers.

She was far too nervous for someone supposedly in control.

"Hmph. You think this will intimidate me? I can report you to my superiors at any time."

As she turned her head slightly, Kyle noticed another scar behind her ear.

For a brief second, something felt familiar.

But he dismissed it.

"Oh really?" he replied calmly. "If you truly intended to report me, you would not have come here to negotiate. That would have been far easier. You would already have leverage over me."

She flinched.

Kyle did not let the moment pass.

"Truth be told, you just wanted an excuse to talk to me. That is why you created this whole situation, did you not?"

Her arms slowly loosened. She bit her lower lip, and for a brief second, he thought he saw her eyes glisten.

Maybe he was imagining it.

Maybe not.

Sensing the tension snap thin, Kyle stepped back, giving her space.

She sniffed softly and wiped away the moisture threatening to spill over.

Kyle let out a quiet sigh. "I will meet you. But not whenever you snap your fingers. We set appointments beforehand. If you want."

Her ears seemed to perk at once.

This time, she did not even attempt to hide it.

The relief. The excitement.

It was all there, plain in her eyes.

"That works," she said quickly. "We will definitely plan things before going on our... um... strategical meeting."

Kyle raised a brow.

"Dates," he corrected calmly.

Her face turned an even deeper shade of red.

She groaned and turned away. "Fine. Go home and wait for my call."

Kyle almost asked how she planned to call him, but he held his tongue.

She walked forward with forced composure for a few steps, back straight, chin lifted.

Then—

"Ah!"

Her foot caught on uneven ground, and she fell face-first into the grass.

Kyle instinctively stepped forward to help, but before he could reach her, she scrambled up in a flustered panic and hurried off without looking back.

For a moment, he just stood there.

The same woman who had cornered him minutes ago with authority and sharp eyes now ran off in complete embarrassment.

The contrast was absurd.

Kyle let out a quiet chuckle. "Seriously... what a character."

Shaking his head, he turned and began walking home. He still needed to make dinner.

Even though the conversation had taken an unexpected turn and it did not seem like Veronica intended to expose him, he could not fully relax.

He did not know her.

He did not understand her intentions.

And that uncertainty was enough to keep him tense.

Would she change her mind later?

What if he failed to meet her expectations? What if someone else got their hands on the footage?

The thoughts kept circling in his head.

’It has only been two days, and my identity as a Nightwalker is already at risk.’

[It is understandable, host, considering you reside close to the capital city.]

Kyle exhaled slowly, frustration settling in his chest. ’I wanted to remain hidden for as long as possible. Now I have no idea what kind of people will start coming after me from every direction.’

[The host may consider cooperating with his new acquaintance. The system believes this connection could provide valuable insight into the aether world.]

Kyle let out a short laugh. "You do realize she is the strangest person I have ever met, right? I mean, what was that? Did I save her at some point? Childhood sweetheart? But I barely had any friends growing up."

He truly could not make sense of it.

For now, though, his stomach growled louder than his worries.

Putting the matter aside, Kyle quickened his pace toward home.

He was starving.

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A/N:- I had to think really deeply about this plot point before I made this decision which might sound absurd to a few but trust me, this sudden affection from the Commander...it didn’t happen absurdly.

Well, thanks for reading