Shopping Time!

A sleek, shiny, black Ferrari sped down the quiet roads on the edge of Meteor City as its engine growled like a predator about to pounce.

The early sunlight gleamed off its smooth, polished surface as Emma kept a firm grip on the leather steering wheel with her hands steady and confident.

The empty road ahead seemed to go on forever, and even though no one was around to watch, she felt a little smug knowing how much attention this car would grab if there were.

『Maybe I could get Nightwatch a Ferrari to match mine. Mine's black, so maybe I could get him a red one.

『But no, a red one might be too flashy. It'd probably be better if I gave him this black one instead. Then again, that might seem selfish—like I'm just using it as an excuse to upgrade and stick him with my old car. That feels kind of inconsiderate.

… SIGHHH~

『What if I just bought two new Ferraris instead? I could give this one to my sister's husband as a late wedding gift. It'd be several years late, sure, but I was young back then… didn't have the money.』

Emma's cherry lips became a smile as she stole a glance at the rearview mirror. Her eyes rested on Scott, who was sitting in the backseat, completely absorbed in his phone.

His face stayed calm and focused, giving no sign that he noticed the quick looks she kept sneaking his way.

『Mhm-mmm~ ♡… just sitting there like a piece of sweet chocolate. I wanna take a bite of his chocolate…』

Before she knew it, she was licking and biting her lower lip as if it were a succulent piece of chicken.

Emma's eyes stayed on him a little too long, and Scott quickly noticed.

His sharp eyes darted up to meet hers.

Immediately, her perverted grin disappeared and she jerked her attention back to the road, pretending like nothing had happened.

No one was buying that.

"Keep staring at me, and we're going to end up wrapped around a light pole…"

The young man stared at her with half-lidded eyes.

For someone with superspeed she could easily get caught.

『Then again, she has fast legs… not a fast brain…』

Scott shrugged and relaxed again.

Emma tightened her grip on the wheel and pouted.

"You're no fun. Any other guy would kill to be in your shoes right now—breathing the same air as me, basking in the glow of my pretty eyes and sensual lips!"

Scott snorted loudly.

"If anything, your eyes look crazy. Maybe lay off the staring before you give yourself whiplash, haha!"

Emma clicked her tongue sharply. "Tch! Bitch…"

"Huh?"

"N-, Nothing…"

"I thought so. Eyes. Road. NOW."

Scott pointed at his eyes, then at the road.

Emma grumbled stubbornly and continued driving.

He returned to his phone and scrolled through the System Market with a focused look.

His eyebrows pulled together as he skimmed past rows of stylish suits and high-tech upgrades.

… Hrmm

None of them felt good enough.

He needed something stronger than the ATAM-4, something that would make sure he came out on top against whoever… or whatever, might show up at the tech event.

He lifted his gaze briefly.

"I still don't get the point of this whole shopping trip. We could've just skipped all this, gone straight to that five-star hotel, and captured Elena. The nano tracker says she's there, probably burning through cash she made selling stolen weapons."

"Well, I…"

Emma sighed.

Her eyes were still firmly fixed on the road.

『I… I don't even know. As much as I want to help Nightwatch and get his teammate back, I also want to focus on myself. I want him to see how madly in love I am with him… but I really don't want to call it love. I can't bring myself to say that. It feels cheap and foolish. But then, can I really say that when I've never let myself fully enjoy being in a relationship with a man who actually understands me, someone who doesn't laugh at me when I talk about the ideologies of Golden Age heroes? But I can't exactly say that either…』

After a moment of silence, she spoke softly but firmly.

"Nightwatch… I'm not going to lie to you. I know this is selfish, but… I want to spend some time with you. Get to know you better. Maybe figure out if this thing between us has a future."

Her voice softened even more.

"But more than that… you're not the only hero in this car, okay? I've got questions of my own about Elena, and you know as well as I do that we're not the only ones chasing her. We both agree she's going to that tech event to steal something. So… who's to say—"

"Who's to say Black Mechanica isn't after the same tech?"

Scott cut in as he leaned forward in his seat.

Emma smiled at him in the mirror again.

"Bingo. From what you've pieced together, Black Mechanica likes to stack their tasks. They're not just going to take the tech—they're probably planning to kill you and Elena in one go while they're at it."

Scott finally put his phone down and crossed his legs as he mulled over her theory.

"That adds a new flavor to this mystery cake…"

A loud laugh burst from Emma to startle him.

"Pfft──oh my god, cornball."

Scott's eyebrows shot up. "Excuse me?"

Emma wiped at her eyes, trying to suppress more laughter.

"Sorry, sorry. It's just—that line? 'Adds a new flavor to this mystery cake'? Really? You sound like a third-rate detective in a bad TV show!"

She mimicked his tone with a dramatic flair as she tossed her hand in the air.

"That adds a new flavor to this mystery cake… PFFT!"

Scott rolled his eyes.

"Well, excuse me for trying to contribute. Next time, I'll keep my flavorful insights to myself."

Emma giggled again.

"Oh, don't stop now, Detective Mystery Cake. What's your next move? Stakeout? Dramatic trench coat?"

Scott shook his head and leaned back in the seat.

All he could do was sigh exasperatedly.

"You're insufferable."

"And you love it…"

"No, I don't."

"Yes, you do, tee-hee ♡!"

"…"

Emma noticed no response from Scott and looked back at him with a frown.

"What?" Scott lifted an eyebrow.

"This is the part where you say 'No, I don't' again so I can say the opposite, then we just keep going like that. It's a lovers' quarrel classic, dum dum."

"Hah, you're calling me dumb? That's rich."

"No, I'm rich…"

"Tch, showoff."

The two smiled at each other very briefly.

… RoooOOOOMMMM!!

The Ferrari roared forward and sliced through the empty highways under the vast expanse of the morning sky.

━ ━ ━ ━

Location: Falan City…

Emma pressed her foot hard on the accelerator, and the Ferrari's engine roared harder as it launched the car forward like a rocket.

The tires let out a loud screech as they gripped the smooth road.

As she sped through Falan City, it felt like a world away from Meteor City.

Everything here was spotless, shiny, and carefully planned.

The roads were perfectly smooth, with no cracks or imperfections. Even the air seemed fresher, almost sweet, like someone had made it as clean as possible.

Emma leaned back in the leather seat, her fingers effortlessly gliding over the steering wheel, a smug grin pulling at the corners of her lips.

"Mmm, can you feel that, Nightwatch-honey?"

She winked at him through the rearview mirror.

"This is how the other half lives. Just a little taste of the good life this world needs. Haahhhh~"

She felt so relaxed.

Scott, on the other hand, was less thrilled.

"Mhm. Just don't get too carried away with the driving. I'm not looking to enter another paradise in one day, yunno…"

"Don't worry sweetie. I've got the wheel under control. Besides, you're in the backseat of a Ferrari. Can't get much more comfortable than this."

"Gee… I wouldn't know…"

"Awww~ ♡ don't be like that, pookie!"

"Psshh──cornball…"

"Whatever makes you happy, hun."

"…"

With the silence restored, Scott returned to his phone.

He swiped through the System Market.

『Aha! There it is…』

His fingers paused briefly on a new item, and with a tap, a notification pinged in his ear.

[Congratulations! You've successfully purchased the Arcforge Omni-Fabricator. This hyper-advanced, autonomous fabrication unit can construct virtually any object or device with the right materials and schematics. Designed to work in synergy with your tech expertise, it enables rapid prototyping and production of advanced suits, weapons, and equipment for various situations.]

Scott blinked.

That was a lot.

His eyebrows furrowed as he sat up straighter and his startled eyes narrowed.

"Well… that's a hell of a purchase."

[Item successfully purchased. The Arcforge Omni-Fabricator has arrived. Transportation in progress…]

Just then, a sleek, silver metal suitcase materialized in the back seat next to Scott with a soft thump. It wasn't as heavy as it looked, but it still had a certain weight to it. The suitcase was high-tech, sharp-edged, almost clinical in its design!

Scott raised an eyebrow. "What the hell is this thing?"

Before he could react further, he noticed a small red button on the side.

『Hm? It's just a red button… can't be that bad… right?』

Curious, he pressed it.

The suitcase opened in front of him with smooth, mechanical movements.

… Zuuuuuu~!

Its panels and seams shifted and expanded, turning into something that looked like a teched-out mini-factory. It seemed to grow, spreading out and taking up nearly all the space in the car. The turning of gears and working of hydraulics sounded as the machine powered up.

『FUCK!』

Scott's eyes widened in shock.

His hands instinctively flew to the button to stop the process before it overwhelmed the car. He mashed it again, and the machine slowly collapsed back into its original suitcase form.

"Shit, that was too close…"

He exhaled with relief.

The suitcase was back to its compact size.

The System chimed in again, casual as ever.

[Your credit balance is now 30,000 credits. The Arcforge Omni-Fabricator is filled with countless pieces of information regarding your fighting styles, previously designed suits, and new additions. However, to unlock the full range of its capabilities, substantial amounts of credits are required.]

Scott scoffed. "Well, that's just fantastic."

His eyes lingered on the now-inert suitcase.

"I wonder how much I could sell this thing for…"

The System answered without hesitation.

[Estimated value: $15 billion.]

Scott blinked. "Shit!"

Emma, who had been absorbed in the thrill of the drive, looked over her shoulder at him.

"What's wrong, dear?"

"Uh, just… amazed by how beautiful this city is…"

Scott waved it off with a calm smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

Emma raised an eyebrow, not buying it, but she let it slide.

"Falan City, huh? This is my dream retirement city. You'll find a lot of rich heroes here, all with second lives… businesses, investments, you name it. It's peaceful. You can make a name for yourself here. Me? I'm planning to build a branch in France too."

"A branch of what?"

"My company."

Right after, Emma's smirked in the rearview mirror.

Scott tilted his head. "Wait, you have a company?"

Emma nodded nonchalantly, still smiling.

『Why does it feels so good when I talk to him about my personal laugh, kyaaaa~ ♡♡! I'm starting to feel like those girls on Bingeflix who get home from a long day at work and talk to their muscular, absolutely sexy househusband!』

She wanted to erupt with excitement… like a volcano.

"Yeah. Part of the whole secret identity thing. The Hero Agency lets us go public if we want, but if we want to stay low-key, we have to take on normal jobs or run businesses. It's just how it works. Miss Mercury's got money out the wazoo, but no one really knows where it comes from or where it goes. And as for me? Emma Graves is the CEO of Hermia."

"I see…"

That was all Scott could say in response.

Emma looked very disappointed.

『He really needs to work on his follow-ups. Imagine we have sex crazy monkey style and all he can say after is 'meh, it was aight…' I swear he's so dead, hmph!』

Truly, an ambitious woman.

She gently patted her chest.

"Ah-HEM! Enough of that… we're here."

They slowed to a stop in front of Silver Eagle Mall.

It wasn't just a shopping complex.

It was a huge, multi-level titan that seemed to stretch on forever. The giant building sparkled in the sunlight and its glass walls reflected the entire city around it. Platinum steel framed the exterior, and you could see the marble floors through the open atrium. The place was massive, almost like a small city rather than just a mall!

Scott didn't even know where to start.

"Uh, so… uh, what next?"

"Enough questions, Nightwatch. You've seen enough. Now let's go."

Before Scott could even react, Emma grabbed him by the wrist and the force of her tug made him stumble slightly as she pulled him forward.

The mall doors swung open, and Scott was instantly struck by how massive and grand the inside was.

It looked like something straight out of a dream!

The floors gleamed as if they'd been buffed to a perfect shine, and the ceiling was so high it almost felt like you could get lost in the space. There was a light floral scent in the air, but more than that, it was the sense of luxury and exclusivity that made Scott feel a little dizzy.

Emma paused for a moment and looked around at her wind-tousled hair.

"Urggh…"

She didn't like the way it looked.

She pulled a hairpin from her pocket to quickly and expertly redo her hair to perfection.

There was no rushing here.

By the time she tied her hair in a stylish, but undeniably sexy messy bun, she was ready.

Standing upright, Emma adjusted her posture, and without hesitation, she began to strut. The catwalk had nothing on her. Her every step was organic and confident as she moved toward a huge section of the mall: Hermia.

Scott blinked, trying to shake off his dazed state.

"Wait, is that… your section?"

Emma looked over her shoulder.

『I'm really not trying to show off. But honestly, telling anyone about my life kind of comes across that way, considering how much I have. I just want him to know everything about me so he can start calling me his girlfriend as soon as possible… I know it sounds desperate, but still…』

She hid the sadness on her pretty face.

"Yep. Hermia."

She waved a hand vaguely, as if it was no big deal, but the corner of her lips twitched upward in satisfaction.

"Silver Eagle Mall was built by a Golden Age superhero as future plans for his retirement. Silver Eagle? I don't think you'd know him. After hanging up the cape, his wife had the mall named in his honor. And thanks to my good friend Xenon, I was able to beg Silver Eagle to let me open a Hermia section here."

Scott nodded approvingly.

"Xenon, huh? He's an S-tier hero. I guess that guy really gets things done."

He folded his arms.

Emma simply nodded.

"You'd be surprised. Now, as for Hermia—it's primarily a cosmetics company, but last year, we branched out into fashion with a small but exclusive line I call Éclat by Hermia. We're not exactly rolling in cash just yet, but we're getting there."

Scott couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

"A fashion line? So, are you going to make the next big thing?"

Emma gave him a playful, sideways glance.

"I plan to. I'm going to collaborate with a few A-listers… some serious names in the industry."

Scott instantly guessed where this was going.

"Like… Bella Trevors?"

"Definitely not."

Emma's expression turned icy as she glared at him.

Scott burst into laughter.

"Oh, come on! You're telling me you wouldn't want Bella Trevors to wear a Éclat by Hermia mens' blazer with nothing under it? You'd have the whole world talking in minutes."

Emma's lips curled into a pout as her tender cheeks tinged with pink.

"That's not how things work in the fashion world, Nightwatch. Besides…"

She looked away, very stubborn.

"She'd never wear it anyway."

"Of course not."

Scott smirked.

"But seriously, if you want to make a splash, you need to put someone like Bella in that blazer. She's got the kind of influence that would make your sales skyrocket."

Emma looked away in sadness.

"Good to know."

Before Emma could react, Scott surprised her by suddenly wrapping his muscular arms around her. Her breath hitched as he leaned in, and she felt her cheek brush against his.

"Wh-, What's this for?"

She was trying so hard not to sound charmed.

Scott smiled as his hands instinctively fell to her waist.

"You look prettier when you're happy."

Her cheeks reddened even more, but before she could respond, she straightened herself up as her eyes became calm and composed again.

But deep down, she was screaming like a little child.

『KYAAAAAAA~ ♡♡! FUCKIN' YAAAAS!』

A really little child.

"Enough talk. Let's go."

And with that, she marched straight into the Hermia section.

Inside, it was nothing short of a paradise.

The sleek, glass shelves were filled with luxurious fragrances, high-end skincare products, and cosmetics so exquisite they seemed almost untouchable.

The clothing racks were designed with soft lighting to highlight their vibrant, luxurious fabrics as they stood in proud display.

Emma walked around like she owned the place… but this time, she did.

As she moved deeper into the section, Scott easily noticed the way every woman in corporate attire stood straighter and their eyes lowered in respect when they saw Emma. It was as if the entire section knew who she was, and each one greeted her with a polite, synchronized bow.

"Welcome, madam."

Scott glanced around, a little bemused.

Emma gave a small, satisfied nod as she headed toward the woman in charge of the section.

"Did you get the call?"

She sounded so professional it instantly made Scott realize that he'd actually met with Emma before.

『Yeaahh, back at School…』

The woman responded immediately. "It's ready."

Emma didn't waste time. She turned, and Scott, momentarily lost in the sea of luxury surrounding him, was about to follow her when one of the women stopped him.

"This way, sir…"

The woman was charmed by the handsome, young man standing before her. So much so that she couldn't even look him straight in the eyes.

Without even looking back, Emma spoke.

"Make eyes at my man, and you can friggin' kiss your jobs goodbye."

It came out so casually.

The women froze and immediately snapped their attention back to their work.

A few straightened up to look properly chastised.

Emma just smirked. "Now, let's get to it, shall we?"

Scott was led away, still chuckling under his breath.

As the women began bringing over different luxurious items for him to try on, he raised an eyebrow.

"What's all this? Do I really need all these fancy brands?"

Emma's chuckle echoed through the room.

"If you looked luxurious, you wouldn't need them."

She crossed her arms confidently.

Scott narrowed his eyes at her, only to receive a playful, cat-like smirk in response.

"Besides… you'll need to get my measurements first."

"Oh, I already sent them over about an hour ago."

Emma replied, whistling innocently.

Scott froze. "Wait, what?"

"Hmm, wonderful weather we're having…"

Emma looked at everything but him.

She checked her wristwatch then clapped slowly.

"Chop, chop, freshen him up."

Scott had no choice but to follow the women as they guided him to the changing room.

━ ━ ━ ━

The changing room door slowly creaked open, and a group of women hurried out like startled birds taking flight.

"His chest was so… broad…"

"And those arms──oh my God, those arms. What they'd do to me in bed, my goodness."

"He looks so good!"

Their faces were bright red, and their eyes darted around nervously, avoiding looking straight ahead. Their hands trembled as they awkwardly tried to shield their faces with how embarrassed they were.

… Mhm-mmm~ ♡!

… Tee-hee ♡♡!

Muffled giggles and soft, startled comments spread among them as they scattered in all directions, clearly flustered by whatever had just happened inside.

Emma raised an eyebrow.

The corner of her lips quirked upward, equal parts amused and annoyed.

"What's with all of you?"

Her eyes narrowed.

"Where is he?"

Before anyone could answer, the door swung open again.

Scott stepped out, and the world seemed to pause.

Emma's heart skipped so many beats it felt like it gave up entirely.

The man standing in front of her didn't look anything like the Scott who had wandered into the Hermia section earlier.

His messy hair was now neatly styled into a sharp taper cut that suited his face perfectly.

He wore a luxurious navy-blue blazer paired with matching suit pants, making him look effortlessly sophisticated. A black turtleneck underneath added a subtle but commanding touch to the outfit. His polished black shoes reflected the soft store lighting, and the teashades sunglasses resting on his nose added to his confident charm.

『Hrmm, I look like a playboy…』

Scott adjusted the sleek TV-TW smartwatch on his wrist.

Then, he turned his head to face Emma.

"So? How do I look?"

Emma's mouth opened slightly, but no words came out.

Her eyes was glued to him, wide-eyed and unblinking.

She tried to compose herself, but her body said NO.

One tiny drop of blood escaped her nose.

The room erupted into chaos as the women gasped and hurriedly reached for tissues.

"Madam! Are you okay?"

"Oh no, someone call a doctor!"

Emma waved them off, trying to act nonchalant, but her trembling hands and flushed face sold her out.

"I-, I'm fine!"

She stammered, but her voice cracked, and she quickly clamped her mouth shut.

Unfazed by the commotion, Scott approached her calmly.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a crisp white kerchief. Without saying a word, he gently pressed it against her nose and tilted her head back slightly to stop the bleeding.

Emma's breath hitched.

『This… this can't be real. This isn't real life. Someone pinch me. KYAAAAA~ ♡♡!』

She was getting to excited.

『Grab my neck! Grab my neck! GRAB MY NECK AND CALL ME YOUR DIRTY PIECE OF VEGETABLE!』

Her thoughts were chaotic, but outwardly, she stood frozen with her eyes locked onto his impossibly gorgeous face.

"You sure you're okay?"

Scott asked softly, feeling very concerned.

Emma nodded slowly, unable to tear her eyes away from him. She needed a distraction—something, anything to break her focus before she completely lost it.

"Let's go!"

She grabbed his wrist and dragged him out of the Hermia section.

"Where are we going now?"

"You'll see!"

━ ━ ━ ━

The Automotive Gallery…

It was a spectacle of sleek curves, shining exteriors, and roaring engines. Every car parked under the gallery's ambient lighting looked like a masterpiece that was just begging to be driven.

Emma gestured at the lineup like a queen presenting her treasure hoard.

"Pick one…"

Scott scratched the back of his neck.

"What do you mean, pick one?"

"I mean pick one…"

Emma folded her arms and stared at him like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Scott hesitated.

"Come on, there's no need for that. We've already got your Ferrari parked outside."

Emma arched an eyebrow.

"Yeah, that's mine. You need one too."

Scott laughed awkwardly. "Emma, I'm not exactly drowning in cash here. I can't just—"

"Fine."

She cut him off with an exaggerated sigh.

"If you won't pick one, I will."

She spun on her heel and pointed at a sleek, midnight-black Nissan GT-R with red accents and a low, aerodynamic build.

Its sharp design screamed speed and power.

It looked menacingly beautiful!

"That one…"

Emma decided.

Scott's eyes lit up like a kid in a candy store.

His composure slipped for a split second, but it was enough for Emma to catch.

"You like it?"

"I-, It's alright, I guess."

Scott immediately straightened up with a plain face.

Emma laughed knowingly. "Sure it is."

---

Some minutes ago…

The moment Scott went into the changing room, Emma took out her phone and messaged Marcus.

[Emma: Markie, what's your dream car? ヾ(＾∇＾)]

[Marcus: Auntie? You wanna buy me a car already? Oh dang, that's so awesome!]

[Emma: Uh, sure, now talk…]

[Marcus: Well, there's this super cool, new GT-R… but it's super expensive and I don't know if you'd even wanna buy it 👉👈]

[Marcus: Auntie?]

[Marcus: Auntie?]

---

Next destination, Black Industries' tech event!