Date With Catherine

 "Thank you for stopping the worm for a short time. As a gift please take this pill," after gifting them the pill, Ryker flew away, in him is still the body of the worm beast. 

 It took them sometime before they realize what happen. When they plan to chase after the other man, he already ran, with the body of the worm. They tried to look after him but failed to do so, causing the to feel regret. 

 After all, it is still a beast at the Noble realm and it's bodies can be turned to materials for other things. However, when they thought of confronting the men, they froze again. Against such monsters, what could they even do except preparing the chopping block for their head, something they did not want.

 "Let's stop here and report this to the higher-ups," the leader of the princes group said. The member of the Lugh Family looked at the direction of their target in dismay before nodding. After seeing him killing the Noble Realm worm beast, they knew this task is something out of their league.

-x-

 "Looks like it is a good thing to have you do it," the Branch Leader remarked, his Soul Sense inspecting the carcass of the worm beast.

 "As long as it is not to strong or have any weird abilities, then it would still be something I can handle," Ryker said with confidence.

 "Understood," the older man said with a hint of mirth. "Do you want to take another emission?" he asked.

 "Is it hard or is it just some pseudo-Spirit Beast?" his question caused the older man to have a strained smile, telling him of the strength of the creatures he had to face if he accepted it.

 "Tell me if you find other powerful beast and I might consider it," with his expenses being taken care of by Lariz, and he still has a lot of cultivation resources given to him by Sophia, not to mention the one given to him by the three Sovereign. The one thing he did not lack at the moment is money, or at least the thing he will spend it all on.

 "Alright, you can go now. Catherine, you can also leave if you want to," the Branch Leader exclaimed before making a shooing motion. The black-haired woman looked at the older man in surprise before finding herself outside the office.

 "Looks like you get the day off," Ryker said, the advisor merely looked at him a blank stare, unamuse.

 "What should I do then? After all, it is so sudden," she complained. Ryker decided to help the woman with it when he thought of something.

 "Do you want to go on a date with me?"

-x-

 "I still surprise you agree so easily," Ryker said, as the two sat, waiting for their meals to be done.

 "You the one that asked," she retorted.

 "And I said it again, I am surprise you agree to it. Unless," he said with a teasing tone, "you have feelings for me," the black-haired woman turned her head away, trying to hide her red cheek from being seen by him.

 Unfortunately, her attempt is futile, as he can tell easily that his advisor in Birak City is embarrassed.

 "Don't worry about it, didn't I tell you of my lovers already?" continued, causing Catherine to turn her head so fast Ryker fear she will get whiplash.

 "Looks like I don't, huh," by the annoyed look, the answer is yes.

-x-

 "So, you have a lot of lovers, and all of them agreed to share you," Catherine summarized as the two eat their meals. Ryker nodded while using his Soul Sense as discretely as possible.

 With her being weaker than him, she was unable to detect what he was doing, which is trying to make the one that try to tail them suffer.

 While a little Soul Strike will not kill them, it will cause severe headache, causing their current stalker from being unable to follow them anymore. He could tell they are a part of Catherine's fan club, judging by the glare they gave him.

 He decide to just knock them out, unless they did something stupid.

 "Hey, yo-" Ryker grabbed the man by his face and squeeze. The burlier man tried t grab his head but Ryker tightened grip make it hard to so, forcing the man to grab his hands and try to get him to let go, with no success.

 "Don't bother me anymore I will make sure you will never be able to cultivate," a sliver of his Soul strike the man, causing him to wail as Ryker let him go.

 He looked at Catherine and asked her, "Do you want to go somewhere else?"

-x-

 The two walked awkwardly as they head to a spot the advisor said to be secluded. However, apart from that brief moment, they did not speak, instead remained in a state of silent, with Ryker following her.

 When they reach a park, Catherine keep on walking, easily navigating through the large area without getting lost. Thankfully, while he did not know the park like the back of his head, his Soul Sense allow him to detect the woman and able to maintain the distance.

 As they walked, they reach a tranquil looking pond, surrounded by trees. Considering how they have to navigate through the trees with no road, there is no surprise no one else find this place.

 Catherine took a seat on a bench, before motioning to him to take a seat next to her. Ryker nodded as he did so, before the advisor leaned on him, her head on his chest.

 "Thanks for dealing with that man for me," she said, her voice have a tinge of exhaustion. "They are annoyance that keep making it hard for me to work. If I take any break, unless I planned it well, they will always find me. 

 I am not sure how, but it nearly drove me insane. And I cannot just beat them up, I am a receptionist and some of them are stronger than me, and would be able to do unspeakable things if I touch him, especially Petro.

 So, thank you for dealing with them," Ryker has his arms wrapped around her, his hand patting her head as the advisor let out a tired sigh, her eyes closing as she begin to drift to sleep.

 Ryker watched the sleeping woman before carrying her in his arms, bridal style. He sent a message to the others, telling them he would be back much later.

 After all, what kind of man left a woman asleep outside?