Chapter 87: The Whiskey-Drinking Nun

After completing the mission, Zhang Fan wondered if there would be another chance to see Meiya. Perhaps the likelihood was slim, but he decided to leave it to fate.

"I may not know how you uncovered my identity, but this isn't over," Jeanne declared to Zhang Fan before departing, her gaze intense and words laden with significance.

"Of course it isn't over. Next time we meet, I might have to arrest you, 'Demon Sword'," Zhang Fan replied with a faint smile. Jeanne, seemingly aloof but actually quite naïve, was someone he couldn't just let go.

"I'll be waiting for that day," Jeanne said, turning to leave. Following her, Kats and Hilda also exited the room, their glances at Zhang Fan carrying distinctly different undertones of meaning.

Now, only Zhang Fan and Meiya were left in the room, along with the still unconscious, tragic figure of the bald, portly man. With the criminal evidence in hand, their mission was essentially complete.

After leaving the criminal organization's headquarters and rendezvousing with Reiki, the trio handed over the evidence to the Roman martial detectives. The arduous task of dismantling the criminal group was left to the police.

"Let me reiterate, I don't agree with sparing those vile creatures!" Meiya said, her voice softening, though her dissatisfaction with Zhang Fan sparing Jeanne and Kats was evident. Her gentle reproach felt even more unbearable to Zhang Fan, akin to a remorseful husband in a melodramatic romance.

"Senior Meiya, I don't understand your hostility towards them. They're just girls who couldn't choose their parents or race. Think about it – if you were born a vampire, what choices would you have made?" Zhang Fan pressed, stirring a moment of introspection in Meiya.

Seeing Meiya lost in thought, Zhang Fan shrugged helplessly. Religious doctrines were indeed troublesome, and Meiya seemed deeply indoctrinated. He decided to let her ponder on her own, though he admitted his viewpoint might have been rash. After all, Kats was a witch, Hilda a vampire – indisputable facts. His leniency was primarily due to Jeanne, a confession he couldn't make.

"The mission was completed swiftly; we'll be heading back soon," Zhang Fan said, turning to Reiki who silently followed with a Dragunov SVD sniper rifle. Her seemingly minimal effort during the mission had been of immense help, offering him significant peace of mind.

"I want a thirty percent share," Reiki suddenly brought up the topic of their earnings. Hadn't they agreed to split everything equally before?

"Based on our efforts, I deserve thirty percent," she added, seeing Zhang Fan's puzzled look.

"Hold on, we never discussed dividing based on effort," Zhang Fan retorted, baffled by the whims of a girl with a 'three-no' personality.

"It's settled then," Reiki declared, a dictatorial yet advantageously positioned girl. Zhang Fan couldn't help feeling irked despite the benefit.

"Ah? Senior Meiya, what are you doing?" Zhang Fan was suddenly taken aback as Meiya pulled out several bottles of whiskey from the cabinet and began to drink directly from the bottles. Wild Turkey whiskey, high in alcohol content – surely this wasn't good for her health?

"Apologies for the unsightly behavior. As a superpower user, I must replenish certain substances after battles to avoid death. Sugar, protein, vitamins... each person's needs vary, and I need alcohol," Meiya explained, her cheeks flushed, either from the alcohol or embarrassment.

Despite feeling ashamed for Zhang Fan witnessing her in such a state, Meiya reached for another bottle of whiskey and drank heartily.

"So, that's how it is," Zhang Fan remarked, accepting this as a method of recharging magical powers, albeit an unusual one.

"Won't drinking too much harm you?"

"No worries, I can't get drunk no matter how much I drink," Meiya reassured, appreciating his concern – a rare experience for her. But these thoughts about a boy...

No, she must be drunk, she reasoned, deciding to indulge in her inebriation.

Two days later, Zhang Fan and Reiki boarded their flight home, mission accomplished and rewards secured. He pondered the slight regret of not seeing certain faces again, gazing at the buildings growing distant.

"Zhang Fan, you're back! Did the mission go smoothly? You promised to take Riko to the amusement park, right?" The next day, back at the Tokyo martial detective school, Riko greeted him with a smile, reminding him of their amusement park plans. It had been years since he'd visited such a place, but it seemed like a good way to unwind.