Lisha Joining The Group

 Currently, the adventurers inside the Adventure Guild building all have the same expression, complete shock. That includes Lisha, who no doubt knew she was the reason for the rejection. She was about to ask Ryker to reconsider when the Vice-Leader nodded.

 "Understandable, in that case, what time are you free?" the shock that everyone in the room had intensified. While the Vice-Leader is not a control freak, he would still try to reason with the person to reconsider, not give them a face and let them choose the meeting time.

 Ryker put his hand under his chin, "Tomorrow morning sounds good," he decided, the Vice-Leader nodding at him. 

 "In that case, you don't mind if I borrow your receptionist for the day?" he asked, the Vice-Leader shaking his head.

 "I don't mind, there are other people who could do her job for the day," he replied.

 "Thank you," Ryker said before dragging Lisha outside. Only when the door of the building was closed that the people inside realize what happened was not a dream.

 "Did that brat just reject the Vice-Leader?"

 "Idiot! Don't say it like that! But still, to actually refuse his invitation for a quick talk, for what? A receptionist at the Genesis Formation realm!?"

 "That receptionist sure is lucky. What would I pay to have someone at that level as my love interest,"

 "Haha, they won't even look at you, you old hag,"

 "Why you, at least I didn't look like a dog excrement that was just stepped on,"

 While the adventurers were chattering, the Vice-Leader quickly went inside his office. Beside him, one of his more trusted men looked at him with frustration, "Sir, that brat just ignored you! You should send me so I could teach him a lesson,"

 His suggestion was met by silence, before it turned into full-blown laughter, "Y-you, that boy will kill you with a single slap," the Vice-Leader said between his wheezing.

 "He was just someone at the 1st Stage Genesis Core while I already reached the peak, and will only need some more resources before I became a Genesis Source expert," the man replied, unconvinced by the Vice-Leader's word.

 Hearing his reasoning, the Vice-Leader gave the man a stare, making him gulp as he felt he did something wrong, "That boy was able to kill a Genesis Source expert, at the 6th Stage, all on his own, without any help.

 If you don't believe me, here is the recording given by the Baron, who wanted to make sure that every Genesis Source expert in the city knew the last Genesis Source expert of the city and the one who allowed the tide to shift during the war.

 Heed my advice, do not antagonize that child or you will die, and even I can't avenge you, especially with how strong he actually is," hearing all of Ryker's accomplishments made the men gulp. 

 After all, he couldn't even hope to achieve what the Vice-Leader just described. He decided to put the benefit of the doubt and see if he was actually as strong as the Vice-Leader said. If he was, then he would have to accept such a thing.

-x-

 Lisha and Ryker are currently inside a cafe, where the two have ordered a drink called 'coffee'. From what he knew, the drink was bitter which was surprising as many people ordered coffee too.

 He did hope they exaggerated the bitterness as he had something of a sweet tooth. As he thought about it, his drinks arrived, as black as the night itself. He quickly took a sip, wondering if it was as bitter as they said.

 The moment his tongue tasted the concoction, his eyes dilated as he tried to come to his senses from just how bitter the drink was. It took all his willpower to not spit the drink out, but it was a very close fight.

 He looked at Lisha, who was able to drink the coffee despite ordering the same thing as he did. In the end, he decided to face the challenge head-on, even if it meant he had to sacrifice his tongue in the process.

-x-

 Thankfully, he ordered some cakes for the snack, or desserts as the people called it. He wondered where all the new things and terms came from. Most likely from some of the more powerful empires that have the time and resources to focus on the improvement of their citizens' well-being plus lifestyle, at least from the book he read.

 Even the books and novels were spread from the high-tier empire to the weaker power. Which made him wonder, how powerful they truly are to be able to maintain their power while at the same time, introducing new and novel things to the world.

 He then looked at his cakes and frowned. Apparently, during his little thought session, Lisha took the chance to steal his cakes. An unforgivable crime. Unfortunately, the woman had ordered a coffee cake.

 He had already tasted a coffee drink, he wouldn't make the same mistake of eating a coffee cake. He decided to just eat his cakes, the sweetness helped him remove the bitterness of coffee. He looked at Lisha, who ate 'his' cake. Oh, how he would punish her in the future, preferably in the night and on his bed.

 After all, the knockers she had is comparable to both Era and Miriam and a lot bigger than Ina's, Mashia's, or Shuri's, all of which are more in the slender category. Besides that, she also had a similar hair color to Ina, a light brown, different from the rest of his lovers (Era and Mashia) blonde or Mashia and Shuri's more exotic hair color, blue and white respectively.

 He then looked at her, who gave him a teasing look. Oh, he would punish her, and it would be glorious.

-x-

 After touring the city, from going to some of the more famous parks, to shopping in the Market District, the time he spent with Lisha was enjoyable. Even if the receptionist decided to not join him, it would still be a pleasant memory.

 "I like this date of ours," the young woman said, her voice tinged with happiness. 

 "The feelings mutual," he replied, receiving a smile from her.

 A silent state followed after, neither party making any move to speak, at least until Ryker decided to ask, "Do you want to fo-" "Yes,"

 The quick reply caught him off guard, something she noticed and likely planned for, "I became a receptionist because I couldn't handle adventuring all alone, with no friends. When I got strong enough, I decided to settle down.

 When you came, I thought I could get to know a powerful expert, maybe riding on your coattail. It was later when the girls talked about you that I developed a crush, you could say that, on you. It slowly turned into something more during the time we spent, so I will gladly join you,"