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

Chapter 275: Sneaky

They had spent the day enjoying each other’s company. They played games, reminisced about old memories, talked about what the future might hold, ordered pizza for lunch, and, naturally, stole every chance they got to flirt.

Now, they sat together on the floor before the floor-to-ceiling window, the sprawling city stretching beneath them in a sea of glittering buildings.

Kyle held Amanda close in his arms as they basked in the comfortable silence.

After a while, he quietly asked, "How are things back home?"

"Everything’s good. Gramps left yesterday, and Dad’s out of town." Amanda replied lazily, her voice carrying the drowsy softness of someone worn out after an eventful day.

"Is that so? What happened all of a sudden? I thought he was planning to stay for a while."

"Hmm... something came up back home. It’s about Melissa."

The faint gloom in her voice immediately caught Kyle’s attention.

"Is everything alright? Should we go check on her?" he asked, concern tightening his expression.

"No, it’s fine." Amanda gave a small shake of her head. "I talked to her. I even told her I could come over, but she said everything’s manageable for the time being."

A brief silence followed before she added,

"Actually... she was approached by people from the Central Ministry."

"Eh?" Kyle blinked in surprise. "That’s what’s causing all this? I thought it would be her father again."

He still remembered Amanda describing the man as greedy to the core and willing to exploit anyone, even his own daughter, for personal gain.

"You wouldn’t be wrong," Amanda replied with a weary sigh, the displeasure evident in her voice. "I’m almost certain he had a hand in this. He must’ve told the Central Ministry that Melissa was the lead engineer behind the tools that helped the central authority back then. Since Gramps made it impossible for him to pressure her himself, he simply found someone else to do it."

"Someone even your grandpa might not be able to refuse," Kyle finished, his expression turning grim.

Amanda gave a faint nod.

"He can lean on his old connections and whatever influence he still has as the former head... but I don’t think that’ll be enough forever."

"What about your father?" Kyle asked. "With his position, those officials should think twice before pushing too hard."

"They would," Amanda admitted. "But Gramps specifically warned Dad not to involve Maylith’s name in this matter. I don’t know why, though."

Kyle fell silent for a moment before offering a possibility.

"Maybe it’s because Uncle Hades isn’t her legal guardian. If things escalate, the person who actually is could oppose him."

Amanda slowly nodded in agreement.

"I think so too." Amanda let out a quiet sigh. "As long as Uncle keeps holding authority over Milli, she’ll always be at a disadvantage."

Frustration lingered beneath her words. She hated feeling so powerless when someone she cared about was being cornered.

Kyle gently intertwined his fingers with hers and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.

"Don’t worry," he whispered. "Everything will work out. And if it doesn’t... I’ll just go and abduct her."

Amanda let out a soft laugh.

"Can you even do that? Kidnapping someone?"

Kyle snickered.

"You underestimate me. I can be surprisingly sneaky."

Amanda gave a thoughtful hum and turned toward him, intending to tease him again.

Before she could say a word, Kyle leaned in and stole a quick kiss.

She blinked in surprise.

Kyle grinned.

"See? Pretty sneaky, aren’t I?"

Amanda narrowed her eyes before looping her arms around his neck.

"Is that so?" A playful smile tugged at her lips. "Well, I don’t like being sneaky. I’m more of an aggressive player, remember?"

Kyle chuckled.

"Well then, how exac..."

His words vanished as Amanda suddenly captured his lips.

The unexpected kiss struck with bold confidence, sending a pleasant shiver racing down his spine.

Kyle smiled against her lips before slipping a hand behind her neck, gently drawing her closer as the kiss deepened.

Neither of them was willing to be the first to pull away.

The playful challenge dissolved into quiet affection as the room fell silent around them.

Moments later, they disappeared from the spot by the window, leaving behind only the scattered clothes on the floor.

.....

Ding. Dong.

The sound of the doorbell caught Veronica by surprise. She hadn’t been expecting any visitors.

Besides, Kyle was spending the day with Amanda, so there was no chance he had come over to surprise her.

She walked to the door and opened it, only to find a familiar face waiting outside.

"Timothy?" A hint of surprise crossed her face before she smiled politely. "Come in."

Her invitation seemed to make the man even more nervous.

"Umm... I apologize for intruding, ma’am."

"It’s fine," Veronica replied with a gentle shake of her head. "I wasn’t doing anything anyway."

She gestured toward the living room.

"Have a seat. I’ll bring you something to drink."

"Ah, no, I’m fine." Timothy quickly declined, remaining where he stood instead of sitting. "I just came to check on you."

Veronica let out a quiet hum as she looked at him.

So he was worried about her after everything that had happened.

Since she couldn’t exactly behave like someone suffering from trauma, she decided to give a measured response instead.

"It’s... pretty messy up here," she admitted, lightly tapping a finger against her temple. "But it’s only my thoughts. I know I’ll be able to sort them out."

Timothy let out a quiet sigh.

"Please don’t take it lightly, ma’am. Mental health can be the deciding factor in a battle."

Veronica nodded in understanding.

"I know. Don’t worry, I have an appointment with a psychologist tomorrow."

Relief flickered across Timothy’s face.

"I’m glad to hear that."

After a brief silence, he reached into his folder and pulled out a document.

"Commander... this is the official promotion letter. I need your signature."

Veronica glanced at the papers before letting out a faint sigh.

"Ethan’s?"

Timothy nodded.

"He cleared every evaluation flawlessly. Keeping him in Second Grade any longer would feel unjustified."

"I see."

She accepted the document.

As unbelievable as his growth had been in such a short time, there was no reasonable justification for delaying his promotion any further.

’Hopefully, he had matured mentally as well... and would stop prying into Kyle’s life.’