Starting With an SSS-Rank Goddess Summon!

Chapter 403: Grounded [Bonus Chapter]

She stumbled two paces, her boots skidding across the quartz floorboards as her hand ripped away from the glass.

"Haah... Haah... Haah..."

Her chest heaved rapidly, her breath coming in shallow gasps as beads of cold sweat broke out across her forehead.

Silas was at her side in an instant.

His large hand caught her by the shoulder with his grip firm as his golden-ringed blue eyes scanned her face with deep genuine concern. "Harper! Are you alright? What happened?"

Harper rested her trembling hand against Silas’s broad chest, taking several deep breaths of the cool room air.

Slowly, the shock faded from her eyes, replaced by a breathless triumphant grin that stretched from ear to ear.

"I’m fine... I’m more than fine," Harper laughed breathlessly, looking up into his eyes before turning her gaze back to the golden Khopesh with pure awe. "Holy hell... that was just a single pulse. Silas... this weapon is the real deal."

Silas let out a relieved breath, his lips curving into a satisfied smile as he patted her shoulder.

"Good."

With the verification complete, Silas stepped over to the pedestals holding his acquisitions.

He looked at the exquisite emerald pendant of The Tear of the Slumbering World, imagining the gentle radiant smile Eluned would wear when he presented it to her in the house.

He looked at the golden Scepter of the Dune-Sovereign, knowing how much Kadi’s eyes would light up when she held the powerful weapon in her hands.

’Haah...’

He looked at the massive crate holding the eight tons of Astral Void-Titanium Alloy and the long racks containing the seventy matching sets of Frost-Drake Carapace Bucklers and Short-Spears that would go to the others.

’Thora is going to have a field day with this...’

And finally, he looked at The Tide-Bringer of the Leviathan’s Wake which was the massive curved pirate saber Harper had bought for him.

’I know this has a connection with Morwenna.’

Silas smiled.

"Alright, time to go into the Inventory..."

SHING! SHING! SHING!

With a series of soft blue flashes, Silas channeled his Lord Core, smoothly drawing all five massive lots directly into his Lord Inventory.

Beside him, Harper tapped her spatial ring, drawing The Twin Phantoms of the Mist and the massive containment case of The Per-aa’s Judgment into her storage with a happy hum.

Seraphina gracefully stepped up to her pedestals.

With a delicate wave of her manicured hand, she swept the glowing chimera beast will and the ancient phoenix-ash crucible into her family storage ring.

However, Seraphina did not store the velvet case holding the Ancient Void-Chrysolite Jewelry.

The crimson-haired heiress delicately lifted the heavy obsidian necklace from its velvet cushion.

The dark polished void-metal chain gleamed with a deep, mesmerizing luster as the central black gem thrummed with a soothing mana-acceleration current.

Seraphina turned around, taking slow, graceful steps until she stood directly in front of Silas.

Silas looked down at her, raising an eyebrow in mild curiosity.

Seraphina raised both of her slender arms, her fingers holding the dark necklace open.

A vibrant burning crimson blush swept up her porcelain neck, painting her cheeks and the delicate tips of her ears in brilliant red.

She looked down at the collar of his shirt, her long eyelashes fluttering as she carefully draped the heavy obsidian chain around Silas’s neck, fastening the silver clasp behind his dark hair.

The cool void-metal settled comfortably against Silas’s collarbone, immediately sending a pleasant refreshing pulse of mana recovery circulating through his core.

Seraphina reached out with both hands, gently smoothing down the dark fabric over his broad shoulders.

Her melodic voice dropped into a tiny high-pitched squeak that was barely audible in the quiet room.

"It... it suits you," Seraphina mumbled, her face burning as she stubbornly looked at his top shirt button rather than meeting his eyes. "Consider it... an official non-negotiable spousal tribute from House Bloom. It is a tangible symbol of... of how much I have come to like you. You are forbidden from removing it."

Silas looked down at the flustered adorable noblewoman standing before him.

A gentle warm smile spread across his rugged face.

He reached up, lightly resting his fingers over the cool black gemstone, before looking directly into her trembling crimson eyes.

"Thank you, Seraphina," Silas said softly. "I really like it. I won’t take it off."

Seraphina’s breath caught in her throat.

Seeing his warm genuine smile sent her heart doing violent, chaotic somersaults inside her chest.

Her blush intensified to a nuclear level with steam practically rising from her ears as she quickly turned her back to him, coughing into her silk handkerchief to regain her noble composure.

Harper walked over, linking her arm playfully through Silas’s other side with a wide radiant grin.

"Well, squad," Harper beamed, stretching her arms above her head with a contented sigh. "We bought half an underground market... Phase Five is officially complete. Why don’t we finally head home?"

Silas chuckled, feeling the weight of the long unforgettable day finally settling into his bones.

"Home sounds fantastic."

Standing near the exit doors, Reginald quietly lowered his book.

As he looked across the room at his young lady blushing furiously beside the towering young Lord, a rare respectful smirk touched the corner of the old assassin’s lips.

’A common-born who commands strength, possesses unshakable composure, and treats my Lady with genuine warmth...’ Reginald thought, closing the book and bowing smoothly. ’I think Silas Graves is a truly exceptional match for my Lady.’

...

The purr of the custom midnight-purple sports coupe settled into an idle sound along the quiet curb of the modest residential street in Silverleaf District.

The velvet cloak embroidered with the Whitmore crest and the obsidian crow mask had already been stowed securely away in Harper’s Lord Inventory.

"Haah..."

Silas stood on the pavement in his familiar comfortable clothes feeling the cool crisp late-night breeze against his skin.

"What a night..."

The heavy void-chrysolite necklace Seraphina had gifted him still rested cool against his collarbone beneath his collar.

Around thirty minutes earlier, when they had finally ascended from the depths of the Obsidian Sanhedrin into the upper tiers of Valoria City, Seraphina and Reginald had parted ways with them.

The Bloom family limousine had arrived remotely, and with a flustered glance and a strict reminder that Silas was "mandated" to wear her tribute, Seraphina had glided into her vehicle under Reginald’s watchful escort.

That left just the two of them.

The scissor-door of the sports coupe hissed open, and Harper stepped out onto the sidewalk beside him.

The golden glow of a nearby streetlamp caught the vibrant violet strands of her hair, casting soft shadows across her radiant flushed face.

She walked up to him with hands tucked behind her back, rocking lightly on the heels of her boots with a playful teasing smile that practically sparked with energy.

"You know, Silas..." Harper purred, tilting her head up to meet his blue eyes. "While we were at the restaurant earlier, my little sister texted me complaining that she was bored and practically begged to sleep over at your place with Lia. Which got me thinking... what if I invited myself inside and slept over tonight, too?"

Silas couldn’t help but raise an amused deadpan eyebrow at the purple-haired Lightning Lord.

"Can you really afford to play hooky and crash on my couch right now?" Silas asked dryly with a smirk tugging at his lips. "You literally just dropped one hundred and fifty billion Spirit Credits on an ancient Khopesh... Aren’t your Business partners waiting for you to deliver the weapon or so?"

Even now, just saying the number out loud made Silas flinch internally.

One hundred and fifty billion.

It was a sum so mind-bogglingly astronomical that it felt completely surreal to him.

’I need to make more money...’

Harper let out an exaggerated dramatic sigh, rolling her shoulders and shrugging in defeat.

"Ugh, don’t remind me," Harper groaned, though a proud victorious smirk lingered at the corners of her lips. "You’re right, unfortunately... The moment the blast doors opened, my phone was bombarded with thirty-seven high-priority pings from the board. If I don’t report to the primary research bunker within the hour to oversee the initial calibration, my people are going to have a collective heart attack."

Harper reached out, her slender fingers slipping smoothly into Silas’s large, calloused hand.

She squeezed his fingers firmly, her glowing violet eyes looking directly into his with an open warmth.

"Still... business aside, tonight was incredible," Harper murmured softly, her thumb tracing the rough skin along the back of his hand. "This was genuinely the best date I’ve ever had in my life, Silas. My first real one, too..."

Silas looked down at the fierce energetic Lord who had spent the entire afternoon to evening alternating between tearing down arcade records, threatening high-society snobs, and showering him in unimaginable fortunes just to see him smile.

’Haah...’

His rugged features softened, and he gave her hand a gentle reassuring squeeze in return.

"I’m really glad," Silas said. "I’m honored that I could be the one to give you your first and favorite date, Harper."

Harper’s face lit up, a rosy blush blooming across her cheeks.

She took a half-step closer, closing the distance between them until the sweet scent of her perfume rolled over Silas’s senses.

"You better remember that, handsome," Harper whispered, her eyes dancing with bold mischief. "Because the next time I have a free evening, I’m claiming you all over again. We’re going on another date."

Silas chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck with his free hand.

"Well, you might have to wait in line for that one. Once I wrap things up here, I’m heading back into the Sovereign Realm for quite a while. My territory needs heavy construction work, especially with all the raw titanium and battalion gear we just secured."

Harper immediately puffed out her cheeks, letting out a cute exaggerated pout.

"Hey! Don’t you dare go vanishing into the Sovereign Realm for a month and leave me hanging!" Harper whined.

Before Silas could offer a reply, Harper suddenly leaned forward, rising gracefully onto her tiptoes.

She caught the lapels of his shirt, pulled his broad frame down, and pressed her soft warm lips firmly against his.

SMACK!

Silas’s eyes widened for a fraction of a second before he naturally leaned into the embrace with his large arms wrapping comfortably around her slender waist.

The kiss started eager and electric, her lips moving against his with breathless intensity.

But as Silas parted his lips, Harper boldly deepened the contact, seeking his tongue with hers.

SMACK... SLIDE!

It was hot, passionate, and slightly clumsy... it was instantly obvious that for all of her loud, confident flirting and bold posturing, the formidable Lightning Lord had very little actual kissing experience.

She was enthusiastic and adorably unrefined with her tongue tangling with his as she leaned her entire body weight against his chest.

SMACK!

"Mmmph~"

After several lingering toe-curling seconds, Harper broke the kiss, pulling back with a sharp gasp for air.

Her violet eyes were completely dilated, her face flushed a brilliant burning crimson that reached all the way to the tips of her ears.

She looked up at Silas with wide dazed eyes, her chest heaving as she frantically wiped her swollen lips with the back of her sleeve.

"I—I have to go!" Harper stammered hastily, her voice cracking in flustered panic. "The council is waiting! Goodbye, Silas!"

Without waiting for a response, the elite Lord practically scrambled backward, dove into the driver’s seat of her sports coupe, and slammed the scissor-door shut.

ROOOOAAAR!

The mana engine screamed to life, and with a sudden screeching chirp of tires, the purple vehicle launched forward like a guided missile, vanishing down the boulevard in a blur of neon exhaust.

Silas stood on the empty sidewalk for a long moment, touching his lips with his fingers where the lingering taste of Harper’s mouth still tingled.

A slow amused chuckle rumbled in his chest.

"Crazy girl," Silas muttered affectionately.

Shaking his head, Silas turned around, walked up the short concrete pathway to the front gate of his apartment, and opened it.

He stepped through, latching the gate securely behind him, and walked up the three porch steps to the front door.

He touched the door.

CREAK!

The warm scent of food immediately greeted him from the hallway but before Silas could even take off his boots, he froze dead in his tracks.

Standing dead center in the hallway, blocking the path with her arms crossed tightly over her chest and her weight shifted onto one hip, was Lia.

The young girl tapped her slippered foot against the wooden floorboard and her sharp eyes narrowed into two deadly slits as she glared up at her towering older brother with pure, unadulterated suspicion.

"Well, well, well," Lia began. "Look who finally decided to grace us with his presence. We haven’t seen a single hair on your head since yesterday afternoon, Big Bro."

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