Chapter 307: Blazing Flames of the Battlefield[R-18] (25)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 307: Blazing Flames of the Battlefield[R-18] (25)
A week has passed since I safely returned to Earth with the 3rd Fleet, led by Admiral Eisenhardt.
During that time, Adele Licencia and I were summoned to the Earth Federation Command.
The collapse of the Elbite Colony. And the existence of OBSIDIAN. These were matters they couldn't simply overlook.
As soon as we left the command center, Adele pressed a hand to her forehead and grumbled.
“Ugh… what a bunch of annoying people.”
The corners of her lips were turned down slightly, and her brow was furrowed.
I nodded.
“I agree.”
Just moments ago, inside the Federation Command, we were treated as if we were criminals.
Adele, being a VVIP of the Licencia Group, got away with a few formal questions, but I wasn't so lucky.
Their gazes. Their tone. The way they spoke.
I didn't like any of it.
The endless barrage of questions. The accusatory tone, treating me like a criminal at every turn.
If they had said one more word, I might have seriously snapped their necks.
But I barely held back. It wasn't the right time to actually do it.
“Are you heading straight back to the mansion?”
She glanced over at me, the corners of her lips lifting slightly.
“No.”
Then, after a slight pause, she tilted her shoulder and said, “Since we’re out, just the two of us, why don’t we go on a date?”
She tossed out the question casually, as if joking, but her eyes were completely serious.
“…A date?”
“Yes. It’s not like we have anywhere else to be. And you’re bored right now, aren’t you, Lieutenant?”
She said, linking her arm through mine naturally.
“Besides, after such a tiring interrogation, there should be a sweet reward, don’t you think?”
She leaned against my arm and whispered playfully.
“Well, you have a point.”
“Great. See that store way over there? Let’s go. We should change our clothes first.”
“Is it really necessary to change?”
I asked, and Adele wagged a finger as if the answer was obvious.
“Of course. Our current outfits stand out too much.”
She leaned in and whispered playfully, “And… I want to try going on a date dressed like normal people.”
“Understood.”
And so, we headed to a luxury shopping district a short distance from the command center.
The clothes Adele Licencia picked out were, as expected, anything but ordinary.
After browsing a few shops, she handed me an outfit.
Black slacks. A neat, navy-colored shirt.
“Try this on.”
I took the clothes she gave me and changed in the fitting room.
When I pushed aside the curtain and stepped out, Adele’s eyes sparkled.
“I knew it would look good on you.”
She beamed, bringing her hands together as if to clap. Adele had already changed as well.
A simple white blouse and a sky-blue flared skirt.
She gave off a completely different vibe from the image of the Licencia Group heiress I was used to. She looked like an ordinary college student.
As I stared at her intently, Adele shyly averted her gaze and asked.
“……How do I look?”
“It looks great on you.”
Adele smiled, satisfied, the corners of her mouth curling up gently.
“Good. Then, shall we begin our real date?”
“Yes, Young Lady. But—”
Just before I could continue, Adele gently raised a hand and lightly covered my lips.
A single index finger. A warm fingertip, touching them without a word.
“Instead of ‘Young Lady,’ please call me Adele.”
She narrowed her eyes and whispered playfully.
I gave a short laugh and nodded. “Alright, Adele.”
She took a small breath and then smiled brightly.
“Now, escort me, please.”
Then she held out her hand slightly and added cautiously, “……Seo-yun Oppa.”
Her face turned bright red all the way to her ears as she said the last word.
I let out a small chuckle. Taking her hand, I said playfully.
“Of course, Adele. I’ll give you my utmost attention.”
At my words, Adele laughed softly.
“Hehe, I’ll look forward to it.”
Her fingertips squeezed my hand slightly.
I gently led her by the hand.
She wanted a normal date. That was Adele’s wish.
In that case, the itinerary had to be normal, too.
I started walking without hesitation.
“Where are we going?”
Adele asked with curious eyes, walking lightly beside me.
“I thought we could just watch a movie, like a normal couple. We’re on our way to the theater.”
When I explained, Adele smiled brightly.
“Hehe, okay. I’ll follow your lead, Oppa.”
Her hand gripped mine a little tighter.
And so, just the two of us, Adele and I began to enjoy our date.
At the theater, we chose a standard romantic comedy.
Inside the auditorium, we sat side-by-side, sharing a box of popcorn.
It was an unremarkable story. A simple movie, mixed with lighthearted laughter and a bit of fluttery excitement.
Adele laughed and enjoyed herself, making a fuss here and there throughout the movie. After it ended, we bought some simple snacks from a nearby street vendor.
Adele held a sausage in one hand, walking down the street with a slightly excited expression.
“Hehe, this is a first for me.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Walking among so many people, and eating simple food like this.”
”I’m glad you seem to be having fun today.”
”Hehe, I really am.”
”It’s almost time for dinner. What should we do?”
“Since you gave me such a nice experience today, dinner’s on me.”
She took out a small tablet and fiddled with it. A moment later, a hologram rose from the seemingly ordinary device. It was a map.
“The South Atlantic Region, New Rio de Janeiro. I made a reservation two hours ago.”
My eyes widened.
“The South Atlantic? But we’re at the North American Federation headquarters right now….”
Adele smiled playfully.
“Hehe, have you ever ridden a hyperspeed shuttle?”
“No, I’ve never had the chance.”
“Well, today will be your first time.”
She took out a communication device and made a quick call. Just five minutes later, a luxurious limousine appeared before us.
“Miss Licencia, we are ready for boarding.”
The driver greeted us politely.
Adele and I got into the limousine. The interior was luxurious, with rich leather seats, a minibar, and a large window offering a panoramic view of the city.
“How about a glass of wine?”
Adele asked, taking a bottle of wine from the minibar.
“Sounds good.”
She elegantly poured the wine and handed me a glass. The glasses clinked together with a soft sound.
As we savored the wine, the limousine gradually gained altitude, leaving the city behind. A world above the clouds unfolded beyond the window.
“We will be arriving at the station shortly.”
With the driver’s announcement, the limousine approached a massive floating structure. It looked like an island suspended in the sky.
“Wow…”
Adele smiled at my awe.
“Everyone reacts that way the first time they see it. This is the Sky Station, developed by the Licencia Group.”
When the limousine landed, staff in elegant uniforms came out to greet us.
“Welcome, Miss Licencia. The shuttle is ready.”
We were guided into the terminal. Instead of the public area used by regular passengers, we were led through a private VVIP passageway.
“It takes regular passengers about thirty minutes to an hour to get anywhere in the world using the shuttles,” Adele explained.
“But the private Licencia shuttle can get anywhere on Earth within fifteen minutes.”
When we boarded the shuttle, we were once again met with a luxurious interior. But unlike the limousine, this was much more spacious and comfortable, decorated like a small lounge.
Adele sat down with a quiet smile.
She patted the seat next to her.
“Here, Oppa. Sit here.”
I nodded silently and sat down beside her.
The shuttle began to move. Outside the window, there was nothing but clouds and sky, but there was no sensation of speed at all.
*
Looking out the window, I could see the ground gradually appearing through the clouds. Soon, the shuttle began to decelerate smoothly, preparing for landing.
[Licencia VIP Private Shuttle has arrived in New Rio de Janeiro. We hope you enjoy your time.]
We disembarked and headed for another private VVIP exit. Once again, we were able to leave directly without mixing with the other passengers.
The moment we stepped outside, warm air and the scent of the sea greeted us.
“Oh.”
The sight before me was breathtaking. A blue ocean, white sandy beaches, and a city where modern buildings and a classic atmosphere blended in perfect harmony.
“This is New Rio de Janeiro. The Rio of the 21st century was partially submerged due to rising sea levels, but this city was built anew on top of it,” Adele explained.
“It’s an incredibly beautiful place.”
She smiled.
“There’s a famous restaurant here. A slightly different kind.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
On our way to the beach, we passed through a shopping area. Without hesitation, Adele entered a store specializing in swimwear.
“You should pick one out too, Oppa. We have to wear these to get in.”
“Sounds like a rather unique place.”
I chose a simple pair of black swim trunks and a shirt to throw on over them, while Adele… after much deliberation, selected an elegant white bikini.
We arrived at a luxury resort near the beach and changed. Guided to a private beach area, we were now in a completely different world.
We were the only two on the beach. A space with perfect privacy.
When Adele took off her beach gown, her perfect figure was revealed. The white bikini further accentuated her fair skin and pink hair.
“How do I look?”
She asked, spinning around playfully.
“Perfect.”
It was a sincere answer.
“Hehe, you look pretty good yourself, Oppa.”
As I stood there in my swimwear, her gaze swept over my body. A strange tension filled the air.
“Shall we go eat now?”
Adele gently took my hand and pulled me along. We walked into the waves together. The warm water passed my ankles and rose to my knees.
And there, floating quietly on the sea, was a small vessel. It was a water shuttle, sleek with white lines and curves.
Adele smiled and said, “We’ll take this to the restaurant.”
The trip was quick. We boarded the water shuttle and glided smoothly across the sea.
A short while later, we arrived at a small restaurant reserved just for us.
It wasn't a large space.
One table. And a perfectly prepared course meal.
“The chefs all left right on time for our reservation,” Adele said playfully.
The underwater restaurant was small but luxurious. All four walls were made of transparent glass, offering a direct view of the world beneath the sea. On the table, a bottle of champagne was already chilling in an ice bucket.
“I never knew a place like this existed.”
I looked around in admiration. Colorful fish swam in the water around us, and deep below, the sunken buildings of the old Rio de Janeiro were faintly visible.
“It’s a place only special people know about. Exclusively for VVIPs,” Adele said as she sat at the table. Her bikini seemed to be an odd contrast to the luxurious atmosphere, but it somehow made her even more attractive.
“Champagne?”
She was already opening the bottle. The cork popped, and a little foam trickled out.
“I’d love some.”
Adele poured two glasses of champagne. Her movements were elegant and practiced.
“Let’s have a toast, Seo-yun Oppa.”
She raised her glass.
“What are we toasting to?”
“Hmm… to our first date, and…”
She hesitated for a moment, then smiled. “To all the moments we’ll share from now on.”