Ruri's aura covered the city as she walked around, gawking . Nightlife…actually occurring here, so pretty . Lights and colors and scandalously dressed people . The Hades army really was gone .

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She stopped at four vendors and gorged herself on delicious street food . The subtle rage from earlier had calmed . First starting with the handsome human boy who she let take the next issue of Loli Saga, then her childhood friend's home empty of everyone who mattered . No one told her anything—the servants didn't even know of Alice's whereabouts . That sent enough worry in the young woman already . She tried to change for the better, bury her h.e.l.lhound instincts, but fate tempted her at every moment .

Not that h.e.l.lhounds had the best reputation in general . Her pack was nearby, just a mile away . Every man in that area was probably being violated and raped . Maybe not . Her pack was angry with her for abandoning the old way those years ago, but Ruri never followed set rules . She did things her way, when she wanted and how she wanted . No stupid old rule could get in her way .

"Taiyaki, taiyaki, mm-mm-woo, taiyaki, taiyaki, so-so-good!" she sang, cheerful . Abruptly, she caught onto a sweet scent . Not food, but Alice's . "Yes, yes, yes . " She gathered magic, right in front of everyone, and then just as quickly let it go . Her pack would punish her for the jump . Instead, she followed her nose until it led her to an apartment . Breaking down the door was simple enough . Empty .

"Are you kidding me?" she yelled . She sniffed everywhere but the clues to her childhood friend's whereabouts were vacant . "This is recent . She left today . A jump…"

Her mood dropped . She stepped outside and noticed someone . A pink-haired girl strolled out of the apartment next door, dressed in yoga pants and s.h.i.+rt . She had to know .

Ruri sprinkled a tiny bit of magic to repair the door and everything she broke in the apartment . She approached the pink-haired stupid breast human in the most non-threatening manner she could muster . Keep the rage down, Ruri, you can do this, she thought .

"Excuse me," she said, voice full of warmness . The girl seemed to be startled but composed herself before facing Ruri . "I'm looking for someone named Alice Hades . Do you know her?"

"I do," she said, "but she moved away today . "

"Could you tell me where? She's a precious friend of mine . "

"I'm not sure if she's still in the city," the pink-haired girl said . "Last time I talked with her, she said she had a big argument with her father . Then I guess it led to her leaving today . I'm sorry I couldn't help . "

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Ruri let out a groan of frustration .

"My sweet, sweet Alice, somewhere out there, lonely, alone and in need of hugs . We were best friends until I had to go somewhere far, far away . "

Ruri sagged .

"I won't give up . " She bowed respectfully to the pink-haired girl . "Thank you for your time . " The h.e.l.lhound continued her sniff for clues, determination increasing every minute . She craved her old friend .

Clyde's house . . . .

"You met her?" Alice barked over Clyde to Harumi, currently on the other line . "What do you mean she seems nice? And Ruri despises humans, except for men—she's a h.e.l.lhound . They violate first, speak later . "

Clyde pulled the phone closer and out of Alice's grip . She was on top of him, nearly frantic when Harumi called with the news . Good thing Clyde warned the party via ma.s.s text . He even called to make sure they received it—but mostly due to Alice's panicking .

"Thanks for letting us know Harumi," Clyde said .

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"Of course," she replied .

"Oh and let us know when you start packing Sunday . We'll transport your things . "

"Okay," she said . "I…think I should be ready to go, early that morning . "

"Yuki has your room nice and ready," Clyde said . "Should ease the burden on both of us—rent's no fun . "

"You're a lifesaver," Harumi said . She let a moment pa.s.s before speaking again . "You know, I wasn't sure if you'd offer anyone stay . You've got no reason to . "

"Do I need a reason?" Clyde said . "Beyond the old generic, 'you're my friends,' stuff . "

"I guess not," Harumi said .

"Okay—you're spending way too much time on the phone with her," Alice said . "Let me speak . Harumi's my friend too . "

Alice quickly kissed the young man then s.n.a.t.c.hed the phone away . The topic went back to Ruri as he expected . She was like a persistent detective .

Clyde slid from beneath Alice, stood and stretched . Fortunately, his b.o.n.e.r went away on time—they were still in the living room . Tear, Yuki, and Natalia put up the same barrier as before, though on a more powerful scale . The young man solidified the strength by using the power core .

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[Do you wish to turn this building into your place of power?]

Clyde selected yes . The prompt beeped just a little, as if confirming his selection .

[Congratulations, this has become your place of power . You can utilize power core points (PP) to creature automatic guards that will engage at your order and keep intruders out . You'll need PP to level them up, give certain abilities and specialized commands, and increase damage capability . You'll need barrier points to increase the strength of the barrier . Use MP to pay the daily maintenance cost . Do you wish to have this done automatically?]

Clyde selected yes .

[You may convert free points to PP or BP . Be warned that the value of free points dramatically outweighs all other points . You currently start off with 5 points pre-distributed to each field . It is up to you to make your place of power stronger . Thanks to the combined power of your friends, they've managed to start you off with a level 6 barrier . It won't be enough to keep out the most powerful, but you will remain nearly undetectable . ]

[Main barrier level: 6 . PP: 5 . BP: 5 . Would you like to use free points to increase these numbers?]

Clyde distributed 20 points to each .

[Main barrier level: 6 . PP: 25 . BP: 25 . ]

[Free points remaining: 105 . ]

Free points were increasing in value by the second . Clyde was glad that he saved them rather than blowing FP on every level increase .

He closed all interfaces within his mind's eye, deciding it was a good time to see Melody . Alice and Harumi were having girl talk now, giggling and enjoying the phone call . The pink-haired girl had no idea how much of a bright star she was to them . Everyone loved her for one . Everyone would protect her . She was more than the healer, but the blood of the team . He made a note to himself to spend more time with her . While everyone cried on her shoulders, she cried on his . And to think he a.s.sociated pink hair with danger . What anime was that anyway? The moment he thought of it, he cringed then pushed it out of his mind .

Maki was under his control now, unable to wield Ki nor pose a threat to anyone . h.e.l.l, if he wanted, he could make the contract take away her permission to speak . He glanced at the crazy yandere, scrubbing floors on her hands and knees . No sympathy . She'll work this off . He already made her apologize to each of the women she attacked, though some either spat at her, threw punches, or surprisingly nodded and walked away . He had her pay all of them a portion of her family's money .

Yet, she still got a rouse out of that somehow . The upside, which Clyde approved, was that she couldn't bear Yuki's wardens.h.i.+p . Yuki made sure she worked from sun up to sun down or after school to midnight . The demoness even had a calendar with a picture and name of each girl she violated . A check would be marked on a name when Yuki felt like that portion of the debt was paid . The servant girl had a long way to go . All that really mattered though was learning Ki from her . He'd do that after the vampire meeting .

Clyde stood in front of the door that led to the balcony, took a deep breath, and opened it . Melody awaited him at a table, book in hand, dressed in a nightgown . The faint fragrance of women's soap and a hot bath briefly hugged his nose .

She stood and shut the door . Before Clyde knew it, Melody jumped him .

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