Chapter 205 | I Have A Preposition For You

Chapter 205: 205 | I Have A Preposition For You

Aurora looked at him for a long, silent moment.

Her eyes studied his face as she studied him.

She was an S-Rank hero.

She had fought and killed creatures that would have slaughtered entire squads of lower-rank heroes. She could read people the way Dexter read ingredients.

"Yes," she said finally. "I wanted to meet you. But it has proven quite difficult to get a hold of you."

Dexter raised an eyebrow. "I’m not that hard to find."

"You are, actually," Aurora replied, her voice carrying a trace of genuine frustration. "Getting your contact information from the Hero Association was impossible. They said you explicitly refused to have your details shared."

She paused.

"It is the first time I have been rejected."

Dexter shrugged. "There’s a first time for everything."

Aurora’s eyes flashed with interest.

She didn’t respond immediately as she let the silence between them stretch even further, still staring at Dexter with the same interest.

Dexter’s brows remained furrowed, his mind working through possibilities.

’Why is she looking at me like that? What does she want?’

’She is an S-Rank hero and one of the youngest S-Rank in the association. She has access to the best squads, the best resources and the best missions. So what does she want’

At that moment, Aurora opened her mouth.

"During the monster outbreak," she said, her voice dropping to a register that was meant for his ears only, "you were in quite a hurry to leave. As if you sensed something."

She paused.

"Did something happen to your wives?"

Dexter’s eyes flashed.

He studied her face for a moment, she was perceptive and knew it was about his wives.

"Yes," Dexter said. "But the situation was under control."

Aurora nodded slowly as the answer seemed to satisfy her.

"You are quite different from what the news says about you," she said in a normal tone as she stared at Dexter.

"You care quite a bit about your wives, don’t you?"

Dexter shrugged. "The news likes to exaggerate everything. Don’t believe everything you hear. Most of it is false. Or at least heavily exaggerated."

Aurora’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"Is that so?" she asked.

"Yes."

Dexter didn’t like her tone.

"What does it matter to you?"

Aurora remained silent for a moment.

"I was curious."

"Curiosity can get people into trouble."

"So can hiding your strength."

Dexter’s eyes narrowed.

Aurora continued calmly.

"During the monster outbreak, everyone thought you were only a relatively ordinary Superhuman. Yet you appeared in the middle of the battlefield and killed monsters far beyond what someone at your supposed level should have been capable of."

Dexter’s expression remained unchanged. "Perhaps I’m simply stronger than I look."

"I thought so." Aurora’s eyes flashed faintly. "That is why I wanted to meet you."

Dexter folded his arms. "And now that you’ve met me?"

"I haven’t decided yet."

Dexter almost laughed. "You followed me out of a restaurant just to tell me that?"

"No." Aurora looked directly into his eyes. The gold flecks in her irises caught the light, giving them an almost luminous quality. "I wanted to ask you something."

Dexter’s expression became slightly more serious. "Go ahead."

Aurora was silent for several seconds. The sounds of the city filled the gap between them.

Finally, she spoke.

"Join my team."

Dexter blinked.

"Your team?"

"Yes."

Dexter frowned. "As you saw, I already have a team. Moreover, the Hero Association has already paired you with some of the most talented heroes of our generation. The best in the city. So I don’t think there is any space for me to join you."

Aurora shook her head. "Not that team. Nor a Association-sanctioned squad."

She paused.

"Another team. I have a proposition for you."

Her eyes flicked to the left. Then to the right. Scanning the street. The parked cars. The restaurant entrance behind them. The pedestrians walking past on the far side of the road.

"But it is quite a delicate matter," she said, her voice dropping half a register. "And I can’t say it out here. In case of listening ears."

As she said this, she looked directly behind Dexter. At his SUV.

Dexter blinked.

He understood what she meant and knew wanted him to invite her into the vehicle so she could speak further and away from potential eavesdroppers.

His first instinct was to refuse.

He didn’t know this woman. While he knew her reputation, her public profile and her hero ranking, he didn’t know her.

But then he thought about what had happened an hour ago.

The fight at Harvest Homes, there would surely be repercussions.

Harvest Homes was not a small company.

It was a registered, legitimate business with political connections, financial resources, and at least several Ultra Realm expert on its payroll.

The Ashford name might carry enough weight to deter direct retaliation. But they might even make the retaliation even stronger so he needed connections, allies.

Rachel was an option but he didn’t know Rachel’s full background.

Grandma Lucy was another option. The old woman who could disperse an Ultra-Rank aura with a tap of her finger. But he didn’t know her story either. Didn’t know her limitations. Didn’t know whether her protection extended beyond the sidewalk in front of his house.

Aurora was different.

Aurora was an S-Rank hero, one of the youngest S-Rank in the Association.

An Ultra Realm expert and her name alone carried more weight than most families in Stargate City. If she was associated with him, even loosely, it would give pause to anyone considering retaliation.

And she wanted something from him, which meant there was room for negotiation. Room for a mutually beneficial arrangement that could provide him with the backing he needed.

He would hear her out. If her proposition was unacceptable, he could simply tell her to leave.

Dexter nodded.

"Okay."

He walked to the passenger side and opened the door for Aurora.

Aurora looked at him for a brief moment before she then entered the vehicle.

Dexter walked around to the driver’s side and slid behind the wheel and then closed the door.

The moment Aurora entered, her face changed slightly.

[A/N: Fine! I will mass release extra 5 Chapters! You guys are quite persistent! 😅]