CHAPTER 140: CH-140

’What the...’

Ten beautiful women stepped out, moving in perfect unison. Their kimonos flowed gracefully as they walked past the wooden bridge.

Each one’s outfit was a different color, yet together, they formed a strange kind of harmony—deep crimson, royal blue, and so on.

Their obi sashes were tied perfectly, emphasizing their slim waists and graceful posture.

They knelt along the length of the table, heads bowed in polite gesture.

One of them was actually Alexa. She looked up just enough to meet my gaze, her lips trembling from frustration.

Her black kimono suited her perfectly, making me overlook her attitude.

"These are the ten A-ranks you asked for. They’re all from the orphanage, and while they’re far from S-ranks, they’re above average for A-rank," Master Tang added.

It was then that I remembered my promise to teach cultivation to them.

I wasn’t one to give away my secrets that easily, so I would only do it once they were absolutely loyal to me.

Master Tang must be thinking he won this deal, when in fact he just handed me free workforce.

"Do you remember now?" he chuckled. "It’s exactly as you requested."

The way he laughed made it obvious he was trying to make me look like the one responsible for these women dressing this way.

"Oh, I remember now, Master Tang!" I exclaimed "You wanted me to train them, right?"

I paused, glancing at the group.

"But why are they all wearing kimono? Is this some cultural thing I never heard of?"

cough! cough!

Master Tang choked on his sake and shot me a glare through his aviator glasses.

Old man... trying to pin this on me? You needed to eat more rice.

He cleared his throat, trying to smooth over the awkward moment.

"Yes, that’s right. This is a cultural thing—a proper welcome. I hope you like it."

He gestured toward the ten women. "Introduce yourselves to him."

The first girl leaned slightly forward, amber eyes sharp and confident.

"I’m... Rhea. I control fire, but mine is a bit different from the others." She raised her hand, and a delicate flower of blue flames flickered into existence.

My eyes focused on it, and I was amazed by how much control she had. Fire was probably one of the hardest elements to shape, along with air and lightning.

And the azure color meant her fire wasn’t ordinary—it burned hotter and purer than normal flames.

As expected of them, they were a cut above the rest. Comparing them to the A-rank recruits I’d gathered in the tower would be like comparing heaven and earth.

Next, a silver-haired girl sat straight. "Lian. Ice manipulation. And like Rhea, mine is a bit different."

Cold mist hissed from her hand, and she actually froze the oxygen in the air. It reminded me of the Seeker who had frozen the Mercer Building.

I nodded in approval, silently acknowledging her power.

A small girl twisted her hands in her lap, brown waves brushing her shoulders.

"Mina. Healing," she whispered, barely meeting my eyes. She seemed shy, like she wasn’t sure she belonged here yet.

"That’s it? Your power is just healing?"

Before I could respond, Master Tang spoke up.

"Go easy on her. Mina is very special. If she has enough energy, she could even heal someone from a fatal wound. Not just that—she’s also immune to fatigue as long as she has energy."

"Oh..." I touched my chin. "Then that changes everything."

The taller girl in green stayed upright, perfect posture.

"Sora. Air manipulation." She raised her fingers, and tiny needles appeared. "With my control over wind, I can’t easily assassinate anyone."

From the side, a girl with yellow eyes leaned forward, a playful grin on her face.

"I’m Yumi. Light illusions," She winked at me, clearly enjoying the attention.

Next to her, a girl with bright orange curls whispered something, making both of them giggle.

"Teri! Super speed," she said, grinning.

A broad-shouldered and dark skinned girl spoke next. "Nara. My body can become as hard as diamond, and as flexible as a marshmallow if you want." She winked at me, and I struggled to maintain my composure.

Fortunately, another girl with silver hair spoke up immediately.

"Faye. Lightning attacks,"

No further introduction was needed; the word "lightning" alone spoke volumes about her ability.

The next girl tilted her head, honey-colored skin glowing softly in the light, a teasing smile on her lips. "I’m Zara. Telekinesis ,"

Finally, the last girl.

"You already know my ability," Alexa rolled her eyes. She was still annoyed about last time.

It took me a couple of seconds memorizing their name before I spoke.

"Master Tang must have filled you in about me."

"Yes," Teri raised her hand, her energy practically blinding. "Master Tang told us you could help us reach S-Ranks and that you’re super strong."

She paused, her grin widening. "Big Sis Alexa also warned us that you’re a degenerate who’d take advantage of girls if you got the chance."

cough! cough!

This time, I was the one who choked on my sake. I glanced at Alexa, and she just gave me a side-eye before looking away.

"Whatever Alexa told you, it’s just a misunderstanding. As for reaching S-Ranks, that depends on your hard work. What I can promise is that you’ll become much stronger under my guidance."

Teri bounced slightly.

"Stronger? Oh, we like the sound of that. Big Sis Alexa said you’re a big pervert, but we don’t mind, right?."

Alexa crossed her arms. "I said what I said. So don’t get any ideas. I’ll be watching."

Rhea let out a soft laugh. "Alexa, don’t be too harsh on our new master. We should be glad he took us in."

Already, I liked her. I’m not a fan of bootlickers, but it’s a different story when they’re as pretty as her.

The two glared at each other like it was personal. Well, technically, women never really like each other, so this didn’t surprise me in the slightest.

"Alright, enough fighting. If you want to learn from me, you need to behave. I don’t like repeating myself." I changed my tone, letting them know I was serious.