The sexy female superhuman, upon hearing this, cast an extremely seductive glance at the other person.
"Then you can hug me a little longer..."
"Alright." The man replied, then made as if to step forward and embrace her.
Of course, he didn't succeed. The female superhuman gently pushed his hand away.
"You'd actually do it? How presumptuous!"
A relaxed atmosphere filled the basement.
After the three of them bantered for a while longer, they successively walked out of the basement filled with medical equipment. Closing the heavy basement door behind them, the trio ascended the wooden stairs towards the ground floor.
Because the female superhuman was wearing a skirt, she deliberately walked at the back to prevent her two male companions from seeing something they shouldn't.
In her good mood, she suddenly and bizarrely tripped her left foot over her right foot.
For no apparent reason, she fell, tumbling down the wooden stairs.
"Ah!" she cried out in alarm.
She lay face down on the floor in front of the basement door, motionless and silent.
The two men walking ahead on the wooden stairs turned around to glance at the female superhuman lying on the ground, but neither paid it much mind.
She was a mid-rank superhuman. A fall from this height wouldn't hurt her at all.
"Get up, stop trying to scare us. We won't fall for it," the male superhuman thought this was just a prank.
After calling out to her a few times for show, the male superhuman finally sensed something was off.
He quickly ran down the wooden stairs and, with a tense hand, turned the female superhuman over.
"Hahaha! Scared you, didn't I?!"
The female superhuman suddenly opened her eyes, laughing at the male superhuman.
The male superhuman rapped her head with his knuckles as punishment.
The female superhuman let out a pained yelp and rubbed her head.
"Don't play jokes like that in the future. Come on, let's go get something to eat." The male superhuman reached out and helped her up.
Only then did the three of them finally leave the wooden staircase area and return to the interior of the old villa.
Back in the villa's living room.
The male superhuman went to the kitchen fridge to look for food, intending to make something for his ambiguous partner to comfort her after the scare.
The female superhuman grabbed a bottle of wine, sprawled comfortably on the sofa drinking it, and shouted loudly towards the kitchen:
"Hurry up! I want the steak you're frying!"
Meanwhile, the Doctor sat alone at the dining table. He pulled out a communicator and dialed a number.
"Sir, 'Moon' has been checked. She's fine."
"Good. You all rest for a couple of days. I will personally handle the matter regarding that 'Night Raven'," the somewhat cold voice instructed.
"Yes, sir." The Doctor answered respectfully.
After hanging up the communicator, the Doctor sat quietly, picked up an old book from the dining table titled "The Development Prospects of Artificial Intelligence and Medicine", and began reading it with great interest.
Books related to artificial intelligence were very hard to come by in the current Federation.
After the "Artificial Intelligence Prohibition Act" was issued and implemented, such books could, strictly speaking, already be considered "half contraband".
Soon, the unique aroma of butter and steak fusing together wafted from the villa's kitchen.
It seemed the male superhuman's cooking skills were quite good.
"Is it ready yet?" the female superhuman lying on the sofa drinking shouted.
"Almost, almost! Go to the kitchen and help me get three forks."
The male superhuman walked out holding three plates, one in each hand, with a third plate stacked between the two.
Each plate held a perfectly seared, fragrant steak, exuding a mouthwatering aroma.
The Doctor also put down the book in his hands, setting it aside, a smile on his face as he prepared to enjoy this culinary treat.
He knew that before the other man joined the 'Gray Moon' cult organization, he had been an outstanding chef.
If not for some accident that led him to join the organization, he would likely be a respected star-rated head chef by now.
The female superhuman also caught the enticing scent. She got up from the sofa, put down the nearly empty wine bottle, and skipped happily towards the kitchen.
She, too, was eagerly anticipating enjoying the food made by her ambiguous partner.
After placing the three still-warm plates on the living room dining table, the male superhuman sat down happily, waiting for her to bring the knives and forks.
He was very satisfied with his performance today. He felt his culinary skills had improved a bit more.
"Ah!" A cry of alarm came from the kitchen.
"What's wrong?" the male superhuman called towards the kitchen.
"Oh right, be careful of the heat! The pan just finished frying the steak, don't touch it!"
A moment passed, but no response came.
"Don't play that kind of joke, I won't fall for it again," the male superhuman said with a smile, addressing the kitchen.
From the direction of the kitchen, there was still no movement.
The male superhuman and the Doctor exchanged a puzzled look.
"This is her favorite steak! She shouldn't be in the mood for pranks now!!" the Doctor said, standing up.
The male superhuman also realized it.
Right! This wasn't her style!
He stood up and dashed towards the kitchen at extreme speed.
The Doctor followed closely behind.
On the dining table, only three steaks emitting tempting heat remained...
A voice of utter devastation came from the kitchen.
In the kitchen, the female superhuman lay on the floor. A line of blood trailed down from her forehead, and a freshly washed kitchen knife was lodged precisely in her throat.
The Doctor crouched down, examining her injuries.
After a long moment, he slumped weakly onto the kitchen floor, shaking his head in despair.
Three fatal injuries. No vital signs remained. Even with 'Moon's' help, it was beyond saving...
One on the forehead, one at the throat, and an unseen one at the heart, pierced by a mysteriously broken rib.
Seeing the Doctor shake his head, the male superhuman screamed at him in utter devastation:
"Save her!! Hurry up and save her!!! Where's Moon?! Moon can definitely save her!!!"
"Moon!!! Where are you?? Come out now!!!"
No voice answered the nearly broken man. Only his hoarse cries echoed through the villa.
The Doctor stood up silently. With his blood-stained right hand, he patted the male superhuman's shoulder, sighed, and said nothing more...
Then, the Doctor walked out of the kitchen alone, leaving the space to the completely shattered man.
Once out of the kitchen, the Doctor, with a grave expression, used his blood-stained hand to pull the communicator from his pocket and dialed that number again.
"Sir, something has happened. Anya is dead. Died inexplicably..."
Silence filled the communicator.
After a long pause, the blood-stained communicator transmitted a voice that was still cold.
Federal Calendar, Year 7708, October 20th, around noon.
Radiant Flow Main City, Interstellar Hunter Association, inside Room 105 on the castle's third floor.
Lying on the sofa, Loren sensed that his Fifth Ability had already activated.
A mysterious smile appeared on his face.
How does it feel... to be toyed with?
I hear you love using methods to play with people's extreme emotions, to feed your artificial intelligence—"Moon"...