Creak—
The moment the door opened.
'Now.'
[Activating skill 'Bullet Time (Lv.2)'.]
The world slowed.
Backlit by the hallway light seeping through the door gap, Sydney Wellesley, clad in a black maid uniform, raised her foot.
Neatly pinned-up blonde hair, eyes feigning modesty beneath an expressionless guise. And beneath her apron, faintly visible, toned thighs and the bundle of wires tucked inside her skirt.
'Status Analysis.'
[Name: Sydney Wellesley]
[Status: Acting, Searching]
I activated [Shared Vision] as well.
'Shared Vision.'
[Activating skill 'Shared Vision' on target 'Sydney Wellesley'.]
[Maximum sharing limit exceeded! (1/1)]
[The skill designated for 'Arthur' has been dispelled.]
The [Shared Vision] that had been designated to Arthur was automatically dispelled, and Sydney was designated instead. An obvious choice, since the information on this side was more valuable than anything from Arthur.
"Room service, Your Excellency."
Soon, [Bullet Time] ended, and time began to flow normally.
Sydney entered, bowing her head elegantly. On the silver tray sat a bottle of wine nestled in an ice bucket, along with various bottles of oil.
"This is a vintage champagne prepared by the hotel to celebrate the successful negotiations. And... we also have premium aroma oils to relieve your fatigue, so please enjoy."
She set the tray down on the bedside table. Despite the compromising sight of the three of us, she didn't bat an eyelid.
"Thanks. I was just getting thirsty."
I sat on the edge of the bed, staring intently at Sydney.
"What did you say your name was? I don't recognize your face."
"My name is Ellie, Colonel. I was newly assigned to the night shift."
"Ellie... That's a pretty name."
I extended my arm. Sydney skillfully poured a glass of champagne.
'Tuning Touch.'
And the moment I received the glass, her fingers brushed against my fingertips.
Zzt—.
"......!"
Sydney's shoulder twitched, ever so slightly. It was an instantaneous moment, but bewilderment settled in her purple eyes.
[Status: Shock, Discomfort]
[Emotion: Puzzled by the unpleasant sensation that stimulated her nerves.]
I simply brought my hand back and downed the champagne.
"It smells good. You seem to have received proper service training, so I'm looking forward to the massage as well."
"...I will do my best, Colonel."
"Take care of the ladies first."
I gestured with my chin toward Hannah and Seraphina, who were lying face down.
Sydney obediently climbed onto the bed. Her hands first touched Seraphina's smooth shoulders.
Knead, press—
"Ah... Mmm."
Seraphina let out a moan. Sydney's hand movements were incredibly precise.
"Ah... Good. Your hands..."
Hannah also trembled as she received Sydney's massage.
I watched the spectacle and emptied the rest of the champagne. The enemy nation's intelligence director, rubbing my women...
'So that's how far she's willing to go to maintain her disguise.'
How much time had passed? I set the empty glass down on the table and spoke.
"That's enough. The two of them seem sufficiently loosened up."
Sydney's hands stopped. She immediately straightened up and clasped her hands together respectfully.
"Was the champagne insufficient? I can bring more."
"No, it's my turn now."
I loosened the knot of the shower gown I was wearing. The front parted, revealing firm pectoral muscles and abs.
Sydney's gaze scanned my body.
[Skill 'Shared Vision' is active.]
Another field of view overlapped in my mind. My appearance reflected in Sydney's eyes.
It was brutal.
She wasn't admiring the definition of my muscles. Carotid artery, heart, solar plexus. She was coldly scanning the vital points that could end a life in an instant.
[Status: Suppressed Killing Intent, Seeking an Opportunity]
'Scary.'
But the expression she showed outwardly was exactly that of a shy, new maid. Thanks to the skill's power, I barely maintained a blank expression myself.
[Skill 'Indomitable Will' is active.]
"...Excuse me, Colonel."
Before long, Sydney approached me and knelt. She took out a new bottle of oil from the basket and poured it into her palm.
Slick liquid flowed down between her white fingers.
"The scent... I have prepared lavender."
"Good taste. Begin."
I leaned against the headboard and spread my legs. The hem of the gown slid up, exposing the insides of my thighs completely.
[Emotion: Disgust]
Sydney's eyebrows twitched ever so slightly. She was probably cursing inwardly, but she was a professional. Her warmed palm wrapped around my calf.
'Nice.'
Honestly, it was admirable. A soft yet powerful pressure that dug into the muscles.
Did she have a perfect understanding of the human musculoskeletal system? It seemed that hands that knew how to kill people also knew best how to loosen them up.
"Your hands are merciless. Where did you learn this?"
I deliberately tested her. Sydney lowered her gaze and slid her hand up the inside of my thigh.
"...I was trained at the hotel."
"Really? From what I can see, you look... very skilled at handling a person's body."
Her hand crept deep, near my groin.
Zzt—.
The moment her fingertips touched me, I activated [Tuning Touch] once more.
"Urk...?"
Sydney's body flinched. Her hand, which had slipped on the slick oil, deviated from its intended course and grabbed the heavy, engorged thing between my legs.
[Skill 'Potency' is active.]
A yielding yet rigid sensation. Her grip was fierce, befitting an assassin, and thanks to that, a faint groan escaped my lips as well.
"Kuh...."
In an instant, the air in the room changed.
"...Where exactly is your hand going right now?"
Seraphina, who had been languidly relaxed, spoke in a sharp voice.
"Huh? That's mine...."
Hannah's half-lidded eyes also snapped open. Hugging a pillow, she narrowed her eyes.
The two women's gazes fixed on Sydney's wrist—specifically, that white hand gripping my member.
Murderous jealousy.
But I smiled leisurely and slowly peeled away Sydney's frozen wrist.
"Ellie."
"Ah, I-I'm sorry...! The oil was too slippery, so I...!"
Sydney hastily withdrew her hand and bowed her head.
[Status: Dismay, Confusion regarding the 'abnormal sensation' in her fingertips]
There was no way the world's greatest SSS-class agent would panic just from touching a man's thing. What flustered her was the bizarre sensation that my [Tuning Touch] had planted, flowing back up through her palm.
I gestured toward the back with a deliberately troubled look.
"Your service spirit is commendable, but you should be careful."
"......."
"The ladies behind me... are greedier than they look. They really hate it when another woman touches my body."
"...Understood. I will be careful."
Sydney bit her lip and corrected her posture once more.
The sound of oil slicking against skin was heard again. Sydney steadied her breath and started again from my calf.
"...Then, I shall continue."
The strength in her grip was still fierce, but more cautious than before.
Press, press.
Her technique in finding knotted muscles was still admirable, but unfortunately, I had no intention of letting her work comfortably.
'Tuning Touch.'
Zzzt—.
"Huh...?!"
Sydney's shoulder twitched again. I could see her brows furrow.
[Status: Confusion]
Every time she pressed my body now, she was bewildered by the tingling sensation in her fingertips.
"What's wrong, Ellie? Your hand is shaking."
I deliberately asked with feigned concern.
"Ah, it's nothing. The room seems... a bit hot."
"If it's hot, you can undress."
"...I'm fine."
[Status: Believes it is severe static electricity.]
'Static electricity.'
I smirked inwardly. She probably had no idea that her own body was being 'tuned' by a cheat skill.
"Press a little harder."
I continued ordering.
"The outer side is knotted."
Creak, crack.
An intense stimulation, as if fascia were being torn away.
"Urgh...."
The border between pain and relief. The fatigue from days on the battlefield and the stress from diplomatic warfare felt like they were melting away with each movement of her hands.
"My back."
Crack.
The sound of stiff joints returning to their proper places.
"Hah...."
Sydney's breath was felt near the nape of my neck. Each time she leaned her upper body to apply force, the hem of her apron or her collar brushed against my back like a touch.
[Name: Sydney Wellesley]
[Status: Confusion, Concentration]
[Emotion: Bewildered because Max's body feels excessively hot]
She was flustered. Every time she touched my skin, her fingertips felt as if they were being burned, and she couldn't understand why her heartbeat was accelerating.
"Shoulders. The trapezius is stiff."
I ignored it and kept ordering.
Press, press.
Muscles hard as stone were forcibly kneaded.
Zzzt, zzzt.
I repeatedly increased the skill's output bit by bit.
"Urk...!"
"What's wrong, Ellie? You're losing strength."
I turned my head and looked up at her.
Golden hair plastered to her forehead with sweat. Cheeks flushed red. And her purple eyes, unfocused and wavering.
To think the world's intelligence director would be panting, exhausted from something as trivial as a massage.
"I-I'm sorry...."
"Tired? Well, massaging three people at once with a woman's body must be difficult."
I spoke as if showing consideration.
"Let's stop here."
"...Understood."
I slowly raised my body. When I casually rolled my shoulder, it was so smooth that no cracking sound came out.
"That was the best massage I've ever had in my life, Ellie."
I smiled at Sydney, who was drenched in sweat.
"I should give you a tip."
I took out a wad of bills from the wallet on the nightstand. It was quite a thick sum.
Sydney flinched and tried to step back, but I was faster.
I traced down the collarbone and cleavage revealed above her apron. The deeply plunging neckline unique to a maid uniform. Between it, the white flesh, the bountiful cleavage that was a sight to behold, was exposed.
Swish.
A crisp, high-denomination banknote was tucked into her cleavage.
"......!"
For a moment, Sydney failed to manage her expression and turned ashen, but quickly regained her composure.
"Mmph...."
She drew in a breath.
Whether her flushed face was from acting or her true feelings.
Despite the humiliation and dismay, she couldn't brush my hand away. A mere maid receiving a tip from the Empire's hero. She had to stay true to that roleplay.
'Status Analysis.'
[Name: Sydney Wellesley]
[Status: Should I kill him?]
Oh.
Maybe I went too far.