In a coffee shop in Libretanhya, the door opens with a small bell sound, and Slady appears. He walks over to the attendant, where he was sitting and fiddling with his phone.
"..."
Slady just stares at the young man, who is completely distracted by his cell phone.
Without making a sound, Slady turns around and grabs a menu that was on one of the tables in the place, then goes back to the counter and stares at the boy, who is still fiddling with his cell phone.
"..."
Although he doesn't feel angry, it was so... stupid, he was armed, he had just tortured a criminal and he was in front of a teenager who hadn't even noticed his presence.
"There's coffee with milk-"
"AHHH!!"
The teenager throws his cell phone in the air in fright, making it fall to the floor. But since the place has a carpet, there was no damage to the device.
"My god, man! You almost scared me to death."
The young man looked at Slady, angry.
"..."
He just stared at the teenager, as if he was expecting something from him.
In a few seconds, the boy let out a sigh, looking away from Slady's emotionless gaze.
"Sorry, okay?"
"Okay, what about my latte?"
Slady placed the menu on the counter, pointing to the image of a latte.
"Yes, of course!"
The boy placed his cell phone on the counter, which remained on, turning his back to make the coffee.
Almost as if out of childish curiosity, Slady looked at the phone, seeing that the young man was talking to his girlfriend, who was probably awake in that rainy morning.
So Slady just hung up the boy's phone and looked at his own, speaking.
"What are you doing at this early hour?" Slady asked.
"I work nights, there's not much time left until my shift ends."
The teenager's voice sounds tired, but calm, showing that despite his tiredness, it was something the boy enjoyed doing.
"Understood," Slady says.
In a short time, the boy hands the coffee to Slady, who takes it in his hand and starts drinking.
"What do you do for a living, sir?" the boy asks, curious.
"I'm a librarian in the outskirts."
The young man was surprised, he looked at Slady, analyzing his clothes.
"A very well-dressed librarian, by the looks of it."
The boy chuckled.
Slady didn't laugh, he just nodded in agreement.
"Why are you here, this early in the morning?" the boy asked.
"I like the rain, so I decided to take a 'walk'."
Slady replied. The boy nodded, he seemed to be a very curious and friendly teenager, despite the first not very friendly interaction.
Slady didn't say anything else, he just finished his coffee and paid for the drink. Then, turning to leave, Slady gave the boy a look.
"Be careful at these times, your attention can save or cost your life."
Then he left.
Feeling the rain falling on his face, Slady walked through the city again, in silence.
***
Rin Yuang was back at the Libretanhya Criminal Investigation Department, taking another bath, perhaps to clean her body or just to ease her mind from what she had witnessed.
She was thoughtful, almost in a dilemma. As an investor, she had had to do things that she thought were unfair, that would not necessarily improve the security of Libretanhya.
There were so many problems in the world, the Inferius that Rin Yuang had to enter to save people, arrest criminals who tried to escape using the dimension as a way to escape or just trying to stop the Renkai Creatures from leaving the dimension. It was a difficult job.
Despite what happened that morning, she was aware that those criminals would never do anything in Libretanhya again. It seemed so efficient if it were applied to criminals in general, but it seemed so illegal...
She just tried to put her thoughts aside, getting out of the bathtub and starting to dry her body.
After drying herself, Rin Yuang looked at herself in the mirror, tying her hair in a bun and leaving the bathroom, going to her bed in the dormitory.
She just took off the towel and lay down on the bed to sleep, she needed to rest her mind, she needed to relax.
**8 o'clock in the morning...**
It was another day in Libretanhya. Shaphira had just woken up in the library, realizing that she was in bed, drawing the conclusion that Slady had put her there.
As she stretched, her tail stood up straight and so did her ears, so she got up and went to the bathroom.
As she turned on the light and saw herself in the mirror...
"Ahhhh!!!"
She fell on her butt on the floor, and when she got up, she realized that her body hair was gone. She was naked, completely naked.
She covered her breasts with her hands, blushing deeply, and hid under the covers, feeling very cold because she wasn't used to not having her body hair.
Then the door opened, revealing Slady, who looked at the bed, confused.
"What's that scream?" He asked, not angry.
"Dad..."
She stuck her head out, looking at Slady.
"Something happened to me." She said, worried.
Slady was surprised. He had never seen Shaphira's face and body without her hair on her body. She was beautiful.
"Can I see the situation?"
Slady asked, sitting up in bed and trying to understand what had happened. Shaphira took off the covers, showing her naked body to Slady. Her tail hid her private parts and her arms covered her breasts. Although she felt no shame, she was still uncomfortable.
Slady remained indifferent, placing his hands on her curves carefully.
"I think your body has adapted, getting closer to the human."
Slady placed her hand on Shaphira's tail and ears, caressing them.
Shaphira felt a shiver at the touch on her skin, but the areas around her tail and ears remained calm. Her tail instinctively curled around Slady's hand, who continued to speak.
"Those areas haven't changed, I think your body has finally adapted and entered its most... developed state, if I may say so."
Slady removed her hand.
Shaphira felt more relieved, covering her body again with the blanket.
"I understand, father. I liked it in a certain way, I became very beautiful."
Slady nodded in agreement.
"Although I'm not used to seeing you like this, it's good to see you happy about it."
Slady said, putting her hand on Shaphira's hair
Shaphira felt happy about that, it was good to know that despite her vulnerability, Slady didn't hurt her or abuse her in that moment.
"Thank you, dad."
She settled herself on the bed, looking at the bathroom.
"I... need to get to know my body a little bit, can I be alone for a while?"
Slady nodded, leaving the room and returning to the kitchen, where she was cooking.
A few minutes later, Slady had put the food on the table, sitting there.
"..."
Suddenly, the bedroom door opened, revealing Shaphira, who had put on the dress that Slady had bought her.
"Now it's much more comfortable to wear clothes..."
She put her hand on her waist, trying to pose.
"How did I look?"
Shaphira gave a little twirl, her tail moving with the twirl.
Slady just looked at her indifferently, he wasn't used to Shaphira's appearance, but he had to admit...
She had looked beautiful.
"Yes, she did."
Slady went back to eating.
Shaphira pouted, but she was already used to his way, she sat down next to Slady at the table, adjusting her tail and skirt, starting to eat.
"This is very good, thank you."
Shaphira felt more comfortable than ever, resting her face on Slady's chest, starting to purr.
"..."
Slady was silent, then took the plate and spoon, starting to offer the food to Shaphira's mouth, who was surprised by the gesture of affection, but opened her mouth and began to be fed.
"You don't have to spoil me so much, I'm a grown woman now."
She said, trying to keep her pride, but her wagging tail showed how much she loved being spoiled by Slady.
After feeding Shaphira, Slady went back to eating his lunch while she lay on his lap, feeling closer to Slady than she already was.
After finishing lunch, Shaphira got up and started to gather her things.
"You look tired, dad. Go rest."
"Yes, thank you."
Slady got up, he was very tired, he had not only done the 'work' at dawn, but he had also organized some books, considering that he would open the library later.
***
In their room, Slady lay down on the bed, closing her eyes... A few minutes later, even though she was already asleep, Slady felt something warm enveloping her body, it was Shaphira, who had finished cleaning and putting away the dishes, deciding to sleep a little with Slady.
It was something so routine for both of them that Slady had no problem with Shaphira lying down next to him, it was good, not only did it feel good to Slady, but it strengthened the father-daughter relationship between the two.
**a few hours later.**
Slady had already woken up, she was more willing to do her work, opening the library for people to enter.
Shaphira stayed in her room, now in her Renkai Creature form, not interested in communicating with humans, just curled up and sleeping.
Although the library was in the forest, far from the city, many people liked to come to read, rent or even buy some book that the place had.
Slady was at the service desk, writing on the computer. Some adults brought children to encourage them to read. Others were teenagers, students who preferred to study in the library because it was a quieter and more respectable place, considering that no one would like to draw Slady's attention.
Suddenly, the door opened, it was... Rin Yuang?! She was wearing casual clothes, trying not to be recognized. She definitely didn't want people's attention focused on her.
"..."
Slady and Rin Yuang's eyes met, he noticed that the investor wanted to be casual, not wanting to stand out in the crowd.
"Good afternoon, miss. What do you want?" Slady asked.
Rin Yuan thanked her silently, going to Slady and speaking in a low tone.
"No need to be formal, I want to talk to you about something. But for now... I would like to read a book about... cooking." She said, a little shy.
Slady also noticed, she could feel Rin Yuang's body tense up and her heart beat fast, was it fear or just a little social phobia?
"It says on the shelves: Teachings." Slady said, without emotion.
A small smile was noticeable on Rin Yuang's lips, as a way of appreciating Slady's cooperative manner.
"Thank you, sir."
She made a respectful gesture and turned to take the book and sit in a corner. Slady observed Rin Yuang calmly, the only thing that went through his head was...
(This woman is causing me more problems...)
Hours passed, some customers rented the books and collectors bought them, it was a day that generated a lot of profit for Slady.
Every now and then, Slady would disappear to check on Shaphira, who remained asleep or wanted to be petted by him. He also noticed Rin Yuang's genuine interest in the cookbook, almost drooling at how well explained the book was (considering that Slady made many notes in the book to simplify his own knowledge).
Upon realizing that the library was practically empty, Rin Yuang got up and went to Slady, seeming to be less tense and even comfortable with Slady... even knowing what he was capable of.
"That book is really good, I-"
"I noticed you liked it, I'm glad. But what do you *really* want?"
Rin Yuan let out a sigh, turning serious and sitting down in front of him.
"It's about yesterday..."
"Um, what's wrong?" Slady asked.
"You did something stupid in that building. Normally, I should lock you up for a long time, but you don't seem like a bad person... I hope."
"I see..."
Slady stretches.
"I overreacted a lot, maybe I lost control of myself at that moment. I hope I didn't scare you."
"It didn't scare me, but Yai Chang didn't have time to get to the ambulance, he ended up dying painfully."
She looked a little... sad... even a strong and serious investor like her would feel bad about extreme violence and a slow and painful death.
"I know, everything I do is so that there are no more crimes in the world, maybe I strayed from the path." Slady says, emotionless
"I also agree that that man should have died, even if it's a bit contradictory for us, Criminal Investigators." Rin Yuang says, placing her hand on her chest
Slady nods, agreeing.
"I understand, I'll try to 'moderate' in doing my job while you do yours, I'll be happy to trust you."
Slady extends her bionic hand to Rin Yuang, who looks at her hand and then at the man, feeling a very dangerous energy, like someone who wouldn't like to be betrayed at all.
But, without fear, Rin Yuang shakes Slady's hand, finding the material of his bionic hand strange, but adapting easily.
"As an Investigator, I'm happy with your cooperation. As a person, I'm happy with your trust in me."
Rin Yuang says determinedly.
As they separate their hands, Rin Yuang looks at Slady and picks up the same cookbook she was using, asking in a more casual tone, as if she were talking to a new friend.
"Can I rent this book, Mr. Nameless?"
It was a double question, it was the genuine doubt if she could have temporary possession of the book and the still unsatisfied curiosity about its name.
"Yes, for (a quantity of Lynes). Just call me Slady, woman."
Rin Yuang pouted, handing the money to Slady and renting the book, also being happy to know Slady's name.
"Thank you, Slady. Have a great day."
She turned and left the library.
**hours later**
Slady was on the roof of the library, sitting and watching the stars, that conversation with Rin Yuang seemed to have awakened a doubt in Slady's mind...
'Are my actions done out of kindness or just for pleasure or money?'
It was something Slady had never thought about, despite his actions, he never saw malice in anything. It was all done innocently, but it seemed like there were more reasons for Slady's actions.
After a long time, Slady came to his conclusion.
He liked what he did, he didn't kill criminals just for justice or money, it was because he liked it. It was like eliminating an insect. Slady did it not out of malice, but because he saw the need and enjoyed eliminating insects from his home to keep the environment clean and prosperous.
With this thought in mind, Slady came down from the roof and entered the library, closing everything and going to Slady and Shaphira's room.
He found her sleeping in bed, in her hybrid form and wearing the same simple dress. Slady lay down next to Shaphira. He felt an instinct, it was unknown to him, but uncontrollable.
In a protective instinct, Slady wrapped his arms and legs around Shaphira. It wasn't like a hug, but a way of trying to protect Shaphira from all the evil in the world.
He didn't know the feelings. Was it affection? Care? Or love? Slady didn't know. He had never seen anything like that in his entire life. But at that moment, he decided to give in to his instincts.
The protection of a father who would give his life and many people to protect his child.