The Max Level Hero Has Returned!
Chapter 1032

Chapter 1032

Kasato groaned in pain while wincing, his brows furrowing as he looked at Davey.

"Agh. How did you—?"

"I came here to make you an offer, but after seeing what just happened, I couldn’t stop myself from intervening.”

"Ahem!" He quickly composed himself, though the embarrassment was clear on his face.

After all, regardless of context, he had just been caught attempting to assault a minor.

"I am Kasato Yoshiki of the Yoshiki Group. You... You’re probably the Saint of Tionis, Davey O’Rowane, huh?"

"What’s with the attitude?” Davey raised an eyebrow.

His eyes then widened slightly in realization.

"Ah, my apologies. I suppose that was a bit impolite. But as a simple Earthling, I don’t know much about Tionis culture."

His tone was condescending, as if he were implying that Davey had forced his way into their world, actually having the audacity to demand respect.

In a way, it was natural for him to be aggressive. After all, Davey would’ve been the same if he was in his shoes.

"Yes. Impolite. I suppose I was, too.”

Kasato didn’t know how to respond.

"But more importantly, you insulted my sworn sister and tried to sexually harass someone I support. You really think I wouldn’t be mad?”

"What are you talking about?"

"Hm. Need I suggest you recall exactly what you just said?"

Silence.

At the mention of Hyun-Ah, his eyes flickered with recognition as he thought to himself.

‘Isn’t she the celebrity of Sacred Group?’

Despite being in her early twenties, she was already a key figure in running the Sacred Group, one of the most powerful corporations in the world.

She had an innate talent for business—even more so than her original job—to the point where even their uncle had already considered her as his successor.

And while Yeon-Hee had secretly provided massive assistance during that process, strictly speaking, her potential was ultimately greater.

"You insulted my sworn sister. And now you expect me to just let that slide?"

Davey had originally planned to handle him diplomatically.

But that wasn’t happening anymore.

Instead, he turned to Kouna.

"Ahem. I didn’t realize she was your sworn sister. If I caused offense, I sincerely apologize." Kasato quickly shifted tactics, bowing slightly. "But regardless, Kouna is my fiancée. Interrupting an intimate moment between a passionate couple... wouldn’t most consider that to be rather inappropriate?"

"A couple, huh?"

"Or... perhaps you have feelings for her yourself?" His expression remained composed, but he had a mocking undertone.

"So you are engaged?"

"Indeed we are. Right, Kouna?" He turned to her, eyes silently urging her to confirm.

Kouna hesitated, glancing between Davey and him, her expression troubled.

She eventually sagged her head down.

Davey couldn’t help but chuckle as he noticed how Kasato was now trying to redirect attention away from the fact that he had just insulted Hyun-Ah.

"Kouna."

"Yes?"

"Answer."

Davey kept his voice calm, but she only made an even more complicated face.

Kasato, visibly irritated, cut in, "Why aren’t you answering? We’re engaged.” He turned back to Davey. “Even if you’re the Saint of Tionis, you’re overstepping your bounds."

Kouna still couldn’t respond.

She had a tendency to hesitate when making decisions. Which was exactly why she always ended up being dragged around by others.

Kasato wanted to claim the upper hand by using their engagement as leverage. If Kouna confirmed their engagement, Davey would have no choice but to step back.

And in doing so, he could bury the fact that he had bad-mouthed Hyun-Ah right in front of her brother’s face.

Davey could tell how clever and sly Kasato was. He assumed that this kind of tactical maneuvering was a large reason why he had risen to his current position.

But he had seen plenty of people like him in Tionis.

“Kouna. This man is your fiance, correct?"

"Yes..."

"And what happened just now, was that something you wanted?"

"I..."

"You know I’m your legal guardian, correct?"

“Yes.”

Kasato's eyes widened at her response. He had assumed they were merely acquainted, since as far as he knew, they had crossed paths once during an incident in the Middle East.

Still, him being her legal guardian was unexpected.

The title of legal guardian carried significant weight.

"I..." Kouna hesitated, then lowered her head once again.

She was an indecisive fool, unable to choose either side.

But in her own way, she had found a middle ground.

"Since he is my fiance, it’s only natural that things like this may happen someday. I have no intention of criticizing him for it."

"Oh?" Kasato made a cunning smile.

"However..."

His expression immediately stiffened.

"This time, I believe you went too far."

He furrowed his brows. "Tch. Not even worth arguing with you and proving I’m right." And with that, he chose to flee.

Davey watched when he turned away. "You’re just gonna go?"

"Is there anything more to talk about? I’ve heard enough. Clearly, the rumors about you were exaggerated." His tone dripped with mockery.

"If you leave now, you’ll regret it,” Davey said while shrugging.

"Hah. Don’t be ridiculous. This is Japan—you can’t just do whatever you please here."

"Is that so?"

"Obviously. I won’t forget what happened today. And you’d best forget about pressuring the government. They’ll never side with you over a Japanese citizen like me.”

‘So he’s saying he has connections in the government.’

Davey chuckled and turned on his heel to walk away.

He decided to let him go.

Sure, he could give Kouna’s grandfather a better deal and force an annulment.

But to be frank, Davey didn’t like him either. He knew giving that old fart anything would be a waste.

Anyone who treated their own precious granddaughter as a mere tool wasn’t worth negotiating with—whether in Tionis or on Earth.

Truthfully speaking, the one who frustrated Davey the most wasn’t Kasato.

It was Kouna.

Even with Davey as her legal guardian, she couldn’t trust in him enough to stand up for herself.

Still, he thought it’d be a waste to let Kasato off completely. So he prepared him a farewell gift.

‘He’s in his mid-twenties, is he?’

Then may his smooth head shine like the sun from here on.

* * *

After Kasato disappeared, Davey silently watched in the same direction.

Soon afterward, he called out Rinne.

"Rinne. Keep an eye on him."

"Executing command." She fluttered her wings and vanished.

If anyone could stealthily monitor whether that bastard was up to something shady, it was her.

He then turned back to Kouna.

"The only reason I agreed to be your legal guardian is because of Arbit."

Silence.

"Tell me honestly: Is this the outcome you wanted?"

“No...”

"I’m going to be honest with you, this whole situation makes me mad. You acted like you hated this, but when I, your legal guardian, actually tried to help, you just let me get played?"

Silence again.

She had never been sincere about her engagement to Kasato Yoshiki. Davey had already confirmed it through Haitai.

"You’re really just going along with this because you can’t stand to go against your grandfather?"

She said nothing, but her silence was an answer in itself.

He took a deep breath and shifted his approach. "If your grandfather suddenly said it was okay for you to leave this engagement—what would you do?"

The truth was, he couldn’t favor her grandfather either.

"If he says it’s okay, then..."

"Okay, this is really starting to piss me off,” Davey snapped and narrowed his eyes on her.

"If it weren’t for Arbit, I’d have already dropped you on the spot. And if it wasn’t for Haitai, I wouldn’t have even helped you.”

"I’m sorry..."

"Go back inside. I said I would keep my promise, so I did. But don’t expect my help again."

After sending her away, he casually pulled out his smartphone.

"Hyun-Ah, it’s me."

- Oh. Hey, Davey. Did you already cause more trouble since our last call?

"No, not yet. Just calling to check something. That Kasato guy from the Yoshiki Group—has he ever pulled any shady crap with you?”

There was a pause as she gave it some thought.

- Oh, that bastard? Nothing major. He tried something once, but I shut him down immediately.

"Anything else?"

- No, not really. Nothing worth worrying about. Oh, by the way, I did look into those other things you told me to look into.

"And?"

What she said next was unexpected.

- Did you know the Yoshiki Group has a defense contracting division?

"Yeah, so?"

- There’s no hard proof, but everything points to them experimenting on monsters—trying to weaponize them.

His mind immediately flashed back to the demi-gargoyles Kouna had taken down.

It wasn’t a taboo to experiment on monsters. Ethically, however? It was questionable, at best.

And he wasn’t a fan.

Japan, after losing World War II, had been legally restricted from maintaining a standing military.

Then, in recent years, its government had pushed to change that.

Since they couldn’t stockpile traditional weaponry, they’d found other ways to build power.

Earlier, when in the city, Davey did indeed feel that something was off. After all, the Awakened unit responded a lot later than he had expected.

Hearing Hyun-Ah’s words, he nodded. "Alright. That’ll do.”

- Wait. What exactly are you planning?

"Just crushing a guy who talked shit about you."

There was a long pause.

- Davey, seriously, what is wrong with you...

He could picture her making a face of disgust over the phone.

‘The thing is, I’m not the kind of person who can love all people, especially the hostile ones.’

* * *

Meanwhile, in Tokyo.

"What. The hell. Is that...?"

People were in a fearful panic.

Complete chaos.

A massive rift had appeared in the skies over Tokyo overnight.

It wasn’t just any rift—it was on an entirely different level from anything seen before.

The sheer power radiating from it was beyond all others previously recorded.

The Japanese government was in full-blown crisis mode.

A rift with such power and size, significant enough that even deploying an Awakened recklessly would be difficult, had appeared right in the middle of their capital.

If that thing started roaming freely, the chaos it’d cause would be nothing short of horrifying.

If it were an average rift, other countries would’ve jumped in just to make themselves look good. But surprisingly, this one completely erased any such notions the moment it appeared.

Japan wasn’t the only one, either—similar massive rifts had opened all across the world.

In Busan, South Korea.

Moscow, Russia.

Paris, France.

Eastern Canada.

Argentina.

And many more.

The entire world was thrown into turmoil.

In the midst of it all, Davey paid Yoshiki a visit.

He immediately recognized him, his bloodshot eyes narrowing as he screamed, "You!! It’s you, isn't it?!”

"I told you—you’d regret it if you just walked away."

"You fuck!!!"

"I came here today just to tell you that. Take a good look, Yoshiki. This is what happens when you pick a fight with the wrong person."

His face twisted in shock.

"Wait, don’t tell me—those rifts... You’re behind them?!”

"Don’t be ridiculous. Even I wouldn’t go that far."

He wasn’t lying. They were just natural events.

"However... Thanks to you, I’ve stopped protecting Earth for free."

It wasn’t that he had acted against Earth. He had simply removed the constant protective force he’d been maintaining, which in turn relieved some of the stress on Neltarid.

Honestly, whether he did so or not, the rifts would’ve had to be unleashed at some point. But the fact that it happened at that exact moment was largely thanks to Kasato.

"Y-You demon! All this over something so petty?!"

"Petty, my ass. I hold grudges, Yoshiki. But don’t worry—no one will get hurt. Only you will be ruined."

"If this comes to light, no one will be there to help you!"

"Then the world can cut ties with me. I don’t care.” Davey shrugged.

He wasn’t the one clinging onto Earth.

Unlike Goddess Freyja, who was a fair, peaceful god, Davey was a selfish divinity.

He looked down at the man one last time. And as I did, his head was gleaming perfectly.

Kasato had a flawless, shiny, circular bald spot.