KamiKowa: That Time I Got Transmigrated With A Broken Goddess-Chapter 52: [] The Real Thing

Xavier returned to the document, scrolling faster now. He skipped past sections on Dominic’s corporate sponsorships and public appearances, looking for anything unusual.

A small section titled "Personal Life" caught his attention. According to Adrian’s research, Dominic claimed to be an orphan with no known family connections. No birth records existed in any public database, and his earliest official documentation was a hunter registration form from three years ago.

"Listen to this," Xavier said. "He has no verifiable history before his first public appearance. No school records, no birth certificate, nothing."

"That’s not just unusual, it’s impossible," Calypso said, crawling closer to peer at the tablet. "Everyone in this world has records, especially after the Cataclysm. The survivor registration system is comprehensive."

Xavier nodded. "Adrian notes that too. He speculates that either records were deliberately erased or..."

"Or what?"

"Or Dominic isn’t who he claims to be." Xavier read further. "There’s a theory here that he might be using a stolen identity, though Adrian dismisses it as unlikely given the biometric verification required for hunter registration."

Calypso’s foot had stopped its annoying movement, her full attention now on the discussion. "What about physical characteristics? Anything unusual there?"

Xavier scrolled to a section with high-resolution photos from Dominic’s matches and public appearances. "Black hair, red eyes—unusual but not unheard of. Height 6’2", athletic build." He paused, reading a notation beside one image. "Wait, Adrian noticed something. In older photos, Dominic’s eyes appear brown in certain lighting, but in all recent appearances, they’re consistently red."

"Contact lenses?" Calypso suggested.

"Maybe, but why? And when did the change happen?"

Xavier continued scrolling, finding a timeline Adrian had constructed of Dominic’s public appearances. The eye color discrepancy appeared approximately two years ago, around the same time Dominic had begun his meteoric rise through the ranks.

"Two years," Xavier murmured. "That could be significant."

On the television, Jazz Rodriguez was now shouting about hunter rankings being rigged by corporate interests. The debate had grown heated, with both hosts talking over each other.

"Turn that up," Calypso said suddenly.

Xavier raised the volume as the camera cut to Storm Washington.

"—breaking news from Sentinels," Storm announced. "Dominic Black has just confirmed his participation in December’s Primal Exhibition in a Tier-3 gate. This marks the first time a student hunter has been approved for such a high-profile event."

The camera returned to Marcus and Jazz, both looking surprised.

"That’s unprecedented," Marcus said, shuffling papers. "Student hunters are explicitly prohibited from tier 3 Gate activities under GGA regulation 47-B."

"Sentinels must have pulled some serious strings," Jazz added. "Or Black’s even better than we thought."

Xavier muted the television again. "That’s convenient timing."

"What do you mean?" Calypso asked.

"We need access to more exclusive Gates to complete our mission. Dominic just got approved to enter one." Xavier set the tablet aside. "This could be our opportunity to observe a powerful Gate up close without raising suspicions."

Calypso nodded slowly. "It would give us valuable information for when we attempt to close one."

"Exactly." Xavier leaned forward. "We need to be there for that exhibition."

"How? It’s probably invitation-only."

"Leave that to me. Getting into exclusive events was my specialty in my past life."

Calypso studied him for a moment, then returned to her spot on the floor. She picked up her pencil again but didn’t immediately return to her homework.

"You’re good at that, you know," she said quietly.

"Good at what?"

"Charming people. Like that cashier today." Calypso’s eyes remained fixed on her textbook. "She gave you free pastries just because you smiled at her."

Xavier shrugged. "It’s just a skill, like any other. Find what people want, give them a taste of it, get what you need."

"Is that what you’re doing with me?"

"No, you’re... complicated."

Calypso looked up, a small smile on her lips. "Complicated how?"

"You’re literally bound to me by divine forces. We experience pain if we’re separated. That puts you firmly in the ’not a mark’ category." Xavier picked up his tablet again. "Besides, what would I even be trying to get from you?"

"My divine wisdom? My charming personality?" Calypso quoted her earlier joke, her foot resuming its annoying tap against his leg.

Xavier grabbed her ankle mid-tap, his fingers wrapping firmly around the delicate bone. "Stop that."

Calypso grinned. "Make me."

Xavier narrowed his eyes, still holding her ankle suspended above his lap. "You know," he said, thumb tracing a small circle on the inside of her ankle, "in my previous life, I learned all sorts of interesting pressure points."

Calypso’s smile faltered slightly. "What does that mean?"

"It means," Xavier said, dragging his index finger lightly along the arch of her foot, "that I know exactly where to touch to get different reactions."

The goddess tried to pull her foot back, but Xavier tightened his grip. When his fingers danced across the sensitive sole of her foot, Calypso’s entire body jerked.

"No!" she gasped, eyes widening. "Don’t you dare—"

Xavier smirked and repeated the motion, this time with more deliberate pressure. Calypso squealed, a sound so undignified and un-goddess-like that it made him laugh out loud.

"Are you ticklish goddess?" he asked, continuing his assault on her foot.

"Stop!" Calypso shrieked, twisting on the floor as she tried to free herself. Her silver hair splayed across the carpet, textbooks forgotten as she writhed beneath his touch. "Xavier! I command you!"

"Commands don’t work when you’re laughing," he pointed out, moving his fingers to the particularly sensitive spot just beneath her toes.

Calypso dissolved into helpless giggles, her entire body shaking. Tears formed at the corners of her pink eyes as she gasped for breath between bursts of laughter.

"I’ll—" she hiccupped, "I’ll curse you for this!"

"You barely have enough power to make toast," Xavier reminded her, not letting up. "I think I’m safe."

In a desperate move, Calypso lunged forward, tackling Xavier’s legs and sending them both tumbling onto the floor. Xavier landed on his back with a thud, Calypso sprawled across his chest, both breathing hard.

"That was unfair," she panted, her face inches from his. Pink eyes bore into purple, her silver hair creating a curtain around their faces.

"All’s fair in war and tickle fights," he murmured.

Calypso’s lips twitched. "That’s not how the saying goes."

"Close enough."

Her eyes dropped to his mouth, then back to his eyes.

Xavier reached up, tucking a strand of silver hair behind her ear. His fingers lingered against her cheek, and he felt her lean slightly into his touch.

"You should know," she whispered, "that revenge is a divine specialty."

Before Xavier could process her words, Calypso’s fingers found his sides, digging in with surprising precision. Xavier jerked beneath her, a strangled laugh escaping his throat.

"Not so smug now, are we?" Calypso crowed, her face lighting up with triumph as she discovered that the former assassin was just as ticklish as she was.

Xavier grabbed for her wrists, but she was quicker than expected, her fingers finding every vulnerable spot with unerring accuracy. Their positions reversed as he twisted beneath her, trying to escape her relentless attack.

"How—" he gasped between laughs, "how did you know?"

Calypso grinned down at him. "Divine wisdom, remember?"

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