The Strongest Curse Master-Chapter 234: Storm Surfer

"How much longer do I have to stand like this?" Delores muttered, frowning slightly as she hovered within the clouds, Ace still wrapped around her front like an overfamiliar carryon. His chin rested on her shoulder, his arms tucked under her armpits and wrapped around her back, steadying his rifle as he aimed at the surroundings of the cursed mist veiling the Highway Resort.

They hadn’t followed Evil Eyes into Matthew’s Dusk Dominion. Instead, she had pulled a feint, hiding in the clouds as per Ace’s suggestion. Apparently, he was taking her hunting.

She exhaled through her nose, resisting the urge to shiver as she felt his breath brush against her collarbone, neck, and ear. Every so often, she could swear he was sniffing her. He claimed they had to stand like this so she could help absorb the recoil from his rifle, but she wasn’t buying it. The way he kept subtly shifting, pressing against her under the pretense of adjusting his aim—it was obvious.

"Bear with me," Ace murmured, his eyes locked onto his scope but ever so often they would briefly flick to the soft curve of her earlobe with a sudden urge to suck on it but he would restrain himself. Thanks to Dame Wasp monitoring the site he could afford such small distractions. "Haven’t you ever been hunting before? These things take time."

They hovered a mile above the Highway Resort, hidden from sight. Instead of rushing to assist Matthews, they lay in wait—for MindBug.

This chapt𝒆r is updated by frёewebηovel.cѳm.

Delores didn’t particularly care about MindBug, but Ace did. She had seen his face. He knew that the S.S.S. might grant her a small merit for identifying him, but small wouldn’t cut it. The real reward would come from killing him and avenging her fallen comrade.

Therefore, Ace was sure of one thing—after patching herself up, MindBug would be back. She wouldn’t just walk away from this. Whether she thought her side or the C. I. B. would win, she would be watching, waiting to harvest his life and claim the bounty on his head.

Delores rolled her eyes at his response but remained perfectly still, standing like a statue despite Ace constantly shifting against her, rubbing himself on her whenever possible. She knew that if she moved even slightly, he’d start whining about how she was ruining his aim—and worse, he’d take it as an excuse to really help himself to her body.

Over the years, Delores had learned to work with any kind of teammate, no matter how insufferable. It was a survival skill in her line of work as the McSuile family’s retainer. And while Ace was an absolute menace, he was also proving to be an exceptional asset. For the sake of their mission—and because he was showing results—she tolerated his antics. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have given a damn if he was Mandy’s nephew or a C.I.B. trainee. She’d have educated him on the consequences of getting handsy with her.

The reason Delores didn’t mind spending time hunting MindBug was because MindBug was on McSuile’s wanted list for assassinating a direct family member. Bringing her down would be worthwhile. Besides, Delores trusted Evil Eyes and Matthews to handle the curse users trapped inside Dusk Dominion. If they needed backup, they’d radio her.

"She’s here," Ace whispered against her ear, his breath warm against her skin. Delores stiffened, every muscle in her body going rigid, mentally exlaiming, ’Finally.’ She had endured his nonsense for this moment. If he screwed it up now, she’d make his life a living hell. Holding her breath, she stayed perfectly still, not wanting to give him the slightest excuse in case he failed.

Ace steadied his aim, his grip firm and unshakable. Through the rifle’s Leprechaun Scope, he tracked MindBug’s movements, the crosshairs gliding with her as she slipped through the terrain. She finally stopped near the Highway Resort, tucking herself into a hiding spot.

This time, Ace didn’t need Dame Wasp’s help to aim as MindBug’s ability wasn’t influencing them now. But through the scope, all he saw was a shadow of Sky-tier curse energy. He couldn’t be certain it was her. But Dame Wasp confirmed the target for him.

When MindBug finally came to a halt, Ace zeroed in on her core—the source of her curse energy, where it swirled and pulsed through her body. Locking onto his target, he squeezed the trigger.

The rail rifle fired.

This time, the recoil hit like a jumbo Boeing plane. Ace had managed to store multiple times the required electricity to kill a Sky-tier curse user in the rifle’s power chamber by harnessing a massive lightning strike from the surrounding clouds—courtesy of Delores’s ability, Storm Surfer.

Despite Delores’s preparedness and bracing for it, the force sent them both flying. Wind howled past as they tumbled through the sky, but thanks to Delores’s innate curse tool’s effect, they came to an abrupt yet controlled stop.

Below them, a deafening explosion shattered the night.

Regaining her balance, Delores quickly scanned the ground. A massive crater had replaced the landscape, its depth and size resembling a small meteor impact. Everything within had been either reduced to ash or buried beneath layers of rubble. But at the very center, a single pinhole remained—a narrow, unfathomably deep void marking the mischief bullet’s path.

And right beside it, glinting under the moonlight, lay a silver-and-pearl headband. Delores recognized it instantly. MindBug had been seen wearing that same accessory on multiple occasions. Ace had once again eliminated his target with a single shot.

With a nod of satisfaction, Delores turned to glance at him—only to find his head buried in her cleavage, clinging to her like a scared little kid. She might have believed the act… if not for his free hand firmly cupping her ass, fingers sinking in with an unmistakable squeeze.

Noticing him taking advantage of her using the situation without bothering to check on his target, Delores was amused by his confidence and audacity. She let out a quiet sigh, shaking her head with a subtle smirk.

"Kid," she said, voice laced with dry amusement and sincerely advised, "Get yourself a girlfriend before your antics actually get you killed."