My SSS-Rank Kingdom-Building System

The two men paused, a moment of uncertainty flashing across their faces.

But Leon wasn't done. He pulled his shirt up just enough to reveal a concealed pistol tucked into the waistband of his jeans. The cold steel gleamed under the streetlights.

The atmosphere shifted immediately. The knife-wielder's eyes widened took a half-step back, suddenly realizing that this wasn't a situation They could win.

"You… you think you can just pull a gun on us?" the second man, a bulky figure with tattoos covering his arms, growled. His voice was low, but there was a nervous edge to it now.

Leon's grip tightened on the pistol. "I don't want trouble. You're the ones who made it. Now, take your knives and leave. Before things get worse."

For a moment, the two men just stared at him, sizing him up.

Finally, the man with the knife took another step back, his grip on the weapon loosening. The second man gave a sharp nod, and they both exchanged one last glance, deciding it wasn't worth pushing any further.

"Alright, alright," the bald man grumbled. "We're not here for trouble. Just get out of our way next time."

With that, they turned and started walking away, the sound of their footsteps echoing in the empty street. Leon didn't relax until they disappeared around the corner, out of sight.

He let out a slow breath. The gun slipped back into its holster as he turned to Emily.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice softer now, a genuine concern behind the words.

Emily stood there, still wide-eyed but now visibly relieved. She nodded quickly, though she was trembling. "Yeah… thank you. I didn't know what to do. I thought—"

"You don't need to explain," Leon interrupted gently, his tone warm. "Just be careful next time, okay?"

She nodded again, still a little shaken. "I will. I—I don't know how to thank you enough."

Leon gave a small, reassuring smile. "It's nothing. Just glad you're safe." He paused, then added, "But you still haven't told me what's going on. Why were they after you?"

Emily's gaze faltered as she hesitated, her fingers tightening around the grocery bags. "I… I don't know who they are. They just randomly started following me. I was shopping for groceries, and then suddenly… they appeared. I even tried to lose them, but I just kept getting more lost."

Leon's eyes softened as he looked at the bags she was carrying, noticing the assortment of food she had clearly picked out in haste. "Sounds like they were watching you for a while," he said, his tone growing more serious. "It's good that you made it out of that situation."

Emily sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. "Yeah, but I'm still shaken up."

Leon looked around, his gaze scanning the street. The night air was crisp, and the shadows seemed to stretch endlessly in the dim light of the street lamps. He realized then that he couldn't just let her walk home alone after everything that had happened.

"Hey," he said after a moment, "I'm heading in the same direction. I could walk you home, if you want. It's not too much trouble."

Emily blinked, surprised by his offer but then gave him a grateful smile. "You'd do that for me?"

Leon nodded. "Yeah, why not? Besides, I don't have anything else to do now, right? Lost all my money tonight, so it's not like I'm heading anywhere important." His voice was light, though there was a hint of bitterness behind the words. The truth was, he was just trying to shake off the weight of the casino loss. Walking her home seemed like a good distraction.

"Okay," Emily said, her smile widening. "I'd appreciate it."

As they began walking side by side, the sound of their footsteps echoed in the quiet night. The tension between them began to ease, and for the first time that evening, Emily seemed to relax. She glanced over at Leon, curiosity in her eyes.

"So… about that gun," she said, breaking the silence. "How do you have one? I mean… you don't seem like the type to carry one around."

Leon took a deep breath, his gaze briefly flickering to the ground as he considered her question. He wasn't exactly the type to share much about his past, but something about the calmness in her voice made him feel like he could be honest.

"When I was 16," he began, his voice low, "I joined the army. Served for two years. I'm 19 now. It wasn't easy, but it was a good experience." He glanced over at Emily, his tone casual but tinged with the weight of his words. "After I left, I figured it wouldn't be a bad idea to have something for self-defense. You know how things are these days."

Emily was quiet for a moment, processing what he had just shared. She seemed to take it all in, not offering any judgment, just curiosity. "I didn't realize you were ex-military. That makes sense now. I mean, you handled that situation with those guys pretty calmly."

Leon shrugged, a slight smirk pulling at his lips. "It comes with the territory, I guess. After two years in the army, getting caught in a knife fight doesn't really faze me. Still… I don't like carrying a gun around all the time. But in situations like this, it doesn't hurt to be prepared."

Emily nodded, clearly impressed but still processing the gravity of what he'd said. "I never would've guessed you had a military background. You just seem… so normal."

Leon chuckled softly. "That's because I try to be. I don't like drawing attention to myself."

They walked in silence for a few moments, Emily then spoke up again, her voice quieter, almost hesitant.

"If you'd like, you could stay at my place tonight…" she said, glancing at him with a faint blush creeping up her cheeks. "I mean… it's the least I can do after everything. You've helped me out a lot, Leon."

Leon raised an eyebrow, surprised but not exactly opposed to the idea. He glanced at her, considering for a moment.

He had nowhere else to go—no money, no plans—and the idea of spending the night at her place seemed like a welcome change from the frustration he'd been carrying all evening.

"Yeah, sure. I don't mind," he replied, giving her a small, reassuring smile. "I'd appreciate that."