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“What’s that?”

A depraved expression manifested on Brock’s face as he flipped the pages around.

A beautiful, busty blonde graced the cover, wearing nothing but brown boots, a weird-rimmed hat, and white panties. Her breasts and nipples were fully displayed as she stared straight at them with a seductive grin.

Khalani’s cheeks reddened, her mouth forming an O. Brockcontinued flipping through the lewd images, each one more salacious than the last.

Adan quickly maneuvered around her, his eyes lighting up.

“Is that what I think it is?”

Brock grinned. “From what I know, they used to sell these in all the Great Collapse stores.” When he flipped to an image of two women in bizarre suits throwing mud at each other, Adan’s expression transformed into pure awe.

“I don’t see what the big fuss is.” Serene barged forward, snatching the magazine from Brock’s hands. “Those boobs aren’t even real. They look like plastic balloons.”

“Jealous?” Brock’s eyes gleamed.

“Why would I be jealous of ancient bimbos?”

“Be nice, Serene.” Winnie reprimanded as Derek helped her sit on the tiled floor. “Women support, not shame.”

“Pleasedon’t give me that look, Winnie.” Serene sighed. “They’re not even alive!”

“And we should still celebrate them.”

“I’m in total agreement,” Adan smirked.

Serene grimaced and shoved the magazine into Brock’s chest with one hand while smacking her brother on the back of the head with the other.

Khalani found herself still staring at the pictures.

She didn’t normally think about her body. She’d never had a reason to. In Apollo, status depended on wealth, and she’d been at the bottom of the pecking order. But as she gazed at the women, she couldn’t help but compare herself.

Khalani had a firm backside, and her body was toned from the lack of calories and torturous training sessions with Takeshi in Braderhelm. But her chest was lacking in comparison, and judging by the laughter and teasing in the women’s expressions, their energy drew people in like the sun.

Khalani was dark and depressing. Like a raincloud.

She’d never seen a raincloud, but from what she read in Winnie’s library, they didn’t bring joy. They brought the cold, were gloomy, cried their emotions, and exploded lightning in anger.

That description should have her face stapled next to it.

“Wanna take a closer look?” Brock inclined his head with a knowing gaze, holding the magazine out to her.

That snapped Khalani out of her stupor, and she shook her head fervently.

He chuckled, pulling the sheets back. “Judging by the blush on your cheeks, I think you do. No need to be ashamed if it turns you on.”

“If what turns her on?”

The blood completely leached out of her face, and she closed her eyes, hoping…prayingthat the gravelly tone was a figment of her imagination and the man it belonged to wasn’t standing directly behind her.

“Nothing. Just some light reading,” Brock smirked. Much to her dismay, he tossed the magazine directly behind her.

She dared a glance over her shoulder, and her heart dropped when she saw Takeshi flipping through it.

His expression was impassive as he thumbed through the thin pages. A few seconds passed as she waited for him to have a similar reaction to Adan, but Takeshi appearedbored, as if he were sifting through a mundane research paper detailing the chemical composition of limestone.

“Do you have a favorite, Kanes?” Takeshi’s gaze flicked up to hers.