Chapter 137: Different Reactions (55 Bonus Chapter 4)

"So, my beloved Miss Xie Shen, after I have fulfilled your request, what kind of reward are you planning to bestow upon me?"

After finally coaxing Nie Nasha into a good mood, Herbert reverted to his true nature and asked with a teasing grin, "Surely you're not going to give me nothing again, are you?"

He still harbored a deep grudge over how, when he first received Nie Nasha's blessing, he had gained nothing but a strange marking on the back of his hand—no actual power at all.

As for the abilities gained from the monster girl materials… what does that have to do with you? Isn't it all thanks to my own efforts!!?

They were all ones I painstakingly conquered one by one on my own.

All thanks to my hard work and sweat!

【"Hehe~ It definitely won't disappoint you!"】

Nie Nasha hummed smugly, then two tentacles emerged from the shadows and gently tapped the foreheads of Herbert and the sleeping Valentina.

【"Feel the power!"】

"Mm?"

Herbert had only just begun to wonder when he suddenly felt a powerful force surge from the tentacle, flooding into his body.

"Mm!!?"

Wang Cheng.

The noble district was a scene of utter desolation.

The nobles who usually went out and about had all vanished; apart from the patrolling guards, not a single living soul could be seen on the broad avenues.

Almost every noble was shrouded in an unsolvable gloom.

They had gathered every available hand that could protect them, cautiously hiding in their homes, ostensibly refusing to meet anyone, yet in secret constantly corresponding with their allies to exchange information.

The reason for such a state of affairs was simple—two major events had occurred yesterday: 【The Bloody Ball】 and 【The Crimson Dragon】.

The White Dove had returned.

But if it were only his return, the news would have meant nothing to the noble circles.

Not everyone had taken part in that incident back then; at most, others were merely curious what he would do, and even more were content to sit back and watch the situation unfold for entertainment.

But the truth was, Herbert had not only returned—he had become incredibly powerful!

He had turned Princess Felia's ball into a purgatory, slaughtering the participating nobles with inhuman cruelty!

It wasn't as if there were no professionals among the nobles; some did rise up to resist.

But those noble scions, whose strength was only at the beginner and intermediate levels, had absolutely no power to fight back against that terrifying fellow.

They could only be slaughtered one by one, their heads plucked off as if at his mercy.

But this bloody ball would at most make them wary, not strike fear into all of them.

What truly chilled them to the bone was the crimson dragon that appeared afterward.

That was absolutely a legendary-class dragon!

No, possibly even more than that.

Judging by its size, it might even be an epic-class dragon!

What was the relationship between that dragon and Herbert?

Because all eyewitnesses had either been killed or fled, the nobles actually had no clear idea that Valentina was that dragon.

But even without knowing these details, it wasn't hard to guess the connection between Herbert and that dragon—could he possibly be controlling it?

If that were the case, then… for the entire Frost Crystal Kingdom, this would be a terrible disaster.

And what made them even more suspicious was the reaction of the Frost Crystal royal family.

Quite a few survivors saw that very scene—Princess Felia showed no reaction whatsoever while Herbert was slaughtering, standing aside and watching with complete indifference.

Could she also be one of the conspirators?

With this thought as a premise, even the royal family's legendary expert driving away that dragon looked to them like it was just playing along.

Driven off with a single shot?

Where has there ever been such a cowardly dragon?

Moreover, even now, the royal family still has made no statement whatsoever about yesterday's events, making it hard not to believe there is no connection between them.

What does this imply?

Has the Frost Crystal royal family, after enduring for so long, finally decided to move against the nobles?

If that's the case… then we lot had better get prepared too.

The commoner district.

And unlike the anxious, unsettled noble district, the commoner district was a scene of thriving prosperity.

Extremely lively!

People had forgotten the recent economic pressures, all stepping out of doors to chatter in the sunlight, discussing with friends everything they had seen yesterday.

Bragging wildly.

A dragon!

I saw a dragon that biiiig yesterday!

Some said that dragon was half the size of a castle!

Others said that when it spread its wings, it blotted out the entire sky!

Others still said that dragon was three times bigger than the whole castle!

Opinions varied wildly, and the rumors grew stranger and stranger.

And the reasons for the dragon's appearance grew stranger and stranger too.

Some said it had come to attend the princess's coming-of-age ball, intending to abduct the beautiful princess!

Others said the dragon was an envoy sent by the gods to punish those wicked nobles!

There were even those who claimed the dragon had come to freeload food and drink—this version was the least credible, and hardly anyone believed it.

But compared to that terrifying, astonishing scarlet dragon.

What the residents discussed even more was the hero who stepped in at the critical moment!

That unidentified my lord only needed one thrust to easily drive such a terrifying dragon back!

One thrust!!!

It gave them the feeling that legend had walked into reality.

They couldn't help but feel very safe.

With such a powerful expert protecting them, the kingdom's safety would never be any problem at all.

These days were truly too wonderful.

These days were really getting more and more hopeful!

The slums.

And unlike the chaotic noble district and the buzzing commoner district, the slums hadn't changed much.

Still the same stagnant pool of water.

The people still breathing were several fewer than yesterday.

Even though quite a few people saw that dragon yesterday, not many discussed it.

They were exhausted, without the spirit or energy; simply surviving already took everything they had.

They couldn't see hope at all.

They simply didn't want to die, so they forced themselves to endure — one more day alive was one more day gained.

But today was a little different from usual here; there was a touch more commotion.

Because a special team had come here.

It was a team of about twenty people, all wearing plain hemp clothing.

They claimed to be holy knights from the Mist Monastery, here to provide free treatment and help to these dying people.

……

"Lady Kaplan, the food has already been distributed."

"Mm…"

Kaplan raised her head, moved her rough palm from atop a thin, small child's head, nodded to his mother, and said gently:

"The child is fine now. As long as he doesn't catch cold again, he'll recover very soon."

That numb-faced mother barely managed to curve an expression, nodded at her, then wrapped the child in a tattered cloth and dragged her limping body slowly away.

Her thin frame reflected in Sister Kaplan's eyes, making her pupils tremble slightly.

She understood.

Their team of about twenty people couldn't save that many people at all.

But… even if they couldn't save them all, they still had to save them.

As long as they could save one more, they had to save one more.

But the real problem wasn't injuries or illness — it was food!

They were short of far too much food.

And right now, the price of frost crystal…

At this moment, Blake, who had been mingling among the holy knights all along, walked up to Sister Kaplan, respectfully lowered his head, and said:

"Lady Kaplan, please don't worry about the food problem. Following His Highness Herbert's instructions, I've already sent people to purchase new food; it can be delivered back this afternoon."

"Also, His Highness said…"

He observed the nun's expression as he carefully repeated the words Herbert had asked him to convey:

"Just stand there and watch with your own eyes."

"Then you'll understand whether the idea I proposed before was really too extreme…"

What's there to review about Chapter 3, really…

But anyway, it's out.

From today on, whoever asks again whether the male lead is a eunuch, tell them loudly for me!

He's not!!!

……

Extra chapters status: (4/83)

(Alliance Leader 22 chapters + Monthly Tickets 31 chapters + Sanjiang 5 chapters + First Subscription 25 chapters = 83 chapters). Average subscriptions haven't stabilized yet — I'll calculate at month's end, probably starting from 20 chapters too.

No idea if the New Author Monthly Ticket ranking can hold in the top six by month's end; the overall Monthly Ticket ranking is actually close to the top hundred too.

I can already see a future of sustained daily ten-thousand-word updates for two months — more than happy to do it!

Extra chapters! Going all out on extra chapters!

Charge! As long as I'm not dead from it, I'll write myself to death!

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(End of this chapter)