Chapter 174: The Wager

The potion slid down his throat.

Warm.

Immediately, Luo De felt a very slight enhancement to his physical constitution and strength.

And this was not temporary—it was a genuine, permanent enhancement to his bodily structure.

"Oh!"

Luo De exclaimed: "Not bad. Got any more?"

The elf Kalistre asked in return: "How did it feel?"

"Very slight. If I drank fifty more bottles, the effect might become noticeable."

Kalistre shook her head and pulled on a white medical protective suit again.

It was a garment similar to an apron, slightly loose.

The elf's body was normally clad in magic-formed tight-fitting attire, but the protective suit hung loosely against her perfect, toned figure, clinging loosely to her chest and waistline.

It somehow gave off a peculiarly risqué vibe, like wearing nothing but an apron.

Kalistre: "This is a sixth-tier permanent strength potion. As a mage, after drinking half a bottle, I needed at least a month to adjust."

Luo De paused.

He examined the bottle's mouth and indeed spotted a faint pink lip print.

The elf frowned slightly, then realized it herself.

She snatched the test tube back:

"A well-trained warrior can consume it fully, but it's not as mild as you claim. Your physical strength requires at least a seventh-tier permanent strength potion—but it's too expensive. I don't recommend it."

Luo De wanted to ask more.

But Kalistre pushed him out the door.

"The patient's injuries haven't been treated yet. Come back tomorrow."

Luo De lifted Tally in his arms: "What about her?"

"You need to feed her something first. Food energy greatly aids recovery."

"Don't worry. She's a squirrel type—has a habit of hoarding food."

For Tally's sake, Luo De still let Kalistre take her back to the temporary hospital.

He returned to his residence.

The empty forest ranger's cabin stirred a faint sense of loneliness in Luo De.

How long had it been since he spent a night alone?

He curled up on the slightly discolored animal-skin single sofa.

"Permanent strength potions are a money pit. Don't even think about using them until Selina develops an overload ring."

It was frustrating to think about.

The zombie Selina, brought back for research, had her hands broken in mere days.

Though they had the spell 【Mage Hands】, it couldn't replace everything.

He wondered if it would affect future experiments.

"Forget bloodline awakening."

That kind of thing is innate.

Usually, signs appear at birth and persist through adolescence, culminating in a sudden awakening at some mature point.

Like the tiefling's ancestral bloodline.

Some manifest at birth; disgusted human parents might kill and bury the child on the spot.

Others lie dormant until adulthood.

Luo De had no chance.

His adolescent growth was perfectly steady. The only thing remotely turbulent was at age twelve, when he was too handsome and got dragged into the widow next door's room—only released the next day.

"A power contract with Naulin would be ideal, but the problem is she doesn't even have a body yet."

Besides, he didn't know if a power contract would conflict with the enslavement incantation.

Finding someone else was impossible—such contracts often came with exploitative terms favoring higher beings.

He could try resonating with natural elements, though that's usually done only after seventh tier.

Rigorous training, breathing techniques, and consuming treasure herbs could also be tried.

"The Magic Control Union's market has plenty. Take a look when you have time."

The avian Karoline's loot had good items, but many were useless to him—he might as well sell them for something practical.

He was thinking this over.

A familiar aura approached from afar.

Soon.

The upper half of the banshee Chris's spirit passed through the door.

She looked pitiful: "Master—"

"Knock first."

"A banshee knocking is an ill omen."

Luo De sighed and motioned her in.

The banshee Chris automatically found a corner and curled into a ball.

"What are you doing?"

"The land nagas are searching for me. I'm scared."

Though she hated to admit it, the place in the forest where Chris felt safest wasn't her own room at Henry's farm—but Luo De's nightly revelry-filled ranger's cabin.

So what if she had to listen to other women moaning? At least she could sleep well.

After all, she'd heard it before.

Chris looked around: "Huh? Where's Tally?"

Last night, she and the ghoul Pan Ni had gone to suppress soldiers turned into hellish creatures, fishing all night. After hearing of the naga uprising, she immediately fled and hid.

Only when she sensed her master's aura in the ranger's cabin did she dare show herself—so she didn't know anyone was injured.

"She got hurt. She's not staying here tonight."

Chris froze.

Then she solidified and knelt silently.

"What now?"

"Let's… do it," the banshee stammered.

Back in Jade City, when she claimed the male elf Georgi—who liked only fifty-year-old women—had tricked her body, that was a lie.

Georgi was a pure crone enthusiast; he had zero interest in young women.

Chris was, in fact, an undead who had never been with anyone.

Luo De still thought: when Chris became solid, she looked too human—he had little desire.

He planned to visit the ghoul Pan Ni later.

But to have food and not eat? A grave sin.

He sighed.

He moved closer.

But she fled like a startled bird, reverting instantly to her spirit form.

She looked heartbroken: "Sorry, Master! I'm not ready yet!"

"You tease me and then run? Not happening."

Luo De laughed bitterly.

He stepped forward to take her on the spot.

Another familiar aura came from afar.

The land naga Eve had come to visit.

She saw the banshee hiding on the rafters and smiled coldly.

"Where did this slut come from?"

The way she said that—like she thought she was the mistress here.

Luo De waved his hand: "What do you want? Aren't you afraid the other nagas will find you?"

"Afraid of what? They're terrified of that seventh-tier tree spirit—they won't dare come near the forest."

As she spoke, she glided over and sat beside Luo De's bedding.

Then she stared coldly at Chris above: "Get out."

Land nagas are a possessive race.

Eve was no exception—she considered Luo De her possession.

Hearing the nagas dared not approach the forest, Chris was overjoyed. Seeing her master nod, she fled the cabin like a bolt.

But she didn't run far—she huddled pitifully on the roof.

Once she was gone, Eve brushed her hair aside: "I've come to collect on our bet."

"What bet?"

"The wager."

Saying this, she lay flat on the bed, the giant white rabbit rising and falling in waves.

Then she shifted slightly, sliding her head off the edge of the bed, the back of her skull resting against the side of the mattress.

Slowly, she opened her mouth toward Luo De.

A pink oral cavity glistening with saliva.

A long, powerful tongue curled through the air, dragging strands of saliva with it.

"Come here."

Luo De's eyes lit up: "Don't forget the 【Toxic Spray】."

"Annoying, come over already."

(End of Chapter)