Chapter 200: Afterward with Lu Xiusi

According to our half-deer customs, as long as you take a walk under the starry galaxy with a friend or lover, chat together, and commune over star destinies, all psychological issues will resolve themselves.

Xiao Ke smiled sweetly, clearly already imagining it in her mind.

"Oh? So you like this kind of thing? Then next time the moon is bright, I'll take you for a walk."

"Really?!"

Then she realized what she'd said and blushed deeply, quickly protesting:

"I-I don't want to go with you!"

Luo De chuckled at her reaction, pulled out a silver bracelet from his spell satchel, and slipped it quietly into Xiao Ke's hand.

"I saw this while passing through Shi Ying Town—I thought it suited you, so I bought it."

Xiao Ke's eyes lit up with delight, yet she pretended not to care.

"I don't want it."

But Luo De firmly slipped it onto her wrist: "You gave me your prophecy bracelet—it helped me immensely. You can't leave me without a gift in return. I didn't give anything to Tally, Vivian, or Kalist."

"R-Really?"

Fake.

Every time the goblin Pete comes to Shi Ying Town, he brings a batch of decent-quality jewelry, said to be crafted by a renowned dwarf jeweler. Though they have no magical effects, they're beautiful and distinctive.

Luo De usually buys the entire batch outright and gives them out to different girls in the forest after a while.

Then he says a few sweet words—simple forest girls always fall for it.

"Of course, I like Xiao Ke the most."

"Stop talking nonsense!"

Luo De saw the mix of joy and shyness on her face and figured he'd done enough.

"Come find me tonight?"

"No!" The half-deer refused without hesitation.

But sensing her tone had been too harsh, she stole a glance at him: "N-Not tonight… I still need to care for the patients."

Luo De didn't press her, softly reassuring her not to overwork herself, then told a few jokes to make her laugh.

Only after a while did he remember that the mare-girl Bond was gone.

According to the original plan, the mare-girl was supposed to provide long-range support from the rear.

But after this prolonged battle, not a single arrow flew through the air.

Xiao Ke looked worried and explained: "It was the ratmen—they came back to attack the forest while you were away. Bond saw Krist not handling it, so she went to help."

Ratmen.

Luo De had once gone with the land naga Eve to search for treasure in the abandoned mine, and encountered ratmen building an underground city—he killed a sixth-rank high-tier ratman and reclaimed a fixed-space treasure.

No doubt that's where the grudge came from.

"How's the battle going?"

"They were driven off. For safety, Bond is still on guard at the site."

Luo De nodded.

It makes sense that Penny the ghoul's undead legion is still necessary as the first line of defense—otherwise, these little pests would harass us daily, and it'd be a nightmare.

He didn't stay long at the temporary hospital.

First, he checked on Bond's condition; once he confirmed she was fine, he relaxed.

Then he went to Yiku Hill to retrieve the 【Trembling Soul Blade】 and brought the terrified old tiefling to Shi Ying Town.

Shi Ying Town, City Hall.

Still in the witch Dimia's office.

The negotiations had ended; they were now summarizing and discussing next steps.

Supposedly, at first, both sides' pacing and conditions were manageable.

The other side even considered compromising on certain terms, and confirmed that Fried Argyle's demonic transformation wasn't their doing.

But halfway through, the tone shifted abruptly.

A new dark elf at the negotiation table suddenly seized control of Coral Bay's speaking rights and flatly denied all agreements reached earlier.

The negotiations collapsed entirely under the dark elf's arrogance and rigidity.

Luo De had intended to just say hello and leave, but the tooth fairy Rosalia came over sweetly, took his hand, and pulled him onto the sofa, squeezing onto the single-seat couch with him.

He sat on the sofa; Rosalia sat on his lap.

From Luo De's perspective, her peach-like buttocks slightly deformed and expanded against his thighs, sharply contrasting with her slender waist above.

Higher up, beneath the slightly tight long dress, her breasts pressed tightly against the fabric, while her high, side-facing curves accentuated her slim waist.

Probably because his reputation in Dusk Hills had grown so large lately—many knew he kept girls of different races in the forest—and so they assumed he was lecherous.

Rosalia was trying to use a beauty trap to pull him into her scheme.

Hmph!

So what if the world misunderstands me?

A simple beauty trap? Let you see what true restraint looks like—an otherworldly Liu Xia Hui.

After a long while:

"Mr. Luo De."

The tooth fairy Rosalia lowered herself, her face still smiling with seductive charm, though a hint of impatience lingered beneath.

"You can grab the other side—you're hurting me."

She pointed to one of his large hands on her buttocks.

"Oh."

Luo De's hand slid upward, resting on her slender lower back.

His fingers moved with skill and rhythm, pressing and kneading her lumbar vertebrae.

This was Vivian's favorite technique—she loved it when Luo De did this to her, each stroke making her tense and relax.

Rosalia's body stiffened.

Then she quickly slid off his lap and sat calmly on another sofa.

Witch Dimia and the old gentleman Humbert were confused but didn't comment, ready to resume discussion.

At that moment, a constable knocked and whispered to Dimia the identity of the old tiefling Luo De had brought in.

"Lu Xiusi? You're sure?"

Everyone in the office turned at her voice.

She was a tall female constable.

Upon hearing it, she snapped to attention and declared firmly:

"Yes, Lady Dimia—this man is Lu Xiusi, the rebel mage of Coral Bay. The 【Lie Detection Spell】 confirms it, and he offered no resistance—he's just a terrified old man."

"Lu Xiusi?"

Luo De, Humbert, and Rosalia all exclaimed in shock.

Humbert looked baffled: "Mr. Luo De, you captured him—you're the one who should be surprised."

Luo De shrugged: "I don't know him. I was chasing the plague mage and happened to find him conspiring with him."

Dimia flipped through the interrogation report as she spoke:

"Lu Xiusi learned his golem-controlling method from the plague mage Amel. He came here because of the dark elf power grab, trying to stabilize the golems' state."

"That explains why Coral Bay's strategy shifted so drastically in the second half of the negotiations," Rosalia smiled seductively at Luo De. "Mr. Luo De, you're truly remarkable—we were struggling, and you've already captured their leader."

Dimia: "Coral Bay has a dark elf seeking power. Lu Xiusi is likely the only one who knows how to control the golems—so at least one threat is gone."

(End of Chapter)