Chapter 328: Probability

Two completely different beautiful girls.

Haley furrowed her brows. "Mr. Luo De, your luck with women is truly impressive."

Luo De laughed heartily. "Just friends, all just friends."

Not yet done celebrating.

Sharon came over and kicked him, grumbling, "Friends my ass, what am I to you? Take me to see the patient right now!"

It sounded a bit jealous.

Everyone noticed something was off, but no one dared say it outright.

Especially Daphne, who squinted at the two with a knowing maternal smile.

Moving deeper, stepping over the supine body of the Fungus King, they entered the stone door.

After a brief examination.

Sharon immediately reached a conclusion:

"No saving her."

"Huh?!"

Oana sighed mournfully.

"The time has been delayed too long—the soul atop the crown is completely fixed. Even a ninth-rank couldn't help. Earlier you said there was a cosmic entity here—that's because the incomplete summoning ritual caused the rift to open unpredictably. Honestly, for Miss Scarlett to have managed to lock the other half of her soul inside her own body is already impressive. She died as she lived."

The Dogkin nodded approvingly, acknowledging the Fungus girl's courage.

"Sharon!"

Daphne tugged at her arm.

"Is there really no way?" Oana asked again.

"No. She's dead."

Luo De sensed Sharon was holding back.

He leaned close and whispered: "Is something wrong?"

Sharon glared at him.

Her gaze lingered on his neck. She swallowed silently.

Wanted to lick.

But too many people.

"Hmm?"

Luo De naturally noticed her gaze. He placed a hand on her shoulder and gently rubbed it.

Her dog tail swayed in midair, its motion growing larger—then immediately restrained.

Sharon always responded well to touch.

During intimate moments, she'd always grab his hand and press it against her belly or waist, urging him to stroke gently—her body reacting with intense fervor.

She let out a soft huff, reluctantly saying:

"For humans, she's beyond saving. But Fungus? They're a race between animal and plant—their souls are more resilient. Even if only half remains, she might still live."

"Might?"

"From what I recall, the probability of a Fungus surviving after splitting half their soul and later regrowing it is around 32. %."

Presumably from Amel's memories.

Sharon shrugged. "It's up to you whether you want to gamble."

Oana nodded without hesitation.

"Scarlett is a brave child. If she were conscious, she'd make the same choice."

"A bold little bunny—I like it, hahaha—"

"I remember you weren't like this before, Investigator Sharon. Though we're in different departments, my rank is far higher than yours."

Oana smiled bitterly, not taking offense.

They'd met before—back when Sharon wasn't like this.

"I quit long ago, Deputy Director Oana. Now I'm Plague Mage Sharon!"

Few Plague Mages openly declare their identity.

But such openness didn't provoke disgust.

Even Haley, the Star-Spirit unfamiliar with her, felt nothing upon hearing "Plague Mage."

As for Witch Daphne—

They'd been close friends these past days; surely they'd already said everything that needed saying.

"Enough idle talk. I'm starting the ritual. All of you, step outside the stone door."

Sharon began shooing them out.

It was kind of funny.

There were four mages here: Witch, Star-Spirit, Rabbitkin, Dogkin.

Among them, one was high-seventh-rank, another eighth-rank.

Yet only Sharon knew how to set up ritual grounds.

Rabbitkin Oana specialized in spiritual magic.

Star-Spirit Haley was the captain of the Second Squad of the Star Association's Security Division—a combat-focused unit.

Witch Daphne was somewhat capable, but ritual arrays required precise, stable mana control. She'd just restructured her internal mana pathways—her control was still unstable. Clearly unsuitable.

After all, human energy is limited, and magical disciplines are countless—it's impossible to master them all.

She shoved everyone out and slammed the stone door shut with a thunderous boom.

Then suddenly pulled it open again.

"Luo De, come in and help me."

"Me?"

There are three other mages—why me?

Look, all three of them are staring at me with strange looks.

"Fine, don't come. If she dies, it's on you."

"Alright, alright."

Luo De sighed, stepping inside.

As the stone door fully closed,

the three outside exchanged glances.

As for the Fungus Noah—he, uninvolved, had already lain down beside the Fungus King and drifted into a daze.

"What do you think Sharon called him in for?" Haley asked first.

"To help, she said so."

Daphne replied with a smile.

"But he's a Spirit Warrior—does he even understand ritual arrays?"

"I trust Luo De," Oana said.

The Witch turned to her, smile unchanged: "I've been meaning to ask—Oana, when did your relationship with Luo De become so close? I remember during the Grafting Maze ritual, he was avoiding you at every turn."

Oana's face stiffened.

Their first meeting hadn't gone well—her prank backfired completely. It took her a long time to mend things!

It was one of those dark memories she'd replayed at night, sometimes slapping herself awake.

The Rabbitkin refused to answer.

Haley glanced between Daphne and Oana.

Her deep blue eyes rolled slightly.

"Come to think of it, Mr. Luo De really does have a way with women. Including you, Miss Daphne, and Miss Sharon, I've now seen five women surrounding him."

Hmph!

This is backstabbing—reducing competition!

Hahaha—constantly gossiping behind your back until every girl leaves you.

Then only I, Haley, generously and tenderly embrace you—won't you then be utterly enslaved by me?!

So thought the old maid who loved romance novels.

"Not me—I'm just friends with Luo De. But Sharon… she and Luo De probably have something."

Daphne said.

They talked every night; she'd picked up hints of Sharon's feelings for Luo De.

She admitted that, if he weren't so promiscuous, the Forest Warden was genuinely charming.

But with more and more girls appearing in the forest, that flaw couldn't be ignored.

So whether to bless or warn her friend—she'd never decided.

As for her own negligible affection? She buried it deep.

Inside the door, however—

The instant the stone door closed,

Sharon rushed forward and planted a loud kiss on Luo De's cheek.

You wouldn't believe it—she even stuck out her tongue to kiss his face.

"What for? Just for this?"

Luo De reached for the peach, but she shoved him away again.

She immediately began setting up the ritual.

He was baffled by Sharon's erratic behavior, but didn't want to interrupt.

He waited a while.

Sharon had laid a magical barrier across the room.

"All right, you can speak normally now—no one outside can hear."

After speaking, she hugged him again, pressing her lips to him.

Tally in the shadows couldn't take it anymore; she squeezed into Luo De's arms and kissed his other cheek.

"Do something serious, Sharon."

The girls on either side of his face seemed to be competing, each trying to kiss louder than the other.

He couldn't help but laugh.

(End of Chapter)