Chapter 378: Waiting

Rod's flashy smile froze.

"You didn't tell her, did you?"

Lady Aona was amused by his expression: "Nope, so you can't afford to offend me, or I'll give her your address."

"Fine, fine, fine—I'll love you and dote on you for the rest of my life, happy now? Baby?"

This time it was the rabbit-girl's smile that froze.

Her face slightly red, she spat: "Pervert, shameless."

Saying that, she hurriedly turned and left.

Smiling as he watched the girl bounce away, Rod handed the brass testing orb to Tally, Vivian, and Watching Yuna in turn for testing.

The seventh-tier early-stage succubus scored 197.

The seventh-tier mid-stage, near high-stage tree spirit scored 231.

Watching Yuna, at sixth-tier mid-stage, scored 133.

All matched the data Lady Aona had given—sixth tier 100~150, seventh tier 150~300.

And Rod's spiritual value of 312 had clearly crossed the seventh-tier range.

No wonder Lady Aona thought there was something wrong with this prototype.

Someone who had just advanced to seventh tier possessing strength comparable to eighth tier was indeed a bit hard to believe.

"Vivian, have you licked enough yet?"

Of course, the influence of 【Lust Brand】 was certainly part of it.

Before this, Vivian only behaved like this after ingesting a certain amount of 【Charm Fluid】.

Rod pinched her cheek, and the single-threaded tree spirit finally responded.

She raised her head, chin propped on his solid chest, red lips moist, a thread of saliva trailing from the corner of her mouth, and blinked her innocent, bewildered big eyes that glowed with white light.

"Little pervy tree spirit."

"Vivian is not pervy."

A deadpan protest.

"Yes, yes, yes."

While there was still time.

Rod didn't stay idle; first he quickly patrolled the forest.

After confirming nothing was wrong, he went to intimidate the neighbors in the desert—that group of land nagas who had defected from Mirror Desert.

After going through a series of events—successful coup turned failure, being driven out, fleeing for their lives to the Far West, getting swindled out of their gear, planning a riot only to be suppressed single-handedly by the tree spirit—this band of land nagas was thoroughly finished.

Last time Rod was testing a magic ring in the desert, he ran into them.

They didn't dare make a peep and directly offered up a pile of local specialties.

This time Rod flew into the air and released his seventh-tier spiritual pressure right in front of their camp.

That gorgeous priestess and the tribal leadership were instantly scared out of their wits, trembling as they came forward to offer tribute.

That beautiful priestess even specifically changed into a rather revealing set of armor.

Honestly, it couldn't even be called armor, because it had none of the protective function of armor.

Vast expanses of snow-white chest were exposed, with only two small pieces of cloth left to cover the vital areas.

Rod did quite miss the taste of land nagas.

But this beautiful priestess had already gone through several rounds of husbands—using them up, then biting their heads off and swallowing them—which was rather off-putting.

There were more than enough girls in the forest; he didn't need to seek her out.

After the intimidation.

Rod headed over to Claw Valley Mountain as well.

He had originally wanted to find a worthy opponent.

But unfortunately, after this period of focused targeting, the beastified patients attacking Claw Valley Mountain had greatly decreased; they had shifted toward Shanlun City on the east side of the Kor Plain.

Cack-cack-cack, a flurry of invisible qi blades slashed wildly, sending those already scarce enemies flying.

After his cleanup.

He saw from afar the ghoul Pan Ni and the banshee Chris sweeping through the mountain's complex terrain.

The moment Chris saw her master, she let out a wail and tried to flee.

Rod laughed and swooped down, pinning her to the ground.

He forced her to take solid form, then laughingly kissed her all over.

Afterward, the bansque was teary-eyed, clutching the clothes over her chest, looking just like a humiliated little girl.

Pan Ni witnessed the whole thing from the side.

Excitedly assuming she'd be next, she had secretly stripped off her underwear.

But after her master finished bullying the banshee, he merely pinched her cheek and flew off.

Her smile froze.

She looked at Chris with jealousy and indignation.

Speechless, family—my undead colleague is a green-tea stinky bitch!

After Rod finished touring Claw Valley Mountain, he had originally wanted to swing by Twilight Hills to see if there were any foolish bandits or robbers.

After all, he was seventh tier now and wanted to show off his combat power.

But after thinking it over seriously, he decided against it—better keep a low profile and just look around.

The forest's current strength was quite impressive.

He was already discussing with Dimia and Rosalia the matter of raiding Coral Bay.

When the time comes, he'll ask Lady Lady Aona for help, and at the same time cash in both favors owed by the scorpion woman Hera for her two assists, instantly giving him two Tier-Eight helpers—Coral Bay definitely won't see that coming.

At this stage, don't increase the pressure on Dusk Hills; respond to all changes by remaining unchanged.

So as not to provoke Coral Bay into making a move.

Rod mixed in with the adventurer patrol team, secretly helping them crush a few waves of road-blocking bandits and horse-riding robbers who intended to hold them up.

Too weak, not satisfying at all.

Got all this strength with nowhere to use it, so I can only use it on Tally.

After the patrol team withdrew.

Facing the dusk, he flew into the sky with the succubus clinging to him like a sloth in his arms, watching the setting sun while sprinkling dew straight into the depths of Tally's soul.

After fooling around for quite a while, they returned to the forest.

"Mm?"

The winter forest was so dark you couldn't see your hand in front of your face.

That was nothing at all to Rod, who had night vision, so the moment he turned the wooden door handle, he immediately sensed a slight change inside the forester's cabin.

This was pure intuition from 【Spider Sense】; in reality, he hadn't detected any fluctuation of magical power.

Only a faint, oddly familiar scent in the air

This was Kali's scent.

Elves rarely came over this way, unless—

Rod raised an eyebrow and understood.

Then, by unspoken agreement, he pretended he'd forgotten to lock the door.

He tossed Tally—who was wrapped around his back nibbling his ear—onto the sofa.

"Go to bed early tonight, I have things to do tomorrow."

"Aww—nooo~~~ I'm all wet already."

"Mm?"

Rod gave her a cold look.

Tally immediately shut up, shrinking her shoulders in dejection.

No choice, the situation is stronger than the person; Master hasn't been doting on me lately, so I can only act cute to win back a little love.

She trudged off to wash up, then changed into her most conservative nightgown, set out the pillow embroidered with the word 'Harder,' and was about to lie down.

"Sleep on the sofa."

"What?!"

Tally trembled with rage.

Every night when we sleep you hold me and grab me, and now you want me on the sofa?!

Dog. Dog of a man!!!

Starting today, I'm on a hunger strike! Even if I die, I won't eat your essence again!

The furious succubus hurled the 'Harder' pillow onto the sofa, shot Rod a vicious glare, then buried herself face-first into the sofa with her back to him and went to sleep.

The corner of Rod's mouth curved into a smile.

He quickly used the best bath gel to wash himself nice and fragrant, turned off the lights, put on only the open-crotch woolen panties Tally had knitted for him, and without wearing anything else, lay straight down on the bed.

Everything was ready.

The finishing touches are all set up for you.

Come on, Kali, come shake me.

Under the cover of night.

The rustling of leaves outside the window served as white noise for sleep, interweaving with the two people's steady, faint breathing.

After a moment of calm, a flicker of magical light flashed.

It was the familiar 【Sleep Sigil】 and 【Paralysis】.

Another moment passed.

Creak—

The wooden door, its bark peeled away to reveal the mottled natural wood beneath, slowly slid open.

In the dim light and shadow, a silhouette with perfect proportions appeared.

(End of Chapter)