Chapter 413: Ambush

Luo De could feel it, and from Alfonso's confused words, he smelled the scent of conspiracy in the matter.

Venna Pweil, the daughter who murdered her father and attempted to seize power.

Never mind how she colluded with the lizardmen.

As the sole heir of the Pweil family, did she even have a reason to do this?

The photo in the newspaper was clearly a girl of seventeen or eighteen.

Bugo Torres.

A newly appointed ruler unknown to anyone.

Not only had he never heard of him, but even Alfonso, the merchant who often stayed at Axe Beach, didn't know him.

Of course, neither of them were locals of Axe Beach; it wasn't impossible for some behind-the-scenes officials who did real work to rise to power.

"Also, when Alfonso and the others passed through Dragon Serpent Fortress, they encountered some refugees; some said demons had recently appeared in Dragon Serpent Fortress."

Luo De grew paranoid, thinking of the recent outbreaks of Hell Gates.

Dragon Serpent Fortress is only three or four days' journey from Axe Beach's Gubao.

To be honest, it's quite close.

If a demon invasion breaks out, Axe Beach will be the first to suffer.

"You're overthinking it—just refugee rumors."

Luo De shook his head.

Kissing Tally while pulling on his pants, he sat beneath the tree, leaning against the trunk.

Tally sat astride his thighs, slightly higher, now looking down as she held his head and remained lost in the kiss.

Luo De pushed her gently, trying to get up.

But the succubus gripped tighter, terrified he'd leave, clinging to his lips unwilling to let go.

Whatever, let's kiss a bit longer.

"According to Naulin, the second Dragon Body material is held by the lord of Axe Beach."

At the time, Naulin had drawn the appearance of the Dragon Body material in the sand—a large seal made from a crown-like dragon horn.

It looked exactly like the official certification and signature of Axe Beach.

Legend says that before Gubao was built, a White Dragon fell here, and this dragon horn seal was crafted from the horn of that fallen dragon.

After prolonged alchemical refinement, the horn's resentment was diminished and transformed into a new magical property.

The nature of this magical property remains debated, with no consensus.

Luo De didn't care much for these stories.

As for the location of the dragon horn seal, he leaned toward it being with the current ruler, Bugo Torres.

This matter? We'll inquire after entering the city tomorrow.

With Tally's 【Deceive the Gods and Spirits】 and my 【True Deception】, gathering intelligence is simple.

No choice.

Axe Beach isn't a labyrinth; Naulin's influence doesn't reach here, so this Dragon Body material requires me to handle it entirely myself.

Given the destination is in a sensitive period of regime change, to avoid drawing attention, I deliberately concealed my true spiritual rank using the power of disguise.

Now, I'm just a man living off Tally's soft food.

Plop—

Luo De pushed Tally's head away.

When their lips parted, they made a crisp sound.

"Enough."

"Master… so sweet…"

The succubus was dazed, lazily tilting her head.

Her eyes lost their illusion, reverting to the succubus's pink-and-black interwoven pupils.

A aroused succubus unconsciously activates her seduction, every frown and smile radiating irresistible allure.

"Go back into the shadow."

"Nooo~ just one more kiss~~"

Plop—

Luo De didn't argue, giving her a clean, swift kiss.

Tally's face lit up; she licked the spot she'd kissed, her eyes smiling into crescents.

"One more kiss~"

"Don't push your luck. Get inside."

"Fine~"

Luo De watched her sink into the shadow.

Then he stood, brushing dust off his pants.

Better get back and rest; tomorrow we'll enter the city to investigate.

As he thought this, Luo De was about to return to camp when he noticed the tree trunk stained with his and Tally's love fluids looked somewhat shriveled.

Frowning, he scanned the small grove.

Damn, not looking was fine, but looking now made him feel uneasy.

There was barely two points of growth in spiritual income total.

"Worm-eaten, diseased, and near the west side, someone dumped toxic liquid from magical experiments. Do you even know how to care for trees?"

As a forest warden, his heart immediately twisted with irritation.

He sighed.

Luo De was about to pull out nutrient solution and ointment from his spell satchel to nurture and heal the trees when—

Tssss!

Suddenly, a sharp whistling sound of an arrow slicing through air came from the side grove.

Oh?

Why didn't 【Spider Sense】 react? A spell masking perception?

Luo De raised his hand and swatted away the arrow aimed at his chest.

But the moment it touched his palm, the arrowhead exploded into a vast sheet of white silk, descending over his head.

He reacted instantly, stepping back as casually as if taking a stroll.

Simultaneously, a shadowy figure of a Planar Ambusher—pitch-black, muscles coiled, arms reaching to his knees—flashed behind him.

The silk net fell.

Naturally, it missed, landing precisely a few centimeters before his shoes, perfectly calibrated.

This was 【Reflective Evasion】.

A new skill he gained after forging the Planar Ambusher spirit.

Half a month was enough time to complete a relatively simple new spirit.

And 【Reflective Evasion】—

Though the name was plain, the skill granted substantial agility bonuses and could even dodge certain targeted magical and special attacks.

Besides 【Reflective Evasion】, there were 【Backstab】 and 【Hunger for Prey】.

【Backstab: When attacking a target's back, trigger an agility check. If the user's agility exceeds the target's, deal an additional 20% to 80% damage.】

【Hunger for Prey: Mark a target. When the target is hostile toward you, gain a 25% agility bonus. The skill fails if the target is over 500 meters away.】

Luo De's latest reading from the brass spirit gauge had risen to 341 marks.

Even accounting for two active skills, that's a full 17-mark increase.

This made Luo De sigh.

Why bother training spiritual arts and spells when stacking spirits is so much better?

"Attack!"

A familiar low shout rang out.

It was unmistakably the voice of the land-naga squad leader he'd met that day.

Instantly, leaves shattered, trees trembled violently.

Seven or eight land-nagas charged forth, weapons raised.

Luo De shook his head.

I spared you, and you still don't know when to yield.

Then don't blame me—be reborn.

The slime Blackie rapidly 【Ultra-Fast Split】, ejecting offspring from inside Luo De's sleeve cuff, then 【Solidifying Form】 into a beautifully patterned black slime crossblade.

Luo De reached out, grabbed it, and was about to swing, splattering corrosive slime everywhere.

One strike like that, and these amateurs would be wiped out.

But he froze, didn't swing.

Because just then, when the land-nagas appeared—

Luo De's 【Spider Sense】 and 【Dark Vision】 had clearly spotted, behind the attackers, a beautiful naga holding a staff and wearing an ornate crown.

Is this Eve?!

No.

Upon closer inspection, there seemed to be some differences.

She was slightly shorter than Eve, yet fuller-figured, not as strong as Eve, and a bit older—also more alluring.

Moreover, the land naga Eve was not a priestess and had no need for a staff; as a captive, she was even less likely to organize others to attack him.

He had vaguely remembered her mentioning a mother who was a priestess.

Sss—

Could it be… his mother-in-law???

(End of Chapter)