Chapter 433: Scarf and Surveillance

As Eve's throat trembled slightly, the spirit seed slid into her abdomen.

A message also appeared on Luo De's panel.

【Eve's obedience to you +7, current obedience: 58】

As expected.

Land Naga never move without benefit—pure pragmatists.

The best way to raise Eve's obedience is to give her something valuable or help her strengthen.

"What else?"

Eve's expression softened considerably, faintly showing a hint of flattery.

"Can you give me that growth spirituality too—the one that helps me unlock new spiritual arts?"

"That stuff isn't that easy to get."

Lying to you.

I just gave her a spirit seed; her threshold for surprise is already high. If I now give her another spiritual art that's not as strong, it'd be like throwing a meat bun to a dog—gone for good.

Luo De must strictly control it—every strike must land!

Eve sneered: "I don't believe it. Did that succubus drain you dry?"

"Well, you could say that—the growth spirituality was the one she sucked the hardest."

Tally giggled: "Who told you to be bad at pleasing your master? You dirty snake."

"Heh, do you think everyone needs to cling to a man to survive? I am a great Land Naga, naturally superior to males."

The three didn't chat long.

Eve dressed herself, and Luo De and Tally returned to the shadows between her armor plates.

Since her undergarments were ruined and she had no spare, she took one of Luo De's undershirts and slipped it on.

They returned to the upper layers of the cave.

At this point, the negotiations between the Land Naga and the Scourge were nearing their end.

The six Scourge members were weakened; aside from the two half-orcs, the four intelligent ones huddled together in discussion.

The Land Naga side held their heads high, each radiating the posture of victors.

The advantage was obvious at a glance.

It made sense.

The highest strength in the Scourge's Axe Beach branch was Vergil, eighth-rank.

The Land Naga had a seventh-rank mid-stage priest-shaman nearing high-stage, plus methods capable of unleashing eighth-rank power.

If they had only one of these, Vergil could easily overpower them with sheer force.

That's why they planned to make the Land Naga work for free—or give only half, promising the rest later, then never pay.

But now, that won't work.

The Land Naga now have strength enough to challenge the Axe Beach branch.

These six lowly overseers couldn't decide.

Damn it!

These mother and daughter dared to hide their strength! Land Naga aren't as simple-minded as rumors claim!

Finally, they finished their discussion.

The seventh-rank human warrior stepped forward, saying they should continue breaking the tomb, and that the demonic incursion's explanation and compensation would be discussed with leadership.

Under Lilian's orders, the Naga's negotiator firmly refused to continue work and intended to occupy the site until the Scourge offered a compensation they found satisfactory.

We'll just park our mud truck right outside your gate, hmph.

If I don't work, neither will anyone else.

The Scourge members were frustrated but dared not speak up.

Only equals discuss reason—clearly, they were in the wrong here.

The seventh-rank human warrior returned to report, leaving the other five to suffer on guard duty.

Said to be on guard.

In truth, they were exiled to a corner of the cave's upper layers, barred from entering, forced to watch.

The client had lost, plainly.

After this round of negotiations ended.

Lilian finally noticed her long-missing eldest daughter, Eve, walking out from within the cave, her serpent body moving unnaturally.

Beneath her leather armor, she seemed to be wearing an overly large garment.

Lilian assumed she was injured and hurried over.

"Eve, are you alright?"

"Ah, Mother, I'm fine." Eve dodged her mother's outstretched hand, guiltily.

She feared the scent of the man on her body would be detected.

Fortunately, Lilian didn't press it, whispering: "Your attack technique… isn't it a one-time use, is it?"

"No, it's just temporarily unusable for now."

"When will it be usable again?"

"Hmm… uncertain."

Eve's eyes darted away.

The man had heard the Scourge were returning to report, so he and the succubus had followed them into the shadows—he hadn't returned yet, so naturally, it was uncertain.

Lilian assumed it was some peculiar side effect of the artifact and didn't think more of it.

She turned back to concern herself with her daughter's physical condition.

"Are you really alright? Your face has been… red. Is this some side effect?"

She'd meant to say "flushed," but felt oddly guilty and didn't say it.

"Yes, this artifact is unusual—it causes strange side effects: sore back and waist, reddened skin, accelerated heartbeat, muscle contractions, and so on."

"Oh? So it has such odd side effects… Huh? Is that red mark on your neck one too?"

"Yes, yes!"

Lilian's expression grew strange.

It looked suspiciously like a hickey.

She couldn't help mentally grumbling that this artifact was shockingly lewd—its side effects oddly resembled what she'd experienced these past two nights.

Thinking this, she handed Eve a black silk scarf.

"Cover it. We can't let anyone see any sign of weakness."

"Yes, Mother."

Eve always obeyed her mother.

As she put it on, she noticed her mother also wore a similar scarf—only in beige.

She smiled: "Mother-daughter matching."

Lilian's smile froze slightly; guiltily, she tugged at her own silk scarf.

She'd only started wearing it these past two days.

Mainly to hide the red mark on her neck—almost identical to her daughter's.

Luo De trailed the seventh-rank Scourge warrior.

He crossed the lizard marsh and the trade road again, reaching Axe Beach.

The walls of Axe Beach had fixed rituals of 【Detect Magic】 and 【Detect Undead】; though both are first-rank spells, they're extremely practical.

Especially 【Detect Magic】.

Spells and magical items leave behind residual magic energy; this spell detects precisely that.

But since it's first-rank, it's easily misled—and Tally's shadow magic naturally conceals even residual magic energy.

So Luo De and Tally climbed the entire perimeter of the wall without being noticed.

Of course, it might also be that Axe Beach's mages are incompetent.

The Deepwater Guild called for hunters to slay the dragon; adventurers across the continent are all thrill-seekers—they've all rushed there.

Soon.

The two marched straight in, passing familiar farmland and wealthy districts, reaching the deepest part of Axe Beach: the Earl's Ancient Castle.

The guards here were one tier above the local militia.

Their uniforms made it clear—they were the so-called private army of the new lord, Bugo Torres.

But again:

Tally's shadow magic +14—until they slipped into a reception hall inside the castle, no one noticed them.

Inside the reception hall, they could see Bugo Torres and a half-elf man seeing off several wealthy men dressed in finery.

The seventh-rank warrior walked in after them.

(End of Chapter)