Chapter 581: Hapi and the Letters

At the Shi Ying Town relay station.

Luo De finally met the famed harpy Hapi.

A hybrid of human and bird: a female upper body fused with the massive avian lower body.

Human arms ended in sharp eagle talons, with large primary feathers extending from the back, fading from sky blue to white.

The legs had normal thighs.

Below the knees, fully avian, with hooked talons for feet.

The messenger named Zouka descended into the sunlight.

A cute, round face dotted with freckles bore a confident smile.

Short hair stood up wildly, like a startled bird's plumage.

She wore a canvas mailbag slung across her body, a sleeveless vest, and a rolled-cuff short shirt underneath.

The messenger was petite.

Thus her chest contours were modest, yet the teardrop shape was unmistakable.

Below, she wore high-waisted work shorts.

Her belt hung with brass compasses, telescopes, and other tools.

Luo De glanced at Tally beside him: "The harpy race is all female—how do they reproduce?"

Tally sneered: "Master, you just said they're all female—do you think our charm would interest them in reproduction?"

"That's true."

"I know this. There were many harpies near Deepwater City before."

Lily said.

Luo De happened to meet the halfling lady on the road; she had no urgent business, so she joined him for a stroll.

"They usually capture favored males and bring them back to the nest, then… reproduce naturally."

As she finished speaking.

Lily's face flushed slightly with embarrassment.

"So that's hybridization?" Luo De asked.

"Perhaps. At least outwardly, the offspring are always harpies—but their spiritual affinity might inherit advantages from the father's bloodline."

Huh.

Is this some goblin-killing breeding method?

After light conversation.

The harpy in midair turned toward them.

"Who is Luo De of Shi Ying Town?"

She called out sharply, voice slightly coarse, like a boy's.

"I am."

Luo De stepped forward.

Took the two letters she clamped out of her mailbag with her talons.

"Please keep them. These are for you."

"Thank you."

Luo De intended to hand her some letters in return and opened his mouth to speak.

Then Zouka's round, vertical pupils fixed directly on him.

"I recognize you—you're the one who fought the dragon!"

Saying this.

She stepped closer.

Her nose nearly touched Luo De's face.

Though her attire was slightly boyish, her face was strikingly beautiful, with a faint red ring around her eyes, as if she wore natural crimson eyeshadow.

From Humbert's introduction, Luo De knew.

This Miss Zouka lived in Eagle Claw Gorge; it was no surprise she'd seen Luo De's battle with the red dragon Nas two months ago.

Luo De politely stepped back: "Sorry if I frightened you."

"It's fine!"

Miss Zouka shook her head. "I'll marry you! I want to lay eggs for you!"

The conversation jumped too abruptly.

Luo De smiled but said nothing.

He glanced at the knight beside him, the one Humbert had tasked with finding the harpy; the man turned his head skyward, pretending not to hear.

He looked at Lily beside him; she stared at Luo De with a strange, slightly reproachful expression.

Worse still.

Around the station, many people who had never seen harpies gathered around.

Unlike outside, where treasures like the land naga Eve or the half-vampire Vanessa could be taken without much fuss—even by force.

But here, on his own turf.

The forest warden must maintain dignity.

Luo De's face turned solemn, his tone righteous: "I'm sorry, Miss Zouka. I, Luo De, believe love and marriage require long-term mutual understanding—they can't be decided so casually."

Zouka let out an "Oh…" utterly crestfallen.

Luo De handed her the letters.

Secretly slipped a small magical communication stone beneath them, giving her talon a subtle squeeze.

She slipped a small magical communication stone underneath and secretly squeezed her eagle claw.

The message: contact me secretly when you can—don't tell anyone.

Zouka looked innocent, utterly confused.

She pulled out the communication stone from the letters and cried out in delight: "My sister told me about this—it's a secret date! You like me, right, Luo De!"

She cut out the communication stone from the back of the letter and cried out in delight: "My sister told me about this—it's a secret meeting request! You like me, right? Luo De!"

Noticing Lily and the crowd's gazes turning toward him.

Luo De kept his expression calm, shot a glance at the succubus behind him.

Luo De's expression didn't change; he gave the succubi behind him a glance.

No choice—she was still in disfavor; she dared not defy her lecherous master's orders.

With a grimace, she stepped forward, snatched back the stone, and declared it was a trick she'd slipped in to tease the master.

She didn't care whether Lily or the others believed her.

She'd made her statement—that was enough.

Zouka sank into renewed disappointment, stopped pressing, and flew off with the letters, face bitter.

Luo De watched the crowd disperse.

He exhaled in relief.

He patted Tally's cheek.

"Good work."

"No work if there's a reward!"

"I'll give you an extra feeding today."

"I'll feed you an extra meal today."

Luo De smiled.

As he walked, he opened the two letters.

One was from Axe Beach in Jianwan, sent by Wenna Puwei.

The other had no sender listed.

He opened the latter first.

It bore Lord Ram's signature, handwriting slightly messy, containing only one sentence.

【Recruiting Corps has arrived! Hostile intent! Beware!】

Luo De's expression darkened.

He examined the envelope and paper.

"No crest, no wax seal or stamp, no writing conventions…"

Writing conventions weren't important.

But Lord Ram was a noble lady—such decorum was essential.

Its absence silently signaled something.

Lily glanced at it and said: "She sent this under emergency conditions, likely under surveillance. The Recruiting Corps arrived without any prior notice—they came in secret."

Lily glanced at it and said: "She sent this letter under emergency conditions, and she's likely under surveillance now. The conscription corps has no record—this was a secret arrival."

"Then for now, avoid being seen. Don't let them conscript you."

"I'm an adventurer, not from Aitheron—they can't touch me. But you, Luo De, you're strong, and you're an Aitheron official—they'll target you."

"I'm a freelancer, not from Aitheron—they can't touch me. But you, Luo De, you're strong in combat and you're an official of Aitheron—they'll likely target you."

Lily expressed her concern.

"No, they won't target high-end combatants; they go for able-bodied adults and other civilians, just squeezing extra grain and resources on the side—Commissioner Smith does exactly that."

"Commissioner Smith?"

Luo De smiled but said no more.

The three walked across the Twilight Hills.

Many fields and villages here lay abandoned, for this area bordered Coral Bay.

The locals never returned after being driven off by dragons and the dark elves of Coral Bay.

Facing the cool spring wind.

Chatting as they passed through a small grove.

Suddenly, several jackalmen leapt out, swiftly surrounding the three.

They held sharp knives, their faces twisted and menacing.

They sized up the three from head to toe.

Lily laughed: "Someone dares to attack you on the Twilight Hills? Your reputation must be terrible."

"Heh, I'm just a forest warden—what reputation do I have?"

The jackalman lieutenant snorted: "You dare to laugh? I'll make you fly! Grab them all!"

(End of Chapter)