Chapter 617: Angel Investment

Luo De shooed away Tally, who was glaring angrily at Hera, telling her to find the high-ranking officials and members of the Campbell family hidden in the labyrinth.

So the fool wouldn't recklessly challenge Hera.

The halfling Lily began thinking of ways to bring down the still-floating, light-bulb-like fey person Carolin.

Carolin's dispelling ability was extremely powerful.

Previously, against an entire spellcasting squad from Bahadur Magic Academy, his +18 Dragon Scale Art had only dropped by -6.

Yet here, even outright failure still cost -8.

It would be ideal to recruit her.

More importantly,

She was a fey person he had never tasted before.

"Little Luo De, your heartbeat changed—what are you thinking about again?"

Hera still refused to leave his shoulder.

She bent over, hanging upside down before him, smiling, the beauty mark beneath her lip exuding charm.

Luo De looked at the sensual purple lips before him, feeling the heavy softness pressing against the top of his head.

Though separated by a layer of purple-black exoskeletal chest armor,

he could still clearly feel the fullness deforming under pressure.

He couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

Hera showed no sign of offense; instead, her smile deepened, and she pressed even harder.

Then, like a cat pulling away just before contact, she floated off.

Her black-polished fingers affectionately pinched his ears.

"Naughty—I'm already an old auntie."

"If Hera is old, then there are no beauties left in the world."

"Slick talker~"

Luo De smiled.

But worry for this senior surged back in his heart.

Without beating around the bush, he said directly:

"The vampire king Julia of the Magic Control League warned me not to help you ascend to the ninth tier, saying it would threaten your life—I hesitated for a long time."

Hera was the first high-tier individual Luo De had ever encountered.

Not only did she offer him three free assistance opportunities, but she also occasionally gave him guidance during past visits.

When the Igao Cult first invaded Shi Ying Town, he faced a seventh-tier spell—if not for the Scorpion Girl's divine intervention, he might have died right then.

Leaving her behind was impossible.

Hera's expression turned cold, her smile vanished, icy and lethal:

"From this cardinal's mouth you now know—I once fell from the ninth tier. Those who brought me to this state must consider their own fates."

"I can help you."

"I don't need help from a little brat like you… Ah, you've reached peak eighth tier already—little thing, you've grown up~"

"Sure enough, grown up big and strong."

Hera's sense of humor was always low and strange—she burst into laughter, jiggling on Luo De's shoulder.

Luo De knew she had no intention of discussing further, so he suppressed his questions for now.

He walked slowly to the blood-soaked corpse of Cardinal Davide.

A gravitational wave pulled up his spell satchel.

Hmm.

There was quite a bit of Gold Alon—probably two or three million.

After all, he was one of the six cardinals of the Aitherong State Church—faith really does generate coin.

Other items were few.

Some magical tools, potions, and a pile of letters and miscellaneous clutter.

Of these, the one Luo De found most interesting was undoubtedly the spiritual art that made Davide's body crackle with lightning and boosted his speed.

【Thunder-Striking Tendons】.

He was deeply grateful that everyone in this world kept handwritten records of their spiritual arts and spells.

Luo De easily found the notes on this ninth-tier spiritual art.

It involved a blood resonance technique usable only after reaching the ninth tier—he had previously tried 【Elemental Resonance】 to enhance his power, and after brief thought, he grasped it; it wasn't difficult.

"Blood resonance can also improve lightning resistance—fixing the weakness, a guaranteed profit."

After activating these,

Luo De went to the fairy Rosalia and retrieved Vincent's spell satchel.

Of course,

he still needed to offer some comfort.

Rosalia had recovered somewhat, but her expression remained sorrowful.

"Thank you again, Luo De—I'll pay you the standard bounty for killing a ninth-tier. I may not have enough now, but I'll repay you gradually."

"We're friends—no need for that. Think of it as an advance year-end bonus for Xiao Feisuo and the others."

Several fairy tooth fairies, including Xiao Feisuo, worked in Shi Ying Town's underground prison under harsh conditions; Luo De, now wealthy, planned to give them all a bonus.

Rosalia looked at him gratefully: "With you around, I can rest easy about Xiao Feisuo and the others—but I'll still find a way to repay you."

"Will you keep going? For revenge?"

"Yes, Luo De—the massacre from years ago must pay a price. Vincent shouldn't be the only one to suffer."

Luo De spread his hands.

"As a friend, I have to be honest—your strength, little Rosalia, might be…"

"I know—but I won't give up. What did you call me?" The fairy's gaze turned strange.

"I mean, I'm starting a project called Angel Investment—specifically, helping lovely ladies enhance their strength. You know what I mean."

【Genesis Dew】 and 【Paradox Motive】's left foot stepping on the right foot shouldn't go to waste—beyond helping the girls in the forest,

someone like Rosalia, ambitious but lacking strength, is also a target of his Angel Investment.

Hera couldn't help lowering her head to look at him again.

"You're flirting, you know, little Luo De."

Luo De's expression didn't change: "Only for certain ladies I find worthy—with firm determination, like our little Rosalia."

"Sorry, I decline."

Rosalia clenched her teeth.

Then, as if remembering something, she froze.

"Wait—if Vincent couldn't control you at all, then when you asked me for that before…"

Luo De whistled, gazing at the sky, pretending not to hear.

Rosalia's face flushed crimson, furious and disgusted.

"Luo De, you really are…"

"Where's the exit ritual?"

"It doesn't work! None of it works! Damn it! Where are the Campbells! What the hell happened?!"

"I think I saw the Igao Cult's cardinal—their conscription squad arrived at Dusk Hill just now—could it be them?"

"Bullshit! Without our money and investment, how could the Igao Cult have its current status?!"

"Hah, laughable—what do you have to do with it? You merchants are all self-serving investors—what resources have you ever created for society? Just throw a few big coins around and think you're indispensable?"

"What did you say?!"

Inside the sealed, pitch-black room, a sudden outburst of shouting erupted.

Creak—

The door suddenly swung open, flooding the room with light.

A Campbell woman wearing a beetle mask frantically opened the door.

Then she immediately knelt toward the direction she came from, pleading: "They're all here! Please spare me, don't kill me!"

Plop.

Tally's small head leaned over, counting heads one by one with her tiny finger, as everyone in the room stared in terror.

Someone immediately spoke up: "Miss! Spare us! Life is all about money—how much do you want? I'll pay!"

"I just glanced outside—Miss, you're with Shi Ying Town's Forest Warden Luo De, right? I'm a councilor from Shanlun City—we're still negotiating trade routes with you! Spare me, all expenses—"

His words ignited the room again.

"You idiot! Why say your name?!"

"Damn! A genius like you made it onto the council? Shanlun City is ruined!"

Tally smiled sweetly, utterly unconcerned.

"Since you're all going to die anyway, you might as well be useful."

Saying this,

the shadows on the floor turned into spikes, instantly piercing every skull.

Blood pooled on the ground, forming a blood array Luo De had never seen before.

As spiritual energy warmed, the blood steamed into pale blue soul mist, and soon a small solid blue bead condensed.

Luo De was not here, so at this moment Tally made an unattractive clicking sound with her tongue.

Her face was full of displeasure.

"Only this much? Hmph! That dirty scorpion was oozing charm, trying to steal my Luo De—impossible! Let this Absolute Desire-Extinction Pill show you!"

(End of Chapter)