Chapter 622: The Return of the Weight-Loss Method and the Banquet

"You?"

Rod couldn't hold back and pulled Little Little Bangde from behind him to his front.

An old father being pressed by a tender, budding flower would also feel awkward.

Little Little Bangde, however, had no such thoughts.

Her cute little face still beamed with a bright smile as she happily squeezed between Tally and Vivian, also in Rod's arms.

Rod closed his eyes in agony and began clearing his mind of distractions.

A mischievous grin spread across Tally's face.

She sneakily slipped her hand inside Rod's clothes, her index finger stroking the thing beside his heart.

She even bit her lower lip, her face full of seductive charm, utterly bewitching.

"Of course! A while back the Cuiqian Sect taught me a bow spirit art that can release a thunderstorm!"

Little Little Bangde tilted her face up and mimed drawing a bow.

She even pursed her lips to make a whoosh sound, poked Rod's cheek with her index finger as an arrow, then laughed herself silly.

Rod glanced curiously at the big squirrel Cui Qian beside him.

She had also touched Rod's body earlier, but couldn't stand the electric shock, so she simply sat aside, clutching little biscuits and munching away.

She noticed Rod's gaze.

She puffed up her plump cheeks proudly: "Don't underestimate a Rotatosk grey squirrel's skills, Mr. Rod, I'm far more learned than you imagine!"

Little Bangde cheerfully undermined her: "That's because she picked it up in the ruins of the Tree Realm. She's lying again."

As she spoke—

She froze, feeling something pressing against her belly. Just as she was about to look down, Rod picked her up and moved her aside.

"Little Bangde! We agreed you wouldn't tell anyone!"

"Rod isn't anyone~"

"... Fine, for you that is indeed the case."

Speaking of the Tree Realm, Rod couldn't help asking: "Cui Qian, is it really okay that you didn't go back with your companions?"

"I will go back, but only after I successfully lose weight."

"."

He glanced at the ever-expanding inner tube around the big squirrel's waist.

Rod suddenly felt he bore some responsibility too.

"Need me to help cut some of your pocket money? Cui Qian, you really are a bit too fat."

"No need, no need, I've already found a new weight-loss method!"

Cui Qian proudly put her hands on her hips, "The weight-loss mage in Shi Ying Town told me—the 16+8 diet!"

"Finish a day's eating within 8 hours, then fast for 16? That's not advisable. You can train with me or Saehir."

"Of course not, how could that be... let Cui Qian tell you a truth—you can't finish a day's eating in just 8 hours."

".?"

"The meaning of 16+8 is eating eight meals within 16 hours, spreading out the calorie intake for weight loss! Amazing, right!?"

Rod fell silent for a moment.

He glanced at Tally.

"Go break that weight-loss mage's legs."

"Okay~~"

After a short rest—

The girls fell back into the rhythm of planting trees.

And without the disturbance, Rod's 【Lightning Scourge Sinew】 quickly reached the entry level.

For the subsequent grinding work, he planned to have the Harpy clan chief over at Eagle Claw Canyon take over.

Little Bangde?

She wouldn't do.

Rod glanced instinctively and found the little horse-girl's cheeks flushed red, sneaking a sideways peek at his crotch.

"."

Looks like he'll need Miss Xiao Ke to give her some health education.

After a victory, the forest inevitably called for a small celebration.

But there were still conscription people in Shi Ying Town, so it wasn't suitable to throw a wild party right on their doorstep.

A few days later, once the participants—Shadow Hunt Wind Guild leader Eve and the tooth fairy Rosalia—had mostly recovered from their injuries, a secret bonfire banquet was held at Coral Bay Estate.

The two ladies also arrived covertly.

The moment they reached the scene, they were speechless.

It was a severe case of women outnumbering men—apart from a few exquisite 'auction items,' young boys whose gender was hard to tell—Rod was the only adult man present.

Fortunately, thanks to the rescued children present, it was still lively and bustling.

Otherwise they would have thought this was the forest ranger's silver party.

From afar they saw a wisp of white smoke rising within a rain-blocking magic barrier.

The forest ranger was busy flipping the roasted meat and brushing on sauce.

In this dreary, drizzling late-spring cold snap, piping hot meat was always extremely popular.

So much so that around that man, led by the little horse-girl Little Bangde and the big squirrel Cui Qian, a crowd of girls of various races with gleaming eyes had gathered tightly.

The slightly older ones, too embarrassed to snatch food with them, took it upon themselves to take over the roasting duties.

But no matter how deliciously roasted, the crowd of onlookers was always far smaller than Rod's.

As for the female companions from the other forests.

Some, like the zombie Selena and the vampire Vanessa, sat in small groups chatting.

Some, like the female orc Amy, the dog-folk Sharon, and the witch Dimia, played and frolicked with the rescued girls.

Some, like the half-deer Miss Xiao Ke and the tree spirit Vivian, sat huddled together in a corner resting.

And some, like the elf Lady Kali, the arachne Watching Yuna, and the halfling Lily, helped prepare light-flavored dishes.

Of course.

There were also those like the ghoul Pan Ni and the banshee Chris who caused trouble.

The former meant well but did bad things, tripping here and stumbling there, while the latter took the wrong path, constantly seeking to make a sensational impact, resulting in chaos.

Eve was not very familiar with them and felt somewhat awkward.

So she went with Rosalia to greet Rod.

"You're here, wait a moment."

"Let me help."

Rosalia rolled up her sleeves, revealing arms as white as jade.

The side effects of the mass insect transformation had already faded.

Captain Eve thought for a moment, decided not to help, picked up a plate, and joined a group of girls waiting for food.

After waiting quite a while, she was finally given a piece of meat.

She couldn't hold back and asked:

"Regarding the new strain of the crystallization disease, how does Mr. Rod plan to handle it?"

"Naturally, we will hand it over to familiar mages to analyze and research an effective vaccine in advance. Who knows which research lab of the Yige Sect has produced results?"

Rod glanced at her, smiling, "What? Do you want to hand it over to your Minister Marco?"

During their previous conversation, the two had briefly discussed this figure who stood on the front line of resisting the Yige Sect within the Aethelorn Kingdom.

Eve fell silent for a moment, then shook her head.

"Knowing the Yige Sect's purpose allows us to strike precisely. Next comes the clash above ground; the Yige Sect's influence in Radiant City is too deep. If we expose ourselves all at once, our side might face the danger of annihilation."

"Do as you please; anyway, we have things to do on our end."

Besides spreading the Yige Sect's true goals, Carter would also secretly investigate the sect's bases and research institutes across the land together with the Knight Alliance.

One by one, when Rod arrives, it will be a matter of destroying and killing.

It is a bit troublesome.

But he cannot simply go to Radiant City and start slaughtering, can he?

The Aethelorn Kingdom is a broken ship with three thousand nails; not to mention the Guardian Arrays, there are legions of specialized defense and damage mages like Domain Mages and Legendary Mages, and they could dispatch seven or eight ninth-rankers to besiege him.

This is no joke.

Eve frowned slightly, but then shook her head.

As a member of the regular army, she obviously did not approve of the nature of this underground resistance's actions, but that did not hinder cooperation.

"I hope we can stay in touch and help each other."

(End of this chapter)