Chapter 690: Famous Painting

By the time Rod returned to the camp at the Thousand Throats Tomb, it was already noon.

However, having heard that the Ghurash clan had submitted their surrender document early that morning, Eve likely paid little attention to his departure.

Rod glanced from afar; the new Ghurash priest was a much younger Land Naga.

She was beautiful, with a good figure, but neither compared to Lillian and Eve, mother and daughter.

Not only in the Mirror Desert, but across the entire Land Naga population, the mother and daughter were among the outstanding ones.

Yet that young Ghurash priest also noticed Rod's gaze and gave him a seductive, sycophantic smile from afar.

Rod strode casually into the tent where they were talking.

Eve shot him a glance but didn't pay much mind.

That priest was also a hypocrite; he immediately shivered in fright, presumably thinking he had done something wrong, and looked at Rod in panic.

Only when he saw Rod sit heavily on the soft cushions in the corner to rest did he finally calm down.

However, his voice still carried a sob and tremor, making conversation difficult to continue.

Before long, that priest took his leave.

Watching the priest's departing back, Eve's professional fake smile slowly faded.

She spat disdainfully: "A spineless piece of trash, scared into such a state, can't even speak properly."

"Am I that terrifying?"

Eve looked at him, slowly and elegantly gliding to his side, and proudly extended her snow-white, tender hand: "Did you do it?"

Rod squeezed the back of her hand and gently kissed it; Eve's expression immediately softened.

"Of course, who else could it be?"

"Why not just straighten out everyone in the Mirror Desert clans?"

"Then wouldn't the overall strength of your Mirror Desert Land Nagas drop? You can't eat a fat man in one bite; digest the Ghurash clan properly first before worrying about that."

While playing with the Naga's fingers, he unexpectedly felt her coldly pull away.

"Hmph, I will surpass you sooner or later."

"Fine, fine, fine. By the way, isn't your mother investigating that missing person case? It was the Campbell family colluding with the previous generation of the Ghurash Great General. I've already rescued the people; when will you send someone to collect them?"

Rod had originally intended to tell Lillian about this matter and then ask for some new tricks.

But after thinking it over, he knew the Campbell family and the Ghurash clan colluding could not be hidden.

He had obviously taken action to wipe out the previous generation of the Ghurash clan's power, so Lillian would immediately be able to find the Campbell stronghold.

Such a coincidence would likely make Eve suspicious.

In the end, he decided to let Eve accept this favor.

Tally, at some unknown time, had jumped out from the shadows and buried herself softly in Rod's arms.

Rod didn't mind her: "By the way, there is some bad news: some of the missing people are experimental products of the Campbell family; they likely have no population records. You should also pay attention to receiving them."

"The Campbell's 【Factor Adjustment】?"

"Oh, you know about that too."

"Since we are barely considered peers, naturally I have heard quite a bit through hearsay."

"Those misfired bodies created via 【Factor Adjustment】 look different from ordinary Nagas on the outside, and their constitutions are weaker; they probably won't live more than a few years. However, I have a way to condition them; as long as you persist for a while, they can become good assets for you."

Eve froze, seeming not to have heard much of it.

She asked blankly: "You said they don't have a few years of life left? If they don't have a few years of life left anyway, why rescue them? It would be better to make full use of them?"

"Make full use of them for what?"

Eve suddenly snapped out of it, shaking her head: "Nothing. Don't worry, I will go fetch them."

Rod let out a strange, confused chuckle and looked the Land Naga up and down.

Eve did not retreat; she tilted her head back and locked eyes with him.

Their gazes clashed, each holding tenderness in their eyes.

Slowly shifting from a state of confrontation.

Before the atmosphere could become ambiguous, Tally, with a dissatisfied face, stuck her small face between the two of them.

"I am still here."

"Hmph."

Sounds came from outside the tent; cheers welcoming the High Priest my lord rang out.

Before long, the dignified and luxurious Lillian, wearing a golden crown, powdered and jade-like, holding a scepter, with a gentle smile on her face, radiating both pressure and motherhood, slowly entered the tent.

Eve was naturally happy again; the mother and daughter had a good relationship, and she loved showing off her achievements in front of her own mother the most.

What Rod had done naturally counted as her own achievement.

After a round of talking, she ended up describing herself as having divine foresight and masterful strategy.

But a mother, how could she not know her own daughter? She naturally knew someone else had helped here.

Lillian, who had specifically exerted great effort to create a magnificent makeup look, let her beautiful eyes dance, flickering once over Rod's face.

There are downsides to being beautiful and mature; just an ordinary glance appeared extremely seductive and teasing.

Rod naturally returned a frivolous smile, instantly making Lillian flustered again, her eyes drifting.

Fortunately, at this moment Eve was busy talking to her, with her back to the man, and did not see the two exchanging glances.

When mentioning that the missing person case had been solved, Lillian was overjoyed.

Such an incident occurring during her routine territory inspection would affect the authority of the Brar clan priest if not solved.

Both mother and daughter had decisive, swift characters; Lillian immediately expressed her intention to go to the scene.

Eve gently took her arm: "Why not let me go? I haven't handled such matters before."

Lillian didn't think much: "That works too; I have nothing much to say. Just remember to go on stage to offer condolences and show your face before the clan members."

"Understood, I'll call some of the guards."

Rod said with a smile, "I'll just go with you."

"No need! You stay here. Keep my mother company, and look after her safety! This place isn't exactly safe yet!"

Lady Lilian trembled slightly, her smile freezing: "I-is that really appropriate? Better let Rod go with you."

"No, no, really no need!"

Eve walked out of the tent as she went, calling out a few words to the adjutant outside the tent—presumably to deploy personnel.

Rod seized the chance to step quickly toward Lady Lilian, slipped an arm around her slender waist, and kissed her with a smile.

"Mm—"

Lady Lilian shoved him away in a panic, staring in horror at the boy (Tally) beside Rod who had just rolled his eyes.

"Mine."

"Are you crazy, Eve is still at the door!"

She pressed her voice as low as she could, glancing at Eve's blurred silhouette beyond the curtain, her heart in a muddle.

"What's there to be afraid of? She told me to look after you."

Rod kissed her again, and this time it was no mere taste—it was far more domineering.

Lady Lilian was so frantic tears were spinning in her eyes, but unable to push the man away, she could only pound his chest with her small fists.

And as that familiar, scalding masculine breath rushed into her skull, she was engulfed once more by the surging tide.

Unable to restrain herself, Lady Lilian shifted from pushing him away to grabbing the man's collar and pulling him in, greedily claiming every inch of his face.

"Sorry, Eve—"

"."

Tally, transformed into the appearance of a boy, wore a long face as he looked at his master and Lady Lilian locked in a frantic kiss—lipstick smeared all over the man's face—and then at the faint silhouette of Eve standing just beyond the curtain, the stinky snake holding forth grandly to the adjutant.

A world-famous painting, one might say.

(End of chapter)