Chapter 182: The Approaching Storm

"Dainya's mother? The Kingdom's Ice Queen, Marianna Alishé?" Li En suddenly realized.

Dainya's slip revealed the imminent arrival of Queen Marianna.

"Your Highness," the guard quickly reminded her.

Dainya blinked, snapped back to awareness, then glared at Li En.

"Don't let this leak out."

She had no more patience to chat with Li En and immediately rose to leave, preparing for what lay ahead.

The Queen and the Princess are two different things; the ruler's travel is always a grand political act, never a personal one.

Once the itinerary is confirmed, preparations—from ceremony to logistics—are extremely complex. Even if Li En said nothing, the news would leak out quickly.

Such things can't be hidden; too many people have stakes in them. Even the Princess herself, who might receive the official notice, likely learns of it late.

Setting down the thin sheet of paper that felt more like a formal notice, Dainya's mood instantly grew deeply complicated.

She didn't know why her mother, who hadn't left the New Capital in years, had come all this way.

To support her? That didn't require a personal visit.

To oppose her? Or to drag her back? Then a public announcement or a secret letter would've sufficed.

Dainya couldn't guess. The mother and daughter had spent little time together; the Princess likely understood her mother less than her own guards did.

The Queen was simply too busy—and on top of that, even toward her own flesh and blood, she remained cold, even indifferent. That was why she was called the Ice Queen.

Watching Dainya, thrown off rhythm by the sudden news, hurry away, Li En knew today was not the day to say anything.

He thought for a moment: "Li En's plan to form a small group for underground exploration" didn't need to be told to someone of the Princess's rank. Let Shaliman handle it—she'd be perfect.

Registering as an adventurer guild or mercenary organization would be enough. The "Weaver Knights" that Dimon mentioned might work too.

This was what Dimon had asked Li En to do: the concentrated small groups in the dock area already had plenty of strong individuals, and they planned to join the underground exploration as a collective.

Supposedly, this was one of the traditions of the "Spirit Hero Heir," and also the root of why Dainya worked so hard to seize influence.

Perhaps this small group's strength is still modest now, but look at Dimon's growth rate—if a dozen Spirit Hero Heirs appeared, along with dozens of corresponding elites, within ten years they'd become a formidable young force.

This core group had already begun operating from the dock area, and they needed some official support—at least, official transit passes for their unusual members.

"I wonder if this city even has ten years left."

Considering Dainya's tendencies, Li En abandoned the idea of telling her. If she found out, she'd shamelessly "force herself in," and everyone would be miserable.

The Queen's arrival seemed to have no impact on someone like Li En—let the city's elite sweat it out. But on another level, Li En already felt pulled in.

"Don't move."

Outside, Li En pulled out the Spirit Hero Codex. Ever since hearing the name Marianna, "he" had been restless.

"Lex Thorne, the Continent's Hero."

The previously silent Spirit Hero card glowed faintly gold—and finally reacted.

The condition to activate this reclusive Spirit Hero card had always been either encountering the "Princess" or uncovering the truth behind the current event. Judging from the situation now, this was likely Lex's own dying wish.

Since he made truth the condition, Li En guessed he was probably a fool.

Looking at the glowing card, no guesswork was needed: the "Princess" in his condition was Marianna. So, if Li En simply waited for her arrival, he could activate this card?

"Snake, can I activate this second Spirit Hero card in my current state?" Li En felt a flicker of anticipation. Finally, a proper Spirit Hero.

This was a Hero—a once-famed, formidable warrior of this continent. Surely he wouldn't disappoint.

Was he about to take off?

"Yes, I'm not bound to you, but—"

Snake laughed merrily. He'd seen too many interesting things—even considered forcibly altering the timing of Marianna's arrival.

No, he shook his head. Marianna was a sovereign. Interfering with her fate would bring a fatal backlash. Yes, it would strike Li En. Snake now tied all karmic threads under the name "Li Ensu," and after that demonic vow, the karma would land directly on Li En (Li Ensu).

In a way, this demonic vow let Snake do more—but thankfully, he still didn't want the Infinite Dragon to reincarnate so soon.

"Tsk tsk tsk, this Queen is a formidable figure. Too bad I don't have time left—I won't get to see this show." Yet Snake still grinned.

In response to Li En's question about the Spirit Hero, he added:

"Lex? I advise you not to get your hopes up. Would a normal Spirit Hero go reclusive? He's a waste."

Snake's vicious assessment left Li En stunned.

This was the former flagship figure of the Kingdom. But then again, given Snake's caliber, ordinary Spirit Heroes probably meant nothing to him.

"No. Do you think Li Ensu would look down on someone just because they're weaker? I'm not talking about that. You'll find out later." Snake wouldn't spell it out—what if Li En ran away?

The future "Li Ensu" was still invisible, but just by observing those around him, Snake could already imagine the amusement.

Li En wanted to press further, but Snake vanished without a trace. Left alone, Li En felt numb. He sensed a bottomless pit—but could he really leave this Spirit Hero card unactivated?

Li En clearly felt the power within Lex's card was far stronger than Su Er's or Kuku's.

"Maybe I should investigate the truth of the past myself. Even if I can't activate the card, I can judge. If I meet the Queen, activate the card, who knows what 'he' might do?" Li En remembered how he'd lost control during the Spirit Hero's possession.

If the Spirit Hero Lex really did something… better play it safe.

Li En shivered, making a new decision.

Snake's behavior had tilted fate again, pulling Li En slightly away from the express train to hell.

Meanwhile, "Snake," somewhere unknown, suddenly stopped.

In the void, he rolled on the ground, weeping with regret.

But then he laughed. Fate's "correction mechanism" was brutally strong—the karmic threads were already a tangled mess.

Often, when you think you've escaped, fate delivers a brutal kick.

Their meeting was inevitable. The amusement was guaranteed. By observing "Marianna," Snake had already seen plenty of entertainment—and curled back into his serpentine grin.

Li En, meanwhile, simply tucked the Spirit Hero card away, hired a carriage, and returned to his home in Nanmen District.

He could've walked, but considering Lana, her attendant, and the goods he'd bought, there was no need to be frugal.

"You're back! You're back! My home, you're back!"

Lana burst into excitement, running circles around the courtyard.

Li En carried the items inside, and soon, the kitchen filled with the scent of food.

As night fell, the modest house glowed softly. Sitting down for dinner, Li En felt an unexpected warmth.

Was this… what home felt like?

He watched Lana smear soup all over her face, and the maid chasing after her to clean up—and felt a quiet peace.

"Will the awakening of the former Hero drag her into it?" The thought surfaced suddenly, leaving him bewildered.

"Probably not. The Spirit Hall selects based on affinity. A blank slate, a degenerate—does she even qualify to become a new Hero?" Li En chuckled and shook his head. It was all Snake's nonsense making him paranoid.

While he enjoyed this rare family moment, the city's elite were doomed to work through the night.

The Queen's sudden announcement sparked endless speculation and frantic preparation. She hadn't specified her arrival date—the journey from the New Capital took a month or more—but since the notice had been sent, it would happen within these months at the latest.

At the same moment, another woman destined to be tied to Li En for life had just fallen asleep.

"Huh." In her inn room, Violet Rose had barely gotten into bed before sinking into deep sleep.

She was exhausted—not just from travel, but from tending to and stabilizing the two juniors. To return to her "beloved" as soon as possible, she'd pushed herself hard.

On the adjacent bed, the two girls slept together. They might need Violet Rose's care during their nighttime episodes.

"White" still sat by the dim lamp, reading the storybook she'd brought. Compared to recent days, her condition had worsened—her antlers had swollen noticeably, and her body bore more bestial markings.

Compared to "Snow," whose beastification was slower, White's deterioration was far more rapid.

Without a "Contractor," her beastification was unstoppable. Unless she found a new stabilizer, she'd soon fully transform into a new "Deer."

She'd already made up her mind: if she couldn't be saved, becoming a Deer and forming a contract with "Snow" might save her.

"Coward!" Yet, as always, she was scolded by another personality for being a coward.

She sighed. She knew she wasn't strong. Perhaps her deterioration was faster than expected because she lacked the will to live. Perhaps all her few moments of resolve had been channeled into her new "sister."

She blew out the lamp and soon fell asleep.

In her dreams, there would be no abnormal sensations or pain from beastification, no discomfort from her body tearing apart and forcibly healing.

"What a good child. Want to make a contract with Uncle?" A cute little black snake suddenly appeared before her, half-asleep.

"Never!" Instantly, White woke up, remembering the seemingly adorable contract beast from before.

"Never refuse? Good, good." But how could that beast-prince compare to the true monster before her—the true inventor of the Magical Girl contract?

The tiny black snake instantly transformed into a devouring darkness, swallowing the little girl whole.

A new contract instantly replaced the vacant contract slot.

The next morning, White—now restored to her pure white maiden form—stared at her reflection, utterly bewildered.

"This isn't a dream… Wait, did I just contract another 'me'?!"

"Wait, I can be summoned now? What kind of weird thing is this?"

The twin sisters would need time to adjust to this rare kindness from a bad man.

Meanwhile, he—the snake himself—slithered onto another "woman's" bedside, grinning.

"What a good child. Want to make a contract with Uncle?"

(End of Chapter)