Chapter 83: Little Secret

In the spacious reception room, the lights were bright but the atmosphere was as cold as ice.

Li En and Miss Shaliman sat facing each other, silent, like a couple who had fallen out, if one ignored the little woman sitting right next to Li En.

"Auntie, weren't you in a hurry to leave? Why have you come back?"

Miss Shaliman set down her coffee cup, staring straight ahead, her words laced with thorns.

"Ah, I was in a hurry to see Mr. Li En, but now that I have seen him, naturally I am not in a hurry anymore."

As she spoke, the Purple Miss Zi Qiangwei leaned in voluntarily, letting the fullness of her chest press against him.

The overly enthusiastic warmth, along with the softness and scent unique to women, made the inexperienced Li En feel at a loss; his face, flushed by the scent, seemed to reveal something.

"Eh, Little Brother Li En has never been in love? Should you and Little Miss Zi Qiangwei have a passionate youth romance?! Little Miss Zi Qiangwei is also a first love too." Instantly, the girl's pupils shone as if she had spotted prey.

As she spoke, the girl rubbed herself against him again and again; Li En's face turned even redder.

He felt his blood was boiling a bit too much today; had he been poisoned by something?

But at the same time, visibly, the veins on Miss Shaliman's forehead were bulging, and she nearly burst a blood vessel right there.

"Auntie! Mind your age and seniority!" This was nearly a direct accusation, targeting the very thing a woman cares about most.

"Uh, but Auntie me, I look younger than you." The Purple Miss Zi Qiangwei covered her mouth with her index finger and said something quite incredible with an innocent expression.

But this was also the great truth; the glamorous Miss Shaliman looked more mature than her actual age.

And at this moment, the Purple Miss Zi Qiangwei, who had dropped her illusion, looked no older than fifteen by any measure, appearing even like a middle school student.

"And besides, when Little Miss Shaliman gets old and can't walk, Little Miss Zi Qiangwei me will still be this appearance, or even possibly younger!" The cute magical girl squeezed her cheeks with two index fingers, revealing a cute, youthful smile with dimples.

A magical girl, as long as she wants, is naturally always a girl.

"Crack!" The suddenly crushed coffee cup signaled Miss Shaliman's resolve wavering once more.

And Li En just silently pretended not to exist; when women fight, a smart man pretends not to exist; he felt that if he opened his mouth, he would become the primary target of attack.

But, would they really let him, the source of all evil, go?

Miss Shaliman took a deep breath, subconsciously looked at Li En, and her hand reached for the crystal pendant.

"So, Li En, what do you think, about my little aunt..."

Obviously, she had become too angry and directly used her ability, which was usually quite restrained.

But this time, something even stranger happened; she did not hear Li En's reply; instead...

"Oh, cute Little Miss Shaliman, your mother never taught you that wandering into someone's heart at will is both impolite and dangerous." A sudden voice sounded behind her.

The view before Miss Shaliman's eyes suddenly went black; when she opened them again, she was dragged into a night filled with starry skies.

A super-giant pale purple giant snake appeared before her; that mountain-sized giant snake head hovered before her, locking eyes with her.

This was an absurd yet beautiful giant beast; it coiled in the void, and its single eyeball was larger than her entire body.

Four eyes met; the "gaze" from a superior being made Miss Shaliman feel her body paralyzed and petrified.

She seemed to be losing everything.

The giant snake's dim yellow pupils silently watched Miss Shaliman, but its slowly opening large mouth was approaching, and a poisonous fragrance emanated between its sharp teeth...

"... Indeed, you have potential. But it is too early, too early. Go back."

"Miss Shaliman!" And she suddenly woke from the hallucination, so frightened that she stood up directly.

Sweating all over, she looked around and realized the two people opposite her seemed not to have moved at all, merely looking at her loss of composure with surprise.

And in her hand, the coffee cup that should have already been crushed still emitted a bitter fragrance and a faint warmth; some coffee had already dripped onto the floor.

"I, a hallucination, exactly when..."

Miss Shaliman was completely stunned; as a Soul Manipulator, she was not supposed to fall for illusions, and being a branch of prophecy, the natural enemy of illusion-type spells, she had fallen for it so easily.

Was she counterattacked while using her ability? Or was it right when she first entered the room? No, maybe it wasn't a hallucination, but then what was it...

"Miss Shaliman. What's wrong?"

And Li En also stood up, his concerned expression right before her eyes.

"Nothing, nothing," Miss Shaliman took a deep breath, tried to keep calm, and sat back down.

She glanced at her little aunt, only to see a perfectly timed prank face.

"Don't be angry, don't be angry, it's not worth getting angry with a brat." She vaguely knew that this aunt was a bit off.

She had known for a long time that she had such an aunt (her mother's younger sister), acting as a magical girl in the distance; today was their first meeting, and it was truly too much of a "surprise."

Her Soul ability had encountered such a thing for the first time in her life.

She had not failed before; often it was because the opponent was simply too strong (resistance was too high), or they had some secret treasure on them, but she had never been discovered.

Now she was not only discovered but also lectured to her face.

Miss Shaliman, who appeared calm, was in chaos inside; this Soul ability was her last and most important trump card, and now it had actually failed.

She felt she had returned to childhood, that cold and helpless feeling, that taste of having no security, that despair and unease as if she were naked in the ice and snow.

"By the way, Li En, weren't you looking for Little Miss Shaliman for something?" At this moment, the Purple Miss Zi Qiangwei seemed to notice nothing, simply changing the topic at the perfect moment.

"... Yes, this letter, please deliver it to Her Highness Dai Niya as soon as possible." Reminded, Li En quickly took out this sealed letter.

This was not because he distrusted Miss Shaliman, but regarding the matter of the "Dragonborn," Miss Shaliman might not even know it; it was better for both parties if fewer people knew.

Using a letter was also to avoid misunderstandings in passing the message.

But presenting a secret piece of paper in front of the "Snake" that mastered language was not a very smart thing to do.

The Purple Miss Zi Qiangwei only glanced at the envelope; her face, blooming like a flower, showed no change at all, but her pupils flashed with a hint of surprise.

She pondered for an instant; the next moment, she nodded thoughtfully.

Then the girl leaned in close to the man again; a snake's tongue lightly licked... then, having confirmed certain things, she silently looked at the man who was within arm's reach, unreservedly, staring straight at him.

"Uh, may I ask... is something the matter?" Those watery beautiful eyes that seemed about to drip honey, and those straight eyes that seemed to crave prey, made Li En feel somewhat uncomfortable.

The Purple Miss Zi Qiangwei did not answer immediately; she tilted her head, pondered for a moment, and then spoke with a hesitant, yet cute tone.

"The first boy will be named Kai, the first girl will be named Laina, okay? Strive for twelve in the first ten years, Mr.; I have almost thought of all the names! I love big families; starting from the thirteenth, you name them!" The woman's pure eyes were serious.

Wait, what are you thinking about? Are you already thinking about children's names?

Twelve? Are you planning to form a soccer team?

A big family, thirteen. Do you really plan to have double-digit children? Snake women aren't true snakes, but they still give birth one by one, right? Do you plan to give birth continuously for over ten years?!

Li En had too many points to criticize; he didn't even know where to start.

"Auntie!!" The girl who looked like a woman over there was thoroughly enraged.

One face-to-face confrontation wasn't enough, and you're coming again?!

"Heh, just kidding." In the next moment, that snake-like magical girl slid her shoulder and glided away from Li En.

She kept a safe distance from the man, sat properly like a proper lady, sipped coffee, and ate cookies.

That was a cute noble lady; the little witch from the previous moment seemed like just a hallucination.

And all of Miss Shaliman's snake hair stood up.

Even though her bloodline told her there was absolutely no chance of victory, that wasn't a reason for her to repeatedly endure face-to-face attacks! Obviously, Auntie knew Li En was her...

"Really just kidding, little Miss Shaliman doesn't know, active magical girls can't get married." The Purple Miss Zi Qiangwei's sudden words were very sincere.

"Auntie." Taking a deep breath, Miss Shaliman knew she had been played; her image in front of Li En was probably completely ruined.

Calm, calm, arguing with this crazy aunt is meaningless.

Dignity, dignity, a lady's dignity, so many years of noble etiquette...

"But you can have an affair." The little witch was back.

"Auntie!!" Well, the noble lady instantly broke character.

"Slap."

But in the next moment, the Purple Miss Zi Qiangwei gently put down her coffee cup and began to speak seriously about business.

"I came this time because I actually have a request. Princess Dai Niya is preparing to launch a war against the underground ruins."

The woman who casually revealed a huge secret instantly switched to work mode and quickly stated her goal.

"I accepted her commission, mainly for intelligence exploration and map drawing of the underground ruins. Therefore, I plan to organize an exploration team to enter the underground... I need some trustworthy companions and teammates. Are you interested? With me there, the danger level isn't high, but the rewards will definitely not be low."

Instantly, this woman presented a temptation that was hard to refuse.

"Miss Shaliman, Li En, you should both need materials for bloodline evolution, especially Lord Li En... Your bloodline has awakened and evolved again, but it seems to lack many materials."

Li En was a bit stunned; perhaps his initial judgment was a bit off, and this woman seemed quite powerful.

"I will post the commission on the Explorer's Association, specifically naming you two to take it, just to grind some Explorer reputation and credentials. The reward will be..." Her beautiful eyes swept over Li En again, making him feel inexplicably uneasy.

Li En hesitated; he had too many secrets and wasn't suitable for this strange woman.

"... 130 gold coins bonus."

How coincidental is this bonus? Exactly 130 coins short...

"Then 140 coins." Li En's mouth gaped open. You wouldn't really be able to read minds, would you! What do you already know?!

After speaking, the Purple Miss Zi Qiangwei didn't give Li En a chance to ask questions, stood up directly, and prepared to happily say goodbye and run away.

She really had an appointment with someone, she was just late.

"Let's say in one week, contact then." Only a few seconds passed, and the person was already gone, leaving only that floral scent behind.

This woman, who came and went like a storm, left only two people with subtle identities staring at each other and breathing heavily.

"Anyway, sorry to trouble you, I'll go first." Li En sighed; this scene, messed up by the magical girl, was truly too embarrassing; he should leave first.

"Have a meal before you go, don't let others think the Sudar family has no manners." Miss Shaliman sighed; having been messed with by this little aunt, she didn't even know who to be angry at.

She couldn't let Li En run all the way from far away just to say two sentences and then go straight back; considering their relationship, that would be too rude.

"Then I'll disturb you." Li En didn't make a fuss; he might as well gather some information.

And Miss Shaliman didn't drive him away; if someone received news and immediately flew into a rage to drive them away...

"Li En's letter? Take it out, throw it away! Throw it away right now." In the top-floor suite, a girl was jumping with rage.

"He is still in this house? Drive him out!" Li En would never have thought that Dai Niya, who felt this mansion was very comfortable (very safe), was currently in this very room.

"Uh, Your Highness, did something happen between you and him?" Miss Shaliman looked completely confused; wasn't your relationship quite good before?

Didn't she personally award him the medal just two days ago, and even receive him privately? How did you fall out so quickly?

Dai Niya certainly wouldn't make trouble for no reason and talk about the embarrassing past of being publicly rebuked by a newly knighted knight.

She just kept a straight face, picked up the letter, and intended to throw it away.

Miss Shaliman pondered for a moment and decided to turn and go downstairs.

She planned to let Li En go back first to avoid touching Princess Dai Niya's sore spot and escalating the conflict between the two sides.

But before Miss Shaliman went out the door, Dai Niya was still thinking; a qualified "politician" cannot act out of anger.

Finally, she gritted her teeth and decided to see what Li En actually said.

She made up her mind; if it was a trivial matter or further accusations, she would ignore everything and send Li En to the Northern Lands to guard the city and watch penguins.

With three quick motions, the irritable woman tore open the letter.

"How is that possible!!" However, with just one glance, she was completely shocked.

"Wait, Miss Shaliman..." She called back Miss Shaliman who had already left the room.

Miss Shaliman stood at the door with a confused look, watching Princess Dai Niya pace back and forth in the room, lost in thought.

Finally, reason covered emotion; Dai Niya gritted her teeth and spoke.

"Give him 130 gold coins, but we won't meet now; let's wait two days, we can't let him think he has me in his grasp."

Miss Shaliman was about to go back and respond, but just as she walked back to the door...

"Wait."

Miss Shaliman stopped, looking over with a resentful gaze. You "little girls," are you specifically here to torture my mature woman's old waist? Snake women don't find going up and down stairs easy.

But Dai Niya wasn't so delicate; her attention was entirely captured by the content of that letter.

"Give him 1300 gold coins! Tch, only 130 gold coins? Do you look down on me? Do you think I, this Princess, have no money?!"

The little girl's inexplicable fussiness left one at a loss for how to judge it.

(End of Chapter)