Category: As a villain, I just want them to behave

Chapter 201: I Really Thank You

Two days passed in a flash. During these two days, Hilna successfully took over the Xiya Kingdom’s economy from Phils thanks to her excellent dance performance.

The Pope, who was being “specially cared for” by Kailun – Her goodwill drop further, reaching -91.

Fox was behaving normally and hadn’t encountered any accidents. Rose seemed to have contacted a certain entity, and Kailun was observing the situation.

Hilna, with the help of a massive amount of mental power, had used the Sunset Flower to create a mutated “Unlucky Flower.” Surprisingly, this newly created Unlucky Flower had the effect of refreshing the mind. It looked quite impressive.

Interestingly, Chrissy’s tears were used to cultivate this Unlucky Flower.

After watering it several times with the tears and adding some strange potions, the Sunset Flower underwent a certain degree of mutation.

It looked like alchemy, but it wasn’t.

Today was a special day. He had to see the Pope off. Not only Roden, Kailson, and Philip were accompanying her, but also Helena, the assassin girl.

With Kailun’s attribute boost, Helena and the others could be considered four ninth-rank mages. Additionally, the Pope herself was an exceptionally strong ninth-rank mage. Therefore, their group’s combat power was roughly equivalent to six ninth-rank mages.

The reason they couldn’t reach a higher level was that Helena and the others weren’t true ninth-rank mages. There was still a gap in their combat power.

After joining forces with Charles and the others, this force would be more than enough to break through the Empress’s siege from both inside and outside.

It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that with Kailun’s support, the Pope’s forces had recovered to their pre-war level, even surpassing it slightly.

It seemed that an irreconcilable conflict had arisen between the Pope and the Empress. This was the situation Kailun wanted to see the most.

A united Temple of the Celestial God was a behemoth, but a divided Temple of the Celestial God was just a powerful super-force.

If it weren’t for the unseen “Fate”, Kailun might have already launched a full-scale attack.

He lacked some crucial information, information he couldn’t ask Illusion about or have Isabella divine. He could only rely on himself to explore it step by step.

At 8:00 AM, Kailun saw the group off at the city gate.

Roden and the others had just returned yesterday and had to set off on another journey.

There was no other way. He didn’t have many people around him who were suitable for combat. Afra was incredibly strong, but as one of his trump cards, she naturally had to stay in the Royal City.

Fox and Bella weren’t weak, but the upcoming battles weren’t suitable for them. They still had many issues to resolve.

Helena was a professional assassin, so it was most appropriate for her to return to the Temple of the Celestial God with the Pope.

“You will accompany The Pope to Alaye. You’ll most likely face the Empress’s forces. Act according to the plan. If The Pope disobeys, report to me immediately. The first thing you do after arriving is to set up the teleportation magic circle.” 

Before they departed, Kailun gave Roden another reminder.

Their main objective in going to Alaye was to set up the teleportation magic circle. Only then could Kailun travel freely between the two locations.

If any unforeseen circumstances arose, he could also rush over immediately.

As for whether the Pope would disobey him?

There was no doubt about it. That’s why he had sent so many people to Alaye. If they played their cards right, they might even be able to control her.

“Don’t worry, Master Kailun. We will complete your mission.”

Roden bowed to Kailun. Having gained immense power, he felt like he had been reborn. His mentality had become much younger.

“The Temple of the Celestial God is nothing to fear. It’s just a piece of cake for Lord Kailun.” Kailson flattered him at the right time.

“Hmph, traitor.” The Pope, shrouded in black mist, snorted coldly.

To avoid being recognized, she had replaced the white light that concealed her body with black mist.

“Don’t talk about me, Your Holiness. Aren’t you a traitor yourself? I just abandoned darkness and embraced the light earlier.”

Kailson chuckled, listening to her neutral voice.

It was a good thing he had chosen wisely and surrendered early. Maybe he could even achieve a higher position than the Pope in the future.

The Pope? Just a failure.

Philip chuckled awkwardly. “We’re all on the same side now, fighting for the same goal. So let’s all take a step back and say less.”

He seemed to be advising them both, but he was actually trying to suppress the Pope.

Putting the Pope on the same level as Kailson was a clear act of suppression.

“Hmph!”

The Pope glanced at Kailun and didn’t say anything. She was afraid that she would lose control and do something irrational.

Kailun, perhaps sensing the Pope’s emotional change, walked up to her.

He placed his hands on her shoulders. “After this farewell, we’ll probably meet again in about ten days. I hope you’re still alive by then. If Kailson and the others offend you, let me know, and I’ll teach them a lesson. And…”

Kailun placed his hand on her neck and slowly removed the slave collar.

From the others’ perspective, Kailun had just leaned in and whispered something to the Pope. Then they noticed a slave collar in his hand.

Kailson was shocked by this discovery. He hadn’t expected the legendary Pope to be reduced to such a state.

Given her pride, it was strange that she hadn’t dragged Kailun down with her in a self-destructive attack.

It seemed that Lord Kailun was even more formidable than they had imagined.

“You seem to hate me very much, but please don’t forget our agreement. We are partners for this month. Oh, right, Chrissy is still at my house. You wouldn’t want her to be bullied by me, would you?”

Kailun rubbed the back of his hand against the Pope’s smooth cheek.

“Don’t touch me!” She turned her face away and said in a cold voice, “Chrissy has nothing to do with me now. Even if she dies, it has nothing to do with me. I don’t know her.”

“Is that so? Then I’ll have to tell Chrissy. I hope she won’t be sad when she hears this.”

Kailun showed the Pope a sound recording stone. He had recorded their conversation.

The Pope’s pupils constricted slightly. “You insidious devil! You’ll go to hell!”

“Since I’m going to hell anyway, why not enjoy your sorrow a little more? Don’t you agree?”

Kailun pinched the Pope’s cheek, which felt incredibly soft. This time, she didn’t dodge.

“So for the sake of our smooth cooperation, please don’t overthink things. Otherwise, I’ll not only bully Chrissy but also you. There’s a saying about ‘mother and daughter’… I’ve wanted to try it for a long time. So you better not give me this opportunity, because my self-control is really bad.”

Kailun increased his mental power, enhancing the effect of his mental contamination.

He used both carrot and stick, coercion and temptation. For an important character like the Pope, he would put in extra effort.

“I’m not Chrissy’s mother! Don’t talk nonsense!” The Pope’s eyes were filled with fear. She had indeed considered this before, but now she didn’t dare to think about it at all.

If Kailun really had such thoughts, wouldn’t she lose all face in front of Chrissy?

That was absolutely unacceptable!

“It doesn’t matter. If I say you are, then you are. If Chrissy says you are, then you are. Of course, as long as our cooperation goes smoothly, these things won’t happen. So do you understand?”

Kailun patted the Pope’s cheek and slipped the sound recording stone in his other hand into her collar.

The Pope resisted the urge to self-destruct and lowered her head. “… I understand.”

She had endured so many hardships. There was no need to be impulsive now. Once she returned to Alaye, she would have plenty of opportunities to maneuver.

“That’s right. As long as you’re obedient, we’ll be the best partners. Go now, and return to the Temple of the Celestial God with our goal in mind.”

Kailun extended a hand behind him. Carol, who was prepared, handed him a food box.

He took the food box and passed it to the Pope. “You haven’t had a good meal in days, so let me treat you to a feast before you leave. Please don’t thank me. It’s my duty.”

The Pope, who had been eating steamed buns for days: “… I really thank you!”

[Pope’s Goodwill -1, Total Goodwill -92]

“I told you there’s no need to thank me. You’re too kind. Go now. If you’re late, the Empress might capture Alaye.”

Kailun smiled, seemingly oblivious to the Pope’s resentment.

A few minutes later, the Pope and her group set off. They would use small teleportation magic circles and teleportation spells to travel non-stop, hoping to reach Alaye within three or four days.

This was already the absolute limit. Any later, and Alaye might be captured.

Based on the intelligence reports from the front lines, the Empress was determined to take Alaye this time.

If he deliberately abandoned Alaye, he might have a chance to completely win over the Pope to his side. But this method was too risky.

He didn’t understand why the Empress would risk so much to break with the Pope, so he couldn’t easily give up Alaye.

Only by keeping them in check could Kailun have enough time to develop.

“Will your plan work?” After the Pope and her group left, Carol walked up to Kailun and wrapped her arm around his.

Kailun looked towards Alaye. “It might work. I can’t be 100% sure, but I’ve already made backup plans. Even if it fails, it’s not a big deal. Part of the reason I sent Roden and the others was to support the Pope in retaking Alaye. The other part is for other possibilities.”

“You’re so cunning. It’s hard to understand how your mind can hold so many schemes.”

Carol followed Kailun’s gaze towards Alaye.

“It’s simple. You just need to see and experience enough, or have extraordinary calculation abilities. And I happen to have both, so my judgment is a bit sharper than others.”

Kailun knew his strengths and their origins.

Although he would occasionally get carried away by his power, he would never go overboard. He didn’t need to reflect on himself three times a day, but he should think carefully several times to see if he had missed anything.

He had come this far partly because of his hard work, partly because of his luck, and partly because of the continuation from his previous life.

The further he went, the closer he got to the truth, as if it was within reach, just a thin layer of paper away.

Carol glanced at Kailun, who had suddenly fallen silent. Her gaze landed on his deep eyes.

In the past, she had sensed a deep sadness in him, but now she felt more calmness and contentment.

Through the stories in her dreams, she seemed to understand something. Those blurry scenes were always so real and reasonable.

Because of this influence, she would also change to a certain extent in her dreams.

It was because of this change that everything became more logical.

Like a tangled rope, she couldn’t find its beginning or end, its cause or effect.

“Let’s go back. There shouldn’t be any major events in the next few days. I can spend more time with you.”

After a long silence, Kailun walked towards the city with Carol.

“By the way, Rose has been acting strangely lately. According to you, she might have contacted that entity.” Carol suddenly remembered something and shook Kailun’s arm.

Kailun: “I know about that. Anything else?”

“Yes, the Unlucky Flowers that Anna secretly distributed have been acquired, but after investigation, the buyer wasn’t from the Abyss.” Carol replied.

“This is different from the information Bolton reported. Have Anna send someone to keep an eye on it. Remember, don’t alert them.”

Kailun continued walking. They had already entered the city.

He could take his time with this “fishing” plan. He had plenty of time.

Once the situation with the Pope was settled, his advantage would increase significantly.

He felt a sense of relief. The disadvantageous situation was about to turn into an advantageous one.

……

“Who are you?”

At the same time, Rose stood in front of the mirror in her room, looking at her “partner.”

The reflection in the mirror wasn’t her room but a blood-red cave. A blurry figure with wings and dragon horns appeared in the mirror.

“You’re not qualified to know my name, but I can tell you a title I used in the past: Fate. You can call me that.”

The figure in the mirror replied.

But her voice sounded very young to Rose, not matching her self-proclaimed title.

By chance, she had been in contact with this entity for two days and was now somewhat familiar with her.

After a series of negotiations, Rose agreed to help her gather the ingredients, and in return, the entity promised to help her escape Kailun’s control.

“Fate’s” abilities were convincing, but she seemed too naive. Rose wasn’t sure if it was genuine or an act.

“So I really have to contact Fox? But I don’t want to see that woman again. She’s the demon’s lapdog.” Rose thought of Fox and felt a headache.

The most important thing was that she couldn’t defeat Fox. After their previous encounter, Fox would occasionally come looking for her, as if wanting to persuade her through violence.

“You have to contact her. Only then can I merge my avatar with your body. This way, we won’t have to communicate through this troublesome method.” The entity in the mirror insisted.

“I understand. I heard they’re going to have a hot spring bath tonight. I’ll try my best.”

Rose sighed. To escape Kailun’s clutches, she was willing to take another risk.

Learning to dance was out of the question. She would never learn those seductive dances, never!

***

T/N:

Just to remind that the gender of ‘the pope’ is unknown to many, and only the protagonist and those close to him are aware of it so far. The text sometimes switches between ‘he’ and ‘she,’ but I have chosen to use ‘she’ consistently, as the inconsistency can be confusing and weird.

Chapter 200: The Mosquito’s Bite

Hilna’s learning ability wasn’t bad. If she had focused most of her energy on meditation, she might have been able to reach the threshold of the seventh rank at her age.

However, she was obsessed with domestic affairs, often neglecting even her main subject, potionology.

But she was also terrible at politics. In terms of ability, she was no match for Phils, let alone Rose, who had been queen for ten years.

Kailun’s resentment towards Hilna had dissipated after repeatedly teasing her. She was no longer his main target for “bullying.”

A deposed princess who wouldn’t resist couldn’t arouse his mischievousness. It wasn’t as fun as teasing Queen Rose.

“Once esteemed Princess, please begin your performance within one minute.”

Kailun first urged Hilna and then turned to Rose. “Pay close attention. If your standard doesn’t reach Hilna’s level, I might have you practice intensely for two and a half years. Remember, you only have three days.”

“I understand.”

Rose glared at Kailun resentfully. Three days wasn’t difficult for her. She already had a foundation in dancing, but she hadn’t spent much time on it because she didn’t enjoy it.

Rose had grand ambitions. She had never imagined that one day she would have to please someone with her dancing.

Unfortunately, she had encountered Kailun, a demon who had shattered her dreams and hopes, repeatedly crushing her dignity.

“If my dance can satisfy you, please grant me a small request.” Rose suddenly remembered something and stepped forward, her voice serious.

Kailun: “Speak.”

“If possible, I want you to send Bruce to the mines. He doesn’t deserve to be my grandfather.” Rose’s expression was cold.

Since Bruce, her grandfather, had treated her like a tool, wasn’t it only natural for her to retaliate?

Kailun didn’t answer directly. He said vaguely, “It depends on your performance.”

Leaving those ambiguous words behind, Kailun shifted his attention to Hilna.

While Rose was speaking, Hilna had already taken off her outer garment and begun dancing gracefully.

Her attire was revealing, her movements elegant, like a fallen swan wandering lost and helpless in a field.

“Clink!”

Kailun wound the music box on the table. He felt that such a beautiful dance needed a beautiful accompaniment.

Hilna leaped, twirled, and even prostrated herself on the ground. The sadness on her face seemed to reflect her inner turmoil, her helplessness conveyed without any barriers.

The dance was beautiful, the dancer was beautiful, but what was most captivating was the interplay between the dance and her attire.

Kailun had mentioned that Hilna’s clothing was very revealing. Not only were her fair arms exposed, but also a large expanse of her back.

If he remembered correctly, it was called a backless dress, but Hilna’s was even more revealing. From behind, he could even see the curves of her sides, swaying alluringly with every movement, as if desperately trying to escape.

But they were bound by the fabric at her chest, unable to break free, leaving only the two “peaks” pressing against the thin material, incredibly eye-catching.

The backless dress not only revealed her beautiful back but also extended downwards, accentuating her perfect curves.

The more elegant Hilna’s movements were, the more the discord between her dance and her attire highlighted the air of sensuality.

At first glance, it was jarring, but upon closer inspection, it was a harmonious blend, unconsciously stirring a desire to “bully” Hilna.

The dance conveyed sorrow and resentment, while her clothing and exposed flesh hinted at raw desire. The combination of the two stirred Kailun’s emotions, amplifying his wicked thoughts.

He wanted to make her even more pitiful, even more sorrowful, wanted to make her cry even harder.

He had to admit that the Loya troupe had something special. They had a thorough understanding of desire, knowing how to manipulate people’s hearts, how to make them fall.

He hadn’t seen his own Loya troupe perform this dance yet. It would be a beautiful sight to have them dance with Hilna next time.

Kailun narrowed his eyes, tapping his fingers on the table as he admired Hilna’s dance.

The occasional glimpses of her alluring figure were always a pleasant surprise, a kind of hazy beauty.

For Hilna, who was already used to this, it was nothing. She had been “filled” by Kailun countless times. It was a small price to pay for the chance to manage the Xiya Kingdom’s economy.

But Rose was “shocked.” She hadn’t expected Hilna’s dance to be so provocative. Would she also have to perform the same dance in three days?

Rose stood frozen, wondering how to overcome this obstacle.

Lost in thought, she was escorted out of the room by Kailun. She only came back to her senses when she heard the door close.

Because her mind was still in turmoil, Rose unconsciously pressed her ear against the door, eavesdropping on what was happening inside.

For the first few minutes, the footsteps remained the same, just a bit faster. But after five minutes, Hilna’s footsteps became more erratic and disorganized.

It seemed that the dance hadn’t stopped, just changed its form.

Gradually, she heard the footsteps of two people. The solo dance had become a duet. Perhaps because the rhythm was too fast, Hilna, struggling to keep up, let out soft moans, long and drawn-out, a mixture of pleasure and complaint.

The strange sounds penetrated the door, reaching Rose’s ears, making her body feel strange.

She realized what was happening but didn’t want to acknowledge it.

What would she do if she faced the same “punishment” in three days?

Fear, worry, and a hint of curiosity.

Before Rose could think further, she saw Vivian and Illusion walking towards the study.

She quickly straightened up and moved away from the door, stopping at the corner of the corridor to peek.

Rose saw Vivian and Illusion knock on the study door. After about a minute, they opened the door and walked in.

“Can I really escape?”

Rose looked despondent, wanting to drag Kailun down with her.

But she couldn’t do it.

Even the Pope of the Temple of the Celestial God had fallen into Kailun’s hands. What could she do?

She remembered the ingredient list for the Lucky Potion and took it out of her pocket, carefully examining it. There was one crucial ingredient missing. She didn’t know what it was, but she could gather the rest first.

The problem was how to keep it a secret from Kailun. The Royal City was filled with his spies. No matter what she did, she would be discovered. It would be extremely difficult to hide anything from him.

At least, the current Rose couldn’t think of a solution.

She glanced at Kailun’s door again, resisting the urge to continue eavesdropping, and walked towards her room with her head lowered.

Perhaps she was unlucky, because at another corner, she bumped into Fox. Naturally, she, being weaker, fell to the ground, and the list in her hand slipped out, landing at Fox’s feet.

“I’m so sorry! Are you alright?”

Fox quickly helped Rose up. “It’s my fault. I was lost in thought and didn’t see you. You dropped something. Let me pick it up for you.”

“No need!” Rose came back to her senses and stopped her.

But it was too late. Fox had already bent down and picked up the ingredient list, glancing at it. “This is the ingredient list for the Lucky Potion? Why do you have this?”

Fox looked at Rose warily, even secretly gathering her magic power. If Rose was up to something, she would subdue her instantly.

As for why Fox knew this was the ingredient list for the Lucky Potion?

Of course, it was because the paper clearly stated “Lucky Potion Ingredient List.”

“Kailun knows about this. He tacitly approved. If you don’t believe me, you can ask him yourself.”

Rose, in a bad mood, confronted Fox directly. At this point, she had nothing to be afraid of.

“You’re right. I’ll take you to confront Kailun right now.” Fox first cast an eighth-rank spell on Rose, sealing her magic power, and then dragged her towards the study.

Fox was acting out of goodwill. She knew that the Lucky Potion was very important to Kailun. It represented a huge source of income.

As for whether the Lucky Potion actually had the ability to enhance mental power, she had her doubts. After all, Kailun himself possessed the ability to increase other people’s strength.

Fox kept this speculation to herself, not intending to tell anyone. However, those close to Kailun probably knew, but they hadn’t explicitly stated it.

Thinking of the “dance party” currently taking place in the study, Rose struggled to break free. “I’m not going! I don’t want to go to the study! You can go by yourself. Don’t drag me into this!”

“Scared now, aren’t you? I knew you were up to something. Come with me.”

Fox snorted coldly and increased her grip. As they approached the study, Rose’s expression changed from nervousness to panic.

She would be doomed, doomed if she interrupted the demon’s “activities.”

The demon Kailun would probably devour them both. They might even lose their “purity” by the time they came out tomorrow morning.

“Knock, knock, knock!”

“Kailun, are you there? I caught a thief.”

“Hey, hey, hey! Can you hear me?”

Fox knocked on the door several times but received no response. She hesitated for a moment and then pushed the door open.

“Ugh, I’m finished…”

The moment the door opened, Rose’s heart sank.

A demon like Kailun would definitely not let her and Fox go.

“Stupid Kailun, I caught a traitor for you. How are you going to deal with her?”

Upon entering the study, Fox immediately saw Kailun sitting behind his desk. His clothes were a bit messy, his eyes had a strange glint, and his fingertips were glowing with magic power, indicating that he had just cast a spell.

She sniffed the air carefully. It was very fresh, even too fresh.

“What traitor? I don’t see anyone.”

Kailun leaned back in his chair, tilting his head. His right hand was on the table, fiddling with a music box, while his left hand was under the table, doing something Fox couldn’t see.

Rose looked up in surprise. She looked around, but Hilna and the others were nowhere to be found.

Where were they?

“She’s the traitor.”

Fox raised Rose’s wrist with one hand and held out the ingredient list with the other.

Rose, her wrist hurting, glared at Fox. It was none of her business!

Kailun shook his head, amused. “I know about this. I punished her by making her learn how to dance. I believe Queen Rose won’t disappoint me.”

He deliberately emphasized the word “Queen,” making Rose lower her head again.

“Is that all?” Fox reluctantly released Rose’s arm. Since Kailun had said so, she couldn’t say anything more.

“I’ll handle this. Trust me. And… hiss~”

Kailun suddenly gasped.

Fox: “What’s wrong?”

Kailun was acting strange. His voice sounded strained, as if he was suppressing something.

“Nothing. Just got bitten by a mosquito. It’s a minor issue.” Kailun waved his hand dismissively.

Fox: “You’re lying. How could you be bitten by a mosquito in your current state? And there are no mosquitoes in the manor.”

“It was indeed a mosquito, but a mutated one. Their teeth are very sharp, like fangs… hiss~”

Kailun gasped again.

Fox frowned slightly. “Bitten by a mosquito again?”

“That’s right. This time, it was a different mosquito. This one is even more ferocious and brutal, utterly ruthless.”

Kailun nodded, his left hand under the table moving again. “Alright, I’ve driven the mosquito away.”

“Should I help you kill all the mosquitoes?” Fox’s eyes flickered.

“How can you be so cruel? Mosquitoes are also living creatures. You and Rose should leave first. I still have some intelligence reports to process. I’ll probably have to work overtime tonight.”

Kailun turned up the volume of the music box, as if to cover something up.

“Are you sure you don’t need my help?” Fox hesitated.

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave. You two can chat. Goodbye. No, never see you again.”

Having received Kailun’s permission, Rose ran towards the door. She didn’t dare to stay any longer, afraid that Kailun would turn her into a mosquito.

Fox looked at Kailun and then at Rose, finally chasing after her.

She felt that Rose must know something. Since Kailun wasn’t willing to tell her, she would ask Rose. After all, Rose couldn’t defeat her.

“These two didn’t even bother to close the door.”

Kailun sighed, looking at their retreating figures. He reached under the desk. “The one who just bit me, come out.”

“Ugh~”

Someone mumbled, unable to speak because her mouth was covered.

……

“I didn’t expect such a pleasant surprise. These ingredients on the list shouldn’t be difficult to obtain. I’ll have those fools collect them for me. I’m the ancestor. No one would dare to disobey me. But have mosquitoes become so powerful now? They can even bite a ninth-rank mage?”

Ottovia Nuonuo muttered to herself as she flew towards the Abyss. She could see what was happening in the manor through Fox.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t read Fox’s memories. Otherwise, she would have discovered many subtle details.

Chapter 199: The Fish Takes the Bait

Fox, Bella, and Carol had never heard of the Unlucky Flower.

In fact, it didn’t exist. It was a fictional herb Kailun had made up based on the unlucky entity in the jade coffin.

“What is the Unlucky Flower? Why have I never heard of it?”

Fox played along and asked the crucial question.

“It’s a special plant that can enhance mental power. It’s the latest discovery in the Xiya Kingdom. It’s a mutated plant that appeared only in the last hundred years. It’s completely black and resembles the Sunset Flower.”

Kailun kindly explained to everyone.

It didn’t matter if this plant actually existed. As long as he claimed it did, it would exist.

He would find some time to secretly collect some Sunset Flowers and make some unique modifications.

He would then distribute these special Sunset Flowers through specific channels and have Fox be responsible for acquiring them.

Because of the Lucky Potion, Kailun thought of Rose again. She knew the ingredient formula.

If he wanted to involve Rose in this scheme, he couldn’t bully her too much tonight. It was a bit of a pity.

“I’ve never heard of it, but if you say it exists, then it must exist.”

Bella didn’t care if this plant actually existed. She looked at Carol warily, afraid that she would steal her position.

Carol shrugged indifferently at Bella’s vigilance. She was sleepy and wanted to go back to sleep.

She couldn’t maintain her “clinginess” due to her exhaustion. It was better to conserve her energy for tomorrow’s “battle.”

She yawned again and stretched. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll go back to sleep. I don’t think Fox is in any danger. That weak aura can’t affect her.”

“Go back and rest. I’ll handle this.”

He waved to Carol. They didn’t need many words or formalities now.

After Carol left, Kailun put his arm around Bella and beckoned to Fox with his other hand. “Are you sure you don’t want to come and sit? I can check your body.”

“No!” Fox refused again. If Bella wasn’t there, she might reluctantly agree.

She hesitated for a moment and continued, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll go back now. You can enjoy your time with Bella.”

She was hesitant before saying that. Escaping was useless, but she couldn’t think of a better solution.

She might as well focus on finding a way to regain her talent. Without it, she was just an ordinary eighth-rank mage, in a way, even inferior to Isabella.

“Wait, there’s one more thing I need your help with. I’ll draw a picture of the Unlucky Flower and give it to you. I need you to acquire it for me. Of course, I can grant you a wish as a reward, whether it’s money, resources, or anything else.”

Kailun’s gaze locked onto Fox’s eyes, making her look away.

“You said it yourself. Don’t forget.” Fox glanced at Kailun and then looked away again. “I’m going back to read the scrolls. You can come find me anytime after you’ve finished drawing it. Even… at night. I’ll be there.”

After saying that, Fox quickly ran away, wagging her tail.

“I didn’t realize you cared so much about Fox. I’m a little envious. But that foolish fox suddenly became so reserved. That’s not like her.”

Bella, sitting on Kailun’s lap, turned her head to look at his handsome face. She was a bit surprised, but not entirely.

It seemed like something Kailun would do. He kept everything hidden in his heart, his true self vastly different from his outward appearance.

Kailun chuckled. “It’s nothing. I treat everyone equally.”

Bella: “Hmph, do you believe that yourself? If Hilna and the Pope heard that, they would definitely scold you.”

Kailun’s smile didn’t waver. “No, they wouldn’t dare to scold me.”

“Also, you were lying to Fox about the Unlucky Flower, right? I’ve read many books in the Abyss, but I’ve never heard of it. I don’t think it’s possible for the Sunset Flower to mutate. It hasn’t changed for tens of thousands of years.”

Bella clung to Kailun’s arm, seeking an answer. She was curious why he would lie.

“I was indeed lying to Fox, but only half-lying. I didn’t lie about the reward.”

Kailun didn’t deny it. He didn’t mind telling Bella while that entity wasn’t around.

“You really dote on Fox. Tsk, tsk, tsk~”

Bella clicked her tongue, her tail wrapping around Kailun’s waist again.

……

“An Unlucky Flower mutated from the Sunset Flower?”

“Never heard of it, but what if it’s real? That fox’s improvement is undeniable. It’s probably thanks to the Lucky Potion.”

“I’m finished. I haven’t woken up for so many years. I can’t keep up with the times anymore.”

“No, I have to gather my forces again. It should be in time if I return to the Abyss now.”

A muttering voice came from a dark cave in a deep mountain forest. Occasionally, bats would fly out of the cave entrance to hunt for food.

A pair of crimson eyes glowed in the darkness. It should have been a terrifying sight, but it wasn’t scary at all.

Perhaps it was because those eyes were too lively, lacking the necessary intimidation.

“Whoosh!”

Suddenly, a small figure with wings flew out of the cave at lightning speed.

The wind seemed to be stunned for a moment before reacting, whistling through the cave.

A swarm of bats poured out of the cave frantically, as if something terrifying had happened.

Soon, a loud explosion echoed through the forest. The once intact cave collapsed, burying any traces of life under a pile of rubble.

……

“War only brings us pain. Now we should focus on recuperating and rebuilding.”

As evening approached, the old Dragon King Bolton stood on an open space in the second mine, delivering a speech. He had successfully taken over the leadership.

Roden and his companions had already left for the Xiya Kingdom after completing their mission. They were expected to arrive within two days.

The death of the Werewolf King had made some people abandon their ulterior motives. After the great battle with the Temple of the Celestial God, they had no other choice.

“In the coming period, we will work closely with the Xiya Kingdom for mutual development. As for the Temple of the Celestial God…”

Bolton stood at the front, speaking eloquently. He had already discussed the subsequent plans with Kailun.

For some reason, he felt more at ease leaving Bella with Kailun. At least he didn’t have to worry about her being endangered because of his mistakes.

As he was speaking, a deputy from the Birdman Clan approached him and whispered something in his ear.

Bolton’s eyes widened. “You’re saying the ancestral statue in the ancestral land moved?!”

He was shocked by this news.

The Abyss’s ancestral land was almost non-existent now. Very few people went there to pay their respects.

Legend had it that the Abyss was formed by a special entity, that its existence was related to that entity.

But legends were just legends. Most of them didn’t believe that the statue with a green face and fangs had anything to do with their race.

The statue, created by an unknown entity, had huge wings, fierce dragon horns, sharp fangs, long ears, and blood-red eyes. It was incredibly intimidating.

It held a time-related artifact in its hand, its feet stepping on golden threads of fate, its other hand seemingly grasping a broken spatial object, exuding an overwhelming sense of power.

The Abyss’s ancestral statue was a male figure, looking cold-blooded and cruel.

But very few people had actually seen it, and the races connected to it had long since perished in the passage of time.

If you traced the origins of the Abyss, you would discover that a large part of their history was missing.

Not only them, but even the Temple of the Celestial God was the same.

It seemed that a war had taken place tens of thousands of years ago, and the defeated races had been driven to the current Abyss.

The lack of many details made it impossible to investigate further. Bolton had heard no less than ten different stories.

He hadn’t expected the legendary ancestral statue to move.

“Did the ancestor leave any message?” Bolton asked the Birdman.

“A line of blood-red text appeared on the ground in front of the statue. It says ‘Returning soon. Prepare to welcome. Do not spread the word.’”

The Birdman conveyed the information he had gathered to the old Dragon King. Sometimes, the return of a former leader wasn’t a good thing.

It might lead to another power struggle, and the Abyss couldn’t withstand any more turmoil.

As for restoring hope to the Abyss?

If that entity truly had such power, they wouldn’t have lost the war tens of thousands of years ago.

In the Birdman’s mind, this so-called ancestor was useless.

“I understand. Block the news immediately. Don’t let anyone else know about this.”

After instructing his deputy, Bolton said a few more words, handed over the speech to someone else, and then went to a secluded corner to inform Kailun.

As an ally, he had to let Kailun know about this sensitive information.

He also felt that the return of the ancestor from tens of thousands of years ago might not be a good thing. If the ancestor was returning, would the entity corresponding to it also return?

He was numb.

One Kailun was enough. Now, there might be two more transcendent entities appearing.

He was too old to handle this kind of pressure.

By the way, was it possible that his granddaughter’s death was related to these two entities?

His wife’s divination before her death had revealed Bella’s fate, an unchangeable fate.

Thinking of this, he informed Kailun of his suspicions, urging him to protect Bella.

Kailun’s reply was much faster than he had expected.

“I understand. Just obey her. Everything is under control. And don’t worry about Bella’s safety. My home is her safe haven.”

Bolton was relieved after reading Kailun’s reply. Kailun was truly omnipotent. He even knew about this kind of information and said that everything was under control.

“But shouldn’t the ancestor be male? Why did they use ‘she’ to refer to the ancestor?”

Bolton didn’t dwell on this question. He quickly shifted his attention to the ancestor who was about to return.

……

“The fish has taken the bait.”

Kailun put down his communication device and looked at Rose and Hilna, who were standing in front of him.

As he had requested, Hilna had learned a rather complicated dance in just a few days. Now it was time for her performance.

Originally, Rose should have been the one he “bullied,” but because of his new idea, he had changed his plan.

He pointed at Rose. “I’m in a good mood today and willing to give you another chance to make amends. To be honest, the ingredient list you obtained is both real and fake because it’s missing the most crucial ingredient.”

Rose bit her lip, fed up with Kailun’s mischievousness.

If she had indestructible teeth, she would bite him to death.

“Yes, that’s the look. That look of disgust and helplessness.”

Kailun rested his chin on his hand. “Originally, I planned to have you learn from Chrissy tonight, but it’s too early for you. You’re not qualified, not qualified to ‘serve’ me. I can give you a chance to learn dancing from Hilna. If you can satisfy me, I’ll let you return to the Rose Kingdom. Otherwise, I’ll ‘eat’ you.”

Kailun continued to tease Rose, using his talent to influence her thoughts.

As part of his “fishing” plan, both Rose and Hilna were crucial.

The former was the bait, and the latter was the key to creating the “Unlucky Flower.”

Don’t forget that Hilna specialized in potionology. It might be possible to mutate the Sunset Flower through potions.

He just needed to provide enough mental power, and Hilna would have a chance to perfectly fulfill his needs.

Kailun himself could also do it, but he didn’t have that much free time.

[Rose’s Goodwill -1]

“You’re truly hopeless.”

Rose addressed him with respect, but her face showed none.

Kailun had said that she wasn’t even qualified to “serve” him. It made her furious.

She was just a bit older, in her twenties, but her figure and appearance were no worse than those younger girls, right?

A strange sense of competitiveness surged within her.

“Thank you for the compliment. So please watch Hilna’s performance carefully. You’re next. By the way, if you don’t take this seriously, I’ll send someone to tell your people that their Queen Rose has already sold the Rose Kingdom to me, for just one gold coin.”

Kailun sat in his chair, his legs crossed, his casual demeanor infuriating Rose.

They were currently in his study. He had called them over after finishing his work.

Rose: “…”

She remained silent, glaring at Kailun with resentment.

“You’ll keep your promise, right?” Hilna, wearing a beautiful dance dress, asked Kailun.

The confused Hilna wanted to find meaning in her existence. Shirley’s change had been the last straw.

“Of course. Look at Phils and Ella. They’re both in high positions, fulfilling their self-worth. If you want to regain your own worth, Princess, then be obedient, and I will fulfill your wish. And all you have to pay is a small change.”

Kailun leaned forward, his ten fingers interlaced, his aggressive gaze making Hilna take a step back.

She clutched her skirt, took a deep breath, and looked up. “I understand.”

Rose, watching this scene, felt a sense of shared misfortune. Another person had fallen before her eyes.

Chapter 198: Fox’s Anomaly

[Bella’s Goodwill +3, Total Goodwill 90]

“Cough, cough…”

Tears welled up in Bella’s eyes. She had just discovered that “devouring” someone was actually quite difficult.

His unexpected strength filled her with worry, wondering if her “appetite” was enough to consume Kailun entirely.

She peeked at him from under her eyelashes. He was a ferocious demon.

She was worried but not afraid. A strange, inexplicable emotion fluttered in her heart.

Perhaps because she had choked, Bella coughed for a while.

“Is that all? It seems Bella’s appetite isn’t enough to satisfy me.”

Kailun chuckled, easing his grip and using one hand to pat Bella’s head. “So next time, before you try to ‘eat’ me, make sure you have a big enough appetite.”

“It doesn’t have to be just me. I can call Fox to join!”

Bella glared at Kailun playfully. This guy was so rough. He only cared about his own pleasure.

Her throat still felt a bit sore. It was thanks to her strong constitution that she hadn’t choked to death.

Bella now realized that it was difficult for her to complete the task of reproduction alone. Calling Fox was a good idea. After all, she was the only one left of her kind.

Strictly speaking, Fox also had the great mission of continuing her lineage, even though she wasn’t aware of it.

Kailun: “That’s a good idea. Next time, bring Fox with you. It doesn’t make a difference to me whether it’s one or two.”

“I’ll definitely bring her next time!” Bella wiped her mouth with her sleeve. “But Fox has been acting strange lately. I smell a strange scent on her. She might not have noticed it herself, but it can’t fool my nose.”

Bella suddenly remembered something. Fox’s behavior hadn’t been unusual these days, but her scent had changed inexplicably.

This change didn’t belong to Fox. It was unfamiliar and dangerous.

“There’s such a thing? Go and get Fox. I’ll take a look myself.” Kailun frowned.

He trusted Bella’s sense of smell. Dragons possessed extraordinary abilities in certain areas.

Thinking of this, Kailun also thought of Carol. He called a maid and asked her to invite Carol to the courtyard.

Although Bella was annoyed by Kailun’s “hit-and-run” tactic, she was also worried about Fox.

“Wait for me here. Fox is probably squandering magic crystals in your warehouse.”

Bella removed Kailun’s right hand from her clothes, patted her skirt, and ran towards the warehouse.

“If I didn’t control two major mines, I might not be able to afford these gold-devouring creatures.”

Kailun couldn’t help but sigh, thinking about everyone’s recent consumption.

He was supporting the eighth-rank Fox, the eighth-rank Bella, and even covering the expenses of Chrissy and Helena.

In addition, Carol was a bottomless pit. Her consumption had become increasingly terrifying.

Besides that, the Xiya Kingdom and its surrounding vassal states also had considerable expenses. There were significant expenditures every day.

If it weren’t for his recent windfall, he might be struggling financially.

Ultimately, it was because the Xiya Kingdom’s foundation was too weak. Running an academy required money, development required money, and promoting the Chamber of Commerce also required money.

In contrast, the Temple of the Celestial God was reaping benefits from the entire world. They weren’t short of money at all. He had to find a way to empty their treasury when he went to the Temple of the Celestial God with the Pope.

He would consider it Chrissy’s living expenses. It was reasonable, just a bit expensive.

“I’m not done sleeping.”

As he was pondering, Kailun heard Carol’s voice. He looked up and saw her rubbing her eyes sleepily.

She was still tired from last night’s “activities.”

Her mind was hazy, her body weak. All she wanted to do was lie in bed and do nothing.

She hadn’t even bothered to read or meditate today. Just lying in bed was blissful~

“Come, sit on my lap. Help me observe the foolish Fox later.” Kailun patted his thigh.

“Familiar scent. Is it Bella’s?” Carol sniffed the air as she approached, detecting a familiar smell.

Kailun pulled her onto his lap. “Why are your noses so sensitive?”

“It’s intuition, not just the scent.”

Carol yawned again and leaned against Kailun’s chest. Her constitution was far inferior to Afra’s, so it took her much longer to recover.

Judging from her current state, she probably wouldn’t be able to participate in tonight’s “battle.”

Carol asked, “What’s wrong with Fox?”

For the past two days, Carol had been immersed in sadness and then immense joy, with no energy to spare for other people’s affairs.

“I don’t know. Let’s wait and see.”

Kailun snapped his fingers and cast a spell to freshen the air.

“Oh~”

Carol obediently nuzzled Kailun’s chin.

If it weren’t for her physical discomfort, she would want to cling to Kailun, doing everything with him.

After about ten minutes, Fox entered the courtyard, following behind Bella. She was holding a parchment scroll, which recorded information about “chaos.”

This parchment scroll was a gift from Winnie to Kailun. After studying it thoroughly, Kailun had placed it in the library for everyone to see.

It was indeed dangerous, but not inherently.

The biggest problem with this parchment scroll was that it was part of a dangerous entity. It was relatively safe before all the scrolls were gathered, but its destructive power was even less than that of eighth-rank magic.

“The foolish fox seems strange.”

Before Fox even approached, Carol looked up at her.

Carol had confirmed that Fox was part of her dreams, but why Kailun had replaced her was still unknown.

She didn’t mind it at all. In fact, she hoped that Kailun could completely replace Fox. That way, she could learn magic from him.

They didn’t need the foolish fox anyway.

“Little vixen.”

Fox muttered under her breath when she heard Carol call her “foolish fox.”

She had almost cried with envy yesterday. She also wanted that kind of treatment.

Kailun had been so intimate with her in the town, but after returning home, he had ignored her, like a heartless playboy.

Carol wasn’t angry when she heard Fox’s complaint. She first looked at Fox with a smug expression, then wrapped her arms around Kailun’s neck and said in a cloying voice, “Honey, she’s being mean to me~”

“Hiss!”

Kailun gasped, his scalp tingling. He flicked Carol’s forehead hard. “That was too much. Don’t do that again. Who did you learn that from? Are you trying to scare me to death?”

Carol had changed. She wasn’t like her usual self at all.

To provoke Fox, she even used the sickening term of endearment “honey.”

Not only Fox glared at Carol with resentment, but even Bella raised her tail in displeasure.

Fox walked up to Kailun. “Good job! This pretentious woman deserves to be beaten to death.”

Bella wagged her tail in agreement. “That’s right, that’s right. Beat her to death.”

Carol secretly stuck her tongue out at them. “Blegh~”

Kailun: “…”

Was this still Carol?

It felt unreal. Was it because he had “awakened” her?

Kailun glanced at Carol’s status. There were no abnormalities, except for her bright red goodwill rating.

He wasn’t sure if it was just his imagination, but as her goodwill increased, the number seemed to become redder and redder.

Since they were talking about status, Kailun then glanced at Fox’s status.

[Name: Fox]

[Status: Abnormal]

[Cause of Abnormality: ???]

He had discovered something, but he didn’t know the specific reason.

Strangely, he had checked everyone’s status before, but he hadn’t noticed any abnormalities with Fox.

This problem had appeared after just a day or two of not paying attention. It was unexpected.

He looked at Fox carefully, sensing her changes.

She seemed normal, but his intuition told him that something was wrong. It was strange.

“Stop sticking your tongue out. Tell me what abnormality you discovered.”

Kailun pulled Carol’s cheek, urging her to be serious.

“I sense a strange aura on Fox. It’s not hers, but I don’t know whose it is. It’s extremely faint, but it can’t fool me.”

Carol glanced at Fox again, confirming her perception. “That’s right. This aura seems familiar, but I can’t remember. It instinctively makes me want to grab her wings and pull them hard. I don’t think this is an aura that an ordinary ninth-rank mage can possess. Has the foolish fox been in contact with any transcendent entities?”

Carol’s talent allowed her to see through many things. The aura on Fox gave her a sense of familiarity.

“No, what are you talking about? The only ninth-rank mages I’ve been in contact with recently are Kailun, Afra, and my grandma.”

Fox looked at Carol with a strange expression. She couldn’t understand what they were talking about.

When did she start carrying a strange aura?

“If there’s a transcendent entity involved, I can think of one possibility.”

Kailun stroked his chin. “Fox, do you remember Kuye Town? It’s connected to two transcendent entities. If Fox has been in contact with a transcendent entity, it must have been in Kuye Town. Besides that eccentric Fate, there’s also the unlucky one lying in the jade coffin.”

[??? heard your insult. Goodwill -1, Total Goodwill -61]

Kailun: “!!!”

His eyes widened as he looked at Fox in disbelief.

It wasn’t because he was startled by the sudden increase in his attribute points. He had remembered something crucial.

[Cause of Abnormality: ???]

Looking back at the cause of the abnormality, it was already clearly indicated. The reason for Fox’s abnormality was the unlucky one in the jade coffin.

Then everything made sense. That entity had left a “backdoor” on Fox, but Bella had discovered the anomaly.

“Why can’t I feel anything?”

Fox felt uncomfortable under Kailun’s gaze. She examined herself but didn’t find anything unusual.

Kailun came back to his senses and waved his hand, making up an excuse. “It’s nothing serious. Don’t overthink it. It might just be some residual influence from Kuye Town. I’ll take you back there in a few days. This time, we’ll go and pay our respects to the unlucky one in the jade coffin. After all, I took apart her jade coffin and turned it into a bed plank. It wouldn’t be right not to offer her something in return. To be honest, the bed plank made from the jade coffin is really good. The feeling of doubled time is amazing.”

[??? vows to be your enemy. Goodwill -4, Total Goodwill -65]

She was getting anxious. That entity was truly anxious.

Having obtained the crucial information, Kailun guessed how that entity had attached itself to Fox. Since it could perceive the outside world through Fox and hear their conversations, it was probably deep within her soul.

Judging from the feedback he received, she had just reached the ninth rank and couldn’t exert much influence.

To be safe, he should take some precautions. So Kailun patted Carol’s butt. “Go to my study and bring me a bottle of Lucky Potion. I need it.”

“Okay~”

Carol obediently responded. She gave Fox a smug smile and then ran towards the small building.

As soon as Carol left, Bella eagerly took her place on Kailun’s lap, leaving Fox standing there awkwardly.

“Fox, have a seat. There’s still room beside me.” Kailun patted his other thigh.

Fox instinctively took a step towards Kailun, but then she retreated. “Forget it. The swing can only handle the weight of two people. If there’s one more, it might break.”

Fox chose to be “reserved” in front of Bella.

She was no longer the naive little fox she used to be… But she was still envious.

Kailun didn’t expose her awkwardness. The special swing could handle not only two people but even five. The only problem was that there wasn’t enough space.

While they waited, Kailun casually chatted with Fox and Bella.

When Carol returned to the courtyard with the clear, water-like Lucky Potion, he immediately asked Fox to drink it. “This is a special Lucky Potion that can increase your mental power for a long time. Consider it a gift from me.”

Seeing Fox gulp nervously, Kailun increased her mental power attribute.

Mental power was closely related to the soul. As long as he increased Fox’s mental power to a certain level, it could prevent all harm.

This method was extremely safe. After all, that entity had only left a weak “backdoor.”

Kailun actually had a way to deal with the entity hiding in her soul, but he kept it around to lure a bigger fish.

For some reason, he always felt that this “???” wasn’t very smart.

[??? is shocked by the rapid increase in Fox’s mental power. Goodwill +2, Total Goodwill -63]

Well, she really wasn’t very smart. Now he even had bait.

He thought for a moment and asked Fox with a smile, “How do you feel? Isn’t it very effective? I have many similar potions. They can not only increase mental power but also agility, strength, and constitution. It’s thanks to these potions that I can continuously produce ninth-rank mages. As long as I have enough ingredients, I can conquer the entire world. But the problem is, I’m missing a special ingredient.”

Fox, still savoring the changes in her mental power, asked subconsciously, “What ingredient?”

Kailun smiled even wider. “An extremely rare herb called the ‘Unlucky Flower.’”

Fox: “Does such a herb even exist?”

Ottovia Nuonuo: “!!!”

Chapter 197: Good Job, Worth Praising

Joy for some, sorrow for others. After over ten hours of continuous travel, Paul finally arrived at Harry’s hiding place.

However, the thatched cottage he found was dilapidated and charred, as if it had been ravaged by fire, leaving behind only a blackened shell.

He had tried contacting Harry but received no response. His magic letters had all vanished into thin air.

Paul couldn’t explain his worry, but it felt like Harry was all he had left.

Looking back on his life, he had always been a down-on-his-luck loser. Every time he saw a glimmer of hope, he would be knocked down by Kailun, as if it were a deliberate act of revenge.

He didn’t need to think twice. This was definitely a targeted attack. Kailun was always targeting him.

As for self-reflection?

That was pointless now. The conflict between him and Kailun was irreconcilable.

Although Kailun hadn’t personally participated in this battle, Paul could sense his involvement. The one playing chess behind the scenes was probably Kailun.

It was truly terrible.

Paul brainstormed as he followed the traces of the battle.

He had passed the most anxious stage and was now calmer. He was mentally prepared for the possibility that something might have happened to Harry.

To Paul, Harry was his guide, the one who had opened the doors to a new world for him. He was even more important than his parents.

He followed the trail of the battle, eventually discovering a corpse in a remote forest.

After examining it, Paul confirmed that it wasn’t Harry’s body. It was probably one of Harry’s pursuers.

Judging from the residual aura, this person was only at the sixth rank, the same as Harry.

Perhaps Koya had underestimated Harry and only sent a sixth-rank mage. Otherwise, it was impossible to explain why the killer was dead instead.

“Die!”

Paul kicked the corpse, sending it flying into a tree. He checked it again and then continued following the remaining traces.

After another half hour, he finally found Harry’s “corpse” in a bush.

“Harry!”

Paul rushed over, his heart sinking. Harry felt like he was dead.

There wasn’t a single inch of Harry’s body that was unscathed. He was covered in blood, both his own and the assassin’s.

“Don’t scare me! If you die, I’ll truly be alone.” Paul knelt beside Harry, checking for any signs of life.

After carefully sensing, he discovered that Harry was on the verge of death. He would die soon.

Relieved that Harry was still alive, Paul quickly cast a healing spell from his memory, trying to save him.

“Don’t die!”

Paul shouted, enveloping Harry’s body in healing light. His wounds healed at a visible speed, but his overall aura only strengthened slightly.

By the time Harry’s body had recovered by eighty percent, Paul’s magic had lost its effect. Even increasing his mana output didn’t work.

“Why is this happening? Is the mental damage too severe?”

Paul panicked. He could only temporarily keep Harry alive, but if this continued, his condition would definitely worsen. Then, even simple healing magic wouldn’t be enough to sustain him.

He took off his clothes and covered Harry, then took out his communication device and wrote to Charles. He only knew one other ninth-rank mage now.

“Master Charles, please help me! If you can save Harry, I’m willing to be a slave for the Temple of the Celestial God!”

Charles, who was recovering from his injuries, received Paul’s message. He didn’t believe Paul’s words. In his opinion, Paul was a two-faced liar.

Those two old folks had even sacrificed their lives for him, yet Paul hadn’t even spared them a second glance.

Considering the sharp decline in the Pope’s forces, Charles immediately contacted her to ask for instructions.

He waited for half an hour.

Pope: “Tell him to bring Harry to Alaye. Tell him that the Temple of the Celestial God will grant him redemption and glory.”

Charles: “???”

He was confused because this way of speaking was strange, unlike the Pope’s usual tone.

But since it was a reply from the Pope, it must be correct. It couldn’t be someone impersonating her, right?

Thinking this way, Charles contacted Paul. “Immediately bring Harry to Alaye. The great Pope can save him. Obey the will of the Temple of the Celestial God, and you will receive redemption and glory.”

“Thank you for your help, Master Charles. I’ll set off with Harry right away. Long live the Temple of the Celestial God! Long live the Pope!”

Paul’s reply was faster than Charles expected. He was clearly staring at his communication device the whole time.

It would be a good thing if Paul sincerely converted to the Temple of the Celestial God. After all, he was a ninth-rank mage now.

He thought for a moment and wrote another magic letter. “Good attitude. The Pope will remember your efforts.”

……

“Good job. I’ll remember your efforts.”

Kailun smiled and returned the communication device to the Pope. “I didn’t expect to see Paul again like this. It’s quite amusing. Have the rest of your people move towards Alaye and then join forces with Roden and the others to launch a symbolic attack on Alaye. Don’t actually start a real fight. Wait until the teleportation magic circle is set up.”

The Pope looked at Kailun with a bitter expression. “Aren’t you afraid that I’ll kill your subordinates along the way?”

She had indeed considered it, but she quickly abandoned the idea.

Killing Kailun’s subordinates wouldn’t achieve anything if she couldn’t kill Kailun himself.

Kailun shook his head with a smile. “Your Holiness might not be aware of this, but as long as I’m alive, I can create an endless supply of ninth-rank mages. If you want to gamble with me, think carefully about the consequences. Killing a few subordinates is a small matter, but violating the contract will come at a high price. And have you thought about how you’ll deal with my revenge?”

Kailun chuckled. “So don’t overthink things before you’re fully prepared. You can’t afford to make any mistakes. If you take another wrong step, I will truly seize your position as Pope.”

“One month. You’ll still be the Pope in one month. After our cooperation is complete, we’ll be even.” The Pope gritted her teeth, clutching the communication device.

In one month, their relationship would revert to hostility. If there was a chance to kill Kailun, she would definitely seize it.

But before that, she still wanted to collect some interest from the Empress. If it weren’t for her betrayal, she wouldn’t have signed the contract so hastily.

“That’s a shame. I thought I could use this opportunity to deepen our friendship, but you’re ruthlessly abandoning me. But it doesn’t matter. We’ll talk about the future later.”

Kailun locked the Pope’s cell door. “Actually, I have a proposition. I wonder if Your Holiness is interested.”

The Pope frowned. “Speak.”

“After you return to the Temple of the Celestial God, I’ll help you defeat the Empress, and you’ll support me in becoming the Emperor. Then we can get married and continue the lineage according to the traditions of the Temple of the Celestial God. What do you think? Doesn’t this perfectly resolve the current conflict?”

Kailun said casually. He knew that the Pope wouldn’t agree to this proposal.

The possibility of this plan being implemented was extremely low, even lower than him becoming the Pope and marrying the Empress.

“Then go find the Empress first. I’ll agree after you kill her.”

The Pope snorted and returned to the wooden plank bed in the cell. The dust everywhere made her feel depressed.

It was truly terrible. Kailun wouldn’t even let her stay in a decent room.

She kept these humiliating experiences in her heart. One day, she would take revenge for all of this.

But what troubled her the most was Saint Chrissy, who had betrayed the Temple of the Celestial God and had no intention of returning.

She was angry but helpless. With Kailun protecting Chrissy, she didn’t even have a chance to discipline her.

“Leave. I need to rest. Don’t disturb me for the next two days.” The Pope glared at Kailun.

If looks could kill, Kailun would have died ten thousand times over.

“Okay, rest well. If you have any requests, let me know.” After confirming that the cell door was locked, Kailun walked towards the exit.

“Wait, can you bring me some food?” The Pope asked, rubbing her stomach.

With her magic suppressed, she felt hungry. She hadn’t eaten in three days and was almost at her limit.

However, Kailun, who had just said “any requests,” ignored her and left the dungeon.

Pope: “…”

She had only glared at him. Was he really that petty?

[Pope’s Goodwill -1, Total Goodwill -90]

Kailun nodded with satisfaction after receiving the Pope’s goodwill feedback. He found Louise, the elder elf sister, and asked her to bring the Pope some steamed buns.

He couldn’t let the Pope starve to death, no matter what. It was her fault for having such tempting attributes.

It was 4:00 PM now. He had finished most of his tasks and had some free time.

Except for Fox, Vivian, and the others, everyone else had their own things to do. Currently, they were mainly focusing on meditation and cultivation.

Bella was an exception. The growth of a dragon’s strength was closely related to its age. Reaching the eighth rank at her age was already considered a remarkable feat.

Therefore, she often secretly followed Kailun, occasionally brandishing a stick, as if looking for an opportunity to knock him unconscious and drag him away.

Arriving at the courtyard, Kailun glanced behind him and said helplessly, “Come out. I saw you a long time ago. An ordinary stick can’t knock me unconscious. You should try a different method.”

Bella emerged from a corner, scratching her back with the stick. “I wasn’t trying to knock you unconscious. I just wanted to tickle you with the stick.”

Kailun beckoned to Bella. “Your tail is so flexible. You don’t need a stick. And you can ask me to tickle you, can’t you?”

“Really?”

Bella tossed the stick into a nearby bush and ran towards Kailun, looking at him expectantly.

“I can’t say no to you. Turn around. I’ll scratch your back.”

Kailun patted Bella’s head. He had some fondness for this “easy” dragon girl and was willing to grant her some small requests.

“Then… can you scratch my heart? It feels a bit uncomfortable, stuffy, and a bit itchy.”

Bella glanced at her ample bosom, her face slightly flushed.

Kailun was taken aback. This sounded a bit like someone else.

“Tell me honestly, did Chrissy teach you this?”

Kailun led Bella to the swing. He sat down first and then picked her up, placing her on his lap.

“No, Chrissy didn’t teach me. I just think I should be more proactive, or I’ll end up like Fox, not even getting a sip of the soup.”

Bella rubbed her head against Kailun’s chest and wrapped her tail around his waist, as if afraid he would run away.

“So can you scratch it? It’s really uncomfortable, stuffy, and a bit itchy.”

She continued whispering in his ear, emphasizing the word “bit.”

This girl’s mind was probably filled with dirty thoughts, always thinking about how to reproduce.

“You’re being naughty now, but not bad.” Kailun wrapped his arm around Bella’s slender waist and slipped his hand under her shirt.

“Ugh… You’re just as bad. You didn’t even reject me.”

Bella moaned softly, her eyes glazed over. Her tail tightened its grip around Kailun’s waist.

“I have no reason to reject food that’s offered to me.” Kailun replied.

“Liar! If you really thought that way, you would be having baby dragons with me now. I’m already here.” Bella glared at Kailun and punched him lightly in the chest.

Kailun didn’t answer. He just pinched and pulled, the unique sensation sending shivers down his spine. He had to give her high marks.

Because of Kailun’s “punishment,” Bella couldn’t ask any more questions. She could only moan softly, clenching her legs.

She tilted her head back, sticking out her tongue, trying to lick Kailun’s lips, but she was always just a little short.

Kailun, amused by her struggles, didn’t lower his head like a gentleman. Instead, he increased the pressure of his hand.

He was clearly laughing at her, his eyes filled with affectionate amusement.

Seeing this, Bella decided to take the initiative. She endured the strange sensations and said, “You can be rougher. It’s okay even if you hurt me. It doesn’t matter if I’m covered in bruises. After all, you’re the only one who can see them. Only you can help me continue the dragon lineage. I’m willing to agree to any of your requests. So, can we take it a step further? I want to devour you completely~”

Her bold declaration made Kailun hesitate. If he didn’t have any feelings for Bella, he would have just “eaten” her without a second thought.

Bella’s appearance and figure perfectly met his requirements, and the slight differences compared to humans were a bonus. She was a very “delicious” main course.

But the problem was that he had a considerable amount of affection for her and didn’t want to rush things.

He felt that he should leave a perfect memory at a more appropriate time, just like with Carol. If it was just for the sake of desire, he might regret it later.

So he squeezed her and replied, “I agree to your request. But you didn’t specify how to eat, so I get to choose the method.”

He glanced around the courtyard, confirming that there was no one else around, and then whispered, “So lie down in my arms, and I’ll teach you.”

His mischievousness was at its peak. He felt like he was deceiving a child.

Fortunately, Bella was no child. Having read many “illustrated books” in Kailun’s study, she instantly understood his intentions.

She glared at him resentfully and then obediently lay down. At least they were taking a step forward, right?

No wall was impenetrable forever. One day, Kailun would fall. Bella was certain of that.

Chapter 196: Talking to a Brick Wall

“Tell Isabella that the magic seems to work well, and her figure looks great. Ask her to teach Vivian and Illusion.”

After cleaning the room with magic, Kailun spoke towards the bathroom.

In terms of attractiveness, Isabella in her magically enhanced state could rival Ella. Now, she might be worthy of the title “Pure Desire Goddess.”

However, this magic had a time limit. She still had to maintain her usual form most of the time.

“I told you, I’m Isabella’s older sister.”

Isabella, hiding behind the door, denied it again, her face flushed.

[Isabella accepted your compliment. Goodwill +10, Total Goodwill 40]

Seeing the change in her goodwill, Kailun couldn’t help but chuckle. Another one who didn’t mean what she said.

“That’s all for now. You can wash up. I’ll have someone bring you some suitable new clothes. I hope to see you again next time, Isabella’s older sister.”

Leaving those words behind, Kailun left Isabella’s room and closed the door.

Although he didn’t get the answer he wanted, he had witnessed an interesting scene.

Taking advantage of the ample time in the morning, Kailun went to the dungeon to find the Pope and give her some important instructions.

According to the plan, the Pope would stay in the dungeon for the next two days. Two days were enough for Roden and the others to return from the Abyss.

Then he would have them accompany the Pope back to the Temple of the Celestial God. To break through the Empress’s blockade, they needed sufficient strength. The Pope still had two injured ninth-rank mages under her command. With the addition of Roden and his companions, the number of ninth-rank mages returning to Alaye would reach six.

The Pope herself was powerful and could be considered equivalent to three ordinary ninth-rank mages. With internal and external support, recapturing Alaye shouldn’t be a problem.

If it wasn’t enough, they could ask for reinforcements from the Abyss. They had plenty.

Under Kailun’s pressure, the poor Pope could only helplessly agree to his demands. She was sinking deeper and deeper into this path of no return.

Chrissy had been visiting the Pope frequently these past few days. As they interacted, she realized that her way of thinking was actually starting to align with Chrissy’s.

This wasn’t normal. It was dangerous!

Therefore, Chrissy, who had come to see her this morning, was mercilessly driven away. She didn’t want to listen to Chrissy’s “preaching” anymore. She was the Pope!

Just as Kailun was having a “pleasant” conversation with the Pope, Anna ran over and whispered something in his ear.

Kailun first frowned and then smiled with delight, making the Pope’s scalp tingle.

Fortunately, Kailun didn’t target her anymore. He casually tossed the food box aside and left the dungeon with Anna.

“Clatter!”

The Pope touched the slave collar around her neck, wanting to ask Kailun when he would remove it. Recalling his sinister expression, she held back.

Just two more days. In two days, she would be the high and mighty Pope again.

“Grrr…”

The Pope, who hadn’t eaten in three days, was feeling hungry. She rubbed her stomach and sighed.

“Fine, I’ll eat something for now, just to fill my stomach.”

The Pope comforted herself and squatted down by the door, reaching out to retrieve the food box.

To her surprise, when she opened the box, there was no food inside. Instead, she saw a parchment scroll and a note.

“Memorize the teleportation magic circle on this scroll. This is the magic circle you need to set up to return to the Temple of the Celestial God.”

Pope: “…”

Seeing Kailun’s handwriting, she fell silent, feeling a surge of anger at being toyed with.

[Pope’s Goodwill -1, Total Goodwill -89]

……

“Are you sure there’s no problem with these ingredients?”

Queen Rose looked at the list of ingredients with a thoughtful expression.

She had disguised herself and secretly found Doreen, the manager of the “Lucky Potion” factory, this morning to confirm the ingredients once again.

“It should be these. This is the ingredient list written by Lord Kailun himself. However, the final packaging process is confidential, so there might be some differences.”

Doreen hesitated and looked at the cloaked figure in front of her. “Your Majesty, when are you planning to rescue me? I can’t stay here any longer. If I’m discovered, I will be executed.”

She was truly scared. She had chosen to side with the Rose Kingdom because it was stronger than the Xiya Kingdom.

But she hadn’t expected that in just over a month, the Xiya Kingdom would rise to power and sweep through the surrounding kingdoms, even the powerful Rose Kingdom couldn’t resist.

Doreen knew that her actions were tantamount to treason. If Kailun found out, she would be sent to the mines and forced to work sixteen hours a day.

That future was too terrifying. She would rather be hanged in the streets than go mining.

She had heard that some miners fainted from exhaustion, and within a minute, high-rank magic would be used to heal them, ensuring they wouldn’t die.

Then the fainted miners would get three hours of rest and would have to work nineteen hours straight to make up for it.

The record for the most fainting spells was eighteen, held by a former subordinate of the First Princess.

Now, she could only pin her hopes on Queen Rose, hoping that she could rescue her.

Queen Rose looked at Doreen and nodded. “I understand. I will definitely find a chance to rescue you. Now I have to go back and verify the accuracy of this list. Just wait for my good news.”

She pulled her hood down, concealing her face.

She only wanted to cause trouble for Kailun, not rescue anyone.

She had said that she would return and “self-destruct” with Kailun, but ordinary methods wouldn’t be effective against him. So she decided to attack him economically.

If this list was real, she would have her people manufacture and sell the “Lucky Potion” at a lower price.

It was a shameful tactic, but it was her only means of resistance.

“Lord Kailun is coming for an inspection. He said someone reported that we’re not working hard.”

Just as Rose was about to leave, Doreen’s confidante ran into the hall and warned her.

“What?!”

Doreen panicked. She quickly grabbed Rose’s hand and pulled her towards a corner of the hall. “Quick, hide! If Lord Kailun finds us, we’re finished.”

Rose didn’t have time to think. She didn’t want her plan to be ruined, so she let Doreen push her into a secret room in the hall.

As soon as Doreen sent Rose away, she saw Kailun entering the hall with Anna.

“Greetings, Lord Kailun. Greetings, Lady Anna.” Doreen quickly bowed to Kailun.

“No need for formalities. I’m here to understand the current situation. I heard that your work efficiency has been low recently, and you often fail to complete the assigned tasks. Is that true?”

Kailun asked with a smile, looking at Doreen kindly.

“Lord Kailun, everyone has been working hard. We haven’t been slacking off. If there are any issues, it must be slander from our enemies.” Doreen’s forehead was covered in cold sweat.

Kailun nodded with satisfaction. “You’re doing well. Your attitude deserves my trust. So I’ve decided to transfer you to the mines as a supervisor. My requirements are not high. You just need to supervise those prisoners and ensure they complete their work on time.”

“Just that?”

Doreen looked at Kailun in disbelief. It was too simple. Wasn’t he here to punish her?

“Yes, just that. Do your job well, and I might promote you in the future.” Kailun smiled.

He didn’t tell her that if the prisoners didn’t complete their tasks on time, she would have to personally join them in the mines until the target was met.

In other words, the prisoners might only have to work sixteen hours, while she might have to work twenty.

“Thank you for your generosity, Lord Kailun. I will work hard and serve the kingdom.”

Doreen bowed again. Although she was filled with doubts, she could only obey his orders now.

After all, what job could be worse than mining?

“Go. I’ve already prepared a carriage for you.”

Kailun waved to Doreen, signaling her to leave quickly. He didn’t want to waste too much time on her.

After Doreen left, Kailun casually inspected the factory and gave some unimportant instructions.

For the current Kailun, this kind of deceptive business could be temporarily shut down.

He didn’t have much time to spend on auctions. There were more important things for him to do.

If Rose hadn’t taken the initiative to expose herself today, he might have chosen to ignore her for a while.

Rose was simply unlucky today, running into Kailun when he had some free time.

About half an hour later, Rose noticed that it had become quiet outside. She cautiously peeked her head out and, after confirming that Kailun had left, emerged from the secret room.

To be safe, Rose went to the back door of the factory. As long as she left this place, she would be safe.

“Creak!”

Pushing open the heavy wooden door, she saw a luxurious carriage parked outside.

Kailun, sitting inside the carriage, waved to her. “Long time no see, Queen Rose. I didn’t expect to run into you here.”

Rose: “…”

Her emotions were complicated, so complicated that she wanted to “self-destruct” with Kailun.

But with her strength, even if she self-destructed, it wouldn’t harm Kailun. Thinking of this, her emotions became even more complicated.

“What are you waiting for? Get in.”

Rose, her head lowered, hadn’t come up with an excuse when she heard Kailun’s urging voice. She could only get into the carriage under his amused gaze.

Because Anna was sitting beside Kailun, she had to sit opposite them. She nervously placed her hands on her knees, looking very uncomfortable.

The current Rose didn’t look like a ruler of a kingdom but more like a little girl being lectured by her parents.

Kailun reached out and removed the hood from Rose’s head, then looked at her beautiful face and asked, “Tell me, what did you do wrong? If you admit your mistake with a good attitude, I might go easy on you.”

Queen Rose was ten years older than Kailun. She looked mature and intelligent, possessing a charm that young girls like Anna didn’t have, but she acted like a timid little girl.

Rose stammered, “I… I was just curious.”

She avoided Kailun’s gaze, unable to meet his eyes. After only half a month, she felt that the pressure he exerted on her had increased significantly.

Kailun had become stronger. She thought that pretending to be timid might allow her to escape unscathed.

People always changed. Rose had made her own compromise.

“Curiosity is normal, but why are you hiding from me? Doreen hasn’t gone far. Should I call her back and ask her?”

Kailun’s hand moved past Rose’s hair, caressing her ear.

“I was curious about the Lucky Potion and wanted to take a look, but I was afraid of being scolded by you, so I hid.” Rose replied half-truthfully.

“Oh, is that so? Since you’re so curious, I’ll take you to see the real production process next time. There’s an essential ingredient in the Lucky Potion that only Chrissy possesses.”

Kailun pinched Rose’s ear. It felt nice and smooth, no different from a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl.

Rose asked with confusion in her voice, “An ingredient from Saint Chrissy?”

“Pfft!”

Anna, covering her mouth, couldn’t help but laugh. The ingredient in the ordinary Lucky Potion was, of course, Chrissy’s tears.

But the “ingredient” Kailun was referring to was probably another substance with the same effect. She had not only seen it but also witnessed the production process. The meaning behind his words would only be clear to Rose if she saw it with her own eyes.

This bad guy was definitely up to something. She was curious what Rose’s expression would be when she learned the truth.

Kailun glared at Anna, signaling her to be quiet. Then he said to Rose, “I’ll find an opportunity to let you participate in the production process in a couple of days. I hope you perform well and don’t disappoint me. As for the working hours, it depends on your physical condition. It’s hard to say.”

“Working hours? How long will it be?”

Rose felt that something was amiss with Kailun’s words, but she couldn’t pinpoint what it was.

Kailun chuckled. “It depends. Some people have a strong physique and can work intensely for ten hours, while others, due to their sensitive bodies, can only work for a few minutes. So I hope you’ll be a ‘ten-hour’ person, not a ‘few-minute’ person.”

Rose’s expression changed when she heard that Kailun wanted her to work for ten hours. “Ten hours is too long, isn’t it? Isn’t the usual working time eight hours?”

She didn’t want to work for Kailun, not even for a minute.

“Actually, eight hours is already impressive. Even I can’t do it with all my effort.” Anna interjected, blushing. She really couldn’t last for eight hours.

“Just because you can’t do it doesn’t mean Rose can’t. Don’t underestimate others. Maybe Rose can even break through ten hours.” Kailun flicked Anna’s forehead.

However, Rose waved her hands repeatedly in denial. “No, no, no. I’m just an ordinary person. I can’t even last for a minute.”

The current Rose just wanted to shirk her responsibilities. If she could, she wanted the working hours to be zero.

However, after she said that, both Kailun and Anna looked at her with strange expressions. She suspected that she had said something wrong.

“What an unconfident person. I’ll call Chrissy and Hilna over tonight. They’ll teach you how to ‘work.’”

Because of Rose’s words, Kailun changed the uncertain time to tonight. They would find out if she was up to the task.

Chapter 195: Thanks for the Wedding Gift, Empress

“Have you found Meggie yet?” the Empress asked, standing outside the main city of Alaye, gazing at the city walls in the distance.

Her beautiful face was etched with worry. The battle reports from the front lines had far exceeded her expectations.

Under normal circumstances, even without further support, her forces should have been able to achieve a certain level of victory. There would have been casualties, but not such a devastating loss.

After a detailed inquiry, she learned about the casualties on each side. She was especially furious when she learned that the Xiya Kingdom had suffered zero losses.

However, she couldn’t change the facts. All she could do now was capture Alaye as quickly as possible and seize the Pope’s authority.

Only a complete and unified Temple of the Celestial God could allow her to smoothly proceed with her subsequent plans.

The most crucial requirement was that the Pope should not survive.

“I apologize, Your Majesty. We haven’t been able to ascertain the Pope’s whereabouts. However, based on our intelligence analysis, Her Holiness has likely left Alaye.”

The imperial minister lowered his head, his old face filled with fear.

He knew the Empress well and understood that her outward calmness masked a simmering rage.

If he had to describe the Empress, it would be as a fickle tyrant.

She always maintained an impassive expression, but every time she got angry, it would bring about a bloodbath.

The Empress was undoubtedly exceptionally capable, but her personality wasn’t much better than the Pope’s.

“I know she left Alaye. I even know where she went. But what I want to know is what she’s doing now. Why hasn’t she made any moves after such a major incident?”

The Empress casually took out a gold coin, broke it in half, and threw it on the ground. This was her usual way of venting her frustration.

The Pope’s behavior was very abnormal. Logically, she should have returned as soon as the Empress surrounded Alaye, but a day had passed, and she hadn’t received any news.

Kailun in the Xiya Kingdom had indeed been targeted for assassination, but he had survived, indicating that the Xiya Kingdom still possessed considerable strength.

Kailun’s brazen act of holding a wedding further confirmed her suspicions. Therefore, the Empress had temporarily abandoned the idea of a direct attack.

However, with the Pope’s strength, even if the assassination had failed, she should have been able to retreat safely. So where was she now?

“Forget it, it’s useless to dwell on this now. Focus on the attack. Try to break through Alaye’s defensive magic circle within five days. For every day you delay, I’ll deduct ten years’ worth of resources from you. After five days, I’ll randomly execute two unlucky souls.”

The Empress broke another gold coin in half, glared at the minister, and then walked towards her residence.

“Clink!”

The broken gold coin landed on the ground, colliding with other coins, producing a crisp sound. If you looked at the ground, you would see a pile of broken gold coins where the Empress had been standing.

“This…”

Cold sweat dripped down the minister’s forehead. If they couldn’t break through the defensive magic circle within ten days, he would probably be one of the unlucky ones.

However, Alaye, as the headquarters of the Holy Temple, was heavily fortified. Even if they gave it their all, they might not be able to complete the task within the time limit. The Empress was making things difficult for them.

He sighed, watching her retreating figure, and squatted down. He couldn’t waste these gold coins. He would have them melted and recast for the Empress to use next time.

A few hours passed, and it was late at night.

The minister heard an explosion coming from the Empress’s room. When he rushed over, he saw the Empress clutching her communication device, her eyes bloodshot.

“Go, bring me a chest of gold coins! No! Not enough! Bring me ten chests!”

The Empress was desperately trying to control her anger. She had just received news that the Abyss had suddenly launched a counterattack. The leader, already injured, had resisted stubbornly, but seeing that the situation was unfavorable, he had retreated with his men.

However, according to the leader’s report, his subordinates had been too slow and were caught and killed. Only he had survived.

The Empress naturally didn’t believe this. She believed that the leader had abandoned his subordinates and fled alone.

This way, she had not only lost the mine but also precious manpower.

It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that this battle had cost the Temple of the Celestial God thousands of years of accumulated resources. The negative impact was immeasurable.

“Wait, go and urge the Empire’s mage corps to speed up the construction of the magic circle. Tell them to finish it within half a month.”

The Empress suddenly remembered something and quickly reminded the minister.

According to her master plan, she needed to set up three world-class ninth-rank magic circles. When activated simultaneously, they would achieve an effect beyond that of ninth-rank magic.

The main magic circle should be located within the Temple of the Celestial God, while the other two should be in Kuye Town in the Xiya Kingdom and the center of the Abyss.

But now, she couldn’t reach Kuye Town, and she had even lost the Abyss, which was almost within her grasp.

Now, she just wanted to capture Alaye as quickly as possible and complete the main magic circle. Then she would try to contact the White Jade Alliance and borrow two locations from them as substitutes.

The effect wouldn’t be as good as using the Abyss and Kuye Town, but it was the only option she had.

To set the world back on track, any sacrifice was worth it.

Some people shouldn’t exist. Those who had stolen the “fruit” of that entity would eventually be punished.

“Go quickly. After urging those lazy mages, bring the gold coins to my room.” The Empress rubbed her forehead, trying to control her rage.

“As you command, Your Majesty.”

The elderly minister bowed and quietly retreated.

The Empress’s volatile personality made him wonder if she was going through menopause. She hadn’t been like this before.

It was as if she had acquired an aura that didn’t belong to her, making her seem even more contradictory.

……

[The Empress is extremely furious about your counterattack. Goodwill -40, Total Goodwill -40]

In the middle of the night, Kailun once again received a “gift” from the Empress. He hadn’t expected her to be so generous, giving him 40% of her attributes at once, even more generous than the Pope.

Through reverse calculations based on the Empress’s attributes, he discovered that her strength was actually higher than the Pope’s. This was an interesting discovery.

Kailun glanced at Carol, who looked exhausted. Although he hadn’t been able to obtain her attributes, the kind-hearted Empress had compensated him.

Thank you, Empress. You’re a good person. He would give her a luxurious cell in the future.

In terms of combat power, Carol was stronger than Afra, but only slightly. At full strength, she was about twice as strong as Afra.

However, she was only at the seventh rank now and still had a lot of room for growth. In terms of potential, she far surpassed Afra.

It was time for a break. Kailun recalled the events of yesterday’s wedding.

Not only Carol, but even he had felt a strange sensation, a feeling of unreality.

Kailun decided to ask Isabella about it later, hoping to get a useful answer.

As for the battle on the main battlefield, it had come to an end. Kailun, thanks to his well-prepared chaotic battle plan, had achieved the final victory.

The old Dragon King Bolton had gained control of the Abyss through this war. He would represent the Abyss in signing a formal alliance treaty with the Xiya Kingdom.

The distribution of the mines had been adjusted to a 30/70 split.

30% for the Abyss, 70% for Kailun.

If it had been before, Bolton might have refused outright. But after this war, he had also understood many things.

The entire Dragon Clan was down to just him and Bella. Everyone else had their own agendas. He might as well take this opportunity to build a good relationship with Kailun, considering it an early dowry for Bella.

Kailun was the biggest winner in this war, and the Temple of the Celestial God was the biggest loser.

The Pope had agreed to the new cooperation. Now it was time for his counterattack.

Currently, Carol and Afra were his trump cards. The former possessed extraordinary talent, while the latter had received his full attribute boost.

The only regret was that most of the “fireworks” had been intercepted outside the Empire. Dean Edlin’s mission had completely failed. She was now on her way back under Kailun’s orders, her debt increasing by another 300,000 gold coins.

After briefly processing some information, Kailun put his communication device on the pillow beside him and gently shook Carol’s smooth shoulder, but he couldn’t wake her up.

To ensure his “domestic dominance,” Kailun had given Carol a portion of his attributes, increasing her constitution.

With the night still young, he started another “special lesson.”

The first lesson after the wedding: Tolerance had its limits.

[Carol’s Goodwill +3, Total Goodwill 105]

Kailun wasn’t sure if a goodwill rating exceeding 100 was a good thing or a bad thing. He felt that Carol’s gaze was a bit strange, like an excessive obsession.

He shook his head and focused on Carol. “I told you before, if you can get out of bed tomorrow, it’s my failure. So give up struggling.”

“Ugh~”

Carol couldn’t speak, her mind hazy as she seemed to see the afterlife.

After a few more hours, under Kailun’s “guidance,” Carol gradually recognized her limits and fell into a deep sleep. Even with Kailun’s increased constitution allocation, it was difficult to wake her up. She was utterly exhausted.

In her dream, thousands of horses galloped across the plains, shaking the earth. The grasslands they passed through were devoid of grass, no matter how deep the roots.

At 8:00 AM, Kailun, feeling refreshed, left the bedroom. He should have taken Carol to see his parents, but she didn’t even have the strength to get out of bed, so he gave up.

He saw the maids cleaning the small building in the corridor, removing some unnecessary decorations.

After asking around, he learned that his mother was touring the Royal City with Lady Laurist, and his father had gone fishing outside the city with Marquis Laurist and the others. It seemed like they were all enjoying themselves, so he didn’t have to worry.

Having lost his reason for checking on them, he went to Isabella’s room and knocked on the door.

Kailun: “Isabella, are you there? I have something I want to ask you.”

“Aah! Wait! Don’t come in! Don’t!”

As soon as he finished speaking, Kailun heard Isabella’s panicked cry. She seemed flustered, her voice trembling.

“Don’t worry, I can wait.” Kailun tried to soothe her.

“I’ll be right there, just a moment… Ah!”

Isabella suddenly screamed, followed by a crash. Not only the sound of a teacup shattering but also a clear thud of someone falling.

Kailun frowned and pushed the door open, rushing inside. He saw a girl, much larger than Isabella, lying on the ground.

Black coffee from the overturned teacup on the table had splashed all over her, soaking her short clothes.

She was lying on her stomach, seemingly injured, looking pitiful.

The girl was about 1.7 meters tall, with a good figure, but her clothes were like those of a little girl looking oddly out of place.

Her short top exposed her abdomen and belly button, a sight that was both fair and pleasing to the eye.

However, what caught his attention the most was the incongruous white miniskirt and white knee-high socks. The skirt barely covered her pert bottom, and the stockings clung tightly to her thighs, exuding youthful vigor.

“Are you Isabella?” Kailun’s gaze finally landed on her gray hair, the identical color reminding him of Isabella instantly.

“I’m not Isabella. I don’t know where Isabella is.”

The embarrassed Isabella quickly got up from the ground. She hadn’t expected to encounter such an accident after successfully activating the magic for the first time.

Her chest was wet and uncomfortable, and her arm hurt, probably cut by a shard of the teacup.

She clenched her legs and glared at Kailun resentfully. If it weren’t for his interruption, she wouldn’t be in this predicament.

“Get out! I need to take a bath and change!” She pushed Kailun’s shoulders, trying to get him out of her room.

“Since you’re not Isabella, there’s no need for me to leave. This is my house.” Kailun smiled and grabbed Isabella’s hand.

Startled, she quickly covered her chest with her other hand. “What are you doing?”

Isabella suddenly realized that she was no longer her petite self. Her grown-up form possessed an irresistible charm, her natural allure radiating a captivating aura.

“You’re injured. Let’s treat the wound first, then you can take a bath. I’ll have Winnie bring you some suitable clothes.”

Kailun released Isabella’s wrist and gently pushed her towards the bathroom.

Isabella stared blankly at the wound on her arm, which had already disappeared. “Oh… Wait, I told you I’m not Isabella. I’m Isabella’s older sister.”

“Okay, Isabella’s older sister. I understand, Isabella’s older sister. Now, please wash off the coffee while answering my questions.”

Kailun closed the bathroom door and walked over to the messy table. He cast a cleaning spell and asked, “So, Isabella’s older sister, did you notice anything unusual at yesterday’s wedding?”

“Yesterday’s wedding… Let me think.”

Isabella leaned against the door, a thoughtful expression on her face. “If I remember correctly, there were violent fluctuations in the threads of fate yesterday. But fortunately, nothing happened. At least, I didn’t notice any further changes.”

“Is that so? I understand.”

Kailun nodded, not asking any further questions.

It seemed he had to find an opportunity to contact that entity.

Chapter 194: A Dreamlike Wedding

Unlike a traditional wedding, Kailun’s wedding was not so formal. He had omitted many unnecessary rituals, keeping only the most crucial parts.

“Good job, son! Not only did you snatch our precious Afra away, but you also went out and ‘harmed’ other girls. I was worried that you lacked those worldly desires, but it seems I don’t need to worry anymore.”

Before the official ceremony began, the Duke and Duchess found Kailun, accompanied by a large group of people. Duke Kuhl carefully examined Kailun and nodded with satisfaction.

Now, he had no worries about the continuation of his family line. If Kailun worked harder, he might even become a grandfather soon.

“Lord Kailun is the dream lover of all the girls in the kingdom. As long as he beckons, countless girls will flock to him.”

Marquis Laurist, standing beside them, quickly flattered Kailun. He felt that with a little more effort, he might be able to reach the position of Duke.

Kailun had become the new king, so Duke Kuhl would naturally be promoted to royalty. The remaining Duke position would need to be filled.

With Kailun’s support, Marquis Laurist’s family had the potential to become Dukes, as did Phils’s family.

“Don’t exaggerate. You’ll make him fly to the heavens if you keep praising him.” Duke Kuhl laughed and waved his hand.

“Where’s Afra? Why don’t I see her?”

The Duchess looked around but couldn’t find Afra, so she asked.

Kailun pointed towards the backstage. “Sister Afra went to find Carol. She has some things to tell her.”

“You silly child, you’re already married, yet you still call her ‘Sister Afra’? If others hear that, they might misunderstand.”

The Duchess scolded him playfully and walked towards the backstage. “I’m going to take a look. I’ve been curious about Carol for a long time.”

Before seeing Kailun, she had missed her son dearly, but now that she had seen him, it wasn’t that big of a deal. She would rather see Afra and Carol first.

What son could be more appealing than a daughter-in-law?

The Duchess hummed a tune as she walked towards the backstage, completely ignoring Kailun and Duke Kuhl.

“Your mother has always been like this. She’s been wanting to hold a grandchild for a long time, so she’s probably going to urge Afra and Carol. It’s a good thing you didn’t disappoint me. I thought you and Afra would drag things out for a long time. I didn’t expect things to settle down so quickly. It’s quite moving to think about it now.”

Kuhl sighed, looking at his wife’s retreating figure.

“Don’t rush children’s matters. The stronger someone is, the lower the chances of success. It’s all about luck. As for Sister Afra, I can only say that I was too young back then. I couldn’t see anything.”

Kailun deliberately made excuses. He was still young and didn’t want children yet.

Kailun spent the next few hours chatting and receiving guests. Because of his high status, no one dared to cause trouble.

The ceremony proceeded smoothly, and the atmosphere became lively.

To further liven up the event, Ella had spent a fortune hiring a famous theater troupe.

It was worth mentioning that the wedding officiant was the Pope, wearing a veil. She had already signed the contract and agreed to cooperate.

For everyone’s safety, Kailun didn’t remove the slave collar from the Pope’s neck. He just kindly let her change into a new high-collared outfit.

Interestingly, the Pope had accepted reality faster than he had expected.

Was this the so-called unyielding spirit?

Nothing more than this.

He stood among the crowd, looking at the Pope on the stage. Years of being in a high position had given her an aura of authority. Every word she spoke commanded attention, and the invisible pressure made many weaker individuals feel suffocated.

It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that most people didn’t dare to look directly at the Pope, as if she wasn’t a wedding officiant but a ferocious beast about to unleash its fury.

But professionally speaking, the Pope was undoubtedly qualified. No one understood the role of an officiant better than her.

After a few insignificant rituals, Kailun finally saw Carol.

She was led down the red carpet by the Duchess, her black wedding dress radiating a unique brilliance.

A happy smile graced Carol’s lips, her steps firm and resolute.

Because Carol had no living relatives, the task of giving her away fell to the Duchess.

The Duchess was very fond of Carol, who seemed very well-behaved. She gave off a warm and approachable feeling.

Not just Carol, but Bella and Fox, whom she had met earlier in the room, also gave her the same feeling. They seemed like good marriage candidates as well.

Especially the way they looked at her expectantly, the Duchess couldn’t help but want to urge Kailun to hold a few more weddings.

Oh, right, there was also Winnie and Phils.

It was a headache. There were too many excellent girls.

But Carol only had eyes for Kailun. She looked at him from across the long red carpet, wanting to break free from the Duchess’s hand and rush into his arms.

Reason restrained her emotions. She just had to wait a little longer, and her wish would be fulfilled.

She didn’t hear a word of what the Pope was saying. She only felt that the officiant was quite noisy and wished she would just shut up.

With this thought in mind, Carol glared at the Pope.

Perhaps sensing Carol’s gaze, the Pope met her eyes and instinctively took a step back. For some reason, she felt that Carol was even more terrifying than Kailun.

The Duchess felt Carol’s pace quicken and sped up her own steps. As someone who had experienced it all, she could see the longing in Carol’s eyes.

“I heard about Carol’s story from Afra. You have to treat her well…”

The Duchess said many things as she reached Kailun’s side, but Carol only heard the first few sentences. The rest went in one ear and out the other.

It was as if the world had been muted. Everyone else fell silent.

Only Kailun remained in her eyes. His figure was a bit blurry, unreal, as if countless golden threads were supporting him, making him appear solid.

She looked up at the sky, but it was empty.

For some reason, Carol felt her thoughts slowing down. She couldn’t understand many things, her mind in a daze.

She mechanically went through the ceremony, a slightly stiff smile on her face.

Although she seemed dazed, her happiness was real.

“Miss Carol, are you willing to spend the rest of your life with me?”

Carol came back to her senses when she heard Kailun’s voice again. The world returned to normal, and the cheers of the crowd filled her ears.

She looked into Kailun’s eyes and replied dreamily, “I do.”

[Carol’s Goodwill +1, Total Goodwill 99]

Carol couldn’t remember what happened next. She vaguely remembered Kailun kissing her, exchanging rings, and continuing the ceremony.

She followed Kailun like a fool, accompanying him as he walked, laughed, and talked…

It seemed like they had experienced so much, yet it also felt like a fleeting moment. Immense joy filled her mind, making the world feel unreal again.

Amidst the congratulations of the crowd, she accompanied Kailun back to the beautifully decorated wedding chamber. It was already evening.

“Thump!”

Kailun flicked Carol’s forehead and asked, “Why have you been so dazed and absentminded all day? Do you not like me? Or are you not satisfied with today’s preparations?”

Although he was smiling, his eyes held a hint of scrutiny.

Carol was indeed acting strange today, unlike her usual self. If he hadn’t been holding her hand the whole time, Kailun might have thought she was a different person.

She seemed distant, a feeling that made him uneasy.

“No, I’m just… too happy. My mind can’t process it all at once.”

Carol snuggled into Kailun’s arms. She did love him, loved him deeply.

“Did I ruin your fun tonight?” Carol looked up at Kailun.

Kailun patted her head. “No, I’m very happy today because I gained another obedient little wife. You can be more willful. You’re special, unique, and cherished by me. So be more confident, believe in your charm. You’re not inferior to anyone. You can be more arrogant, and you can also rely on me more. You’ve given me your love, and I will reciprocate.”

“Can you really accept everything about me?”

Carol wrapped her arms around Kailun’s waist, holding him close.

Kailun glanced at the clock on the wall. “Of course. I swear on my limited conscience.”

He had ten minutes left before he could recover part of his attributes. He had to get through this “vacuum period.”

“Then please forgive my rudeness. I don’t want to let you go tonight.”

Carol, in her black wedding dress, pushed Kailun onto the bed and pounced on him, not even bothering to take off her high heels.

“Wait, I think we can talk about life first.”

Kailun resisted Carol’s advance. Nine minutes left. He had to hold on for a little longer.

Carol shook her head, a smile on her face, and pried his hands away. “You said you would tolerate my willfulness, so I’m going to test your conscience now.”

Kailun suddenly regretted waking Carol up so early. He should have let her stay dazed for another ten minutes.

However, Carol in her wedding dress did stir his heart. He had a sudden urge to “stain” her dress.

Black was the color that suited her best, like a black rose, exuding an irresistible allure.

The aura she occasionally emitted, both familiar and unfamiliar, was mysterious and alluring, even Kailun was captivated by it.

Compared to last night, this time, Carol was direct, and Kailun had no strength to resist.

[Carol’s Goodwill +3, Total Goodwill 102. Obtaining 102% of attributes at the corresponding time…]

[Error. Acquisition failed. Failed to obtain corresponding attributes.]

[Reason analysis… Unknown.]

Kailun only glanced at the system notifications briefly before focusing on the “battle” at hand. Carol was weak, but her fighting style was unusually passionate, unlike her usual obedient self.

He struggled to hold on, counting down the time, watching Carol’s beautiful brows furrow in pain. Time seemed to slow down.

Only when the appointed time arrived did he turn the tables and subdue Carol.

Fueled by adrenaline, Kailun not only easily tore Carol’s black stockings but also threw her leg over his shoulder.

“Tolerance is a two-way street. Now it’s your turn to tolerate me, with your deepest love.”

With those words, Kailun launched his counterattack.

……

At the second mine, the Empress’s forces had achieved a difficult victory. They had not only driven back the Pope’s forces but also repelled the Abyss.

When they were clearing the battlefield, the leader ordered them to gather the corpses and line them up.

At first glance, all the corpses were wearing black robes and masks of various shapes, emitting a similar aura.

“Remove their masks. I want to see who they really are.”

The leader, clutching his severed arm, grimaced as he gave the order.

His subordinates, despite their injuries, followed his orders and removed the masks from the corpses. Then they saw familiar faces, one after another.

“They’re our own people!”

“This one seems to be from the White Jade Alliance, and so is this one.”

“I know him. He’s one of the Pope’s men.”

“This one is also one of ours.”

“…”

The cries of surprise made the leader’s heart sink. He looked around. Not only had two of the ninth-rank mages he had brought died, but there were also three of their own people among the corpses.

This meant that all the traitors who had joined the Abyss’s attack were dead, but they hadn’t been able to distinguish their auras.

They had lost five ninth-rank mages in this battle.

The good news was that the Pope and the White Jade Alliance had also suffered losses. The Pope had lost two ninth-rank mages, and one had escaped with severe injuries.

The White Jade Alliance had lost two old men who had died protecting someone.

“What about the Abyss and the Xiya Kingdom? How many did they lose?” The leader asked unwillingly.

“The Abyss… The Abyss only lost the old Werewolf King. We didn’t find any other bodies. Which means the Xiya Kingdom’s losses are zero.”

His deputy announced the results with a look of horror. This meant that the Temple of the Celestial God had become the biggest loser in this war.

The leader fell silent: “…”

He squatted on a rock, speechless. Since the chaotic battle began, they had been identifying friend from foe based on their auras, attacking with all their might.

Perhaps… they had also attacked their own people.

It was truly strange. What had gone wrong?

Why was the Abyss acting in unison with the Pope? And why did the Xiya Kingdom suffer zero losses?

“Sigh… Look on the bright side. At least we captured the second mine and weakened the Pope’s forces. It’s barely acceptable. I’ll contact Her Majesty now. You guys guard the mine.”

The leader sighed deeply and chose to face reality.

He couldn’t imagine how the Empress would react upon receiving this news. This was a huge mistake, an unacceptable loss.

Of course, another important reason for this heavy loss was that they lacked the reinforcements that could have decided the outcome.

Because of the distraction caused by the “fireworks,” many of their comrades were busy hunting down those miners across the Empire. The high command was troubled.

They hadn’t expected this move to be so crucial. They had fallen for Kailun’s trap.

The Xiya Kingdom was the only one that had suffered zero losses in this entire war. He couldn’t accept it, and neither could the Empress.

He had heard that Kailun was holding a grand wedding today. It seemed like a diversion.

“Your Majesty, the battle for the second mine has ended. Under your wise leadership, we fought bravely and ultimately achieved victory. Everyone fought fearlessly, and at the cost of five casualties, we killed six enemies and injured countless others. We have successfully intimidated all our enemies, causing them to flee in terror. We are currently stationed at the second mine, but the remaining men are all seriously injured and can’t hold out for long. We request reinforcements!”

The leader reported to the Empress, skillfully using his words to deflect some of the blame.

He knew that if he dared to take responsibility, even if he didn’t die, he wouldn’t be in a good situation.

So the best way was to spin the defeat into a victory. This was his only chance of survival.

But the reality was probably that the enemy had retreated in an orderly manner, while they had pursued them in a chaotic mess.

Soon, the leader received a reply from the Empress. The content was simple, just six dots.

Empress: “……”

……

“Koya, don’t die! Koya!”

Paul, who had escaped with his life, shook Koya’s body. If it weren’t for her taking a hit for him, he would probably be dead.

Sensing Koya’s weakening aura, Paul felt a pang of sadness.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I made a mistake.”

Koya, coughing up blood, caressed Paul’s face. In her final moments, she chose to confess. “To have you all to myself, I sent a sixth-rank mage to assassinate Harry. I’m sorry. I just wanted to have you. Unfortunately, I probably won’t survive tonight.”

She looked down at the large wound on her chest, her eyes dimming.

Her ninth-rank physique prevented her from dying instantly, but the special attack from another ninth-rank mage made it difficult for her to heal.

“!!!”

Paul was stunned by Koya’s words. He quickly threw her to the ground and cursed, “You vicious woman! I misjudged you! If anything happens to Harry, I will tear your body into ten thousand pieces!”

After saying that, Paul ran towards Harry’s location without stopping.

“Cough… But it’s too late…”

Koya laughed miserably. She suddenly felt ridiculous.

She had sacrificed so much, even her life, but in the end, she was still no match for an old man.

But the good news was that the assassin she had sent had already set off this morning. Even if Paul rushed back now, it would be too late.

She felt a sense of satisfaction. If there was a hell after death, she would definitely haunt Harry. And when Paul went to hell, she would violate Harry right in front of him.

It would be worth it.

Chapter 193: Time Is Running Out

The Pope: “…”

She felt a throbbing in her head, a desire to smash it against the wall.

The feeling of being at someone else’s mercy was unbearable. Her rage had nowhere to go.

She hated Kailun with a passion and wanted to slap him to death, but reason forced her to restrain herself.

Because even if she didn’t restrain herself, it wouldn’t work. A slap from her in her current state wouldn’t kill Kailun, and might even injure herself.

Well, not necessarily.

Kailun currently seemed to only be at the first rank, even weaker than her. A slap might be enough to knock him unconscious.

“Your Holiness’s gaze seems a bit dangerous. Do you not want to return to Alaye?”

Kailun took a step back, ensuring that the Pope couldn’t reach him. “I received some intelligence about the Temple of the Celestial God today. I heard that your headquarters has been surrounded by people sent by the Empress. What are your thoughts on this, Your Holiness? Not only that, but I also heard that the Temple of the Celestial God has suffered heavy losses on the main battlefield. Are you aware of this?”

These two questions in succession crushed the Pope’s spirit. A deep sorrow filled her heart.

To change her current situation, she had to swallow the bait Kailun had thrown her. Unless she was willing to be imprisoned forever.

“What will you gain from this war?” The Pope looked at Kailun.

“Probably the initiative.”

Kailun paced leisurely outside the cell. “Your Holiness’s Temple of the Celestial God has been putting pressure on me for almost two months. I want to fight back occasionally, don’t I?”

“Shouldn’t it be you putting pressure on the Temple of the Celestial God? If it weren’t for the concern about the world’s destruction, I would have sent ninth-rank mages to the Xiya Kingdom long ago. How could you have had the time to grow stronger?”

The Pope snorted coldly. At this point, she didn’t mind revealing this information to Kailun.

Occasionally disclosing some insignificant information could increase her bargaining chips.

“The world’s destruction? Does Your Holiness know something?”

Mentioning the world’s destruction, Kailun immediately thought of Carol and Bella. They were the two most closely connected to this phrase.

Carol was the final boss who would destroy the world, and Bella was the dragon who would die before the world’s end.

Pope: “Release me, and I’ll tell you everything I know.”

“Sure, sign a contract with me, and I’ll release you.” Kailun nodded, not refusing her offer.

A captive Pope was of limited use. Only by releasing her back to the Temple of the Celestial God could he complete his subsequent plan.

“Another contract? Can’t you try something else? After betraying our cooperation, how can you expect me to trust your contract?”

The Pope gritted her teeth at the mention of a contract. It was because she had trusted his contract that the main battlefield had suffered such heavy losses.

At this point, she would rather smash her head against the wall than sign another contract with Kailun.

“Your Holiness, you misunderstand. This isn’t about whether you’re willing to sign a contract or not. It’s about whether you have any other choice besides signing a contract. You can only choose to cooperate with me if you want to regain what belongs to you. We can work together to eliminate the Empress and reclaim your Temple of the Celestial God. Of course, the consequences of refusing me might be quite severe. At today’s wedding, I will make you a stepping stone, literally. You’ll be the one kneeling beside the carriage, welcoming the bride.”

Kailun’s smile became even more innocent. “Not only that, but I’ll also tell all the guests that this servant’s name is… well, I don’t know her name, but she’s the Pope of the Temple of the Celestial God.”

“Demon! You will die a miserable death!” The Pope’s veins bulged on her forehead.

She couldn’t take it anymore. How could such a cruel person exist in this world? Wasn’t he afraid of retribution?

She tugged at the slave collar around her neck. If she could break free from these restraints, she would definitely drag Kailun down with her, even if it meant her death.

“I don’t have much time. I have important matters to attend to. I’ll give you two hours to think about it. If you have no objections, sign the contract. Trust me, if the esteemed Pope loses her noble halo, your fate won’t be pleasant.”

Kailun glanced at his pocket watch. He had to go back and get ready for the wedding.

He took out the prepared contract scroll, tossed it to the Pope, and left.

He couldn’t push someone like the Pope too hard. The best way to handle her was to let her think alone under pressure.

This way, she would realize that thinking… was completely useless.

“That bastard!”

The Pope looked at Kailun’s departing figure, wanting to tear the scroll in her hand to pieces. But she eventually calmed down.

She sat down on the dirty stool and opened the scroll. Numerous clauses were written on it.

She quickly scanned it. The contract required her to grant Kailun the authority of the Pope for one month, allowing him to command the others.

Furthermore, Kailun also demanded that she set up a magic circle connecting Alaye and the Royal City after returning to the Temple. As a reward, Kailun would help her break the Empress’s siege.

But she had never heard of any teleportation magic that could cover such a vast distance in her twenty-plus years of life. Was it really possible?

In the contract, Kailun promised to return everything that belonged to her after one month and help her conceal everything that had happened during this period.

As an additional clause, Kailun was willing to help her against the Empress and gain control of the entire Temple of the Celestial God. However, this required signing a separate contract.

Kailun assured her in the contract that he wouldn’t harm her core interests. This was clearly stated in the corresponding clauses, along with the severe consequences of violating them. Everything was linked to her soul.

The Pope found it unbelievable. She carefully examined the contract again. Although Kailun’s terms were somewhat excessive, they weren’t as bad as she had expected.

On the contrary, she even felt that this contract was too “normal.”

To summarize, Kailun not only had to act as the acting Pope and help her deal with the Empress’s siege, but he also couldn’t harm her core interests.

And all she had to pay, besides one month of papal authority, was the cost of building the magic circle.

Although the control of this teleportation magic circle would be in Kailun’s hands, she could set up many offensive spells around it. This way, even if Kailun wanted to use the magic circle for something, he would have to think twice.

“What is that demon planning?”

The Pope couldn’t understand it at all. Because of her low expectations, she felt that she had no reason to refuse these terms.

Should she agree and gamble on a chance of survival? If she was deceived, she would drag Kailun down with her.

The Pope’s eyes flickered as she frantically considered all the possibilities.

……

“Splash!”

Kailun lay in the bathtub, with Afra and Anna washing and scrubbing his back.

“I just saw Carol. The little girl seems very happy. She has a huge smile on her face.”

Afra carefully wiped Kailun’s body with a towel. She would also be the one to help him change into his wedding attire later.

“I saw her too. I’m so envious.”

Anna secretly glanced at Kailun. It was impossible not to be envious.

Kailun chuckled with his eyes closed, not answering.

He leaned back in the bathtub, resting his head on Afra’s lap, his hand swirling the hot water.

He wasn’t truly relaxed yet. Only after resolving all the troublesome matters could he focus on these complicated relationship issues.

He roughly calculated that if everything went smoothly, it would only take one or two months to deal with the Temple of the Celestial God.

But would it really be that smooth?

A big question mark appeared in Kailun’s mind. He hadn’t forgotten the various details hidden within these events.

Fox’s change in talent, Bella’s connection to the world’s destruction, the fate woven by Isabella, the ancient entity hiding in Kuye Town, the one who was observing his fate…

Too many questions troubled him, and none of them had been answered yet.

Based on his probing, the Pope had limited knowledge. So he shifted his attention to the mysterious Empress.

If it weren’t for his interference, both the Abyss and the Pope would have been devoured by the Empress.

On the surface, the internal strife had weakened the Temple of the Celestial God, but in reality, a united Temple of the Celestial God could easily conquer the world. The existence of the Pope and the Empress was, in a way, a restriction, a restriction on the Temple’s power.

Without the Abyss to balance them out, the disorganized White Jade Alliance wouldn’t be able to help Kailun. So he couldn’t let the Empress unify the Temple.

But if he could infiltrate the Temple of the Celestial God through the Pope, then he would have a chance to completely tear it apart, splitting it into the Celestial Empire and the Holy Temple.

After his trip to Kuye Town, Kailun realized that the entity proficient in Time Magic was recovering, posing no threat for now. However, he wasn’t sure about the situation with fate, so he chose a more cautious approach.

Fifteen minutes later, Kailun, with the help of Afra and Anna, changed into a white suit.

“You look good. No wonder you attract so many girls.” Afra praised, looking at Kailun in his wedding attire with satisfaction.

“He tricked them. No one really likes him.”

Anna, squatting on the ground, adjusting Kailun’s trousers, dared to joke with him now.

Kailun looked at himself in the mirror and turned his head. “That’s prejudice. Look at Bella. I didn’t trick her. This is called charm. Is there a man in the Xiya Kingdom more outstanding than me?”

Kailun was confident in his strength, power, and even his appearance. But if there was a problem, it was probably his personality.

“You can only deceive innocent little girls like Bella. Look at how smug you are.”

Afra adjusted Kailun’s collar and patted his shoulder. “That’s enough. Let’s go to the square in the manor now. Everyone is waiting. There will be many familiar faces coming. They all want to see you. I bet they never imagined that the Duke’s son would grow to such a level. It seems my judgment has always been right.”

“Of course.”

Kailun reached out and pulled Anna, who was squatting on the ground, up. “I can’t believe it’s been almost two months. Time flies.”

Hearing Kailun mention two months, Afra tilted her head slightly. She felt like so much had happened, but it hadn’t even been two months.

Two months ago, she was a captain in the territory. Then Kailun had come to the Royal City with the Silver Moon Knights, and everything that followed had happened.

He had changed the Xiya Kingdom, changed the world, in less than two months. She even doubted if this Kailun, whom she had raised since childhood, was still human.

“It is fast. Two months ago, I was still studying at the Magic Academy, thinking that joining the royal mage corps would be a good enough achievement.”

Anna also reminisced.

Initially, she had hated Kailun. He had taken so much from her.

But as they interacted, until the day she got her revenge, she finally acknowledged him.

From hate to love after so many twists and turns, she felt deeply moved.

“Don’t frown. Today is a happy day.”

Kailun put his arms around Afra and Anna, leading them out of the room. “You just focus on enjoying every day. Leave all the problems to me. Give me two more months, and I’ll end all of this.”

“Hmm~”

Afra and Anna both hummed in agreement, feeling a sense of security in Kailun’s arms.

……

“Wow, I didn’t expect the Royal City to become like this. This kid Kailun has truly surprised me.”

Duke Kuhl, who had just arrived at the manor and stepped out of the carriage, still had a look of amazement on his face.

He hadn’t expected the once lifeless Royal City to be so vibrant and lively. The pedestrians on the street all wore smiles, and he hadn’t seen a single beggar along the way.

The streets were clean, the shops were filled with customers, and he even encountered a few high-rank mages and knights.

Listening closely, he could even hear them praising Kailun, recounting his legendary feats.

“I wonder how many secrets Kailun is hiding. This is truly unbelievable.” The Duchess sighed.

As soon as they stepped out of the carriage, they saw Phils and Winnie, who had been waiting for them. They were in charge of welcoming Kailun’s family and friends, along with the members of the Knight Corps.

Before they could exchange greetings, Duke Kuhl, with his sharp eyes, noticed a few carriages stopping at the manor’s entrance. Through the carriage windows, he saw the people inside. “Eh, isn’t that the newly promoted Marquis Laurist?”

Marquis Laurist, Winnie’s father, also saw Duke Kuhl. He quickly jumped out of his carriage and bowed to the Duke. “Greetings, Duke Kuhl. It’s been a month since we last met. My little girl has been under the care of Lord Kailun. Thanks to his guidance, Winnie is becoming more and more outstanding.”

Winnie covered her face: “…”

She suddenly felt ashamed of her father. Why did he always act like he was selling his daughter?

Phils, seeing this, wanted to tease them, but then she saw her parents arrive and try to curry favor with Duke Kuhl.

Phils: “…”

Why did this feel like an awkward family reunion?

Phils and Winnie exchanged glances and sighed helplessly. Forget it, their parents weren’t important. The important thing was to take good care of the Duke and Duchess.

So they both put on sincere smiles and went to greet them. It was time to show off their best behavior. If they could leave a good impression, maybe Kailun’s next bride would be one of them.

……

Carol played with her hair and asked absentmindedly, “How much time is left until the wedding?”

Fox pouted. “Half an hour.”

Carol nodded. “Oh…”

“How much time now?” Carol asked again after a while.

“Twenty-nine minutes.”

Bella counted the petals enviously. She shouldn’t have trusted Winnie’s words. They were all liars.

Carol: “It’s taking so long. I wish there was magic that could speed up time.”

“Hmph!”

Fox and Bella snorted coldly in unison.

Chapter 192: A Narrow Escape

As if worried that Kailun’s voice would be heard, Carol thoughtfully cast a soundproofing spell.

“Now you can scream~”

Her slender fingers danced across Kailun’s chest, her laughter filled with delight.

Kailun felt that he had corrupted Carol. She wouldn’t have dared to be so bold before.

Now, he was completely suppressed by her. A first-rank mage against a seventh-rank mage? There was no comparison.

What an enviable talent. She had reached the seventh rank in less than two months, much faster than Kailun had expected.

He once again carefully examined Carol, who was on top of him. She had shed her ordinariness. Her demeanor and aura were no longer those of an average girl.

Her white hair cascaded down her back, covering Kailun’s thighs. Her burgundy eyes were filled with love, even a hint of obsession.

Tonight, Carol was wearing a thin nightgown. One of the straps had slipped down her smooth shoulder, revealing most of her ample bosom, dazzlingly white.

Nourished by abundant resources and nutrition, Carol’s beauty and figure had developed to a point where she was second to none. She had her own unique style and aura.

Because her nightgown was so thin, Kailun couldn’t help but notice the curves of her body. Her alluring figure sparked his imagination, even in his current weakened state, eliciting a primal response.

As Kailun observed Carol, she was also scrutinizing him. She lifted his shirt and ran her hand across his abdomen, the sensation quickening her breath.

“I still need to monitor and command the battlefield tonight, so let’s wait a bit,” Kailun said, suppressing his instincts. Challenging Carol now would be humiliating. He didn’t want to end up with a “few minutes” record during this crucial battle.

Carol rubbed her pert bottom against his stomach. “It’s okay, you can focus on your work. You can leave everything else to me. I’ll take care of it myself.”

Kailun: “…”

He could tell from her eyes that she was serious.

Kailun raised his hand, tracing her slender waist, stopping at the sensitive spot on her chest.

As Carol moaned softly, Kailun explained, “You might have sensed that I’m not in my best condition and my energy is limited. Do you only want a few minutes of pleasure?”

But Carol wasn’t swayed by his words. She pressed his hand against her chest, holding it firmly. “No, I just want to take everything that belongs to the Pope. She doesn’t deserve you. She shouldn’t have any of this. Even if you call me selfish, I can’t accept tomorrow’s wedding. So I want to have you before tomorrow’s wedding, even if you punish me afterward.”

“You’re such an extremist.” Kailun pinched Carol’s cheek with his other hand. “How about this? Tomorrow night, I’ll have Afra and the others get the Pope drunk and make her pass out. Then you can sneak into my room and take everything that belongs to her right in front of her. Wouldn’t that be better?”

Kailun was half-joking. In reality, the Pope wouldn’t receive such treatment.

Carol considered Kailun’s suggestion for a moment. It sounded exciting, but she couldn’t fully trust his words. He often tried to avoid this kind of thing.

“No, I want to have you now.”

She ultimately rejected his suggestion. She didn’t want to wait any longer.

After saying that, Carol leaned down and kissed Kailun, her hands wrapped around his neck, not giving him a chance to escape.

She wanted to burn Kailun’s heart with her passionate love, to completely merge him with her body.

However, Kailun was the first to counterattack. Although he was weaker than Carol in terms of strength, he far surpassed her in technique.

Interestingly, Carol’s combat prowess wasn’t that strong. After their previous “battle,” Kailun had discovered that she was only slightly stronger than Afra.

Therefore, to avoid embarrassment, Kailun responded to Carol’s kiss while slipping his hand under her nightgown.

He didn’t need to do much, just gently tease and provoke.

Like raindrops falling on petals and leaves, Kailun slowly conquered Carol’s heart with his gentle touch.

She was, after all, a pure maiden, with no experience in matters of the heart. Faced with Kailun’s assault, she seemed a bit overwhelmed, unable to utilize her strength even though she possessed it.

In the end, she could only helplessly succumb to his touch, becoming a plaything in his hands, moaning softly with his every move.

Gradually, Kailun gained complete control, pinning Carol beneath him.

She wanted to urge him to take the next step, but he silenced her with his tongue, making her unable to speak. His touch sent shivers down her spine, and she couldn’t help but gasp.

Carol could only tremble, unable to vent her frustrations.

“Ugh~”

After an unknown amount of time, Carol let out a muffled moan.

She was probably sleepy. Overwhelmed by drowsiness, she glared at Kailun and then closed her eyes, snuggling into his arms.

A feeling of floating in the clouds made her forget all her worries.

“It seems this girl is really weak.”

Kailun wiped his fingers on Carol’s nightgown, amused.

In a way, this was a good thing. Who wouldn’t love an easily satisfied little maid?

Kailun moved Carol to the side, changed the sheets, and then sat down with his communication device.

As he had said before, he had to monitor the battlefield tonight. Matters of the heart were best left for tomorrow’s wedding.

If the plan went smoothly, he would be able to recover a small portion of his attributes tomorrow night, more than enough to suppress Carol.

Kailun played with Carol’s hair, focusing most of his attention on processing the intelligence reports.

……

The night passed quickly. When Carol woke up again, Kailun was gone.

She looked around, but no matter how hard she searched, she couldn’t find him.

Carol bit her lip, her eyes filled with dejection as she caressed the pillow beside her.

“I’ve tried so hard. Why won’t you accept me…”

She murmured softly, her voice filled with grievance.

She had been studying hard, doing everything well, drinking more milk… trying her best to get closer to him, even taking the initiative to “attack” last night.

However, every step she took forward, Kailun would take a step back. Their relationship hadn’t made any substantial progress.

He was too mean!

Kailun was too mean!

He must be laughing at her. Such a mean person should be given to the Pope.

No, forget it. She couldn’t bear to part with him…

She had the ability to see through people’s hearts, but when it came to Kailun, Carol couldn’t understand him at all.

She was entangled in her emotions, afraid to delve deeper into his true thoughts.

She was worried that reality would show her its cruel side. She was afraid that Kailun didn’t have those special feelings for her.

It was because she cared too much that she was troubled and trapped.

“This is terrible. Maybe I should go to the dungeon and stab the Pope…”

Carol had a sudden idea, as if a demon like Kailun was whispering in her ear.

“Knock, knock, knock!”

“Excuse me, is Lady Carol there?”

Just then, someone knocked on the door. It was the elf sisters.

Carol wiped her eyes with the blanket and asked, “I’m here. What’s the matter?”

The elder elf sister replied, “Master has prepared a surprise for you. He asked us to deliver it to you and help you get dressed.”

“A surprise?”

Carol sat up in bed, wrapping herself in the soft blanket. “Come in. Let me see what kind of surprise it is.”

She had made up her mind. If Kailun’s surprise didn’t satisfy her, she would sneak into the dungeon and “solo kill” the Pope.

Although she had never seen the Pope’s face, she instinctively hated her existence, just like Helena.

As Carol finished speaking, the beautiful elf sisters pushed open the door. They walked into the room, each carrying a gift box, and approached the bed.

Carol recognized the gift box in Louise, the elder elf sister’s, hands. It was the one from Kailun’s wardrobe, the surprise she hadn’t opened before.

She tilted her head in confusion, wondering why Kailun didn’t give it to her personally.

Was he avoiding her?

As for the red gift box in Selena, the younger elf sister’s, hands, she had never seen it before. It looked very exquisite.

Under Carol’s puzzled gaze, the sisters, dressed in maid outfits, opened their respective gift boxes. The surprises inside made Carol’s eyes widen.

Carol: “!!!”

Inside Louise’s box was a dress, an exquisite and beautiful black dress.

Although it was lying in the gift box, Carol recognized it as a wedding dress.

Turning her head, she saw that Selena’s gift box contained beautiful shoes and jewelry.

A flood of information rushed into Carol’s mind. Even she couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed.

What did Master mean?

Had this bad guy suddenly become kind?

Or was this compensation?

“The wedding is only three hours away. Do you need us to help you change?”

Louise’s words interrupted Carol’s thoughts. She looked at Carol with envy. Having received Kailun’s recognition, she had a higher status now.

“Wedding…”

Carol muttered the word, then looked at Louise abruptly. “Shouldn’t Master be marrying the Pope? Does he want me to be the bridesmaid?”

Louise chuckled. “Master is not marrying the Pope. He doesn’t need a bridesmaid. To quote Master’s words this morning: ‘The Pope is just a pet. She’s not worthy.’”

“We don’t have much time left. There are still many preparations to be made. Lady Carol, do you need us to help you put on the wedding dress?”

Selena glanced at the time and urged again.

“Wait! I need to take a bath first. Ten minutes, just ten minutes!”

Carol wrapped herself in the blanket and rushed to the bathroom.

“Bang!”

She quickly closed the bathroom door and leaned against it.

She pressed her hand against her racing heart, overwhelmed by joy.

So that bad guy had been deceiving her all along. He had already prepared the best birthday present.

No wonder he had been reluctant to take the final step last night. It turned out he wanted to save all the beautiful memories for today…

In just a few seconds, Carol found many excuses for Kailun.

“It seems there’s no need to kill the Pope. Hmph, she’s lucky.”

Carol puffed out her chest proudly, her heart overflowing with joy.

……

“Hiss~”

The Pope, sitting in the cell, suddenly felt a chill down her spine. She shivered, feeling like she was being targeted. A premonition of death loomed over her.

Fortunately, this feeling came and went quickly, disappearing within minutes, as if it had never happened.

This was a sixth sense that strong individuals possessed. Sometimes it was useful, sometimes it wasn’t. It was generally considered a mystical phenomenon.

“Sigh…”

The Pope looked up at the ceiling, her eyes filled with confusion. She looked much more haggard than yesterday.

She held her communication device in her hand, but there were several cracks on it.

Through the communication device, the Pope learned that the Abyss had launched a full-scale attack at 7:00 PM last night. The exact number of participants was unknown.

Furthermore, the intelligence department reported that the Empress’s subordinates had suddenly become active. Many ninth-rank mages stationed in other areas had been recalled to the Empire for unknown reasons.

These pieces of information were still acceptable to the Pope. What truly distressed her was that she had contacted Charles at 3:00 AM. During their brief conversation, she realized that she had suffered heavy losses.

In the continuous high-intensity chaotic battle, she had lost at least two ninth-rank mages. And that wasn’t all. At 5:00 AM, she contacted Charles again. He told her that the number of participants in the battle had suddenly increased. A new force had joined, possibly the Empress’s people.

Not only that, but Charles also said that they often couldn’t distinguish friend from foe, sometimes even accidentally attacking their own allies.

At 6:00 AM, the Pope could no longer receive any news from the battlefield.

At 6:30 AM, her subordinates in Alaye sent her a message, saying that the Empress had launched a coup and was besieging Alaye. The defensive magic circle was estimated to only hold for ten days.

Without reinforcements, Alaye would definitely fall into the Empress’s hands. Then the entire Temple of the Celestial God would be unified, and her position as Pope would be meaningless.

The Pope was devastated upon learning this information. She regretted her actions.

If it weren’t for her concern for Chrissy, if it weren’t for her desire to assassinate Kailun and eliminate the threat…

She was filled with hatred. She didn’t understand why the Empress would betray her at this time. Didn’t she care that this internal strife would weaken the overall strength of the Temple of the Celestial God?

“It seems I came at a bad time, interrupting Your Holiness’s contemplation.”

Kailun’s voice rang out from outside the cell. The Pope looked up and saw him smiling at her.

She threw away her communication device, stood up, and walked unsteadily towards the door, saying to Kailun, “I can agree to your wedding proposal, but you must help me.”

However, Kailun shook his head with a smile. “Your Holiness, you seem to have misunderstood. I never proposed to you. It was you who proposed to me. But it’s too late now. I’ve changed my mind. Compared to a wife or a concubine, I’d rather have you as my pet. What do you think we should do about that?”

Pope: “…”

[Pope’s Goodwill -2, Total Goodwill -88]