Chapter 34: A Vicious Woman
“Angelica…”
Hearing her name, Angelica, who had been standing silently beside Qin Chu, immediately responded, “Angelica is here, Master. What are your orders?”
“I heard you’re quite the cook…” A smile spread across Qin Chu’s face as he pulled out ten one-hundred-Mana bills and handed them to Angelica. “Could you let me sample your culinary skills?”
Angelica’s eyes lit up.
She was a skilled cook, and though she had always wanted to prepare meals for Qin Chu, she had worried about his preferences. So, she had been buying food from outside.
Now, hearing his request, her heart swelled with both excitement and trepidation.
“Master, I’m afraid my cooking might not be to your liking…” she mumbled, her fingers twisting the hem of her maid uniform.
“Haha, don’t worry, Angelica. I’m sure anything you cook will be delicious,” Qin Chu said, his smile reassuring.
Angelica beamed, her heart overflowing with joy. She took the money, her voice cheerful. “I’ll go shopping for ingredients right away. The Roblensa Market is quite far, so I might not be back until evening…”
“Why go all the way there? Just buy something nearby…”
Angelica shook her head vehemently. “That won’t do, Master. This is for you, so I have to use the best ingredients.”
The Roblensa Market, catering exclusively to the royal family and the nobles, was known for its high-quality produce and meats. Its prices were exorbitant, at least ten times higher than those in the slums, but the quality was undeniable.
This was the first time her master had requested her cooking. She had to do her best, to impress him.
After reminding Qin Chu to rest, Angelica skipped out the door, humming a cheerful tune.
Qin Chu’s smile faded as the door closed behind her.
This plan was a two-for-one deal. It would test Angelica’s loyalty and simultaneously remove the shackles that bound her magic, transforming her from a mere maid into a powerful ally.
This was her final test. If she passed, he would truly trust her.
…
In Loseweisse’s room, Ekaterina listened to the Holy Maiden’s plan, her brow furrowed in concern.
None of the Hero Squad members had accepted the new Hero.
Loseweisse knew that she wasn’t alone in her feelings. Ekaterina, Athena, Sylph, Eileen, Airi, the six female members of the squad, had all secretly harbored affections for Jie Luo.
Their feelings were just as strong as hers.
Even Ronald, the Noble Swordsman, had displayed a… peculiar fondness for Jie Luo.
Jie Luo’s charm was undeniable.
It was a magnetism that drew people in, both men and women, captivating them with his charisma and effortless grace.
He had embodied everyone’s ideal, fulfilling their deepest desires.
The remaining three members, Benson, the Immovable Shield, Calmuse, the Mad Berserker, and Karsus, the Death Knight, had considered Jie Luo their closest friend, their brother-in-arms, their bond stronger than blood.
So, when Loseweisse had contacted them, proposing to use the Second Hero’s blood to resurrect Jie Luo, none had hesitated.
Not even for a moment.
But Loseweisse wasn’t confident in her plan. It had been conceived in a moment of passion, her judgment clouded by her emotions.
She looked at Ekaterina, her voice laced with uncertainty. “What do you think?”
Ekaterina sighed. “Loseweisse, you’ve suffered…”
Loseweisse stared at her, confused.
“If you hadn’t been through so much recently, you wouldn’t have devised such a… crude plan,” Ekaterina continued.
“You think that simply eliminating or distracting Qin Chu’s guards will be enough to kidnap him…”
“But have you considered that he’s the Hero? Countless eyes are watching him. Augustus, Wadsworth, Saint Monique… they’re all vying for his favor, hoping to bring him into their fold.”
“Qin Chu’s residence might seem lightly guarded, but there are countless hidden protectors, their presence unknown to you. Do you think they’ll allow us to simply snatch him away?”
Loseweisse fell silent.
She wasn’t stupid. She should have considered these factors.
But her emotions had clouded her judgment, her thoughts scattered and unfocused.
“Unless we slaughter everyone in our path,” Ekaterina continued, her voice taking on a harder edge. “But that would expose us. Even if Augustus protects you, what about Wadsworth and Saint Monique? Can you withstand their wrath?”
“The royal family and the Church of the Earth Mother Goddess possess immense power. Even the Holy See can’t stand against them.”
Loseweisse’s face paled. She had been so consumed by her hatred that she hadn’t considered the consequences.
“And what about the other requirements for Jie Luo’s resurrection?” Ekaterina asked, her voice softening. “You need more than just Qin Chu’s blood. You need rare ingredients, and you need Jie Luo’s soul fragments. Have you gathered them? Do you even know where they are scattered? Have you considered how long it might take to collect them all?”
“It could take years, decades even. What will we do without a Hero during that time? How many people will die? Have you considered that?”
Loseweisse didn’t care how many people died. As long as Qin Chu was eliminated, nothing else mattered.
She bit her lip, remaining silent.
“And the most important question,” Ekaterina continued, her voice grave. “Jie Luo was killed by the Eternal Monarch, Nagath. Even if we resurrect him, Wadsworth and Saint Monique won’t object. They need a Hero to fight the Demons. They don’t care who it is. They wouldn’t dare question Jie Luo.”
“But what happens after he’s resurrected? Do you plan to send him to his death again?”
“Jie Luo is no match for Nagath. We all know that.”
Loseweisse’s face grew even paler, her body trembling.
“I haven’t met Qin Chu yet. I don’t know what kind of person he is. But I’m angry that he stole Jie Luo’s title, his glory. There can only be one Hero, and it’s not him.”
“But even you have to admit that Qin Chu, with his two Super-tier Abilities, possesses greater potential than Jie Luo.”
Loseweisse wanted to argue, but the words wouldn’t come.
Ekaterina was right. Though Qin Chu was weak now, his future potential was undeniable.
“I don’t object to your desire to kill Qin Chu and resurrect Jie Luo,” Ekaterina said, her cheeks flushing slightly. “After all… I miss him too…”
“But perhaps we should consider another approach.”
“We need time to gather Jie Luo’s soul fragments anyway. Why not let Qin Chu live a little longer? Let him eliminate the Demons, especially the Eternal Monarch, Nagath…”
“Once the situation is under control, we kill Qin Chu, resurrect Jie Luo, and he won’t have to face the Demon King again, won’t have to risk his life. Wouldn’t that be better?” Ekaterina said, her voice gentle.
Loseweisse’s eyes brightened, but then a thought struck her.
“But if we wait until Qin Chu is strong enough to kill Nagath, will we still be able to defeat him?” This was her greatest fear.
“Loseweisse,” Ekaterina said, her voice taking on a harder edge, “even the strongest warrior can’t defend against a knife in the back.”
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