《Legendary Mercenary》


 Chapter 1

    White seagulls soared across the blue sky, their massive wingspans resembling aircraft gliding through the heavens.


    Beneath that endless expanse, atop a grassy hillside, lay a towering figure. He rested with his hands behind his head, a blade of grass lazily held between his lips as he occasionally chewed on it.


    Standing nearly two meters tall, his muscular physique was sculpted like that of a war god¡ªpowerful yet streamlined, exuding an aura of raw strength. Even as he reclined in the grass, stretching his limbs in leisure, he resembled a lion basking in the sun, both majestic and at ease.


    Beneath his neatly cropped hair was a rugged face. Perhaps it was the pleasant weather and the gentle breeze, but he seemed to be in an excellent mood. A slight smile curled at the corner of his lips, making him appear warm and approachable.


    Like an honest man.


    Or at least, Caius thought so.


    "Mmm~" A contented sigh escaped him.


    After a refreshing nap, Caius sat up, stretched lazily, and gazed down the hillside.


    From his vantage point atop the high coastal slope, he had a panoramic view of a grand and bustling city.


    Ocean City.


    A magnificent metropolis, famed for producing two legendary figures and serving as a beacon for ambitious youths from the countryside.


    Half of the city sprawled across the mainland, while the other half extended into the sea, built upon an intricate network of harbors and artificial islands. Compared to the landbound districts, the oceanic half was evidently wealthier¡ªlikely the domain of the affluent elite.


    Ocean City was vast. Even from his elevated position, Caius could not see its limits.


    At the city gates, a long line of adventurers and merchant caravans stretched endlessly, waiting for entry.


    A smirk played on Caius¡¯ lips. He reached for the massive backpack beside him¡ªeasily over a meter tall¡ªand slung it over one shoulder with ease. The clinking of metal from within hinted at its substantial weight. On one side of the pack, a massive warhammer, easily over a meter in length, hung securely.


    Yet despite the immense load, Caius lifted it effortlessly with one hand, slinging it onto his back as if it weighed nothing.


    "Time to go!" He strode forward, making his way toward Ocean City.


    It had been sixteen years since he was reborn into this world.


    Most people who saw his towering frame would be utterly baffled¡ªsixteen?!


    The old blacksmith who had taken him in and raised him had passed away peacefully, leaving Caius once again alone in the world.


    In his previous life, he had come from the Wasteland¡ªa technologically advanced yet war-ravaged world, now reduced to a desolate hellscape. There, mercenaries thrived, engaging in constant bloodshed and warfare.


    The once-mighty Federal Government had become nothing more than a puppet of corporate capital. Ordinary citizens had no economic power, no voice, and were relentlessly exploited. Survival meant scraping by in the shadows of megacorporations and the chaotic wasteland. Life there was cruel, ruthless.


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    Caius had clawed his way up from the dirt, building a top-tier mercenary squad through years of blood and fire. But in the end, the corporations betrayed them, sending him and his team to the grave.


    Their mission had seemed simple: escort cargo to a corporate-controlled fortress city. Along the way, they clashed with numerous wasteland gangs, wiping out entire raiding parties. After countless skirmishes, they finally reached their destination, expecting to claim their well-earned payment.


    But the "cargo" turned out to be a nuclear warhead.


    As soon as the mission was completed, the nuke was armed, and in the blink of an eye, Caius, his mercenary squad, and the entire fortress city¡ªhome to over 300,000 people¡ªwere reduced to ashes.


    Damn corporate wars.


    Still, he had come to terms with it.


    At least being instantly vaporized in a nuclear blast was a cleaner death than getting his throat slit or taking a bullet to the chest.


    From the moment he became a mercenary, Caius had known his days were numbered. The idea of retiring peacefully had never crossed his mind. He just hadn''t expected to go out in such a¡­ dramatic fashion.


    Dying in a nuclear explosion? Not a bad way to go.


    The only question that lingered in his mind¡ªhad any of his squadmates reincarnated as well?


    He could only hope.


    For now, though, all he could do was take things one step at a time and carve out a new foundation in this world.


    This world, while not as devastated as the Wasteland, was still just as merciless.


    Magic existed here. Swordmasters could cleave mountains in half. Monsters roamed the land, more fearsome than the mutant beasts of the Wasteland. Power dictated fate. Ordinary people were just as powerless here as they had been back in his old world.


    So Caius had no intention of being ordinary.


    After the old blacksmith passed, he left Caius a small inheritance and his smithy.


    For someone like him, managing a forge for sixteen years was already a miracle. But spending his entire life there? Unthinkable.


    So he transferred ownership to the old man¡¯s relatives, gathered his savings, and took the equipment left behind for him.


    Then, he set his sights on Ocean City.


    Like any young man seeking his fortune in the big city.


    But he wasn''t here to start a mundane career.


    He was here to return to his roots.


    Mercenary work.


    Just thinking about leaving behind the quiet blacksmith¡¯s life and stepping back into the bloodstained world of warriors made his heart race.


    Adrenaline surged through him. The thrill of battle called to him.


    Perhaps he was never meant for a peaceful life.


    If he didn''t put his body to use, wouldn''t that be a waste?


    Sixteen years old. Nearly two meters tall. Stronger than he ever was in his past life.


    At this rate, he¡¯d probably hit 2.1 meters before twenty. A certified giant.


    And not just for show, either.


    Because he wasn¡¯t human.


    He was a giant.


    From the moment he reincarnated as a newborn, a fragment of ancient memory had awakened within him¡ªa Giant¡¯s Inheritance. It told him of his lineage, of his origins.


    But the knowledge remained fragmented, locked away. So far, he only knew that he was a giant and had gained a few insights into his race. The rest remained a mystery.


    The stronger he became, the more of his inheritance he could unlock. Caius had a feeling that the true power of the Giants¡¯ Inheritance would be nothing short of extraordinary.


    Even now, the immense strength and resilience he possessed were gifts of that inheritance.


    There was just one problem¡ªhe had absolutely no talent for magic.


    Despite his fascination with the spells and sorcery of this world, no matter how much he tried, he simply couldn¡¯t cast magic.


    So aside from becoming an adventurer and mercenary, he had another goal¡ªbecoming a mage.


    It would be a waste not to learn magic in a world of swords and sorcery.


    Caius¡¯ pace quickened. Before long, he reached the city gates.


    His towering frame didn¡¯t draw too much attention. After all, he wasn¡¯t the biggest one here.


    Take the stone-skinned warrior ahead of him¡ªprobably from the Boulderkin race. Standing at 2.5 meters, he looked like a living statue, his defense undoubtedly formidable. Compared to that, Caius almost felt¡­ small.


    After paying the ten silver coin entrance fee, Caius finally stepped into Ocean City¡¯s outer district.


    The wide streets, the bustling crowds¡ªhe took it all in with a deep breath.


    Worth it.


    After traveling two thousand kilometers over half a month, he was finally here.


    But first¡ªfood.


    After surviving on dried meat for weeks, he was ready for a proper meal.


    And as luck would have it, he spotted the perfect place.


    A mercenary tavern.


    A gathering place for warriors like him.

 Chapter 2

    Mercenary Tavern¡ªHailan No. 11


    This was a branch of the Mercenary Tavern, which also bore another well-known name:


    The Mercenary Guild!


    Unlike traditional guilds, the Mercenary Tavern was specifically designed to serve mercenaries, operating in the form of a tavern. After all, mercenaries were mostly rough men who lived for alcohol. Drinking, bragging, and then picking up a task at the front desk or from the bulletin board¡ªthis tavern-style setting was naturally the best fit.


    At this moment, the tavern was packed with seasoned mercenaries, drinking, eating, and speaking loudly, creating a noisy atmosphere. The air was thick with the scent of alcohol.


    And a faint hint of blood.


    Perhaps it came from the tooth embedded in the wooden counter at the front desk, or from the mercenaries wrapped in blood-stained bandages.


    Either way, it wasn¡¯t exactly a pleasant smell.


    But Caius loved it¡ªit felt just like home.


    Compared to the wasteland gang bars of his past life, where smoke, booze, and vomit mixed into a putrid stench, this place was practically fresh air.


    At least, the owner here seemed to clean up regularly.


    He pushed open the door and stepped inside, and the noise in the tavern noticeably quieted.


    Caius could feel eyes turning toward him.


    With his massive build, he stood out anywhere¡ªunless he was among towering monsters.


    But he enjoyed the attention.


    In his past life, he had wanted to be a big guy but never had the chance. He barely managed to be ¡°medium-sized.¡±


    Ignoring the stares, he walked straight to the front desk.


    Everyone was watching him, their gazes filled with curiosity, scrutiny, and the kind of provocation and disdain that veteran mercenaries had for rookies.


    Tsk, this familiar feeling was back again.


    Caius grinned and gave the barmaid a simple, honest smile. ¡°Hello, I¡¯d like to register as a mercenary.¡±


    ¡°Oh, we got ourselves a newbie,¡± the barmaid said. She was a striking woman with sun-kissed skin, wavy hair, and a curvaceous figure.


    A true beauty.


    ¡°I¡¯m Yvlan, the owner of Hailan No. 11,¡± she introduced herself, her sultry gaze unabashedly lingering on Caius¡¯ broad chest, the corner of her lips curling in an amused smirk.


    ¡°Caius,¡± he responded succinctly.


    Yvlan continued, ¡°We have a tradition here¡ªnewbies have to buy a round for everyone.¡±


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    Caius blinked. ¡°A round? Drinks?¡±


    ¡°Mhm~¡± Yvlan chuckled. ¡°Of course. Though if you¡¯re willing to buy food, I¡¯m sure they¡¯d be even happier.¡±


    ¡°Haha!¡± The tavern erupted in laughter.


    Caius immediately realized he was being teased.


    But he didn¡¯t mind. He laughed along and said, ¡°I¡¯ll treat everyone after I complete my first mission.¡±


    The surrounding mercenaries widened their eyes, then burst into even louder laughter.


    ¡°Kid, you¡¯re serious?¡± A burly man with a thick beard slapped his thigh, watching Caius with interest.


    Caius sat down at the bar, turned to the crowd, and said, ¡°Of course! It¡¯s just a round of drinks, right?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate it. There are a lot of people here. Even the cheapest black rye ale would cost at least fifty gold coins.¡±


    This world¡¯s currency consisted of gold, silver, and copper coins, with an exchange rate of 1:10:100.


    The tavern was large, spanning three floors, with around six hundred people present. A mug of black rye ale cost eight copper coins, which indeed added up to over fifty gold coins.


    Caius did have plenty of gold¡ªhis inheritance from his old man, plus the sale of a blacksmith shop, and the savings he had built up over the years.


    But he wasn¡¯t about to spend it here.


    Still, he put on a nonchalant expression. ¡°Fifty gold is nothing. I¡¯ll be a legendary mercenary someday. By then, I¡¯ll be raking in millions per mission.¡±


    ¡°Forget just this tavern, I could treat the whole city!¡±


    The tavern burst into laughter again.


    Though the laughter was mocking, Caius knew it was the kind of laughter people let out when they heard something amusing.


    He knew exactly how to deal with these battle-hardened mercenaries.


    After that, the hostile gazes directed at him lessened considerably.


    A new mercenary meant more competition for jobs¡ªvery few welcomed that.


    But Caius¡¯ little performance made many dismiss him as a na?ve rookie who hadn¡¯t yet been beaten down by reality. To them, he would probably die on a mission soon enough, so he wasn¡¯t worth considering as a rival.


    And really, how do you integrate into a mercenary crowd?


    Easy¡ªjoin in on their boasting!


    Sure enough, the bearded man who had laughed the loudest was now looking at Caius approvingly, even inviting him to drink together.


    This move saved Caius a lot of unnecessary trouble. The initial hostility toward him faded, and the tavern returned to its lively atmosphere.


    Plus, if someone took him for a clueless rookie and tried to scam him, well, that was just more profit for him.


    A win-win situation, wasn¡¯t it?


    ¡°Interesting,¡± Yvlan murmured, watching Caius chat and joke with the bearded mercenary. Then, she pushed a document and a card toward him.


    ¡°This is the mercenary contract. Sign it, and you¡¯ll officially become a mercenary.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll start as a Bronze-ranked mercenary. You must complete at least three Bronze missions per month. If you fail, you¡¯ll lose your mercenary status.¡±


    ¡°This is your guild identity card. Prick your finger, write your name, and you¡¯ll be able to use it to access other Mercenary Taverns and accept tasks.¡±


    Caius nodded, taking the contract and card. As he filled it out, he asked, ¡°How do I get promoted to a higher rank?¡±


    Yvlan rested her chin on her hand, leaning against the bar. The deep neckline of her dress revealed an impressive view, though it was unclear whether it was intentional.


    ¡°Oh? You¡¯re serious about becoming a legendary mercenary?¡± she teased.


    ¡°Of course. You didn¡¯t think I was joking, did you?¡± Caius grinned.


    That rugged face and honest smile were incredibly deceptive¡ªhe looked like someone incapable of lying.


    Yvlan raised an eyebrow, then explained, ¡°Complete enough Bronze missions, then apply for a promotion challenge. Finish at least three rank-up tasks, and you¡¯ll advance.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the same for the higher ranks.¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡± Caius nodded and handed the completed form back to Yvlan.


    She glanced at it, then took out an official Mercenary Guild seal and stamped his card.


    Caius pricked his finger and let a drop of blood fall onto the card. It flashed briefly before the blood mark was absorbed.


    Through magical means, the card would now be linked to him, serving as a kind of enchanted ID.


    ¡°Eighteen copper coins,¡± Yvlan said as soon as he took the card.


    Caius blinked. ¡°Wasn¡¯t it ten?¡±


    Yvlan winked. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to buy your lovely guildmaster a drink?¡±


    Caius chuckled and tossed her a few silver coins. ¡°Of course, I¡¯d be delighted.¡±


    Yvlan accepted them happily. She was more than willing to build a good relationship with this handsome, well-built giant of a man. He looked like a promising prospect.


    And perhaps, not as simple as he appeared~


    She quietly slipped him a piece of paper.


    Caius glanced at it.


    Oh? Now this was a good job.

 Chapter 3

    After finishing his meal, Caius booked a room at the mercenary tavern. Since he had just arrived and hadn¡¯t found a permanent place to stay, this would have to do for now.


    The cleanliness of such places varied depending on the owner¡¯s habits. Fortunately, Yvlan was particular about keeping things tidy, ensuring that the rooms didn¡¯t have any unpleasant smells.


    After placing his belongings in the room and taking some essential equipment for his upcoming task, Caius headed out.


    This time, the job was relatively simple¡ªan escort mission.


    It wasn¡¯t too different from escorting a nuclear warhead in his previous life, except that this time, he was transporting a wagon of magic potions. The destination was Hydis Magic Academy in Grilla City, 135 kilometers away.


    The employer was the owner of a magic potion shop.


    It was said that this batch of potions was quite valuable, making the commission high¡ªa total of 1,500 gold.


    After Yvlan, acting as the intermediary, took a portion as commission and security fees, about 1,200 gold remained.


    Given the high value of the cargo and the frequent robberies near Ocean City, such jobs typically required a sizable team for protection.


    Yvlan also suggested that Caius recruit a few others to help with the job.


    But Caius refused.


    More people meant less money.


    His appetite was large¡ªhe wanted to claim all 1,000 gold for himself.


    Yvlan didn¡¯t try to persuade him further.


    That was just how mercenaries were. If they weren¡¯t greedy, they wouldn¡¯t be mercenaries.


    Of course, having a big appetite meant having the strength to match. Otherwise, the question was whether he could even handle it.


    She was curious to see if Caius could complete the mission alone.


    If he failed, she would take a hit to her reputation.


    But if he succeeded, she would have a powerful mercenary under her wing, giving her the leverage to take on more high-paying jobs.


    It was a gamble¡ªbut in Ocean City, people loved to gamble.


    The caravan was scheduled to depart in the afternoon.


    By the time Caius arrived at the city gates, the convoy was already prepped and ready.


    The caravan had its own guards, but there were only five of them, so they needed additional security.


    When the caravan¡¯s head guard saw that Caius had come alone, he was visibly surprised.


    ¡°Just you?¡±


    ¡°Just me. That¡¯s enough.¡± Caius grinned.


    Bold words.


    The head guard, Geoffrey, scrutinized Caius with a skeptical gaze, clearly unconvinced of his abilities.


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    However, this was when Caius¡¯ massive frame worked in his favor.


    At the very least, Geoffrey figured someone with a build like that couldn¡¯t be a complete rookie.


    Besides, while robberies were common around Ocean City, the route he had chosen was longer but also much safer.


    It was newly established, with Imperial patrols regularly passing through¡ªsomething bandits wouldn¡¯t dare to mess with.


    If luck was on their side, the journey might be uneventful.


    Geoffrey had initially advised the potion shop owner that their small guard team was enough.


    However, given the high value of the potions, the owner insisted on hiring extra protection.


    So whether Caius was here or not didn¡¯t really matter¡ªGeoffrey just thought the shopkeeper had wasted money.


    ¡°Well then, let¡¯s head out.¡±


    The caravan rolled out of the city, following the trade route toward Grilla City.


    Caius lounged on one of the wagons, taking it easy.


    The carts were pulled by domesticated beasts known as draught beasts¡ªpowerful, docile creatures perfect for heavy transport.


    At the front of the caravan, Geoffrey, ever the vigilant leader, sat against his shield with his sword in hand, watching their surroundings intently.


    Caius, on the other hand, sat beside the cargo of the second wagon, yawning.


    The thirty-kilometer radius around Ocean City was a protected zone, with regular patrols ensuring safety.


    That meant the first part of the journey was guaranteed to be peaceful.


    Caius figured he might as well take a nap¡ªhe hadn¡¯t had much rest since arriving in Ocean City.


    But someone wasn¡¯t going to let him sleep.


    ¡°What¡¯s your name, Meow?¡± A crisp, playful voice rang out.


    Caius opened his eyes and looked up to see a small figure crouched atop the cargo.


    She couldn¡¯t be more than 150 cm tall, with a pair of furry cat ears twitching on her head. Behind her, a long, fluffy tail swayed absentmindedly.


    Caius recognized her instantly¡ªshe was from the Catgirl subrace of the Beastkin.


    In this world, outside of the Beastman Empire, beastkin generally had low social standing.


    As for this particular Catgirl¡­


    She was absurdly cute.


    Short chestnut-colored hair, a fitted leather cuirass, a small dagger strapped to her waist, bright, lively eyes, and flawless, porcelain-like skin.


    She was undoubtedly a playful and wild little feline.


    Caius mused over this and then answered, ¡°Caius.¡±


    The Catgirl tilted her head, then flashed a playful grin, revealing tiny sharp canines.


    ¡°I¡¯m Kiki! Meow~¡±


    Caius couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. This little one even had a verbal tic.


    Before he could continue the conversation, Kiki had already started another one.


    ¡°I¡¯m the scout for the team. I¡¯ll be heading out to survey the route soon, Meow.¡±


    ¡°The big guy up front is our captain, Geoffrey. He¡¯s a strong shield and sword user, Meow.¡±


    ¡°The two over there are Warren and Walter, swordfighters, Meow.¡±


    ¡°And that¡¯s Martina, an archer with crazy good aim, Meow.¡±


    ¡°What about you? What¡¯s your profession, Meow?¡±


    Caius thought for a moment before answering, ¡°I¡¯m a Warrior Mage.¡±


    Kiki blinked in confusion. ¡°Huh? Meow?¡±


    ¡°A mage who fights like a warrior,¡± Caius explained.


    ¡°So¡­ you just hit people with your staff, Meow?¡± Kiki giggled, waving her arms as if swinging a weapon.


    ¡°Haha, that¡¯s one way to put it.¡± Caius grabbed the hefty warhammer beside him. ¡°This is my magic wand.¡±


    ¡°I call it ¡®Angel.¡¯¡±


    ¡°Because it sends people straight to heaven.¡±


    ¡°Pfft¡ªHAHAHA!¡± Kiki had a low tolerance for jokes. She clutched her stomach, rolling around on top of the cargo, laughing uncontrollably.


    Her laughter was bright and infectious.


    With her messing around like this, Caius didn¡¯t feel like sleeping anymore.


    That was another perk of his giant physique¡ªhis boundless stamina. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have managed to travel 2,000 kilometers in just half a month to reach Ocean City.


    ¡°You¡¯re pretty funny, big guy, Meow.¡± Kiki grinned. ¡°I thought you¡¯d be like those big, dumb muscleheads who are as tough as stone¡ªMeow!¡±


    Before she could finish, a small bird flew by.


    Kiki¡¯s ears immediately perked up. With a burst of energy, she leaped several meters into the air, swiping at the bird.


    But the bird reacted swiftly, twisting in midair and escaping, leaving only a few drifting feathers behind.


    Kiki landed lightly back on the wagon, looking disappointed. ¡°It got away, Meow¡­¡±


    Caius watched the Catgirl, an idea forming in his mind.


    He wanted to mess with her a little.


    He caught a few of the falling feathers, then hopped off the wagon, plucked a long blade of grass, and tied the feathers to the tip.


    A makeshift cat teaser was ready.


    ¡°Kiki, look here,¡± Caius called.


    Kiki tilted her head curiously, only to see Caius swaying the feathered grass in his hand.


    Her pupils instantly dilated.


    Her ears stood on end.


    Her body tensed.


    Her tail twitched.


    And in the next moment¡ª


    She pounced.


    ¡°Meow!¡±

 Chapter 4

    Caius held a cat teaser stick, flicking it left and right. Kiki''s gaze followed every movement, her eyes locked onto the feathered toy. The moment she thought she had an opening, she lunged forward, her tiny hands reaching out to grab it.


    But each time Caius gave a slight twist of his wrist, the toy slipped right past her grasp.


    Immediately, chaos erupted inside the beast-drawn carriage.


    The other mercenaries watched in shock as Kiki leaped up and down, completely entranced by the toy. They knew that catfolk were naturally curious, but they hadn''t expected this particular trait to be so... pronounced.


    Clearly, this world wasn¡¯t big on playing with cats.


    Finally, Kiki managed to snatch the cat teaser stick. Her face was flushed with excitement, and her wide eyes sparkled as she looked up at Caius.


    ¡°Fun, right?¡± Caius chuckled.


    ¡°It¡¯s so fun, meow!¡± Kiki nodded enthusiastically, but her expression quickly fell as she looked at the broken stick in her hands. ¡°I broke it, meow¡­¡±


    She had been too excited. The simple toy, made of grass and feathers, hadn¡¯t stood a chance against her eager grip.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. If you like it, I can make you a sturdier one.¡± Caius waved it off casually.


    ¡°Really? You¡¯re a good big guy, meow!¡± Kiki beamed.


    Caius blinked.


    Did he just get hit with a ¡®nice guy¡¯ card?


    After that, the dynamic between Caius and Kiki had clearly shifted. The distance between them had lessened.


    Caius leaned against the carriage, lazily chewing on a blade of sweetgrass. The herb tasted like a mix of mint and honey, refreshing and mildly sweet. It was commonly found along the roadside, and he had long since made a habit of chewing on it to stay alert.


    Back in the forge, when the old man had him working through the night, sweetgrass had helped him stay awake. It had become a ritual of sorts.


    More importantly, the lower leaves of the plant could be used to roll cigarettes. The old man had been fond of making his own smokes with it. Caius had taken a puff once¡ªit was strong, stronger than the cigarettes found in the wasteland.


    Then the old man had beaten him and sternly warned him not to touch the stuff until he was of age.


    Caius hadn¡¯t minded. In his past life, where survival meant living on the edge, cigarettes and alcohol had been constant companions. But since the old man had set a rule, Caius had simply waited.


    Now, with the old man gone, there was no one left to stop him. He had already figured out how to roll the cigarettes himself.


    And yet, he hadn¡¯t lit a single one.


    Somewhere deep down, he felt a sense of ceremony was needed. The first one should be ignited amidst the glow of sword clashes and the scent of blood.


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    Perhaps that was the romance of a mercenary¡¯s life.


    Meanwhile, Kiki was perched on top of the cargo, chattering away right above his head. The little catgirl was a talkative one, always fidgeting. Through her, Caius learned a few things.


    For example, despite her petite size, Kiki was already seventeen¡ªan adult by catfolk standards. She insisted she wasn¡¯t a child and didn¡¯t want to be underestimated.


    She also mentioned that their leader, Geoffrey, had a daughter¡ªa cute little girl who had just turned three.


    And then there was a force in Ocean City she absolutely despised: the Seth Chamber of Commerce. Unlike human traffickers, they didn¡¯t trade in humans¡ªthey dealt in beastfolk. When Kiki had first set out on her journey, she had nearly been captured and sold. That experience had left her with a deep hatred for them.


    Caius agreed wholeheartedly.


    Back in the wasteland, human trafficking and organ harvesting were rampant. He had personally wiped out more than one of those operations.


    Unlike the Diesel Gang, who simply robbed people and usually spared their victims if they paid up, slavers were monsters. They didn¡¯t just rob you¡ªthey killed you, skinned you, and harvested your organs. Some even ground the remains into synthetic meat to sell to unsuspecting fools.


    That kind of short-sighted cruelty was the worst kind of evil.


    And for Caius, it was personal. One of his old teammates had died that way.


    So, whenever he encountered slavers, he never left any of them alive.


    It was a way for a bloodstained mercenary to give something back to the world.


    ¡°By the way, what rank are you, meow?¡± Kiki suddenly asked.


    This world had a strict system for measuring power. Unlike the wasteland, where reputation and kill count defined strength, here everything was categorized neatly.


    There were ten known ranks. The first five were named after the most well-known metals:


    Brass, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Mithril.


    The latter five had more poetic names, rooted in sword and sorcery:


    Ballad, Title, Epic, Legend, and Sacred.


    The first five were easy to understand. They were ranked according to the value of their respective metals.


    But the latter five? They carried deeper meanings.


    A ¡°Ballad¡± meant one¡¯s strength was worthy of being sung by traveling bards, spreading their name far and wide.


    A ¡°Title¡± signified that one had carved a lasting mark in history, earning a personal moniker that people would remember.


    An ¡°Epic¡± was a being so powerful that their deeds would be recorded in grand stories, passed down for thousands of years.


    A ¡°Legend¡± was one of the strongest beings in existence, whose every action shaped the present and influenced the future.


    As for ¡°Sacred,¡± Caius had no clue. The old man hadn¡¯t explained it either. Maybe it was the domain of gods.


    Who knew?


    ¡°I¡¯m Silver, five-star,¡± Caius replied.


    Each rank was divided into ten smaller tiers, represented by stars.


    Rumor had it that this ranking system originated from mages. Whenever they advanced, a new ¡°starlight¡± would circle their bodies, making the promotion visually striking.


    Warriors, on the other hand, manifested their progress through patterns of vital energy on their bodies.


    Mages were simply flashier.


    Caius had always wanted to be a cool, awe-inspiring mage. He had trained tirelessly toward that goal.


    But no matter how hard he worked, his muscles only grew bigger. The starlight never appeared.


    ¡°Silver five-star, huh? That means I¡¯m stronger than you, meow~¡± Kiki smirked, her furry ears twitching as her fluffy tail swayed.


    Caius found it amusing. He had seen other catfolk before, but their tails were usually thick like rope. Kiki¡¯s was different¡ªsoft and bushy, like a feather duster.


    Definitely cuter than those rope-tail types.


    ¡°Well then, you better protect me,¡± Caius teased shamelessly.


    To his surprise, Kiki took it seriously. She blinked her big eyes and declared, ¡°Don¡¯t worry! As your senior, I¡¯ll take good care of you, meow!¡±


    ¡°Kiki, scout ahead,¡± Geoffrey finally interjected, unable to listen to their nonsense any longer.


    If they kept talking, she¡¯d forget about her actual job.


    ¡°Oh! I almost forgot, meow~¡± Kiki stuck out her tongue playfully before leaping off the carriage. ¡°I¡¯ll be back soon, meow!¡±


    ¡°Go ahead, I¡¯m gonna get some shut-eye.¡± Caius waved her off, closed his eyes, and was snoring within minutes.


    Beside him, Oggfort rubbed his forehead in exasperation.


    A newbie, huh? No sense of vigilance whatsoever.


    The mission might not be particularly dangerous, but dozing off so soon after leaving the city?


    That was the kind of mistake that could cost lives.


    Geoffrey didn¡¯t bother waking Caius up. He wasn¡¯t his friend. If he wanted to act careless, let reality teach him the hard way.

 Chapter 5

    The usual scouting range for a scout is about three to five kilometers from the caravan, depending on the scout''s abilities.


    But Kiki was no ordinary scout. As a Catfolk, she was naturally agile, and with her innate ability, Spirit Wind, her speed was exceptional. This allowed her to cover a wider area in a shorter time.


    For this reason, she proudly called herself an elite scout.


    Before long, Kiki had covered eight kilometers. Along the way, she detected no threats¡ªthis stretch of road was safe to pass.


    This made sense; they were still within Ocean City¡¯s protected zone. With the city¡¯s patrols in the area, few would dare cause trouble here.


    So, Kiki pressed forward. She sprinted ahead, finally leaving the protection zone.


    However, barely five kilometers out, she spotted danger.


    A herd of foraging Tusked Boars.


    Tusked Boars were a common magical beast on the continent, widely distributed. Once they reached adulthood, their rank was usually Brass, though on occasion, some individuals could reach Silver, depending on their size.


    Among the boars ahead, there was one particularly massive beast.


    ¡°Meow, that big one must be at least Silver, right?!¡± Kiki muttered as she observed from the treetops.


    This was clearly a large boar family, with at least twenty to thirty members. The biggest of them stood over two meters tall, its striped fur gleaming with a faint silver sheen¡ªno doubt a Silver-ranked beast.


    There were also seven or eight other large boars that had likely reached Brass, while the remaining ones were smaller and hadn¡¯t yet reached that level.


    These boars weren¡¯t a direct threat to the caravan. The real problem was their signature attack¡ªBoar Charge. While the caravan¡¯s guards could handle them, if a charging boar happened to crash into a wagon carrying valuable cargo, that would be a disaster.


    Kiki decided to lure them away¡ªjust enough to keep them off the trade route.


    Having made up her mind, she summoned a breeze of Spirit Wind, a green glow surrounding her. In a flash, she dashed right up to the largest boar and smacked its forehead with the sheath of her shortsword.


    Thud!


    The hit wasn¡¯t too heavy, but it was enough to anger the beast, triggering its rage state.


    ¡°Come on, you dumb pig! Chase me!¡± Kiki teased, making a playful face before darting away.


    The enraged boar let out a furious squeal, immediately leading its herd in pursuit of Kiki.


    She deliberately slowed her pace, keeping them on her tail, leading them several kilometers off the road before suddenly accelerating, leaving the boars behind. Circling back, she returned to the trade route.


    With the boars no longer a concern, she resumed her scouting mission.


    Brave Kiki, never afraid of challenges! Onward!


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    Kiki moved with light, agile steps, leaping swiftly between tree branches.


    Then, a gust of wind blew past her. Her sensitive nose twitched, and she immediately frowned.


    The scent of blood?


    Something had happened up ahead.


    Determined to investigate, Kiki slipped through the trees, climbed over a grassy hill, and finally found the source of the scent.


    Her mouth fell open in shock.


    On this side of the hill, the grass was lush and dotted with small white and yellow flowers¡ªa peaceful, beautiful scene. But on the other side, the ground was soaked in blood, the earth darkened by gore.


    Dozens of Great Horned Cattle lay disemboweled, their innards strewn across the field. Some were so mutilated they were barely recognizable, with limbs and flesh scattered in different directions. The overwhelming stench made Kiki¡¯s sharp senses burn, her eyes watering.


    What in the world happened here?


    Kiki dared not get too close. She observed from a distance.


    These cattle were likely livestock from a local herder, as evidenced by the leather tags on their ears and bells around some of their necks.


    Judging by the wounds, they had been attacked by a magical beast¡ªand a vicious one at that.


    The sheer size of the claw marks suggested a large creature.


    And its mouth must have been enormous. One cow had its neck cleanly bitten through¡ªjust a small strip of flesh still connecting the head to the body.


    But this didn¡¯t make sense.


    Magical beasts hunted livestock, sure, but usually only to eat. They would kill one, take it away, and leave. They didn¡¯t engage in senseless slaughter.


    Magical beasts knew how dangerous humans were. They wouldn''t risk sticking around to eat and provoke retaliation.


    Yet here, the entire herd had been massacred. A rough count showed at least thirty or forty dead cattle.


    And while Great Horned Cattle were only Brass-ranked domesticated beasts, their sheer size meant they could stampede when threatened. A coordinated charge from a Brass-ranked herd could even deter a low-tier Silver-ranked magical beast.


    But this? This was complete devastation.


    Kiki¡¯s mind raced.


    This could have been the work of a high-tier Silver-ranked beast gone berserk.


    Or worse¡ªa Gold-ranked monster!


    A Gold-ranked beast... Even Captain Geoffrey was only Silver Nine-Star. Sure, Kiki had heard stories of how he once led a squad to slay a Gold-ranked magical beast¡ªbut that victory came at a steep cost.


    Three teammates lost their lives in that battle. The previous scout had died in that very fight, allowing Kiki to take his place.


    If this really was a Gold-ranked beast, they couldn¡¯t hope to win in a direct confrontation. Avoidance was the best option.


    But decisions were for the captain to make. Kiki figured she should return and report.


    She had a bad feeling about this.


    Maybe she could convince the captain to take a detour. It would add distance to their journey, but at least it would lower their chances of encountering this terrifying slaughterer.


    With that thought, Kiki turned to leave.


    And then¡ª


    A foul wind surged behind her.


    The fur on her tail bristled in alarm. Her pupils shrank.


    Purely on instinct, she leapt into the air.


    A huge claw slashed through the spot where she had just been standing, dirt and debris scattering.


    She landed lightly on all fours but didn¡¯t hesitate¡ªspringing back once more, retreating dozens of meters before finally stopping.


    Her chest heaved as she looked forward¡ªfear filling her wide eyes.


    A three-meter-tall monster stood before her.


    It was covered in black, needle-like fur, standing upright like a man. A bloody X-shaped pattern marked its chest. Its head was that of a grotesquely large wolf, and its gaping maw stretched unnaturally wide, almost reaching its ears. Jagged fangs gleamed, saliva dripping and tinged with blood.


    What¡­ is this thing?!


    A Werewolf?


    No¡ªWerewolves didn¡¯t look like this!


    This wasn¡¯t a beastman. It was a monster, an upright nightmare, radiating pure bloodlust.


    It had missed its strike, and for a moment, it seemed surprised¡ªbut then, its expression twisted into amusement.


    Kiki¡¯s tail remained bristled, a deep chill creeping into her spine.


    That look in its eyes¡­


    It wasn¡¯t hunting to eat. It was hunting for fun.


    The creature¡¯s grotesque grin stretched wider, almost splitting its head in half. The sheer malice of that smile made Kiki¡¯s skin crawl.


    No way¡ªno way I can win this!


    Without a sound, she slowly stepped back.


    The monster didn¡¯t move¡ªbut its eyes remained locked onto her.


    Then¡ª


    It twitched.


    Kiki bolted.


    The moment she moved, so did the monster.


    It lunged with a low snarl¡ªbut Kiki¡¯s speed saved her once more, the attack narrowly missing.


    Twice denied, the beast grew enraged, dropping onto all fours to chase after her.


    Kiki pushed her magic to the limit.


    ¡°Meow, I¡¯m doomed!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m gonna die, meow!¡±


    ¡°Captain, save me, meow!¡±

 Chapter 6

    The caravan advanced in an orderly manner, while Geoffrey waited for news from Kiki.


    However, this time, for some unknown reason, Kiki had been gone for a long time, causing a sense of unease to rise in Geoffrey¡¯s heart.


    Could something have happened?


    That shouldn¡¯t be the case. Although Kiki was highly curious, she was also very smart and discerning. During missions, she would suppress her curiosity as much as possible.


    Aside from her curiosity, she possessed all the excellent qualities of an elite scout. If there was any danger, she would definitely report back immediately. Even if everything was safe, she would return periodically to update them.


    But now, so much time had passed, and Kiki still hadn¡¯t returned. This was far beyond her usual scouting time.


    Geoffrey furrowed his brows slightly, unconsciously picking up his greatsword and shield. The others also waited tensely, praying that they were just overthinking things or that Kiki had merely been delayed due to unfamiliarity with the new route.


    Kiki was lively and adorable, the heart of their team. None of them wanted to lose her.


    Only Caius remained sound asleep.


    "Something¡¯s happening!" At that moment, Martina, the archer who had been crouched on top of the carriage keeping watch, suddenly stood up and spoke.


    She saw a small figure dashing out of the distant forest.


    Archers had excellent vision. The forest¡¯s edge was about seven or eight miles away, so she activated a blue glow in her eyes.


    [Eagle Eye]!


    This was a must-learn magical skill for archers.


    Aside from mages, many professions could learn magic, though they could not master it as well as mages or achieve as powerful effects.


    With Eagle Eye activated, Martina¡¯s vision greatly improved, allowing her to see clearly.


    It was really Kiki!


    However, she couldn¡¯t smile.


    Because she could clearly see that Kiki was sprinting while clutching her arm, fresh blood seeping through her fingers. Her small face was pale, and her expression was full of panic.


    She was injured?!


    Before Martina could process this, another dark shadow burst out from the forest, chasing after Kiki with a speed faster than hers.


    When she finally saw the figure clearly, Martina¡¯s face filled with terror.


    "A magical beast is chasing Kiki!"


    "Damn, it¡¯s catching up! Kiki isn¡¯t its match!"


    The group was shocked upon hearing this and hurriedly grabbed their weapons, preparing to go rescue her.


    However, Geoffrey¡¯s voice suddenly rang out: "Don¡¯t go!"


    The group looked at him in confusion, only to see an extremely grim expression on his face. There was even a trace of... fear?


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    At that moment, Geoffrey had also clearly seen the dark shadow and an image of bloodshed flashed through his mind. A deep, bone-chilling fear gripped him, robbing him of the courage to face it.


    He could lead the team against magical beasts below three stars in the Gold rank, but he absolutely could not face that monster!


    "Captain, Kiki¡ª"


    "Don¡¯t go! You can¡¯t save her!" Geoffrey shouted before turning to the driver, "Quick! Turn around!"


    "Are we really abandoning Kiki?!" Martina shouted angrily.


    "If we don¡¯t, we¡¯ll all die!" Geoffrey¡¯s face grew even paler, because he realized Kiki was leading the monster toward them!


    Seven or eight miles¡ªit was just a matter of minutes. If they didn¡¯t flee now, it would be too late!


    "What is that thing? Captain, why are we abandoning Kiki?!" Warren, the swordsman, asked anxiously. If Geoffrey couldn¡¯t give a good reason, he and his younger brother Walter would charge out to save her.


    "That¡¯s not a magical beast, you idiot. That¡¯s a Wolf Demon!"


    "A Wolf Demon from the Bloody Lands!!!"


    In an instant, everyone¡¯s faces turned pale.


    They had never seen one before, but they had all heard the stories.


    Brutal, bloodthirsty, delighting in slaughter. There had once been an adventurer team with all members at the Silver rank, the vice-captain at Gold two-star, and the captain at Gold four-star. They encountered a single Wolf Demon.


    The result? When the search team arrived, they found only severed limbs and pools of blood.


    All eight members of the team had been torn apart, their remains so mangled that they couldn¡¯t even piece together a single corpse.


    A skull and a severed foot were found over eight hundred meters apart!


    That alone spoke to the sheer brutality of such a creature.


    The escort team, including Kiki, had only five members. The rest were Silver six or seven-star, with only Geoffrey at Silver nine-star. There wasn¡¯t a single Gold-ranked warrior among them. No matter how they looked at it, they were no match for the Wolf Demon!


    Staying meant death!


    At that moment, everyone fell silent.


    Warren and Walter sheathed their swords and stopped speaking. Geoffrey shouted at the driver to go faster.


    Martina crouched atop the carriage, looking toward Kiki with sorrow.


    The Wolf Demon was getting closer and closer to Kiki. It was clear what would happen next.


    Before long, the Wolf Demon lunged at Kiki with its sharp claws. Martina almost couldn¡¯t bear to watch.


    But at the last moment, Kiki rolled to the side and, without pausing, continued sprinting. A flash of green light surged over her, boosting her speed, while the Wolf Demon, having overcommitted to its leap, skidded forward uncontrollably.


    As a result, Kiki managed to widen the gap between them again.


    Martina was surprised. The Wolf Demon was faster than Kiki¡ªshe must have been using this method to dodge its attacks and escape all this way.


    However, her heart soon sank again.


    Kiki was still over a kilometer away. Perhaps seeing her teammates had given her hope and pushed her to her limits, making her run even faster than usual.


    But the Wolf Demon was still right behind her. Having failed multiple times, it was now furious, its body glowing red as its speed increased.


    At this rate, it wouldn¡¯t be long before Kiki brought the Wolf Demon to the caravan.


    The pack beasts were steady but slow.


    Martina¡¯s emotions were in turmoil¡ªshe wanted Kiki to escape and survive, but at the same time, she feared that Kiki might reach them and doom them all...


    "Captain..." She looked at Geoffrey, torn and unwilling.


    But Geoffrey remained silent.


    "Help me, meow..." Kiki¡¯s desperate plea reached their ears as she drew closer.


    Yet Martina could only grit her teeth, close her eyes, and turn her face away as if she hadn¡¯t heard.


    She could see that Kiki had reached her limit. She wasn¡¯t going to make it...


    And if, by some miracle, she did, Martina might have to notch an arrow and aim at her...


    Kiki felt like her lungs were about to explode.


    She had barely survived by dodging and had even been clawed on the arm. Exhausted, she was now running purely on willpower.


    When she saw her team, hope ignited in her heart. She thought they would pick up their weapons and fight the monster together.


    But to her shock, they turned and ran, not even looking back.


    In that moment, she wanted to cry.


    "Don¡¯t leave me..." She reached out, as if trying to grasp the carriage now over a hundred meters away.


    With hope fading, her willpower collapsed along with her body.


    She stumbled, rolled, and could no longer rise.


    The Wolf Demon¡¯s roar was right behind her.


    She was going to die...


    But just then, a powerful gust of wind roared, and a massive figure appeared before her, like a battering ram smashing into the Wolf Demon.


    The very ground trembled.


    The Wolf Demon was sent flying like a hurled rock.


    Kiki stared in shock at the towering figure before her and his wide, toothy grin.


    "Need some help, little kitty?"

 Chapter 7

    "Big guy..." Kiki muttered instinctively, then pouted as tears welled up in her large eyes and rolled down her cheeks.


    Seeing this, Caius crouched down, gently ruffled her small head, and gave her cat ears a playful rub, feeling quite satisfied.


    "Now¡¯s not the time for tears."


    "Get behind me." With that, he stepped past Kiki and strode forward, his eyes locking onto the Wolf Demon that was shaking its head and climbing back to its feet. The corners of his lips curled into a smirk.


    "This guy... should fetch a good price, right?"


    Chaos erupted in the convoy.


    Just moments ago, Caius had suddenly charged forward, his foot crashing through the floorboards of the carriage, causing it to topple over. The wagon overturned, spilling some of the magic potions inside.


    Worse yet, the carriage in front had flipped at a critical moment, forcing the ones behind to brake sharply, narrowly avoiding a similar fate.


    However, the immense centrifugal force was too much for the wooden wheels, and they snapped.


    Now, there was no running.


    No one knew if Caius had done it on purpose.


    But Geoffrey was already about to explode with rage.


    That was until he saw Caius send the Wolf Demon flying.


    The words of anger stuck in his throat, replaced by utter disbelief in his eyes.


    This guy... can actually match a Wolf Demon in raw strength?!


    And even win?!


    No¡­ not exactly a clean win. After all, the Wolf Demon had been caught off guard and was mid-air when struck.


    But this undeniable fact remained¡ªCaius¡¯s strength surpassed that of the Wolf Demon!


    Was this kid really a rookie?


    Or was he a terrifyingly strong newcomer?


    No matter what Geoffrey thought, the battle had already begun.


    Caius reached behind his back and drew his war hammer.


    The hammer¡¯s long handle was about 1.8 meters in length, while its hexagonal head was nearly a meter wide. It looked incredibly heavy, yet in Caius¡¯s grip, it seemed almost small.


    What¡¯s more, he was wielding it single-handedly, making one wonder¡ªwasn¡¯t this supposed to be a two-handed weapon?


    He gripped the hammer tightly and strode toward the Wolf Demon, rolling his neck as his bones cracked audibly.


    The Wolf Demon grinned menacingly. Whether it was due to its natural facial structure or just its expression, Caius didn¡¯t care¡ªeither way, it was ugly as hell.


    "ROAR!!!"


    With a thunderous snarl, the Wolf Demon transformed into a black blur, darting left and right at a speed nearly imperceptible to the naked eye. It was clearly trying to disorient Caius.


    If he missed even once, those dagger-like claws would be waiting for him!


    Too bad for the Wolf Demon¡ªthanks to the old man¡¯s brutal training and his own exceptional physique, Caius¡¯s reflexes far surpassed those of ordinary men.


    He remained motionless, seemingly frozen in fear, but his sharp eyes tracked the Wolf Demon¡¯s every movement.


    When the Wolf Demon lunged at his side¡ª


    Caius reacted instantly. Despite his massive frame, he moved with startling agility. Twisting his waist, his veins bulging, he swung his war hammer. The weapon sliced through the air with a deafening whoosh, aiming straight for the Wolf Demon¡¯s skull.


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    "CLANG!!!"


    A thunderous impact rang out, accompanied by a shower of sparks. The Wolf Demon was sent flying again.


    But this time was different. This time, the Wolf Demon propelled itself backward deliberately. Caius¡¯s strike hadn¡¯t landed cleanly.


    Glancing at the five white scratches now marking his hammer¡¯s head, Caius clicked his tongue.


    Tough bastard.


    In that brief clash, the Wolf Demon had reacted swiftly, slamming its palm onto his hammer to deflect the blow, engaging in an instant test of strength.


    The result was clear¡ªCaius had won, but only just.


    After its deflection, the Wolf Demon used the hammer as a springboard to retreat, preventing Caius from inflicting serious damage.


    The Wolf Demon stared at its trembling claws in shock.


    This human¡¯s strength¡­ was even greater than its own.


    But its shock lasted only a moment before its face twisted into another menacing grin. With a guttural snarl, it lunged at Caius once more.


    This time, it wasn¡¯t playing around. It charged in a straight line, reaching Caius in the blink of an eye, claws slashing downward in a deadly cross-cut.


    Caius raised his hammer to block, another deafening clash ringing out as sparks scattered.


    The Wolf Demon¡¯s claws were tougher than steel!


    But the war hammer in Caius¡¯s hands was clearly no ordinary weapon¡ªit merely gained a few additional scratches.


    Neither Caius nor the Wolf Demon backed down.


    A two-meter-tall warrior and a three-meter-tall Wolf Demon stood face-to-face, trading ferocious blows!


    Caius¡¯s war hammer howled through the air, wind whipping around them.


    The Wolf Demon¡¯s claws glinted coldly, slicing through the air with a shrill whistle.


    Each impact sent sparks flying, illuminating their faces.


    One grinned wildly. The other, viciously.


    In an instant, they clashed dozens of times. The Wolf Demon¡¯s stance wavered under the relentless assault¡ªCaius¡¯s hammer blows were simply too powerful. Its claws couldn¡¯t withstand them, forcing it to shift its body to absorb the force.


    But Caius wasn¡¯t unscathed. His vest was in tatters, and bloody gashes marked his chest, shoulders, and arms. Fresh blood seeped from the wounds.


    The Wolf Demon¡¯s claws weren¡¯t as strong as Caius¡¯s hammer, but they were sharp¡ªfar faster than his swings. Each time it found an opening, more wounds appeared on him.


    If not for his free hand deflecting and parrying some of the strikes, his injuries would have been far worse.


    Still, his body was far tougher than that of an ordinary person. If not, he¡¯d have been torn apart already.


    But it was precisely because of this resilience that Caius chose to go head-to-head.


    Because he could take the hits.


    The Wolf Demon? It couldn¡¯t take even one direct hammer strike!


    That was the difference between a blade and a blunt weapon!


    A sharp weapon could inflict multiple shallow wounds¡ªbut a single heavy blow could cripple an opponent!


    After hundreds of clashes, Caius¡¯s upper body was drenched in blood, but his eyes never wavered.


    Not because he was ruthless, but because, in a fight like this, even blinking was a luxury.


    Years of mercenary life had ingrained these instincts deep into his bones¡ªhe could never forget them, even in death.


    A mere oversized mutt like you¡ªwhat are you gonna do to me?!


    With a furious roar, Caius let the Wolf Demon¡¯s claws rake across his chest, blood splattering as his war hammer swung upward like a cannonball, slamming into its abdomen!


    The Wolf Demon¡¯s massive body folded like a shrimp, its eyes bulging. The sheer force sent it soaring into the air.


    Trading injury for a kill¡ªone of the essential skills of an elite mercenary!


    It hurt.


    But it worked.


    With the Wolf Demon airborne, unless it could fly, it was already dead.


    The three-meter-tall Wolf Demon soared several meters into the air. But as it began to descend, Caius was already waiting at the landing spot.


    Ignoring the deep, bone-revealing gashes across his chest, he tightened his grip on the heavy war hammer.


    As the Wolf Demon fell¡ª


    He swung.


    A single strike!


    The Wolf Demon was sent flying once more, the crisp crack of shattering bones echoing through the battlefield¡ªaccompanied by Caius¡¯s wild laughter.


    One strike. Then another. And another.


    The Wolf Demon, like a battered ball, was repeatedly launched into the air, only to crash down again. Up, down. Up, down.


    The onlookers watched in stunned silence, their gazes following the Wolf Demon¡¯s helpless trajectory¡ªrising, falling, rising, falling.


    By the fifteenth time it was launched into the air, its body had lost all structure, hanging limply as if its bones had been pulverized.


    Then came one final blow.


    The Wolf Demon was sent soaring high. Caius, his stance shifting, planted his feet firmly. With both hands gripping his hammer, he raised it high above his head.


    The crowd took in the sight of his back¡ªbroad, muscular, his vest torn to shreds, revealing the thick, sinewy muscles beneath.


    At that moment, they saw something terrifying.


    As his muscles tensed and bunched together, they formed the grotesque semblance of a devil¡¯s face.


    The Wolf Demon plummeted, its chest nearly touching the ground.


    And before it could land¡ª


    The war hammer came crashing down!


    BOOM!!!


    The earth trembled. Dust and debris erupted into the air.


    The impact was so powerful that everyone watching felt their hearts seize in unison.


    Slowly, the dust settled.


    Sitting on the ground, Kiki stared blankly at the towering figure emerging from the haze.


    There he stood, unwavering, before a massive crater. Within it¡ªnothing but mangled flesh and blood.


    The bloodstained war hammer stood upright, its head buried in the ground.


    Caius rested one hand on its hilt. At some point, a cigarette had found its way between his lips.


    Taking a deep drag, he exhaled slowly, letting the smoke curl around him.


    Then, turning his bloodstreaked face toward the crowd, he grinned.


    A simple, foolish grin.


    "That post-victory smoke I''ve been holding off for so long? Damn, it feels good!"

 Chapter 8

    It had been a long time since Caius last smoked, and the first drag felt a little unfamiliar. He choked slightly, nearly coughing.


    Luckily, he managed to hold it in and took the opportunity to steady his breath amidst the lingering dust.


    Otherwise, this perfect moment to look cool would have been wasted.


    Seeing Geoffrey and the others staring at him in shock, Caius was satisfied. Holding the cigarette between his lips, he swung his warhammer.


    The blood on the warhammer was flung off, leaving not a single drop behind.


    Carrying the hammer on his shoulder, he strode over to Kiki and crouched down. His massive figure blocked out the sunlight, casting a shadow over her.


    "Can you still stand?" Caius asked.


    Hearing his words, Kiki quickly snapped out of her daze and struggled to get up.


    However, after several attempts, she still couldn''t manage. It was clear that she was seriously injured.


    Aside from the wounds on her arm, that last fall had twisted her ankle, sending sharp pain through her as she gasped.


    But the little Catgirl was tough¡ªshe didn''t cry out, just bit her lip as tears silently rolled down her cheeks.


    It was unclear whether it was from pain or frustration.


    Caius looked at her and understood her feelings.


    He had seen everything Geoffrey had done earlier.


    It was understandable¡ªgiven the situation, sacrificing Kiki was the only way to save the entire convoy. Moreover, Geoffrey had a daughter; his choice was rational and justifiable.


    But some things weren¡¯t about right or wrong¡ªthey just left a bad taste in one''s mouth.


    "Alright, little kitty, let me do it." Caius took another drag, then flicked the cigarette away and crushed it underfoot. With a single motion, he scooped up the petite Catgirl into his arm.


    The rough movement made Kiki curl up in pain, but she didn¡¯t say a word. She just gazed at Caius¡¯s profile with her big, teary eyes.


    "Don¡¯t mind if I¡¯m dirty, alright?" Caius smirked at her.


    "I don¡¯t mind, Meow..." Kiki quickly lowered her head, mumbling.


    Her little face seemed a bit flushed.


    With one arm carrying the Catgirl and the other resting his warhammer on his shoulder, Caius returned to the convoy.


    Seeing the others still standing there dumbfounded, he raised his chin slightly. "Don¡¯t just stand there. Clean up the battlefield."


    "Ah¡­ oh!" Warren and Walter were the first to react, looking at Caius with a mix of awe and complicated emotions.


    "It¡¯s dead¡­ completely dead," Martina muttered, staring at the bloodied remains of the Wolf Demon in the crater.


    Warren and Walter finally breathed a sigh of relief and ran over to retrieve the body.


    Well¡­ they had to scrape it out. The Wolf Demon¡¯s head, which had taken the brunt of the hammer¡¯s impact against the ground, was now flattened. Red and white matter stuck together in a gruesome mess, a testament to the sheer force behind Caius¡¯s final strike.


    "Smashed up like this¡­ can it still be sold?" Caius muttered.


    "Uh¡­" Martina swallowed and shook her head. "Not really sure¡­"


    "Forget it. Just shove it into a sack." Caius waved dismissively.


    "And that guy¡ªGeoff¡­?"


    "It¡¯s Geoffrey¡­" Geoffrey corrected him.


    "Alright, Geoffrey, hurry up and fix the carriage. We can¡¯t afford delays." Caius ordered.


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    Geoffrey opened his mouth but ultimately swallowed his words.


    Not just because of Caius¡¯s strength, but also because he could tell¡ªCaius didn¡¯t hold him in high regard after what had just happened.


    He had nothing to say. He could only suppress his frustration and silently start repairing the carriage.


    There were spare wheels and wooden planks in the wagon, and these simple carriages were easy to fix.


    In less than half an hour, the repairs were done, though some cargo had been damaged.


    Martina did a quick check and reported, "Thirty bottles shattered."


    Caius chuckled sheepishly. "Sorry, I used too much force."


    Martina forced a smile but said nothing more. At worst, they would lose some money. Compared to Caius killing the Wolf Demon and saving their lives, it was nothing.


    The convoy quickly set off again.


    But the atmosphere was awkward.


    "Alright, you¡¯ll be fine. In three to five days, you¡¯ll be back to running and jumping around." After bandaging Kiki¡¯s wounds and giving her a healing potion, Martina reassured her with a smile.


    But Kiki only nodded slightly, turning her head away and avoiding her gaze. Instead, she snuggled closer to Caius.


    Martina¡¯s smile stiffened. She sighed, climbed onto the roof, and resumed keeping watch, leaving Kiki alone.


    Everyone knew Kiki was heartbroken¡ªafter all, they had abandoned her.


    Now, she only trusted Caius, not them.


    They all understood, and they felt guilty. Though they had wanted to save her, the fact remained that they hadn¡¯t.


    There was no arguing that.


    It was clear that once this mission was over, the team would have to find a new scout.


    "How do you feel?" Caius leaned against the carriage, chewing on a sweetgrass stem as he asked Kiki.


    Cigarettes were nice, but beastfolk with sharp noses probably wouldn¡¯t like them, so he refrained.


    "Much better¡­ it doesn¡¯t hurt as much, Meow¡­" Kiki murmured, leaning against him.


    Caius had cleaned up and changed into a fresh vest.


    As Kiki nestled against his solid chest, listening to the steady, powerful heartbeat beneath, the panic from her earlier near-death experience began to subside.


    "I wasn¡¯t asking about your injuries," Caius said.


    Kiki paused, looked up at him, then lowered her head again, seeming dejected.


    "I¡­ I don¡¯t know¡­"


    She was truly heartbroken¡ªeven her usual speech pattern had changed.


    "After this mission, do you still want to stay in the guard team?" Caius asked again.


    Kiki was silent for a long time before answering, "I don¡¯t want to¡­"


    "Then where will you go?" Caius asked.


    "I don¡¯t know¡­ But I don¡¯t want to stay here anymore¡­" Kiki said softly. "Maybe I¡¯ll go home¡­ I don¡¯t want to, but I kind of miss home¡­"


    Caius nodded.


    When people were emotionally wounded, they often longed for home¡ªbecause, for most, home was a safe haven, both physically and emotionally.


    It was clear that Kiki was truly hurt.


    So Caius decided to help her regain her spirit.


    "Going home would be a shame. You left at such a young age to make a name for yourself, didn¡¯t you?" Caius said.


    Kiki looked up at him.


    She had thought that way when she first left home, but now, she felt like home was better.


    At least her family wouldn¡¯t abandon her¡­


    "But if I don¡¯t go home, I don¡¯t know where to go¡­ The outside world is dangerous. I might get caught and sold by the Seth Chamber of Commerce, Meow¡­" she said, shrinking her neck slightly.


    Perhaps distracted by talk of the future, her verbal tic had returned.


    "In that case, why not join me?" Caius grinned.


    At that moment, he felt like a bad uncle trying to lure the little Catgirl¡­ No, he wasn¡¯t a bad uncle.


    He was only sixteen¡ªhow could he be considered an uncle?


    "You know, I''m a mercenary. And a good mercenary needs their own team."


    "So, I''m planning to form one."


    "If you join now, when the team grows into a guild, you''ll be one of the founding members~"


    Hearing this, Kiki¡¯s fluffy tail started swaying. Clearly, she was tempted.


    Catgirls were really easy to read.


    "Then¡­ then will you abandon me?" Kiki looked up at Caius, her eyes full of hope.


    At this moment, she resembled a child longing for security.


    And what Caius needed to do was give her that absolute sense of security.


    "Little kitten, let me teach you something." He lowered his voice.


    "Some things are more important than life itself."


    "In the mercenary business, this is even truer."


    "Money, fame, reputation¡ªthese things matter more than life."


    "Back in my homeland, I¡¯ve seen countless people dreaming of becoming living legends, only to die because of it."


    "After all, the job we do isn¡¯t for those who value their lives too much. If you¡¯re too afraid of dying, you¡¯re not fit to be a mercenary."


    "But among all the things more important than life, one stands above the rest."


    "And that is¡ªcomrades."


    "This world is cruel, it''s fucked up. And that¡¯s exactly why comrades are so precious."


    "I don¡¯t care much about my own life, but a true comrade will put your life above their own. They¡¯ll take a fatal blow for you without hesitation."


    "And you have to be willing to do the same for them."


    "Because only in this way can a bunch of reckless fools, who don¡¯t care about their own lives, survive together in this messed-up world!"


    "Only then can they make a name for themselves, gain wealth, status, and fame¡ªthose things that are worth more than life itself!"


    Caius¡¯ words left Geoffrey and the others momentarily dazed.


    They weren¡¯t mercenaries, but living in this world, they understood the same truth.


    Yes, when faced with danger, the first instinct was to sacrifice a teammate to protect oneself and the rest of the group¡ªit made perfect sense. But if everyone in a team thought this way, how could there be any true unity?


    Who would ever want to be the one sacrificed?


    Conflicting mindsets like that would shatter a team in an instant.


    If you''re so afraid of danger, then just go be a farmer. Why bother being a guard? Picking up a hoe is a lot safer than picking up a sword or a bow.


    Caius¡¯ voice continued.


    "Little kitten, I can''t promise you much."


    "But there¡¯s one thing I can swear on my chest."


    "If you''re my comrade, then I will never let you die before me!"


    "This is the one and only promise I can proudly make to you!"


    Kiki was beyond excited. Her blood was boiling with emotion. She struggled to sit up, her small hands pressing against Caius'' chest, her little face flushed with excitement.


    "I-I want to join, Meow!"

 Chapter 9

    Seeing Caius poach his teammate right in front of him, Geoffrey felt a wave of bitterness in his heart.


    He didn¡¯t say anything. After this experience, Kiki definitely wouldn¡¯t stay. Following Caius might actually be a good choice for her.


    The rest of the journey was much more peaceful.


    There was only one Wolf Demon. When they passed by the torn-apart cattle herd, everyone felt a lingering fear.


    If it weren¡¯t for Caius, they would have been in serious danger.


    The situation back then had been extremely urgent. Even the scouts in their group couldn¡¯t outrun the beast. Even if they had sacrificed Kiki, there was no guarantee the convoy would have escaped safely.


    After all, creatures like the Wolf Demon were vicious. Even if it had killed Kiki, it would have turned its sights on the team next.


    The outcome?


    Either the team would be forced to abandon the convoy, leaving the drivers and pack animals to distract the Wolf Demon while they fled¡ªleading to mission failure and heavy losses.


    Or¡­ the Wolf Demon would ignore the convoy entirely and target the people directly. In that case, the only survivor might be Geoffrey, the fastest runner.


    Or perhaps, none of them would have made it out alive.


    So, their feelings toward Caius were complicated.


    They were grateful¡ªdeeply so¡ªbut also in awe of him.


    Caius, on the other hand, clearly looked down on them for abandoning a teammate. He had no interest in engaging with them, which made them feel uneasy.


    Geoffrey understood¡ªit was a matter of pride.


    This young man, both in his actions and words, carried a wild arrogance that Geoffrey lacked.


    If he looked down on you, he made it obvious. There was no pretending, no hypocrisy.


    So, no one dared to bother Caius or Kiki.


    The 100-kilometer journey would take two days and a night. After the Wolf Demon encounter, the rest of the trip was smooth.


    By nightfall, aside from two minor encounters with passing magic beasts¡ªboth easily driven away¡ªnothing significant happened.


    When night came, the convoy stopped to rest.


    The three carriages were arranged in a triangle, and a bonfire was lit in the center.


    Everyone chewed on dry rations, but their eyes kept drifting toward Caius.


    The guy had taken some time to go hunting earlier. In no time at all, he had come back carrying two wild boars. He had already processed them on the road, and now, one of them was roasted to crispy perfection.


    The aroma of roasted pork filled the air.


    Everyone looked at the sizzling, golden-brown roast in front of Caius, then glanced at the tough, dry jerky in their hands.


    They couldn¡¯t help but swallow hard.


    Caius poked the roasting boar with a knife, watching the juices sizzle out. Satisfied, he nodded and tore off a leg.


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    It was a carefully chosen young wild boar¡ªtender meat, just the right size to avoid waste.


    "Here," he said, handing the leg to Kiki.


    Kiki was practically drooling, looking every bit the little glutton.


    "Thanks, meow~!" she said, her ears twitching as she gave Caius a sweet smile.


    The little Catgirl was growing cuter by the second. Caius couldn¡¯t resist ruffling her head.


    Surprisingly, Kiki didn¡¯t resist. Instead, she rubbed against his hand affectionately.


    Caius chuckled, then grabbed a leg for himself and started tearing into it.


    His appetite was enormous. In no time, he had devoured a whole roast pig.


    Kiki, too, ate until she was stuffed, letting out a satisfied burp.


    As for the others, they were dying of hunger but felt too awkward to ask Caius for meat. They could only gulp down their saliva and try to convince themselves not to think about it.


    Watching this, Caius smirked.


    He had left them hanging long enough.


    Stretching lazily, he looked at Geoffrey. "You guys are just eating dry rations? That enough for you?"


    "Uh¡­ well¡­ it''s fine," Geoffrey stammered, a little surprised.


    Was Caius actually talking to them?


    He had thought the big guy would ignore them for the entire trip.


    Truth be told, Caius still had no respect for those who abandoned their comrades.


    But why dwell on it?


    He wasn¡¯t going to be their teammate anyway.


    Instead, he knew how to get what he needed from them¡ªinformation.


    The awkward silence during the day had been suffocating. Geoffrey and the others had wanted to break the tension, but they didn¡¯t dare. Now that Caius had started talking, it was like offering them an easy way out.


    So, Geoffrey was more than willing to chat.


    "I hunted an extra boar. It''s in the carriage. If you want some, go deal with it yourself," Caius said, leaning against the wagon.


    Everyone looked at each other, stunned.


    "Not interested?" Caius raised an eyebrow. Despite his rugged, honest-looking face, at this moment, he had a teasing, almost roguish expression.


    "We¡¯ll eat!" they all blurted out at once, rushing to get the boar.


    Soon, they too were enjoying roast pork¡ªthough their cooking skills clearly weren¡¯t as good as Caius¡¯. Their meat didn¡¯t look or smell half as appetizing.


    "You called that thing a Wolf Demon?" Caius asked casually, seeing them relax.


    With full stomachs and a more open atmosphere, they were more willing to talk.


    "Yeah," Geoffrey nodded. "It¡¯s a creature born from the Bloody Land. Lately, something strange has been happening¡ªsome distant lands have been corrupted and turned into Blood Soil."


    "Blood Soil?" Caius frowned.


    "Yeah. Monsters crawl out of it¡ªWolf Demons are one of them."


    "What¡¯s the Bloody Land?" Caius asked. He had never heard of it before.


    "It¡¯s¡­ another world. A terrifying one."


    "Its power seeps into other worlds through certain mediums. It corrupts the land, turning it into ¡®Blood Soil,¡¯ which spawns monsters."


    "In extreme cases, it can even open Blood Rifts, directly linking to the Bloody Land and possibly triggering a Blood Tide."


    "I don¡¯t know the exact details, but it¡¯s like a beast tide¡ªonly much worse."


    "What rank is the Wolf Demon among these creatures?" Caius pressed.


    "I¡¯ve only seen three types: Bloodfish, Bloodeye, and Wolf Demons."


    "Bloodfish rely on sheer numbers¡ªthey¡¯re weak alone but terrifying in swarms. Thankfully, they can¡¯t stray far from Blood Soil."


    "Bloodeyes look like giant red octopuses with a single eye. They¡¯re stronger than Bloodfish and can mess with your vision¡ªreally troublesome."


    "But the Wolf Demon¡­ it¡¯s the deadliest of the three. They act alone, their combat ability is terrifying, and they supposedly grow stronger through killing. Once one targets you, it won¡¯t stop until one of you is dead."


    "The Mage Guild says even a newborn Wolf Demon is hard to handle without at least a Gold Five-Star rank¡­"


    At that, Geoffrey shot Caius a complicated look.


    This guy had claimed he was only Silver Five-Star¡­


    Luckily, someone else voiced the question he was thinking.


    "Big guy, are you really just Silver Five-Star, meow?" Kiki asked, her eyes full of curiosity.


    Caius grinned. "Of course. Don¡¯t believe me? Watch."


    He activated his vital energy.


    Five veins of vital energy appeared around him, swirling like a vortex, shimmering with silver light.


    Geoffrey and the others were stunned.


    He wasn¡¯t lying!


    "Silver Five-Star¡­ meow¡­" Kiki murmured. Then, unable to hold back, she asked, "But why are you so strong? Why is your strength so insane, meow?"


    Caius scratched his head.


    He couldn¡¯t exactly say it was because he was a giant, with strength growth dozens of times that of a normal person.


    That was the beauty of giant physiology¡ªunparalleled strength and resilience. He still wasn¡¯t sure if giants had magical talent, but that was a question for another time.


    Thinking for a moment, he smirked.


    "It¡¯s because I have Divine Strength!"


    He flexed, showing off his biceps, which bulged like small mountains.


    His arm was thicker than Kiki¡¯s waist.


    "Meow¡­ holy crap¡­" Kiki couldn¡¯t resist touching his bicep, her eyes gleaming with awe.


    Geoffrey and the others chuckled, nodding.


    Some people were just born different.


    Caius was clearly one of them.


    With his physique, he was destined to become a powerful warrior.


    ¡­That is, if he only wanted to be a warrior.

 Chapter 10

    At night, the group chatted for a while before resting early to prepare for the journey ahead.


    Kiki was the first to fall asleep.


    After all, she had just been through great peril and was utterly exhausted in both body and mind.


    Thus, when Caius was about to find a place to lie down, he turned his head and discovered that Kiki had already curled up on his lap, fast asleep.


    Seeing the little Catgirl using his lap as a pillow, Caius simply shrugged¡ª


    It didn¡¯t bother him at all.


    Surely, no one would refuse an adorable little Catgirl napping on their lap, right?


    So, Caius decided not to move. Leaning against the carriage, he settled in for the night. He was a rough and tough guy¡ªhe could sleep on an anvil if needed.


    He took out a blanket and gently draped it over the little Catgirl.


    Perhaps sensing his movement, Kiki curled up even tighter and instinctively snuggled closer to Caius.


    Caius chuckled, then crossed his arms and closed his eyes.


    But he didn¡¯t actually sleep. Instead, he began breathing in a special rhythm.


    This was the breathing technique his old master had taught him. Back in the blacksmith workshop, it allowed him to maintain his stamina, ensuring that every hammer strike carried full force.


    Years of training had made it second nature to him. He kept it running at all times, especially when resting, using it to replace sleep. It restored his stamina and energy far more efficiently than normal sleep.


    Moreover, it kept him alert to his surroundings. Any unusual movement, and he would wake instantly, ready to react.


    That was why he could fall asleep so quickly on the carriage earlier.


    During combat, this breathing technique kept his vital energy boiling, as if he had activated a berserker state, greatly enhancing his combat power.


    Because of this, Caius had long suspected that his old master wasn¡¯t just an ordinary blacksmith.


    An ordinary blacksmith wouldn¡¯t have that many scars.


    Unfortunately, no matter how many times Caius asked, the old man never gave a straight answer.


    Even until his dying breath, Caius never learned his true identity.


    But having been a mercenary in his past life, Caius could tell that those scars were definitely not from smithing¡ªthey were caused by cold steel in battle.


    So, he was eighty percent certain that his old master had once been either a mercenary or a soldier.


    With his booming voice and fiery temper, there was no way he had been an assassin, that¡¯s for sure.


    It was a shame, really. If not for all those injuries, Caius figured the old man could have lived another thirty years.


    And he always felt that something was off about his master¡¯s death.


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    Three years before passing, the old man had been full of life, his muscles putting many young men to shame.


    Yet within those three years, he withered like a deflating balloon, becoming visibly thinner at an alarming rate.


    If not for his sharp mind remaining intact, Caius would have suspected poison.


    He had asked the old man about it, but the reply was always the same: he had lived long enough¡ªover a hundred years¡ªand his time was simply running out. His vitality was returning to nature.


    Lacking any evidence to the contrary, Caius had no choice but to accept it. Still, something about it never sat right with him.


    Thankfully, he wasn¡¯t truly a sixteen-year-old kid. While his master¡¯s passing saddened him, he didn¡¯t let it drag him down.


    Dying of old age was the best possible end for the old man, especially for a soldier or a mercenary.


    In the wastelands, mercenaries who lived long enough to die of old age were rarer than three-legged toads.


    With a blink of an eye, morning had arrived.


    Caius took a moment to sense his vital energy¡ªit had strengthened slightly.


    When actively practiced, this breathing technique stimulated the vital energy, akin to training. Over time, it strengthened his body.


    Reaching Silver Five-star at just sixteen? This breathing technique played a huge role.


    Too bad his master had only taught it to him at fourteen. If he had started earlier, he could have advanced even further by now.


    But the old man¡¯s reasoning was¡ª¡°The younger you are, the more you need to build a foundation. The breathing technique is an external aid, but your bones and body are your own.¡±


    And by ¡°building a foundation,¡± he had meant swinging a hammer and forging iron every single day.


    Caius still remembered that his pacifier had been forged from a piece of Ethereal Steel by the old man himself¡ªsolid as a rock!


    As the sky brightened, Caius stretched his neck, ready to get up and stretch.


    But the moment he moved, he heard a soft murmur from his arms.


    Looking down, he realized that at some point, the little Catgirl had climbed into his embrace. She was now curled up, hugging her tail, using his stomach as a pillow, sleeping soundly.


    Perhaps disturbed by his movements, she shifted comfortably in his arms, turned over, and continued sleeping.


    Unable to resist, Caius reached out and gently poked Kiki¡¯s cheek. ¡°Time to wake up, little Catgirl.¡±


    Kiki¡¯s long eyelashes trembled as she slowly opened her eyes, her emerald pupils shining like flawless jade.


    She looked a little dazed, her hair a messy fluff from sleep.


    ¡°Big guy¡­¡± Kiki murmured drowsily, half-opening her sleepy eyes as she gazed at Caius, her voice soft and delicate.


    Clearly, she wasn¡¯t fully awake yet.


    ¡°Never mind, why don¡¯t you sleep a little longer?¡± Caius chuckled.


    ¡°Mmm¡­¡± she hummed lightly, her eyes gradually closing again. Instead of getting up, she nestled against his shoulder, using it as a pillow.


    Her slender arms wrapped around his neck, her body snuggling even closer. She clung to him like a real cat, completely relaxed.


    Caius: ¡°¡­¡±


    How did she end up clinging to me?


    Hearing the soft, rhythmic purring beside his ear, Caius ultimately decided not to wake her up.


    She really was just like a real kitten¡ªadorable and endearing.


    An hour later, the sun was fully up, and everyone had awakened. The caravan set off once more.


    With the help of magic potions and a night of rest, Kiki had recovered well. Her complexion looked much better.


    Back to her usual lively self, Kiki sat atop the carriage, chatting with Caius.


    A bright, sweet smile adorned her face, as if she were in a particularly good mood.


    And in truth, she was.


    Last night had been the best sleep she had ever had.


    Catfolk loved sleeping. Being active meant they got tired easily, making them prone to naps.


    But last night, she had slept more peacefully and comfortably than ever before.


    It was because Caius had been practicing his breathing technique, which raised his body temperature.


    The wilderness was freezing at night, with temperatures dropping to single digits, necessitating campfires.


    But fires could burn if too close and didn¡¯t provide enough warmth if too far. For someone with restless sleep like Kiki, it was a nightmare.


    This time, though, it was different.


    Caius¡¯s body radiated just the right amount of warmth, making Kiki feel incredibly cozy.


    Instinctively, she had inched closer and closer until she had snuggled completely into his arms.


    And with Caius¡¯s large frame, her small body fit perfectly in his embrace¡ªso snug, so safe.


    When she woke up and realized she was holding onto his neck, her face turned red instantly.


    But since Caius didn¡¯t seem to mind, her carefree nature took over, and soon she was happily chatting away with him again.


    The last leg of their journey went smoothly, and by evening, they arrived at their destination.


    Gazing at the towering walls of Grilla City, Caius felt a surge of anticipation.


    The delivery was for a Magic Academy, right? Perhaps he could take a look inside.


    Maybe¡­ he could find a way to master magic himself?

 Chapter 11

    "Grilla City seems much larger than Ocean City." As they entered the city, Caius glanced around and commented.


    Compared to Ocean City, this place appeared far more prosperous. The streets were cleaner, the buildings more aesthetically pleasing, and the entire city carried an air of artistry.


    However, Caius still preferred Ocean City. Ocean City was wilder, and he had never been one for the arts.


    "Ocean City is a second-tier city, whereas this is a first-tier city and a key focus of the Empire¡¯s development. Naturally, it¡¯s larger and more prosperous," Geoffrey explained.


    After chatting along the way, the group had grown more comfortable with each other. At least, on the surface.


    Caius nodded and followed Geoffrey and the others through the long main road, eventually arriving at the inner city.


    Compared to the outer city, the inner city was even more magnificent. Like Ocean City, it was divided into districts for commoners and the wealthy.


    If anything, this place was cleaner and had an even stronger artistic atmosphere.


    "We¡¯ve arrived¡ªHydis Magic Academy," Geoffrey announced.


    Before them stood a grand enclosure that appeared to be made of white marble. Through the gaps in the fence, neatly trimmed lawns were visible, along with young people clad in elegant, uniformed attire¡ªstudents of the Magic Academy.


    "Can we go inside?" Caius asked eagerly.


    Geoffrey looked at him oddly. This big guy actually seemed excited?


    "Yes, our buyer is inside the academy. However, outsiders need to show identification and register before entering. It¡¯s a bit of a hassle."


    "Doesn¡¯t matter. As long as I can go in, I¡¯ve been wanting to see a Magic Academy up close," Caius grinned broadly.


    To prove his identity, all Caius needed to do was present his mercenary ID card.


    The person responsible for verification was clearly a mage. With a wave of his hand, the blood-mark on Caius¡¯s card glowed faintly, and a red magical thread emerged, linking to Caius, proving his identity.


    As long as the card was legitimate, so was the person.


    But when Geoffrey and the others saw the brass-colored card in Caius¡¯s hands, they couldn¡¯t help but twitch at the corners of their mouths.


    A brass-ranked mercenary? This big guy really was a rookie...


    Then again, he was no ordinary rookie.


    It wouldn¡¯t be long before that card turned silver¡ªor even gold.


    After the somewhat tedious inspection and registration process, Caius was about to step inside when the mage stopped him.


    "What?" Caius asked.


    "Outsiders are prohibited from carrying weapons inside," the mage said, eyeing the massive warhammer strapped to Caius¡¯s back.


    "Oh, then please take good care of it for me. She¡¯s my treasure," Caius said, casually lifting the warhammer with one hand and handing it over.


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    The mage instinctively reached out, but as soon as Caius let go, he felt an overwhelming weight. Nearly stumbling to the ground, he barely managed to stay upright thanks to Caius catching him.


    "Careful there, sir," Caius teased with a playful glint in his eyes.


    The mage: "..."


    This big guy wasn¡¯t as simple and honest as he seemed.


    After Caius and the others entered the academy, the mage glanced down at the warhammer left behind.


    The hammerhead was hexagonal, devoid of any intricate patterns. It was plain and dark gray, its only decoration being an engraving of angelic wings on the handle.


    Curious, the mage attempted to lift it, gripping it with both hands and exerting all his strength¡ªyet he couldn¡¯t move it an inch.


    "So heavy?! That guy¡¯s really just a brass-ranked mercenary?" The mage was stunned.


    Resigning himself, he waved his hand, intending to use magic to shift the hammer aside so it wouldn¡¯t be in the way.


    But as soon as his magic touched the hammer, it was immediately repelled, unable to affect it in the slightest.


    The mage¡¯s shock deepened.


    This hammer had anti-magic properties?!


    Anything with anti-magic properties was never easy to come by.


    Such materials were strictly controlled by the Empire¡ªmoney alone wouldn¡¯t be enough to acquire them.


    That kid must have some serious background... Good thing he hadn¡¯t looked down on him just because he was a brass-ranked mercenary. Probably some noble¡¯s son out on an adventure.


    Shrugging, the mage left the hammer where it was, waiting for Caius to retrieve it later.


    "Such a beautiful Meow!" Kiki exclaimed excitedly, marveling at the castle-like academy, the lifelike fountain statues, and the students in their lavish uniforms. Her eyes were filled with admiration.


    "It really is beautiful," Caius agreed.


    The environment was impressive. The students exuded youthful energy, the campus overflowing with an academic atmosphere. Compared to the corporate academies of his past life, this place was far better.


    Those corporate academies, while luxurious, always carried a mechanical coldness.


    The students there were practically corporate drones in training¡ªarrogant, cutthroat, and utterly devoid of true student spirit.


    Caius liked this place much more.


    He had never received a formal academy education in his past life. The closest thing he had was a basic education chip, and its AI teacher lacked any interaction¡ªjust rigid, monotonous lessons.


    He had always wondered what it would be like to be a student.


    Of course, it was just idle curiosity. He knew this place wasn¡¯t for him.


    After getting used to the battlefield, how could he possibly sit quietly in a classroom and listen to lectures?


    Not a chance.


    As they walked, many students took notice of them, curiosity evident in their eyes. Clearly, these young people who had yet to experience the harshness of reality found mercenaries fascinating¡ªperhaps even cool.


    Or maybe they were just intrigued by Caius¡¯s massive build.


    "I wish I could study here too, Meow..." Kiki sighed wistfully beside him.


    "You want to be a student?" Caius asked, surprised.


    "Mhm," Kiki nodded. "Lots of kids dream of studying at a Magic Academy, but most human academies don¡¯t accept Beastfolk..."


    "Doesn¡¯t the Beastfolk Empire have its own Magic Academy?" Caius asked.


    "It does, Meow, but there aren¡¯t many. Most Beastfolk don¡¯t have strong magic talent, Meow."


    "To get into a Magic Academy, you either need incredible magic talent or a ton of money. I have neither, Meow..."


    Sensing the little catgirl¡¯s disappointment, Caius ruffled her hair and grinned. "Then stick with me. We¡¯ll make enough money to buy you a spot in an academy."


    "Really?!" Kiki¡¯s eyes lit up.


    "Of course. I want to see what a Magic Academy is like too," Caius nodded, determination in his gaze.


    If he wanted to learn magic, getting into a Magic Academy was a good option.


    But he wasn¡¯t about to give up being a mercenary. So buying a spot¡ªor finding another way to enter¡ªwas the best solution. That way, he wouldn¡¯t be tied down by the role of a student.


    Money wasn¡¯t everything, but Caius firmly believed that with enough of it, he could buy his way into an academy.


    Soon, they arrived at a building¡ªthe academy¡¯s library, where their buyer was waiting.


    However, the librarian blocked their way, stating that outsiders were prohibited from entering.


    To complete the transaction, they would have to wait for the recipient to come out.


    Caius was surprised. He had assumed these magic potions were ordered by the academy itself, but it seemed they were a private purchase.


    The buyer¡¯s name was Holan. Anyone who could buy such a large quantity of magic potions had to be wealthy.


    Geoffrey paid the librarian a few gold coins to fetch him.


    After a moment, the librarian returned, informing them that Holan was currently instructing students on magical research and would be available after class.


    A professor, huh? Teaching at a Magic Academy must pay well.


    Since class had just begun, they had about an hour to wait.


    With time to kill, Caius decided to explore the academy with Kiki, curious to see more of this grand institution.

 Chapter 12

    "You want to tour the academy? Let me take you around. I''ve been here quite a few times and know my way around," Geoffrey offered.


    "Hydis Magic Academy is one of the top ten academies in the Empire, a first-rate Magic Academy. It''s ranked much higher than Ocean City Magic Academy and has far more rules¡ªsome areas are off-limits to outsiders."


    Hearing this, Caius nodded. "Then let''s go together."


    "We''re coming too!" Warren and Walter chimed in.


    Just as Martina was about to speak, Geoffrey interjected, "You''d better stay behind. Someone needs to wait for the recipient."


    Martina pouted, a little disappointed, but still nodded in agreement.


    Apart from Kiki, who was new to the team and visiting for the first time, the others had accompanied Geoffrey on delivery trips to Hydis Magic Academy before. They weren¡¯t particularly interested in sightseeing.


    The main reason they wanted to follow along was Caius himself.


    The strength he had displayed made it clear he was destined for more than just being an obscure Brass-rank mercenary. Building a good relationship with him now seemed crucial.


    But for the sake of the mission, Martina had no choice but to stay behind and wait.


    "By the way, you mentioned Ocean City also has a Magic Academy?" Caius asked curiously.


    "Yeah, it''s called Ocean City Magic Academy, but it''s only a third-rate Magic Academy. It doesn''t compare to Hydis Magic Academy at all," Geoffrey explained.


    Caius nodded, contemplating. Perhaps he could start by exploring Ocean City Magic Academy to understand how such institutions operated.


    "Up ahead is the grand training ground. It''s a public space where students exchange magical knowledge," Geoffrey suddenly said.


    Caius looked over¡ªimpressive! The field was enormous.


    In the Wasteland Corporation, academy training grounds were usually 400 to 800 meters long, but this one easily exceeded 1,000 meters. It was incredibly spacious.


    The lush grass of the training field was dotted with students engaging in various activities. Some were having picnics, others napped under trees, some played with their pet beasts, while others gathered to discuss magic.


    One student raised a hand, conjuring a head-sized water sphere. Another proudly displayed their newly formed stone armor. Others had visible currents of wind swirling around them, lifting them slightly off the ground.


    Watching these students freely demonstrate their magic, Caius couldn''t help but feel envious.


    He had always wanted to learn wind magic. The village''s guard captain had once told him that wind magic was one of the few branches capable of enabling flight at an early stage.


    Caius was passionate about flying. In his previous life, his mercenary squad had stolen an armed helicopter from a corporate lackey, and that machine had become his personal ride.


    But if he could soar through the skies using his own power, Caius imagined it would be far more thrilling than being crammed into a cockpit.


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    After crossing the vast training ground, they arrived at a building that resembled a cathedral.


    Compared to a church, however, this structure was grander and longer. Through the stained-glass windows, Caius could see large classrooms inside¡ªeach resembling a parliamentary hall, with a wide podium at the front and rows of seats arranged before it.


    Just then, he spotted a class in session.


    Each curved table could seat five people, but the classroom wasn''t full. Some tables had only two students, others three, and in total, there were only about forty students, spaced apart comfortably.


    Caius thought the seating was quite roomy¡ªeven someone of his size would find it comfortable.


    He wanted to try sitting down himself.


    But Geoffrey informed him that outsiders weren''t allowed inside the academic buildings.


    For the next forty minutes, Caius and Kiki followed Geoffrey and the others around the academy before returning to the training ground.


    The academy was enormous. Forty minutes wasn¡¯t nearly enough time to see everything.


    Unfortunately, many areas were off-limits to outsiders. They could only admire the scenery and experience the atmosphere from designated pathways.


    The library, pet beast garden, magic practice area, dueling grounds, and academy magic shop¡ªCaius couldn''t see any of them.


    "One day, I''ll be able to enter those places!" Caius declared confidently.


    Geoffrey and the others simply smiled without comment.


    Confidence was good, but without magical talent, it was meaningless.


    Hydis Magic Academy was not like Ocean City Magic Academy¡ªit wasn¡¯t a place where money alone could buy admission.


    Unless, of course, one had enough wealth to influence the academy itself¡­


    They all agreed that with Caius''s physique, he could undoubtedly become an outstanding warrior. But a mage? That seemed far less likely.


    However, Kiki seemed to believe in Caius wholeheartedly. Clenching her tiny fists, she chimed in, "Then¡­ then I''ll get in too, Meow!"


    "Haha, we''ll go in together then!" Caius laughed heartily.


    "Mm!" Kiki nodded eagerly, and Geoffrey and the others didn¡¯t have the heart to dampen her enthusiasm.


    Just then, a commotion erupted from the training ground.


    Curious, Caius turned to see students gathering in one direction, their voices rising in excitement.


    Intrigued, he followed the crowd.


    It seemed classes had ended, and students were exiting the academic buildings. However, they were all stepping aside, creating a clear path down the center.


    Then, as a wave of murmurs spread through the crowd, a particular group of students emerged.


    What made them stand out?


    First, their attire.


    While ordinary students wore blue uniforms, this group wore white as the primary color, accented with gold. Their outfits were simpler in design yet exuded an air of elegance and nobility.


    Then there was their demeanor¡ªeach of them carried themselves with an air of pride, walking with their heads held high, faint smiles playing on their lips as they basked in the reverence of those around them.


    Lastly, they bore silver-white unicorn emblems on their sleeves.


    Seeing them, one word immediately came to Caius¡¯s mind¡ª


    Nobility!


    Yes, this group exuded the unmistakable aura of wealth and power.


    But what truly caught Caius''s attention was the figure leading them.


    A tall young woman.


    Unlike the others, her outfit was predominantly gold with silver-white accents, exuding an even greater sense of nobility.


    She seemed around seventeen or eighteen, yet carried herself with grace and poise. Her fitted uniform accentuated her nearly flawless figure.


    As she walked, her golden hair shimmered like waves in a sea of sunlight, flowing elegantly with each step.


    A silver-white rapier was fastened to her waist.


    Her chin was slightly lifted, radiating confidence and pride.


    Though expressionless, her golden eyelashes and striking blue eyes gave her the ethereal presence of a celestial being.


    Her beauty was breathtaking, even to Caius.


    Perfect.


    Back in his past life, corporate technology had reached the pinnacle of cosmetic surgery. Changing one¡¯s face was a simple matter.


    Many Wasteland celebrities went to extreme lengths for beauty, some even replacing their entire faces with custom-designed synthetic implants that made them look like characters from fantasy holovids.


    If you had the money, you could be as beautiful as you wanted.


    Caius had seen countless beauties before.


    But compared to this girl?


    There was no comparison.


    The artificial perfection of those corporate-engineered faces paled before her natural radiance.


    Those fake faces were like AI-generated images¡ªno matter how flawless, they always looked unnatural.


    Caius could even tell which celebrities had faces made by the same corporation, despite their different designs.


    But this girl?


    Her beauty was real¡ªbeyond the reach of technology.


    It was the kind of beauty that, once seen, could never be forgotten.

 Chapter 13

    "Beautiful, isn''t she?" Warren noticed Caius staring and couldn''t help but grin mischievously, lowering his voice as he spoke.


    However, Caius simply shook his head.


    Warren was taken aback. "You don''t think so?"


    Caius grinned. "Don''t you feel that calling her ''beautiful'' is a bit... inadequate?"


    "Now that you mention it... you''re right!" Warren took another look and nodded in agreement.


    After all, the female students standing behind her were all quite attractive, but in comparison, calling her just ''beautiful'' seemed insufficient.


    "Who is she?" Caius asked.


    "Hilda Kiel!" Warren immediately replied. "She''s a legendary figure at Hydis Magic Academy!"


    "She enrolled just a year ago, but don''t underestimate her!"


    "Not only did she skip grades, but in just one year, she was elected as the president of Hydis''s student council!"


    "Is that impressive?" Caius asked.


    "Of course, it''s impressive!" Warren said excitedly. "In a Magic Academy, you can''t attain that position without real ability. It''s even recognized within the Empire¡¯s official system!"


    "Moreover, she''s a dual prodigy, excelling in both martial arts and magic. Before turning twenty, she has already reached Platinum rank¡ªstronger than even our captain!"


    "Ahem..." Geoffrey, who had been silent until now, coughed with a dark expression.


    Warren let out an awkward laugh before continuing, "In short, she''s a goddess among mortals, an almost perfect existence!"


    "She even has a Title¡ª''Swan Blade Maiden.''"


    "If you''re her enemy, the snowstorm you see might not be real snow but rather the countless sword slashes she unleashes!"


    "And..." Warren suddenly leaned in close to Caius, lowering his voice. "Rumor has it that her background is extraordinary. Even the prince of Chadath Kingdom bows his head in her presence!"


    "Wow, that impressive?" Caius pursed his lips.


    The Kingdoms under the Empire wield significant power. If even a prince of Chadath Kingdom had to bow before her, just how deep did Hilda''s background run?


    Caius chuckled. A deep background, formidable strength, and immense charm¡ªthat made for an interesting challenge.


    Noticing Caius¡¯s intriguing expression, Warren was momentarily stunned before whispering, "Bro... you¡¯re not thinking of pursuing her, are you?"


    "Many noble heirs have tried and ended up in miserable situations..."


    "Pursue her?" Caius laughed and turned toward the library. "Why would I? I''d rather spend my time completing more missions."


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    "I''m so handsome¡ªif anything, she should be the one chasing me."


    Everyone: "..."


    At that moment, Geoffrey and the others were truly baffled. This guy had the appearance of an honest, down-to-earth man, so how could he be this arrogant?


    This wasn¡¯t confidence.


    This was sheer narcissism!


    Everyone followed behind Caius, looking exhausted, except for Kiki, who was giggling with delight.


    She found Caius¡¯s self-assuredness¡ªbordering on narcissism¡ªvery appealing.


    Because strong confidence was a necessary trait of a powerful individual!


    Catfolk girls admired strength.


    And they weren¡¯t the only ones.


    Geoffrey and the others didn¡¯t take Caius¡¯s words seriously, assuming he was just joking.


    As they arrived at the entrance of the library, they saw many students leaving in groups.


    It was the end of class, after all.


    Caius quickly spotted their client.


    She was a woman who looked about twenty-six or twenty-seven, with long deep-blue hair, exquisite features, and an elegant posture.


    She also wore gold-rimmed glasses, exuding a mature charm.


    "Instructor Holan, the potions you ordered have arrived and are currently in the unloading area of the academy," Geoffrey said smoothly, clearly familiar with Holan.


    Holan frequently purchased magic potions from the shop, and Geoffrey was always the one escorting the deliveries.


    "Thank you," Holan said warmly, nodding with a smile. Her gaze briefly landed on Caius.


    It couldn¡¯t be helped¡ªhis physique was far too eye-catching.


    However, she merely glanced at him before shifting her attention away.


    That was until Geoffrey, with an apologetic tone, said, "However... there was a bit of an issue this time. Some of the goods were damaged..."


    Holan paused, her elegant brows furrowing slightly. "How much damage?"


    "Twenty bottles of low-grade magic potions and ten bottles of mid-grade magic potions..." Geoffrey stole a quick glance at Caius as he spoke.


    The latter, however, simply stood with his hands on his hips, leisurely admiring the campus scenery¡ªthis academy was so... academic!


    Hearing this, Holan visibly relaxed.


    She had ordered five hundred low-grade magic potions and fifty mid-grade magic potions, all meant for experiments and potion refinement.


    When she first heard there was damage, her heart had skipped a beat.


    The academy was running an experimental project on potions, and results had to be produced within a short timeframe. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t receive further funding, which would spell disaster for her.


    Fortunately, only thirty bottles were lost¡ªan acceptable margin.


    Still, it left Holan slightly displeased.


    Leaning against the doorway, her crimson lips pursed slightly as she shook her head. "This won¡¯t do. These potions are important to me, and I¡¯ve been a loyal customer of yours..."


    She left the sentence hanging, clearly waiting for Geoffrey to respond.


    Geoffrey immediately said, "Don''t worry, we''ll compensate you or replace the lost potions in full!"


    Hearing this, Holan nodded in satisfaction. "Then just replace them as soon as possible."


    "Of course! Thank you very much!" Geoffrey quickly responded, breathing a sigh of relief.


    He didn¡¯t try to argue. After all, his job was to deliver the goods safely to the buyer.


    What happened along the way was irrelevant¡ªthe buyer only cared about the end result.


    Holan then followed them to the unloading area, as she needed to inspect the shipment and oversee the unloading process.


    While Geoffrey and the others struggled with unloading the goods, Caius leaned idly against the side, making no move to help.


    After all, he had already handled the most important task. The rest of the mundane labor naturally fell to Geoffrey and the others.


    His mission was escorting the goods, not unloading them.


    After all, he was a mercenary, not part of the magic potion store¡¯s security team.


    However, just as the unloading neared completion, Caius suddenly remembered something. He walked to the back of the third carriage and pulled down a large sack.


    The sack was nearly as tall as a person, bulging with its contents.


    Most notably, the sack''s surface was soaked with blood, sticky and reeking of a foul stench, with flies swarming around it.


    Seeing this, Holan, who had been overseeing the unloading, wrinkled her nose and instinctively covered her mouth. "What is that?"


    She didn¡¯t want her potions to be contaminated by whatever was inside that sack. If that happened, she would demand replacements.


    "Oh, Wolf Demon remains," Caius said casually.


    He was planning to take them to Grilla City later to see if he could sell them at the market.


    Grilla City was larger than Ocean City, so he figured he could get a better price there.


    However, the moment Holan heard the words "Wolf Demon," her eyes widened.


    "Wait a moment!"

 Chapter 14

    Holan''s sudden voice startled Geoffrey and the others, making them shudder slightly as they all turned to look at her.


    Holan strode forward with her long legs, stopping in front of Caius and pointing at the bloodstained sack. "Is this really a Wolf Demon?!"


    "A Wolf Demon from the Bloody Lands?"


    "Mhm." Caius nodded, his eyes lighting up as he revealed a simple, honest smile. "Are you interested?"


    "Interested? Very interested!" Holan immediately responded, her face full of excitement.


    Her current research project was focused on the Bloody Lands and the Bloody Creatures within them.


    She needed samples of Bloody Creatures to experiment on and develop highly targeted magic potions.


    Hunting Bloody Creatures wasn''t difficult, but the problem was their scarcity in this region. The nearest Bloody Lands were over a thousand kilometers away from Grilla City, making it nearly impossible for such creatures to appear nearby.


    There wasn¡¯t enough time to send someone on a distant hunt, so she could only ask around and search the markets and black markets of neighboring cities for any Bloody Creature corpses for sale.


    So far, she had only managed to acquire a few Bloodfish corpses, but that was far from enough.


    Her competitor, another magical research team, had somehow gotten their hands on a Bloodeye.


    The stronger the Bloody Creature, the more effective the potions created from them.


    If she failed to outperform her rival this time, the academy¡¯s funding would ultimately go to the other research team instead.


    That would make things incredibly difficult for her.


    Not only would many of her projects be forced to shut down due to a lack of funds, but she and her team would also have to endure the mockery of the rival team.


    The path of magical research was already difficult enough. If things continued like this, whether her research team could even survive was uncertain.


    Most likely, they would end up disbanding due to a lack of progress.


    After all, magical research burned through money, and the academy wasn¡¯t going to fund an extra team that wasn''t delivering results.


    Holan herself could manage, but some of the younger members in her team relied on the research funding to get by. If the team disbanded, they would be in serious trouble.


    But now, a large sack of fresh Wolf Demon remains was right in front of her¡ªit was practically her lifeline!


    With a Wolf Demon sample, she was confident she could develop an even more effective blood-targeting magic potion!


    By then, the one crying would be that old bastard Callum! Hahaha!


    "Since you¡¯re interested, how many Gold coins are you willing to pay?" Caius asked with a smile. That was the most important question to him.


    His words snapped Holan out of her fantasies, and she was about to respond immediately.


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    But then, she thought about her research team''s dwindling funds and hesitated.


    She could chip in some of her own money, but the problem was¡­ she was broke.


    The extra funding she had applied for from her Clan hadn¡¯t been approved yet, her salary as an instructor hadn¡¯t been paid, and she had already spent a lot of her own money to purchase potions. Right now, she barely had anything left.


    Looking at Caius¡¯s expectant expression, Holan gritted her teeth and said, "I''ll offer¡­ two thousand Gold coins!"


    The money she had left, combined with the research funds her team had remaining, totaled just over three thousand.


    Until she secured victory in the competition and received the academy¡¯s funding, she still needed to keep the team running. Her team members needed to eat too, so¡­ this was all she could afford.


    Under normal circumstances, the corpse of a Wolf Demon¡ªsomething that usually required a high-rank Gold-tier warrior to take down¡ªwould easily sell for at least five thousand Gold coins.


    At any other time, she could have easily afforded it, but right now, she could only hope that Caius was clueless about market prices and would let her get a bargain.


    There was a good chance of that happening since the trade of Bloody Creatures wasn¡¯t widespread yet. Many people hadn¡¯t even seen one before.


    Unfortunately for Holan, while Caius didn¡¯t know the exact market price, he was an expert at negotiation.


    Seeing Holan struggle to offer her price while looking at him with hopeful eyes, he immediately knew that this sack of mangled flesh was worth more than that. The only issue was that the beautiful instructor in front of him probably didn¡¯t have enough money.


    So, he fell silent, not giving an immediate response.


    Holan¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    The longer Caius hesitated, the more anxious she became. And since they were in the academy, if her competitor, that old fox Callum, saw this, he would definitely bid against her.


    Callum had seniority and far more wealth than she did.


    After about three minutes of silence, Holan started to feel restless.


    If worst came to worst, she would just borrow money¡ªno matter what, she had to get her hands on this Wolf Demon corpse.


    But just as she was about to speak, Caius suddenly raised a finger.


    "Fifteen hundred."


    Holan: "???"


    She had expected Caius to make an outrageous counteroffer, but she never thought he would voluntarily lower the price.


    Was he not trying to make a profit?


    But then, she saw the simple and honest smile on Caius¡¯s face.


    It was clearly a sincere and straightforward smile, yet it somehow gave Holan the feeling of dealing with an old fox.


    "But there¡¯s a condition," Caius added.


    Holan was momentarily stunned before instinctively stepping back with caution. "Tell me first. If it¡¯s too much, I won¡¯t agree."


    "Relax," Caius waved a hand. "I just want some information."


    What was the most valuable thing?


    In Caius¡¯s opinion, intelligence was one of the most valuable commodities!


    There were dedicated information brokers in the wastelands, and some pieces of intel were worth terrifying amounts of money.


    Good intelligence could bring him greater benefits and help him avoid unnecessary losses and dangers.


    The Wolf Demon might sell for a higher price elsewhere, but Caius wasn¡¯t looking for a one-time deal.


    "What kind of information?" Holan still remained vigilant. However, the next moment, she heard Caius ask¡ª


    "What¡¯s your favorite color?"


    Holan: "???"


    That¡¯s it?


    Though surprised, she still answered, "Pur¡­ Purple."


    Caius pursed his lips and nodded. "Figured."


    Holan: "¡­"


    What did that mean?


    Was she just¡­ teased?


    But before she could think further, Caius continued, "There are three things I want to know."


    "First, what types of monsters exist in the Bloody Lands, their specific values, and how they can be monetized."


    "Including the Wolf Demon remains I have here."


    "Second, aside from being a student, what other legal and reasonable ways are there to enter Hydis Magic Academy?"


    "By ''enter,'' I mean join¡ªwithout being considered an outsider, and having the ability to move freely."


    Upon hearing this, Holan''s lips parted slightly. "You¡­ want to enter Hydis?"


    "Yes," Caius nodded without hesitation. "I¡¯d like to experience it."


    "Experience? This isn¡¯t a place for sightseeing," Holan said seriously, her tone now strict. "This is a sacred institution for training elite mages¡ªonly those truly eager to grow belong here."


    "I understand. That¡¯s exactly why I¡¯m asking. If I didn¡¯t respect Hydis, would I bother emphasizing ''legal and reasonable''?" Caius lifted his chin slightly.


    Holan: "¡­"


    "Fine¡­" Holan nodded. "I¡¯ll tell you what I know. What¡¯s the third thing?"


    Caius: "Where¡¯s the restroom?"


    Holan: "Wha¡­ What?"


    She thought she misheard.


    Caius shrugged.


    "I just walked around and couldn¡¯t find it. Now I really need to go. Urgent. Directions, please."


    Holan: "¡­"


    She was certain now.


    This big guy wasn¡¯t the least bit simple or honest!

 Chapter 15

    The restroom was inside the academic building, and there was also one in the library. In fact, any area restricted to "outsiders" generally had a restroom, which explained why it had been so hard to find one earlier.


    However, with Holan¡¯s permission, Caius could now come and go freely.


    After finishing his business, Caius walked out of the library, looking noticeably more at ease.


    Taking advantage of his brief visit, he had glanced around the library¡¯s interior and reached a conclusion.


    As expected of an ocean of knowledge¡ªthere were an absurd number of books.


    Caius suspected that somewhere within this collection, he might find a way to learn magic. He made a mental note to dive into this sea of knowledge when he had the chance.


    Holan looked at him helplessly.


    She always felt that this big guy was a bit unreliable. He had the face of an honest, naive man, but his words and behavior carried a roguish charm, like a seasoned trickster. Yet, he still looked so young¡­


    ¡°Are we doing the transaction now?¡± Caius asked Holan.


    ¡°Of course!¡± Holan seemed eager. With a flash of light from the ring on her finger, a pouch filled with gold coins appeared in her hand.


    A Spatial Ring, huh? Caius recognized it immediately. His old man had one too¡ªthough his was bigger, heavier, and looked more like a signet ring. Right now, it was sitting on his thumb.


    Caius liked to use it as a knuckle duster.


    As for why he didn¡¯t store anything in it¡ªwell, it was full. Crammed with various metals from his father¡¯s blacksmith shop.


    ¡°There are fifteen hundred gold coins here. Count them,¡± Holan said.


    ¡°No need. I trust a mentor¡¯s integrity,¡± Caius replied, taking the gold and fastening it to his belt.


    His words pleased Holan, making her view him a little more favorably.


    ¡°So, when will you tell me what I want to know?¡± Caius asked with a smile.


    ¡°Wait a bit. I need to send the corpse pieces to the lab first,¡± Holan said, glancing at the still-bloody sack.


    So much Wolf Demon blood had been wasted¡ªit made her heart ache.


    Before her experiment succeeded, she wanted to make use of every part of the Wolf Demon¡¯s remains, down to the last shred of flesh and drop of blood.


    Caius nodded, letting Holan handle her work.


    Holan first took out a large bag, covered in magical runes. Clearly, it was a Magical Device.


    After sealing the Wolf Demon¡¯s remains inside, not a single drop of blood leaked out.


    Then, she grabbed the bag, tapped her foot lightly, and soared into the air, flying deeper into the academy.


    Caius watched her depart and sighed. ¡°Flying must be nice.¡±


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    It was obvious¡ªHolan was a mage, and likely a rather high-level one.


    Geoffrey and the others had refrained from asking questions, since Caius wasn¡¯t really one of them.


    Kiki, however, curiously leaned in beside Caius. ¡°Big guy, I think you sold the Wolf Demon remains too cheap, meow.¡±


    Even Kiki had noticed.


    Caius chuckled. ¡°I know, but it¡¯s fine. There¡¯ll be chances to make it back from her in the future.¡±


    Kiki tilted her head, half-understanding, and nodded.


    Before long, Holan returned.


    ¡°Can we talk now?¡± Caius asked.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t the place for it. Follow me,¡± Holan said, leading the way back into the library.


    Caius turned to look at Geoffrey and the others. Geoffrey, perceptive as ever, said, ¡°Go on. We¡¯ll wait for you at the school gate.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Caius nodded and followed after Holan.


    Kiki, naturally, tagged along like a little tail. Caius didn¡¯t stop her.


    As the library doors shut, Geoffrey shook his head. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡°What about Kiki?¡± Martina asked.


    ¡°She¡¯s not one of us anymore,¡± Geoffrey replied.


    ¡­


    Following Holan to the depths of the library, Caius was surprised to find private rooms¡ªlikely designated for nobles to study in peace.


    There were even snacks available.


    Setting down a plate of pastries, Holan asked, ¡°Coffee, tea, or milk?¡±


    ¡°Milk, meow~¡± Kiki immediately raised her hand.


    Caius, however, asked, ¡°Got any booze?¡±


    Holan rolled her eyes. ¡°What do you think?¡±


    Caius grinned. ¡°I think yes. So, I¡¯ll take a rum, on the rocks, with a splash of cherry juice.¡±


    Holan: ¡°¡­¡±


    What an insufferable man.


    Ignoring his request, she brewed him a cup of tea and poured Kiki a glass of milk before asking, ¡°Which matter do you want to discuss first?¡±


    ¡°Tell me about the Bloody Lands.¡±


    Holan nodded and began explaining in detail.


    Her account didn¡¯t differ much from Geoffrey¡¯s, though it was more comprehensive. As for what lay within the Bloody Lands, even she wasn¡¯t entirely sure. Few ventured deep inside, and even fewer returned alive.


    Thus, the world¡¯s understanding of the Bloody Lands was mostly limited to the disasters it brought and the creatures that emerged from it.


    Thanks to Holan, Caius learned about even more types of Bloody Creatures.


    For example, Blood Demons, Plague Demons, Lion-Headed Demons, and Bloodthirsty Demons.


    And these creatures were highly valuable. Take the Wolf Demon, for instance¡ªits market price ranged from four to five thousand gold coins. Selling it for fifteen hundred? Caius had taken a major loss.


    ¡°So? Do you regret it now?¡± Holan smirked, sipping her tea. Her arched brows carried a hint of mischief, as if she was trying to see a flicker of regret on Caius¡¯s face.


    Clearly, this beautiful mentor had a bit of a devious side.


    But she was disappointed¡ªCaius showed no sign of regret. Instead, he chuckled and said, ¡°Not at all. Doing business with a beautiful woman is never a loss. After all, they¡¯ve already paid in advance¡ªwith the pleasure of their beauty.¡±


    Hmm¡­ and also with those potions I broke.


    Holan blinked.


    Yep. No mistaking it this time¡ªshe was being flirted with.


    But she didn¡¯t find it unpleasant. Instead, she laughed and countered, ¡°Oh? So you¡¯re saying my beauty is worth exactly 3,500 gold coins?¡±


    That was the difference in price for the Wolf Demon¡¯s body.


    Caius chuckled.


    As expected, mature women were hard to deal with.


    ¡°Of course not. That was just for a single glance. Haven¡¯t you noticed? I haven¡¯t dared to blink this whole time.¡± He pointed at his eyes.


    Holan frowned in confusion at first but soon caught on. She couldn¡¯t help but cover her mouth and laugh.


    Meanwhile, Kiki happily munched on her cookies, her innocent face clueless about the playful exchange.


    Not that she cared. The milk here was delicious.


    She loved milk, meow~


    Caius¡¯s humor lifted Holan¡¯s mood, making her find him even more pleasing to the eye.


    ¡°Beyond that, I don¡¯t know much else about the Bloody Lands. That¡¯s not something an academy mentor has access to,¡± Holan said, taking another sip of tea.


    Caius nodded. ¡°Alright, then onto the second matter¡ªthis one¡¯s most important to me. How do I get into Hydis?¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Holan asked. ¡°You¡¯re a mercenary. Why do you want to enter a Magic Academy?¡±


    During her brief absence, she had already checked with the academy¡¯s gatekeepers about Caius. Anyone carrying a Wolf Demon¡¯s body was worth investigating.


    ¡°Because I love learning,¡± Caius said, utterly serious.


    Holan looked at him skeptically.


    Three seconds later, Caius shrugged and corrected himself. ¡°Alright, fine. I admit it.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s because the mentors here are just too beautiful.¡±


    ¡°You understand¡ªno one can refuse a beautiful mentor. I¡¯m no exception.¡±


    Holan laughed again.


    This big guy might be a rogue, but he was a charming one.


    Talking to him was surprisingly pleasant.


    But Holan knew better¡ªCaius was throwing up smokescreens.


    He kept praising her, but he hadn¡¯t actually revealed anything useful.


    What a slippery guy.

 Chapter 16

    "Hydis Magic Academy is a top-tier magic academy, so its admission process is different from other academies," Holan explained.


    "The academy employs a special advancement system. All students are top talents who have risen from one of Hydis'' affiliated magic academies."


    "There are thirteen affiliated magic academies in total. You¡¯re from Ocean City, right? Ocean City Magic Academy is one of them."


    "Each year, the top one hundred students from the affiliated magic academies earn direct admission into Hydis Magic Academy."


    "So if you want to enter Hydis Magic Academy, this is one way."


    "However, as you said, you don''t want to be a student. And considering that you¡¯re a mercenary, I doubt you¡¯d be willing to sit in classrooms all day studying..."


    Caius snapped his fingers. "Exactly. So what should I do?"


    Holan leisurely picked up a cookie. In just this short time, the little catgirl who had followed Caius had already devoured most of the snacks on the plate.


    With a graceful motion, Holan took a bite from the square-shaped cookie, then sipped her tea elegantly before continuing.


    "So, there are two other ways for you to enter Hydis Magic Academy."


    "One, internal recruitment."


    "If a mentor or someone with internal recruitment privileges takes a liking to you, they can directly admit you into the academy. Your role would depend on their decision."


    "You could be a student, a research assistant, or even an adjunct instructor¡ªit all depends on the mentor¡¯s arrangement."


    "However, the mentors at Hydis Magic Academy have extremely high standards. If you don¡¯t have talent, no matter how hard you try to stand out, they won¡¯t choose you."


    Hearing this, Caius¡¯s eyes lit up, staring eagerly at Holan.


    Holan raised an eyebrow before chuckling. "Don¡¯t even think about it. There¡¯s no way I¡¯m recruiting you."


    "Why not?" Caius asked.


    "Each mentor only has one internal recruitment slot per year. I¡¯ve already allocated mine. She¡¯s a member of my research team and needs it more than you do."


    "If you¡¯re willing to wait another year..." Holan¡¯s beautiful eyes gleamed with amusement. "Maybe I¡¯ll consider you then."


    Caius chuckled and waved his hand. "Let¡¯s talk about the second method."


    Holan pursed her lips, finished her cookie, brushed off the crumbs from her fingers, and continued.


    "The second method is also the one I think suits you best."


    "Become an academy-affiliated field agent."


    "Besides students, the academy also employs personnel within its system. Every year, a number of field agent slots are released."


    "And what exactly do these field agents do?" Caius asked.


    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    "Think of them as mercenaries who prioritize academy tasks," Holan explained.


    "The academy has many missions, some of which students cannot complete. For example, long-distance, high-risk escort missions, capturing or hunting dangerous magical beasts, and other hazardous or complex tasks."


    "You know that the academy protects its students. But when a mission arises that students can''t handle, that¡¯s where field agents come in."


    "This also benefits you. First, you''re already a mercenary, so the role aligns with your profession. Second, the rewards for academy missions are generally more lucrative than other missions of the same level."


    "Moreover, field agents enjoy greater freedom. Aside from one or two mandatory missions per month, all other assignments are voluntary."


    "In short, this is like a guaranteed job for mercenaries¡ªyou¡¯ll never lack missions, and you won¡¯t be as restricted as students."


    "You¡¯ll have free access to various academy areas, won¡¯t be treated as an outsider, and will receive benefits like a fixed monthly salary and..."


    As Holan continued listing the perks, Caius¡¯s eyes shone brighter and brighter.


    He knew he had haggled for the right deal!


    The value of all these benefits was worth far more than a single Wolf Demon!


    If he could secure the field agent position, both his financial concerns and academy-related issues would be resolved!


    So Caius made a swift decision. "I¡¯m in!"


    Holan chuckled. "However, there are quite a few people competing for this position."


    "The number of field agent slots is fixed. New slots only open when agents leave¡ªeither by resigning or... dying."


    "This year, the academy is filling 185 field agent positions."


    "But in Grilla City alone, at least 3,000 people are vying for these slots. Including surrounding areas, the number is likely over 10,000."


    Caius widened his eyes.


    So this is the power of job security?


    "That¡¯s some intense competition..." Caius nodded. "So how does the selection process work?"


    "It¡¯s simple. The academy distributes slots to various guilds and third-party organizations. The guilds then conduct their own selection tests. The process varies by location¡ªthe academy only handles the slot allocation."


    "Some slots are given directly to favored individuals, some are auctioned, some require bidding, some are awarded for completing specific tasks, and some are won through duels."


    "Two years ago, there were only 30 slots available, and one of them was auctioned for 120,000 gold coins."


    Caius twitched at the number.


    This competition was even fiercer than he expected...


    "More importantly," Holan suddenly added, "you¡¯re currently ineligible to compete for a slot."


    "What do you mean?" Caius asked.


    "Although the academy doesn¡¯t limit how slots are allocated, there is a minimum requirement."


    "You must be at least Gold-rank, or a Gold-ranked mercenary."


    Hearing this, Holan¡¯s eyes gleamed as an idea struck her. "Oh, right! I just remembered¡ªeach mentor also has one recommendation slot. The allocation method is up to the mentor."


    "I had planned to auction off my slot. Though it wouldn¡¯t fetch as much as the one from two years ago, I was hoping for at least 30,000 to 40,000 gold coins..."


    After finishing, Holan smiled meaningfully at Caius.


    Caius raised an eyebrow.


    Classic Holan.


    After a brief pause, he spoke earnestly. "Can I pay in advance with my stunning good looks?"


    Holan blinked, then burst into laughter.


    "You have some nerve!" she said.


    Caius humbly replied, "Flattery will get you everywhere."


    Holan: "You think I was complimenting you?"


    Caius: "Wasn¡¯t it? Beautiful words from a beautiful mentor."


    Holan rolled her eyes. "Smooth talker."


    She then finished her tea and continued. "I¡¯ll give you the recommendation slot, but I have three conditions."


    Caius: "Name them."


    "First, as I mentioned, you must be at least Gold-rank or a Gold-ranked mercenary. The slots will be allocated next month. If you don¡¯t reach the required level by then, I can¡¯t give you the slot even if I want to."


    "No problem!" Caius nodded.


    "Good. Second condition," Holan continued.


    "Once you become a field agent, you must prioritize my missions. Some specific tasks will be non-negotiable."


    Caius raised an eyebrow. "And these ''specific tasks''...?"


    Holan: "I haven¡¯t decided yet, but they will be tasks of great importance to me."


    Caius: "And if they¡¯re suicide missions?"


    Holan: "I wouldn¡¯t send you on a suicide mission. But to account for uncertainty, how about this¡ª"


    "For certain missions, you can¡¯t refuse outright. Instead, you flip a coin."


    "Heads, you must accept."


    "Tails, you can choose. How¡¯s that?"


    Caius laughed. "I like the unpredictability and challenge. Deal!"


    Holan smirked.


    "Third condition."


    "Make me a cup of tea. The leaves are in the second cabinet up top¡ªHigh Mountain White Peach Blossom. One and a half sugar cubes. Preheat the cup for the best flavor."


    Caius: "..."


    Ah, women.

 Chapter 17

    "Not bad, you have quite a talent for tea art. Ever thought about becoming a tea master?"


    Holan chuckled as she spoke.


    Caius kept a straight face. "Not necessary, thanks."


    Seeing his expression, Holan laughed so hard that her shoulders trembled.


    "Alright, the deal is done. If there''s nothing else, I''ll be on my way."


    Saying this, Caius stood up.


    Holan was a bit surprised. She had thought he would take the chance to chat a little longer, especially since their conversation had been rather enjoyable¡ªat least, she was having a good time.


    But as soon as the deal was completed, Caius simply got up, patted himself off, and prepared to leave.


    "Hey, tell me, all those compliments you just gave me¡­ you weren¡¯t just being polite, were you?"


    Holan rested her chin on her palm, sounding a little displeased.


    Caius turned his head slightly and flashed a sincere smile. "Every word was the truth. But you know, I only have a month."


    "I just registered as a mercenary yesterday. Right now, I¡¯m still a lowly Brass rank, so I need to work hard on my promotion."


    "Of course, chatting with a beautiful mentor isn¡¯t a waste of time. But I doubt you''d want to lose a capable personal mercenary over it, would you?"


    "Heh, fair enough."


    Holan smiled again. Then, with a flick of her fingers, a bundle of envelopes flew toward Caius.


    He caught them, looking puzzled. "What¡¯s this?"


    "My personal commission," Holan said. "Aren¡¯t you heading back to Ocean City? I need you to deliver some letters for me."


    "The top two envelopes contain the letters you need to deliver. The recipients and addresses are written on the back."


    "The third envelope is your recommendation letter. Keep it safe. Write your name on it, and when you reach Gold rank, bring it back to me for my seal."


    "So, what do you say? Take the job?"


    Hearing this, Caius let out a hearty laugh. "Of course!"


    "Your payment?" Holan raised an eyebrow.


    Caius pulled out the last envelope. "This right here."


    With the recommendation letter in hand, even though it wasn¡¯t sealed yet, it was as good as his. He loved this feeling.


    Holan nodded with a smile.


    She realized she had been smiling a lot in front of this big guy. Quickly regaining her composure, she put on a serious face and said, "It takes a day to get back to Ocean City. You have three days."


    "No problem. I¡¯m off!"


    Caius turned, waved his hand, and strode away with Kiki following behind.


    Watching Caius¡¯s departing figure, then looking at the steaming floral tea in her hands, Holan¡¯s previously restrained smile reappeared.


    "Interesting big guy."


    ¡­¡­


    As they stepped out of the library, Caius stretched lazily, feeling rather pleased.


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    "Big guy, does this mean you¡¯ll get into Hydis Academy soon, meow?"


    Kiki asked excitedly.


    Though she didn¡¯t fully grasp the conversation between Caius and Holan, she had understood one thing¡ªCaius had secured a chance to enter Hydis Magic Academy.


    Right now, Kiki¡¯s eyes were filled with admiration. She thought Caius was a smart big guy.


    Indeed, selling the Wolf Demon cheaply had paid off!


    However, Caius shook his head. "Not yet. We still have to compete for the other external admission slots."


    "Why, meow?" Kiki tilted her head in confusion. "Isn''t the recommendation letter enough?"


    Caius chuckled, ruffling the little catgirl¡¯s head. "Did you forget about yourself?"


    "There¡¯s only one recommendation letter. I still need to secure a spot for you too."


    "Oh!" Kiki suddenly realized. Then, looking at Caius with sparkling eyes, she said emotionally, "Big guy, you¡¯re so kind¡­"


    "Call me Caius. Stop with the ¡®big guy¡¯ thing."


    "Got it, meow~"


    "Caius, meow~"


    After retrieving his beloved warhammer, Caius left the academy. Outside, Geoffrey and the others were already waiting.


    They didn¡¯t ask about his conversation with Holan. Without much delay, the group mounted their beast-drawn carriage and set off on their return journey.


    With no cargo, the carriage moved much faster. What was originally a two-day trip would now only take a day and a night.


    Ironically, they hadn¡¯t encountered bandits on their way there, but they did on their way back.


    A full gang of eighteen bandits.


    As a result, Caius now had twelve curved blades, six sets of bows and arrows to sell, plus an extra two hundred gold coins and fifty silver coins in his pouch, along with some miscellaneous copper coins.


    Honestly, he often felt that the world was full of kind people.


    The group didn¡¯t stop to rest that night, taking turns to keep watch as they traveled straight through. By the time they arrived in Ocean City, the sun was shining brightly¡ªit was around ten in the morning.


    "Little kitty, time to wake up."


    Caius sighed, looking helplessly at Kiki, who was curled up in his arms.


    She had taken the last night watch shift, so she¡¯d slept all the way here.


    But why had she ended up climbing onto him in her sleep again?


    Upon entering the city, they parted ways.


    Kiki needed to go with Geoffrey to the magic potion shop to terminate her employment contract before rejoining Caius.


    Before leaving, Geoffrey handed Caius a task token¡ªa wooden token issued by the Mercenary Guild to quest clients. Once a mercenary completed a task, they had to return the token as proof of completion.


    If a token was lost, the client would have to provide an alternative confirmation or appear in person.


    And if the client was gone¡­ well, then tough luck on completing the quest.


    With the token in hand, Caius bid farewell to Kiki and headed straight for the mercenary tavern¡ªHailan No. 11.


    The moment he pushed open the door, the familiar weight of gazes fell upon him.


    But this time, most people only glanced at him before looking away. Coincidentally, the burly, bearded man who had chatted with him before was also there.


    "Well, kid, where the hell have you been these past few days? I thought you were dead!"


    The big man bellowed, drawing laughter from the nearby mercenaries.


    His words were crude, but there was no malice in them.


    Caius grinned. "If I die, it¡¯ll only be after I become Legendary!"


    The laughter grew louder.


    Ignoring the banter, Caius strode to the bar and flicked his fingers. The task token landed neatly in Yvlan¡¯s empty cup.


    Yvlan poured it out, glanced at it, then nodded. "Task complete. Payment settled."


    "So you were off on a mission, huh?" The bearded man mused.


    "You didn¡¯t just help some old lady find her dentures, did you?"


    A lanky mercenary joked, triggering another round of chuckles.


    Caius merely smiled, saying nothing. He knew that earning these veterans¡¯ respect required strength, not words.


    Then, a dull thud echoed through the tavern, accompanied by the clinking of metal.


    The laughter gradually died down as the mercenaries stared at the pouch Yvlan had placed on the counter.


    It was full of gold coins.


    They were all seasoned mercenaries. Just from the weight, they could tell¡ªthere was at least a thousand gold inside.


    Caius picked it up and casually weighed it in his palm, letting the coins clink melodiously.


    "You wouldn¡¯t believe it, but that old lady¡¯s dentures were gold-plated and encrusted with gems. Paid handsomely."


    His voice dripped with sarcasm.


    The lanky mercenary¡¯s face turned red as the tavern erupted into laughter once more.


    Caius grinned and placed the pouch back on the counter. He looked at Yvlan and tilted his chin. "Remember what I said?"


    Yvlan raised a brow. "You¡¯re serious?"


    "Of course. And if I¡¯m buying, I¡¯m buying the best¡ªrum sounds perfect."


    Yvlan blinked. "You do know the price, right?"


    Caius smirked. "I love jokes, but not right now. Do it."


    Yvlan burst into laughter. "Rejoice, lads!"


    "This big fool is treating everyone to rum!"


    The tavern roared with cheers.


    Caius leaned back, savoring the moment.


    This was exactly why he loved being a mercenary.

 Chapter 18

    On this particular day, the entire Hailan No. 11 was filled with a lively and cheerful atmosphere.


    Don¡¯t be fooled by the fact that it was just a mug of rum worth eight silver coins¡ªthis free rum brought the simplest and most fulfilling joy to these mercenaries.


    Normally, most mercenaries could only afford to drink rye beer, so when someone was generous enough to treat them to rum, they were beyond delighted!


    Delighted to the point of exhilaration!


    One mug was not enough¡ªafter the first, they had to pay for the second themselves. But they didn¡¯t care. What mattered was the excitement of the moment!


    As a result, even before noon, quite a few mercenaries were already drunk.


    Some even got so carried away that they jumped onto the tables, holding hands and breaking into a lively tap dance.


    A bearded man raised his mug, belting out a song at the top of his lungs. And truth be told, his rough voice had a certain charm to it.


    The tavern¡¯s musicians, who usually slacked off, were now happily strumming their harps and beating their drums in accompaniment. Many mercenaries joined in, singing along with the bearded man.


    "Oh, happy Gorlan, swinging his sword, sailing his ship, Drinking his rum, singing his song amidst the ocean waves~ He says, hey! Brother! I ain¡¯t no sailor, nor a pirate, I¡¯m just an old mercenary who loves his drink! Hey, mate on the ship ahead, got any booze to spare me?"


    The song "Gorlan: The Sea''s Old Mercenary" echoed throughout the tavern. It wasn¡¯t exactly a masterpiece, nor was it particularly pleasant to the ears¡ªjust a simple and catchy drinking song. But its infectious melody soon had Caius humming along unconsciously.


    "Kid, this drink is on me!" The slightly tipsy bearded man raised his mug and slung an arm around Caius¡¯s shoulders with a hearty laugh.


    "Cheers!"


    Naturally, Caius didn¡¯t refuse. He took the mug handed to him by Yvlan and clinked it against the bearded man¡¯s.


    "Cheers!"


    "Ah¡ªnow that hits the spot!"


    "Haven¡¯t seen a rookie this well-suited to being a mercenary in a long time!"


    "Lads, shouldn¡¯t we toast him?"


    "Damn right!" The mercenaries roared with laughter, raising their mugs high.


    Look at this treatment¡ªif you¡¯re willing to spend, you¡¯ll be treated like royalty!


    Mercenaries were never stingy when it came to toasting the one footing the bill!


    After downing several mugs in succession, Caius¡¯s face took on a slight flush.


    The mugs here were massive, more like small barrels. The bottom alone was the size of a fist, and each held over a liter of alcohol.


    Still, despite the slight flush, Caius didn¡¯t even feel tipsy. One of the perks of his giant-blooded physique was his monstrous alcohol tolerance!


    Of course, he wasn¡¯t about to show that off¡ªafter all, tipsy mercenaries were the most entertaining mercenaries.


    At times like these, they spoke their minds, especially when faced with a generous benefactor.


    They were more than willing to share information.


    That was one of the reasons Caius had treated the entire tavern!


    The other reason? Simply because it felt good.


    This was his first time celebrating since returning to the mercenary life. Without his former comrades to raise a toast with, he might as well celebrate with the entire tavern of mercenaries.


    After all, what was five or six hundred gold coins? Caius didn¡¯t even bat an eye at such an amount.


    As he strolled around the tavern, clinking mugs and exchanging banter, he picked up quite a few tidbits of information.


    Some were broad¡ªlike the rivalries between gangs in Ocean City and the scheming among chambers of commerce.


    Some were more practical¡ªsuch as which magic potion and weapon shops offered the best value, which chamber of commerce had posted a series of quests, which mercenary groups were best left undisturbed, and the characteristics and personalities of various gang leaders.


    For just a few hundred gold coins, Caius gained a rapid understanding of Ocean City, this wild and untamed metropolis.


    If he had tried to gather this information on his own, he might have spent far less money¡ªbut the time cost would have been astronomical.


    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    And to Caius, money was important, but there were many things ranked above it.


    Fame, joy, tobacco¡ªamong them, time was at the top of the list.


    After all, the time spent gathering intelligence could instead be used to complete missions and earn who knows how many five-hundred-gold rewards.


    By the time he had made his rounds, noon had arrived. Some mercenaries were already passed out drunk, while others, still riding the buzz, continued their boisterous chatter, filling the tavern with noise.


    Caius rather enjoyed this atmosphere.


    He made his way to the counter and ordered some food. Yvlan brought his meal to him, along with the now much lighter coin pouch.


    "That¡¯s a total of 531 gold and 2 silver," Yvlan said.


    "You¡¯re really generous, huh?"


    "Generosity wins friends," Caius chuckled and turned to the mercenaries. "Ain¡¯t that right, lads?"


    "Damn right!" the mercenaries cheered in response.


    Yvlan couldn¡¯t help but smile. This big guy was quite to her liking.


    She leaned in slightly and whispered, "One big gesture is enough. Do it too often, and people will start thinking you¡¯re an easy mark."


    "Of course, I know," Caius nodded before digging into his meal.


    He understood all too well.


    Just like with Holan¡ªif he had accepted Holan¡¯s initial offer outright, she would have felt like she got a steal. But by negotiating the price down himself, he let Holan know that he was willingly letting her have the deal.


    That made the favor all the more significant.


    People often lived by their feelings, and the indirect benefits of a good impression far outweighed a mere few hundred gold coins.


    He was good at navigating these nuances, and his focus wasn¡¯t limited to the gold right in front of him.


    Making money?


    To Caius, there was nothing easier in the world. That was how confident he was.


    Just then, Yvlan asked, "By the way, I heard you took down a Wolf Demon?"


    "Oh? The boss lady sure has sharp ears," Caius remarked between bites, though he wasn¡¯t surprised.


    After all, Yvlan was practically half a broker. Middlemen like her dabbled in information trade, so it was only natural for her to be well-informed.


    Anyone who ran a mercenary tavern wasn¡¯t an ordinary person.


    "Eli sent someone to tell me. He wanted me to thank you," Yvlan said.


    "Who?" Caius asked.


    "The magic potion shop owner who hired you for that escort job."


    "Ah, I see. So, besides a verbal thank-you, is there any material gratitude?" Caius inquired.


    "You¡¯re really shameless!" Yvlan rolled her eyes.


    Just like Holan¡ªbeautiful women even made eye-rolling look good.


    ¡°Eli asked me to tell you that if you ever visit his shop, he''ll give you the biggest discount possible,¡± said Yvlan.


    ¡°That sounds great!¡± Caius chuckled and nodded. Then, as if remembering something, he asked, ¡°So, do I qualify to take the Silver-ranked mercenary promotion task now?¡±


    ¡°Of course. Do you want to take it now?¡±


    ¡°Yes, the sooner, the better. I need to reach Gold rank within a month.¡±


    ¡°Alright, wait here.¡± Yvlan nodded and turned to find a task for Caius.


    Just then, Kiki, who had severed her employment with Eli, arrived at the tavern. It was her first time entering such a place.


    A petite and adorable catgirl stepping into a tavern full of burly men was certainly an unusual sight.


    So, when Kiki pushed open the door and walked in, many pairs of eyes immediately fixed on her.


    Kiki''s fur bristled slightly.


    The way these people were looking at her was terrifying, meow...


    It wasn¡¯t hard to guess what was on the minds of a bunch of drunken men when they saw a small and cute catgirl.


    Of course, not everyone was interested in beastfolk. On this continent, beastfolk were often discriminated against.


    Most mercenaries merely stared at her without taking action, though some whistled and made teasing remarks.


    ¡°Hey, little girl, are you lost?¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t serve milk here!¡±


    ¡°Hahaha!¡±


    Kiki grew nervous and instinctively wanted to leave. But when she spotted the broad back of a familiar figure sitting at the bar, she mustered up her courage and walked further in.


    Before she could call out to Caius, a tall and thin man stepped in front of her.


    His clothes were disheveled, his face flushed red¡ªclearly drunk. The way he looked at Kiki was filled with vile desire.


    It was the same mercenary who had earlier mocked Caius¡¯s task, calling it an old lady¡¯s tooth-hunting errand.


    ¡°Heh heh, little kitty, are you lost? Want uncle here to take you home?¡±


    A dangerous aura emanated from the drunkard, making Kiki instinctively reach for the dagger at her waist while taking two steps back.


    ¡°Oh? A little wildcat, huh? Looks like I¡¯ll have to teach you a lesson~¡±


    He leered as he took a step forward, and three other mercenaries moved in as well, blocking Kiki¡¯s escape. Their faces bore wicked grins.


    Other mercenaries merely watched. Some shook their heads knowingly.


    They were all too familiar with this scene. Whenever Kalan and his gang got drunk, they couldn''t keep their hands to themselves. They¡¯d been thrown out by the tavern owner countless times for similar behavior, yet they never learned their lesson.


    Most of the bystanders were simply waiting to see how this would unfold.


    But before Yvlan could step in to stop them, a towering figure appeared behind Kalan, placing a large hand on his shoulder.


    ¡°Buddy, she¡¯s mine.¡±


    The drunken Kalan turned his head slightly and sneered when he saw Caius¡¯s simple, honest-looking smile. He spat on the ground.


    ¡°Yours? So what?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re just a Brass-ranked mercenary. You think buying a drink entitles you to my respect?¡±


    ¡°Get lost, or I¡¯ll teach you the rules of this place!¡±


    He dismissed Caius entirely and turned back to continue harassing Kiki.


    Caius grinned. If the man had chosen his words more wisely, he might have gotten away unscathed. Unfortunately, arrogant mercenaries always had to pay the price¡ªunless they had the strength to back it up.


    Everyone watched, waiting to see what would happen next.


    And Caius did not disappoint them.


    With a thunderous crash, the entire tavern trembled.


    Kalan¡¯s scruffy, unshaven face was smashed straight through a wooden table and embedded deep into the floorboards, leaving half his face stuck there.


    Caius had slammed him down with one powerful motion.


    Yet, Caius still wore his characteristic simple, honest smile. The only difference was the chilling glint in his slightly narrowed eyes.


    ¡°The rules of mercenaries are written in blood.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t need your so-called respect. But I do need your teeth to decorate the floor.¡±


    Before Kalan could struggle to rise, Caius delivered a ruthless kick to his stomach. The man curled up like a shrimp and was sent flying, crashing into the tavern wall with a resounding crack.


    ¡°Boss lady, put the damages on my tab,¡± Caius said without turning around. He then picked up a massive one-liter beer mug and walked toward Kalan.


    It was clear that he had no intention of stopping. The decisiveness and ferocity of his actions made everyone in the room suddenly realize¡ªthis newcomer was not to be trifled with.


    Even more shocking was that Kalan, a Silver-ranked eight-star mercenary, had been as fragile as a child in Caius¡¯s hands.


    ¡°No killing,¡± Yvlan reminded him, though she made no move to intervene. It was evident she approved of Caius¡¯s actions.


    Caius grinned, revealing his white teeth. His smile twisted into something sinister.


    ¡°Relax, I¡¯m not a murderer.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just curious¡ªcan a human mouth fit around this beer mug?

 Chapter 19

    As it turns out, a human mouth can indeed fit a large tankard.


    However, it requires the removal of the front teeth and a dislocated jaw.


    At this moment, Kalan lay amidst the shattered remains of tables and chairs before Caius, his face bruised and swollen, with a large tankard stuffed into his mouth¡ªhalf of it lodged inside. Blood trickled down his chin, and several teeth lay scattered on the floor.


    "Mr. Kalan, I sincerely appreciate your contribution to my research. You have satisfied my curiosity." Caius wiped the blood off his fist, his face adorned with a bright smile.


    Yet, in the eyes of those around him, that smile carried an entirely different meaning.


    It was now clear that he was neither an easy target nor a mere brawny newcomer with no real strength¡ªhe was a smiling tiger that could devour anyone in his path!


    Yvlan watched the scene unfold with keen interest.


    She had always found Kalan rather detestable. However, as an official of the Mercenary Guild, she had no grounds to bar him from the tavern unless he committed a serious offense.


    Now that Caius had given him a thorough beating, she suspected that she wouldn¡¯t be seeing him around for quite some time.


    Moreover, she could tell that Caius was making a statement.


    First, he had bought drinks for the entire tavern; then, he had picked an unlucky fool to make an example of. A carrot and a stick¡ªmore than enough to make those eyeing him as an easy mark reconsider their intentions.


    The results were evident. At the very least, the mercenaries in the tavern now regarded Caius with newfound respect, and those who thrived on chaos even seemed to admire him.


    Take that burly bearded man, for instance.


    "Nicely done, Caius! I''ve been sick of that bastard for ages!" The bearded man, holding a tankard, swaggered over and leaned against Caius'' sturdy frame, gesturing at the unconscious Kalan.


    "No manners at all, harassing women like that¡ªhe''s a disgrace to mercenaries!" he spat disdainfully onto Kalan.


    "Hahaha!" Laughter erupted from his teammates, the absurdity of the moment striking their funny bone.


    Caius joined in the laughter as well.


    Yvlan soon had the mess cleaned up. The damaged walls, tables, and chairs cost Caius a mere ten gold coins as compensation.


    As for Kalan, he was thrown out. To avoid disturbing the other patrons, he and his three companions¡ªall sporting bruised faces, though in slightly better condition than Kalan¡ªwere discreetly tossed out through the side door.


    After all, they had realized their hopeless odds after just one punch from Caius, choosing to keep their mouths shut rather than resist in vain.


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    Such incidents were commonplace, and soon the tavern returned to its usual lively atmosphere. Mercenaries resumed their banter and drinking, as if nothing had happened.


    But they all knew¡ªanother formidable figure had arrived in Ocean City.


    And soon, the news would spread like wildfire among the boastful and gossip-hungry mercenaries.


    "Big guy, thanks, Meow~" Kiki beamed at Caius, clutching a cup of milk¡ªevidence that, in fact, the tavern did serve milk.


    To her, Caius had looked absolutely dashing when he stepped in to defend her and delivered a brutal beating to those rogue mercenaries.


    His straightforward punches were like siege artillery shells, each one making her heart pound with excitement.


    "Call me Caius." He continued eating his meal.


    Tonight¡¯s dish was seafood rice, which Caius found far tastier than chicken rice¡ªlikely because Ocean City was situated by the sea, making its seafood exceptionally fresh. That much could be gathered from the mercenaries¡¯ conversations.


    He swiftly finished the last bite¡ªmercenaries had good table manners, always clearing their plates.


    Wiping his mouth, Caius turned to Yvlan. "Boss, help register this little catgirl as a mercenary."


    "You mean me, Meow?!" Kiki raised her hand excitedly.


    Yvlan had taken a liking to the adorable catgirl and promptly processed her mercenary registration.


    "Are you forming a mercenary team?" Yvlan asked, handing Caius a compiled list of advancement tasks.


    "Yeah." Caius nodded, glancing at the tasks¡ªthen frowned. "This many?"


    He had expected only three advancement tasks, but there were twelve, including three Gold-ranked missions.


    "You want to reach Gold rank quickly, don¡¯t you? So I figured I''d prepare everything for you in one go," Yvlan explained. "After completing the three Silver advancement tasks, you¡¯ll need to consecutively finish six more Silver missions to qualify for Gold rank."


    "Note¡ªthese must be completed consecutively. If you fail even once, you''ll have to start over."


    "And those three Gold missions? They¡¯re the ones I¡¯ve chosen for your Gold rank promotion."


    "These are the best high-paying jobs I have. You better complete them properly."


    Hearing this, Caius chuckled. "So, I¡¯m your star mercenary now, huh?"


    "Heh, depends on your performance." Yvlan lit a cigarette, her crimson lips pursed as she took a deep drag before exhaling smoke directly into Caius¡¯ face.


    If a man did that, it would be a provocation.


    But if a woman did it¡­


    Heh heh heh¡­


    "Then I humbly accept the title." Caius pocketed the task list.


    Yvlan nodded in satisfaction.


    In truth, she had given him these prized missions not just because she thought highly of him, but also for another reason.


    Caius had slain a Wolf Demon¡ªalone, in direct combat, without any trickery. That feat had far exceeded Yvlan¡¯s expectations.


    Thus, she judged that Caius¡¯ strength was well above Gold rank¡ªat least Gold five-star.


    Ocean City was vast. There were at least seven or eight taverns like hers in the outer city, not to mention the even larger mercenary taverns in the inner city.


    In this competitive environment, she was merely a small-time broker.


    But she had ambition.


    The top brokers weren¡¯t just skilled negotiators¡ªthey also commanded elite mercenaries capable of handling high-stakes missions.


    And that was what Yvlan lacked. Her tavern mostly catered to Brass- and Silver-ranked mercenaries, with only two Gold-ranked ones¡ªone of whom had recently died.


    She desperately needed more elite fighters.


    Caius¡¯ arrival perfectly filled that void, so she was more than willing to offer him preferential treatment to keep him around.


    Those high-paying jobs had been piling up for a while. If they remained unfinished, her reputation would suffer, and even fewer high-profile clients would seek her services.


    And since Caius aimed to reach Gold rank within a month, she decided to take a gamble¡ªbetting that he could complete these missions brilliantly within that time frame.


    If he succeeded, her name would spread far and wide, attracting more high-profile commissions.


    In Ocean City, even a woman could dream of becoming a legend.


    Caius sought to become a Legendary Mercenary.


    And she?


    A Legendary Broker would do just fine.

 Chapter 20

    "By the way, boss lady, Hydis Magic Academy will be granting slots for external assignments in a month. Can you get one here?" Caius suddenly asked.


    "Hydis?" Yvlan raised an eyebrow while wiping a glass. "Then I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll be disappointed. My tavern isn¡¯t big enough to qualify. Those slots will be in the hands of the old-timers in the inner city."


    "As for the outer city¡­ probably only that mercenary tavern in the east will get one slot."


    "No way. Even someone as capable as you doesn¡¯t qualify? Are they blind?" Caius exaggerated.


    Yvlan was quite pleased by the remark and huffed, "Who says they aren¡¯t?"


    "They look down on me because I¡¯m a woman. They think I can¡¯t handle big things."


    She seemed somewhat indignant but soon shook her head and sighed. "But they¡¯re not entirely wrong. In this line of work, men do have an advantage."


    Caius¡¯s eyes flickered.


    He caught the deeper meaning behind Yvlan¡¯s words.


    Men have an advantage in this line of work?


    No, compared to men, women actually have more advantages¡ªespecially beautiful women.


    However, it was clear that Yvlan had no intention of leveraging that "advantage." Otherwise, this place would undoubtedly have a lot more "customers."


    Caius had already noticed¡ªno mercenary in the tavern dared to whistle at Yvlan.


    Because of that, he actually admired this beautiful tavern owner quite a bit. But right now, she clearly needed a little motivation.


    Taking a sip of his drink, he said, "So, you¡¯re just giving up?"


    Yvlan paused her glass-wiping for a moment before turning to face Caius. His face bore a faint smile, which inexplicably irked her.


    "Of course not. Otherwise, do you think I gave you those jobs because you¡¯re handsome?" Yvlan glared at Caius.


    "Isn¡¯t that the case?" Caius stroked his chin, then turned to Kiki. "Am I not handsome?"


    Kiki: "Very handsome, meow!"


    Caius turned back, raising his chin at Yvlan in a teasing manner. "As everyone knows, catfolk never lie."


    Yvlan chuckled. This kid could really talk. She had never heard of this so-called "everyone knows."


    She sighed helplessly. "So, what do you want to do?"


    "If I get you the qualifications, can you secure an external assignment slot?" Caius asked.


    "Of course!" Yvlan¡¯s competitiveness was stirred. "The slots are mainly distributed by the Guild."


    "Hydis Academy grants the slots to the Guild, and the Guild distributes them to its branches."


    "The tavern essentially acts as a branch of the Mercenary Guild."


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    "Branches follow a rating system, evaluated every month. Only those rated at least two stars in a given month have a chance to get a slot."


    "A chance, mind you."


    "And that¡¯s assuming there are enough slots available. If not, higher-rated mercenary taverns get priority."


    "Hailan No. 11 is a tavern I opened two years ago. Our monthly rating has always been two stars."


    "That meets the minimum requirement, but in the past two years, I haven¡¯t managed to get even a single slot!"


    She was clearly frustrated, her tone sharp.


    "Because there¡¯s another tavern in the outer city that maintains a stable three-star rating. Last time, they got two slots, and I still got nothing."


    "So, if I want to secure a slot, I have to raise the tavern¡¯s rating to three stars within the next half month."


    "How do you do that?" Caius asked.


    "It depends on the tavern¡¯s monthly revenue and the level of commissions it takes. I did the calculations¡ªmy monthly revenue already meets the three-star standard. But our commission level isn¡¯t high enough," Yvlan said.


    "If I can accept ten Gold-tier missions this month and maintain an 80% completion rate, then my rating next month will be three stars."


    "If Hydis Academy grants over 150 slots, I will definitely get one!"


    Snap!


    Caius snapped his fingers, leaving Yvlan puzzled.


    "Done. I have insider info¡ªthis time, there will be over 180 slots." Caius grinned.


    Yvlan was stunned. This guy had only just arrived in Ocean City, and he was already making connections and getting insider information?


    Then, growing excited, she asked, "So, you mean¡­?"


    Caius stood up, waved at Kiki, and headed for the door. His confident voice rang out, "I¡¯ll handle the rating, you handle getting me the slot."


    Yvlan, startled, hurriedly vaulted over the bar and chased after him. "How exactly are you going to do that?"


    "Just so you know, those three Gold-tier missions were the only three I managed to get as free commissions. There are no more."


    To upgrade the tavern¡¯s rating, they needed free commissions¡ªmissions submitted by a third party, accepted and distributed by the tavern.


    Guild missions, on the other hand, were public, long-term assignments issued by the Guild itself. These didn¡¯t count toward a tavern¡¯s rating or a mercenary¡¯s rank advancement.


    "Sponsorships. That¡¯s my specialty. Just wait and see." Caius walked off without looking back, leaving Yvlan standing at the entrance, watching his departing figure.


    Her fists clenched slightly as she murmured, "Maybe¡­ it really is possible?"


    ¡­¡­


    "Big guy, can you really do it?" Kiki hopped along beside Caius, joyfully inspecting her newly acquired mercenary ID while curiously asking.


    "With me, nothing¡¯s impossible." Caius laughed heartily, then began organizing his thoughts.


    First, he had to deliver Holan¡¯s letter. That was urgent¡ªonly three days to complete, and today was the second day, so he had to take care of it soon.


    Second, he needed to reach Gold-tier mercenary rank within a month. That was a given. He had already reviewed the requirements, and they weren¡¯t difficult for him.


    Third, he needed to secure sponsors¡ªor rather, secure missions.


    According to the rules posted in the tavern, a mission qualified as Gold-tier either by its level of danger or by the rank of the target involved.


    So, his next step was to find people capable of issuing Gold-tier commissions and have them submit their requests through Yvlan¡¯s tavern. That way, private jobs would become Guild-registered missions.


    Then, by completing those missions, they would count toward Yvlan and Hailan No. 11.


    Even though middleman fees made this route pricier, Caius didn¡¯t care.


    Yvlan would know how to handle the business, and at worst, he could take a slight pay cut. Gold-tier missions ranged from 1,000 to 5,000 in commission fees¡ªlosing a bit wouldn¡¯t hurt him. He wasn¡¯t strapped for cash.


    What mattered most was building his reputation¡ªand securing an external assignment slot for Kiki.


    As for finding people to issue Gold-tier commissions¡­


    Caius figured the lovely Instructor Holan might be willing to help.


    Or, he could go for another method¡ªone he had used in his past life, which was very practical and effective.


    The downside? It tended to get him beaten up.


    What method?


    Simple¡ªhe¡¯d camp outside Yvlan¡¯s competitor, the other three-star tavern, and poach their clients.


    Since commission issuers had to visit a mercenary tavern to submit requests, he¡¯d intercept them at the entrance¡ªgrabbing, persuading, even sweet-talking them into transferring their tasks to Hailan No. 11.


    A bit underhanded? Maybe.


    But Caius didn¡¯t care. Business was business.


    Besides, if he became well-known, he might not even need to steal clients¡ªthey would come to him naturally.


    With everything sorted out, Caius snapped his fingers. "Let¡¯s go, Kiki. Time to deliver that letter."


    "Got it, meow!"

 Chapter 21

    As Caius walked down the street, he flipped the envelope over to check the back.


    The address was 1103 Haila Street, Outer District, Ocean City.


    The recipient was...


    "Belle?" Caius blinked.


    Just a single name, Belle, without a surname. That was rather unusual.


    Having no surname usually meant having no Clan.


    Recalling what Ms. Holan had said¡ªthat this student needed the spot more than she did¡ªCaius speculated that the recipient might not come from a well-off family.


    Still, he didn¡¯t dwell on it. After all, he was just here to deliver a letter. His conjectures were nothing more than professional habit.


    A mercenary couldn¡¯t rely solely on brute strength; a sharp mind was just as essential.


    Before long, Caius arrived at the address.


    It was a large courtyard, but large didn¡¯t necessarily mean luxurious.


    The courtyard before him looked rather shabby. The fence was wooden, and the house was a two-story square building arranged in a triangular layout. It was built with a mix of wood and stone, and the outer walls were covered in creeping vines, showing clear signs of age.


    Inside the courtyard, there was a sandbox where a few modestly dressed children were playing.


    Above the entrance hung a slightly rusted tin sign, loosely attached, with several large characters written on it.


    ¡°Lunla Orphanage?¡± Caius glanced at the envelope, then at the address.


    Confirmed. This was the place.


    "Should we just go in, Meow?" Kiki asked.


    "Yeah." Caius nodded and pushed the door open.


    As Caius and Kiki stepped into the courtyard, the children noticed the unfamiliar visitors and immediately abandoned their simple wooden toys, dashing back into the house.


    Caius followed, but instead of barging in, he knocked on the door.


    Soon, footsteps approached from inside. Caius waited patiently for a moment before the door creaked open.


    An elderly woman with silver hair stood before him.


    "And you are?" she asked, her gaze filled with curiosity.


    "Hello, I¡¯m from Hydis," Caius replied smoothly.


    The title of mercenary wasn¡¯t suitable for addressing an ordinary elderly citizen. To many commoners, mercenaries weren¡¯t exactly viewed as upstanding individuals.


    From his past life experience, Caius knew better, so he chose a different approach.


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    It wasn¡¯t a lie¡ªhe had indeed just come from Hydis Magic Academy.


    "Hydis Academy?" The old woman¡¯s face brightened with a warm smile. Perhaps it was his imagination, but he sensed a hint of expectation in her eyes.


    "Child, what brings you here?" she asked.


    "Oh, I¡¯m here to deliver a letter. It¡¯s addressed to someone named ¡®Belle.¡¯ Is she here?" Caius spoke gently, his demeanor completely different from the ruthless one he had when thrashing Kalan earlier.


    "A letter for Belle?" The old woman¡¯s smile widened with delight. She turned back toward the house and called out, "Nana, you have a letter! It¡¯s from Hydis Academy!"


    Immediately, Caius heard the hurried sound of footsteps rushing down the stairs.


    But the footsteps soon turned into a loud crash.


    The old woman gasped and forgot all about Caius at the door as she hurried inside, her voice a mix of concern and mild scolding.


    "Oh dear, be careful! So clumsy¡ªhow can I let you go so far away like this?"


    "Are you hurt?"


    "I¡¯m fine, Lunla Grandma¡­"


    Caius had sharp ears and caught every word.


    So, this kind old woman was Lunla. She must be a kind-hearted soul to have taken in so many children.


    But what intrigued him more was the other voice.


    It was soft and light, like the gentle brush of a cat¡¯s paw, making Caius¡¯s heart itch with curiosity.


    He found himself anticipating what the owner of this voice might look like.


    And soon enough, he saw her¡ªor rather, almost saw her.


    A tall girl appeared before Caius.


    He called her tall because she stood a full head taller than Kiki.


    Kiki was just over 1.5 meters tall, and this girl was probably around 1.75 meters.


    But she was wrapped up tightly from head to toe.


    She wore loose-fitting pants that seemed to be handwoven. The fabric was coarse and oversized, hanging baggily on her frame and nearly touching the ground.


    As a result, Caius couldn¡¯t see the shape of her legs¡ªonly that they weren¡¯t short.


    Her upper body was even more bundled up.


    Despite the summer heat, she wore a high-collared, hand-knit linen sweater.


    The collar resembled those worn by cloaked vampires in movies. However, while a vampire¡¯s cloak flared open at the sides, this girl¡¯s sweater collar fit snugly around her lower face, covering everything below her nose.


    That wasn¡¯t all¡ªher chestnut-colored short hair, styled like a perfectly rounded cap, covered her upper face entirely, even obscuring her eyes.


    To top it off, she wore a round, puffy beret.


    With the high-collared sweater below and the mushroom-like cap above, her 1.75-meter-tall figure stood stiffly in place.


    For a moment, Caius thought a giant mushroom had sprouted in front of him.


    What kind of outfit was this?


    He nearly burst out laughing.


    Thankfully, he was a tough man and managed to hold it in.


    Laughing at someone upon their first meeting wouldn¡¯t be appropriate.


    Although her attire was outdated and unfashionable, and she was completely covered up, Caius had a keen eye for beauty beyond mere appearances.


    First, the only part of her face he could see was the tip of her nose.


    It was small, delicate, and from this angle, quite refined and well-shaped. This suggested she had a good nose structure overall.


    And judging by her nose, he could infer her skin condition.


    Her nose was fair and smooth, with barely visible pores, indicating clear and flawless skin.


    As the saying goes, "Fair skin covers a hundred flaws." With skin this pristine, she was unlikely to be unattractive.


    Next, her physique.


    Despite being bundled up, Caius could observe her hands and feet.


    She wore simple fabric shoes, approximately a size 38.


    Most women¡¯s shoe sizes were under 38.


    Yet at 1.75 meters tall, her foot size should typically be around 40. Wearing a size 38 meant she had notably small feet.


    Her hands, mostly hidden in oversized sleeves, only revealed a small portion of her fingers¡ªround, slender, and neatly trimmed.


    From the size and shape of her fingers, Caius deduced that she wasn¡¯t overweight.


    From this, he was nearly certain:


    This girl, despite revealing less than 2% of her body, had a great figure.


    Seriously, 1.75 meters tall with long legs and a slim build?


    As long as she wasn¡¯t as thin as a stick insect, she was bound to have a nice figure.


    As for her looks¡­


    Though he couldn¡¯t see her full face, her height and proportions alone meant she had a solid baseline.


    Plus, her voice was so pleasing.


    If a passing grade was 60, this girl had to be at least a 70.


    Holan and Yvlan were around 90.


    As for Hilda¡­ she was a 99 in Caius¡¯s personal ranking system.


    Why not a perfect score?


    Because the final point depended on personality.


    To get a full 100, he¡¯d have to get to know her better first.

 Chapter 22

    "Hello, are you... uh, are you Lady Belle?" Caius asked politely.


    "Y-Yes..." The girl nodded lightly, her voice barely audible. She seemed nervous, even stuttering a bit.


    Because of her high-collared sweater, her voice sounded a little muffled, yet there was still a soft, gentle tone to it. It made Caius want to pull down her collar just to hear her real voice properly.


    Of course, he wasn''t that rude. He was a well-mannered mercenary, after all.


    He called it¡ªMercleman, short for Mercenary Gentleman.


    "Here, this is for you." Saying that, Caius handed over the two envelopes.


    The girl quickly reached out with both hands to receive them. As she lifted her arms, the sleeves of her sweater slid down slightly, revealing her slender wrists.


    Confirmed. Very fair-skinned. Not chubby, but not overly thin either!


    Once again, Caius marveled at his damn keen sense of observation. It was seriously amazing!


    Don''t get the wrong idea¡ªhaving sharp observation skills was completely normal for a mercenary. It was definitely not because he was some kind of pervert.


    Thus, in Caius'' mind, this timid, earthy-looking "mushroom girl" just earned another five points.


    Not too plump, not a walking twig, plus her height¡ªhmm.


    This wasn¡¯t some plain mushroom girl. This was a hidden gem!


    Of course, what kind of treasure was inside still depended on what her face looked like.


    Yes, Caius was that kind of person¡ªboth lowbrow and noble at the same time.


    What, where was the nobility?


    It was in the fact that he was always extremely gentle and patient with girls.


    After handing over the letter, the mission was complete, but Caius didn¡¯t leave immediately. Instead, he smiled and said, "Aren¡¯t you going to open it? This is personally entrusted to you by Mentor Holan."


    Caius could guess what was inside.


    What he was really looking forward to was Belle¡¯s reaction. Maybe, in a moment of excitement, she would lift her head, and he could finally see her face.


    Hearing this, Belle nodded slightly. Then, looking both excited and nervous, she carefully opened the envelope, seemingly forgetting that Caius and Kiki were still there.


    Inside, she found a letter and a badge engraved with the emblem of Hydis Magic Academy.


    She stared at the letter¡­ though Caius had no idea if she could actually see it. Her bangs covered her eyes completely, yet she seemed to have no trouble reading it.


    Her hands started trembling slightly, and then she suddenly covered her mouth¡­ the mouth already hidden behind her high collar.


    A faint sobbing sound escaped.


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    "Well?" Granny Lunla asked anxiously from the side.


    "I... I got into... Hydis Magic Academy..." Belle choked out. In the next moment, she threw herself into Granny Lunla¡¯s arms, sobbing uncontrollably, as if years of pent-up emotions had finally been released.


    Caius felt a pang of emotion.


    In his previous life, he had seen many children born in the wastelands work tirelessly to get into corporate academies. And when they finally succeeded, they would cry tears of joy in their families'' embrace. Even battle-hardened mercenaries couldn¡¯t remain indifferent to such moments.


    But once those kids entered the academy, they often forgot where they came from. Eventually, they became the corporation¡¯s dogs, oppressing the wastelanders¡ªbefore becoming just another corpse under his blade.


    He hoped this mushroom girl in front of him wouldn¡¯t end up like them. That she wouldn¡¯t forget where she came from.


    "Alright, mission accomplished. Wishing you all happiness every day. Goodbye." Saying this, Caius waved his hand, preparing to leave with Kiki.


    But at that moment, a soft voice called out, "W-Wait..."


    Caius turned back. "Something else?"


    Belle stood there, hands clenched together. She was still sniffling from crying earlier, her small nose twitching, and her chest rising and falling with her breaths. Even her loose sweater couldn''t hide it.


    Hmm. Not bad. Another five points.


    Eighty points now. Keep going, young lady.


    "A-Are you a senior at Hydis Academy?" Belle asked.


    "Something like that," Caius replied lazily.


    "Thank you..." she said.


    "Rather than thanking me, you should thank Mentor Holan. She thinks highly of you." Caius waved his hand with a smile.


    Although he didn¡¯t know much, saying good things was easy.


    But Belle didn¡¯t respond, which made Caius frown slightly.


    Did he say something wrong?


    That shouldn¡¯t be the case. Based on his assessment, Holan clearly valued Belle¡ªotherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have sent him all this way to deliver a letter, let alone include the academy badge. That was practically a guaranteed admission offer.


    Shouldn¡¯t she be happy?


    The next moment, Belle took a step forward, holding out the letter and the badge toward Caius.


    His heart skipped a beat. He didn¡¯t take them.


    Oh no. Please don¡¯t tell me she wants me to return them.


    That would mean she was giving up her chance to enter Hydis Academy. If that happened, Holan would definitely be affected.


    As mentioned before, people live by emotions. If Holan was troubled by this, then Caius¡ªwho still needed her help¡ªwould be affected too.


    Although he didn¡¯t think Holan was the type to hold grudges, if she became depressed over this for a long time, it wouldn¡¯t be the right time to ask her for favors.


    In short¡ªCaius did not want this to happen.


    But fate had other plans.


    Belle¡¯s trembling voice reached his ears. "C-Can you¡­ return these¡­ to Mentor Holan for me?"


    Caius wiped his face and asked, "Why? You don¡¯t want to go to Hydis Academy?"


    "I¡­" Belle¡¯s voice trembled even more. "I want to¡­ but¡­"


    "I can¡¯t leave Granny Lunla¡­" As she spoke, her sobs overwhelmed her.


    "Oh, you foolish child!" Before Caius could say anything, Granny Lunla rushed over anxiously.


    She quickly apologized to Caius before pulling Belle aside, speaking to her in hushed tones under the eaves.


    Of course, with Caius'' sharp hearing, he caught every word.


    "Haven¡¯t you always wanted to go to Hydis Academy?"


    "Isn¡¯t this your dream?"


    "Now that you can go, why are you hesitating?"


    "But¡­" Belle sobbed quietly. Even her crying was soft and restrained.


    "You and the little ones need someone to take care of you¡­ I can¡¯t leave you¡­"


    Hearing this, Granny Lunla fell silent. After a long moment, she finally said, "Even if I can¡¯t sell at the market anymore, I can still weave clothes. The orphanage can survive¡­"


    "No, it can¡¯t¡­" Belle whispered, her voice soft but firm.


    "Knitting sweaters won¡¯t feed the little ones¡­ Granny Lunla, I won¡¯t go to school¡­"


    "I don¡¯t want to go to school¡­"


    "Please, let me stay here and take care of everyone¡­"


    "I don¡¯t want to go¡­" She said it again, but her voice became more choked.


    Caius could hear the unwillingness in her voice.


    Did she not want to go? Or was she simply unable to?


    He let out a slow breath, took out a cigarette, and lit it.


    Why did things like this always happen around him? In his past life, and now again in this one.


    No wonder old Chris used to say he¡¯d never become a Legendary Mercenary.


    Because Legendary Mercenaries didn¡¯t meddle in affairs like this.


    But then, a thought struck Caius.


    This world was different.


    Here, strength ruled. If one reached the peak, they could crush all obstacles.


    Even becoming a legend was not the end.


    So why should he follow the rules of his past life?


    Screw that.


    This world¡­ was amazing.

 Chapter 23

    Under Lunla Grandma¡¯s comforting presence, Belle gradually stopped crying.


    In the end, she handed the envelope and academy emblem to Lunla Grandma, then bowed to Caius before returning inside.


    Faintly, voices of her and the little girls inside could be heard.


    "Belle-sis, are you leaving?"


    "No, sis isn''t leaving¡­"


    "That''s great! Belle-sis isn¡¯t leaving!"


    Children couldn¡¯t understand the pain within. Their innocent words were like steel needles piercing Belle¡¯s heart¡ªit must have hurt.


    Yet, her voice remained gentle, carrying a smile.


    "Mm, not leaving, not leaving¡­"


    Caius listened in silence, then frowned slightly.


    The cigarette in his mouth was almost burnt out. He hadn¡¯t spat it out in time, and since it didn¡¯t have a filter, his lips were slightly scorched.


    Beside him, Kiki¡¯s eyes were slightly red from what had just happened. At this moment, she was at a loss on how to look at Caius.


    Tossing the cigarette butt aside and crushing it underfoot, Caius ruffled the little catgirl¡¯s head before looking at Lunla Grandma as she approached.


    "Child, I''m entrusting this to you¡­" she said, solemnly holding out the envelope and emblem to Caius, her expression tinged with sorrow.


    Her hands trembled slightly, her gaze never leaving the envelope and emblem, eyes filled with pain.


    But Caius merely chuckled, taking the items without putting them away. Instead, he said, "Let me reintroduce myself. My name is Caius. I¡¯m a mercenary."


    Lunla Grandma was taken aback. "You¡­ you¡¯re not a student of Hydis?"


    "Not exactly," Caius grinned. "I¡¯m just a mercenary delivering a letter from Hydis Magic Academy."


    "Now, I have a proposal. Would you like to hear it?"


    Lunla Grandma, though surprised, was a seasoned elder. She quickly regained her composure. "Go ahead."


    "As you can see, I¡¯m a mercenary, and not just any mercenary¡ªI¡¯m an excellent one."


    "Do you know what makes an excellent mercenary?"


    Before Lunla Grandma could answer, Caius continued, "An excellent mercenary can complete any task!"


    "And I emphasize¡ªany task!"


    Hearing this, Lunla Grandma caught the deeper meaning in his words, her eyes lighting up with hope. "Then¡­ can you help her?"


    "I accept your commission!" Caius declared immediately.


    Lunla Grandma hesitated. Had she issued a commission?


    Was this considered a commission?


    But she could tell¡ªCaius was willing to help them.


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    "Tell me the details first," Caius said.


    "Mm¡­" Lunla Grandma nodded and began, "The orphanage used to receive support from the city, but ever since the new City Lord took office, the funding program was canceled."


    "The city¡¯s administrative office no longer provides grants to keep the orphanage running."


    "Fortunately, a few kind-hearted people adopted some of the children, but there are still four left with no home. They are too young, not even ten yet."


    "So, I¡¯ve been selling vegetables at the market to scrape by."


    "But then, a new city regulation came into effect, requiring vendors to pay taxes and stall fees. It costs 150 Gold a year, which we simply can¡¯t afford, so we were banned from selling at the market."


    "Without a permit, selling produce privately is illegal. The vegetables we grow now can only be for our own consumption."


    "But just eating vegetables isn¡¯t enough. We need rice, salt, oil, winter clothing, stored food¡­"


    "I¡¯m old. There are many things I can no longer do, and knitting sweaters doesn¡¯t bring in much money. Right now, the orphanage relies on Nannan attending school while working at a magic potion shop to support us."


    "Nannan met a great mentor¡ªone from Hydis. She came to Ocean City Academy looking for talented students to join her magic research team and took notice of Nannan."


    "Nannan is a bright child, and her mentor is kind, helping us a great deal."


    "Without her, we would have suffered even more, and the children wouldn¡¯t have been able to eat meat."


    "Even though I heard from Nannan that their research team has encountered financial difficulties recently, her mentor still hasn¡¯t stopped supporting us."


    "Originally, I wanted Nannan to attend Hydis Academy, to follow her mentor and secure a better future."


    "But recently, another new city regulation came into effect. Ocean City Academy has become a closed-campus institution, preventing Nannan from working while studying to support the orphanage. Now, we rely solely on her mentor¡¯s aid."


    "Yesterday, Nannan told me that their research project has hit a major roadblock, and funds are running out."


    "Her mentor still insists on helping us but is under immense pressure. Nannan doesn¡¯t want to burden her anymore, so she¡¯s thinking of dropping out to work instead¡­"


    "Nannan is exceptional¡ªshe could go to Hydis Academy, but she can¡¯t stop worrying about us."


    "At her age, she should be out exploring the world, not shackled by us¡­ We are the ones holding her back¡­" Lunla Grandma¡¯s eyes turned red with sorrow.


    "And even though Nannan hasn¡¯t said anything, I can tell she¡¯s being ostracized at Ocean City Academy. One day, when she came home, I saw a bruise on her forehead. When I asked, she just said it was nothing."


    "She¡¯s gentle and kind, but she¡¯s also stubborn."


    "No matter how I ask, she won¡¯t say a word. But I know¡ªshe must have suffered."


    "She claims she doesn¡¯t want to study anymore, not just because of us, but because she¡¯s being bullied at school."


    "So¡­ more than anything, I want to commission you to look into what¡¯s happening at school and help her."


    "She truly wants to continue studying. She loves learning. I beg you, please help her¡­"


    Caius was stunned. He had thought Lunla Grandma was telling him all this to ask for help getting the orphanage through hard times so that Belle could study without worry.


    But now, it seemed that wasn¡¯t the case.


    Lunla Grandma¡¯s real concern was that Belle wasn¡¯t dropping out solely because of the orphanage. The bigger reason was that she was being bullied at school.


    "What about the orphanage and the children?" Caius asked.


    "I can sell the land," Lunla Grandma said. "I hold the deed to the orphanage. If I sell it, I can take the children back to my hometown and stop burdening her. I can also pay you a commission."


    "I was ready to accept my fate, but since even you are willing to help her, as her elder, I must help her too¡ªeven if it costs me my life!"


    Caius was filled with respect. He pressed his lips together and nodded. "Then I have a better idea."


    "Why don¡¯t you sell the land to me?"


    Lunla Grandma was clearly unprepared for this possibility.


    "Yes, to me. To be honest, I just arrived in Ocean City recently and need a place to stay," Caius said. "I think this spot is nice. There¡¯s even a lake in the back¡ªperfect for fishing."


    "If you¡¯re going to sell it, why not sell it to me? I¡¯ll give you a fair price, no tricks. I¡¯ll renovate the place, and you won¡¯t have to leave. There are three houses¡ªenough for everyone."


    "That way, your financial problem is solved, and you don¡¯t have to move. It¡¯s a win-win."


    "And as for school bullying¡­ That¡¯s my specialty!"


    How to deal with school bullies?


    Simple.


    Bullying the bullies back!


    A true bully of bullies!


    Caius had experience in this¡ªhe even enjoyed it.


    Lunla Grandma stared at him, her nose tingling, tears welling in her eyes.


    "Thank you¡­ thank you¡­"


    "No need," Caius waved a hand with a grin. "This is helping myself too. Mentor Holan values Belle, and I am Mentor Holan¡¯s personal mercenary. It¡¯s my duty to help."


    "Alright, let¡¯s discuss the price of the deed."


    "Kiki."


    "On it, Meow!"


    "Go ask the Boss Lady how much land usually sells for in Ocean City."


    "Got it, Meow!"

 Chapter 24

    Lunla Orphanage, inside the house.


    Caius sat stiffly on the chair.


    There was no helping it¡ªthis chair was a bit too small for his large frame. But more than that, he was more concerned about the nervous girl in front of him, gripping her small hands tightly.


    She stood there like a lamppost, while four little girls hid behind her, peeking at Caius cautiously.


    When she learned that Caius was willing to help and that she could continue her studies, the mushroom-haired girl couldn¡¯t help but hug Grandma Lunla and cry again. It was clear how much she didn¡¯t want to give up on school.


    Because of that, she no longer insisted on dropping out. Caius was sure that if he lifted the hair covering her eyes, he¡¯d see them filled with hope.


    "Hey, there are chairs here. Why are you still standing?" Caius asked.


    "I¡­ standing is fine¡­" Belle¡¯s small voice replied.


    Grandma Lunla explained, "This child is just like that¡ªshe''s not good at dealing with strangers and gets nervous easily."


    "I can tell. But it¡¯s no big deal¡ªshe¡¯ll get used to it with time," Caius said casually.


    The room then fell into silence since Kiki hadn¡¯t returned yet.


    But Caius wasn¡¯t awkward at all. He simply sat there, openly observing the furnishings inside.


    The room was simply furnished, even a bit shabby, but it was impeccably clean, with not a speck of dust on the floor.


    Looking out the window, he saw a vegetable garden in the backyard, with plants growing vibrantly. The children weren¡¯t skin and bones, likely thanks to this garden.


    It was a shame that they couldn¡¯t sell these excellent vegetables.


    At that moment, Caius heard a faint scraping sound. Turning his head, he saw Belle had somehow moved to his side. She was pressing her finger against the base of a wooden cup, slowly pushing it toward him.


    When she saw Caius looking, she quickly retracted her hand.


    "D-drink¡­ water¡­"


    Caius chuckled, picking up the cup and downing it in one go.


    The moment he put the cup down, Belle stealthily reached out again, grabbed the cup, and quickly ran off to refill it.


    When she returned, Caius deliberately turned his head away.


    Sure enough, he soon heard the familiar sound of wood scraping against wood.


    The corners of his mouth curled into a smile.


    This girl was kind of fun.


    So, with a mischievous smirk, he suddenly turned his head.


    Belle, who had just pushed the cup in front of him, trembled in fright and immediately pulled her hand back.


    How amusing~


    Caius drained the water again.


    And Belle came to "steal" the cup again.


    Steal, refill, push¡ªthe cycle repeated.


    Caius got into the game. As long as Belle poured water, he would drink it all in one go.


    Belle, on the other hand, was inexplicably stubborn. No matter how many times he drank, she insisted on refilling the cup, as if it was an unshakable duty of hospitality.


    So, the cycle continued. Grandma Lunla watched with a bit of exasperation but also found it oddly entertaining.


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    Belle rarely interacted with strangers, let alone engaged in such a back-and-forth exchange. This was a valuable opportunity for her to practice social interaction.


    So, she didn¡¯t stop them.


    By the time Kiki returned, Caius was already full of water.


    "Where¡¯s the restroom?" he asked.


    He had drunk a bit too much, and his bladder was full.


    When he returned, sure enough, the cup was full again. Meanwhile, Kiki was now sitting in the chair he had occupied earlier, blinking her big eyes as she watched Belle slowly push a second cup toward her.


    "What are you doing, Meow?"


    Caius chuckled and turned to Kiki. "So, how is it?"


    Kiki took a sip from her cup and said, "Boss Lady said that land in the outer city is about 2,100 gold per acre right now."


    "How big is the orphanage?" Caius asked Grandma Lunla.


    "Exactly two acres," she replied.


    Caius nodded. "That¡¯s 4,200 gold. How does that price sound to you?"


    "That¡¯s¡­ too much¡­" Grandma Lunla waved her hands. "If you really want it, 2,000 gold is enough. My late husband only paid a little over 2,000 gold for this land back then. It''s not worth that much now¡­"


    "The market is different now, and there¡¯s no such thing as ¡®not worth much,¡¯" Caius said with a smile.


    He knew Grandma Lunla understood he was helping them, so she intentionally lowered the price. Otherwise, this orphanage was in a prime location¡ªnext to the market entrance, with a city lake behind it, a main road in front, and a commercial street beside it. There was no way it should be priced solely by land area.


    If he built a nice house here, the price could easily skyrocket several times over.


    After thinking for a moment, he said, "How about this¡ª3,500 gold?"


    "Consider it me getting a good deal, with the rest covering the commission."


    Grandma Lunla hesitated briefly but eventually nodded.


    3,500 gold was a lot. Sure, Caius could earn over 1,000 gold from a single job, but that was because he took on commissions meant for an entire team by himself.


    With frugality, 3,500 gold could last a six-person household for four or five years. Not to mention, Caius was letting them continue living here.


    And so, the deal was settled. Caius paid 2,000 gold upfront, with the rest to be settled after he completed his next job.


    In truth, Grandma Lunla only needed 100 gold as a deposit, just enough to get through an urgent situation¡ªto provide the kids with better nutrition for a few days and cover Belle¡¯s school expenses. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have asked for any deposit at all.


    But Caius forced 2,000 gold into her hands.


    Because he knew the truth.


    This was practically taking advantage of the situation.


    Normally, this amount wouldn¡¯t be enough to buy land here.


    Land was always valuable, no matter the world.


    Not to mention, the orphanage¡¯s buildings, though a bit old, were still usable. And Grandma Lunla hadn¡¯t even factored those into the price.


    So, Caius had scored a great deal.


    Not only did he do a good deed, but Holan would also likely support him at the Academy, offering various conveniences. Plus, he had just secured a base for his soon-to-be-formed mercenary squad. It was a win-win-win.


    Of course, his main reason was simply wanting to help them.


    People say mercenaries are heartless, but after witnessing true cruelty and indifference, Caius understood the value of kindness even more.


    Besides, anyone Holan valued must have great potential. Not to mention, Belle was easily an 80-plus beauty.


    When in a good mood, Caius didn¡¯t mind being helpful.


    And if the person in need was a beauty, being helpful made him feel even better~


    A simple calculation.


    The only downside was that his money pouch was now significantly lighter.


    But that was no big deal for Caius¡ªhe was about to take on some jobs anyway. He¡¯d earn the money back in no time.


    These Silver-tier missions were ridiculously easy for him.


    Material collection quests¡ªSilver-tier Tusked Boar hides, two jars of wild Red Velvet Bee honey, Iron-tailed Giant Lizard scales.


    Difficult?


    Not at all.


    Years ago, Caius could take down these Silver-tier Magic Beasts with his bare hands.


    Now, doing these missions was basically like picking up free money.


    If lucky, he could finish three Silver-tier advancement quests by tonight!


    With that thought, Caius decided to stop playing the water cup game with Belle and motioned to Kiki to leave.


    "Alright, it¡¯s settled. I have things to do, so I¡¯ll be going now. I¡¯ll come back in a few days."


    "Oh, right¡ªyour things." With a flick of his hand, an envelope and an academy badge flew toward Belle.


    Belle fumbled to catch them, staring blankly at Caius.


    He turned his head slightly and grinned. "Opportunities aren¡¯t easy to come by. I¡¯m still struggling to get into Hydis Magic Academy myself."


    "Treasure it, girl. I hope that when I enter Hydis, you¡¯ll be at the gate to welcome me."


    With that, he strode off with Kiki, not giving Belle a chance to reply.


    "The land deed... we didn¡¯t take it¡­" Lunla Granny murmured.


    It was only then that Belle realized it, but by the time she rushed out, Caius was nowhere to be seen on the street.


    Did he leave that fast?


    She simply stood there quietly, then slowly lowered her head, gazing at the academy emblem in her hand, still warm from his touch.


    "Thank you..."


    A soft whisper carried away by the breeze. Her chestnut-colored short hair lifted in the wind, revealing a face as pure as an angel¡¯s.


    But as if the heavens were jealous, the wind died down in an instant, hastily letting her hair fall back, once again concealing her delicate features.


    No one saw it.


    Not even Caius, who was hiding in a nearby alley, leaning casually against the wall.


    Kiki, slightly out of breath, asked, "Why did we have to run all the way here to hide, meow?"


    "This is called ¡®leaving in style, concealing one¡¯s merits and fame,¡¯ a perfect demonstration of our selflessness and greatness!" Caius declared with a straight face before breaking into a wide grin.


    "Most importantly¡ªit looks really cool!"

 Chapter 25

    After finishing lunch in the afternoon, Caius grabbed his heavy hammer and took Kiki with him out of the city to complete some quests.


    They hitched a ride with a friendly farmer who was returning to his village.


    Now, that farmer was the very definition of simple and honest. He gave Caius a ride for twenty miles without asking for a single coin.


    Meanwhile, Kiki, who had eaten and drunk her fill, even managed to take a nap along the way. Now bursting with energy, she transformed into a little chatterbox, meowing non-stop in Caius¡¯ ear.


    "Big guy, which quest are we doing first, meow?"


    "Call me Caius... You know what, never mind. Whatever makes you happy."


    "I¡¯m always happy, meow! So which quest, meow?"


    "We¡¯ll see which target we run into first. There are three targets for this quest: Iron-tailed Giant Lizard, Tusked Boar, and the Red Velvet Bee hive."


    "Got it, meow! Do you want me to scout ahead, meow?"


    "No need. It¡¯s just the two of us, better to move together."


    "Okay, meow~"


    Upon arriving at the forest, they bid farewell to the farmer and ventured in under the darkening sky.


    The nighttime forest was when Magic Beasts were most active, making it the most dangerous time as well.


    But to Caius, that wasn¡¯t a problem at all.


    Since childhood, the old man had sent him into the mountains to train, so he felt more at home in the wild than in the city.


    The dim night did nothing to hinder his sharp senses.


    As for Kiki, there was no need to even mention it¡ªCatgirls had outstanding night vision.


    The two moved through the forest in eerie silence. Kiki understood why¡ªCatgirls were naturally nimble and light-footed.


    But Caius, with his massive frame, was also unnervingly agile. His movements were almost soundless, and he was even faster than Kiki.


    "They''re coming," Caius suddenly whispered, raising his hand. Kiki instantly stopped, both of them hiding in the underbrush.


    A moment later, a group of boars noisily emerged from the thicket.


    There were sixteen Tusked Boars in total, three of which were Silver-ranked. One of them was particularly large, likely at the high end of Silver rank, around Silver Six-star or higher.


    Still, there was a long way to go before reaching Gold rank.


    Caius didn¡¯t bother with stealth or assassination tactics. He simply charged forward and slammed his hammer down, instantly taking out the largest boar.


    That heavy hammer could flatten even a Wolf Demon, let alone a mere Silver-ranked boar.


    The remaining boars immediately scattered in fear, which was where Kiki came in.


    Activating Spirit Wind, she surged forward with a burst of speed, leaped onto the head of a Silver-ranked Tusked Boar, and drove her dagger straight into its eye.


    The boar was barely above entry-level Silver rank. The dagger pierced through the eye socket and into the brain. With a quick twist of her wrist, Kiki finished the job, and the boar collapsed on the spot.


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    "Not bad," Caius nodded in approval.


    He hadn''t invited Kiki to join him just because she was cute.


    That was just a bonus. What truly mattered was her natural talent.


    The fact that she had narrowly escaped multiple Wolf Demon attacks and made it back alive proved that.


    Without such combat instincts, she would have been torn apart long ago.


    Caius saw potential in this little Catgirl. With a bit of training¡ªcough¡ªdiscipline, she could definitely become formidable.


    "Hehe, quest complete, meow~"


    "Are we heading back now, meow?" Kiki flicked her cat ears and asked.


    "Of course not. Returning after each quest is a waste of time. In the mercenary business, efficiency is key," Caius replied.


    "Ohhh!" Kiki nodded eagerly. Learning something new, meow!


    For the rest of the night, Caius and Kiki roamed the forest, hunting down their targets.


    By dawn, they had completed all three quests.


    "Alright, time to head back to the city!" Caius declared, slinging the massive boar hide over his shoulder and setting off towards Ocean City.


    The boar hide was stuffed with two large jars of honey and a pile of Iron-tailed Giant Lizard scales.


    The entire load weighed several hundred kilograms, but Caius carried it as if it were weightless.


    And atop that makeshift sack of boar hide lay a sprawled-out Catgirl.


    "Ugh¡­ I feel awful, meow¡­" Kiki whined weakly.


    After an entire night of hunting, Caius felt fine, but Kiki was exhausted.


    That would have been manageable, but when they were gathering honey, Kiki got stung on the hand by a Red Velvet Bee. Now, her left hand was swollen like a steamed bun, making her utterly miserable.


    Fortunately, Red Velvet Bee venom wasn¡¯t lethal with just one sting.


    Besides, looking at Kiki¡¯s swollen little paw, Caius found it oddly adorable¡ªit reminded him of soft, pink cat toe beans.


    "Kiki, try smacking me with that stung hand," Caius said.


    "Why, meow?" Kiki tilted her head in confusion. What kind of weird request is this?


    "Just try it," Caius chuckled.


    "Oh¡­" Still puzzled, Kiki went along with it. She lifted her swollen hand and gave Caius'' cheek a gentle pat.


    Then¡ª


    "Meowww!" Kiki yelped, clutching her wrist as a sharp sting shot through her hand. Meanwhile, Caius just grinned in amusement.


    He had to admit¡ªit really did feel like getting patted by a soft little kitten.


    "Wanna try again?" he teased.


    "No way, meow! It hurts, meow¡­" Kiki pouted pitifully.


    Caius burst out laughing but soon tossed her a bottle of healing potion.


    Kiki examined it, then hesitated. "Can I not drink it, meow? These potions are expensive. I want to save it for later, meow~"


    "Suit yourself," Caius hummed, unconcerned.


    After all, a single bee sting would heal in a couple of days.


    Before long, they arrived back at the tavern.


    For quests that didn¡¯t require direct interaction with the client, mercenaries could simply bring the collected materials to the tavern for submission.


    So when Caius walked in carrying that enormous boar hide sack, he naturally drew a lot of attention from the other mercenaries.


    "Boss Lady, turning in the quests," Caius called out to Yvlan.


    "Follow me." Yvlan led him to the back of the tavern, where a spacious area was designated for material processing, unloading, and storage.


    Caius set the exhausted Kiki down, untied the boar hide sack, and emptied out the materials for verification.


    "All checked. Quests complete," one of the staff members confirmed.


    Yvlan immediately pulled out three pouches of gold, clearly prepared in advance.


    "Two quests pay five hundred gold, and the honey quest pays six hundred gold¡ªtotal of sixteen hundred gold."


    Caius took the pouches without even counting, tying them to his belt before heading out with Kiki.


    "One room, two seafood platters, and three roasted lamb legs delivered upstairs," he ordered. "Oh, and some medicine for Red Velvet Bee stings."


    Despite having only been here a few times, he acted like a seasoned regular, making Yvlan chuckle as she swiftly arranged everything.


    Inside the room¡ª


    Caius had already finished eating. Since Kiki could only use one hand, she was much slower.


    As she ate, her other hand rested in Caius¡¯ palm as he carefully applied the medicine.


    For someone so massive, his touch was surprisingly gentle.


    "Does it hurt?" he asked.


    "Not at all, meow~" Kiki grinned, revealing her tiny fangs. "Big guy, you''re really gentle, meow~"


    "Heh, you wouldn¡¯t say that if you were my enemy."


    "But I''m not! I¡¯m your battle partner, meow!"


    "Not qualified yet, little Catgirl. A real partner wouldn¡¯t get their hand stung because they smacked a bee hive while trying to catch a bird."


    "Ugh¡­ Next time, I won¡¯t, meow¡­"


    "Alright." Caius put away the potion bottle, rubbed the little catgirl¡¯s head, and then said, "I''m going to take a nap. If you¡¯re not sleeping, wake me up when the sun sets."


    "I want to sleep too, meow~"


    "Then go ask the Boss Lady for another room." Saying that, Caius had already closed his eyes.


    Kiki looked at him, her cat ears twitching. Then, without hesitation, she flipped over and sat on Caius''s stomach like a little bird.


    Caius raised an eyebrow and looked at her. "What are you doing?"


    "Getting two rooms would be a waste, meow~" Kiki said, her eyes darting away.


    Caius gave her a suspicious look but couldn''t be bothered to argue. Instead, he just lay back down and said, "Then go take on a few missions first. Pick ones that require gathering materials from the forest. It''ll be faster to level up that way."


    "Got it, meow!"

 Chapter 26

    When he woke up, it was already evening.


    Looking at the fiery orange clouds outside the window, Caius gave his biological clock a silent nod of approval.


    Waking up whenever he wanted¡ªnow that was the life.


    He got up and, unsurprisingly, found Kiki curled up in a ball, hugging her fluffy tail as she lay on his stomach.


    Was this just a cat thing?


    In his past life, the hacker in his team had a cat that did the same thing. Every time he woke up, it was either lying on his chest or stomach¡ªsometimes even straight up on his face.


    There were nights he woke up gasping for air, thinking someone was smothering him with a pillow.


    Thankfully, in this life, his physique was maxed out. A tiny catgirl weighing less than a hundred pounds sleeping on his stomach? Barely noticeable.


    He pinched the scruff of her neck and lifted her up¡ªstill sound asleep, not even stirring.


    Caius rubbed his chin thoughtfully.


    As a scout, having such low alertness was unacceptable. Looks like she needed some training.


    What he didn¡¯t know was that Kiki only slept this soundly when she was curled up on him.


    Because it felt safe. And warm.


    ¡°Wake up, little catgirl. Time for a mission.¡±


    ¡°Meowu~¡± Kiki let out a soft whimper and blinked open her eyes.


    After gathering his gear, Caius headed downstairs.


    Ocean City was just as lively at night.


    It was different from other places. Small towns near the villages he had stayed in before had curfews by eight or nine at night.


    But cities like this, where the gates remained open and the streets were bustling well into the night, where even taverns never closed¡ªthese were wild cities.


    And this was the kind of atmosphere Caius liked.


    ¡°You¡¯re up?¡± The Boss Lady lounged seductively against the bar, flicking her wrist and sending a silver mercenary ID card flying toward him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget to mark it with blood.¡±


    Caius caught it between two fingers, pricked his finger to register the card, and put it away with a grin. ¡°Tavern never closes?¡±


    ¡°As long as the Mercenary Guild is open, the tavern stays open,¡± Yvlan replied with a smirk.


    ¡°Dedicated, huh?¡± Caius chuckled and ordered a rum and four roasted lamb legs to eat on the road before heading out with Kiki.


    As he walked, he called back, ¡°Boss Lady, watch my stuff for me.¡±


    His bag was still in his room.


    ¡°Got it,¡± Yvlan answered lazily, resting her chin on her hand as she watched Kiki hopping along behind Caius.


    She pursed her lips.


    She remembered¡ªthey had booked only one room, right?


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°That big guy¡­ Can the little catgirl even handle him¡­?¡± she muttered to herself.


    <hr>


    For the rest of the night, Caius and Kiki were out gathering materials¡ªsome from Magic Beasts, some herbs and plants, and even some insects. Nothing difficult, just tedious.


    Still, by dawn, they had completed everything.


    Kiki had taken on six Bronze-ranked collection tasks for plants, while Caius had completed four Silver-ranked collection tasks.


    Looking at the cage holding a scorpion the size of a washbasin, Caius sighed and glanced at Kiki.


    She was sitting on the ground with her ears drooping, one slender leg propped up on a rock. A fresh wound on her calf was swollen red.


    Caius couldn¡¯t help but wonder¡ªwas Kiki just cursed with bad luck?


    Last time, during a bird-catching mission, she had smacked a bush, and, of all things, uncovered a hidden Red Velvet Bee nest.


    Red Velvet Bee nests were notoriously well-hidden. Caius had searched for ages and found nothing¡ªthen Kiki¡¯s one slap had revealed it instantly.


    Of course, her tiny hand got stung into a swollen mess.


    And this time, while Caius was flipping over rocks to find the Red-tailed Scorpion for his mission, Kiki had been happily chasing fireflies nearby.


    She always seemed so relaxed around him, her guard completely down.


    And, as luck would have it, as she passed by a fallen hollow tree, a Red-tailed Scorpion lurking inside took the chance to sting her right in the leg.


    If Caius hadn¡¯t been prepared, carrying the right antidote and reacting fast, her leg would have been done for.


    Despite being only a Bronze-ranked Magic Beast with weak combat ability¡ªeasily crushed under Caius¡¯ boot¡ªthe Red-tailed Scorpion was highly venomous. A single adult scorpion¡¯s venom was potent enough to paralyze even a Silver-ranked Tusked Boar.


    Which was why it was classified as a Silver-ranked mission.


    ¡°Big guy¡­¡± Kiki pouted, her eyes misty. ¡°Am I gonna die¡­?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Caius replied flatly, rinsing his mouth.


    The moment she got stung, he had given her the antidote, then cut open the wound with his knife to suck out most of the venom.


    It was a risky move. If he had even the slightest wound in his mouth, he would¡¯ve been poisoned too.


    But a good mercenary knew how to protect their mouth¡ªhence his perfectly white teeth.


    ¡°But I feel so weak¡­ meow¡­¡± Kiki whimpered.


    With most of the venom extracted and neutralized, she wasn¡¯t in any real danger, but the lingering poison still left her limbs weak.


    ¡°You¡¯ll be fine. You won¡¯t die,¡± Caius reassured her, lifting her up and settling her onto his shoulder.


    Kiki obediently sat on his shoulder. Then, suddenly, her eyes lit up, and her ears perked back up.


    She realized¡ªthis spot was perfect!


    Caius had broad shoulders with well-defined muscles, making for a firm yet comfortable seat.


    Like a heated cushion.


    ¡°I¡¯m telling you, you need to be more alert. No messing around during missions,¡± Caius said as he walked back, carrying a hammer in one hand and a large bag of collected materials in the other.


    ¡°Got it! I won¡¯t do it again, meow!¡± Kiki promised.


    ¡°There won¡¯t be a ¡®next time!¡¯¡± Caius said firmly, making Kiki shiver.


    ¡°My comrades need to be reliable. You¡¯ve had accidents in both missions. How am I supposed to trust you to stand on your own?¡±


    ¡°Missions might seem easy, but you have to take them seriously. Just because I¡¯m here doesn¡¯t mean you can slack off.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t mind now, but it won¡¯t always be just the two of us. Right now, small mistakes don¡¯t matter. But if you stay like this, one day, you might get our comrades killed.¡±


    Kiki¡¯s ears drooped again as she silently accepted Caius¡¯ reprimand.


    ¡°Do you understand?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I understand! No next time!¡± Kiki immediately replied.


    ¡°Really?¡± Caius glanced over¡ªstraight at her smooth, bare thighs.


    The little catgirl was wearing shorts.


    Kiki nodded vigorously. ¡°I won¡¯t hold you back anymore, meow! I swear!¡±


    ¡°I believe you.¡± Caius finally smiled.


    As long as she took it to heart.


    Honestly, it wasn¡¯t a big deal. Maybe she was just unlucky, but ironically, because of her, Caius had completed the missions faster.


    Finding the bee nest and the Red-tailed Scorpion should have taken much longer¡ªthese missions were simple but time-consuming.


    He just hoped she wouldn¡¯t rely on him too much. Otherwise, it¡¯d be hard for them to make it to the top together as Legendary Mercenaries.


    By the time they returned to the tavern, dawn was breaking. This was the quietest time in the tavern, with several mercenaries still slumped over tables, snoring away.


    ¡°Boss Lady, turning in the mission,¡± Caius called out loudly, waking several people.


    Some had morning tempers and were about to curse, but upon seeing it was Caius, they swallowed their words.


    For this, Caius had to thank Kalan¡ªhis reputation was firmly established.


    The other mercenaries might be wary of him, but the Boss Lady sure wasn¡¯t.


    Having worked all night, Yvlan was dozing on the counter. Caius¡¯ voice jolted her awake, and her elegant brows shot up.


    ¡°You little shit, can¡¯t you keep it down?!¡± She smacked Caius on the chest, venting her irritation.


    Not painful at all¡ª


    Actually, scratch that. It did hurt.


    Turns out, the Boss Lady was pretty strong. That small fist packed a punch.


    No wonder no mercenary dared mess with her. Caius guessed she was at least Gold-ranked.


    He grinned, unfazed. ¡°I¡¯m in a hurry.¡±


    ¡°Get to the back!¡±


    ¡°Got it!¡±

 Chapter 27

    This commission totals 2,500 gold.


    Five hundred gold is from Kiki¡¯s six brass-ranked tasks.


    Receiving the five hundred gold, Kiki¡¯s eyes lit up as she held the coins, happily jumping up and down, as if the weakness from the poison had completely disappeared.


    ¡°So much money, meow!¡±


    ¡°Being a mercenary is actually this profitable, meow!¡±


    In the escort squad, a single escort mission only guaranteed fifty gold at best. With the cargo value commission, it usually amounted to just a little over a hundred gold. To buy that beloved little short sword, she had been saving up for over a month.


    ¡°Heh heh, this is just the beginning.¡± Caius chuckled.


    Mercenary work was indeed lucrative.


    But it was also highly dangerous.


    If an average silver-ranked mercenary were to take on Caius¡¯ tasks, it would take them several days at least, and they might even get injured.


    After all, the forest wasn¡¯t a place for a picnic¡ªit was teeming with magic beasts.


    On their way, Caius and Kiki had already encountered several silver-ranked magic beasts, but after receiving a hammer strike from Caius, they all squealed and ran away.


    ¡°Stop giggling and go take a nap after eating. Adjust your internal clock¡ªwe''re heading out tonight.¡± Caius said.


    An excellent mercenary could adjust their schedule at any time. After two consecutive days of being active at night, Caius also needed to realign his schedule.


    The next two tasks were rather troublesome; they required him to travel far to gather medicinal herbs, meaning he would still need to sleep at night.


    However, Caius had plenty of stamina. Even after a whole night of missions, he was still full of energy. He could always catch up on sleep in the carriage tonight, but Kiki clearly wasn¡¯t used to it yet.


    Hearing this, Kiki obediently nodded, finished her meal, and went off to sleep.


    After eating, Caius sat at the bar, frowning at the task descriptions while sipping his drink.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Encountered a problem?¡± Now fully sober, Yvlan leaned in and asked.


    She was standing a little too close. Caius could smell the perfume on her.


    She leaned against the bar, her upper body tilting slightly. If Caius looked up at this moment, he would see the deep cleavage peeking through her V-neck.


    Unfortunately, Caius didn¡¯t look up.


    Instead, he kept his eyes on the task list and said, ¡°Not really. It¡¯s just that, if I remember correctly, the white peach blossoms from the high mountains grow on Aronas Mountain, west of Grilla City, right?¡±


    He had already memorized the maps of this region, including all the towns and areas nearby.


    ¡°Mm-hmm.¡± Yvlan nodded. ¡°Only thirty-six miles from Grilla City. What about it?¡±


    ¡°I just feel like this trip takes up too much time. I need to make good use of it, so I plan to complete the task at the Mercenary Tavern in Grilla City instead¡­¡± Caius began to explain, but before he could finish, Yvlan grabbed the collar of his shirt, her voice rising with excitement.


    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ¡°What?! You¡¯re not coming back to submit the task?!¡±


    Caius blinked, looking at Yvlan, who was staring at him with wide eyes, before explaining further.


    ¡°Making a round trip is too troublesome. The last silver-ranked task is forty miles south of Grilla City. The two task locations are more than 150 kilometers apart. If I come back to Ocean City just to submit the task and then return, I¡¯d waste another whole day.¡±


    ¡°Completing both tasks will take at least three days.¡±


    ¡°Remember, I only have one month.¡±


    ¡°So turning in the task directly at the Mercenary Tavern in Grilla City is the most efficient option. Since it¡¯s a guild task, not a commissioned one, I can submit it at any tavern.¡±


    Guild tasks, as the name suggested, were issued by the guild itself and usually involved gathering various materials the guild needed.


    Commissioned tasks, however, had to be submitted at the location they were taken from because the materials needed to be delivered to the client via the tavern.


    Grinning, Caius suddenly flashed a mischievous smile.


    ¡°The gold-ranked task I took here will also be completed here. It won¡¯t be counted under another tavern. Why are you getting so worked up? Afraid I¡¯ll run away?¡±


    Yvlan was momentarily stunned, realizing that she had overreacted. The surrounding mercenaries were already giving her knowing, amused looks.


    Hurriedly, she let go of Caius¡¯ collar, but her gaze still lingered on his now-exposed, well-built chest muscles.


    Her cheeks heated up, but she retorted, ¡°Afraid you¡¯ll run away? Hah. I just¡­ don¡¯t want you to go too far and forget your way home.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Caius¡¯ grin widened. Leaning on the bar with one elbow, he rested his chin on his palm. ¡°Home? Are you asking me to treat this tavern as my home?¡±


    ¡°Boss Lady, should I take that as a hint for something?¡±


    The mercenaries¡¯ eyes instantly widened.


    Damn, this guy actually dared to flirt with the Boss Lady?!


    Everyone immediately prepared to enjoy the show.


    Sure enough, as soon as Yvlan heard this, her brows shot up, and she ground her teeth. From beneath the bar, she pulled out a frying pan the size of a washbasin.


    Seeing this, Caius downed the rest of his drink in one gulp, then bolted out of the tavern like the wind.


    Yvlan chased him to the door, frying pan in hand. ¡°You brat! If you¡¯ve got guts, don¡¯t run!¡±


    Caius¡¯ laughter echoed from afar, leaving Yvlan both frustrated and amused. In the end, she simply shook her head and returned inside.


    All the mercenaries were staring at her.


    She snorted and slung the frying pan over her shoulder. ¡°What are you looking at? Never seen a beautiful woman hit someone before?¡±


    The mercenaries quickly averted their gazes, though a few stifled laughs could still be heard.


    Not many people had ever seen the Boss Lady get flustered like this.


    What Yvlan hadn¡¯t expected, however, was that just as she put the frying pan away and settled back behind the bar, Caius strode right back in.


    The mercenaries stared at him in admiration.


    This guy was truly fearless¡ªhe ran away after flirting with the Boss Lady, and now he was back before even finishing a drink.


    Yvlan¡¯s eyelid twitched. Her hand instinctively reached under the bar again. ¡°You really don¡¯t take me seriously, do you¡­?¡±


    But before she could do anything, Caius suddenly looked serious and asked urgently, ¡°Boss Lady, do you remember what my second task submission was?¡±


    Yvlan was caught off guard. Something had happened?


    She quickly recalled. ¡°I think¡­ it was collecting thirty Mona Redblooms. Why? What happened?¡±


    Caius glanced around mysteriously, as if he had some secret to share.


    Curious, Yvlan leaned in closer to listen, but before she could hear anything, Caius suddenly took out a Mona Redbloom and gently tucked it behind her ear.


    Yvlan froze. The entire tavern went silent.


    Grinning, Caius said, ¡°I thought I had under-collected by one, but turns out I had an extra.¡±


    ¡°Boss Lady, the Mona Redbloom really suits you~¡±


    With that, he bolted away again, grabbing a few more task sheets on his way out.


    ¡°Ohhh~~~¡±


    The mercenaries whistled and jeered.


    Yvlan¡¯s face turned bright red.


    The mercenaries had already covered their ears, bracing themselves for the Boss Lady¡¯s signature roar.


    But to their surprise, it never came. Nor did she charge out with her frying pan in hand. Instead, she quietly wiped down the tables, collected the dishes Caius had left behind, and retreated into the kitchen.


    What?


    The mercenaries exchanged glances, swallowing nervously.


    In the kitchen, a female employee watched in confusion as Yvlan repeatedly splashed cold water onto her face.


    At that moment, Yvlan could feel the heat creeping up her cheeks. Twice. She had been teased by the same man twice in such a short span of time!


    In the past, anyone who dared flirt with her would have been sent flying by her frying pan.


    But this time¡­ she felt more embarrassed than angry.


    "That damn brat¡­" she muttered through clenched teeth. Yet, as she removed the Mona Redbloom from her temple and looked at its vivid red petals¡ªthen down at her own crimson dress¡ªa small, uncontrollable smile tugged at the corner of her lips.


    It did¡­ sort of suit her, didn¡¯t it?

 Chapter 28

    After teasing the Boss Lady, Caius was in an excellent mood.


    Humming a tune, he walked along while checking the task list.


    Two material collection tasks¡ªone for high mountain white peach blossoms and another for dragonkin insects.


    Caius remembered that high mountain white peach blossoms could be used to brew floral tea, which Holan loved to drink. He decided to gather some extra.


    As for the dragonkin insect¡­ despite its imposing name, it was just a tiny beetle that fed on fungi¡ªcompletely harmless, even kids could catch them barehanded.


    The reason it was classified as a Silver-tier task was that these insects could only be found in the Red Mushroom Forest, forty miles south of Grilla City.


    The Red Mushroom Forest was far more dangerous than the forests around Ocean City. Even its outer region was home to numerous Silver-tier Magic Beasts, while the inner region had Gold-tier ones.


    However, as long as he didn¡¯t encounter a Platinum-tier Magic Beast, Caius could handle most threats.


    Besides these two tasks, Caius planned to take on a few others along the way.


    ¡°Caius?¡± A voice called out to him.


    Caius turned and saw an old friend¡ªGeoffrey.


    His eyes lit up as he walked over to greet him. ¡°Yo, Geoffrey! No tasks today?¡±


    ¡°No, there haven¡¯t been any long-distance commissions lately,¡± Geoffrey replied with a smile.


    ¡°I see¡­ By the way, your boss¡¯s name is Eli, right?¡± Caius asked.


    ¡°Yeah, his shop is just around the street corner. I was heading there now.¡±


    ¡°Perfect, I need to restock on some potions. Let¡¯s go together.¡± Caius casually draped an arm over Geoffrey¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°Sure.¡± Geoffrey glanced at the burly man who acted so familiar and nodded.


    Soon, the two arrived at a magic potion shop¡ªEli Potions.


    Upon entering, Caius immediately spotted a middle-aged man with neatly combed hair and a monocle, sitting behind the counter reading a book. His gentlemanly demeanor was evident.


    ¡°Welcome to Eli Potions,¡± the man said instinctively upon noticing new arrivals. When he saw Geoffrey, he looked curious.


    ¡°Captain Geoffrey, and this is¡­?¡±


    ¡°Boss, this is Caius,¡± Geoffrey introduced. ¡°Caius, this is our boss.¡±


    ¡°Oh, so it¡¯s you!¡± Eli quickly stepped out from behind the counter and shook Caius¡¯s hand warmly.


    ¡°Apologies! One of my employees quit recently, so I¡¯ve had to watch the shop myself and couldn¡¯t personally thank you,¡± Eli said sincerely, which gave Caius a good impression of him.


    ¡°No big deal, don¡¯t worry about it,¡± Caius waved dismissively.


    ¡°No, no, you don¡¯t understand. Captain Geoffrey may be my employee, but he¡¯s also my friend. If he and the others had been lost to the Wolf Demon, I would¡¯ve been devastated.¡±


    ¡°As a token of my gratitude, from now on, whenever you buy potions from my shop, I¡¯ll only charge you the cost price!¡±


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°That¡¯s fantastic!¡± Caius laughed heartily and even raised an eyebrow at Geoffrey. ¡°You¡¯ve got a great boss!¡±


    ¡°Who wouldn¡¯t agree?¡± Geoffrey chuckled and nodded.


    ¡°Perfect timing. I need ten bottles each of healing potions, stamina potions, and clarity potions¡ªall mid-grade,¡± Caius stated.


    ¡°No problem!¡± Eli immediately went to fetch the potions. Shortly after, he returned with a basket filled with neatly arranged bottles.


    ¡°These are all personally brewed by me¡ªthe best mid-grade potions available. Would you like to test them?¡± Eli asked.


    ¡°No need. Eli, your potions are well-known among the city¡¯s mercenaries.¡± Caius grinned.


    Hearing this, Eli¡¯s heart swelled with pride, and his smile grew even wider. ¡°You flatter me.¡±


    ¡°How much?¡± Caius pulled out his coin pouch.


    ¡°We agreed on cost price¡ªthirty mid-grade potions, let¡¯s round it down to four hundred gold coins!¡±


    Damn, that¡¯s a low cost!


    Caius knew that mid-grade potions typically sold for over a hundred gold coins per bottle. But the production cost was only around ten gold coins each¡ªmeaning a tenfold profit margin.


    For a moment, Caius was tempted to open his own magic potion shop.


    He paid quickly and stored the potions but didn¡¯t leave immediately. Instead, he struck up a conversation with Eli.


    Eli was evidently quite the conversationalist, and Caius found himself enjoying their chat.


    ¡°By the way, Eli, the employee who quit¡ªwas her name Belle?¡± Caius suddenly asked, recalling something.


    ¡°Yes. How did you know?¡± Eli looked surprised.


    ¡°Oh, I know her.¡± Caius smiled.


    He had previously heard from Granny Lunla that Belle worked part-time at a magic potion shop to support the Orphanage while attending school. When Eli mentioned an employee leaving, Caius immediately made the connection.


    ¡°What do you know about her?¡± Caius asked.


    Granny Lunla had asked him to help Belle, and to do that, he needed to understand her situation first.


    ¡°Not much,¡± Eli admitted. ¡°I only know that she comes from a difficult background and has to balance school with work.¡±


    ¡°But she was an exceptional employee. She completed every task given to her flawlessly. I heard she¡¯s also an outstanding student at the academy.¡±


    ¡°You know, I once asked her to organize the shelves, and not only did she do that, but when I returned, I found the entire store spotless¡ªeven the glass windows gleamed.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s rare to find someone so diligent and competent.¡±


    ¡°Most importantly, she has a natural talent for potion-making. Once, while I was away, a customer came looking for a potion that had sold out. Belle found the ingredients and brewed it herself. The customer was so impressed that they returned to thank me personally.¡±


    ¡°That was when I realized she was no ordinary girl¡ªno wonder she¡¯s an exceptional student at the Magic Academy.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a shame¡­ I had planned to train her as a potion master, but before I could teach her anything, the Ocean City Academy went into lockdown, forcing her to resign.¡±


    Eli sighed with regret, while Caius listened intently.


    ¡°What about her personal life?¡± Caius pressed.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t pay much attention, but she seemed¡­ rigid. I once told her to stand at the counter to give customers a good impression, and she literally stood there all day.¡±


    ¡°So afterward, I told her she could sit and rest when no customers were around.¡±


    ¡°A bit dense, huh?¡± Caius chuckled.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Eli nodded. ¡°She also wasn¡¯t very talkative. She struggled to communicate with customers, so I eventually had her focus on organizing shelves while I handled the counter.¡±


    ¡°Oh, right!¡± Eli suddenly remembered something. ¡°One time, a few Ocean City Academy students came in¡ªseemed like they knew her.¡±


    ¡°But those girls¡­ ugh, they were awful.¡±


    Caius immediately perked up.


    He hadn¡¯t expected such an unexpected lead and quickly asked, ¡°How many of them? Were they male or female? What were their names?¡±


    Eli shot Caius a curious look before continuing, ¡°Four girls. I didn¡¯t catch their names because I ended up kicking them out.¡±


    ¡°They deliberately knocked Belle over and then blamed her for breaking some potions. If the florist next door hadn¡¯t seen it happen and told me, I might have wrongly accused her.¡±


    ¡°So, I refused to serve them and ordered them to leave my shop.¡±


    Caius nodded, then patted Eli¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Eli, has anyone ever told you that you¡¯re a real man?¡±


    ¡°Haha! Thanks for the compliment!¡± Eli laughed heartily.


    Caius chuckled as well, then said, ¡°To be honest, this matter is very important to me.¡±


    ¡°Important? Don¡¯t tell me she¡¯s your¡­¡± Eli suddenly looked enlightened, flashing a knowing smile.


    Caius knew he had misunderstood, but he didn¡¯t bother correcting this ¡®beautiful¡¯ misunderstanding. Instead, he smirked. ¡°So, I need to know what those girls looked like. I¡¯ll teach them a lesson and make sure they stay away from her!¡±


    ¡°No problem!¡± Eli, clearly approving of Caius¡¯s actions, led him further into the shop and personally sketched portraits of the girls.


    Looking at the lifelike drawings, Caius was impressed. ¡°Eli, your drawing skills are amazing!¡±


    ¡°Haha! I actually have a side job as a fashion designer, so I¡¯ve picked up a bit of artistry,¡± Eli said modestly, though it was clear he enjoyed the praise.


    ¡°Thank you, Eli. As thanks, I¡¯ll take on a Gold-tier task for you¡ªfree of charge!¡± Caius declared.

 Chapter 29

    "No, no, no, there''s no need! It was just a small favor!" Eli quickly waved his hands and said.


    "Belle was once my best employee. She helped me a lot, and I always felt a little guilty that her meager salary didn''t quite reflect her worth. So if I can help her in any way, I''m more than happy to do so."


    "No, no, no, you''ve done me a great favor. This is a token of appreciation from a skilled mercenary, and I must insist that you accept it." Caius said seriously.


    His plan was as sound as a ringing bell, but unfortunately, Eli didn''t quite catch on.


    Seeing Caius''s sincerity, Eli thought for a moment and said, "Alright, I do have a commission that requires a skilled Gold-ranked mercenary."


    "That''s perfect!" Caius grinned and said, "Head over to the Mercenary Tavern in the eastern part of the city to post the mission. Tell the Boss Lady I sent you. Pay the commission fee to her first, and once I complete the mission, I''ll refund you in full!"


    Eli was puzzled. "You don''t take private commissions? This way, you wouldn''t have to give a cut to the Mercenary Guild."


    "Of course, I do. But I have a bit of a connection with the Boss Lady. She needs a Gold-ranked mission under her belt." Caius winked.


    Eli, being a seasoned businessman, immediately understood Caius''s intent and chuckled. "Then I''ll leave it to you!"


    "Of course! Doing business with a gentleman like you is my pleasure!"


    Listening to their crafty laughter, Geoffrey, standing nearby on standby, suddenly felt like an innocent little lamb among a den of foxes.


    Thus, not only did Caius gather information on the school bullies, but he also secured a Gold-ranked freelance commission. With this, he was only six Gold-ranked freelance missions away from boosting the tavern''s ranking.


    "Farewell, Mr. Caius. I look forward to your next visit." Eli watched as Caius departed, his eyes brimming with satisfaction.


    Making connections with a Gold-ranked mercenary was something to be pleased about.


    However, moments later, Caius returned.


    "Mr. Caius, is there something else?" Eli asked, puzzled, only to see Caius lean in, smirking mischievously.


    "Oh, one more thing. Have you ever seen Belle¡¯s face?"


    Eli was stunned for a moment before exclaiming in surprise, "Now that you mention it¡­ I actually haven''t. Because she always¡ª"


    "I get it. She''s always wrapped up too tightly¡­" Caius sighed in disappointment, then waved his hand. "Nothing else. Goodbye, Mr. Eli."


    "Goodbye, Mr. Caius."


    Leaving Eli Potions, Caius looked down at the portrait in his hands.


    The girls depicted in the painting were rather ordinary-looking, except for one who was quite pretty¡ªabout a 75 on the attractiveness scale.


    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    But to Caius, she deserved a 50-point deduction.


    That¡¯s right, because inner beauty matters more than outward appearance.


    Caius firmly believed that the soul was more important than looks.


    Of course, having both would be even better.


    Now, the next step was figuring out a way to enter Ocean City Academy.


    Hmm¡­ He already had an idea. He had noticed a mission at the tavern earlier¡ªa delivery task for Ocean City Academy.


    That would be his way in. Once inside, he could find those girls.


    And then¡­


    "I''ll need a few sacks." Caius muttered to himself, rubbing his chin as he walked.


    Then, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed something and turned his head¡ªsomehow, he''d wandered all the way to Lunla Orphanage.


    Without hesitation, he pushed open the door and strode inside.


    The children playing in the yard immediately screamed and ran back into the house.


    "Run! The bad guy is here!"


    Caius: "???"


    Bad guy?


    Since when?


    With a swift step, Caius leaped over a few little girls and blocked their path.


    Spreading his arms wide, the fastest girl couldn¡¯t stop in time and crashed into his embrace.


    Caius caught her gently, then grinned. "Hey, little one, why am I a bad guy?"


    The little girl was a bit scared but still mustered her courage, lifted her chin, and said, "You made my sister go far away and not stay here. That makes you a bad guy!"


    Caius burst into laughter. So that was the reason.


    He released the girl and ruffled her hair. She resisted fiercely, dodging left and right, while the other little girls rushed over, trying to free their sister from Caius¡¯s "evil clutches."


    "Well, what if I beat up the people bullying your sister?" Caius asked with a grin.


    The little girl froze for a moment, then grew excited. "You know that my sister was bullied?!"


    "Oh? So you know too?" Caius asked.


    "Of course! Sister never said anything, but we all know!" the little girl said, her mood suddenly dampening.


    "We sleep together, and I noticed her secretly crying at night¡­"


    "She¡¯s also been hurt. She said she fell, but I don¡¯t believe that. No one falls and hurts their ear. That¡¯s from someone twisting it. I know because a big kid used to do that to me."


    "She was definitely bullied at the academy. That place is bad. I don¡¯t know why she still wants to go to school¡­"


    "She was going to stop going to school. That way, she wouldn¡¯t get bullied. But then you made her go back. You¡¯re a bad guy!"


    "But¡­ if you really beat up the people who bullied her, then I¡­"


    "I¡¯ll admit you¡¯re not a bad guy!"


    "Haha," Caius laughed. "You said it! I accept your commission!"


    "What¡¯s a commission?" The little girl was confused, but Caius ignored her and walked into the house.


    She quickly followed. "Your name is Caius, right? I¡¯m Tina!"


    "Nice to meet you, Tina."


    "Is Belle home?"


    "She went to buy rice. Only Grandma is here." Tina replied, clearly the leader of the kids, as they all followed her.


    "I see. That¡¯s perfect." Caius nodded and stepped inside, where he saw Grandma Lunla weaving clothes.


    Seeing Caius, Grandma Lunla put down her work and was about to stand up.


    But Caius said, "No need to get up. I just wanted to ask¡ªwhen does Belle return to school?"


    "School is on break for a few days. She¡¯s going back tomorrow." Grandma Lunla said.


    "Tomorrow?" Caius paused, then nodded. "I see¡­"


    A bit tight on time, but not an issue.


    "I¡¯ve found the ones who bullied Belle. It¡¯s these people." Caius handed her the portrait.


    Grandma Lunla looked surprised¡ªCaius worked fast!


    She took the portrait, and upon seeing one of the faces, her brow furrowed.


    "What is it?" Caius asked.


    "I¡¯ve seen this girl before." Grandma Lunla pointed to the one Caius had deducted 50 points from.


    "She was the one who came to pick Belle up when I took her to school. She was so friendly that I thought she and Belle were close. I even asked her to look after Belle¡­" As she spoke, Grandma Lunla¡¯s eyes reddened.


    She felt as if she had personally handed Belle over to a demon.


    "People aren¡¯t always what they seem. Don¡¯t be sad. She¡¯ll get what¡¯s coming to her soon enough." Caius reassured her.


    "Please, I leave this to you¡­" Grandma Lunla wiped her eyes. "But be careful. Some students at Ocean City Academy come from powerful backgrounds. That girl is said to be the daughter of a high-ranking official."


    "Don¡¯t worry. Even if she were the mayor¡¯s daughter, it wouldn¡¯t matter." Caius smirked.


    Revenge?


    A mercenary feared no such thing. When he was done, they wouldn¡¯t even know who hit them.


    Just then, the door opened, and Belle stepped inside with a small bag.


    Upon seeing Caius, she froze, as if someone had cast a petrification spell on her, completely at a loss for what to do.

 Chapter 30

    Caius stared at the cup being slowly pushed toward him, speechless.


    "Enough. I''d rather have alcohol than water."


    "I''m just here to ask you something. No need to be so nervous."


    With that, he turned to Belle.


    Belle remained quietly standing there.


    Although her eyes were hidden, Caius knew she was looking at him. Unable to help himself, he asked, "Aren''t you going to ask me what I want to know?"


    At his words, Belle shrank her small face into her high-collared sweater. Then, a soft voice emerged.


    "What... do you want to ask?"


    Caius: "..."


    "I want to know the names of the people who bullied you," Caius said.


    After a long silence, Belle finally spoke.


    "No one bullied me..."


    Caius wiped his face and said, "Tell me the truth. That way, I can lock onto the right targets and help you better."


    Belle remained silent, fiddling with her small hands.


    Great. A quiet one.


    Caius frowned and said, "If you don''t tell me, I can''t help you. You won''t be able to attend school normally, let alone go to Hydis."


    "Then Granny Lunla and your little sisters won''t be able to have a better life. Is that what you want?"


    In reality, the two matters were unrelated. Even if Belle was being bullied in Ocean City, she could still go to Hydis Magic Academy, since Holan had arranged a direct admission for her.


    But Caius was deliberately "threatening" her.


    Sure enough, upon hearing Caius'' words, Belle became anxious. Her voice turned hesitant. "I don''t want..."


    Before she could finish, Caius cut in, "Good. Then point them out."


    "Who''s this?" Caius grabbed a portrait and asked, giving Belle no chance to retreat.


    Belle turned her head and glanced at it before whispering, "Frieda..."


    "Mm. And this one?"


    "Alana..."


    "This one?"


    "Linsa..."


    "And this one?" Caius finally pointed at the girl who had deducted fifty points, asking her name.


    When Belle saw the girl, she actually took half a step back, showing just how much of a shadow this girl had cast over her.


    "Man... Manasa..."


    Caius nodded in satisfaction.


    On the side, Granny Lunla let out an inexplicable sigh of relief as she watched this unfold.


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    Although Caius¡¯ tone sounded like a threat, harsh and overbearing, it was surprisingly effective.


    Whenever she asked Belle about these things, she was always gentle, afraid of hurting her feelings. But now, it seemed that Caius'' approach was actually more effective.


    If it were up to her, she would never have the heart to talk to Belle like that.


    She could barely bear to stop spoiling the girl, let alone interrogate her.


    "The culprits have been identified. Now, it''s time for justice." Caius stood up and asked Belle, "What time do you go to the academy tomorrow?"


    "Five in the morning," Belle replied.


    After speaking, she felt a strange sense of relief. It was as if, now that she had spoken up, things would be alright. Her speech returned to normal, though her voice was still soft.


    "That early?" Caius asked.


    Belle nodded, letting out a tiny hum of confirmation, so quiet that even Caius almost didn''t hear it.


    "Alright then. I''ll come find you at five tomorrow, and we''ll go together." Caius said.


    With that, he collected the portraits and strode outside, moving briskly.


    Just as he was about to leave, Belle suddenly remembered something and rushed after him, calling out, "Wait..."


    "What?" Caius turned back.


    "You forgot the deed..." Belle said, pulling out a neatly folded, old piece of paper from her pocket.


    Caius merely glanced at it before turning away, continuing forward, and leaving behind a single sentence: "Hold onto it for me. I''ll take it after I pay the rest."


    With that, he walked out the door of the Orphanage.


    Belle watched his departing figure for a while before softly replying.


    "Okay."


    Then she returned inside and went to Granny Lunla, smoothing the folds in the blanket covering her.


    "He left?" Granny Lunla resumed knitting.


    It was autumn now, and winter was approaching.


    "Mm." Belle nodded slightly.


    "What do you think of him?" Granny Lunla suddenly asked.


    Belle was taken aback. After a brief silence, she said, "He''s a good person."


    Granny Lunla chuckled and gently stroked her face. "I think so too."


    ¡­¡­


    "Wake up, little cat! Time to work!" Caius called out urgently.


    Kiki rubbed her eyes groggily and looked outside.


    The sun was shining brightly.


    "What time is it, Meow?"


    "Noon." Caius picked up his backpack as he spoke.


    "We''re leaving at noon, Meow?"


    "Originally, I planned to leave after dinner, but plans have changed. We¡¯re leaving now." Caius said.


    He had thought Belle would leave for the academy in a few days, but it turned out she was heading there early tomorrow morning. That meant he had to hurry.


    Looked like another sleepless night.


    He planned to complete those two Silver-tier missions tonight and return before Belle left, so he could go with her to the academy.


    In reality, he didn¡¯t have to rush. A few days'' delay wouldn¡¯t have mattered.


    But after hearing Eli¡¯s words, Caius had come to understand just how vile Manasa and her gang were.


    Framing others was second nature to them, and that was just outside the academy. Who knew how much worse things were for Belle inside?


    He couldn''t just stand by. Delaying even a day meant Belle would suffer another day of bullying.


    As he packed his things, Caius sighed.


    This damned sense of responsibility. I really am a good man!


    Once everything was ready, Caius hurriedly dragged Kiki downstairs.


    "Caius, you¡ªhey?" Yvlan was about to speak to him when he suddenly rushed out of the tavern with Kiki, leaving her confused.


    "Why does he look like he''s running from disaster...?" Yvlan muttered.


    But the next second, Caius dashed back in front of her. Like a magician, he pulled out a Mona Redbloom and, before Yvlan could react, gently tucked it behind her ear.


    "Beautiful!" Caius grinned in satisfaction before dashing out again, leaving Yvlan stunned in the wind.


    It wasn''t until teasing voices rose around her that Yvlan finally snapped out of it.


    "You brat! Get back here!!!"


    Hearing the lion''s roar from behind him, Caius laughed heartily and ran even faster.


    Once out of the city gates, he didn¡¯t slow down¡ªinstead, he sped up.


    Kiki, who was being dragged along, found herself lifted into the air.


    Then, with a flick of Caius'' hand, Kiki landed on his shoulder.


    The little catgirl quickly clung to Caius'' neck, full of nervousness.


    Because Caius'' speed was ridiculous. Faster than a carriage, he covered ten to twenty meters in a single stride. The scenery around them blurred as it raced past.


    Kiki feared that if she loosened her grip even a little, the rushing wind would fling her off.


    In response, Kiki¡¯s body glowed, and a visible azure light surrounded Caius.


    Immediately, the air resistance decreased, and his speed increased even further.


    "Aren''t we taking a carriage, Meow?" Kiki asked.


    "Nope. Carriages are too slow. We¡¯re running!" Caius replied.


    "Huh?! It¡¯s over a hundred kilometers! Are you serious, Meow?!"


    "Of course!" Caius grinned.


    "Hold on tight, little cat. I¡¯m speeding up!"


    Kiki was shocked. Faster than this?!


    And indeed, she soon learned what real speed meant as veins of vital energy ignited around Caius.


    "Too fast! Too fast! I''m gonna fall, Meow!!"

 Chapter 31

    "Phew..." Caius let out a long breath, nodding as he surveyed the Mushroom Forest, where the ground was covered in red mushrooms. Steam rose from his body.


    Running for an hour, covering over 160 kilometers¡ªthis speed was acceptable.


    And that was while carrying a heavy hammer, a bag full of gear, and a little Catgirl.


    If he traveled light, he could be even faster.


    It was still early in the afternoon, plenty of time left.


    Luckily, he''d had the foresight to buy some stamina potions.


    After drinking one to replenish his strength, Caius took out three bottles from his bag.


    The mission required three pounds of dragonkin insects.


    Each of these insects was only slightly larger than a soybean, making it quite a challenge to collect enough.


    Fortunately, Kiki was incredibly useful this time.


    The Mushroom Forest was full of fungi, and Caius had learned from Yvlan beforehand that dragonkin insects favored a type of mushroom called Azure-Eye Mushroom.


    These mushrooms were blue, with circular rings, making them easy to spot.


    Find the Azure-Eye Mushrooms, and you''d find the dragonkin insects.


    And Kiki, being quick and agile, found catching insects both fun and easy.


    She crouched on all fours, eyes scanning the ground. The moment she spotted a blue mushroom, she leaped forward and pinched it.


    "Got five, Meow!" Kiki said as she placed five dragonkin insects, which had been munching on the mushroom, into a bottle.


    "Nice work. Keep it up," Caius praised.


    Encouraged, Kiki became even more motivated, catching insects at a much faster rate than Caius.


    "While you''re at it, keep an eye out for Purplecap Mushrooms¡ªwe need thirty," Caius instructed. He had intentionally picked a similar task to complete both at once, maximizing efficiency.


    "Got it, Meow!" Kiki replied.


    After spending over an hour, the two of them finally filled three large bottles with dragonkin insects and collected thirty Purplecap Mushrooms.


    "Alright, next destination¡ªAronas Mountain!"


    Hearing this, Kiki quickly clung to Caius. In the next instant, he shot forward like an arrow, dashing straight toward Aronas Mountain.


    This time, it took an hour and a half to reach the base of the mountain. One was south of Grilla City, while the other was west, meaning they had traveled nearly 200 kilometers.


    By the time they arrived, it was around four or five in the afternoon.


    After drinking another stamina potion, Caius packed the other mission materials securely and hid them in a tree. Then, carrying only his heavy hammer and the little Catgirl, he began scaling the mountain with his bare hands.


    He chose this approach because he needed to descend quickly later, and he didn¡¯t want to risk shattering the bottles filled with collected materials. The last thing he wanted was to crawl around picking up scattered mushrooms and dragonkin insects.


    High Mountain White Peach Blossoms, as the name suggested, grew at high altitudes, often clinging to steep cliffs. The only way to gather them was by free climbing.


    Aronas Mountain stood over 6,000 meters tall, with snow appearing around the 4,000-meter mark. The temperature was noticeably colder.


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    Kiki trembled from the chill.


    Dressed in a short-sleeved shirt and shorts, she had little resistance to the cold.


    Seeing this, Caius activated his vital energy, warming his body. Only then did Kiki feel better.


    This time, Kiki¡¯s job was to act as Caius¡¯ eyes.


    With strong winds blowing and his large frame catching the gusts, Caius had to focus entirely on climbing.


    Meanwhile, Kiki, clinging to his back, was responsible for spotting their target.


    "I see one! There''s a white peach blossom tree up to the left, Meow!"


    "Got it. Hold on tight!" Caius said, tightening his grip. His muscles tensed, revealing well-defined contours.


    Kiki could feel his muscles shifting beneath her.


    With a burst of strength, Caius launched himself upward, his fingers digging into the mountainside like iron claws. He clung to the rock like a gecko, swiftly making his way toward Kiki¡¯s indicated direction.


    Before long, he had harvested an entire white peach blossom tree.


    Thirty-two High Mountain White Peach Blossoms.


    Caius picked up the pace.


    Thanks to Kiki¡¯s guidance, they managed to collect two hundred High Mountain White Peach Blossoms in just over an hour.


    The mission only required a hundred, but Caius had other plans for the extra ones.


    He glanced at the horizon.


    The sun was beginning to set.


    A golden glow bathed the sky in hues of orange and red, while the clouds resembled flames, as if half the sky was ablaze.


    Watching the sunset from atop the mountain was truly a special experience.


    But now was not the time for sightseeing.


    "Time to go down!" Caius announced.


    With that, he released his grip on the mountainside, letting himself free fall.


    Kiki¡¯s pupils shrank in terror. She clung to Caius¡¯ neck and let out a piercing scream.


    "We''re falling, we''re falling!"


    "Hahaha!" Caius laughed heartily, spreading his limbs to stabilize his descent.


    As he neared the rock face, his legs moved at high speed, and in an instant, he began running down the near-vertical mountainside. At the same time, he scooped Kiki into his arms to shield her.


    Speeding downward, he reached the base of the mountain in no time.


    Just before impact, he raised his heavy hammer and slammed it into the mountainside.


    BOOM!


    The force sent him rebounding backward, reducing the impact of his fall.


    A thunderous crash followed as he landed, the ground trembling beneath him. He crouched, hammer in hand, cracks spreading from the point of impact.


    His legs were slightly numb from the shock, but otherwise, he was fine. He stood up as if nothing had happened.


    In his arms, Kiki was curled up, still trembling.


    He had held her tightly to prevent her from being flung away mid-fall.


    "You can open your eyes now," Caius said.


    Kiki hesitantly opened her eyes.


    "Are we dead?" she asked, her voice trembling.


    "Nope," Caius replied, setting her down. "Now pull yourself together¡ªwe''re heading back."


    Kiki¡¯s legs were still wobbly, but after a short rest, she recovered.


    Retrieving their hidden materials, Caius packed everything up and set off back to Ocean City, carrying Kiki once again.


    They ran the whole way back.


    By the time they arrived, Caius had downed five of his ten stamina potions, and even Kiki had drunk one. Only four remained, showing just how much energy they had burned through.


    Even with stamina potions, exhaustion was inevitable.


    Drinking so many in such a short time had weakened their effects, so by the time Caius returned to the Hailan No. 11 Tavern, his eyelids were already drooping.


    He was exhausted¡ªafter all, he had stayed up all night doing missions as well.


    Around 10 p.m., at Hailan No. 11.


    "Back already?" Yvlan looked surprised upon seeing them.


    Caius didn¡¯t say much. He simply dumped the mission materials on the floor and yawned. "Check them quickly¡ªI¡¯m about to pass out."


    Noting his exhaustion, Yvlan immediately had someone verify the materials.


    Then she was stunned.


    The two Silver-ranked missions, both of which should have taken a long time, were already completed!


    And in just half a day. That efficiency was insane!


    "Didn¡¯t you say you¡¯d turn in the missions in Grilla City?" Yvlan asked, puzzled.


    "Changed my mind. I was in a hurry, so I just came straight back..." Caius yawned again.


    "The carriage was that fast?" Yvlan pressed.


    "Didn¡¯t take a carriage. I ran." Caius smirked. "Are we done here?"


    "Yes... all done..." Yvlan was still in shock.


    He ran?!


    Considering the distance for both tasks and the round trip, didn¡¯t Caius just run eight or nine hundred kilometers in half a day?!


    Good heavens, what kind of monster is he?!


    But Caius clearly had no time for chit-chat. After collecting his reward, he carried the already sleeping Kiki upstairs.


    "He must be exhausted..." Yvlan chuckled, shaking her head.


    Yet, just as Caius reached the top of the stairs, he came back down and gestured for Yvlan to come over.


    "What is it?" Yvlan asked as she approached.


    Caius didn¡¯t say a word. He simply extended his hand, and a High Mountain White Peach Blossom appeared, which he gently tucked behind Yvlan¡¯s ear.


    Yvlan was stunned. She stared blankly at the towering figure before her, clearly exhausted, and for a moment, she didn¡¯t know what to say.


    "Stay beautiful," Caius grinned before heading back upstairs, yawning.


    "Even when he¡¯s that tired, he still has the energy to flirt with me¡­ Seriously..." Yvlan muttered, unsure whether to be annoyed or amused.


    She then took the High Mountain White Peach Blossom from her ear, examined it for a moment, and then put it back.


    "Maybe I should buy a white dress..."

 Chapter 32

    Caius had a dream¡ªone where he found himself surrounded by a world of fluff.


    The flowers, trees, plains, and even the clouds floating in the sky were all covered in soft, plush fur. It was an incredibly cozy and relaxing place.


    Lying on the furry grassland, Caius enjoyed the gentle massage of the plush fibers. But in the next moment, the fluffy terrain suddenly surged like a wave and swallowed him whole.


    Breathing became increasingly difficult, and finally, he jolted awake.


    The first thing he saw was something fluffy.


    Propping himself up, Caius realized¡ªit was Kiki¡¯s tail.


    That big, fluffy tail had landed right on his face, its plush fur covering half of Caius¡¯s face and nose, making it hard for him to breathe.


    With a helpless expression, Caius sighed. This girl had a terrible sleeping posture.


    Even though he had placed her on the other side of the bed before sleeping, she had somehow climbed back onto him by morning.


    Brushing Kiki¡¯s tail aside, Caius rolled out of bed and reached for the pocket watch in his bedside pouch.


    Despite its sophisticated appearance, pocket watches had been invented centuries ago in his previous world. While this world didn¡¯t follow a technological path, its industrial development was still quite advanced, thanks to magic.


    Magic had replaced technology, making Magical Devices comparable to the black-tech wonders of his past life¡ªoften even more versatile and powerful.


    Take this pocket watch, for example. It was an old keepsake from the old man, who supposedly crafted it himself. It was incredibly precise, even driven by a magic crystal.


    Handcrafting such delicate components without a lathe spoke volumes about the old man¡¯s mastery of blacksmithing.


    Glancing at the time, Caius¡¯ eyes widened in shock.


    ¡°Six-twenty?!¡± He quickly packed his things while calling out, ¡°Get up, Kiki, we¡¯re late!¡±


    Half-asleep, Kiki groggily stirred before finally snapping awake.


    Caius figured they were both just too exhausted yesterday, causing their internal clocks to fail.


    Had it not been for Kiki¡¯s tail smothering his face, he probably would have slept straight into the afternoon.


    After all, he had promised Belle to meet at five. Caius had always prided himself on being punctual.


    Gathering their things, Caius and Kiki rushed toward the Orphanage.


    The Boss Lady greeted him along the way, but he barely had time to return a quick acknowledgment.


    "Such enthusiasm," Yvlan remarked, thinking Caius must be heading off on a mission.


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    Well¡­ technically, she wasn¡¯t wrong, but that wasn¡¯t the main point.


    At six in the morning, Ocean City was at its quietest, with only a few pedestrians on the streets.


    It was the transition from autumn to winter, and given Ocean City¡¯s seaside location, the air was rather chilly. The early morning temperature barely reached double digits, prompting Kiki to sneeze.


    When Caius finally saw the Orphanage¡¯s entrance, he spotted a lone figure standing there, holding a small bag.


    It was Belle.


    Seeing that she hadn¡¯t left yet, Caius sighed in relief¡ªonly for tension to creep into his heart immediately after.


    He wasn¡¯t sure why, but he felt inexplicably nervous.


    Standing before Belle, Caius scratched his head with an awkward grin. ¡°Sorry, I overslept.¡±


    Belle was dressed in her usual plain, rustic attire. Her sweater was different from last time, but only slightly¡ªjust a lighter shade, though the design remained the same.


    Oh, and there was still that mushroom-like hat on her head.


    It had originally been flax-colored, but now it was a lighter, off-white shade, matching her sweater.


    From a flax-colored mushroom girl to an off-white mushroom girl.


    Belle simply gave a small nod in response to his apology, then opened the bag in her hands and handed Caius a wooden flask.


    Caius was at a loss.


    Water again?


    Yet, perhaps out of guilt for being late, he accepted the flask and took a sip.


    The moment the liquid touched his tongue, his eyes widened. He gulped down two more mouthfuls before exhaling warmly, then looked at Belle in surprise.


    ¡°Rum?¡±


    Belle nodded lightly and then pointed toward the road ahead. ¡°Time for school.¡±


    ¡°Oh, right. Let¡¯s go.¡± Caius nodded, taking another sip before handing the flask to Kiki so she could warm up, too.


    The little Catgirl wasn¡¯t too fond of alcohol but still took a couple of sips before sticking out her tongue. ¡°I still prefer milk, Meow.¡±


    Walking alongside Belle on the empty streets, Caius held back for a while before finally asking, ¡°Where did you get the rum?¡±


    ¡°Bought it,¡± Belle replied softly.


    ¡°You like drinking?¡± he asked.


    Belle shook her head without speaking.


    But Caius understood.


    She had bought it just for him.


    Because¡­ he had casually mentioned before that he preferred alcohol over water.


    A strange feeling settled in his heart.


    He had casually mentioned it once, and Belle had prepared a flask of rum for him, yet he hadn¡¯t even managed to keep their appointment on time.


    ¡°Did you stand outside the whole time waiting?¡± Caius asked.


    He hoped Belle¡¯s answer would be: No, I waited inside.


    But alas¡­


    ¡°Mm.¡± Belle gave a small nod.


    Caius rubbed his face.


    How foolish. It had been even colder at five in the morning, yet she had stood there waiting for over an hour.


    Now he felt even worse.


    So in his mind, he silently deducted another twenty points from that girl¡ªManasa.


    Damn it, it¡¯s all Manasa¡¯s fault!


    ¡°We won¡¯t be late, will we?¡± Caius asked.


    Belle shook her head. ¡°Classes start at eight.¡±


    Caius¡¯ eyes widened. ¡°Then why did you come at five?!¡±


    Belle remained silent for a long moment before whispering, ¡°So I wouldn¡¯t run into¡­ Manasa.¡±


    Caius: ¡°...¡±


    Damn it, it¡¯s all Manasa¡¯s fault!


    An awkward silence followed.


    Normally, Caius wouldn¡¯t mind quiet moments like this.


    But right now, he felt extremely uncomfortable.


    The quieter Belle was, the more restless he became.


    It was like an itch he couldn¡¯t scratch.


    ¡°Uh¡­ This was just a one-time accident. I¡¯m usually very punctual,¡± Caius blurted out, breaking the silence.


    But even to himself, his words felt weak and unconvincing.


    Belle simply nodded lightly, seemingly muttering a faint ¡°Mm,¡± though her voice was so soft that Caius wasn¡¯t sure if he heard it correctly.


    Left with no other choice, he decided to change the subject.


    ¡°When will you be going to Hydis?¡± he asked.


    Belle lowered her head in thought before turning to him. ¡°In half a month, after the final exams.¡±


    ¡°I see¡­¡± Caius nodded, then asked, ¡°How are your grades?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re¡­ alright.¡±


    ¡°You guys have ranking exams, right? What place were you last time?¡±


    ¡°First¡­¡±


    Caius¡¯ eyes widened again. ¡°You call that ¡®alright¡¯?¡±


    ¡°Being too modest is just being fake, you know,¡± he teased.


    Belle paused for a moment before lowering her head.


    Just as Caius was about to ask why, she softly whispered, ¡°Sorry¡­¡±


    Caius: ¡°...¡±


    What was she apologizing for?


    After a moment of confusion, he finally understood and hurriedly waved his hands. ¡°No, no, I wasn¡¯t saying you¡¯re fake! It was just a joke¡­ Damn it, it¡¯s all Manasa¡¯s fault!¡±


    Belle: ¡°?¡±

 Chapter 33

    "Why?" Belle asked.


    "Why what?" Caius replied.


    "Why... blame Manasa?" Belle said.


    "Uh..." Caius twitched at the corner of his mouth before responding, "Just don''t worry about it. The point is¡ªit¡¯s all Manasa¡¯s damn fault!"


    Look at what she had done to this girl! She was bullied to the point where "self-doubt" might as well be tattooed on her forehead!


    Hearing this, Belle turned back around and silently continued walking forward.


    After a while, she turned back to Caius and said, "Actually... it¡¯s not Manasa¡¯s fault."


    Caius was stunned. "What do you mean?"


    Belle lowered her head, staring at the cold ground, her voice tinged with sadness. "I took her spot..."


    "Instructor Holan came to the academy to select students for the magic research team. She was supposed to choose Manasa because Manasa had always been the top student in the magic research program."


    "But that time, I also took the elective exam for the magic research program and ranked first. So, Instructor Holan chose me instead..."


    "That¡¯s why she hates me. I can understand..."


    Caius¡¯s eyebrows twitched repeatedly. Finally, unable to hold back, he reached out and placed both hands on Belle¡¯s shoulders.


    Belle was startled by his sudden movement, letting out a small squeak as she trembled slightly.


    Caius firmly turned her to face him, his expression serious. "Girl, you need to understand¡ªbeing too kind will only make people dislike you."


    "By your logic, you should actually blame Instructor Holan. If she hadn¡¯t come to the academy, none of this would¡¯ve happened!"


    "No... no..." Belle quickly shook her head. "Instructor Holan is a good person, she¡ª"


    "Yes, she¡¯s a good person!" Caius cut her off. "Then what about you? Are you a bad person?"


    Belle shrank her neck and eventually shook her head.


    "Then that settles it, doesn¡¯t it?" Caius said.


    "Now, let me ask you¡ªif you had placed second in that exam and Instructor Holan had chosen Manasa, would you have bullied her?"


    Belle shook her head again.


    "Exactly! You wouldn¡¯t. So why does she get to bully you?"


    "You ranked first¡ªthat¡¯s your ability!"


    "Instructor Holan chose you¡ªthat¡¯s also your ability, and it shows she has good judgment!"


    "So why should she get to bully you?"


    "Just because you¡¯re kind? Just because you get bullied and don¡¯t fight back?"


    "You did nothing wrong, girl. Not even a little bit. So don¡¯t take on blame that isn¡¯t yours. Instead, you should smash it right into the face of the one bullying you!"


    "Do you understand now, girl? This is why¡ªit¡¯s all Manasa¡¯s damn fault!"


    Kiki immediately raised her paw. "It¡¯s all Manasa¡¯s damn fault, meow!"


    "See? Even the little cat gets it." Caius grinned widely.


    "So, do you get it now?"


    Belle tilted her head up, staring at him blankly.


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    From this angle, Caius could see the lower half of her face peeking out from under her high-collared sweater. He could just make out her lips and a hint of her face.


    Caius would bet his life on it¡ªBelle was definitely not ugly!


    Five points added!


    Eighty-five points now. Keep going, girl! Try to surpass Hilda!


    After a while, Belle finally snapped back to reality.


    She clenched her small hands slightly before giving a light nod.


    Caius chuckled. "Now, say it with me¡ªIt¡¯s all Manasa¡¯s damn fault!"


    Kiki: "It¡¯s all Manasa¡¯s damn fault, meow!"


    Belle: "Um..."


    She hesitated before whispering, "Grandma Lunla says... cursing is bad..."


    "Alright, Grandma Lunla has a point." Caius smacked his lips, not insisting further.


    The cold wind howled as Caius took out his wooden flask, downed the last of his rum, and then pulled out a cigarette, lighting it up.


    Kiki: "Can I try, meow?"


    Caius: "Here."


    Caius handed the cigarette to Kiki, who curiously examined it before taking a puff. She immediately burst into a fit of coughing.


    "Ugh... so awful... cough cough... don¡¯t like it... cough cough..."


    "Hahaha! That¡¯s why kids shouldn¡¯t smoke." Caius retrieved the cigarette, placing it back in his mouth.


    Kiki took a moment to recover, wiped away her tears, then pouted and said, "I¡¯m not a kid, meow!"


    "I¡¯m already seventeen, meow!"


    Caius was stunned.


    Wait a minute¡ªthis little girl is older than me?


    So... should I be calling Kiki ''big sis''?


    Maintaining a composed expression, Caius calmly lied, "Seventeen is still a kid. I¡¯m eighteen."


    With that, he turned to Belle, cigarette between his lips. "How old are you?"


    Belle: "Nineteen."


    Caius: "Cough! Cough, cough, cough!"


    He choked on his cigarette, breaking into a coughing fit.


    Kiki burst out laughing, while Belle hesitated for a moment before gently patting his back to help him breathe.


    Truthfully, Caius¡¯s face was red purely from embarrassment.


    Damn it, I should¡¯ve said I was twenty!


    Just moments ago, he had been calling Belle ''girl,'' but it turned out she was three years older than him. Thinking about it made his face burn.


    But as someone with a thick skin, Caius quickly put the matter behind him.


    "So that¡¯s Ocean City Academy. Looks alright," Caius remarked, gazing at the academy in the distance.


    Ocean City Academy was built at the boundary between land and sea, with half of it extending into the water and the other half on solid ground. There was even a shipyard nearby. From a distance, it looked quite impressive.


    It was already 6:40 AM. They had spent about twenty minutes walking here.


    By now, students were starting to trickle into the academy¡¯s entrance.


    Caius had initially considered sneaking in.


    However, he quickly realized that students were required to show their academy badges.


    Belle didn¡¯t wear a uniform, but she had her badge pinned to the sleeve of her sweater, so no mage stopped her.


    Caius, however, was stopped at the entrance.


    Fortunately, he was prepared.


    Seeing Belle pause and glance back at him, Caius waved her off. "No need to wait for me. Go on ahead."


    Belle gave a small nod and walked deeper into the academy, while Caius took out a mission slip stamped by Yvlan and handed it to the mage guard, along with his mercenary ID.


    "Hello, I¡¯m here to complete a task."


    The mage checked the documents and then raised an eyebrow. "You¡¯re a new face. You know the rules, right? As an outsider, there are places you can¡¯t go..."


    "Don¡¯t worry, I know the rules!" Caius grinned and offered a cigarette.


    The mage took it, sniffed, and his eyes lit up with a pleased smile.


    Good stuff!


    "Go on in. The library¡¯s straight ahead, then turn right." The mage not only let him through but even gave him directions to his mission location.


    This mission was simple¡ªdelivering books from the library to another city.


    But Caius wasn¡¯t here for the mission.


    Watching Belle¡¯s figure disappear into the distance, he turned to Kiki. "Time is short. Kiki, go pick up the delivery. I¡¯m going to scout around and will be back soon."


    "Got it, meow!"


    Having a reliable catgirl really made things easier.


    Kiki ran off to pick up the delivery while Caius took advantage of the relatively empty surroundings. He reached into his waist pouch and pulled out a dark, polished stone etched with a magical rune.


    It was a magic stone imbued with the [Concealment] spell, a gift from a village guard captain. Though only Silver-grade, it was a fairly common standardized magical device.


    However, such items were typically military-regulated and not readily available for purchase. The guard captain had previously served in the army as a scout, which was how he had come into possession of this magic stone. After retiring, he returned to his hometown and became the self-appointed head of the village¡¯s protection squad¡ªan unofficial, unregulated role.


    For the average person, this magic stone was quite a rare treasure. Had Caius not been on good terms with the captain and preparing to leave the village for greater adventures, the man wouldn¡¯t have been willing to part with it.


    The magic stone¡¯s effect created a localized force field that concealed its user¡¯s presence, reduced light refraction, and darkened the surrounding area. In the darkness of night, it granted near-invisibility.


    Now, with the sky still dim and morning mist lingering in the air, this stone would help Caius avoid detection.


    Its activation was simple¡ªjust an infusion of magic power.


    Anyone of a certain rank possessed magic power. For warriors, it was called battle aura; for mages, it was known as mana. But in essence, they were the same thing¡ªmerely different names for the same energy.


    Caius not only possessed magic power but had quite a substantial amount of it. However, he had yet to discover how to convert it into spellcasting.


    He infused the magic stone with his power, triggering its effect. Then, with agility, he leaped onto the rooftop, stealthily following after Belle.

 Chapter 34

    Belle walked at a leisurely pace, and Caius followed unhurriedly from the rooftop of a nearby teaching building.


    Since the buildings were interconnected, Caius could easily leap from one to another.


    Fortunately, apart from Wind-element mages, most mages did not possess the ability to fly in their early stages, so the Ocean City Academy was not filled with mages soaring through the sky. Otherwise, with spellcasters flying overhead, he would be discovered in an instant.


    After all, the effect of the magic stone was Concealment, not Invisibility.


    Rumor had it that there existed magic stones with true invisibility effects. Caius felt that he needed to get his hands on one.


    Following Belle into one of the teaching buildings, Caius surveyed his surroundings before leaping lightly onto a large tree. The tree was sizable enough to hide him completely.


    Thanks to the magic stone¡¯s effect, he blended almost seamlessly with the shadows of the tree canopy. Unless someone had a bizarre urge to climb the tree, he was practically undetectable.


    Crouching on a sturdy branch, Caius peered through the gaps in the foliage, observing the classroom inside the building.


    The transparent crystal windows resembled glass, allowing Caius to see Belle walk up to the second floor. She carried her bag into a classroom.


    Caius then leaped back onto the rooftop, moving to the other side where he found another large tree to conceal himself. The reason for switching sides was that one side had a corridor, while the other had windows directly facing the classroom, allowing for a clearer view.


    At this moment, Belle was the only person in the classroom.


    It was just past seven o¡¯clock. Class would begin at eight, meaning Belle would remain in the classroom for an hour.


    After sitting down, she took a few books from her bag and placed them on the desk. Then she pulled out a water cup, took a sip, and set it aside.


    Next¡­ she simply started reading.


    Caius waited for two minutes. She remained motionless, absorbed in her book. Another minute passed before she turned a single page.


    Caius smirked and snapped off a small twig, about the length of a finger. He flicked it gently, sending it tapping against the window with a soft ¡°pop.¡±


    Belle flinched and immediately turned toward the window.


    Caius parted the foliage and waved at her with a grin.


    Belle: ¡°?¡±


    She appeared startled. After recognizing Caius, she glanced around nervously, confirming that she was alone in the classroom. Only then did she seem somewhat relieved.


    After that, she seemed unsure whether to continue reading or to keep watching Caius.


    Caius found it amusing. She was really quite clueless.


    A glance at the time¡ª7:10 AM.


    Students were starting to enter the teaching building.


    Each class lasted about an hour, meaning Belle wouldn¡¯t be free until nine. That left two hours.


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    Caius didn¡¯t hesitate. He jumped down from the tree and casually made his way toward the library.


    He couldn¡¯t enter the teaching buildings, but this was the academy¡¯s open grounds, so he could walk around freely.


    Seeing Caius leave, Belle finally exhaled and patted her chest as if relieved.


    She didn¡¯t know why Caius had been there, but she knew it wasn¡¯t good. If he was discovered, he would definitely be kicked out.


    Luckily, nothing had happened.


    Back at the library, Kiki had already pushed out a small cart stacked with books.


    There were at least 150 volumes¡ªquite heavy. Caius¡¯s task was to transport them to the Goathorn City Library, sixty miles away.


    It was merely a Brass-level mission, not worth much. However, Caius only took it as an excuse to infiltrate Ocean City Academy and gather intelligence.


    Now that he had confirmed Belle¡¯s location, as well as the surrounding terrain, routes, and distribution of greenery, all he had to do was return before her class ended to continue his observations.


    Without delay, Caius took Kiki and the stack of books and headed out.


    Why not send Kiki ahead while he stayed behind?


    Because Caius planned to take action inside the academy and needed a solid alibi.


    His plan was to drop Kiki ten miles from Goathorn City and have her wait for him there.


    Then, he would double back, sneak into the academy, and carry out his retribution.


    Afterward, he needed to rush back, retrieve Kiki, and enter Goathorn City together.


    This way, even if Manasa¡¯s father investigated, he would have a watertight alibi.


    What? Your daughter got beaten up? My sincerest sympathies, but I was in Goathorn City at the time. The library staff there can vouch for me~


    As for gate records¡­ Caius had already looked into it. Unless under special circumstances, the outer gates of Ocean City weren¡¯t checked or recorded. As long as one paid the toll, they were allowed in.


    When Caius entered, he had simply paid a ten-silver entry fee. The guards hadn¡¯t even looked up, let alone recorded anything.


    The plan was airtight. Time to execute.


    After walking two miles outside the city, Caius activated his sprinting mode and bolted toward Goathorn City.


    It took him less than fifteen minutes to reach a forested area ten miles from Goathorn City. This was part of the city¡¯s protected zone, surrounded by farmland and orchards, making it relatively safe.


    ¡°Kiki, wait here. I¡¯ll return as soon as I finish my task,¡± Caius instructed, having already explained his plan to Kiki.


    Kiki nodded obediently. ¡°Alright, Meow~¡±


    Caius chuckled, ruffling her hair before dashing back toward Ocean City.


    By the time he returned, barely half an hour had passed.


    Technically, this journey should have taken most of the day, so Caius was relying on this time discrepancy.


    Avoiding crowds, Caius, with his heavy hammer on his back, reached a secluded corner of Ocean City Academy.


    Few people were around here, and scaling the academy¡¯s outer wall would get him inside.


    If he was going to do something illicit, entering through the main gate and registering was obviously out of the question.


    Otherwise, he¡¯d be caught instantly.


    Gazing at the over-three-meter-high wall, Caius took his hammer off his back. ¡°Alright, baby, it¡¯s your turn.¡±


    With that, he leaped while gripping his hammer, effortlessly clearing the wall.


    The reason for this elaborate maneuver was that the walls were enchanted with magical runes that detected movement. If someone climbed over, an alarm would trigger, alerting the guards.


    However, Caius¡¯s hammer, Angel, possessed an Anti-Magic effect.


    As long as he held it, the hammer generated an Anti-Magic field spanning three meters, neutralizing the wall¡¯s detection runes.


    Landing soundlessly, Caius waited for three seconds.


    No alarms. Perfect.


    Shouldering his hammer, he activated his magic stone.


    It was class time, but there were still students on the training grounds.


    Weaving through the academy¡¯s greenery, using the dense foliage for cover, he made his way back to the large tree.


    He could see that the classroom was now full.


    A lecturer stood at the front, conjuring a Magic Circle from time to time to explain spell formations and Magic Array structures.


    Caius¡¯s gaze landed on Belle. She was diligently taking notes.


    But then, for some reason, she suddenly turned her head toward the window.


    Her short hair partially covered her eyes, yet Caius was certain¡ªshe was looking right at him.


    How did she notice him?


    Caius had his doubts. Could she be perceiving the world in a different way?


    It was said that powerful mages possessed extraordinary magic senses.


    But he was carrying Angel. The Anti-Magic field should prevent her from detecting him through magical perception.


    Maybe¡­ this was what they called a telepathic connection?


    Belle was visibly startled to see him again, but she quickly turned back, pretending to focus on the lesson.


    Yet, it was clear she was now distracted. Her pen, which had been moving continuously, had come to a complete stop.


    It was amusing, but Caius had bigger concerns.


    Because he had spotted his target¡ªsitting right behind Belle.

 Chapter 35

    Caius remembered the classrooms at Hydis Magic Academy, where the desks and chairs were curved long tables and benches, each row seating up to five people.


    It was the same at Ocean City Academy.


    The classroom was spacious, and even with forty or fifty students, it still wasn''t full. Naturally, students sat with their friends.


    Most formed small groups of twos and threes, while some squeezed six people into a row.


    Only Belle sat alone in an entire row.


    It was obvious¡ªshe was being ostracized.


    It wasn¡¯t hard to figure out why. No one wanted to sit with the plain and unremarkable "mushroom girl."


    Of course, her appearance wasn¡¯t the main issue. The real reason was that someone had taken the lead in isolating her, and eventually, the entire class followed suit.


    And the instigator was sitting right behind her.


    Ocean City Academy operated under a gender-segregated system¡ªmale students had one campus, and female students had another. In theory, this should have made management easier and student relationships more harmonious.


    However, sometimes, these things had nothing to do with gender.


    Right behind Belle sat Manasa and her clique, a group of five girls.


    There was one girl Caius didn¡¯t recognize, but she was clearly part of the group.


    To be honest, Manasa was even more beautiful than in the portraits, and perhaps due to makeup, she exuded a charm uncommon in ordinary girls.


    However, at this moment, she wore an expression of disdain and ridicule as she looked at Belle sitting in front of her.


    The instructor on the podium turned around and began writing something on the blackboard.


    Manasa seized the opportunity to whisper something to her companions. The girls giggled together, as if they were anticipating a show.


    Then, Manasa extended her finger, a faint green light appearing at her fingertip. With a slight flick, a gust of wind lifted Belle¡¯s books off her desk and scattered them onto the floor.


    Hearing the noise, the instructor turned back. A book had even slid to his feet.


    ¡°Student, even if you don¡¯t like my class, there¡¯s no need to throw your books in protest, is there?¡± The instructor picked up the book and smiled at Belle.


    He meant no harm¡ªit was just a joke.


    But this seemingly harmless remark inadvertently pushed Belle further into the fire pit.


    The class had initially fallen into silence upon witnessing the scene. However, when Manasa started laughing, the entire class followed suit. Whether they truly found it funny, only they knew.


    ¡°All right, all right,¡± the instructor quickly motioned for them to quiet down, then said to Belle, ¡°Come and take back your book.¡±


    ¡°Sorry¡­¡± Belle clutched her small hands, stood up, and spoke in a barely audible voice.


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    She retrieved her book and returned to her seat without a word.


    But Caius noticed that this time, she kept one hand firmly pressed on her books. She was gripping them so tightly that her fingertips had turned pale.


    For the entire lesson, Belle remained in that posture, her hand never leaving her books.


    Manasa tried two more times but failed to blow Belle¡¯s books away with her wind magic. Pouting, she switched to another tactic.


    When the instructor turned to write on the board, she propped her leg up on the desk and began rubbing her shoe against Belle¡¯s back. Before long, Belle¡¯s originally beige sweater had turned gray.


    Belle shifted in her chair, trying to evade her, but Manasa simply lifted her chin. The other girls followed suit, crossing their legs onto the desk, their dirty soles pointed directly at Belle.


    Belle had nowhere to hide. She leaned forward as much as possible, but the space was limited¡ªthere was no way to escape completely.


    Caius¡¯s eyelids twitched as he clenched his back teeth.


    ¡°Slap her, girl. Just turn around and slap her,¡± he muttered through gritted teeth. But Belle remained silent, enduring it all.


    Caius couldn¡¯t understand how she could put up with this. If it were him, he would¡¯ve flipped the desk already. If he didn¡¯t rub their faces against the floor all around the classroom, it would be because he had become a monk.


    Just watching was agonizing enough. Yet Belle endured an entire class in silence.


    By the time the lesson ended, her back was covered in dust.


    The second period was an outdoor class. The students left the classroom in cheerful groups, but Belle remained seated, only standing up and slowly packing her things after everyone else had gone.


    Once she had finished, she got up and walked outside. But as she reached the door, she turned to look at the tree outside the window.


    Caius was gone.


    He had already leaped onto the roof, then onto another tree, watching as she turned her head.


    Not seeing Caius, Belle didn¡¯t linger and walked outside.


    However, as soon as she stepped into the hallway, Manasa and her group emerged from around the corner.


    The corridor was wide, yet the five girls deliberately walked side by side, arms linked, forcing Belle to walk against the wall, smearing her arm with dust.


    To make matters worse, as they passed Belle, Manasa lifted her chin slightly. The girl closest to Belle immediately understood. As she walked by, she "accidentally" bumped her hip into Belle.


    Belle, already walking close to the wall, was shoved into it, hitting her forehead on the side.


    ¡°Oh dear, how careless of me!¡± The girl exclaimed dramatically, without the slightest hint of apology.


    Belle remained silent, merely steadying herself, while the girls laughed and skipped away, as if their sole purpose in waiting had been to give Belle that shove.


    Caius¡¯s fists clenched.


    When he was furious, he would smile. At this moment, a smirk formed at the corner of his lips.


    "All right, you want to play? Let''s play."


    With that thought, he flashed into the greenery, concealing himself along the path leading to the training grounds.


    Because they had delayed themselves bullying Belle, the girls lagged behind the rest of the class.


    This gave Caius the perfect opportunity.


    Once in position, he waited as the girls exited the building, chatting obliviously.


    He overheard their conversation.


    "That thud just now must''ve hurt. I bet she''ll have a bump on her forehead, haha!"


    "Hmph!" Manasa sneered. "She dared to take my spot? A little bump is nothing. I''ll make sure to ruin her face!"


    "Uh¡­ isn''t that a bit much?"


    "What, do you want to side with her?"


    "N-No, I just meant¡­ it¡¯s not enough."


    "Hmm¡­ you¡¯re right. It''s not enough. So I was thinking, we¡¯ll strip her and toss her into some filthy slum. When a bunch of disgusting men see her¡­ heh! I guarantee she¡¯ll be ruined for life!"


    Manasa grinned maliciously, and the other girls gulped, hesitating.


    But when Manasa glanced at them, they immediately forced smiles and echoed her sentiments.


    "Yeah, exactly! She deserves it!"


    Hidden in the greenery, Caius¡¯s eyes turned ice-cold.


    At that moment, Belle stepped out of the building.


    The girls deliberately slowed down, clearly planning to continue tormenting her.


    Seeing this, Belle stopped walking.


    Manasa frowned. She had no intention of being late for class because of Belle. There would be plenty of opportunities later. She scoffed and led her group forward.


    Caius smirked.


    Perfect timing.


    Making sure there were no witnesses, he slipped through the foliage and moved beside the last girl in the group.


    One by one, he took them down, dragging them into the greenery before they even noticed they were alone.


    When Manasa finally turned around, she was the only one left.


    And behind her stood Caius.


    Belle watched in stunned silence.


    Caius grinned. "Go to class, or you''ll be late."


    "Oh¡­ okay¡­" Belle nodded absentmindedly and continued forward.


    Caius chuckled, shaking his head.


    "Silly mushroom girl."

 Chapter 36

    It had to be said that the greenery at Ocean City Academy was truly impressive. There was a large expanse of green space, lush with vegetation. Caius figured this was probably the "little grove" that many schools had.


    It was the perfect place for what he had in mind¡ªa secluded spot where he wouldn''t have to worry about being discovered for a while.


    Caius glanced at the ground.


    At that moment, five students, including Manasa, were tightly bound, their hands and feet restrained and stuffed into burlap sacks. Only their heads were exposed, their eyes blindfolded, and their mouths gagged with torn pieces of sackcloth.


    With a soft murmur, Manasa was the first to wake up.


    This was intentional¡ªCaius had controlled it precisely, ensuring she woke up first.


    How? Simple. He had struck the other four unconscious girls on the side of their necks again to make them stay out longer. That way, Manasa would regain consciousness first.


    This was what Caius called "controlled precision."


    The four other girls were accomplices. A lesson like this¡­ well, two slaps to knock out a couple of teeth should be enough. The real focus was Manasa, the true mastermind.


    Caius planned to hit hard¡ªhard enough to make her leave Ocean City Academy for good.


    Even though he himself would be leaving in half a month, that didn¡¯t mean he couldn''t act now.


    When Manasa woke up, her head throbbed with intense pain. Caius had not struck the side of her neck but the back of her head instead.


    She instinctively tried to reach for the pain, only to realize that her hands and feet were bound, her eyes covered, and her mouth gagged. Panic set in instantly.


    She struggled to summon her magic for self-rescue but found that there was no response from within her¡ªher magic felt utterly lifeless.


    Caius gripped his heavy hammer, [Angel]. Within the Anti-Magic Field, mages could not invoke their magic.


    Though stepping out of the Anti-Magic Field would allow spells to be cast again, and pre-cast spells would remain unaffected, only exceptionally powerful mages could override the field¡¯s suppression. In her current bound state, Manasa was far from being one of them.


    A mage unable to cast magic was no different from an ordinary person in Caius¡¯s eyes.


    "Oh? Awake already..." Caius''s deep voice rang out.


    He deliberately made his voice hoarse, though it wasn¡¯t the most sophisticated disguise. Still, it was enough to fool a frightened young girl.


    Hearing his voice, Manasa let out muffled whimpers of fear.


    Caius stepped forward and yanked the cloth from her mouth.


    Manasa coughed twice before trembling as she spoke. "Who are you? Why are you doing this?!"


    "Why?" Caius chuckled darkly. "You should ask your dear father that question. Heh heh heh..."


    Caius didn¡¯t actually know her father. But he needed a cover story, didn¡¯t he?


    A direct act of revenge would make Manasa connect the dots to Belle. So¡­ he had heard that Manasa¡¯s father was a high-ranking official in Ocean City?


    In this corrupt city, having such a despicable daughter meant the father was unlikely to be a decent man either. So the role Caius chose to play was that of an enforcer hired by one of her father¡¯s enemies.


    "Your father offended our boss. Our boss paid a bit of money to teach him a lesson. And so¡­ here I am."


    "And what could be more painful for a father than losing his daughter?"


    "Wouldn¡¯t you agree, Miss Manasa?"


    As she listened to Caius¡¯s hoarse voice, fear overtook Manasa, making her tremble uncontrollably.


    "No¡­ You can¡¯t kill me!"


    "You can¡¯t¡­"


    "Shhh¡­" Before she could finish, Caius covered her mouth. His raspy voice, tinged with amusement, whispered, "You need to keep your voice down, understand? Otherwise, we won¡¯t be able to negotiate."


    "If someone finds you now, I can guarantee they¡¯ll only find a few corpses."


    "Nod if you understand."


    Manasa was already scared out of her mind. A girl not yet twenty, facing such a situation, was understandably terrified beyond measure.


    "What¡­ what do you want?" Manasa trembled. "I have money. A lot of money!"


    The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    "If you let me go, I can give you a fortune!"


    "I promise, I won¡¯t expose you!"


    "Hahaha." Caius laughed. "Do you even believe that yourself, Miss Manasa?"


    "Besides, do you even know who I am? How would you expose me?"


    "Should I take that as a threat?"


    As he spoke, Caius drew the small knife from his belt. The cold blade traced lightly against Manasa¡¯s neck¡ªnot cutting her, but letting her feel its sharpness.


    Manasa froze in terror.


    "No¡­ I¡­ I didn¡¯t mean¡­ to threaten you¡­"


    Smack!


    A loud slap echoed through the grove, leaving a bright red handprint on Manasa¡¯s powdered cheek.


    How big were Caius¡¯s hands?


    Well, he was nearly two meters tall. His hands weren¡¯t small.


    That slap left her momentarily stunned. As the burning pain spread across her face, tears welled up in her eyes.


    Yet Caius spoke indifferently. "Cry out loud, and you die."


    Manasa immediately bit her lip, holding back her sobs.


    "Do you know why you¡¯re still alive?"


    Manasa trembled as she shook her head.


    "Because you¡¯re beautiful¡­" Caius¡¯s eerie smile widened as the back of his knife traced her cheek, slowly moving downward.


    Of course, he had no intention of doing anything disgraceful. He had his own principles.


    But for a spoiled, high-born girl like Manasa, this kind of fear likely surpassed even the terror of having a knife at her throat.


    Sure enough, as the cold knife edge touched her body, Manasa¡¯s trembling intensified.


    She shook her head desperately, pleading.


    "No¡­ please¡­ don¡¯t¡­"


    "I¡¯ve heard that when women say ¡®no,¡¯ they actually mean ¡®yes.¡¯ Seems like you¡¯re quite eager?" Caius¡¯s grin darkened.


    "No¡­ no, I¡­ I want¡­ I want¡­" Manasa was on the verge of losing her mind.


    "Oh? So desperate already?" Caius swore¡ªit was hard to keep a straight face.


    Listening to his taunts, Manasa was on the brink of collapse. She knew he was toying with her, that no matter how she answered, she would be wrong.


    And that realization pushed her to the breaking point.


    A pungent smell filled the air.


    Caius wrinkled his nose in distaste before standing up slowly.


    "Tch¡­ pathetic."


    Caius wore a look of disdain before standing up and slowly saying, "But I''m not interested in you. You''re not my type."


    Manasa: "..."


    "Actually, giving your father a lesson doesn''t necessarily mean killing his daughter, right?" Caius said to himself. "After all, I''m not some monster, so I just need to have a ''slight'' and ''friendly'' conversation with you, that''s all."


    "What... what are you going to do?" Manasa asked in fear.


    Caius grinned, "There''s plenty I can do."


    "Break your limbs, hide you in some corner of the slums, and then tell your father about it. Then you can wait for him to rescue you with high expectations."


    "But let me remind you, men in the slums have basically never seen pretty women, so their welcome ceremony should be quite intense. I hope you can handle it."


    "Or else you''ll just have to rely on your dad to pick up your pieces~" That devilish voice echoed in her ears. Imagining the scene Caius described, she completely broke down.


    "No, please, don''t..."


    "I''ll do anything, just don''t take me there..."


    "Anything?" Caius raised his eyebrows and asked sarcastically.


    "Yes! Yes! Anything!" Manasa nodded hurriedly, thinking that being insulted by one person was better than being insulted by a group.


    People always prefer compromise, and Caius understood human nature very well. So he nodded, "Alright, I''ll give you this chance."


    "Now, hold it in your mouth." Saying that, Caius handed a pebble to Manasa''s mouth.


    Manasa quickly did as she was told, thinking that Caius was up to some new trick. But the next moment, she heard Caius''s cold voice.


    "And then, bite it."


    Manasa froze, holding the pebble, which was about the size of an egg, in her mouth for a moment before her body began to shake violently. "I... I can''t do it..."


    "Human potential is enormous. You have to believe in yourself," Caius encouraged her gently.


    "No..." Manasa shook her head continuously. Caius shrugged, "Alright then, it''s the slums for you."


    Saying that, Caius grabbed Manasa''s hair and dragged her outside as if he were really going to take her to the slums.


    Manasa struggled violently, "I''ll do it! I''ll do it!"


    Caius let her go and crouched down in front of her with interest, "Come on, start your performance."


    "You can only stop when the stone or your teeth break."


    Manasa had to do as she was told. She struggled to bite the pebble, with her teeth clashing against it, making a grating sound.


    "Crunch... crunch..."


    After a while, blood flowed from her mouth. But it was just from her gums; her teeth and the pebble were still intact.


    How could a Silver-ranked mage bite through a hard pebble without using magic?


    But Caius thought it was possible.


    "A friendly reminder: You can place the pebble in your mouth and then forcefully bring your jaw down onto the stone. This method has a high likelihood of success."


    "Trust me, it might hurt a bit, but it''s very effective," Caius said.


    Manasa shook her head vigorously upon hearing this.


    Caius said, "Alright then, it''s the slums."


    Manasa immediately panicked, "I''ll do it! I''ll do it!"


    To make Manasa perform, Caius even found a stone for her to put under her chin.


    "Don''t forget to use the strength of your waist. Otherwise, if it doesn''t break in one go, you''ll suffer a lot," Caius laughed like he was watching a play.


    Manasa knelt in front of the stone, her chin resting on the boulder. Her blindfolded eyes could not see anything, but she could feel the hardness under her chin and the pebble clashing with her teeth.


    She panted, her lower body already warm and wet.


    Caius''s impatient voice came from her ear, "Hurry up, I''m losing patience."


    "I''ll count to three, and this is your last chance."


    "Three... one!"


    Manasa was surprised; where was the number two? But she couldn''t think about it anymore and struggled to lift her upper body, bite down on the pebble, and then forcefully press her jaw against the stone.


    "Crack!" A sound echoed, and Caius couldn''t help but click his tongue in surprise.


    It sounded painful.


    Manasa''s body collapsed, obviously unconscious. Her mouth was full of blood.


    Caius pried her mouth open and looked inside. Well, the pebble and her teeth were broken together. He counted and found that a total of eight teeth on her right jaw were broken.


    It seemed that Manasa wouldn''t be able to use her right cheek to eat anymore.


    "Lucky you," Caius shook her head and a few bloody teeth and pebble fragments fell out of her mouth. Caius picked up one of the relatively intact teeth and put it away before patting his hands and standing up.


    This trick of biting teeth against stones was something he often used on those corporate dogs in his previous life. After all, they wouldn''t tell him what he wanted to know without breaking a few teeth.


    The difference was that when dealing with corporate dogs, Caius would do it himself. And this trick worked well on bullies too.


    This way, whether it was due to the threat from an unknown killer or the loss of half her teeth, she wouldn''t be able to continue


    As for those girls... Before leaving, Caius made sure to deliver an additional chop to the back of their necks and a slap, ensuring they would remain unconscious until the next morning. And when they finally woke up, they would feel as if they had slept wrong, their bodies aching terribly.


    Ah~ What a fine man he was, punishing evil and upholding justice!

 Chapter 37

    Caius left the academy the same way he had entered it.


    In short, apart from Belle, no one noticed.


    As for the scene, Caius had cleaned up before leaving, leaving no traces behind.


    Except for the slap marks on a few girls'' faces.


    However, by the time someone found them, their faces were so swollen that they looked like pig heads, making it impossible to discern the slap marks.


    Having completed his mission, Caius was in an exceptionally good mood¡ªso good, in fact, that he felt euphoric!


    He didn¡¯t know why, considering there was no commission, yet he still felt amazing.


    Perhaps this was the charm of doing good deeds.


    Humming a tune, he went to find Kiki.


    ¡°How did it go, Meow?¡± Kiki asked curiously upon seeing Caius.


    ¡°Heh, their teeth are half shattered. I¡¯d say they¡¯ll be stuck drinking porridge for quite a while,¡± Caius grinned.


    ¡°Hahaha!¡± Kiki burst into laughter. Though she hadn¡¯t witnessed it, she could easily imagine how hilarious the scene must have been.


    Soon, the delivery mission in Goathorn City was complete. Caius even took the time to chat with the librarian there to leave an impression and dined at a famous local restaurant, establishing a solid alibi.


    By the time he returned to Ocean City, it was almost nightfall.


    Caius let Kiki return to the tavern on her own while he made his way to the Orphanage.


    Around eight in the evening, lights were still on inside the Orphanage.


    Caius pushed the door open and stepped in, but before he could knock, the door in front of him opened.


    It was Tina.


    ¡°Caius!¡± Tina beamed excitedly at the sight of him, which made Caius pause for a moment.


    ¡°Show some respect, call me ¡®big brother,¡¯¡± Caius corrected, then asked in puzzlement, ¡°What, you¡¯re not scared of me anymore?¡±


    Tina shook her head, her eyes shining. ¡°Not anymore! You¡¯re not a bad guy¡ªyou¡¯re a good person!¡±


    ¡°My sister told me! You taught those bullies a lesson!¡±


    Caius raised an eyebrow, surprised. ¡°Belle¡¯s back?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s inside!¡± Tina immediately grabbed Caius by the hand and led him in.


    Inside, Belle had changed back into her linen sweater and was sitting beside Granny Lunla, knitting together.


    Seeing Caius, Belle paused her work and stood up.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t the academy under strict supervision? How did you get back?¡± Caius asked.


    Belle seemed a bit nervous, clasping her hands together. ¡°Manasa... something happened to her. Classes are suspended¡­¡±


    Caius raised an eyebrow and chuckled. ¡°Heh, they figured it out this fast? I thought it¡¯d take until tomorrow.¡±


    Belle said nothing, just quietly gazing at him.


    Caius returned her gaze before finally asking, ¡°Did you hit your head?¡±


    He recalled Belle bumping into the wall earlier. Granny Lunla had mentioned she had a bruise on her forehead, likely from that.


    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    But Belle shook her head and pointed to the top of her head. ¡°I had a hat on. It¡¯s fine.¡±


    Caius smirked. ¡°So that¡¯s why you¡¯re wearing a hat?¡±


    ¡°Mm.¡± Belle nodded.


    Caius clicked his tongue and shook his head. ¡°You¡¯d rather protect yourself like this than fight back?¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯d just given them a good scare, they wouldn¡¯t have dared to keep bullying you.¡±


    Belle remained silent, quietly clutching her hands together.


    Seeing her like this, Caius didn¡¯t press further. Instead, he said, ¡°I¡¯m thirsty.¡±


    Hearing that, Belle immediately turned to fetch a cup.


    Moments later, she carefully placed it in front of him.


    Caius tilted his head back and took a sip¡ªonly to widen his eyes in shock, nearly spitting it out.


    ¡°Cough¡­ Cough cough¡­¡± He forced himself to swallow before coughing a few times and pointing at the cup. ¡°Rum?!¡±


    Belle nodded slightly.


    Caius laughed. ¡°You really are clueless.¡±


    Belle tilted her head slightly, looking confused.


    Caius explained, ¡°I like drinking, sure, but when I¡¯m thirsty, I need water. Alcohol only makes you thirstier, got it?¡±


    Belle nodded. ¡°Mm.¡±


    Watching their exchange, Granny Lunla couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. She found it amusing.


    Caius then noticed the sweater Granny Lunla was knitting and turned back to Belle. ¡°Also, next time something like this happens, you have to fight back.¡±


    ¡°Look, Granny Lunla is working so hard to knit you a sweater, and you just let them trample all over you. Is that right?¡±


    Belle shook her head.


    ¡°You know it¡¯s wrong, so¡ª¡± Caius was about to continue when Belle suddenly pointed at herself.


    Caius was confused. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Belle softly said, ¡°This one¡­ is what Granny Lunla made.¡±


    ¡°The one I wore this morning¡­ I made that one myself.¡±


    Caius: ¡°¡­¡±


    He almost laughed in exasperation.


    So she changed clothes because of that?!


    ¡°And just because you made it yourself, it¡¯s okay for them to trample all over it?¡± Caius scolded, raising his eyebrows.


    Sensing his anger, Belle lowered her head, clutching her hands together again.


    ¡°Hands at your sides!¡± Caius ordered.


    Belle flinched, momentarily unsure where to place her hands before finally hiding them behind her back.


    Seeing her reaction, Caius couldn¡¯t stay mad. He let out a sigh before speaking in a half-serious tone. ¡°Fine¡­ Your punishment is to knit me a sweater!¡±


    Unexpectedly, Belle pointed to the half-knitted sweater on the chair. ¡°I¡¯m already making one.¡±


    Caius froze. ¡°That¡¯s for me?¡±


    ¡°Mm.¡± Belle nodded.


    This time, Caius was silent for a long while.


    Belle looked up at him anxiously, then, bit by bit, shuffled closer before gently tugging on his sleeve.


    Caius looked down at her.


    A soft, mosquito-like voice came from her lips.


    ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t be mad.¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, I won¡¯t knit it¡­¡±


    ¡°Who said I don¡¯t like it?!¡± Caius snapped instantly. ¡°I love it! If you dare stop knitting, I¡¯ll¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll freeze to death in the streets without clothes!¡±


    Belle quickly waved her hands. ¡°I¡¯ll knit! I¡¯ll knit!¡±


    Seeing her rush to pick up her knitting needles as if afraid he¡¯d actually freeze, Caius couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter.


    ¡°I¡¯ve never met anyone as silly as you.¡±


    Belle didn¡¯t refute him, simply standing there quietly.


    ¡°Alright, go on with your work. I just came by to check in and report back,¡± Caius said.


    Belle sat back down and resumed knitting. Surprisingly, her hands moved skillfully¡ªfaster even than Granny Lunla¡¯s.


    Caius suddenly found himself looking forward to this sweater¡ªthough it was just a simple one.


    Turning to Granny Lunla, he said, ¡°I¡¯ve dealt with those bullies. They won¡¯t be around for a long time.¡±


    Granny Lunla looked worried. ¡°Will they come after you?¡±


    ¡°They won¡¯t. They can¡¯t trace it back to me,¡± Caius said confidently. ¡°And they definitely won¡¯t find Belle.¡±


    Hearing this, Granny Lunla relaxed, her face full of gratitude. ¡°Child, you¡¯ve worked so hard¡­¡±


    ¡°No need. As an excellent mercenary, once I take on a commission, I see it through to the end!¡± Caius declared, turning to Tina, who was perched on his leg, staring up at him.


    ¡°Besides, I brought you a gift.¡±


    Tina chewed on her finger, curious.


    Caius pulled something from his pocket. ¡°Look!¡±


    Tina blinked. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±


    ¡°The tooth of the bully who messed with your sister,¡± Caius grinned. ¡°That guy is now, quite literally, searching for his teeth!¡±


    ¡°Wow!¡± Tina¡¯s eyes lit up as she grabbed the tooth and ran to show her friends.


    Before long, Caius saw a few little ones toss the tooth onto the ground and stomp on it repeatedly.


    Amused, Caius asked, "What are you all doing?"


    Tina akimboed her hands on her hips and huffed, "This way, we can say we helped beat up the bad guys too!"


    Hearing this, Caius burst into laughter, turning to Belle and saying, "You should learn from Tina¡ªthis is how you do it!"


    Belle shrank her neck slightly and remained silent.


    Meanwhile, Granny Lunla chuckled kindly.


    After venting their frustration, the little girls gathered around Caius, pestering him to tell mercenary stories. Since he had nothing better to do, he began recounting tales from his past life as a mercenary, completely captivating the young girls.


    Winter was approaching, and the night wind was growing ever colder.


    Yet inside this small house, warmth spread.


    Listening to Caius¡¯s vivid storytelling, accompanied by the occasional gasps of surprise from the little girls, the mushroom girl¡¯s eyes, hidden beneath her short hair, glimmered with amusement.


    Beneath the high-collared sweater, her small lips curled into a breathtaking arc.


    Unfortunately, Caius did not see it.

 Chapter 38

    Nightfall, Hailan No. 11.


    "Why isn''t Big Guy back yet, Meow..." The little Catgirl lay sprawled across the bar counter, yawning listlessly as she mumbled.


    "Wasn''t he with you?" Yvlan walked over, looking somewhat frustrated.


    Today, she had specially put on a white dress, preparing to dazzle a certain someone.


    Yet, aside from a hurried greeting in the morning, she hadn¡¯t seen even a shadow of that Big Guy.


    His cat, however, had returned.


    "No, he went to the Orphanage, Meow..." Kiki yawned again and said.


    "The Orphanage..." Yvlan pondered for a moment, wondering if she had any tasks related to an Orphanage.


    She couldn''t quite remember, but she didn''t dwell on it. Instead, she looked at the sleepy Kiki and smiled, "If you''re tired, just go to sleep. Same old room¡ªI already had it tidied up for you."


    "I can''t sleep without Big Guy, Meow..." Kiki stated matter-of-factly.


    Yvlan blinked, a peculiar glint flashing through her eyes. Then, she leaned in and whispered, "You and Big Guy... how far have you gone?"


    Kiki tilted her head in confusion. "What do you mean, Meow?"


    "I mean..." Yvlan bit her lip, then asked, "Have you two slept together?"


    At her words, Kiki immediately nodded. "Yes, Meow!"


    A flicker of disappointment flashed through Yvlan¡¯s eyes, but on the surface, she maintained a knowing smile and teased, "Was it comfortable?"


    Kiki nodded enthusiastically. "Mmhmm! Very comfortable, Meow!"


    "Big Guy is really warm. Sleeping on him makes me feel so safe, Meow!"


    Yvlan suddenly felt that something was off. She raised an eyebrow and asked, "Wait, when you say sleep... you really just mean sleeping, right?"


    Kiki: "???"


    "What else would it be, Meow?"


    Yvlan looked a little exasperated. "So, you two don¡¯t do anything else at night?"


    Kiki tilted her small head before shaking it. "No, Meow."


    "We''re always really tired when we get back, Meow."


    "And Big Guy always falls asleep before I do, Meow."


    Yvlan¡¯s eyes brightened, and the corners of her lips curled slightly. "Is that so? Well, mercenaries are like that¡ªonce their heads hit the pillow, they sleep like logs."


    "Big Guy isn¡¯t like that," Kiki countered. "He''s more like a dragon. He breathes loudly, but he doesn¡¯t snore, Meow."


    "Oh? You''ve seen a dragon?" Yvlan asked curiously.


    "Mmhmm. A sleeping dragon. But I only dared to take a quick peek before running away, Meow," Kiki recalled.


    "Then you''re quite lucky. I hear dragons are terrifying. A single dragon can easily destroy an entire city," Yvlan remarked.


    "Mmhmm, really scary, Meow. Before it slept, that dragon burned everything around it, then lay down on the scorched land to sleep. Even from far away, I could feel the heat, Meow," Kiki said.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    "I think its breath alone could dry up a lake, Meow."


    "I wonder if Big Guy could beat a dragon, Meow."


    "You''re giving me too much credit there." Suddenly, a large hand landed on Kiki''s head, gently ruffling her fur.


    "Big Guy! You''re back, Meow!" Kiki turned around excitedly and immediately leapt onto Caius, perching naturally on his shoulder.


    She liked this spot.


    Yvlan also smiled when she saw Caius. "You''re really efficient. Just three more Gold-ranked missions, and you''ll reach Gold, right?"


    She was deliberately asking the obvious. As she spoke, she casually spun around while washing a glass, making her off-white dress flare out like a blooming flower before settling down again.


    There was a hint of anticipation in her gaze.


    But Caius simply chuckled to himself and said, "Of course. I¡¯m aiming to become a Legendary Mercenary¡ªgotta keep up the pace."


    Yvlan hesitated slightly before changing the topic. "By the way, Eli came looking for me. He said you gave him a free Gold-ranked commission."


    As she spoke, she turned around again to place some plates, her dress lifting and falling once more.


    "Yeah, he helped me out. Make sure to refund him the payment, and I''ll cover the guild''s commission," Caius said, yawning.


    The soothing atmosphere at the Orphanage had relaxed him, making him drowsy.


    Yawns were contagious. Seeing him yawn, Kiki yawned as well. Then, hugging Caius''s neck, she rested her small face against his head and murmured, "Big Guy, I¡¯m sleepy, Meow..."


    Caius nodded. "Then let¡¯s get some sleep. We need to head to Grilla City first thing in the morning."


    Turning to Yvlan, he said, "Same old room."


    Yvlan sighed in resignation. "Already prepared for you."


    "Thanks. Give me Eli¡¯s task details tomorrow," Caius said with a smile before heading upstairs with the drowsy little Catgirl.


    "Got it," Boss Lady replied listlessly.


    Watching his back disappear, Yvlan chuckled wryly and glanced at her dress.


    "What am I even doing... Seriously..."


    "Oh, right." Suddenly, Caius poked his head out from the stairwell. Yvlan looked at him questioningly.


    "The dress is beautiful. Stay stunning!" Caius grinned, then quickly ducked back, as if afraid she¡¯d throw a frying pan at him.


    But she didn¡¯t. Yvlan stared blankly at the empty stairwell before bursting into laughter.


    Then, she hurriedly covered her mouth, glancing around to make sure no one had noticed. Only after confirming that no one had seen did she relax, though she couldn''t wipe the smile off her face.


    Upstairs, Caius paused, surprised not to hear Boss Lady¡¯s usual roar of indignation.


    But he didn¡¯t dwell on it, assuming she was simply refraining from making a scene at night.


    Humming a tune, he returned to his room, tossed the little Catgirl onto the bed, and collapsed onto it himself.


    His massive frame sank into the soft mattress, causing Kiki to bounce twice before naturally curling up on his stomach.


    Caius glanced down to see her already curled into a tiny ball, rubbing herself against him comfortably. Within moments, soft purring sounds filled the room.


    He was used to it.


    With that, Caius shut his eyes and drifted off to sleep.


    ...


    Morning.


    Caius sat at the bar counter, enjoying his breakfast¡ªcorn cereal with milk.


    It was a seasonal dish, and he loved it.


    Kiki also liked it, though she didn¡¯t like corn or cereal. So she ordered a corn cereal breakfast without corn or cereal.


    "Picky eater. No wonder you''re so tiny," Caius remarked.


    "I¡¯m not picky. I just don¡¯t like eating plants, Meow," Kiki retorted.


    Caius chuckled.


    Yvlan also smiled and brought over a cup of milk and a grilled fish fillet for her.


    Sunlight streamed through the tavern windows, painting a tranquil morning scene¡ªone man, one Catfolk, and one beautiful Boss Lady.


    A peaceful moment¡ªif not for the drunken mercenaries snoring away at the tables.


    After finishing his meal, Caius accepted the task list from Yvlan.


    Eli¡¯s commission was a material-gathering job requiring him to travel 120 kilometers to Nemo Forest to collect Hops Flower.


    Hops Flower was a rare herb used in high-grade potions, difficult to find.


    And with Gold-ranked Magic Beasts roaming Nemo Forest, the mission wasn¡¯t exactly easy.


    But it wasn¡¯t hard either.


    Taking the task sheet, Caius bid farewell to Yvlan and set off.


    Caius had three Gold-tier promotion tasks. One involved hunting a Gold-tier Magic Beast, which could be found in Nemo Forest¡ªperfect for completing alongside Eli''s task.


    The second was a delivery job. Caius needed to pick up a crate of expensive premium liquor from the docks and deliver it to a well-known tavern in Grilla City.


    The last task was rather unique¡ªa debt collection job. The objective was to help a creditor recover a total of 4,800 gold coins, including interest. Caius would receive a quarter of that amount as payment, which meant a reward of 1,200 gold coins.


    The debtor was in Ocean City, but inside the Inner City, and he was a Gold Two-Star debtor at that. The Inner City was a wealthy district, and entering required a permit. Alternatively, one could pay an entry deposit of 1,000 gold coins, which was non-refundable but allowed unrestricted access for ten days. After that period, another 1,000 gold coins would be needed to re-enter.


    Caius had already asked Yvlan to help him apply for a temporary permit. As an official of the Mercenary Guild, she could acquire it far more easily than Caius could by applying through the Outer City administration.


    Since the permit would take a few days to process, the debt collection task had to wait. In the meantime, Caius planned to pick up the shipment from the docks and use the next few days to strengthen himself.

 Chapter 39

    Caius''s promotion method was quite peculiar.


    What was so strange about it?


    Let''s start with his training method. The typical way of training varies between Warriors and Mages. Warriors enhance their physicality by exercising, strengthening their vital energy, and circulating magic power throughout their bodies to temper themselves. On the other hand, Mages meditate to develop and fortify their spiritual faculties, thereby increasing their magic power reserves and potency.


    Caius¡¯s breathing technique, by all accounts, belonged to the training methods of Warriors. Strong Warriors often incorporate breathing techniques into their training to amplify their results. Caius initially believed he was a Warrior, but oddly enough, when he activated his vital energy, mobilized his magic power, and tempered his physicality, the surrounding magic power would also be absorbed into his body.


    And this magic power would be stored inside him.


    That¡¯s right¡ªcompletely stored, with no way to release it!


    This was the bizarre aspect of Caius¡¯s promotion method.


    Whenever he engaged in intense activity, his internal magic power would accumulate more and more. Once it reached a certain threshold, it would settle within him. However, the condensed magic power was beyond his control; it simply remained inside him, sedimented.


    At first, Caius worried that if the stored magic filled his Magic Core to its limit, he might explode and die. However, reality proved otherwise. Once his Magic Core was completely filled with sedimented magic power, a powerful Magic Torrent would erupt, triggering an explosive surge in his cultivation!


    Since Caius began formal training at the age of fourteen, this phenomenon had only occurred once. At that time, he was at Silver One Star, a level he had reached naturally within a year through breathing techniques and rigorous training.


    Then, his Magic Core reached capacity. After the Magic Torrent burst forth, his rank skyrocketed to Silver Five Star, skipping four minor stages in an instant!


    Naturally, Caius was curious¡ªwas this related to his Giant physique?


    After all, his promotion method bore some resemblance to "Compression and Explosion" or perhaps "Accumulation and Breakthrough."


    But here was the issue: why did the accumulation of magic power lead to an enhancement of his physicality instead of his magical abilities?


    Caius¡¯s theory was that magic power, under the influence of vital energy, could temper the body. So when the Magic Torrent erupted, his body underwent a significant refinement.


    However, he remained baffled¡ªwhy could he absorb magic power, circulate magic power, but neither control it nor condense it into Starshine? More importantly, why was he completely incapable of casting spells?


    That, he simply could not comprehend.


    So, the current situation was as follows: Caius had to continue training and using his breathing technique to sediment magic power. Until his Magic Core was completely filled with this sedimented magic, his advancement remained painfully slow.


    Moreover, as his Magic Core filled up, the amount of "free magic power" he could manipulate diminished drastically.


    In other words, if his Magic Core was 99% full of sedimented magic, he would only be able to control the remaining 1% of his magic power.


    During this period, he had to rely solely on his physicality and vital energy to fight.


    Only when his Magic Core reached full capacity and triggered another Magic Torrent would it purge all the sedimented magic, allowing him to freely control his magic power again. However, as he continued sedimenting magic power, his freely available magic would gradually decrease, repeating the cycle.


    Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    Of course, after each Magic Torrent eruption, his Magic Core¡¯s capacity would expand, and the strength of his magic power would increase significantly.


    At present, his magic power strength was just as formidable as his physicality¡ªfar surpassing others of the same rank.


    Caius estimated that his magic power intensity could rival that of a high-tier Gold Mage.


    The unfortunate part was that, despite his vast reserves and immense magic power, he still couldn¡¯t use magic to its full potential. His magical abilities were rudimentary at best.


    For instance, he could coat his body in magic power to create a protective Magic Skin.


    Or he could reinforce his fists with magic power to harden them.


    At most, he could infuse magic power into his blood to slightly enhance his bodily functions.


    That was it¡ªno fancy spells, no brilliant magic, not even a simple Magic Missile.


    Any magic power that left his body would immediately dissipate, rendering him incapable of casting spells.


    Thus, despite possessing an overwhelming magic reserve and strength, he couldn¡¯t release magic, making it impossible to be considered a Mage.


    Caius could only console himself with the thought that he had, in a way, achieved a unique form of Magic-Warrior dual cultivation.


    However, he had a feeling that his peculiar situation was linked to his Giant physique.


    Perhaps, once he advanced further and unraveled the mysteries of the Giant Inheritance within his mind, he would understand the reason behind this anomaly¡ªand maybe even learn real magic.


    For now, he had no choice but to accept it as it was.


    At present, his Magic Core was already 95% filled with sedimented magic. Caius estimated that in no more than half a month, he would reach full capacity.


    If he engaged in a few high-intensity battles and employed his breathing technique during combat, his training speed would accelerate significantly.


    ...


    Arriving at the docks.


    Ocean City was a coastal metropolis with a thriving maritime industry. However, most of the lucrative trade was concentrated in the wealthy districts, demonstrating that the most profitable industries were monopolized by the rich. The land-based portion of Ocean City likely accounted for less than one-tenth of the city¡¯s total economic flow.


    Caius observed massive ships docked at the port.


    These weren¡¯t just traditional wooden sailing vessels¡ªsome were Magitech Ships, which combined advanced Magical Technology with seafaring craftsmanship.


    What was Magical Technology?


    It referred to machines powered and guided by magic energy, producing effects similar to spells. Holan¡¯s magical research major covered such technologies.


    Caius mused that if he ultimately failed to become a Mage, perhaps he could study Magical Research and tinker with Magitech Cannons instead.


    Soon, he located the recipient of his delivery through the mission details.


    It was Nick Degado, the owner of a small dockside warehouse.


    When Nick heard Caius¡¯s reason for coming, he welcomed him with surprising enthusiasm, which made Caius suspicious.


    It was just a liquor delivery¡ªwas that really worth such excitement?


    With his keen instincts, Caius felt something was off.


    Upon pressing Nick for answers, the man finally admitted the truth with a grimace.


    Nick had offended a local gang leader in Ocean City. The gang wanted to buy his liquor at a price far below market value, but he refused to sell.


    Since Nick held some influence in the dockside district¡ªowning a warehouse and all¡ªthe gang couldn¡¯t openly start a conflict.


    That gang was the Crab Gang. While they couldn¡¯t attack outright, they had made a public threat: anyone who took on this delivery job would have their legs broken and be thrown into the sea to feed the crabs!


    In Ocean City, any gang powerful enough to establish itself was filled with ruthless individuals. The leader of the Crab Gang was no exception. He was known as "Iron Claw," a formidable Gold Seven Star warrior!


    With such a rank, plus nearly two hundred subordinates, few in the outer city dared to provoke him.


    As a result, Nick¡¯s liquor had been sitting in his warehouse, and no one dared to take the delivery task.


    The buyer had already paid a deposit. If Nick failed to deliver the goods on time, he would not only have to refund the deposit but also pay compensation.


    As a member of the Chamber of Commerce, his business depended on reputation. According to the guild¡¯s regulations, any merchant who signed a contract, accepted a deposit, but failed to fulfill the agreement had to compensate three times the deposit amount.


    With only three days left until the deadline and no one willing to take the job, Nick had resigned himself to a major financial loss.


    Then, at this critical moment, Caius appeared.


    In desperation, Nick made an offer¡ªif Caius successfully delivered the goods, he would pay him an extra commission worth one-fifth of the liquor¡¯s total value.


    A staggering 3,400 gold coins!


    That meant the liquor was worth a total of 17,000 gold coins!


    No wonder Nick was so desperate.


    If he defaulted, the deposit was half the total price. The compensation would be three times the deposit¡ª1.5 times the total price¡ªmeaning he¡¯d have to pay over 20,000 gold coins!


    That was no small sum.


    So, Caius readily agreed.

 Chapter 40

    "Leave it to me, Mr. Nick! I''m a professional!" Caius said confidently.


    The plump Nick wiped the sweat from his forehead, forcing a smile, though deep down, he was still skeptical.


    If Caius couldn''t handle the Crab Gang, then Nick would not only lose money but also this entire shipment of liquor.


    Fortunately, since the job was posted through the Mercenary Tavern, if the mission failed, the Mercenary Guild would compensate him with a sum as consolation. It wouldn¡¯t cover all his losses, but at least it wouldn¡¯t be a complete disaster.


    So, he was willing to take the gamble.


    If Caius completed the mission successfully, then Nick would have a reliable mercenary to entrust future tasks to.


    This was how merchants and mercenaries worked together, and it was exactly what Caius wanted.


    If he succeeded, his reputation in the dock district would spread, and soon, the golden-ranked missions required by the tavern wouldn¡¯t be a concern anymore.


    With that, Caius loaded the liquor onto the carriage Nick had prepared, grabbed the little catgirl, and set off out of the city.


    The moment the carriage left the dock district, a hidden Crab Gang scout immediately rushed back to report.


    The gang¡¯s hideout was the Crab Tavern, which also served as a branch of the Mercenary Guild. This was the very same tavern that Yvlan had mentioned¡ªthe one with a three-star rating.


    On the tavern¡¯s third floor, a burly man with an iron-forged crab claw for a right hand listened to his subordinate¡¯s report, his face darkening. He spat his cigar onto the ground.


    "Melbourne, take some men and finish him off. And bring my liquor back!"


    "Got it, boss!" A bald man with a harpoon tattoo on his head immediately responded. He slung a harpoon over his shoulder, gathered his crew, and set off.


    ...


    As the carriage passed through the city gates, Kiki glanced around warily. "Big guy, are those people really going to come, meow?"


    "They will," Caius replied casually while guiding the carriage. "But they won¡¯t make a move here. They¡¯ll wait until we¡¯re outside the protection zone."


    Kiki nodded. After a moment, she scooted closer to Caius and whispered, "A carriage has been following us from a distance, meow."


    "Doesn¡¯t look like good people, meow."


    Caius turned his head.


    About two to three hundred meters behind, a carriage loaded with burly men followed them. The men all had fierce expressions, and one of them carried two harpoons on his back, his bald head marked with twin harpoon tattoos.


    Caius chuckled. "Only ten people? They¡¯re underestimating me."


    "Little cat, stay back when the fight starts."


    "I can fight, meow!" Kiki declared immediately.


    "I know you can, but it¡¯s unnecessary. I can handle this lot on my own."


    "Just stay back so you don¡¯t get splattered with blood."


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    "Alright, meow!"


    Caius continued to drive the carriage as if he hadn¡¯t noticed the Crab Gang members, while Kiki, a bit tense, kept sneaking glances behind.


    Truthfully, Caius didn¡¯t see them as a threat.


    Not only because of his sharp mercenary instincts but also because he knew that unless the Crab Gang¡¯s boss, Iron Claw, showed up¡ªor they brought dozens, even hundreds of men¡ªthis small fry wouldn¡¯t last against his hammer.


    Judging from the people in the trailing carriage, the boss hadn¡¯t come himself, which meant there was nothing to worry about.


    As the carriage left the protection zone, the gang members¡¯ carriage suddenly accelerated, charging toward them.


    Caius, however, brought his own carriage to a halt, waiting for them.


    The sooner he finished this, the sooner he could rest.


    Seeing Caius stop, Melbourne felt provoked and immediately stood up on his carriage, raising his harpoon.


    A rope was attached to the harpoon¡¯s shaft.


    At a fifty-meter distance, Melbourne hurled the harpoon straight at Caius¡¯s back.


    A smirk tugged at Melbourne¡¯s lips.


    This big guy was a sitting duck. Once the harpoon pierced him, Melbourne would pull the rope, dragging him off the carriage and along the ground for a few hundred meters. No matter how strong he was, he¡¯d be done for!


    But to his shock, just as the harpoon reached its target, Caius spun around with astonishing speed, catching the harpoon precisely.


    Then, he yanked it hard.


    Melbourne instantly felt an overwhelming force pulling him forward.


    Unfortunately for him, he had a habit of wrapping the harpoon¡¯s rope around his arm.


    With a sudden jerk, he was sent flying straight toward Caius.


    Melbourne panicked, but as a three-star gold-ranked mercenary, his reaction was quick.


    Mid-air, he adjusted himself and drew his second harpoon, preparing to strike as he got close.


    However, in front of Caius, being airborne meant he was already dead.


    The Wolf Demon could attest to that.


    As Melbourne neared, ready to thrust his harpoon, Caius swung his massive warhammer.


    The metal hammer roared through the air with crushing force, smashing toward Melbourne.


    In a desperate move, Melbourne curled up and used his harpoon to block.


    But he had underestimated Caius¡¯s strength.


    With a single strike, Melbourne was sent plummeting to the ground, a sickening chorus of cracking bones filling the air. He tumbled across the dirt for dozens of meters.


    Though both were gold-ranked, Melbourne was far weaker than the Wolf Demon. His physicality was nowhere near comparable.


    Even the Wolf Demon would be bent like a shrimp if he took a direct hit from Caius¡¯s hammer. A mere three-star gold-ranked human? He never stood a chance.


    Melbourne wasn¡¯t dead, but he was close. His arm¡ªthe one he used to block¡ªwas completely shattered. His steel harpoon was bent, and his ribs were likely broken. Blood spilled from his mouth.


    One clash, and Melbourne was finished, left crawling on the ground, unable to stand.


    Caius leapt down from his carriage, hoisting his warhammer, and strode toward the gang¡¯s vehicle.


    The Crab Gang members still aboard were frozen in shock.


    Their third-in-command¡­ was just gone?


    Before they could react, the towering figure of Caius charged, his speed increasing until he was in a full sprint.


    He was smiling.


    Panic spread through the gang. They scrambled to steer the carriage away.


    But dodging Caius¡¯s hammer charge? Impossible.


    Amidst screams and the sound of the carriage shattering, most of the gang members were sent flying.


    Some managed to jump off in time, avoiding the initial impact.


    But avoiding the hammer? That was another story.


    Kiki peeked out from behind the liquor crates, ears twitching as she watched the gang members get launched through the air.


    Now she understood why Caius told her to stay back.


    Because they were getting hammered far, far away¡ªand their blood was flying just as far.


    For these silver-ranked thugs¡ªsome not even reaching silver¡ªCaius didn¡¯t need a second swing.


    In less than a minute, all ten Crab Gang members were down.


    Only two were still breathing.


    Melbourne and one unlucky survivor Caius had intentionally spared.


    After all, someone had to deliver the message.


    Caius grabbed Melbourne¡¯s head and dragged him to the survivor.


    The man trembled, his eyes filled with terror.


    "Crab Gang, right?" Caius squatted in front of him, grinning.


    The man shook violently.


    "Don¡¯t be scared. I won¡¯t kill you," Caius said with a warm smile. "I¡¯m not a monster."


    Then he snapped Melbourne¡¯s neck.


    "Now, go tell your boss: mess with me, and this is what happens."


    "When the time comes, I''ll go find him. He can either wash his neck clean or get ready to compensate me for my mental distress¡ªand cover my hammer maintenance fees."


    Seeing the guy stay silent, Caius¡¯s smile instantly disappeared, as if a shadow had fallen over his face.


    "Got it?"


    "G-got it..." The guy finally snapped out of it and nodded frantically.


    "Good." Caius''s honest-looking smile returned, then he added, "Now¡­ don¡¯t be in such a hurry to scram. First, gather up everyone¡¯s weapons, money, and anything valuable. Load them onto my carriage."


    "Then you can scram."


    The lucky survivor: "¡­"

 Chapter 41

    "The Crab Gang really is a bunch of broke fools. No wonder they can''t afford liquor." Caius weighed the pouch of coins in his hand and muttered.


    Kiki let out a snicker.


    Ten people had barely managed to scrounge up two hundred gold coins altogether¡ªno wonder Caius called them poor.


    Luckily, their weapons were worth something¡ªdaggers, machetes, harpoons, and such. Selling them could fetch another two to three hundred gold coins.


    Oh, and the biggest prize this time was their carriage.


    Even though Caius had smashed their carriage, the horses were still intact, albeit slightly injured.


    It was a six-legged horse, the same type as the one Caius was driving¡ªBrass-tier Magic Beasts, faster than ordinary horses. It could easily sell for five hundred gold coins.


    Thinking of this, Caius felt quite pleased.


    With two horses pulling the carriage, the journey was quicker, and by early morning the next day, they had arrived in Grilla City, successfully delivering the liquor to the buyer.


    The buyer was delighted upon receiving the goods. Not only did he promptly pay the remaining balance, but he also gifted Caius a bottle of premium rum as a tip.


    An unexpected windfall, wasn''t it?


    This rum was of a much higher grade than the bulk rum sold at Yvlan''s shop¡ªone bottle cost eighty gold coins, a considerable expense for the average household.


    From his conversation with Grandma Lunla that night, Caius had learned that the orphanage, housing six people, only spent 15 to 18 silver coins a day¡ªabout two to three silver coins per person daily.


    Most of their expenses went toward rice, oil, and salt. They grew their own vegetables, bought meat occasionally, and sometimes purchased yarn for knitting. They lived frugally, spending very little money.


    Eighty gold coins could cover the orphanage''s food expenses for over a month.


    Thus, as soon as Caius stepped out of the tavern, he couldn''t wait to take a swig of the rum.


    But the moment he took a sip, Caius fell silent.


    Because this rum tasted exactly like the one Belle had given him before.


    This type of liquor was only sold by the bottle, never in bulk.


    Which meant that Belle, who barely spent a single gold coin in three days, had dropped eighty gold coins just to buy him a bottle of rum¡ªall because of one casual remark he''d made.


    After a long silence, Caius shook his head.


    "Silly girl."


    Before long, he had finished the entire bottle.


    Exhaling a mouthful of liquor-scented breath, Caius took Kiki to Grilla City''s market, selling the weapons and the horse. Since he was in a hurry, he didn''t haggle much and ultimately made just over seven hundred gold coins.


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    With that done, Caius decided not to head back immediately.


    Since he had finally made it to Grilla City, there was no way he was just going to leave.


    Of course, he had to visit Holan and maintain their relationship.


    Upon arriving at Hydis Magic Academy, the gatekeeper mage recognized Caius, recorded his entry, and let him in.


    After dropping off the final payment and Nick''s carriage at the unloading zone, Caius headed straight to the library.


    "Hello, I''m here to see Mentor Holan."


    "Mentor Holan is still in class. You''ll have to wait here. Would you like me to inform her?" The librarian looked at Caius, rubbing his fingers together with a knowing smirk.


    "I''d appreciate it." Caius slipped him five gold coins, which the man happily pocketed, assuring him it was taken care of.


    Caius had expected to wait until class ended for Holan to come out and meet him. To his surprise, the librarian returned shortly, looking somewhat astonished.


    "You can go in now¡ªSixth Library Section."


    "Oh? Alright." Caius was a little surprised but didn''t dwell on it. He led Kiki inside the library.


    Upon entering the Sixth Library Section, he saw a group of students seated around a long table beyond the bookshelves, each engrossed in copying something.


    Holan sat on a high stool, her long legs crossed, wearing gold-rimmed glasses that lent her an air of both intelligence and allure.


    When she saw Caius, she set down her book and smiled faintly.


    "What brings you here?"


    "I figured you might need me, Mentor Holan. I have no proof, but I still came." Caius grinned cheekily.


    Holan rolled her eyes.


    A few days apart, and this guy was still as glib as ever.


    "Weren''t you teaching a class? What''s going on?" Caius glanced at the students, a few of whom looked up at him before returning to their notes.


    "Oh, nothing much. Just trying to make some reckless students understand how dangerous it is to hunt a Silver-tier Magic Beast." Holan said.


    "Dangerous?" Caius raised an eyebrow.


    Holan: "..."


    Seeing her expression, Caius quickly said, "Of course it''s dangerous! Students should stay in the academy and study. Why risk hunting Magic Beasts?"


    Holan nodded approvingly. "Exactly. Your task is to convince them to back down."


    "I''m not even officially a field instructor yet, and you''re already assigning me tasks?" Caius chuckled.


    "Consider it early practice. What do you say? The payment is a cup of High Mountain White Peach Blossom tea, personally brewed by me." Holan smiled.


    "Deal!" Caius agreed instantly.


    Holan nodded in satisfaction before calling out, "Jelly, Aero, Miras, Glaros¡ªcome over here."


    At her words, four students, appearing to be around seventeen or eighteen, set down their notes and walked over.


    "Mentor Holan."


    "This is an experienced mercenary. If you truly intend to hunt a banded python, you should consult him first."


    Immediately, the students turned to Caius with curiosity in their eyes.


    "Hey there, kids," Caius grinned broadly. "So, I hear you want to get yourselves killed?"


    Holan: "..."


    When did I ever say that!


    But seeing that Caius had already gotten into character, she chose not to interrupt, tacitly approving his approach.


    Hearing Caius¡¯ words, the young man named Jelly immediately bristled. "It''s just a banded python! The three of us are Silver Seven-Star, and I''m Silver Eight-Star! How is that certain death?"


    Ah, the recklessness of youth~


    But that was exactly what Caius needed¡ªto provoke their competitiveness before utterly crushing their confidence.


    "So, you think you can handle a banded python?" Caius smirked.


    "Of course!" The students declared confidently.


    The female student, Miras, even lifted her chin and added, "Banded pythons are generally between Silver Four-Star and Six-Star, with only a few reaching Silver Eight-Star and above."


    "While Magic Beasts are usually stronger than humans, we have both numbers and skill on our side."


    "As long as we find a Silver Six-Star banded python, we''ll definitely succeed!"


    "Impressive! You really know your stuff." Caius nodded before asking, "But have you considered this¡ªcan you make it out of the python''s habitat alive?"


    "Why wouldn''t we?" Jelly asked.


    "Because it''s September," Caius said, his smirk fading. "Which means it¡¯s the breeding season for banded pythons¡ªand most cold-natured serpent-type Magic Beasts. Do you know what that means?"


    "It means that if you encounter one banded python, you''ll be facing an entire group of them, gathered together for breeding!"


    "You four may be able to handle one banded python¡ªbut what about ten? Twenty? Fifty?"


    At his words, the students'' faces paled.


    But Caius wasn¡¯t finished yet.

 Chapter 42

    "Didn''t see that coming, did you? Because these things are hardly ever recorded in books, and even if they were, you obviously wouldn''t know about them." Caius spread his hands as he spoke.


    "And even if you were lucky enough to encounter a lone banded python, you have to understand that pythons are extremely active during the breeding season, especially now, at the tail end of it."


    "If you run into a lone banded python, it¡¯s either a frustrated male that couldn¡¯t find a mate and is seething with rage, or a female that has already mated and is in a rush to find a nesting ground."


    "Either way, its aggression is several times what it normally would be!"


    "And besides, the forest isn¡¯t just home to banded pythons."


    "Do you know what banded pythons eat?"


    "They eat another type of snake¡ªone that poses no real threat to them but can easily kill a Silver-tier warrior with its venom: the red-banded trimeresurus!"


    "Right now, it¡¯s also the red-banded trimeresurus¡¯ breeding season. During this period, their bright red scales shed and transform into a camouflaged color that blends into their environment. This is to better protect themselves, allowing them to mate and lay eggs."


    "When you step into the forest, your very first step could land on a camouflaged red-banded trimeresurus. Its venom is a hemotoxin. Now, let me ask you¡ªdid you bring the right antidote for it?"


    "No, right? Because pythons aren¡¯t venomous, so you didn¡¯t think to prepare for this?"


    Jelly and the others turned red with embarrassment. Caius was right¡ªthey hadn¡¯t prepared for it, nor had they even thought about it.


    "We did prepare¡­" Miras said weakly. "We brought a general-purpose anti-venom¡­"


    "Haha," Caius laughed exaggeratedly. "Great job. That¡¯ll extend the time it takes for the venom to kill you, giving you enough time to dig your own graves. At least you won¡¯t be left as corpses in the wild."


    Holan''s eyelids twitched as she listened.


    How did she not realize before that this seemingly straightforward brute had such a sharp tongue?!


    "You!" Jelly glared at Caius, but he was immediately met with Caius¡¯ piercing gaze.


    He found himself unable to meet Caius¡¯ eyes, forcing him to lower his head in frustration.


    "A general-purpose anti-venom isn¡¯t a true antidote. It can only slow down the venom¡¯s effects, giving you more time to survive."


    "But clearly, you wouldn¡¯t even know how to use that extra time."


    "Now, let me ask you another question¡ªdo you know what creatures tend to share territory with the red-banded trimeresurus?" Caius continued, a mischievous grin on his face.


    The students remained silent, waiting for him to continue.


    He went on without hesitation, "There¡¯s a tiny creature that I don¡¯t even know the name of. It hasn¡¯t been recorded in your encyclopedias because it¡¯s far too insignificant."


    "It¡¯s a type of mite, about the size of a sesame seed."


    "These mites are attracted to the scent of snakes and burrow into their scales, feeding on their blood. And yes, they also carry venom."


    "Individually, the venom is negligible¡ªjust enough to numb the snake a little so it doesn¡¯t feel pain when bitten. But what happens when there are thousands of them?"


    "Let me enlighten you. These tiny creatures experience a population explosion during snake breeding season. A single patch of grass half as tall as a person could be hiding thousands¡ªno, tens of thousands¡ªof them!"


    "They move silently. You could walk through the grass and end up with hundreds or even thousands of them clinging to you without even realizing it."


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    "Then, they start biting. They pierce your skin, but you won¡¯t feel a thing because their venom gradually numbs your senses."


    "With thousands upon thousands of bites, the venom accumulates in your body. Soon, your limbs will go numb, and eventually, even walking will become impossible."


    "In the end, all you¡¯ll be able to do is watch helplessly as your body gets covered in these mites¡ªblack specks clinging to your skin, impossible to shake off."


    "And to make their feeding more efficient, they¡¯ll crawl into your nostrils, your pores¡ªanywhere they can burrow into your body."


    "You¡¯ll see bulging, wriggling lumps beneath your skin, like living goosebumps."


    "And then¡­ you won¡¯t see anything at all¡ªbecause your eyeballs are one of their favorite delicacies."


    As Caius vividly described the scenario, not only did Jelly and the others turn deathly pale, but even the students taking notes stopped writing, their faces stricken with horror.


    "I call these mites ''sesame mites.'' Isn¡¯t that a cute name?" Caius chuckled.


    Jelly and the others instinctively took a few steps back, their eyes filled with terror.


    "So¡­ do you still want to go?" Caius asked.


    Jelly and his companions exchanged glances, then shook their heads, looking dejected.


    Caius was quite pleased with his lesson¡¯s effect and added, "What you need to do now is focus on your studies at the academy and stop thinking about such reckless ventures."


    "Hunting Magic Beasts isn¡¯t some cool, glamorous thing. If I had the chance to study, I¡¯d never choose to be a mercenary, running into terrifying creatures in the wild."


    "Really?" Jelly asked skeptically.


    Caius smirked. "Nope! I love danger and terror!"


    Everyone: "¡­¡­"


    "If you¡¯re interested, I can take you on a real experience in the future. But for now, just focus on your studies. Once you grow strong enough, all these terrifying things will seem as harmless as little kittens."


    As he spoke, he ruffled Kiki¡¯s fluffy little head.


    Jelly and the others remained silent for a moment before nodding. "Thank you. We understand."


    "Don¡¯t thank me. If you want to thank someone, thank Instructor Holan¡ªshe¡¯s the one who truly cares about you."


    "Thank you, Instructor Holan," Jelly and the others said sincerely.


    Holan finally snapped out of her thoughts and waved a hand. "No need. It¡¯s my responsibility as your instructor. I won¡¯t let you do anything foolish."


    "Now, go back and take notes. Memorize everything you wrote down today. I¡¯ll be checking tomorrow."


    "Yes, ma¡¯am!" Jelly and the others nodded before bowing to Caius and hurrying off to write.


    "You¡¯d make a great instructor," Holan commented as she looked at Caius with a smile.


    "Haha, I think so too!" Caius laughed, hands on his hips.


    "That¡­ sesame mite you mentioned¡ªis it real?" Holan asked quietly. Even she had never heard of such a terrifying insect.


    Caius leaned in and whispered, "Nope. Made it up."


    Holan: "¡­¡­"


    "You¡¯re awful," Holan muttered.


    Caius grinned. "Heh, but you can¡¯t deny I did a great job, can you?"


    "You did," Holan admitted, smirking.


    "So, where¡¯s my payment?" Caius asked eagerly.


    Holan chuckled, then said, "Follow me."


    She strode toward a private room, reminding the students to keep taking notes.


    Caius followed, with Kiki trotting beside him.


    Walking into the private room, Holan opened the cabinet to prepare tea, but after searching for a moment, he frowned.


    "I might... have to delay your commission a bit," Holan turned around and said.


    "Out of floral tea?" Caius asked.


    Holan nodded, then watched in surprise as Caius pulled out a bottle of High Mountain White Peach Blossom from his waist pouch.


    High Mountain White Peach Blossom could be brewed directly without needing to be sun-dried. The fresher it was, the sweeter it tasted; the older it got, the more bitter it became.


    Some people preferred the bitterness and would let it dry out over time, while others enjoyed the sweetness and brewed it fresh.


    Caius belonged to the latter group.


    Coincidentally, so did Holan.


    "Do you like it?" Caius asked with a smile.


    "Did you buy this?" Holan asked in surprise.


    "Of course not," Caius said solemnly. "I picked it myself, right from Aronas Mountain not far from here. Kiki can vouch for me."


    "Really, Meow! He picked it himself, Meow!" Kiki immediately confirmed, but then shrank back slightly. "But coming down the mountain was so scary, Meow..."


    Holan was touched.


    Taking the bottle, he opened it and took a deep sniff, his expression turning slightly blissful. "It''s well-preserved."


    "Of course! I prepared this just for you, so I made sure to store it properly," Caius chuckled.


    "For me?" Holan raised an eyebrow at him. "Not just an extra harvest while doing a mission?"


    Caius: "..."


    As expected of a seasoned Instructor¡ªso hard to fool!


    But Caius had a thick skin. He immediately replied, "Of course not!"


    At that time, he had indeed thought of Holan''s fondness for this tea and had deliberately picked extra. It wasn¡¯t just a casual harvest¡ªbesides, these blossoms grew on cliff sides; there was nothing "casual" about picking them.


    "Hmm... well, I''ll choose to believe you, then~" Holan said, hugging the bottle as he turned around lightly, like a cheerful little girl. He delicately pinched each white peach blossom, removing the stems and impurities before placing the petals into the teapot.


    It was clear he was in a great mood, even humming a little tune unconsciously.


    Caius rested his chin on his hand, watching Holan¡¯s graceful silhouette, feeling a different side of him¡ªplayful and adorable, in contrast to his usual composed intellect. His mood improved as well.


    How did that saying go again?


    A beautiful woman brings joy!


    As for the little catgirl¡­ she had milk, she had cookies, and she had a big guy keeping her company¡ªshe was absolutely ecstatic.

 Chapter 43

    "Ah~ So relaxing~" Caius sighed contentedly after taking a sip of the steaming floral tea.


    Holan chuckled, also taking a sip, then propped her chin on her elbow and asked, "How''s your promotion coming along?"


    "Just three more Gold-ranked missions to go. I should be able to wrap them up in five days." Caius replied.


    "That fast?" Holan was surprised.


    "Of course. I''m a man determined to become a Legendary Mercenary." Caius said confidently.


    "Is that so? Well, that¡¯s quite the difficult dream to achieve." Holan smiled.


    No matter the profession, anything associated with the word "Legendary" was never easy to attain.


    Caius said, "Exactly. Finding a woman who can become a Legendary Mercenary is even harder."


    Holan: "???"


    "So that''s what you meant?" Holan was momentarily stunned before realizing his meaning, playfully giving him a light slap.


    "Haha." Caius laughed without dodging.


    A little physical contact at the right time could sometimes enhance an interaction.


    Like right now.


    After some playful banter, Holan seemed much more relaxed, as if the burden of being an Instructor didn''t exist when she was with Caius.


    Hmm... had it ever existed?


    Although this big guy kept calling her "Instructor" with utmost respect, he had actually flirted with her quite a few times.


    But his teasing was just the right amount¡ªso much so that instead of calling it teasing, it was more like "flirting." Of course, Holan herself hadn''t realized this.


    Lazily resting her head on the table, she asked, "Do mercenaries have a lot of free time?"


    "Not bad. As long as we don''t take on missions, we''re free all the time." Caius replied.


    "Doesn¡¯t that mean no income?" Holan asked.


    "Haha, exactly. That¡¯s why some lazy mercenaries take on a mission and then slack off for days. Only when their pockets are emptier than their stomachs do they think about taking the next job." Caius leaned back into the soft sofa.


    "Slack off?" Holan¡¯s eyes lit up at the term.


    "More or less means¡ª¡®I quit.¡¯" Caius explained animatedly, making Holan giggle.


    "That¡¯s quite fitting. Sometimes, I feel like slacking off too." Holan said softly.


    "Oh? You don¡¯t like being an Instructor?" Caius asked.


    "It¡¯s alright. I don¡¯t love it, but I don¡¯t hate it either. What I truly enjoy is focusing on magical research, not being an Instructor who has to balance research and teaching." Holan stirred her tea with a silver spoon, speaking slowly.


    "How so?" Caius appeared to be listening intently, but inside, he was delighted.


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    When a woman was willing to share her life and interests with you, it meant she had a good impression of you.


    And he liked that feeling.


    "Academy rules. If you want to conduct magical research, you have to be an Instructor."


    "Unless you reach the level of a Professor or an Archmage, you have to juggle both."


    "Magical research alone is already exhausting, and on top of that, I have to look after a bunch of fearless young students."


    "You saw it just now¡ªtruly exhausting."


    "It really is." Caius nodded in agreement. At times like this, the best approach was to empathize, no matter what the other person said.


    "Right?" Holan sighed. "But they¡¯re my students, so I have to take responsibility."


    Caius looked at her with admiration. "They¡¯re lucky to have you as their guide. Not every gardener of knowledge possesses both wisdom and responsibility¡ªlet alone being such a beautiful gardener."


    Holan¡¯s eyes brightened.


    She really liked the analogy of a "gardener of knowledge." Her eyes curved into a smile. "Thank you. Hearing that makes it all feel worthwhile."


    "Haha, no problem!" Caius laughed heartily.


    "By the way, have you been in contact with Belle?" Holan asked.


    "Of course. She asked me to bring you her letter and badge¡ªshe said she doesn¡¯t want to attend the Academy anymore." Caius nodded, speaking leisurely.


    "What?!" Holan immediately stood up, her face full of anxiety. "Did you agree to it?"


    But Caius remained calm and relaxed. "Of course not."


    Holan let out a breath of relief, then looked at Caius with slight annoyance. "Why did you only bring this up now?"


    Caius blinked. "Because I¡¯ve already taken care of it."


    Holan blinked as well. "Taken care of? What do you mean? How?"


    "Have you ever truly understood her?" Caius asked instead of answering directly.


    "Of course!" Holan nodded. But under Caius'' unwavering gaze, she hesitated slightly and added, "Of course¡­ I know some things."


    "She¡¯s talented¡ªborn to be a magic researcher. She¡¯s a genius!"


    "Every magical research task I gave her, she completed flawlessly. She¡ª"


    Before she could finish, Caius shook his head. "She¡¯s been struggling."


    Holan was stunned. Then she said, "I know her situation. She¡¯s an orphan who grew up in the Orphanage, taking care of an old lady and several children. Life has always been difficult for her. That¡¯s why I set aside part of my research funds to support them."


    "But that¡¯s not the main issue," Caius said, looking Holan in the eyes.


    "Financial hardship isn¡¯t the real problem. She¡¯s lived through it all these years, and your support doesn¡¯t change much."


    "In fact, she saves the money you give her. Their lives remain difficult because they are used to it."


    "Especially after the new district plan in Ocean City was finalized, they lost an important source of income. The money you give them¡ªthey don¡¯t dare spend it."


    "So their lives don¡¯t improve. They continue to be frugal."


    "And your recognition of her only added more pressure on her academic life."


    "She¡¯s grateful for everything you¡¯ve done for her, so she does her best to complete the tasks you assign."


    "But do you know what her life at the Ocean City Academy is really like?"


    Holan shook her head and listened quietly.


    Caius spoke slowly.


    "You came to Ocean City Academy to recruit students for your team. For the students, it was a rare opportunity, so many competed for it. But you chose her."


    "That was the beginning of her ostracization."


    "If I¡¯m right, after choosing her, you didn¡¯t stay at the Academy but returned to Hydis. You communicated via letters, sending and receiving tasks remotely. You rarely met her, right?"


    Holan silently nodded.


    Caius continued, "Because you chose her and not the others, those students grew jealous. They bullied and harassed her, trying to stop her from coming to Hydis Magic Academy."


    Holan¡¯s hands trembled slightly, but she stayed silent and listened.


    Caius lowered his head, looking at the still tea in his cup, as if seeing the reflection of that mushroom-hatted girl.


    "During class, they would use Magic to toss her books away, kick her chair, and never stop for the entire lesson."


    "She didn¡¯t fight back. She just endured it until the class ended¡ªbut even then, it didn¡¯t stop."


    "On the road, they would deliberately bump into her, making her fall and get hurt. And that¡¯s only what I saw in a single morning."


    "Even outside the Academy, they framed her for things she didn¡¯t do. If not for kind-hearted people and a good-natured shop owner, the compensation for an expensive magic potion alone would have made her already difficult life unbearable."


    "To protect herself, she started wearing a mushroom-shaped hat to prevent head injuries."


    "She knitted her own sweater so she wouldn¡¯t ruin the clothes the old lady made for her."


    "The entire class, following the lead of those bullies, isolated her, shunned her, mocked her."


    "And despite all this, she still completed your tasks excellently. Do you think¡­"


    Caius raised his head and looked Holan in the eyes.


    "Should you be happy about that?"

 Chapter 44

    "I..." Holan lowered her head, not daring to meet Caius'' eyes, her small hands clenched slightly.


    Caius sighed and said, "So, in that situation, she simply couldn''t leave the orphanage peacefully to study at Hydis Magic Academy."


    "Why didn''t she resist?" Holan bit her lip and asked.


    "Because the ones bullying her could easily wipe the orphanage off the map," Caius replied.


    "Then... what about Ocean City Academy? Don''t the instructors care?"


    "As I said before, not every cultivator of knowledge possesses both responsibility and wisdom." Caius continued, "Those people wouldn''t bully her in front of the instructors. In fact, they might even act friendly, draping their arms around her shoulders as if they were the best of friends."


    "She''s not good at expressing herself, nor does she resist, so the instructors never realized she was being bullied."


    "And even if someone did notice... would an instructor really risk offending a high-ranking official of Ocean City for the sake of a single student?"


    "I would!" Holan gritted her teeth and said firmly.


    "Mm, that''s why I said your students are lucky. But she... was unfortunate." Caius took a sip of tea as he spoke.


    Holan fell silent. Just listening to Caius'' words, she could sense the immense hardship and suffering involved.


    Caius didn''t interrupt her, allowing her time to process everything.


    "So... what happened next? You said you resolved it..." After a while, Holan finally lifted her head, hope flickering in her eyes.


    She wanted to believe that Caius had truly solved the problem.


    And Caius did not disappoint her.


    "Yes, I solved it." Caius grinned.


    "Before those people could do something even worse, I stopped them."


    "How?" Holan asked eagerly.


    Caius then briefly explained his course of action.


    "First, I infiltrated Ocean City Academy... Then... after that... they just..."


    "..."


    "..."


    "That''s how it happened."


    "I also resolved the orphanage issue¡ªI bought it. Now, the elderly caretaker and the children can continue living there, and I''ll ensure their lives improve, eliminating their suffering at the root."


    "As for those who bullied her, I imagine that if that high-ranking official has any sense at all, she won''t let her daughter stay in that academy any longer."


    At this point, Caius turned to Holan and asked, "Instructor Holan, do you think I was too ruthless?"


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    Holan looked at him and suddenly smiled.


    "No, you did a wonderful job!"


    "Absolutely, absolutely, absolutely wonderful!"


    "Haha, I knew it." Caius snapped his fingers and grinned.


    "Thank you for telling me all this, and for everything you''ve done for her. Thank you," Holan exhaled and looked at Caius sincerely.


    "It was my duty." Caius smiled.


    "Really?" Holan gazed at Caius curiously. "As far as I know, mercenaries don¡¯t usually take on thankless tasks like this. After all, you don¡¯t gain anything from them."


    "Who says that? I gained a lot!" Caius countered.


    "Oh? Do tell?" Now that she knew Belle was safe, Holan relaxed considerably, smiling as she spoke.


    "Happiness, pride, the bright future of a talented magical research scholar, the gratitude of a beautiful instructor, and, of course, the delicious dinner she''ll treat me to."


    "Hmm... she will treat me to dinner, right?" Caius looked at Holan expectantly.


    Holan couldn''t help but laugh out loud.


    This guy really had the thickest skin.


    And yet, she didn''t dislike it¡ªnor could she refuse him.


    Compared to a single meal, what Caius had done for Belle was the real gift. In comparison, her little show of gratitude felt utterly insignificant.


    Thus, she smiled and nodded. "Yes, she will."


    Caius: "See? I''ve gained so much."


    Holan: "Haha, no doubt about it."


    Kiki: "???"


    The little catgirl tilted her head as she watched the two exchange smiles.


    She found their conversation incredibly complicated.


    Was this how smart people communicated?


    A jealous meow.


    "But not tonight," Holan said. "Hearing all this, I feel like I¡¯ve been an irresponsible instructor. So, I¡¯m setting off for Ocean City tonight."


    "So, outstanding mercenary, would you accept an escort request from your instructor?"


    "Of course!" Caius snapped his fingers.


    "Then I''ll go prepare. We''ll leave at noon!" Holan said eagerly.


    "No problem!" Caius nodded.


    There were still a few hours before noon, and Caius planned to complete a Gold-ranked mission in the meantime.


    The mission site: Nemo Forest.


    Two tasks¡ªone was to help Eli find Hops Flower.


    The other was to hunt down a Gold-ranked Magic Beast¡ªan Unicorn Bison and retrieve its horn.


    Of course, if he could obtain the horn without killing the beast, that would be fine too. But that would be a much harder challenge.


    Traveling from Grilla City to Nemo Forest was closer than from Ocean City¡ªonly 80 kilometers away. At Caius¡¯ speed, he could make the round trip in less than an hour.


    That left him with nearly three hours to complete the mission.


    Once he finished the two Gold-ranked tasks, he would escort Holan to Ocean City, then head to the docks to deliver the final payment for the rum shipment to Nick. That meant three Gold-ranked missions completed in one go.


    Then only one Gold-ranked promotion mission¡ªDebt Collection¡ªwould remain.


    Thinking about it, Caius sighed in satisfaction.


    As expected of me¡ªso efficient!


    "Go ahead and get ready. I''m going to complete two Gold-ranked missions in the meantime. Let¡¯s meet at the academy gate at noon." Caius stood up and said.


    "Alright." Holan nodded.


    Though she was a bit surprised by Caius¡¯ "by the way" attitude toward the missions, she didn¡¯t doubt that he could finish two Gold-ranked tasks in such a short time.


    After spending time with him, she had come to understand this burly mercenary quite well.


    A reliable big guy.


    Bidding farewell to Instructor Holan, Caius left his carriage and final payment in the unloading area of Hydis Magic Academy. It was safe there¡ªno need to worry about thieves.


    After all, students who could attend Hydis Magic Academy wouldn''t stoop to petty theft.


    Then, with Kiki in tow, Caius took off at full speed.


    Poor little catgirl¡ªshe had just finished a cup of milk, and it nearly came back up from all the bouncing.


    Arriving at Nemo Forest, Caius glanced at the miserable-looking Kiki and gave her an apologetic smile.


    Some people get carsick. She got Caius-sick. No one else could relate.


    After letting her recover for a bit, Caius led Kiki into Nemo Forest.


    The Unicorn Bison was a massive Magic Beast, making it easy to track.


    Standing three to four meters tall and five to six meters long, they resembled rhinos but were even more massive and aggressive. Their heavy footfalls left tremors in the ground and wide, deep footprints.


    Soon, Caius found a set of fresh tracks.


    In his previous life, mercenaries in the wasteland were called Wasteland Hounds, not just because they were as ruthless and cunning as hunting dogs, but because those who could survive there possessed exceptional tracking skills.


    Caius was one of the best among them.


    With tracks this obvious, along with other telltale signs, it would be harder not to find the Unicorn Bison.


    Before long, he spotted his target¡ª


    A Gold Three-Star Unicorn Bison.

 Chapter 45

    Among those of the same rank, Magic Beasts are generally stronger than humans due to inherent racial advantages.


    Take the case of a Gold Three-Star Unicorn Bison¡ªits strength is at least five to six times that of Melbourne, whom Caius had taken down with a single hammer strike. Its defense is even more formidable, and its sheer size provides a natural advantage.


    In other words, not even ten Melbournes would be a match for a single Unicorn Bison.


    However, that¡¯s not how things work in reality.


    Magic Beasts possess innate magic, but the number of spells they can use is often limited. Low-ranking Magic Beasts typically have only one or two innate spells, with some having none at all.


    Humans, on the other hand, have more versatility¡ªWarriors can learn Combat Techniques, mages can learn Magic, and even the common universal spells that all professions can study number in the hundreds or thousands.


    By leveraging skills and intelligence, humans¡ªdespite their physical disadvantages¡ªcan crush Magic Beasts of the same rank or even higher.


    Of course, Melbourne truly couldn''t defeat a Unicorn Bison.


    And Caius? He didn¡¯t even know a single universal spell.


    All of this is just to emphasize that humans have a hard time defeating Magic Beasts in a head-on clash, and¡ª


    Caius is a complete monster!


    Because when he laid eyes on that Unicorn Bison, his very first thought was¡ª


    I want to go head-to-head with this big guy!


    The number of markings on a Unicorn Bison¡¯s horn indicates its star level. The one Caius had found had three stripes, marking it as a Gold Three-Star.


    As a Gold-rank Magic Beast, the Unicorn Bison had virtually no natural predators in this forest. That¡¯s why it stood there so casually in an open field, chewing grass at a leisurely pace, as if it had no fear of being attacked.


    And under normal circumstances, it wouldn¡¯t have to be.


    There were hardly any Platinum-rank Magic Beasts in this forest, so other creatures wisely avoided provoking a four-meter-tall, five-to-six-meter-long behemoth.


    But Caius was different. He confidently strode into the Unicorn Bison¡¯s field of vision, tossed his warhammer aside, and beckoned with his hand.


    "Come on, let¡¯s have a showdown!"


    The Unicorn Bison didn¡¯t understand Caius¡¯s words, but it knew full well that he was provoking it.


    And more importantly, it sensed a threat from him.


    For a two-legged creature trespassing into its territory, there was only one response¡ªa charge with its mighty horn!


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    Swallowing its mouthful of grass, the Unicorn Bison turned, its massive half-meter-thick horn aimed straight at Caius. Wide nostrils flared as it exhaled streams of hot air, and its front hooves scraped at the ground.


    From her perch in a tree, Kiki watched nervously.


    When she first heard Caius say he wanted to test his strength against the Unicorn Bison, her reaction was the same as any rational person¡¯s¡ª


    "Are you serious, Meow?"


    That beast wasn¡¯t called "Bison" just because of its temper¡ªit was a powerhouse of raw, brute strength!


    Among Gold-rank Magic Beasts, the Unicorn Bison was known for being one of the strongest. And yet, here was Caius, a human, challenging it to a test of strength? It was downright absurd!


    But Caius was confident.


    Giants weren¡¯t just about size!


    "Moooo!" A deep, thunderous bellow rang out as the Unicorn Bison charged.


    Its colossal frame surged forward like a tank, shaking the ground with every step. Even from her vantage point, Kiki could feel the vibrations.


    Yet Caius made no move to dodge. Instead, he lowered his stance, arms spread wide, prepared to receive the impact. His face lit up with excitement.


    The Unicorn Bison closed the distance, its razor-sharp horn gleaming coldly. Kiki had no doubt that even a city wall would be pierced by that charge.


    And Caius¡­ well, he wasn¡¯t stupid enough to take that horn to the chest. That wasn¡¯t a test of strength¡ªthat was suicide.


    Just as the Unicorn Bison¡¯s horn was about to impale him, Caius suddenly tilted his head and ducked. The horn grazed past his shoulder, narrowly missing him.


    Instead of retreating, he pressed forward, wedging his shoulder between the Unicorn Bison¡¯s head and horn. His muscles tensed, veins bulging as he clamped his hands down on the beast¡¯s massive skull.


    The full force of the Unicorn Bison¡¯s charge became evident. Caius was pushed back, sliding across the ground.


    Yet his stance was perfect¡ªone knee bent, the other leg braced behind, his entire body forming a near-straight line from heel to waist to shoulder, maximizing his resistance.


    He was pushed back for fifteen to sixteen meters before the Unicorn Bison¡¯s momentum began to wane.


    Slower¡­ and slower¡­ until finally, after being dragged back nearly thirty meters, the beast came to a stop.


    Two deep trenches were carved into the ground where Caius had dug in his heels, his feet now buried ankle-deep in the earth.


    The Unicorn Bison¡¯s eyes were filled with disbelief.


    It had failed to overpower this two-legged creature, despite being many times his size!


    Had it not been for the initial momentum of its charge, it might not have even budged him at all.


    His perfect stance had absorbed and neutralized most of the impact, effectively stopping the charge of a Gold Three-Star Magic Beast.


    Standing at nearly two meters, Caius looked minuscule before the four-meter-tall Unicorn Bison.


    But to the bison, it was as if it had rammed into an iron fortress.


    "My turn now?" Caius pressed his forehead against the Unicorn Bison¡¯s skull, grinning.


    Then, with a fierce glare and a guttural roar, his muscles flexed, veins bulging as his blood surged, every fiber of his body coiling like a drawn bowstring. His pants tightened as his leg muscles expanded, even producing the sound of fabric straining.


    With a forceful push from his bent leg, he drove forward.


    The Unicorn Bison was stunned¡ªit wasn¡¯t moving forward, but backward!


    "Huff! Huff!" Heavy breaths escaped as it desperately tried to plant its hooves, refusing to be overpowered.


    But reality was cruel¡ªit was still being pushed back.


    Kiki, watching from the tree, felt like she wasn¡¯t witnessing a battle between a human and a beast.


    It was a clash between two Magic Beasts!


    From the moment Caius took his first step forward, he had already won. His strength only grew, shoving the Unicorn Bison backward, retracing its path until they were back where they started.


    Then, with another fierce roar, veins of vital energy spiraled around Caius, further amplifying his power.


    And it didn¡¯t stop there¡ª


    Magic surged!


    Even with less than five percent of his free magic power available, it was enough.


    Magic energy coursed through Caius¡¯s body, granting him an even greater burst of strength.


    "Now, up you go!!!"


    With an earth-shattering bellow, the Unicorn Bison¡¯s front hooves lifted off the ground, its body tilting uncontrollably.


    With one final surge of power, Caius flipped the enormous beast over!


    "Boom!"


    The giant body crashed onto the ground, sending tremors through the earth.


    Caius, drenched in sweat, grinned.


    "You lost. And losers leave something behind."

 Chapter 46

    Watching the staggering unicorn bison flee in a sorry state, Caius weighed the massive horn in his hand and nodded in satisfaction.


    That strike had hurt, but at least it hadn¡¯t been fatal to the unicorn bison.


    It wasn¡¯t out of mercy¡ªrather, after this bout of strength, the magic within Caius had settled a bit further, bringing his Magic Core to ninety-eight percent capacity. Since the mission was also completed, he was in a great mood and decided to let the unicorn bison go.


    Everything depended on his mood.


    ¡°Next, we just need to find some Hops Flower,¡± Caius said.


    ¡°Already found it, Meow,¡± Kiki suddenly spoke up.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Caius was stunned.


    ¡°That unicorn bison was just eating Hops Flower, Meow. Over there, I saw it, Meow.¡± Kiki pointed toward a patch of grass nearby.


    ¡°Damn, that¡¯s some luck!¡± Caius burst into laughter.


    Coming to the spot where the unicorn bison had been grazing, he found a large patch of Hops Flower. The beast had eaten half of it, but there was still plenty left¡ªenough to complete the mission with extra to spare.


    Caius harvested all of it and checked the time¡ªless than an hour had passed.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go back to the city.¡± Caius hefted his warhammer and gestured to Kiki.


    With a nimble leap, Kiki landed on Caius¡¯ shoulder.


    Caius sucked in a sharp breath. ¡°Hiss¡­ Little cat, sit on the other side. This shoulder¡¯s got some scrapes.¡±


    Earlier, he had braced against the unicorn bison¡¯s horn with his right shoulder. That thing wasn¡¯t exactly smooth, and his shoulder had been left covered in abrasions.


    Seeing this, Kiki quickly shifted to his other shoulder. Then she took out a bottle of intermediate healing potion and was about to pour it over Caius¡¯ injuries.


    Healing potions could be used externally or internally. For minor wounds, a topical application sufficed¡ªno need to drink the whole thing.


    Caius waved her off. ¡°No need for that. A good night¡¯s sleep and I¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    Kiki twitched her ears as she looked at the scrapes covering Caius¡¯ shoulder.


    This counts as a minor wound, Meow?


    It looks pretty scary, Meow¡­


    If these scrapes were on her body, they¡¯d probably cover half her back.


    However, before Caius even finished speaking, the wounds had already started scabbing over. Seeing how fast he healed, Kiki simply nodded and put away the healing potion.


    On the way back, Caius hummed a tune, clearly in good spirits. Kiki glanced at his lower half and then couldn¡¯t help but comment,


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    ¡°Big guy.¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°I think you need to buy new pants, Meow.¡±


    Caius looked down.


    Well, his pants hadn¡¯t held up in the end. His swelling muscles had torn them apart, leaving him looking like he was wearing a pair of shorts held together with scraps of fabric.


    ¡°Alright, you¡¯ve got a point.¡±


    So, upon returning to Grilla City, Caius wandered through the market, bought new pants, and replenished his supplies.


    By the time Holan was ready and emerged from the academy, she found Caius already waiting with a carriage.


    ¡°You¡­ changed pants?¡± Holan asked, unable to help herself.


    It wasn¡¯t that she particularly cared about his attire¡ªit was just that the new pants were far too eye-catching.


    Holan swore that Caius¡¯ original pants weren¡¯t like this.


    The new ones were covered in maple leaf patterns¡ªthis one yellow, that one red, another orange¡ªscreaming autumn in full blaze.


    And paired with Caius¡¯ rugged yet roguish aura, it was impossible not to notice.


    ¡°Yeah, what do you think?¡± Caius asked confidently. ¡°Pretty stylish, right? The shopkeeper said this is the season¡¯s hottest trend!¡±


    Holan couldn¡¯t help but laugh.


    A narcissistic big guy.


    The pants conversation didn¡¯t last long, and soon, the group set off.


    ¡°I thought you had your own carriage,¡± Caius remarked as Holan sat beside him.


    ¡°I did, but I sold it,¡± Holan said with a shrug.


    ¡°You sold it?¡± Caius was surprised. ¡°Are you short on money?¡±


    ¡°Mm-hmm~¡± Holan nodded matter-of-factly. ¡°Magical research is expensive. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have haggled over buying a Wolf Demon corpse from you before.¡±


    ¡°So, what do you say? Care to sponsor our research team, oh distinguished mercenary?¡± Holan¡¯s eyes sparkled with playful cunning.


    This instructor had a charming side to her as well.


    Caius immediately said, ¡°Of course! I¡¯d love to sponsor you with a million gold!¡±


    Holan blinked. ¡°Are you serious?¡±


    Caius grinned. ¡°As soon as I make that much.¡±


    Holan rolled her eyes with a smile.


    She had meant to tease Caius, but somehow, he had turned the joke back on her. This big guy was far from simple.


    The journey was long, so Holan struck up a conversation with Caius.


    ¡°When did you arrive in Ocean City?¡±


    ¡°A few days ago.¡±


    ¡°What brought you here?¡±


    ¡°To work as a mercenary,¡± Caius replied. ¡°I heard Ocean City has another name¡ªMercenary City¡ªso I figured it¡¯d be a good place to establish myself.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true. Ocean City has the highest concentration of mercenaries in the region. But if you want the true Mercenary City, that would be Normanworth,¡± Holan said.


    Caius was intrigued. ¡°Where¡¯s that?¡±


    Holan looked at him in surprise. ¡°You¡¯re a mercenary and you don¡¯t know about Normanworth?¡±


    ¡°Should I?¡± Caius asked.


    ¡°Of course! That place has produced seven Legendary mercenaries!¡±


    ¡°Whoa! Then I definitely have to go check it out!¡± Caius declared. ¡°Once I get there, they¡¯ll be welcoming their eighth Legendary mercenary!¡±


    Holan laughed.


    She liked his confidence.


    ¡°Well, you¡¯ll need to work hard. Gold-ranked mercenaries barely make the cut there. And it¡¯s not a place you can just waltz into.¡±


    ¡°Normanworth is on another continent, an independent city-state. To get there, you¡¯d have to pass through three Empires and over a dozen smaller Kingdoms. Just getting through all the border checks is a hassle, especially with the Hepos Empire currently at war with the Ironblood Empire.¡±


    ¡°To reach Normanworth, you¡¯d have to cross the Ironblood Empire.¡±


    Caius considered this. The Hepos Empire ruled the region he was currently in, and empires in this land were like blackheads¡ªsqueeze one out, and another popped up.


    As for the small Kingdoms, they were like fields of wheat¡ªcut down one, and another grew in its place.


    ¡°Is there another route besides passing through the Ironblood Empire?¡± Caius asked.


    ¡°There is,¡± Holan said, gazing into the distance. ¡°By sea. Like Ocean City, Normanworth is coastal.¡±


    ¡°But while this route is faster, it¡¯s also far more dangerous. The Magic Beasts of the sea are even stronger than those on land, and countless pirates prey on ships along the way. If you want my advice, take the land route.¡±


    ¡°But if you crave adventure and challenge, then the sea route is a good option too.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯m taking the sea route!¡± Caius grinned.


    Holan gave him a sidelong glance and continued, ¡°Though I hear the Ironblood Empress is incredibly beautiful¡­¡±


    Caius: ¡°Land route. Absolutely the land route!¡±


    Holan smirked. ¡°But the Pirate Queen of the sea is just as stunning¡­¡±


    Caius: ¡°Holan, Instructor.¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Holan looked at him with amusement, thinking she had successfully messed with him.


    Then Caius said, ¡°Do you know any cloning magic? If you do, please, you have to teach me!¡±


    Holan: ¡°¡­¡±

 Chapter 47

    The question of whether to travel by land or sea was never seriously discussed¡ªit was merely a joke. After all, in the short term, Caius had no intention of leaving Ocean City.


    Caius was the epitome of cherishing the present. The future could be pondered briefly, but who knew what tomorrow would bring?


    As night fell, the temperature began to drop. However, when Caius had visited the market earlier, he had bought two blankets.


    One for Kiki, one for Holan.


    Taking the blanket, Holan smiled. "Didn¡¯t expect you to be so thoughtful."


    "Of course, I¡¯m a gentleman," Caius replied.


    "A gentleman? Aren¡¯t you a mercenary?" Holan¡¯s eyes twinkled with amusement.


    "Can¡¯t a mercenary be a gentleman? I call it a merc-gent."


    "A servant-gentleman?" Holan teased.


    "No, a mercenary-gentleman!"


    Holan burst into laughter.


    Just then, a distant howl echoed through the vast fields, lingering in the night air.


    Caius turned toward the sound. A few eerie green eyes, like ghostly flames, flickered in the darkness of the distant forest.


    "A wolf pack," Caius remarked.


    "Are they dangerous?" Holan asked, though she didn¡¯t seem particularly concerned.


    "No, just an ordinary small pack. They know the power of humans and won¡¯t venture too close to the trade route," Caius explained before something crossed his mind. "By the way, Instructor Holan, I¡¯ve had a question for a while."


    "Go ahead," Holan nodded slightly.


    "The appearance of a Wolf Demon near Ocean City¡ªwhat do you think it means?" Caius asked, his gaze fixed ahead.


    A chill crept into the air at the mention of the Wolf Demon, as if the very name carried an aura of dread.


    And rightly so.


    "Are you suggesting that a Blood Soil has formed nearby?" Holan asked.


    "I considered that possibility," Caius nodded. "That¡¯s why I asked you about the Bloody Lands before."


    "A Wolf Demon appearing here is likely just a wandering one," Holan said. "Unlike Bloodfish and Bloodeyes, which cannot stray far from a Blood Soil due to their reliance on its blood energy for sustenance and reproduction, Wolf Demons are of a higher tier."


    "They can travel far from a Blood Soil, hunting across great distances."


    "This area falls under the jurisdiction of the Empire¡¯s patrols. They conduct regular sweeps, and if a Blood Soil had formed, nearby cities would have been alerted immediately. Since there has been no news, I suspect this Wolf Demon simply wandered here from a distant Blood Soil."


    "Does this happen often?" Caius asked.


    "Not really. Bloody Creatures don¡¯t belong to this world, and their numbers are scarce," Holan explained. "However, the Bloody Lands are encroaching on our world. Blood Soils will only become more common in the future, and so will Bloody Creatures. Only by cutting off the source of the corruption can we stop the invasion."


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    Caius nodded, falling silent for a moment before asking, "If a Blood Soil really did appear nearby, what would happen?"


    "It would be a catastrophe," Holan said gravely. "The emergence of a Blood Soil always heralds terror and death."


    "There have been several large-scale Bloody Waves in history, each bringing unimaginable devastation to the continent."


    "If a Blood Soil forms near us, we would need to unite all the surrounding cities to purge it. Otherwise, if it is allowed to grow, even a powerful city like Grilla City would be swallowed by the blood corruption."


    "What¡¯s the level of Grilla City¡¯s strongest combatant?" Caius suddenly asked.


    "The City Lord of Grilla City, the Windchanter¡ªMel Astraea," Holan replied.


    Caius nodded.


    Having an exclusive Title such as Windchanter meant that Lord Mel was a Title-tier powerhouse.


    The ranking system was as follows:


    Lower Five Tiers: Brass, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Mithril. Upper Five Tiers: Ballad, Title, Epic, Legendary, Divine.


    A Title-tier warrior was already a formidable existence.


    "What about you?" Caius asked next.


    "Me?" Holan chuckled. "I¡¯m just a humble Platinum-tier mage."


    "Platinum-tier? That¡¯s impressive. I¡¯m only Silver Five-Star," Caius said enviously.


    Though, what he truly envied wasn¡¯t the Platinum tier¡ªit was being a mage.


    "Silver?" Holan was visibly stunned.


    "You¡¯re only Silver?" She looked at him in disbelief.


    She had previously requested Caius¡¯s registration details from the guild¡¯s mage at the gate. The record only listed him as a Brass-tier mercenary, without specifying his exact combat rank.


    A Brass-tier mercenary title didn¡¯t reflect one¡¯s true strength. Even a Platinum-tier powerhouse would still be registered as Brass upon joining the Mercenary Guild.


    Given that Caius had slain a Wolf Demon, Holan had assumed he was at least a high-tier Gold-ranked warrior. But to find out he was only Silver?


    "Mhm, Silver Five-Star." As he spoke, Caius activated his veins of vital energy. Five silver-glowing marks shimmered along his body, leaving Holan speechless for a long time.


    Finally, she asked, "How old are you?"


    Caius glanced at Kiki before replying, "Eighteen."


    In truth, he was sixteen, but since Kiki was seventeen, he had lied about being eighteen¡ªotherwise, he wouldn¡¯t feel justified calling her "little kitten."


    "You¡¯re only eighteen?!" Holan¡¯s eyes widened even further. "I thought you were at least twenty-five!"


    Caius: "..."


    "Do I look that old?" He pointed at his face, questioning.


    "Uh... not exactly, it¡¯s just..." Holan hesitated, unsure how to explain.


    Caius didn¡¯t look old¡ªhis face was that of an honest, straightforward young man not yet twenty. But his physique? Could an eighteen-year-old truly build such a body?


    It wasn¡¯t just his muscular frame¡ªit was the way he carried himself. His speech, his composure, his interactions with people, and his wealth of experience all exuded an air of maturity. It was easy to overlook his youthful appearance and assume he was much older.


    "Not everyone is like you, looking forever like an eighteen-year-old girl," Caius shrugged helplessly.


    Holan, who had just been astonished, suddenly burst into laughter. "I won¡¯t always be eighteen."


    She said that, but it was clear she was pleased by the compliment.


    No woman disliked being told she looked young.


    Unless she was already younger than the compliment implied.


    "Eighteen years old, Silver Five-Star. That¡¯s about the same as my students¡ªbut none of them could take down a Wolf Demon alone," Holan mused.


    That statement made Caius feel quite pleased. He grinned smugly. "Of course, I¡¯m the best!"


    "Now you¡¯re just bragging," Holan laughed, covering her mouth. Then she asked, "With your talent, getting into Hydis Magic Academy wouldn¡¯t be a problem. So why did you choose to be a mercenary?"


    This was the second time she had asked this question. The first time, Caius had brushed it off with a playful remark, but Holan was still curious.


    The more time she spent with him, the more intrigued she became.


    "Because I love this profession¡ªjust like you love magical research," Caius replied with a gentle smile.


    "To outsiders, mercenaries may seem like desperate souls forced into a life of bloodshed. But some of us are different."


    "Like me."


    "Money, fame, even becoming a Legend¡ªthose aren¡¯t the real reasons I became a mercenary."


    "Then what is?" Holan asked, her curiosity deepening.


    Caius looked at her, then pulled out a cigarette, gesturing. "Mind if I smoke?"


    "Go ahead," Holan nodded.


    Caius lit the cigarette, leaning against the carriage, one hand on the reins, the other holding the cigarette. Smoke drifted away into the cold night air.


    "What I love is freedom."


    "Not the carefree kind."


    "That¡¯s the freedom sought by caged canaries in castles."


    "What I want... is the freedom beyond the rules."

 Chapter 48

    "Is there a difference between these two types of freedom?" Holan gazed at his profile and asked.


    "Of course there is." Caius held a cigarette between his lips, exhaling smoke.


    At this moment, despite the hint of youth still present on his face, he exuded a steady yet wild charm that made Holan momentarily dazed as she looked at him.


    His voice drifted over.


    "The first is escaping the constraints of rules." "The second is breaking through the constraints of rules."


    "Let me give you an example."


    "A little princess lives in a castle, enjoying a life of luxury, but she is not allowed to leave the royal palace. One day, she sneaks out and ventures into the vast world."


    "Out there, she is free from the palace¡¯s tedious formalities. She can run freely, try all sorts of novel things, and do whatever she desires."


    "But one day, the king sends his guards to find her. She is just a little princess, not a mighty Valkyrie, so she has no choice but to run."


    "If she is caught, she will be locked back in the castle. In the end, the guards find her and try to take her back by force."


    "She curses at them, berates the guards, condemns the king, and denounces the castle that imprisons her. She sings praises of her ideals, only to be locked up again in her luxurious gilded cage."


    "She cannot defy the rules, so she can only escape from them. If the rules come for her one day, she will still be bound."


    "That is the freedom of a caged bird."


    "And the other kind?" Holan listened intently.


    "That¡¯s another story." Caius chuckled.


    "One day, a little princess lives in a castle, enjoying a life of luxury, but she is not allowed to leave the royal palace. So one day¡­ she punches a hole through the palace walls and strides out."


    Holan: "?"


    Caius: "Then the king sends his guards to find her. She knocks them away effortlessly and goes out to play. When she gets tired, she returns to the palace, only to find that the king has locked her room with heavy chains the next morning. So¡­ she snaps the lock and goes out again."


    Holan: "??"


    Caius: "As she plays, she realizes that her kingdom is being invaded. To ensure she can play in peace, she storms the invaders¡¯ lair and razes it to the ground. Just like that, peace returns to her kingdom, and she can once again enjoy herself."


    Holan: "???"


    "This," Caius smiled, "is the freedom of one who exists beyond the rules."


    "Mercenaries are meant to be like that."


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    "But so far, I haven''t met any mercenaries who match my expectations, so¡­ they cannot become legends."


    "So, are you such a mercenary?" Holan asked with a smile.


    "Of course!" Caius nodded.


    "And how are you different from the usual mercenaries?" Holan inquired.


    Caius stretched, easing the stiffness from sitting too long, and then answered.


    "Other mercenaries are bound by money, fame, or women."


    "I, on the other hand, am bound only to myself!"


    "Other mercenaries, no matter how many they have slain or how ruthless they are, must still bow before the Empress of the Ironblood Empire."


    "And you?" Holan looked at him expectantly.


    Caius grinned. "If the Ironblood Empress pays me enough, I might kneel."


    Holan: "..."


    "I thought you¡¯d say that as a man, you¡¯d rather die than kneel." Holan chuckled.


    Caius let out a low laugh. The ember at the tip of his cigarette glowed as he exhaled smoke.


    "On the battlefield, not even death can make me kneel."


    "Unless death can offer me enough payment."


    "So what if she¡¯s an Empress? If she sends a million soldiers to hunt me down, I can still curse her ancestors before I die."


    "But if she¡¯s willing to kiss me, I might kneel on one knee and call her ''darling.''"


    Holan burst into laughter, her shoulders shaking.


    "You really are a madman," she said.


    "Thanks for the compliment." Caius smirked.


    It was getting late, yet Holan realized she wasn¡¯t sleepy at all.


    The little Catfolk, Kiki, was already curled up on Caius¡¯s back, fast asleep, but Holan still wanted to keep talking to him.


    Perhaps it was his humor, or maybe his unique way of thinking and presence.


    Whatever it was, it drew her in.


    Most importantly, she realized that the freedom of a caged bird that Caius described¡­ was exactly what she was experiencing now.


    And so, she talked with him deep into the night.


    "Don¡¯t you need some sleep?" Caius asked Holan. "I heard mages need to maintain their mental state."


    "Mm, I am a bit sleepy. I usually sleep early." Holan stifled a yawn.


    "You can sleep now; we still have half the journey left. I¡¯ll wake you when we arrive." Caius said.


    "Alright." Holan wrapped her blanket around herself and leaned against Caius.


    "You mind?" she asked, her big eyes twinkling playfully.


    Caius smiled. "Suit yourself."


    "Then¡­ goodnight, mercenary."


    "Sweet dreams, Instructor Holan."


    Caius lightly shook the reins, slowing the carriage. Holan noticed this but said nothing, only smiling slightly before closing her eyes and drifting into sleep.


    Normally, when traveling through the wilderness, she would sleep lightly.


    But this time, she slept soundly and even had a dream.


    In her dream, she became a caged bird. But this time, instead of sneaking out, she shattered the cage and soared into the sky.


    It felt amazing.


    But when she woke up, her mood soured.


    Because she was awakened by the sounds of battle.


    She opened her eyes to find that she was no longer leaning against that amusing giant but against his hammer.


    She also felt something covering her ears. Turning her head, she saw Kiki holding her hands to Holan¡¯s ears.


    Seeing that she was awake, Kiki stuck out her tongue and withdrew her hands, looking forward.


    It was then that Holan noticed the dozen or so bodies lying around the carriage.


    Caius stood at the front of the carriage, fists clenched, fresh blood dripping from his knuckles. His maple leaf-patterned shorts swayed in the morning breeze.


    Before him stood a group of thugs, their faces filled with fear and hesitation.


    "Big guy, the Instructor is awake, meow," Kiki called out.


    Caius turned back, offering an apologetic smile. "Sorry for waking you."


    "It¡¯s fine." Holan looked at the group of men, frowning. "Bandits?"


    "No," Caius shook his head. "Crab Gang members from Ocean City. They want to kill me, so now I have to kill them."


    Holan understood and nodded, then chided, "Why didn¡¯t you wake me?"


    "I could handle these guys alone. They robbed me of the chance to admire a sleeping beauty, so I¡¯ve sentenced them to death." Caius grinned.


    Holan chuckled, her morning grumpiness melting away.


    Just then, a man hidden among the thugs took his chance. A fireball the size of a human head hurtled toward Caius.


    Caius felt the heat but didn¡¯t panic or dodge.


    Yet before he could act, an icy wind swept through, extinguishing the fireball mid-air and freezing the entire gang solid.


    Caius turned to Holan in surprise.


    Holan crossed her arms, frost swirling around her.


    Pushing up her gold-rimmed glasses, she smiled. "Don¡¯t underestimate the instructors of Hydis Magic Academy, big guy."

 Chapter 49

    Caius''s eyes gleamed as he looked at the Crab Gang members frozen into ice sculptures.


    The efficiency of this large-scale magic in clearing out small fry like Kalami was simply unparalleled. Even if he could take them down one by one with his fists, it wouldn¡¯t compare. He was truly envious.


    Holan, pleased with the look in Caius¡¯s eyes, smiled and then tilted his chin toward Caius¡¯s bloodied fist. ¡°You¡¯re hurt?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s their blood.¡± Caius shook his hand and replied.


    After washing his hands, he gathered the money and equipment from the fallen and tossed them onto the carriage. With that done, the three of them set off once more. They were now only a few dozen kilometers from Ocean City¡ªjust past the grassy hill ahead, they would finally see it.


    ¡°What was that spell called just now?¡± Caius held back for three minutes on the road before he finally couldn¡¯t resist asking.


    ¡°[Frostwave], a Platinum-tier ice spell,¡± Holan replied with a playful smile. ¡°What? You want to learn it?¡±


    ¡°Yes! Yes, yes, yes!¡± Caius nodded enthusiastically.


    Holan laughed heartily and said, ¡°So this is the real reason you want to enter the Magic Academy?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, I guess I can¡¯t hide anything from my smart Instructor.¡± Caius grinned.


    ¡°If you want to learn, you can. But you¡¯ll need to pay a commission,¡± Holan said with a sly look.


    ¡°Whoa, seriously?¡± Caius¡¯s eyes widened.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that the rule for mercenaries?¡± Holan winked playfully.


    ¡°Fine.¡± Caius chuckled and then shook his head. ¡°But honestly, even if you were willing to teach me, I wouldn¡¯t be able to learn it.¡±


    ¡°Why? No confidence in yourself?¡± Holan asked in surprise.


    From her understanding, Caius was a very confident person. She had expected him to shamelessly pester her into teaching him.


    ¡°It¡¯s not about confidence. It¡¯s just¡­ reality.¡± Caius spread his hands, looking a bit helpless. ¡°My magic power is strange. It¡¯s not like normal magic power, it¡¯s¡­¡±


    ¡°Not normal magic power.¡±


    Before Holan could respond, Kiki had already burst out laughing.


    Holan was also amused. ¡°So what¡¯s so unusual about it?¡±


    ¡°It can¡¯t be turned into magic,¡± Caius explained.


    ¡°I¡¯ve spoken with a mage from my village before, and he was willing to teach me magic.¡±


    ¡°The process of casting magic involves condensing magic power into starlight, arranging that starlight into specific arrays, then using magical runes formed by magic power to interconnect everything into a [Magic Array Sequence]. Finally, by infusing magic power into the array, you amplify it to produce a more powerful spell.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, yes, that¡¯s about right. Your village¡¯s mage isn¡¯t bad.¡± Holan nodded approvingly.


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    ¡°He was a Gold-tier mage, formerly part of the Empire¡¯s military. Our village has a lot of retired soldiers,¡± Caius said with a nod.


    ¡°He taught me the structures of several common spell arrays. Basically, as long as you can release magic power, you should be able to cast spells, right?¡±


    ¡°Uh-huh.¡± Holan nodded again.


    ¡°But my magic power¡­ it doesn¡¯t resonate. It can¡¯t form starlight, and it can¡¯t be projected outward or condensed.¡±


    ¡°Look.¡±


    Caius extended a finger, and a blue light glowed at the tip.


    He gathered his magic power at his fingertip. With the limited amount of freely controllable magic power in his body, he was now down to less than one percent.


    As he condensed the magic at his fingertip, he slid his hand through the air, drawing a glowing blue straight-line rune.


    Then, Caius withdrew his hand, and Holan watched as the rune quickly dissipated. From appearance to disappearance, it lasted less than the blink of an eye.


    ¡°This¡­¡± Holan¡¯s mouth fell open in astonishment.


    Then, she extended her own finger, and a similar blue light appeared, forming an identical straight-line rune before her.


    This rune lasted for over ten seconds before gradually fading from the air.


    This was what normal magic power was supposed to be like.


    ¡°Try releasing your magic power again,¡± Holan instructed.


    Caius nodded and did so.


    This was the last of his magic power. Before Holan had woken up, he had burned through his reserves to withstand a fireball. Now, his free magic power was completely drained.


    Holan observed Caius¡¯s magic power carefully. After a moment, she nodded slightly.


    ¡°You figured it out?¡± Caius asked eagerly.


    ¡°No,¡± Holan shook her head. ¡°But I did notice something.¡±


    ¡°Your magic power is quite strong. The quality of the residual magic after dispersal surpasses Silver-tier levels.¡±


    ¡°But your magic power¡­ it doesn¡¯t seem active.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s inert, as if it¡¯s still asleep. That¡¯s why it can¡¯t linger in the air¡ªonce released, it dissipates quickly.¡±


    ¡°So, even if I want to learn magic, I can¡¯t,¡± Caius nodded and sighed.


    But then, his eyes burned with determination as he looked at Holan. ¡°But I won¡¯t give up! That¡¯s why I want to get into Hydis¡ªto see if I can find a way to learn magic!¡±


    ¡°I thought you might just give up,¡± Holan said, admiration flickering in her gaze.


    ¡°No way! No matter what, I¡¯m going to learn magic!¡± Caius declared firmly.


    ¡°Why?¡± Holan could see that Caius had a special obsession with magic.


    ¡°Because magic is just so much more convenient than fists. Just now, you unleashed a single Frostwave, and bam, everyone turned into ice sculptures. I was insanely jealous.¡± Caius sighed.


    ¡°It was elegant, powerful¡­ and elegant.¡±


    ¡°Why did you say ¡®elegant¡¯ twice?¡± Holan asked, her beautiful eyes blinking.


    Caius gave her a knowing look. ¡°One for the magic, one for the mage.¡±


    Holan laughed again. Being around this big guy always lifted her spirits.


    ¡°In that case, I might be able to help a little,¡± Holan said with a smile.


    ¡°Really?¡± Caius looked pleasantly surprised, though he had actually been steering the conversation in this direction on purpose.


    ¡°Of course. Don¡¯t forget, I¡¯m a professional magical researcher. In our magical research major, we study magic power and spells. Maybe we can find a way for you to learn magic.¡±


    ¡°Haha, that would be amazing.¡± Caius was thrilled.


    This was exactly what he wanted.


    ¡°So, how are you going to thank me?¡± Holan rested her chin in her hand, smiling at him.


    Caius immediately put on a serious expression. ¡°I¡¯ll work hard to earn a million!¡±


    Holan burst into laughter.


    ¡°Then you better work hard.¡±


    ¡°Of course!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll help too, Meow!¡± Kiki raised her hand enthusiastically.


    Even though she wasn¡¯t into magical research, she knew Caius needed help. And if that was the case, she would definitely help.


    ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll have to work even harder to make another million,¡± Caius said with a smile.


    ¡°Why, Meow?¡± Kiki asked curiously.


    ¡°To take care of a cat.¡± Caius chuckled as he ruffled her little head.


    Kiki nuzzled into his palm affectionately. She loved it when Caius petted her¡ªit made her feel safe and warm.


    With that, the trio¡¯s little caravan continued onward, filled with cheerful laughter, heading straight for Ocean City.


    They entered the city.


    ¡°You know where the Orphanage is, right?¡± Caius asked.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Holan nodded.


    ¡°Good. Kiki, you go with Instructor Holan to the Orphanage first. I¡¯ll meet up with you after I finish my task.¡±


    ¡°Okay, Meow.¡± Kiki nodded and hopped off the carriage. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Meow~¡± she said to Holan.


    Holan chuckled, nodded, and disembarked, walking with Kiki toward the Orphanage, while Caius drove the carriage toward the docks.


    He sent them ahead because on the way to the docks, he might run into members of the Crab Gang.


    If that happened, he¡¯d have a nice little chat with those boys.

 Chapter 50

    Arriving at the dock, Caius immediately heard the sounds of a heated argument. A crowd had gathered at the warehouse entrance.


    As he approached, he saw not just onlookers but also members of the Crab Gang¡ªabout twenty or so of them.


    At the forefront of the group stood a burly man with a steel crab claw for an arm, smirking arrogantly as he confronted the warehouse owner, Nick.


    "That mercenary? Hah, you really think he''s coming back with the remaining payment?"


    "Let me tell you the truth, Nick¡ªI had fifty of my men waiting for him on his way back. Even if he does return, it''ll probably just be his head!"


    "As for the payment?"


    "Once Rodney is back, I''ll trade your payment for that crate of liquor in your warehouse. How about that?"


    "Hahaha!" The Crab Gang members burst into laughter, while Nick¡¯s expression darkened.


    Sean Dorian¡ªthe leader of the Crab Gang and the owner of the three-star-rated Crab Tavern.


    Though Sean had the Title of [Iron Claw], he wasn¡¯t a true Title-ranked powerhouse. It was more of a street moniker than a testament to strength.


    Still, with his Gold Seven-Star rating and a gang of loyal followers, he strutted through the outer city as if he owned it¡ªlike a crab walking sideways.


    Last time, he had failed to get his hands on the liquor he wanted. Clearly, he wasn¡¯t ready to let it go. Early in the morning, he had already brought his men to cause trouble.


    Nick had his own guards, but they were no match for Sean¡¯s men.


    "Well? Give it some thought?" Sean exhaled a thick puff of cigar smoke into Nick¡¯s face, making him cough violently. The Crab Gang members laughed again.


    Just then, a commotion broke out in the back of the crowd. A Crab Gang member was suddenly sent flying, crashing into his comrades like a bowling ball knocking down pins.


    Sean¡¯s expression darkened. "Which blind fool dares to mess with the Crab Gang?!"


    Turning his head, he saw a massive man¡ªbigger than himself¡ªstanding beside a horse-drawn carriage. The surrounding spectators instinctively moved aside, clearing a path for him.


    The man wore a broad grin.


    "You must be the boss of the Crab Gang," Caius said, striding forward fearlessly despite the hostile glares from the gang members.


    Sean¡¯s face turned grim the moment he recognized Caius.


    He had never seen him before, but he had done his research. The mercenary Nick had hired was said to be a huge man. This had to be him.


    And if he was here, it could only mean one thing¡­


    "Where''s Rodney?" Sean asked.


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    "You mean that mage?" Caius pretended to think, then grinned. "Dead. Died a miserable death."


    "You know, his fireballs were pretty strong. Gave me a nice shave. My stubble¡¯s never been this clean." Caius rubbed his chin playfully.


    Sean¡¯s chest heaved violently with rage.


    His two most trusted subordinates were gone. None of the men he sent out had returned.


    Well, one had¡ªdragging back Melbourne¡¯s corpse.


    At that moment, Sean¡¯s gaze turned murderous. With a slight nod, his men encircled Caius.


    "Kid, you¡¯re pretty cocky." Sean stepped up, exhaling another puff of cigar smoke directly into Caius¡¯ face in an obvious provocation.


    Sean was a well-built man, standing at 1.9 meters, his muscles thick and imposing.


    But Caius was even taller by a few centimeters. His muscles were more defined, and unlike Sean, he lacked a beer belly.


    "Do you even know whose turf you¡¯re standing on?" Sean sneered, blowing out another cloud of smoke.


    Caius remained unaffected, his grin growing even wider.


    "Cocky? Hahaha, you¡¯ve got me all wrong." He stuffed his hands into his pockets and leaned back slightly, making himself seem even taller despite the small difference in height.


    "I¡¯m actually a very friendly guy¡ªespecially to friends."


    "But to enemies¡­"


    Caius'' expression suddenly turned savage. A crushing aura radiated from him, like a lion baring its fangs.


    "I rip their heads off and shove them up their asses!"


    "Now scram, you dumb bastard. I¡¯ve got deliveries to make. I¡¯ll deal with you later."


    Turning away, he walked toward the carriage.


    Three gang members blocked his path.


    Without breaking stride, Caius grabbed one by the head and hurled him aside. The man screamed as he flew through the air.


    The other two immediately backed off. They knew they weren¡¯t a match for this beast of a man, and his sheer presence was suffocating.


    Caius continued leading his carriage toward the warehouse. The gang members parted to let him through, glancing anxiously at their leader.


    Sean¡¯s face had turned deathly cold. Just as Caius passed him, he extended his iron claw and clamped it down onto the carriage, stopping the horses in their tracks.


    "Did I say you could leave?" Sean growled.


    Caius chuckled, then reached out and began prying open Sean¡¯s iron claw with his bare hand.


    Sean¡¯s expression shifted.


    This guy¡¯s strength¡­


    He couldn¡¯t afford to lose face in front of his men. He roared as a burst of energy erupted from his body. Seven golden-lined veins of vital energy swirled around him, and he began forcing Caius¡¯ hand back down.


    "Arm wrestling, huh?" Caius grinned.


    Suddenly, his own veins of vital energy flared to life.


    Only then did the onlookers realize¡ªthis massive man was only Silver Five-Star.


    Yet he was arm-wrestling a Gold Seven-Star!


    Their hands locked in midair.


    Sean¡¯s veins bulged on his forehead, his face flushing red as he exerted all his strength.


    Meanwhile, Caius remained as relaxed as ever, his smile unwavering.


    What made it even more terrifying was that Sean¡¯s iron claw could normally crush a man¡¯s arm with ease.


    Yet Caius¡¯ hand didn¡¯t budge. It was like trying to squeeze solid steel.


    Caius¡¯ eyes gleamed with contempt.


    He had spent years forging metal with his old master. These hands could grab red-hot iron¡ªwhat was a mere iron claw to him?


    "Honestly, if it weren¡¯t for the Anti-Magic laws in Ocean City and the enforcers nearby, I¡¯d rip that claw right off your arm," Caius said flatly.


    "Heh, and I¡¯d use this claw to snip your head off!" Sean spat back, his voice icy.


    "Oh?" Caius arched an eyebrow, then grinned wickedly. "Then I¡¯ve changed my mind."


    A terrifying surge of energy erupted from his body. The silver-lined veins of vital energy twisted and condensed, transforming into golden-lined veins¡ªfive of them!


    His entire body swelled, his muscles bulging.


    His once-loose clothing now clung tightly to his frame, and his grin turned utterly savage.


    Poor Sean. He had chosen the wrong opponent for a contest of strength.


    This moment of exertion had completed the final refinement of Caius¡¯ Magic Core, triggering a Magic Torrent within him.


    In an instant, his rank skyrocketed.


    He was no longer Silver Five-Star.


    He was now Gold Five-Star!


    Sean stared at him in terror, unable to comprehend how Caius had jumped from Silver to Gold in an instant.


    But Caius didn¡¯t care.


    His grip tightened, and Sean¡¯s iron claw¡ªnormally unbreakable¡ªbegan bending like putty.


    His maniacal grin embodied sheer arrogance, and his cold voice sent shivers down Sean¡¯s spine.


    "No need to wait."


    "I¡¯ll rip your claw off right now!"

 Chapter 51

    After his battle with the Unicorn Bison, Caius found that his accumulated magic power was just a tiny step away from advancing. He knew that his breakthrough would happen either today or tomorrow¡ªcertainly not the day after.


    Sean accelerated this process by challenging him to an arm-wrestling match. Even though the increase was merely one percent, it was enough.


    What Caius didn¡¯t expect was just how explosive this breakthrough would be.


    He initially guessed that his advancement would land him at Silver Nine-Star or Ten-Star, at most Gold One-Star.


    Unexpectedly, he skyrocketed straight to Gold Five-Star.


    Clearly, the longer the accumulation, the greater the improvement.


    With each advancement, his Magic Core expanded significantly, allowing for an even greater reservoir of magic power.


    He believed that the next breakthrough would be even more substantial, but naturally, it would also take longer.


    The benefits of this promotion were obvious.


    Caius¡¯s strength surged dramatically, his free magic power reached one hundred percent, and the giant¡¯s Inheritance in his mind had unlocked some secrets, just as he expected.


    There were many interesting things he needed to digest once he got back.


    But right now, his priority was to give Sean a brutal beating.


    Of course, he wanted to kill him¡ªCaius never showed mercy to his enemies.


    However, killing was prohibited in Ocean City, as it was in most cities. Even the notoriously chaotic Ocean City was no exception.


    So, Caius simply crushed Sean¡¯s Iron Claw and tore it right off.


    Sean¡¯s Iron Claw was a prosthetic, but it was connected to his arm bones, tendons, and muscles, allowing him to control its movements.


    With a sudden burst of strength, Caius ripped the Iron Claw away, taking with it Sean¡¯s entire forearm, leaving the bones of his elbow gruesomely exposed.


    Sean let out a bloodcurdling scream.


    But before he could wail too long, his voice was abruptly cut off¡ªCaius had grabbed him by the throat, lifting the two-hundred-pound man effortlessly with one hand.


    ¡°I warned you,¡± Caius said indifferently, his gaze shifting toward the members of the Crab Gang.


    Everywhere his eyes landed, the gang members instinctively stepped back, unable to conceal the fear in their eyes.


    Their once-mighty boss, Iron Claw, now dangled helplessly in Caius¡¯s grasp like a fragile chick. None of them dared make a move against him.


    Some, even at just a glance from Caius, dropped their weapons and raised their hands in surrender, showing they had no intention of fighting.


    Caius turned back to Sean, smiling faintly.


    ¡°D-Don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t kill me¡­ I-I was wrong¡­¡± Sean gasped, his one good hand clawing weakly at Caius¡¯s arm.


    He struggled desperately, but Caius¡¯s grip was unyielding, like a true Iron Claw.


    Caius shook his head, clicking his tongue. ¡°Tsk, tsk. Look at you¡ªwas it really worth it?¡±


    His grip tightened, and Sean¡¯s eyes widened in agony, looking as if they might pop out of their sockets.


    Just then, a furious voice rang out: ¡°Move aside! What¡¯s all this commotion?!¡±


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    Caius smirked.


    The enforcers had arrived.


    A group of uniformed enforcers shoved through the crowd, making their way toward him.


    The leader of the squad opened his mouth, about to berate Caius for assaulting someone in broad daylight¡ªuntil he saw who Caius was holding.


    The words on his tongue took an abrupt turn. ¡°What the he¡ªwhat are you all doing?¡±


    Caius immediately put on a harmless, goofy smile and released Sean. ¡°Haha, officer, this is just a misunderstanding. We were just arm-wrestling.¡±


    Arm-wrestling?


    The enforcer glanced at the bloody, flesh-covered Iron Claw on the ground and cursed internally.


    Did they take him for a fool?


    Since when did arm-wrestling involve tearing off someone¡¯s arm and choking them half to death?


    But he kept his complaints to himself.


    Despite the enforcers¡¯ outward authority¡ªwhere even gang members had to give way¡ªeveryone knew they were just another cog in Ocean City¡¯s vast gray industry.


    The enforcer recognized Sean but didn¡¯t know who Caius was. However, anyone who could treat Sean like a ragdoll was clearly no ordinary person.


    So, instead of making trouble, he turned to Sean.


    Caius, meanwhile, slung an arm around Sean¡¯s shoulder, grinning. ¡°Right, bro? We were just arm-wrestling.¡±


    As he spoke, his large hand patted Sean¡¯s cheek lightly¡ªbut the underlying threat was unmistakable, even the enforcer could see it.


    Sean, clutching his severed arm, shuddered under Caius¡¯s gaze. Forcing a painful smile, he nodded repeatedly. ¡°Y-Yeah, officer¡­ just a friendly match¡­ My arm broke ¡®cause I¡¯ve been eating too much seafood¡­ My bones got brittle¡­ Haha¡­¡±


    The enforcer: ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    Too much seafood made his bones brittle?


    And with blood still gushing from his wound, he could still say this with a straight face?


    But the enforcer knew how things worked. Since both men insisted it was a misunderstanding, he wasn¡¯t about to stir up unnecessary trouble.


    ¡°Be more careful next time,¡± he muttered. ¡°Your arm-wrestling matches are a little too intense.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, got it. No next time.¡± Caius grinned and nodded.


    Satisfied, the enforcer waved his hand. ¡°Disperse! Nothing to see here!¡±


    After clearing the crowd, he gave Caius one last look before leaving.


    Caius nodded and turned back to Sean, his warm smile returning.


    ¡°Now, about my compensation¡ªthe mental distress fee, the hammer maintenance fee, the additional task delay fee, and the nail restoration fee¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll pay¡­ I¡¯ll pay¡­¡± Sean quickly nodded.


    Caius tapped his chin, as if calculating. ¡°How much was it again?¡±


    ¡°O-One thousand gold?¡± Sean hesitated.


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Caius raised an eyebrow, his hand creeping toward Sean¡¯s neck again.


    Sean panicked. ¡°Two thousand! I-I meant two thousand!¡±


    Caius clicked his tongue and held up his hand. ¡°Look at my nails¡ªyour claw scratched them. You know how expensive manicures are these days.¡±


    Sean: ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    That was just a faint white mark¡ªit¡¯d disappear with a bit of spit!


    And why would a six-foot-six brute like you care about manicures?!


    But Sean didn¡¯t dare complain. He knew Caius was squeezing him dry.


    Clenching his teeth, he said, ¡°Three thousand¡­ That¡¯s all I have left.¡±


    ¡°Hah?¡± Caius sneered, his expression turning rogueish. ¡°A gang boss this broke?¡±


    ¡°Big bro, feeding over two hundred subordinates isn¡¯t cheap,¡± Sean whined. ¡°And I have a Mercenary Tavern to run¡ªit barely makes any profit, just a front for business expansion. Most of the earnings go straight to the inner city. I only get the scraps¡­ Saving three thousand gold was hard enough¡­¡±


    Caius had no interest in Sean¡¯s sob story. ¡°Fine, three thousand it is. Have your men fetch it. Once I see the money, you can go.¡±


    Sean hurriedly ordered his men to bring the money.


    His subordinates, though hesitant, didn¡¯t flee with the cash. Soon, a locked chest was brought over on a cart.


    Sean opened the chest with a pained expression.


    It was filled to the brim with gold coins.


    Caius weighed the sacks¡ªthree thousand gold, maybe a little extra, but not much.


    Sean, pale and sweating, forced a smile. ¡°Big bro, now can I¡ª¡±


    ¡°Scram.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± Sean, feeling like he¡¯d escaped death, turned to leave with his men.


    ¡°Wait,¡± Caius¡¯s voice halted him.


    Sean trembled all over, then turned his head shakily. "Big bro, do you have any other instructions?"


    Caius pulled out a cigarette, lit it, took a few puffs, and then walked up to Sean.


    At this moment, Sean was hunched over in pain, looking like a fat wild dog.


    Standing tall, Caius kept his hands in his pockets, bent down slightly, and blew a puff of smoke into Sean¡¯ face.


    Sean'' eyes stung, and the corners of his mouth twitched, but he could only maintain his fawning smile.


    "If you want revenge, I''m always ready. But next time, I''ll tear down both you and that so-called umbrella protecting the Inner City."


    "I wouldn¡¯t dare... I wouldn¡¯t dare..." Sean lowered his head, not daring to meet Caius''s aggressive gaze.


    "You better not." Caius patted him on the shoulder, then grinned. "And just so you know, I have people backing me up too."


    "Ever heard of the Windchanter?"


    Sean¡¯ head snapped up instantly, staring at Caius in disbelief.


    "Looks like you have." Caius smiled, saying no more.


    "Alright, get lost."


    Watching Sean and his men flee in embarrassment, Caius took one last drag from his cigarette and exhaled a thick cloud of smoke.


    Of course, he had no connection whatsoever with Mel, the Windchanter and lord of Grilla City.


    He was just borrowing the name to intimidate people.


    This way, if Sean or his so-called ''umbrella'' wanted revenge, they¡¯d have to think twice.


    It would save him a lot of trouble.


    And even if they found out the truth, it didn¡¯t matter¡ªhe could handle it.


    Before long, he finished his cigarette.


    Caius turned toward Nick, who stood not far away, and flashed a friendly smile. "Boss Nick, I¡¯m here to deliver the task."

 Chapter 52

    "Here is your extra commission." Nick handed a pouch of money to Caius.


    Caius took it, weighed it in his hand, and then said, "Isn''t this a bit too much?"


    Judging by the weight, it was at least fifteen or sixteen pounds more than expected.


    A single gold coin weighed about eight grams, considering it wasn''t pure gold but mixed with other metals. That meant there were over a thousand extra gold coins.


    "You completed the task exceptionally well. The extra is my personal token of gratitude and appreciation." Nick rubbed his hands together with a smile.


    "You''re really generous. I like dealing with generous people." Caius laughed heartily.


    "Alright then, Boss Nick. If you ever need anything in the future, you can always go to Hailan No. 11 and ask the Boss Lady to issue a mission. I''ll be taking assignments there for quite some time."


    He then added, "Gold-rank and above missions only."


    "Of course, I''ll definitely be there!" Nick nodded enthusiastically, his eyes gleaming as he looked at Caius.


    "Haha, then I look forward to seeing you. And please, spread the word among your friends¡ªOcean City has gained an outstanding mercenary."


    "I''d be happy to!"


    "Thanks, I''ll be off now. Goodbye."


    "Goodbye, Mr. Caius."


    Watching Caius leave, Nick couldn''t help but sigh.


    Ocean City had welcomed yet another formidable figure.


    Carrying a large sack of gold coins and a heap of equipment provided by the Crab Gang, Caius walked out of the dock, attracting plenty of attention.


    So, he figured he might as well buy a new Spatial Ring.


    Spatial Rings weren¡¯t cheap.


    The lowest-tier ones, just one cubic meter without spatial expansion, cost at least 800 gold coins.


    His old man''s ring had over a hundred cubic meters of space, plus spatial expansion, meaning the space inside adjusted dynamically to avoid wastage. That must have cost at least tens of thousands of gold coins.


    What exactly did the old man do?


    If he was in the military, he must have been a high-ranking officer. But why would he choose to return home to be a blacksmith?


    As Caius pondered, he arrived at an equipment shop in the outer city.


    This was a branch of the Chamber of Commerce, selling not only Spatial Rings but also various other gear.


    However, since it was located in the outer city, both the selection and quality weren¡¯t top-tier. The best equipment here was only suitable for Gold-rank mercenaries.


    That was good enough.


    Caius purchased a ten-cubic-meter ring with spatial expansion for 12,000 gold coins. He also sold the Crab Gang¡¯s equipment to the store, gaining an additional 1,100 gold coins.


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    The main reason for buying the ring was convenience¡ªcarrying mission materials without having to haul large sacks or worry about damage or theft.


    In fact, he could have emptied his old man¡¯s ring, stored its contents in a warehouse, and freed up space.


    But the ring was filled with high-quality refined metal materials and an entire set of blacksmithing equipment. Those were valuable, and Caius didn¡¯t feel comfortable leaving them elsewhere.


    He figured he would need those supplies for equipment in the future.


    Tossing his gold coins into the Spatial Ring, Caius whistled his way toward the Orphanage.


    Before long, he arrived.


    The children weren¡¯t playing in the courtyard, likely inside the house. Caius could hear the laughter of Holan, Kiki, and the kids¡ªit must have been quite lively in there.


    A thought struck him, and he quickened his pace.


    But when he reached the house, he didn¡¯t enter immediately.


    Through a window on the other side, he saw the Mushroom Girl.


    For some inexplicable reason, he chose to observe silently.


    It was the kitchen window.


    Caius saw Belle standing with her back to him, seemingly preparing fruit.


    The fruit looked fresh, probably just bought¡ªfor Holan¡¯s welcome, no doubt. After all, Holan was also a benefactor of the Orphanage.


    After arranging the fruit platter, Belle carried it out. Caius noticed she had also prepared a small plate and hadn¡¯t cut up all the fruit.


    After bringing out the platter, she returned to the kitchen, finished cutting the remaining fruit, and placed them into the small plate. He had no idea why.


    Then, she took out a wooden flask.


    Caius recognized it¡ªit was the one she had used to serve him alcohol before. He had returned it after drinking.


    It was clean now. Belle placed it on the table, then retrieved a bottle of liquor from the cupboard.


    Caius recognized the packaging¡ªan 80-gold-coin bottle of rum!


    Belle popped the wooden cork, carefully aligning the bottle¡¯s mouth with the flask¡¯s opening, leaning forward slightly, and steadily pouring the liquor in.


    Caius chuckled.


    She could¡¯ve just drunk straight from the bottle¡ªwhy the hassle?


    Maybe she thought drinking too much at once was bad. The flask¡¯s limited capacity would help control her intake.


    As he mused, he suddenly saw Belle give the bottle a little shake.


    It seemed empty.


    She held the bottle up to check, ensuring there was nothing left inside.


    Then, tilting it one last time, she managed to get a few more drops into the flask.


    The last drop took a while to fall, but she was patient, waiting until it finally dripped in before sealing the bottle with the cork and placing it back. She clearly didn¡¯t intend to discard it¡ªprobably planning to reuse it later.


    What a frugal girl.


    Caius nodded approvingly.


    But the next moment, Belle picked up the flask and gave it a little shake, seemingly listening to the sound of the liquor inside.


    The sloshing was loud¡ªmeaning the flask wasn¡¯t full, maybe only half.


    Belle stood still for a moment before heading to the living room.


    Caius pricked up his ears.


    "Grandma, can I have some money? The liquor isn¡¯t enough."


    "Alright."


    "Thank you, Grandma. I¡¯ll be back soon."


    "Go ahead, be careful."


    "Mm."


    Caius: "..."


    I just praised you for being frugal, you silly girl!


    Hearing footsteps approaching the door, Caius stepped forward.


    The door opened, and Belle walked out. After just two steps, she found Caius standing in front of her.


    "Stop right there," Caius said sternly.


    Belle froze, her small hands fidgeting.


    "Hands where I can see them."


    Belle quickly hid them behind her back.


    "Where are you going?" Caius asked.


    Belle lowered her head and, after a moment, whispered, "To¡­ buy liquor."


    "For me?" Caius shamelessly asked.


    "Mm." Belle nodded lightly.


    "How much?" Caius pressed.


    Though unsure why he was asking, Belle answered truthfully.


    "A hundred gold coins."


    Caius: "..."


    Why was it twenty gold coins more expensive?!


    Was Ocean City¡¯s cost of living higher than Grilla City¡¯s?


    Nonsense! She was clearly being scammed!


    Caius wiped his face and said, "Silly girl, why not just get the one-silver-coin barley ale? Why waste money on expensive liquor?"


    Honestly, he didn¡¯t mind spending a thousand gold on good alcohol if he wanted to enjoy himself.


    But when it came to Belle, he just couldn''t stand seeing her get ripped off.


    Even if it was just twenty gold coins¡ªit was unacceptable.


    Belle, hearing Caius¡¯s tone of reproach, stayed silent, head lowered.


    Caius sighed and shook his head with a bitter smile. He couldn''t stay mad at her.


    "I don¡¯t like rum. I like barley ale. Got it?"


    He then emphasized, "The one that costs one silver coin per barrel!"


    Belle hesitated for a moment, then nodded.


    "Mm."


    "Say ¡®I understand.¡¯"


    "I¡­ I understand."


    Satisfied, Caius nodded. "Alright, go back inside. No more liquor runs. If you must buy, go to Hailan No. 11 and ask the Boss Lady. She¡¯s honest."


    Belle nodded but then fidgeted slightly before raising a finger hesitantly.


    Caius: "?"


    Belle: "I¡­ I''m a year older than you¡­"


    Caius: "..."


    He laughed. Really.


    "So what? You¡¯re still a silly girl!"

 Chapter 53

    "The moment I stepped out, I saw you bullying my student."


    A voice rang out.


    Leaning against the doorframe with arms crossed, Holan smiled. His elegant demeanor was completely out of place in the modest room.


    Caius smirked and said, "Then you''ve misunderstood. I''m doing this for her own good."


    Of course, Holan knew what was going on¡ªshe had heard everything. Caius simply didn¡¯t want Belle wasting money on him.


    Though his actions were well-intended, the way he spoke made it seem like he was picking on Belle.


    For some reason, whenever Caius talked to her, he was always witty and humorous, but with Belle, he came across as stern¡ªalmost fatherly in his strictness.


    Maybe this was just his way of caring for others.


    Why didn¡¯t he treat her like that?


    Because she didn¡¯t need Caius to take care of her.


    Holan thought to herself.


    The group entered the house. Caius was about to find a wall to lean against¡ªthe chairs here were too small and uncomfortable. Given his large build, he feared breaking one of those tiny wooden chairs. He might as well stand.


    But as soon as he stepped into the living room, he spotted a sturdy wooden armchair. The seat alone was nearly a meter wide¡ªspacious enough. The backrest, armrests, and legs were all as thick as a person¡¯s wrist. It was clearly built to last.


    Caius widened his eyes and turned to Belle.


    Belle shrank back under his gaze and cautiously said, "I... I didn¡¯t waste money. I made it myself."


    "You can make chairs?" Caius asked, intrigued.


    Belle nodded slightly. "The academy offers an elective in carpentry. I took it."


    Beside her, Granny Lunla chuckled. "Most of the furniture here was made by Belle. She''s quite skilled."


    "Really? Let me see?" Caius extended his hand toward Belle.


    Belle looked confused. "Hm?"


    "What ''hm''? Give me your hand," Caius said.


    "Oh¡­" Belle slowly stretched out her hand.


    Seeing how hesitant she was, Caius simply stepped forward and took her hand himself.


    Holan raised an eyebrow.


    She felt it was inappropriate for him to grab a young girl¡¯s hand so assertively. But she also knew Caius wasn¡¯t that kind of person, so she remained silent and observed his expression.


    His face showed no joy from holding Belle¡¯s hand¡ªon the contrary, he frowned slightly.


    Belle¡¯s hand was small¡ªespecially when compared to his own, it was like a baby¡¯s hand against an adult¡¯s.


    He examined her palm, then flipped it over to look at the back of her hand.


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    Belle seemed uncomfortable. A hint of red crept up her ears from under her short hair, but she didn¡¯t dare pull her hand away. Instead, she shrank her neck, rubbing her free hand nervously.


    Holan, seeing Belle¡¯s reaction, was about to intervene.


    But before she could, Caius released Belle¡¯s hand and turned to Kiki. "Kiki, later, head to the furniture store in the east district and place an order for a full set of wooden furniture."


    "Got it, Meow!" Kiki nodded. Caius handled the big decisions, and she took care of the small ones.


    Belle quickly waved her hands. "No¡­ no need. These pieces aren¡¯t broken yet. I can also make new ones¡­"


    "Make what?" Caius waved dismissively. "Look at your hands. Other girls your age have such soft, delicate hands they seem like they could drip water. And yours?"


    "They look fair and soft, but they¡¯re rough, covered in calluses."


    "As a magical research scholar, you must protect your hands. Only then can you conduct precise research."


    "Look at Instructor Holan¡¯s hands. That¡¯s what an outstanding magical researcher¡¯s hands should be like, right, Instructor Holan?"


    "Huh?" Holan was momentarily stunned but quickly caught on. She nodded seriously. "Indeed. In the future, we¡¯ll need to operate intricate magical devices, which require even more hand precision than a pianist."


    "So you really shouldn¡¯t be doing carpentry anymore."


    After speaking, she glanced at Caius with mild exasperation.


    Though it was true that magical researchers should protect their hands, he was clearly exaggerating.


    He just didn¡¯t want Belle doing rough labor and roped her into his lie.


    Still, she knew he meant well, so she felt more warmth than irritation.


    She was glad Caius looked out for Belle, and glad Belle had someone like him.


    He might seem overbearing at times, but Holan could sense the gentleness behind his assertiveness.


    And his ''bossy'' attitude was just right¡ªenough for Belle to listen without feeling oppressed.


    Belle lowered her head, looking at her hands, then nodded.


    "Okay."


    "That¡¯s more like it." Caius grinned widely, throwing a triumphant glance at Holan.


    Holan found it amusing.


    Caius then sat comfortably in the large wooden chair, contemplating how to refurbish the orphanage when a rustling sound caught his attention.


    He raised an eyebrow and looked over.


    Belle extended a single finger, gently pushing a small plate toward him.


    It was the same fruit plate he had seen earlier, filled with a variety of fruits. Though much smaller than the main fruit platter, it was just as diverse, with an even neater arrangement.


    Caius nearly laughed out loud.


    So that¡¯s why Belle had prepared a small fruit platter¡ªit was for him.


    How could he not be pleased?


    With a smug smile, he grabbed a piece of fruit and shot Holan a proud look, as if showing off his exclusive treat.


    Holan rolled her eyes, feeling a little envious.


    Even she, Belle¡¯s instructor, hadn¡¯t received such special treatment.


    But she knew this meant Caius had truly helped Belle, and that Belle recognized and appreciated it.


    "Why are you just sitting there? Eat. You bought the fruit, didn¡¯t you?" Caius noticed that Belle hadn¡¯t eaten any. The other platter was mostly gone, likely devoured by Kiki and the other girls, but Belle herself probably hadn¡¯t touched it.


    Though they hadn¡¯t known each other long, Caius already understood Belle¡¯s personality. She tended to set aside what she considered the best things for those she cared about.


    Belle softly replied, "You eat."


    Caius pursed his lips, picked up an apple slice, took a bite¡ªand immediately winced, his entire face scrunching up before swallowing it down.


    "So sour¡­ This apple isn¡¯t ripe at all¡­"


    Holan: "..."


    Oh, come on. She had just eaten an apple¡ªit was perfectly sweet.


    Belle looked surprised and a little worried. "It¡­ it should be ripe¡­"


    "Not at all. It¡¯s terribly sour. Try it yourself if you don¡¯t believe me," Caius said.


    Holan suppressed her laughter.


    This big guy was just¡­


    But Belle believed him. She picked up an apple slice and pulled down her high-neck sweater, revealing a small mouth.


    Caius¡¯s eyes lit up.


    As he suspected, Belle had beautiful facial features¡ªdelicate cherry lips. No way she could be unattractive!


    +5 points!


    90 points now, girl!


    Keep going, surpass 93 and beat Instructor Holan!


    A crisp crunch sounded as Belle took a bite and chewed. Then she turned to look at Caius.


    Caius smirked mischievously. "Just kidding. Hurry up and eat, or it really will turn sour after a while."


    Belle paused before nodding. "Okay."


    At last, under Caius¡¯s coaxing, Belle began eating in small bites.


    Caius: "This orange is so sour."


    Belle: "Mm."


    Caius: "This banana is sour too."


    Belle: "Mm."


    Caius: "This pear has a worm."


    Belle: "Mm."


    Caius: "No, seriously, don¡¯t eat it! There¡¯s actually a worm wriggling here! But hey, at least it proves the pear is organic."


    Holan: "Half a worm... Then where¡¯s the other half?"


    Caius: "In my mouth, chewing my tongue."

 Chapter 54

    After finishing off the fruit platter, Caius stretched lazily, feeling utterly relaxed, as he watched Belle carry the plates away to wash them.


    "Do you bully her like this whenever I''m not around?" Holan asked with a playful smile, crossing her legs as she looked at Caius.


    Knowing she was joking, Caius snorted, "Others would love to be ''bullied'' by me like this."


    "And you''re actually proud of it?" Holan chuckled.


    Then, as if noticing something unusual, she scrutinized Caius from head to toe.


    "What?" Caius asked, feeling slightly uneasy under her gaze.


    "Have you... changed?" Holan mused.


    "Changed, meow!" Kiki also nodded in agreement.


    Caius glanced down at his own body. "Is it that obvious?"


    Holan shook her head, but Kiki nodded firmly.


    "Then tell me, what exactly has changed?" Caius asked Kiki.


    "You¡¯ve gotten bigger, meow!" Kiki declared.


    Holan''s expression shifted as she suddenly realized it too. "Yeah, you do seem taller and bulkier."


    Caius laughed heartily. "Right on the mark."


    "Had a little skirmish with those Crab Gang guys when I was turning in a quest. Couldn''t hold back during the fight... and I broke through."


    "I''m Gold now."


    Holan: "..."


    She was utterly stunned. She knew that some prodigies could accumulate enough power to break through multiple minor stages at once.


    But for Caius to jump directly from Silver Five-Star to Gold One-Star? That was unheard of.


    Actually, she had it wrong¡ªit wasn''t Gold One-Star.


    It was Gold Five-Star.


    Caius had skipped an entire major rank!


    Seeing the disbelief in Holan''s eyes, Caius casually activated his vital energy. A pattern of veins of vital energy emerged on his hand, golden edges shimmering around it.


    "You''re an absolute monster..." Holan couldn''t help but mutter.


    "Why, thank you," Caius replied smugly, clearly enjoying the compliment.


    "But what does this have to do with you getting bigger?" Holan asked curiously.


    Caius shrugged. "I was born with immense strength. As my rank increases and my strength grows, I naturally get taller."


    The truth was, he had a Giant''s physique.


    Every breakthrough caused his body to expand slightly.


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    That''s why he had already been close to two meters tall at just sixteen years old.


    But that was the past. Now, he stood at about 2.05 meters, having grown another seven centimeters. His clothes were already starting to feel a bit tight.


    Hearing Caius¡¯s explanation, Holan was skeptical but ultimately nodded. Everyone had a different physique, after all.


    Like her, for example¡ªmost mages with ice attributes had dull physical senses. Yet, she was extraordinarily sensitive.


    Ahem, that is, prone to allergic reactions. Nothing else¡­ Probably? She wasn''t entirely sure herself.


    As noon approached, Granny Lunla invited the three of them to stay for lunch.


    Caius naturally agreed, but Holan had matters to attend to at Ocean City Academy. He wasn¡¯t sure what for, but he figured it had something to do with Belle.


    "Don''t bully her while I''m gone," Holan teased Caius.


    "Relax," Caius grinned.


    Holan trusted Caius. She had confidence in her ability to judge people.


    After bidding farewell to Instructor Holan, Caius returned inside, where Granny Lunla was already busy in the kitchen.


    "Belle, we''re out of meat. Go buy some more," Granny Lunla called out.


    This world had refrigerators¡ªMagical Refrigerators¡ªbut poor families obviously couldn¡¯t afford them.


    So at the orphanage, they only bought meat when they planned to eat it, lest it spoil.


    Belle responded softly, took a shopping bag, and was about to leave.


    Caius smacked his thigh. "I¡¯ll go with you."


    Belle hesitated. "You should rest at home..."


    But before she could finish, Caius had already stepped past her and headed out. "Rest? An outstanding mercenary never slacks off. If you don''t let me come along, I¡¯ll just go find the Crab Gang for another fight."


    Belle panicked and quickly trotted after him, waving her hands. "No, no...!"


    "Then let¡¯s go. I''ll tag along so you don''t get ripped off," Caius said, hands in his pockets.


    "Kiki, while we''re out, take care of the furniture," Caius tossed a pouch of gold coins to Kiki.


    "Got it, meow!" Kiki caught it and dashed off at lightning speed.


    Caius loved a hardworking little catgirl.


    "Big guy, sister, come back soon~" Tina and a group of kids peeked out from behind the doorframe, waving.


    Kiki always called Caius "big guy," so the little ones followed suit.


    Caius didn¡¯t mind and simply waved back before heading to the market with Belle.


    The market was bustling as always. Thanks to its coastal location, seafood was abundant.


    Feeling a bit hungry, Caius turned to Belle. "I want seafood."


    Belle nodded. "Okay."


    She led him to a vendor and pointed at a plump fish. "Would Red Gurnard be alright?"


    Caius gave a nonchalant nod. "Sure, you pick."


    Lighting a cigarette, he waited expectantly.


    Belle nodded and began bargaining with the vendor.


    Though she had once been scammed out of twenty gold for a bottle of rum¡ªbecause she rarely bought alcohol and didn¡¯t know the price¡ªshe was quite familiar with the cost of fish, meat, and vegetables. Many vendors in the market recognized her and offered discounts.


    Even those who didn¡¯t know her took one look at the towering man behind her and decided not to try any tricks, selling at honest prices.


    Before long, Belle had filled her bag to the brim.


    She usually wouldn¡¯t buy this much, but since Caius was eating with them, she spent over ten gold on ingredients.


    More meat than vegetables, likely accounting for his massive appetite.


    Watching her struggle under the heavy bag, Caius worried she might stumble forward under its weight.


    Extinguishing his cigarette, he flicked the butt into a nearby shop¡¯s trash bin, then reached out his hand.


    Belle looked at him, confused.


    Without a word, Caius took the bag from her.


    Belle blinked in surprise before looking up at him. "I can do it..."


    "I know. But you¡¯re walking too slow carrying it," Caius replied indifferently.


    Belle stared at him for a moment, then softly murmured, "Thank you."


    Caius didn¡¯t look at her, simply waving it off. But his ears seemed a little red.


    "Anything else to buy?" he asked.


    Belle nodded. "We need some spices. We¡¯re out at home."


    Caius nodded and spotted a spice shop ahead. He started walking toward it but felt a tug on his sleeve just before entering.


    Turning around, he saw Belle standing behind him, her long sweater sleeves extending over her hands as she pointed across the street.


    "Not this one¡­"


    Caius frowned. "Aren¡¯t they both spice shops?"


    Belle whispered, "This one¡¯s expensive. That one¡¯s cheaper¡­"


    Caius: "..."


    "Alright, let¡¯s go." He turned and walked toward the other shop.


    Belle quickly followed.


    Seeing that he wasn¡¯t annoyed, she loosened the grip of her tiny hand and walked with a lighter step.


    If it were just him, Caius wouldn¡¯t bother walking extra distance to save a few copper coins on spices.


    Looking at the tall figure beside him, Caius, usually impatient by nature, felt an unusual sense of calm.


    It made him willing to slow down and walk this path with her.

 Chapter 55

    Before long, they arrived at the spice shop.


    However, a group of people was blocking the entrance. Judging by their appearance, they were gang members. The shop owner was talking to them, his face filled with distress.


    "We already paid the protection fee a few days ago. Why are you asking for more?" the shop owner said bitterly.


    "Not my problem. This is the new rule¡ªthe protection fee has increased. If you want to keep your shop open, you have to pay!" The gang leader, shouldering a wooden club wrapped in iron wire, said impatiently.


    "How can you do this? We already pay taxes and rent. We''re barely making ends meet, and now you¡¯re increasing the protection fee¡­ We won¡¯t be able to keep the shop running!" The shop owner looked even more miserable.


    The nearby residents chimed in: "Yeah, this protection fee is ridiculous¡­" "How are we supposed to survive like this?"


    "Shut up, all of you!" The gang leader suddenly slammed the counter with his club, leaving a deep dent. Then he raised his weapon toward the surrounding people, his face fierce.


    "Survive? Live however you want! But if you don¡¯t pay up today, I¡¯ll make sure you don¡¯t get to live at all!"


    Hearing this, the shop owner and the neighbors all showed anger in their eyes, but fear dominated their expressions.


    Seeing that no one dared to speak up, the gang leader smirked arrogantly, feeling pleased with himself.


    "A bunch of ungrateful fools. The Crab Gang is protecting you, and this is how you repay¡ªArgh!"


    Before he could finish his sentence, a strong kick landed on his side, sending him flying two or three meters away.


    "Who the hell dares¡ª" The gang leader groaned in pain on the ground, cursing as he struggled to get up.


    But the moment he turned his head, he saw Caius standing there, cigarette in his mouth, one hand carrying groceries while the other was in his pocket, looking at him with a raised eyebrow.


    "Uh¡­" The gang leader immediately shut his mouth.


    It wasn¡¯t just Caius¡¯s towering frame that scared him¡ªit was the fact that he had witnessed Caius handling Sean before. He knew exactly who he was dealing with.


    In that instant, his arrogance vanished, replaced by sheer fear.


    "Impressive. Collecting protection fees now, are we?" Caius set his groceries down, shoved both hands into his pockets, and walked toward the gang members.


    The gang leader trembled, but he didn¡¯t dare to run.


    Running? That was a joke. Caius was over two meters tall and a Gold-rank warrior. One of his strides covered three of his own. There was no way he could escape.


    As for the five or six underlings with him, none of them dared to stop Caius. They instinctively stepped aside.


    Caius stood before the gang leader, looking down at him. "Explain to me, what¡¯s going on here?"


    He took a drag of his cigarette and blew the smoke directly into the gang leader¡¯s face.


    The gang leader blinked rapidly from the sting but forced a flattering smile. "B-bro, it¡¯s all a misunderstanding¡­ A misunderstanding¡­"


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    "A misunderstanding?" Caius chuckled and casually kicked him in the hip joint. He didn¡¯t use much force, but it was enough to send the man sprawling again.


    "B-bro, please don¡¯t hit me¡­"


    "Collecting protection fees on my turf? Looks like Sean has a death wish." Caius laughed again and kicked him once more, just hard enough to make him yelp in pain.


    "Big bro, w-we were forced to¡­"


    "Forced? So I was wrong to blame you then?"


    "N-no¡­" The gang leader hung his head submissively.


    Caius lost interest in beating him further and gestured with his hand.


    The gang leader hesitated for a moment.


    Caius frowned slightly.


    Immediately, the gang leader shivered and scrambled to his feet, standing cautiously before Caius. "B-big bro?"


    "Go back and tell Sean that this area is under my protection now. If I see another Crab Gang member collecting fees here, I¡¯ll personally take off his other arm." Caius exhaled another puff of smoke and spoke calmly.


    "Y-yes, yes¡­" The gang leader nodded repeatedly.


    "Now scram." Caius tilted his chin, and the gang members fled as if granted amnesty, running off as fast as they could.


    Watching them leave, Caius smirked.


    It wasn¡¯t that he was particularly noble or trying to protect the shopkeepers of this street.


    Nor was he interested in gang turf wars.


    He just didn¡¯t want Belle, who often shopped here, to run into these guys.


    Sure, there were enforcers in Ocean City, but the law here¡­ It was no better than a wasteland city¡¯s. The enforcers were just there to clean up after the fact.


    Otherwise, why would gangs be collecting protection fees in broad daylight?


    Fortunately, these gangs were rather¡­ interesting. Most of them were just people banding together for survival or young men who thought gangs were cool. They rarely did anything truly outrageous in public.


    As long as you paid up, they¡¯d even protect you from other gangs. In that sense, they weren¡¯t much different from the wasteland gangs.


    Back at the shop, Caius saw Belle still standing there, staring blankly. He raised an eyebrow. "What are you waiting for? Buy your spices. I¡¯m starving."


    Belle finally snapped out of it and entered the shop to buy spices.


    Seeing that she was with Caius, the shop owner immediately packed her order, refusing to take her money and even throwing in several extra packs of high-quality spices.


    Belle waved her hands in protest, insisting on paying, but the owner said it was to thank Caius.


    Belle turned to look at Caius, looking a bit lost.


    Seeing her dazed expression, Caius chuckled, flicking away his cigarette ash. "If it¡¯s a gift from the owner, just accept it."


    Belle nodded slightly and whispered a soft "thank you" to the shop owner.


    The owner didn¡¯t quite hear her, but he still smiled warmly.


    With their shopping done, the two of them returned to the orphanage.


    Caius carried a bulging bag of groceries, while Belle held a small bag of spices¡ªa rather eye-catching pair. Mostly because of Caius¡¯s towering frame.


    The modestly dressed mushroom girl beside him barely had any presence at all. Passersby¡¯s gazes would always land on Caius, overlooking Belle entirely.


    Back home, Caius placed the groceries in the kitchen and then lazily sat in the living room, waiting for food.


    Belle wanted to help in the kitchen but was promptly shooed out by Grandma Lunla.


    "I¡¯m cooking today. Just wash your hands and wait to eat." Grandma Lunla smiled kindly, glancing at Caius as she spoke.


    Belle couldn¡¯t argue with her and nodded obediently.


    However, she soon went back to the kitchen and retrieved a jug with half a bottle of liquor, then slowly pushed it toward Caius.


    Caius¡¯s eyes lit up. He was feeling a bit thirsty after the walk.


    Without hesitation, he picked up the jug and chugged it down in one go.


    "Ahh!" Caius put the jug down, licking his lips. "That hit the spot!"


    But then he noticed something odd.


    Belle was staring at him intently, her face half-hidden by her hair, but he could feel her unwavering gaze.


    "W-what¡¯s up?" Caius asked warily.


    "You like drinking," Belle said softly¡ªsurprisingly without stammering.


    "Of course¡ª" Caius instinctively nodded, then quickly corrected himself. "No, I don¡¯t! Mercenaries don¡¯t get to drink good liquor. This stuff is awful!"


    Belle remained silent, just staring at him.


    After only three seconds, Caius felt guilty. He finally sighed. "Fine, I do like it¡­"


    "But so what? You¡¯re not allowed to buy it!"


    Caius said fiercely, "If you dare to buy it, I''ll dare to drink it! You buy a bottle, I''ll down it all in one go!"


    "I¡¯ll drink myself straight into a stomach perforation, burn a hole right through my gut, and drop dead on the spot!"


    "Just ask yourself¡ªare you scared or not?"


    Belle shrank her little face into the high collar of her sweater.


    "Scared."


    "Then don¡¯t buy it, in case I lose control, got it?" Caius said. "If you''re going to buy something, get rye beer. That stuff isn¡¯t too strong¡ªit¡¯s basically a soft drink."


    "Mm."


    "Don''t just ¡®mm¡¯ me. Say you understand."


    "I understand."


    In the kitchen, Lunla''s grandmother slowed her movements as she washed the vegetables, listening to the voices drifting from the living room. A warm smile unconsciously tugged at the corners of her mouth.


    This home was becoming a little livelier.

 Chapter 56

    "Big guy, I''m back, Meow~" Suddenly, Kiki''s voice came from outside the house, accompanied by the sound of many footsteps, suggesting quite a few people had arrived.


    Caius immediately stood up and walked outside.


    When he saw Kiki, a smile appeared on his face.


    The footsteps belonged to a group of workers carrying a large amount of furniture into the courtyard. Several pieces had already been unloaded.


    "A total of 1,100 Gold. The boss rounded it down, so there''s 900 Gold left, Meow." Kiki said as she took out the gold coins and handed them to Caius.


    Caius didn¡¯t take them but instead smiled and said, "Keep the rest as pocket money."


    "Really, Meow?" Kiki¡¯s ears twitched, her face full of delight.


    "Mhm, your big bro is rich now." Caius chuckled.


    Living in the moment was a mercenary¡¯s creed.


    Mercenaries didn¡¯t need to buy houses, and this world had no off-road cars or sports cars, so Caius had a straightforward attitude toward money¡ªearn it to spend it!


    "Big guy is the best, Meow!" Kiki happily jumped up, landing on Caius'' shoulder and affectionately rubbing her little face against his cheek.


    Caius grinned from ear to ear. This 900 Gold was totally worth it!


    At that moment, a worker leader with a broad smile approached and asked, "Boss, where should we place the furniture?"


    "We offer moving and cleaning services. This lady here has purchased the full package, so feel free to let us know any requests."


    "As long as it''s within our service scope, we guarantee a perfect job!"


    A purchase of over 1,000 Gold was considered a big order, even in the Outer City. That made Caius a valuable customer, so they had to treat him well.


    Caius was very satisfied with their attitude. He pulled out a pouch of rolled cigarettes and tossed it to the worker leader, taking one for himself before pointing to a side room of the Orphanage. "Everything except the chairs goes in there. Also, clean the place up and move out the old furniture into the courtyard."


    He had checked that room before. It used to house the Orphanage children, but most had already left, leaving the room mostly empty aside from a few beds and chairs.


    However, Belle seemed to have kept it clean, so it wasn¡¯t too dirty¡ªjust some corners needing attention.


    "Got it!" The worker leader glanced at the pouch in his hand¡ªthere were at least a dozen cigarettes inside¡ªand his smile widened.


    Then, he waved his hand. "Alright, boys, get to work!"


    Seeing seven or eight workers getting busy with enthusiasm, Caius nodded in satisfaction and reached into his left pocket.


    Wait¡ªwhere was his lighter?


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    This world had lighters too, but they were called Firewatch because they resembled pocket watches.


    When opened, a spring mechanism would pop the lid open, causing the flint to spark and ignite the oil wick at the center of the watch face.


    Caius, however, had made his own lighter¡ªa Zippo-style one, which he carried with him at all times.


    He was sure he had put it in his left pocket just now. Could it be in his right pocket instead?


    Just as he was about to check, a small hand suddenly appeared before him, holding a pocket-watch-like item. With a crisp click, the cover popped open, and a small flame flared up from the center.


    Caius was momentarily stunned before using it to light his cigarette.


    Taking a puff, he turned to the little Catgirl sitting on his shoulder, his eyes filled with amusement.


    No one could resist a Catgirl.


    Let alone one who lit your cigarette for you.


    "You actually bought a Firewatch?" Caius chuckled.


    "Mhm, how is it, Meow?" Kiki proudly showed off her carefully chosen Firewatch, which had intricate floral engravings on it.


    "Not bad, but mine looks better." Caius pulled out his own lighter from his pocket.


    So it was in his right pocket. But he could have sworn he had put it in the left. How strange.


    Caius called this phenomenon Schr?dinger¡¯s Lighter.


    "Whoa~" Kiki took the lighter, admiring the hand-carved Angel design on it, clearly enchanted.


    "Give me yours, and I''ll give you this one." Caius offered.


    "Big guy is the best, Meow!" Kiki was overjoyed and eagerly traded lighters with him.


    Caius grinned. This little Catgirl didn¡¯t smoke. Besides lighting campfires in the wild, what else would she use a lighter for?


    Obviously, to light his cigarettes~


    Kiki adored the lighter, playing with it over and over again.


    "Careful now, don¡¯t burn my hair," Caius reminded her, considering she was still perched on his shoulder.


    "I¡¯ll be careful, Meow." Kiki nodded seriously.


    The workers were efficient. In no time, they had moved all the furniture inside and placed the old furniture in the courtyard, along with some dust and debris they had cleared from hidden corners.


    The room now looked much cleaner.


    After briefly directing the furniture arrangement, Caius considered the job done.


    "Boss, we¡¯re finished. Would you like us to dispose of these old furniture pieces and trash for you?" the worker leader asked enthusiastically.


    Caius was about to respond when he suddenly felt a tug on his clothes. He turned around to see Belle standing behind him.


    "Can we keep the old furniture?" Belle asked softly.


    "Why keep them?" Caius was puzzled.


    Belle didn¡¯t answer. She simply looked at him quietly, as if she didn¡¯t know why either¡ªshe just didn¡¯t want them thrown away.


    Seeing this, Caius nodded and told the worker leader, "Leave the old furniture. Just get rid of the trash."


    "Understood!" The worker leader nodded, cleaned up the debris, and left the Orphanage happily, puffing on the cigarettes Caius had given him.


    A single pouch of cigarettes seemed enough to make these simple workers happy for a long time.


    Meanwhile, Belle walked to the old furniture, extending her small hand to gently touch them.


    "What¡¯s wrong?" Caius asked.


    Belle gazed at the old tables and wooden beds and said, "I used to sleep in this bed, sharing it with another girl."


    "Back then, Grandma Lunla would sit at the bedside and tell us stories."


    "And later, where did the children go?" Caius asked.


    Belle shook her head gently. "I don¡¯t know¡­"


    "Some were adopted, some left to make their way in the world. I don¡¯t know how they are now."


    "No one wanted to adopt you?" Caius asked again.


    Belle shook her head again. "Most of those adopted were boys. Fewer girls got chosen."


    "I¡­ I didn¡¯t want to be adopted. So whenever someone came, I would hide¡­"


    "I didn¡¯t want to leave Grandma Lunla. I didn¡¯t want to leave the Orphanage¡­"


    Her voice grew softer, tinged with sadness.


    Caius understood her emotions and reassured her, "Don¡¯t worry. Grilla City is only a day¡¯s journey from here. If you want to visit while you''re at Hydis, just let Instructor Holan know."


    "I¡¯ll be living here from now on. You don¡¯t need to worry about Grandma Lunla or Tina."


    "As long as I¡¯m here, no one will harm them."


    Hearing this, Belle turned to look at Caius. Then, she took a step closer and bowed slightly.


    "Thank you¡­" Her voice trembled, as if she was trying hard not to cry.


    "Feeling touched?" Caius laughed. "Then can you grant me a small request?"


    Belle gently nodded. "Mhm."


    Caius scratched his cheek, his eyes suddenly shifting away as if, despite his usual confidence, he was feeling a little embarrassed.


    "Can¡­ I see what you look like?"

 Chapter 57

    Belle was momentarily stunned, tilting her head slightly, as if puzzled by Caius''s request.


    She didn''t understand¡ªafter having met so many times, why would he make such a request now?


    Seeing the girl¡¯s apparent lack of self-awareness, Caius sighed helplessly. "Your hair covers half your face, and your sweater collar covers the other half. I still don¡¯t even know what you really look like."


    "So¡­ to prevent the possibility that one day you change your hairstyle and I don¡¯t recognize you, I should at least take a look now, right?" Caius sounded like he was trying to convince Belle, but also as if he were justifying his own request.


    However, what surprised Caius was how readily Belle agreed.


    She nodded lightly.


    "Mm."


    Caius swallowed nervously. "You¡¯re¡­ agreeing?"


    "Mm."


    "So¡­ I can lift your hair and take a look?"


    "Mm."


    "Don¡¯t just say ¡®mm¡¯¡ªsay ¡®yes.¡¯"


    "Yes."


    "Then, I won¡¯t hold back?"


    "Mm."


    After multiple confirmations and receiving a definite response, Caius suddenly felt an inexplicable excitement.


    Buried within that excitement was a deep sense of anticipation. He wasn¡¯t sure why he felt this way¡ªhe hadn¡¯t even been this excited when he was about to return to the life of a mercenary.


    His hand trembled slightly as he slowly reached out toward Belle, his fingers poised to lift her hair.


    It felt almost like a groom about to unveil his bride¡¯s wedding veil.


    Huh?


    What a strange analogy.


    But, well¡­ it wasn¡¯t far off from how he felt.


    His fingers touched Belle¡¯s forehead. All he had to do now was lift his hand, and he would finally see the face hidden beneath her hair.


    Yet, for such a simple action, he found himself taking several deep breaths. Even Kiki, perched on his shoulder, was affected, watching nervously.


    "Here we go?" he asked.


    "Mm." Belle nodded lightly.


    She stood there, facing him, her small face tilted up slightly. Her hands, hidden within her sleeves, had their index fingers hooked together, fidgeting anxiously as she waited quietly for his next move.


    But Caius didn¡¯t move.


    Even in the midst of gunfire and battle, he had always remained decisive and ruthless¡ªyet at this moment, he hesitated.


    Perhaps fate no longer envied him, or perhaps the wind itself could not bear to see his struggle.


    A gentle breeze swept across the still lake, slipping into the alleyway, accelerating within the narrow space, and finally entering the orphanage, lifting the strand of hair Caius had been about to move.


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    And in doing so, it stirred something within Caius¡¯s heart.


    At that moment, his eyes widened.


    She tilted her small face slightly, looking up at him. From this angle, he could see the soft curve of her jawline leading downward to a swan-like neck.


    A pair of slightly flushed, almond-shaped eyes shimmered like twin moons.


    Her silver-gray irises glowed softly, like crystalline silver-gray gems, reflecting Caius¡¯s dumbfounded expression.


    She seemed puzzled and blinked, her long silver-gray eyelashes quivering slightly. Below her delicately upturned and exquisite nose was a slightly parted, cherry-pink mouth.


    "Mm?"


    She hummed softly through her nose, as if questioning why Caius was looking at her like that.


    Meanwhile, within Caius¡¯s heart, a tidal wave of emotions surged.


    The wind passed, the hair fell, covering her face once more.


    Only then did Caius finally snap out of his daze.


    He withdrew his hand, turned around, and covered his mouth before slowly crouching down, as if sinking into some deep contemplation.


    Not only him¡ªKiki also jumped to the ground and crouched beside him.


    Belle watched the two of them in confusion, not understanding why they were acting this way.


    "Did you see that?" Caius whispered to Kiki.


    "I saw it¡­" Kiki nodded, even forgetting to add her usual suffix, clearly just as shocked.


    "What do you think that was?" Caius asked.


    Kiki: "That was an Angel¡­ Yes, definitely an Angel!"


    Caius: "I think so too. There¡¯s no way she¡¯s human¡ªhumans can¡¯t possibly be that beautiful¡­"


    Kiki: "Mm-hmm!"


    As they spoke, the two of them simultaneously turned to steal another glance at Belle before quickly turning back to whisper to each other again.


    "I think that must have been an illusion. Why don¡¯t you go take another look?" Caius urged.


    Kiki nodded and scampered off.


    Caius didn¡¯t turn to look¡ªhe simply stuck out his thumb and bit his nail, his eyes vacant as he stared at the ground.


    Moments later, Kiki returned, crouching beside him again.


    Caius turned to look at her and saw that she, too, was staring blankly.


    "Not an illusion¡­" Kiki murmured.


    Caius¡¯s lips curled into a grin, and he couldn¡¯t suppress his laughter.


    "Hehehe¡­ Hahaha!" Caius suddenly burst into laughter.


    Kiki looked at him in confusion, and not far behind them, Belle also appeared bewildered.


    After laughing for a while, Caius turned to Kiki, wiping away the tears of mirth from his eyes. He whispered, "Kiki, we just uncovered a massive treasure. Do you know what this means?"


    "What does it mean, Meow?" Kiki¡¯s tail swayed side to side, indicating her own excitement.


    "It means we have to guard this treasure carefully. We absolutely cannot let anyone else take it!" Caius grinned, his voice low, as if suppressing immense excitement.


    Belle couldn¡¯t hear what the two were whispering about, but she felt they were acting strangely.


    Ever since they had seen her face.


    Feeling uneasy, she hesitated, fidgeting with her fingers, before finally walking over and tugging lightly on Caius¡¯s sleeve.


    Caius turned to look at her, his face full of warmth.


    But Belle didn¡¯t see it because she had her head lowered, looking somewhat downcast.


    "I¡­ I¡¯m not pretty. Don¡¯t mind me¡­"


    "I won¡¯t show my face¡­"


    Hearing this, Caius immediately realized she had misunderstood.


    This girl¡¯s deep-seated insecurity had been ingrained into her very bones.


    She didn¡¯t even realize what her face meant.


    It meant that if she revealed her true appearance, all of Ocean City would be thrown into chaos.


    Had she shown her true face before Manasa, it would have been Manasa who felt insecure.


    But what would have followed was Manasa¡¯s jealousy and cruelty¡ªso Caius was glad she had hidden herself well.


    Hearing her voice, filled with self-doubt and uncertainty, Caius slowly bent down and placed a large hand on her head, gently ruffling her hair.


    She trembled slightly, her words abruptly stopping.


    "Lift your head."


    Belle obediently looked up.


    This time, Caius didn¡¯t rely on the wind¡ªhe moved her hair aside himself.


    That angelic, flawless face once again appeared before him.


    No, not flawless.


    There was a faint scar on the bridge of her nose, as if left by a sharp object. It was shallow¡ªbarely noticeable.


    But to a mercenary who saw scars as medals, it wasn¡¯t a flaw. It was the finishing touch.


    Looking at her dumbfounded expression, Caius grinned brightly.


    His fingers brushed through her sideburns, pinching her soft cheek gently.


    The sensation was like jelly¡ªsmooth and delicate.


    "Silly girl, you¡¯re beautiful."


    "You¡¯re the most beautiful little mushroom I¡¯ve ever seen!"


    With that, Caius laughed heartily and walked toward the house.


    "Come on, let¡¯s eat. I can already smell the food!"


    Belle touched the spot where he had pinched her, mumbling softly, "I¡¯m not a mushroom¡­"


    Her voice was too quiet, and Caius didn¡¯t hear it.


    "What are you standing there for? Grandma Lunla is calling us to eat." Caius¡¯s voice came from ahead.


    Belle snapped out of her daze and quickly followed him.


    Hidden beneath her chestnut-colored hair, a single white strand shimmered in the light.

 Chapter 58

    "This is amazing!" Caius exclaimed in delight as he gazed at the table filled with dishes. Then, turning to Grandma Lunla, he grinned and said, "Grandma Lunla, with skills like yours, it''s a shame you don''t run a restaurant!"


    "Hehehe, my old bones can''t handle that much work anymore. As long as you all enjoy the food, that''s good enough for me," Grandma Lunla replied with a warm smile.


    "How about this?" Caius glanced at Belle, his eyes lighting up as he continued, "I''m going to be staying here, but I''m not great at cooking. So, I''d like to pay you a thousand gold coins per month to prepare our meals. How about it?"


    "T-That''s too much," Grandma Lunla waved her hands quickly. "If you like my cooking, I''ll happily make it for you. You don''t need to pay¡­"


    "That won''t do," Caius shook his head. "I have a big appetite, and I eat a lot of meat at every meal. I can''t let you bear all the costs."


    "But¡­" Grandma Lunla wanted to say more. After all, in her eyes, eating meat at every meal didn''t warrant spending a thousand gold coins a month.


    However, Caius waved his hand decisively. "It''s settled. Any extra can go toward nourishing the little ones."


    "Children their age shouldn''t be this thin."


    Hearing this, Grandma Lunla hesitated for a moment before nodding in agreement. She looked at Caius with a gaze full of warmth and affection. She knew he was doing this to help them.


    That meal was lively and cheerful.


    Tina and the other little girls, who rarely had the chance to eat meat, were practically glowing with excitement. The moment the meal began, they eagerly stuffed their cheeks with food, making them look adorably chubby.


    Meanwhile, Caius ate as he observed Belle.


    At this moment, Belle had folded her collar down, revealing half of her small face.


    She ate quietly, taking small bites. Caius also noticed that, apart from scooping a few pieces of fish tail meat with a spoon, she hadn''t touched any other meat.


    This wouldn''t do.


    Without hesitation, Caius speared a piece of beef with his fork and placed it into Belle¡¯s bowl.


    Belle blinked in surprise and turned to look at Caius, who was giving her a serious look. "Eat more meat. Look how thin you are¡ªyou seem malnourished."


    "A magical researcher needs proper nutrition to keep their mind sharp!"


    Hearing this, Belle glanced at the piece of meat in her bowl before nodding lightly. "Okay."


    Seeing her start to eat the meat, Caius finally nodded in satisfaction and resumed his own meal.


    However, every now and then, he would continue adding pieces of beef, fish, or even a drumstick to Belle¡¯s bowl.


    "It''s too much¡­ It''s too much¡­" Belle murmured anxiously.


    "Too much? That just means your appetite is too small," Caius countered.


    "Mmm¡­" Belle hesitantly looked at the large chunk of beef occupying half of her bowl.


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    Seeing her struggle, Caius simply pushed his own bowl toward her. "If you can¡¯t finish it, give it to me."


    Belle hesitated briefly before carefully picking up the piece of beef with her fork and placing it in Caius¡¯ bowl.


    Caius took it and devoured it in one bite.


    Swallowing the meat, he said, "From now on, you need to take the initiative to eat meat. Don''t wait for me to give it to you, or you¡¯ll never finish."


    Belle obediently nodded. "Okay."


    Caius raised an eyebrow. "Say ''I understand.''"


    Belle: "I understand."


    Grandma Lunla smiled warmly as she watched them interact while eating.


    Usually, when they had the rare chance to eat meat, Belle would barely touch it. At most, she would drizzle some meat sauce over her rice, leaving the actual meat for Grandma Lunla and the younger children.


    Grandma Lunla had tried to persuade her before, but Belle would only take a tiny, symbolic bite before stopping.


    She knew Belle didn¡¯t dislike meat¡ªon the contrary, she loved it.


    Whenever there was meat, Belle would always swallow secretly, trying to hide her longing.


    But for this household, meat was a luxury.


    Before Caius arrived, they had meat at most twice a month. This sensible and heartbreakingly considerate girl always left the meat for the younger ones.


    Even though she was still a child herself.


    This time, under Caius'' "threats," Belle had eaten several pieces of meat. Though she remained outwardly composed, the way her feet swung slightly beneath the table betrayed her happiness and satisfaction.


    Finally, they finished their meal.


    Caius leaned back in his chair, completely satisfied, and let out a comfortable burp.


    The little cat Meow mimicked him, sprawling out lazily in the chair and purring contentedly.


    Belle, on the other hand, helped Grandma Lunla clear the dishes.


    However, just as she was about to start washing them, Grandma Lunla gently pushed her out of the kitchen.


    "Let me handle these. You go rest in the living room."


    Belle looked at Grandma Lunla in confusion. Usually, she took care of all the housework, given that Grandma Lunla was elderly and frail, and the younger children were too small to help much.


    But today, Grandma Lunla kept taking tasks away from her, leaving Belle unsure of what to do.


    Seeing Grandma Lunla¡¯s firm stance, Belle had no choice but to nod and head to the living room.


    Grandma Lunla chuckled as she watched Belle and Caius before contentedly returning to the kitchen to wash the dishes.


    She simply wanted Belle to spend more time around Caius, hoping it would help her become more open.


    As long as Belle became happier, Grandma Lunla would be satisfied.


    In the living room, Belle started knitting a sweater.


    Caius didn¡¯t do anything¡ªhe simply sat there and watched her knit.


    Kiki and Tina had gone outside to play, leaving only Caius and Belle in the small living room.


    It was quiet, but not awkward. Instead, a peaceful serenity filled the space.


    Caius hadn¡¯t felt this way in a long time.


    He loved the chaos of battle, the thrill of fire and steel. But too much chaos needed a counterbalance.


    And this tranquility? It was perfect. He liked it.


    After a while, he started feeling drowsy. Giving in, he lay back in the wooden chair and drifted into sleep.


    The only sounds in the house were the faint rustling of Belle¡¯s knitting needles and Caius¡¯ steady breathing.


    After a moment, Belle paused.


    She stretched her neck slightly, then turned to look at Caius, finding him fast asleep.


    She blinked in surprise, then quietly walked to another room, returning with a blanket. Carefully, she draped it over him.


    Her movements were so gentle that Caius didn¡¯t wake up.


    Normally, as a mercenary, he had an extremely light sleep. Even the smallest noise would rouse him instantly.


    But this time, he slept deeply¡ªand even dreamed a pleasant dream.


    So much so that a faint smile lingered on his face as he slept.


    Belle stood there, quietly watching him. Her lips curved into a gentle smile.


    From the kitchen, Grandma Lunla emerged, seeing Belle standing motionless, gazing at Caius like a wooden doll.


    As someone who had lived a long life, she understood what was happening.


    So, she merely smiled kindly and silently returned to her room, choosing not to disturb them.


    Belle stood there for a long time.


    Only when the laughter of children and Holan¡¯s voice drifted in from outside did she snap out of it.


    Caius stirred as if about to wake up.


    Belle panicked slightly, glanced around, and quickly picked up her knitting, pretending she had been focused on it the entire time.


    Just then, the door swung open, and the children, along with Kiki and Holan, stepped inside.


    Caius opened his eyes and stretched lazily.


    It had been a long time since he had taken a proper nap.


    "You slept well," Holan chuckled.


    "Yeah." Caius smiled at him¡ªthen noticed the blanket draped over him.


    He turned toward Belle.


    She remained seated, knitting slowly, as if nothing had happened.


    But Caius grinned.


    Because he noticed¡ªher sweater hadn¡¯t made much progress since before he had fallen asleep.

 Chapter 59

    "I have two pieces of news. Which one do you want to hear first?" Seeing that Caius''s attention was on Belle, Holan smirked before speaking.


    "Oh?" Caius seemed to be in a great mood, nodding with a smile. "Let¡¯s hear the good news first."


    "The good news is that Ocean City Academy has agreed to let me take Belle to Hydis Academy ahead of schedule," Holan said.


    Belle, who had been knitting a sweater, suddenly froze. She looked up in confusion at Holan.


    Holan, on the other hand, looked quite pleased with himself, while Caius was visibly delighted. "Now, that¡¯s truly good news!"


    "Of course~" Holan was very satisfied with Caius''s reaction, even though this news had little to do with him directly.


    "And what¡¯s the bad news?" Caius asked again.


    Holan chuckled mischievously, eyes glinting with cunning. "Did I say there was bad news?"


    Caius feigned surprise. "So, there are two pieces of good news?"


    "Exactly!" Holan said. "Previously, I applied for Imperial financial aid for Belle at Ocean City Academy. In fact, the grant had already been approved half a month ago, but the academy had been withholding it."


    "So I just went to the administration office to pressure them, and they finally released the grant."


    As she spoke, her Spatial Ring flashed, and a pouch of gold coins appeared in front of Caius, falling freely.


    Caius swiftly caught it, weighed it in his hand, and exclaimed, "This must be around 1,500 gold coins, right?"


    "Yes, exactly 1,500 gold!" Holan sneered. "Those corrupt parasites tried to tell me the grant was only 300 gold. If I hadn¡¯t done my homework at Hydis Academy and checked the grant amount for secondary academies, I might have actually believed them!"


    "Those leeches really take a deep cut," Caius clicked his tongue, then chuckled. "Good thing we have you, or this silly mushroom would¡¯ve never gotten her grant."


    Silly mushroom?


    Holan was momentarily stunned before glancing at Belle. Then, understanding dawned on her, and she couldn''t help but laugh. "Stop giving my student nicknames!"


    "Haha." Caius laughed it off and then handed the grant money to Belle.


    Belle hesitated. "Instructor Holan should keep it safe for me¡­"


    "It''s yours, so take it." Without giving her a chance to refuse, Caius stuffed the coins into Belle¡¯s hands.


    Belle hurriedly caught them and looked at Caius. "Thank you¡­"


    Caius chuckled. "Silly mushroom, you should be thanking Instructor Holan."


    Belle quickly bowed to Holan. "Thank you¡­"


    Holan, amused, waved her hand. "So, pack your things today. You¡¯ll be coming with me to Hydis."


    "Once we get to Hydis, I''ll apply for another grant for you. Hydis is a first-tier academy, and the grant is 5,000 gold. With that, you won¡¯t have to worry about living expenses there."


    "Thank you¡­ thank you¡­"


    Her voice trembled as she spoke, clearly on the verge of tears.


    Caius and Holan exchanged glances, both smiling.


    Since they had to leave for Hydis immediately, Belle needed to prepare and say goodbye to Holan and Tina.


    As soon as the younger girls heard that their big sister was leaving, they burst into tears, clinging to Belle and refusing to let go.


    Listening to their sobbing, Belle couldn¡¯t hold back her own tears. She comforted the little ones while crying herself.


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    Grandma Lunla gently caressed her cheek, giving her words of advice for her journey to Hydis.


    Seeing this tearful scene, Holan couldn¡¯t help but get misty-eyed.


    The little Catgirl pursed her lips, sniffling constantly.


    Caius looked at them, feeling a bit helpless.


    What was there to cry about? Seriously.


    So he simply stepped outside and lit a cigarette.


    A long while later, the crying inside finally subsided. After waiting a moment more, everyone stepped out together.


    When Caius turned his head, he nearly burst into laughter.


    Belle was standing there, burdened with countless bags and bundles, looking just like a mushroom sprouting smaller mushrooms¡ªboth comical and adorable.


    "Are you going to study at Hydis, or are you moving house? Isn¡¯t this a bit much?" Caius chuckled as he took some of the packages off Belle¡¯s hands.


    "This is the weight of love from family," Holan remarked from the side.


    "Well, it sure is heavy," Caius muttered as he weighed the bags.


    Inside were not just bedding but also Belle¡¯s usual water bottles, bowls, plates, cutlery, and even farm produce and dried fruits.


    It was clear that, worried about her first long trip, Grandma Lunla had packed everything she thought Belle might need.


    If not for the inconvenience, Caius suspected she might have even sent along Belle¡¯s usual chair.


    They needed a carriage to carry all this.


    Caius recalled that Hailan No. 11 offered carriage rentals.


    So he turned to Holan and said, "Instructor Holan, would you be willing to do me a small favor?"


    "Oh? Let¡¯s hear it." Holan lifted her chin slightly.


    Caius then explained his plan, which made Holan burst into laughter.


    Caius wasn¡¯t asking her to do much¡ªjust to officially assign him the escort task and issue the commission through Hailan No. 11.


    He needed the prestige of completing a Gold-ranked mission to secure an external deployment position for Kiki at Hydis.


    This way, not only could he travel with them to Grilla City, but he could also gain a reputation for completing a Gold-ranked mission. As for the commission fee, he planned to return it to Holan.


    "When you came to me earlier, was this what you were planning to ask?" Holan asked, looking at Caius.


    "As expected from my beautiful and wise instructor¡ªyou saw right through me." Caius grinned.


    "In that case, why don¡¯t I assign you a few more Gold-ranked missions while we¡¯re at it?" Holan said with a smirk.


    "That would be perfect!"


    "The commission fees won¡¯t be high, though," Holan teased.


    "Pfft, the commission fees are trivial. I just love doing Gold-ranked missions," Caius said with a serious face, making Holan laugh again.


    This was simply a mutually beneficial arrangement.


    Caius helped Holan complete tasks, and Holan helped him build up his reputation with Gold-ranked missions. Besides, Caius would also need Holan¡¯s help to find a way to learn magic in the future.


    So, he wasn¡¯t concerned about the money at all.


    "You said it. Then, let¡¯s go," Holan said with a nod.


    Caius nodded in return, turned to Belle, and told her to wait while he and Holan headed to Hailan No. 11.


    Watching their departing figures, Belle remained silent.


    Grandma Lunla approached and gently adjusted Belle¡¯s clothes.


    "Belle, when you get to Hydis Academy, listen to your instructor, alright?" she said softly.


    "Mhm." Belle nodded.


    "If you run into trouble, go to Instructor Holan or that big guy. They can help you."


    "Mhm."


    "Remember to dye your hair."


    "Mhm."


    "Eat properly. Don''t worry about home. If you can work, save the money for yourself and buy something nice to eat. Don¡¯t send it back."


    "Mhm."


    Grandma Lunla gave her endless reminders, and Belle nodded obediently.


    Finally, Grandma Lunla reached out, brushing Belle¡¯s thick bangs aside and gently touching her face.


    "And most importantly¡­ don¡¯t use magic."


    "Mhm."


    ......


    Meanwhile, inside Hailan No. 11.


    "Boss Lady, I ordered the Seafood Set No. 3, but this is No. 2," a mercenary pointed at the dish in front of him and said.


    "Ah, oh, that was my mistake. Sorry about that. Please wait a moment, and I''ll have the kitchen prepare the correct one," Yvlan apologized sincerely.


    A nearby staff member looked at Yvlan helplessly.


    This was already the fourth time today that the Boss Lady had messed up an order.


    She usually didn¡¯t make such basic mistakes. What was going on with her today?


    Yvlan was feeling extremely anxious at the moment.


    This morning, when she went out for supplies, she saw a large group of Crab Gang members, armed to the teeth, marching out of the city in force.


    She knew that Caius had clashed with the Crab Gang before¡ªbecause of the task she had given him.


    So from morning till now, she had been on edge.


    Especially because Caius still hadn¡¯t returned. That delivery job should have been completed this morning¡­


    Could something have happened to him?


    No way. That big guy is so strong he can even take down a Wolf Demon¡­ But the Crab Gang sent forty to fifty men, and they had a Gold-rank mage with them. Could it be that something really did¡ª


    Every time her thoughts reached this point, she had the urge to grab her frying pan and march straight to the Crab Gang to demand answers.


    She knew she shouldn¡¯t be thinking like this, but she just couldn¡¯t help it.


    She had been in this business for a long time. She should have been used to this by now.


    Many mercenaries came to drink in the morning and never returned afterward.


    By now, she should have been numb to it.


    But this time, it felt different¡­


    Her mind was in complete turmoil, and she found herself absentminded in everything she did.


    Just then, the tavern door swung open.


    Yvlan immediately looked up.


    This time, she wasn¡¯t disappointed. That familiar, muscular figure stood in the doorway, his face still wearing that same honest and confident smile.


    A wave of relief instantly washed over Yvlan, and a bright smile appeared on her face.


    But in the next moment, her smile froze.


    Because she saw that Caius was not alone.


    Beside him was a woman.


    A stunningly beautiful woman with an air of elegance and nobility¡ªsomeone whose status was clearly anything but ordinary.

 Chapter 60

    "Yvlan is an amazing tavern owner. If it weren''t for her help, I wouldn''t have improved so quickly," Caius said with a smile. "My very first mission was introduced by her. That was when I encountered a Wolf Demon."


    "So, without her, you wouldn''t have gotten the Wolf Demon remains, nor met an excellent mercenary?" Holan chuckled.


    "Hahaha, something like that." Caius nodded.


    "Then I must properly thank her later." Holan said as she walked into the tavern alongside Caius.


    As soon as she stepped inside, she slightly frowned.


    The air was thick with the scent of alcohol and the sweat of mercenaries.


    She disliked such an odor, which was why she rarely visited mercenary taverns.


    However, she didn¡¯t detect any sweat stench from Caius. Perhaps because he had never broken a sweat in front of her.


    Luckily, she was only here to commission a mission and wouldn¡¯t stay long, so she could tolerate it for now.


    But then, her eyes landed on a woman.


    A stunning woman with a strikingly curvaceous figure.


    For some reason, her first instinct was to glance at Caius.


    That big guy had said the Boss Lady was great¡ªwas he only talking about business?


    Caius, on the other hand, walked straight toward the woman with a bright grin.


    "Boss Lady, I''m back!" he declared, striding in like he owned the place.


    The nearby mercenaries turned to look.


    They were already familiar with Caius. What truly drew their attention was the beautiful lady beside him.


    With that noble aura and breathtaking looks, she did not seem like someone who would step into a mercenary tavern.


    Which left only one possible reason for her presence.


    Suddenly, the mercenaries¡¯ gazes toward Caius brimmed with envy.


    Yvlan smiled and nodded at Caius, her eyes pausing on Holan for a moment before asking, "Mission completed?"


    "Of course!" Caius grinned, retrieving the mission materials from his Spatial Ring.


    Among them were a Unicorn Bison''s horn, some Hops Flower that Eli needed, a mission token from Nick, and a stamped mission sheet bearing a five-star rating.


    Completing three Gold-tier missions in one go left the surrounding mercenaries in awe.


    Yvlan, however, was unfazed. She was well aware of Caius¡¯s efficiency.


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    She nodded, collected the materials, and swiftly handed over the commission reward. Caius pushed one of the bags back toward her. "Give this one to Boss Eli for me."


    "Alright." Yvlan nodded, then turned her gaze to Holan. "And this is?"


    "Instructor Holan from Hydis Academy," Caius introduced. "Instructor Holan, this is Yvlan, the incredible Boss Lady I mentioned."


    Hearing this, Holan smiled and extended her hand. "A pleasure to meet you."


    Her every movement exuded noble grace.


    Yvlan quickly shook hands with her, a smile appearing on her face.


    Caius calling her an incredible Boss Lady filled her with a quiet joy.


    "Instructor Holan is here to commission some missions..." Caius interjected, acting as a bridge between the two women.


    But Holan picked up the conversation herself. "Yes, I have six Gold-tier missions and one Platinum-tier mission to commission."


    At that, not only Caius but also the surrounding mercenaries and Yvlan widened their eyes.


    Caius blinked at her, his expression clearly saying, "That¡¯s not what you told me earlier."


    Before arriving, Holan had only mentioned three Gold-tier missions. Now, the number had doubled, with a Platinum-tier mission added on top.


    Holan noticed Caius¡¯s gaze but merely smiled and ignored it. Most of her attention was focused on the beautiful Boss Lady in front of her.


    The air seemed to crackle with tension.


    Or maybe it didn¡¯t.


    "So, can you take them on?" Holan asked with a gentle smile, though the undertone was not lost on Yvlan.


    Take them?


    The real question was¡ªdid she have the qualifications to accept them?


    She currently had only one capable mercenary¡ªCaius. If she accepted the missions, he would undoubtedly be the one to carry them out.


    Six Gold-tier missions wouldn¡¯t be an issue for Caius.


    The problem was the Platinum-tier mission.


    Could Caius complete it?


    More importantly, did she even have the authority to accept it on his behalf?


    Thinking this through, Yvlan was already inclined to back out.


    Her looks might rival Holan¡¯s, but in terms of power, status, or any other aspect, there was an undeniable gap between them.


    Her gaze dimmed slightly, but she maintained her professional smile. "The Gold-tier missions are no problem, but the Platinum-tier one..."


    Before she could finish, Caius¡¯s voice rang out: "We¡¯ll take it too!"


    Yvlan''s heart trembled as she turned to look at him, only to see him grinning at her.


    Holan also turned to Caius, an unreadable glint in her eyes.


    After a brief moment of silence, Yvlan bit her lip. She wasn¡¯t sure where this sudden confidence came from, but she nodded and smiled at Holan.


    This time, it wasn¡¯t a professional smile¡ªit was a smile filled with determination.


    "Yes, we can take it."


    "I have the best mercenary on hand, and I guarantee he will complete your commission!"


    "Is that so? Then I look forward to it." Holan smiled and nodded.


    "Please, follow me. For Gold-tier and above commissions, we require identity verification and mission registration. You are an esteemed client, so we will arrange the best reception room for you."


    "Thank you," Holan responded politely, following Yvlan deeper into the tavern.


    Caius hurried after them.


    He wasn¡¯t oblivious¡ªhe could feel the tension in the air.


    As for why...


    Caius could only bite his lip and curse his own damned charm.


    Not that he was being conceited¡ªhe genuinely hadn''t expected this.


    It was their first meeting, yet the two women seemed to be subtly competing with each other. He wasn¡¯t even sure why, but he knew it had something to do with him.


    And just now, Yvlan had been at a disadvantage.


    The Boss Lady had helped him a lot, so it was only right that he returned the favor.


    Which meant Holan was probably a little upset now.


    Having two women subtly competing for him felt great, but it was also quite the headache.


    It happened in his past life, and now it was happening again in this one.


    Sigh... was Chris that old bastard right after all? Was he actually a scoundrel?


    Pah! No way!


    He was a responsible man!


    A real man!


    Chris and his nonsense couldn¡¯t be trusted!


    Muttering to himself, he followed the two women into the reception room.


    Yvlan prepared tea for Holan, though Holan didn¡¯t drink it.


    Then came the paperwork¡ªseven missions in total: six Gold-tier, one Platinum-tier, plus identity verification and mission registration. Yvlan brought out nine forms.


    Holan filled them out carefully while Yvlan patiently guided her.


    Caius raised a brow.


    The two of them didn¡¯t seem to be competing anymore.


    Maybe he had been imagining things.


    Tsk, women were hard to understand.

 Chapter 61

    Before long, the table was filled out.


    Holan then turned to Caius and said, "Alright, it''s time to go. We can''t keep my precious student waiting."


    There was a hint of urgency in her tone, clearly indicating that Holan didn¡¯t want to stay here any longer.


    Caius replied, "Sure, you go wait outside. I''ll take on a mission and be right there."


    Holan nodded and walked straight out.


    Caius looked at her retreating figure, grinning to himself. But when he turned his head, he immediately met the disapproving gaze of the Boss Lady.


    "Uh... that is, I¡¯m just picking up a mission?" Caius said hesitantly.


    However, Yvlan didn¡¯t immediately hand him the mission slip. Instead, she asked, "You and she... are you close?"


    "Yeah, we''re friends," Caius replied.


    "Friends? A friend who can issue seven mission commissions for you, including one Platinum-tier task?" Yvlan raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical.


    Caius smiled helplessly. "What do you mean, for me? The profits from the commissions go to her, not me."


    "Will you be taking a commission from her?" Yvlan asked, her expression softening slightly.


    "Of course!" Caius answered quickly.


    Although a little nervous inside, he couldn''t show it right now.


    Upon hearing this, Yvlan finally smiled and handed him the mission slip. However, she seemed a little worried as she said, "This Platinum-tier mission isn¡¯t simple. It¡¯s a hunt for a Platinum-tier Magic Beast, and the difficulty is pretty high. Are you sure you can handle it?"


    "Of course!" Caius said, grinning broadly. "Oh, I forgot to tell you¡ªI''ve just broken through to Gold-tier!"


    Yvlan looked stunned. "Wait... weren''t you Gold-tier before?"


    "No, I was Silver-tier before," Caius explained.


    "Silver-tier, and you could hunt a Wolf Demon?!" Yvlan was clearly shocked.


    "Yep! Otherwise, how could I be the best?" Caius said with a boastful grin.


    Seeing Caius acting so self-assured, Yvlan chuckled and nodded. "Alright, no wonder you¡¯re confident enough to take on a Platinum-tier task."


    "With these mission titles, I should be fine for a three-star rating, right?" Caius asked, smiling.


    "Of course!" Yvlan imitated Caius¡¯s confident posture and said, "Don''t just settle for three stars¡ªif you manage to complete these Gold-tier and Platinum-tier tasks, you might even get a four-star rating!"


    "Ha! Leave it to me. I¡¯ll have it wrapped up in ten days!" Caius snapped his fingers.


    "Take it easy. This time, you¡¯re hunting a Platinum-tier Crystalith Serpent. They want its Crystalis Heart, so there''s no shortcut. You¡¯ll have to kill it," Yvlan warned.


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    "Don''t worry, maybe I''ll get lucky and find a complete Crystalith Serpent carcass," Caius joked.


    Seeing him so relaxed, Yvlan didn¡¯t say anything else. She nodded and gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.


    She wore a hairpin on the side of her head. It was made from a Mona Redbloom flower and two white peach blossoms, coated in amber-like resin. The three flowers were in full bloom, showing their most beautiful appearance.


    There was a hint of anticipation in her eyes, but Caius simply organized the mission slip, stowed it in his Spatial Ring, and then said, "I¡¯ll be off then. Can I borrow the tavern''s carriage?"


    "It''s in the stable. Go get it yourself..." Yvlan replied, her tone a little subdued. Still, she added, "Be careful on the road."


    "Thanks!" Caius nodded, leaving the reception room and closing the door behind him.


    Yvlan sighed, gently touching the hairpin in her hair.


    But just as she did, the door opened again. Caius walked back in and directly approached her.


    Yvlan froze, feeling an unexpected rush of nervousness.


    The next moment, Caius took the hairpin from her ear and gently placed it on the other side of her head.


    "This side looks better," Caius grinned, "Stay beautiful. See you!"


    With that, he hummed a tune and walked out of the room.


    Yvlan stood there in a daze, watching the door close. Then, she smiled and covered her mouth.


    "This guy, why does he always do this..." she muttered.


    But as she spoke, the smile on her lips didn¡¯t fade.


    Outside the tavern, Caius spotted Holan standing with her arms crossed not far off. It seemed like she had seen him, but she quickly turned her head, pretending not to notice.


    Caius secretly pursed his lips.


    It seemed that the Boss Lady part was taken care of. Now, it was up to the instructor.


    Caius had a feeling this wouldn''t be as easy.


    Sure enough, when Caius walked up to Holan, she gave him a knowing smile and said, "Looks like you and that tavern owner really are close."


    Caius chuckled. "Yeah, we¡¯re good friends."


    "Friends?" Holan raised an eyebrow. "Can a friend get you to take on a task like this, one that shouldn¡¯t be taken?"


    "You know, I¡¯m an excellent mercenary, so of course, she¡¯d trust me with the task," Caius said.


    "Without taking any commission?" Holan asked, her tone skeptical.


    Caius twitched his eyelid.


    So we''re doing this now?


    "Of course not. After all, a few commission fees are nothing compared to the friendship of a fellow excellent mentor like myself. A smart person knows what to choose," Caius replied with a snicker.


    Holan then smiled, but clearly, this wasn¡¯t over yet.


    She opened her mouth to ask something else, but Caius quickly decided to change the subject.


    He gestured toward Holan and said, "Honestly, Holan, you really startled me earlier."


    "At first, I thought it was just a few Gold-tier tasks."


    "Then out of nowhere, a Platinum-tier task."


    "You''re scared of Platinum-tier tasks?" Holan asked, clearly distracted.


    "Of course not. I was scared of you," Caius chuckled.


    "Me?" Holan raised an eyebrow, confused.


    Caius gave her a serious look. "You know, when I broke through to Gold-tier, I was itching to take on a Platinum-tier Magic Beast to test my strength."


    "After all, you know I love challenges and danger."


    "At the time, I had my eyes set on a Crystalith Serpent because it¡¯s a vicious creature and really strong for its tier. Plus, there¡¯s one about 200 kilometers away in Nofalark Forest."


    "That kind of challenge really gets my blood pumping."


    "When you mentioned the Platinum-tier task, I was surprised. But when I saw it was a Crystalith Serpent, I was actually shocked."


    "I started wondering if you could read minds and knew exactly what I was thinking."


    "Is that the case?" Caius stared at Holan, as if genuinely pondering this possibility.


    Holan couldn¡¯t help but laugh, her expression full of amusement.


    It seemed like their thoughts were aligned, which made her feel quite pleased.


    There was a sense of unspoken understanding.


    "What do you think?" Holan asked, her eyes narrowing mischievously.


    Caius rubbed his chin thoughtfully before saying, "Two possibilities."


    "One, you really can use mind-reading magic. I¡¯ve heard that those who can master such magic are rare, magical prodigies!"


    Holan¡¯s smile grew wider. "And the other?"


    Caius smiled mysteriously. "The other is... you¡¯re just incredibly smart and empathetic, and only someone like that could figure out what I was thinking!"


    "Hehehe," Holan laughed, her body shaking with laughter. "You can just think of it as the second one."


    "I agree, but the first possibility isn¡¯t too far off," Caius continued, pretending to analyze.


    "Alright, alright, no more flattery. Belle is still waiting for us," Holan said with a smile, no longer pressing the issue about Yvlan.


    Caius grinned.


    Mission accomplished!

 Chapter 62

    Driving the borrowed carriage from the Tavern, Caius arrived at the Orphanage entrance, with Belle carrying large bundles as she got onto the carriage.


    A group of little girls, who had just stopped crying, immediately burst into tears again upon seeing Belle board the carriage and prepare to leave.


    Seeing this, Caius simply spread his arms wide and scooped up the group of girls, all under the age of ten.


    "Sit tight!" Caius placed them on his shoulders, and the little girls quickly held hands and sat properly.


    Tina was still hugging Caius'' neck, but she had stopped crying.


    "I''ll take you for a ride, and once we reach the city gates, I''ll send you back. So no more crying, alright?" Caius said.


    "Mhm!" The little girls nodded, then excitedly looked around and said, "It''s so high up! Big guy, aren¡¯t you scared of heights?"


    Caius chuckled.


    From just a little over two meters high, how could he possibly be scared?


    "Of course not! I''m a brave mercenary!" Caius hummed proudly.


    Tina looked at him with her big sparkling eyes. "Then can I be a mercenary too?"


    "Of course you can, but being a mage is even better." Caius smiled, then jumped onto the carriage with the little girls.


    His movements were large but steady. The little girls shrieked in surprise but then burst into laughter.


    Inside the carriage, Belle reached out her small hands nervously, as if afraid the girls might fall off.


    But Caius was completely at ease, driving the carriage with one hand while boasting to the little girls perched on his shoulders.


    "Big guy, can you fly?"


    "No, but I can knock flying things out of the sky¡ªwith just a stone I pick up!"


    "Wow~" The little girls gasped in admiration.


    Holan watched this scene unfold, a faint smile appearing on his face.


    A man who could play so naturally with children couldn''t be a bad person.


    The ride from the Orphanage to the city gates was usually ten minutes, but Caius deliberately slowed the carriage, taking twenty minutes instead.


    "We made a deal, no crying," Caius reminded them.


    "Mhm, no crying!" Tina and the little girls'' eyes were red, but they still responded stubbornly.


    "Good." Caius nodded and then, with a shrug of his shoulders, sent the four little girls into the air, catching them securely in his arms.


    "Don¡¯t close your eyes! Let¡¯s have some fun!" Caius grinned mischievously before leaping off the carriage and sprinting forward at an astonishing speed.


    "Waaaaa~~~" The little girls screamed, Tina the loudest of them all.


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    But excitement far outweighed fear.


    The twenty-minute journey back to the Orphanage took less than a minute.


    When he set them down, their hair had turned into a wild mess, like broomsticks.


    "I want to go again!" Tina raised her little hands excitedly.


    Caius laughed and ruffled her hair. "Next time! I still have to take your sister to the Academy."


    "Promise! You have to take us next time!" Tina insisted.


    "Definitely!" Caius nodded, handing the children over to Granny Lunla before dashing back to the city gates.


    "You really don¡¯t find this troublesome, do you?" Holan chuckled.


    "What¡¯s there to be troubled about?" Caius laughed heartily and flicked the reins. "Let¡¯s go!"


    Inside the carriage, Belle watched Caius'' smiling face, her eyes shining softly beneath her bangs.


    The carriage left the city and entered the wilderness.


    It was evident that Belle had never traveled this far beyond the city before. She clutched her bundle tightly, looking slightly tense.


    "Relax, silly mushroom," Caius said with a smile.


    Belle muttered softly, "I''m not silly."


    "Then I¡¯ll just call you little mushroom." Caius chuckled, as if teasing her brought him endless joy.


    Belle hesitated for a moment before extending a single finger from her sleeve, saying nothing.


    Caius raised an eyebrow. "So what if you''re older by a year? You''re still my little mushroom."


    Belle immediately retracted her finger, lowering her head, looking a little aggrieved.


    Holan watched their interaction, both amused and exasperated. He reached out and lightly smacked Caius. "You even dare to bully her when I¡¯m here?"


    "I didn¡¯t!" Caius grinned.


    "I saw it with my own eyes!"


    "Seeing isn''t always believing. Ask her yourself¡ªdid I bully her?" Caius laughed.


    Holan turned to Belle, gently holding her arm. "If he bullies you, tell your Instructor. I''ll teach him a lesson!"


    Belle quickly shook her head. "No, he didn¡¯t bully me..."


    Caius: "Heh heh heh~"


    Holan: "..."


    "Still laughing?" Holan smacked him again. "Belle is just soft-tempered. Anyone else wouldn¡¯t let you tease them like this."


    Caius smiled, then slowly said, "Instructor Holan, can you guarantee that in Hydis, no one will bully Belle?"


    "Of course!" Holan declared. "As long as I¡¯m there, no student will dare bully Belle."


    But Caius shook his head. "It seems you don¡¯t really understand Belle."


    "What do you mean?" Holan frowned.


    Caius didn¡¯t turn around, but his voice was calm. "Have you ever truly seen Belle¡¯s real face?"


    "Uh..." Holan was momentarily stunned and turned to look at Belle.


    That was when he realized¡ªhe had never actually seen this girl¡¯s true appearance.


    "Lift her bangs and take a look. Then, I¡¯ll ask you again," Caius said.


    Holan hesitated, then gently asked Belle, "May I?"


    Belle sat in a daze for a moment before nodding.


    Holan carefully lifted her bangs.


    Then he froze.


    And then, he fell silent.


    Caius¡¯ voice followed.


    "Instructor Holan, now, can you guarantee that no one in Hydis will bully Belle?"


    "I..." This time, Holan¡¯s response lacked the certainty of before.


    Because the moment he saw Belle¡¯s face, he understood.


    If Belle showed her true appearance, the stir she would cause would be unimaginable.


    The ones who would take notice of her wouldn¡¯t just be Hydis¡¯ students.


    This world is cruel.


    To possess breathtaking beauty without the strength or background to match is sometimes more of a curse than a blessing.


    Think of Hilda.


    Her beauty captivated not just Hydis, but all of Grilla City. Among Hydis¡¯ three thousand students, at least half were her devoted admirers. And it wasn¡¯t just students¡ªeven Instructors and high-ranking nobles in Grilla City were enamored with her.


    That might sound impressive.


    But if Hilda lacked the strength or background to match, would being the center of so much attention still be a good thing?


    Not all nobles uphold noble conduct.


    Not all powerful people exercise self-restraint.


    When a girl as stunning as an Angel appears, powerless to resist, how many people would be able to suppress their desires?


    Protecting Belle¡­ Holan¡¯s status might be high, and his strength formidable, but if those eyeing Belle were even stronger, if their backgrounds were more influential, what could he do?


    That was why Caius asked what he did.


    "Can you?" Caius asked again.


    "I..." Holan bit his lip. "I will do my utmost to protect her!"


    "Great answer." Caius nodded with a smile.


    "But I¡¯m different."


    "How so?" Holan asked indignantly.


    "I¡¯m a mercenary. I have no constraints. I can do whatever I want!"


    "If someone bullies her, you¡¯ll try your best to protect her."


    "But I¡ª"


    "Will wipe out anyone who tries!"


    "Annihilation is protection."


    "Do you understand, Instructor Holan?"


    Caius turned back, grinning, his white teeth gleaming.


    "I can guarantee¡ªbesides me, no one will dare to bully her!"

 Chapter 63

    The carriage rolled steadily down the road as Caius listened to Holan¡¯s voice from inside the cabin, feeling a bit helpless.


    "Belle, when you arrive at Hydis, make sure not to show your face, alright?"


    "Otherwise, you¡¯ll attract a lot of troublemakers like Caius who will come bothering you. Even though you¡¯ll have an instructor with you, and they won¡¯t dare to do anything in Hydis, they¡¯ll still annoy you to death."


    Caius: "..."


    Belle listened to Holan¡¯s words, lowering her head as she murmured, "He... isn¡¯t a bad guy..."


    Caius immediately looked smug, raising an eyebrow at Holan in a taunting manner.


    Holan was speechless for a moment before she pulled Belle into an embrace and said, "Alright, maybe he isn¡¯t, but others are. Just remember to listen to your instructor, okay?"


    Belle remained silent, and Holan wasn¡¯t sure if she had taken her words to heart.


    At this moment, Caius added, "It¡¯s never wrong to listen to Instructor Holan."


    Belle nodded lightly. "Mm."


    Caius: "Don¡¯t just ¡®mm.¡¯ Say you understand."


    Belle: "I understand."


    Caius: "Good mushroom."


    Holan: "..."


    Seeing the increasingly smug look on Caius¡¯s face, Holan had an urge to pinch him just to see how thick his skin really was.


    The carriage rolled smoothly along the road as night gradually fell.


    Belle, likely tense from the journey, began nodding off, her small head bobbing slightly as sleepiness overtook her. Her tall yet delicate figure swayed gently with the movement of the carriage.


    Caius noticed this but said nothing. He simply shifted closer to her, turning his back towards her.


    As Belle¡¯s head bobbed again, it finally rested against Caius¡¯s back. Perhaps she was too tired, for she quickly fell asleep in that position.


    Kiki was also curled up on Caius¡¯s other side, fast asleep, her long feline tail wrapped around his arm.


    Hearing the faint sound of snoring in his ears, Caius gently pulled on the reins, slowing the carriage down.


    Holan watched his broad, sturdy back and felt a wave of drowsiness herself. Being with this big guy had a strangely comforting effect, as if she was wrapped in a cocoon of safety.


    And yet, he was only a Gold-ranked warrior...


    Holan yawned and moved behind Caius. First, she carefully tucked Belle in with a blanket before turning around and sitting down, wrapping herself up as well and leaning against Caius¡¯s back.


    Now, Caius had a little Catfolk girl on his left, an elegant instructor on his left back, and a delicate mushroom girl on his right back.


    Caius turned his head slightly and glanced at Holan.


    She was looking up at him too, a playful gleam in her large eyes.


    Caius chuckled but said nothing, focusing on guiding the carriage.


    "Big guy," Holan¡¯s voice echoed softly in his ears, laced with the resonance of magical transmission. Caius knew she was using magic to speak directly to him.


    He let out a small hum to acknowledge her.


    "Can you really protect her?" Holan asked.


    Caius understood what she meant¡ªshe doubted whether he was truly capable of keeping this fragile, pitiable girl safe.


    He didn¡¯t answer verbally but nodded firmly.


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    "Even if the ones trying to harm her are far stronger than you, would you still do it?"


    Caius nodded again.


    "Then why are you so determined to protect her?"


    Caius chuckled. "Because she¡¯s beautiful."


    "Just because of that?" Holan was momentarily stunned.


    "Isn¡¯t that enough?" Caius countered.


    Holan: "..."


    It was a straightforward answer, but also a sincere one.


    If Caius had given some grandiose speech, she wouldn¡¯t have believed him. But this¡ªthis, she believed.


    Because Caius was a man. And men are naturally drawn to beauty.


    Caius made no attempt to hide his instincts; instead, he admitted them openly. This, ironically, made Holan regard him with even more respect.


    So, she asked again, "Do you think I¡¯m beautiful?"


    "Of course," Caius answered without hesitation.


    He had called her a beautiful instructor countless times before. Women liked hearing the answers they wanted, so Caius was happy to oblige.


    "Then, would you protect me the same way?" Holan suddenly asked.


    Caius opened his mouth slightly, turning to look at her, only to find her gazing up at him like an innocent, clueless girl.


    But he wasn¡¯t fooled.


    To him, Holan was a beautiful and intelligent woman¡ªone who knew the value of restraint. She shouldn¡¯t be asking such a near-confession-like question.


    At that moment, Caius¡¯s mind raced, quickly realizing¡ªit was a trap!


    If he answered "yes," it would mean he treated all beautiful women the same, and that Belle wasn¡¯t special to him.


    And what women wanted... was to be special.


    Holan¡¯s question was as tricky as "Who¡¯s prettier, me or XXX?"¡ªa classic trap question. And not just a trap question, but a deadly one!


    No wonder she was an instructor¡ªsuch a complex question rolled off her tongue effortlessly.


    So, Caius pretended to think deeply, pausing for a moment before finally responding.


    "If you were as helpless as the little mushroom and needed protection, then I would."


    "But clearly, you don¡¯t need it. You¡¯re stronger than me, so..." He deliberately paused before flashing a grin.


    "So instead of unnecessary protection, I¡¯d rather offer you romance and excitement you¡¯ve never experienced before."


    "Like the candlelit dinner you promised me."


    Holan covered her mouth, laughing. "I only promised to treat you to dinner. I never said anything about candles."


    Caius smirked. "That¡¯s fine, I can bring my own candles."


    Holan¡¯s laughter turned her eyes into crescent moons. She had long since gotten used to Caius¡¯s shamelessness.


    And this playful "push and pull" amused her greatly.


    So, Holan nodded and leaned into Caius¡¯s back, settling into a comfortable spot. "How about tomorrow night, mercenary?"


    "I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll be a memorable evening, Instructor Holan."


    "Then... goodnight."


    "Sweet dreams."


    The night passed without further conversation.


    When Holan woke up, dawn was already breaking.


    Waking up naturally felt wonderful.


    The only discomfort was sleeping while leaning in the carriage, but a little stretching would fix that.


    Holan straightened up, stretched lazily, then looked at Caius.


    He was still sitting there, as solid as an iron tower.


    Meanwhile, the little Catfolk girl had somehow burrowed into Caius¡¯s arms, curled up against his lap like it was a pillow.


    Belle was still resting against him, which meant that Caius hadn¡¯t moved all night.


    "Where are we now?" Holan asked softly.


    "About a third of the way left to go," Caius replied.


    Since he had slowed the carriage deliberately, they still had some distance to cover, but they would arrive before noon.


    Just then, a soft murmur came from the mushroom girl¡¯s direction.


    Belle was waking up.


    Drowsily, she stood up inside the carriage, momentarily disoriented.


    Luckily, the carriage was a large cargo wagon with a tall roof¡ªotherwise, she would have hit her head.


    She swayed forward and suddenly let out a surprised yelp as she tripped over the wooden ledge of the carriage.


    Caius reacted swiftly, extending his right arm to catch her before gently setting her back down.


    "Silly mushroom, do you think you¡¯re still in the orphanage?"


    ¡°Mm...¡± Belle glanced around, finally realizing¡ªshe had already left the orphanage. Right now, she was inside a carriage heading toward Hydis.


    ¡°Sorry...¡± she murmured softly, feeling like she might have caused trouble for Caius.


    ¡°Stop saying sorry all the time. I''d rather hear you say, ¡®I love you.¡¯¡± Caius chuckled.


    ¡°Hey!¡± Holan lightly tapped him and then turned to Belle. ¡°Ignore him, he''s just messing with you. That¡¯s not something you say casually.¡±


    But then, Holan noticed that Belle had lowered her head without saying a word.


    She raised an eyebrow and shot a look at Caius. ¡°See? You went too far with your joke.¡±


    Caius froze for a moment and turned to Belle. Normally, she always kept her head down due to her lack of confidence, her gaze usually falling diagonally toward the ground rather than looking straight ahead.


    But this time, Belle had completely lowered her head¡ªso much that her small face was almost parallel to the floor.


    Did he really go too far?


    Caius leaned in. ¡°Mushroom?¡±


    Belle didn¡¯t respond and continued looking down.


    Caius glanced at Holan, who crossed her arms with a look that clearly said, ¡°You started this, you fix it.¡±


    With no other choice, Caius said gently, ¡°Look up.¡±


    To his surprise, Belle obediently lifted her head, though she still didn¡¯t say anything.


    Caius reached out and gently brushed aside her bangs.


    She didn¡¯t flinch¡ªthis was a good sign. As long as she wasn¡¯t crying, things weren¡¯t too bad.


    But the moment her bangs were lifted, Caius saw her face had turned completely red.


    His heart skipped a beat.


    In that instant, he realized¡ªhe hadn¡¯t made her cry by taking the joke too far.


    Instead, Mushroom had taken it seriously. She was embarrassed.


    The white mushroom had turned into a pink mushroom.


    Even her ears were red.


    She bit her lip, her large eyes staring up at Caius, filled with panic and unease, like little whirlpools spinning in circles.


    And that look¡ªmade Caius¡¯s heart race uncontrollably.


    ¡°Ahem... I was just teasing you. Don¡¯t overthink it,¡± Caius said, scratching his cheek.


    Upon hearing this, Belle slowly calmed down and gave a small nod.


    ¡°Mm.¡±


    But Holan raised an eyebrow.


    Was this big guy... blushing?

 Chapter 64

    Around ten in the morning, Caius arrived at Grilla City. It was as bustling and prosperous as ever.


    Caius drove the carriage into the unloading area of Hydis Magic Academy and then helped Belle unload a large pile of packages.


    "By the way, Belle''s dormitory is a single room, right?" Caius asked while carrying a package, following behind Holan and Belle.


    Kiki sat on his shoulder, lazily flicking her cat tail back and forth.


    "Mhm." Holan nodded. "I have three spots for magical research personnel dormitories, all of which are single rooms, so you don''t have to worry."


    She naturally understood what Caius was concerned about¡ªwhether Belle''s roommates would bully her.


    Holan had, of course, already considered this.


    "That''s good." Caius nodded, then followed Holan toward the women''s dormitory.


    Of course, he didn''t enter.


    Because Holan smirked and said, "What, you want to go in and take a look?"


    Caius immediately declared righteously, "Not at all! I''m just worried that you two little girls might not be able to carry all these packages."


    Hearing Caius call her a little girl, Holan was in a great mood. She flicked her fingers, and magic power emerged, lifting the packages from Caius''s hands and storing them in her spatial ring.


    "No need to worry about that. Go handle your business~"


    Caius: "..."


    "Alright then." Caius nodded and looked at Belle. "If someone bullies you again, just tell Instructor Holan. If she can''t handle it, I will."


    "And if one day you get bullied and don''t tell me, but I find out anyway, I''ll have to take some unconventional measures. Got it?"


    Belle nodded. "Mhm."


    "Don''t just ''mhm.'' Say you understand."


    "I understand."


    "Alright, off you go."


    Watching the two girls disappear into the mysterious depths of the women''s dormitory, Caius turned and headed out of the academy.


    He planned to take advantage of this time to complete that Platinum-level mission.


    The commissions Holan issued were mostly material collection tasks, which were relatively simple.


    Of the six Gold-level missions, four involved gathering medicinal herbs, likely for making magic potions.


    The remaining two required collecting materials from Gold-level Magic Beasts, which meant hunting them. However, both were herbivorous creatures.


    So these six Gold-level missions had a fair amount of leeway¡ªthey carried the Gold-level title but were barely harder than Silver-level tasks.


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    As for the Platinum-level mission of hunting the Crystalith Serpent, its location was in Nofalark Forest.


    Nofalark Forest was a massive woodland, far larger than places like Nemo Forest.


    From Grilla City, it was closer to Nofalark Forest than from Ocean City, at a distance of about 190 kilometers.


    If he rushed there now, took down the Crystalith Serpent, and returned, he would probably be back by the afternoon.


    He could then present the Crystalith Serpent''s magic crystal as a gift to Holan.


    Though it was technically part of the mission, it was still better than preparing some meaningless flowers.


    A mercenary¡¯s idea of romance wasn¡¯t flowers.


    Moreover, of the six Gold-level missions assigned by Holan, five of the required materials could be found in Nofalark Forest. With some luck, he might complete all six missions in one go.


    That efficiency? Off the charts.


    To prepare, Caius stopped by a magic potion shop in Grilla City to replenish his stock of stamina potions, getting ready for a big day ahead.


    And to clarify¡ªwhen he said "big day ahead," he meant battling the Crystalith Serpent, not... Holan.


    Uh... never mind, no need to explain.


    With preparations complete, Caius took Kiki and sprinted off.


    After his recent rank advancement, Caius was even faster. Covering nearly 200 kilometers, he reached his destination in under an hour.


    Though it was tough on the little catgirl¡ªher fur was all fluffed up from the wind.


    "Big guy, I¡¯m so dizzy, meow..." Kiki whimpered pitifully, clinging to Caius¡¯s shoulder.


    "Alright, let¡¯s rest for a bit." Caius felt a bit guilty and also thought to himself¡ªif only he could fly, it would be much faster and less bumpy.


    Magic was definitely something worth learning.


    After a ten-minute break at the forest¡¯s edge, Kiki was full of energy again.


    Catfolk were truly full of vitality.


    Caius then led her deeper into the forest.


    Luck was on their side. Less than ten kilometers in, they completed their first material collection task, finding an herb Holan needed.


    And it was Kiki who found it¡ªher sharp eyes spotted it in a dense patch of undergrowth.


    Plucking the herb and storing it in his spatial ring, Caius pressed on.


    For some reason, luck seemed to be in full swing. Kiki soon found three more of the required herbs, completing four out of the six Gold-level missions.


    Of course, Holan had designed these missions to be relatively easy, but Caius wasn¡¯t stingy with his praise.


    He ruffled Kiki¡¯s head, smiling. "You really are my lucky star."


    "Hehe~" Kiki was overjoyed¡ªshe finally felt useful.


    Motivated, she hopped around energetically, scanning for more mission targets.


    In addition to mission-related herbs, Caius also collected any valuable herbs he recognized, ensuring he had a stockpile for future commissions.


    Even without an immediate use, these Gold-tier herbs could fetch a good price.


    Of course, they encountered dangers along the way.


    The forest was teeming with Magic Beasts, and even in the outer areas, plenty of Gold-level creatures roamed. In less than an hour, Caius had encountered seven.


    A normal Gold-rank mercenary would likely be exhausted or injured by now.


    But was Caius just any ordinary Gold-rank?


    Obviously not.


    These Gold-tier Magic Beasts barely lasted a punch against him before realizing this massive two-legged beast wasn¡¯t someone to mess with and scurried away.


    Two particularly stubborn ones insisted on challenging him and were promptly knocked out cold by Caius¡¯s fists.


    He didn¡¯t even bother using his prized weapon¡ªthe Angel Warhammer.


    By noon, Caius had roasted a leg from a Gold-tier Magic Beast over a fire and enjoyed a good meal with Kiki.


    After their feast, Caius and Kiki resumed their search for the Crystalith Serpent.


    However, whether due to bad luck or some other reason, he failed to find any trace of it, even by 4 PM.


    If he didn¡¯t return by 5 PM, he¡¯d miss dinner.


    So, after another half-hour of searching with no results, Caius decided to head back.


    Although he wouldn¡¯t be able to present the Crystalith Serpent¡¯s magic crystal to Holan, the collected herbs should be sufficient.


    Just as he was about to turn back, a loud commotion erupted in the distance, followed by a sharp hiss.


    Caius raised an eyebrow. That hiss sounded very much like a serpent-type Magic Beast.


    Could it be the Crystalith Serpent?


    With that thought, he immediately dashed toward the source of the noise with Kiki in tow.


    Crossing a small hill and sprinting several kilometers, he reached a basin and finally saw the source of the commotion.


    Just as he suspected, it was indeed a massive Crystalith Serpent, stretching 30 to 40 meters long.


    But it wasn¡¯t alone.


    As he scanned the basin, Caius¡¯s expression gradually darkened.


    Because besides the Crystalith Serpent, he also spotted a human¡ªand eight Wolf Demons!

 Chapter 65

    The moment Caius saw the Wolf Demons, he knew things had taken a turn for the worse.


    Holan had mentioned before that Wolf Demons were solitary creatures, so for so many of them to appear at once here could only mean one thing...


    There was a high chance that a Blood Soil had emerged nearby.


    "Wolf Demons, meow..." Kiki gulped as she took in the scene in the basin. It was clear that Wolf Demons had left a deep impression on her.


    She also noticed that among the eight Wolf Demons, one was particularly massive.


    The others were around three meters tall, with two reaching about four meters, but the largest one stood at an imposing six meters. Its claws gleamed with a bright, blood-red hue, glowing even from a distance.


    "Big guy, there''s someone down there. Should we go help her, meow?" Kiki turned to Caius.


    Caius crouched down, observing quietly before grinning. "Of course. We know that person."


    "Who?" Kiki asked, puzzled. Her eyesight wasn''t as keen as Caius''s, so she could only make out that the figure was a woman.


    "Hilda. Remember her?" Caius smiled.


    "Oh, the Swan Blade Maiden Warren mentioned, meow!" Kiki suddenly realized.


    "That''s right!" Caius snapped his fingers. "She needs our help now, and this is a perfect opportunity!"


    "What opportunity, meow?" Kiki tilted her head in curiosity.


    "Obviously, a chance to play the hero and save the beauty!" Caius laughed boldly.


    "Big guy, do you like her?" Kiki suddenly asked.


    "I like all beauties." Caius nodded matter-of-factly.


    There was no need to be as reserved as Holan when talking to a little catgirl. He could just be straightforward.


    Hearing this, Kiki fell into deep thought. Then she touched her own face before turning to Caius with a serious expression.


    "Big guy, does that mean you save every beauty in danger?"


    "Of course! Why wouldn¡¯t I?" Caius huffed.


    At that, Kiki burst into giggles.


    After all, Caius had saved her before too. That meant she was also one of the "beauties" in his book.


    And if Caius liked all beauties...


    Then that meant...


    Caius liked Kiki!


    Kiki considered herself a genius~


    So, she nodded, leaped onto Caius''s back, and declared, "Then let¡¯s go save her, meow!"


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    "Alright!" Caius launched himself forward, charging into the basin.


    Meanwhile, the battle in the basin reignited.


    ......


    Hilda wielded her rapier, forming a tense standoff with the Crystalith Serpent and the pack of Wolf Demons.


    In reality, the Wolf Demons posed a far greater threat than the Crystalith Serpent. Even the serpent itself had assumed a defensive stance against them.


    Hilda¡¯s heart grew heavy.


    She had come to Nofalark Forest for training, intending to collect materials for Instructor Holan as well.


    Yes, by sheer coincidence, she and Caius had the same objective.


    However, her motivation stemmed from gratitude. After hearing that Instructor Holan¡¯s magical research team needed certain materials, she volunteered to go on this training mission to gather them¡ªwithout Holan¡¯s knowledge.


    She had always been a lone wolf, despite her popularity at the academy.


    As a Platinum Two-Star warrior, she was more than qualified to venture into Nofalark Forest alone.


    Her primary target this time was the Crystalith Serpent, which averaged at Platinum Three-Star¡ªone rank higher than her.


    But she had absolute confidence in herself.


    As the youngest and most talented swordswoman of her clan, she had every quality a genius needed, including the ability to fight above her rank!


    On the third day of her expedition, she finally encountered a Platinum Four-Star Crystalith Serpent.


    Though it was two sub-ranks above her, she did not fear it. Defeating it would merely take more effort.


    What she hadn¡¯t expected was that just as she had successfully suppressed the serpent and was about to land the finishing blow, the pack of Wolf Demons had appeared out of nowhere and ambushed her.


    Had she not reacted swiftly, she would have been severely wounded.


    Even so, she had to forcibly interrupt her sword technique to evade the ambush, causing her magic power to backlash against her body.


    It was not a pleasant experience.


    Now, she stood in a standoff against the Crystalith Serpent and the Wolf Demons.


    She recognized the Wolf Demons, but these ones were different.


    The leader of the pack was far larger, more ferocious, and possessed blood-red claws that ordinary Wolf Demons did not have.


    It had been this very Wolf Demon that ambushed her earlier¡ªits speed was astonishing, at least at the Platinum tier.


    Moreover, its blood-colored claws emitted a red glow and a lingering blood mist, a clear indication that they were venomous.


    Hilda had a foreboding feeling. If those claws so much as grazed her, even the smallest wound could become a serious problem.


    The situation was decidedly against her.


    She had already fought the Crystalith Serpent, and since it was a higher-tier opponent, she had consumed a great deal of her magic power.


    Her magic power was unique¡ªhighly concentrated and explosive, far exceeding that of her peers. This was the key to her ability to battle above her tier.


    But it came with a drawback: her magic reserves were lower than those of other mages at her level. She had trained since childhood to manage and allocate her magic efficiently.


    Now that she had expended more than half her magic, facing a pack of fully energized Wolf Demons was a severe disadvantage.


    She clenched her jaw in frustration. She had been on the verge of slaying the Crystalith Serpent when these Wolf Demons had interfered, forcing her to suffer magical backlash.


    And in the eyes of the massive Wolf Demon, she had seen something chilling¡ªcunning.


    It had deliberately attacked at that precise moment to disrupt her finishing strike.


    If its ambush had succeeded, she would have been grievously wounded. If it failed, she would still suffer from the backlash.


    This was no mindless Magic Beast.


    This was a vicious and calculating foe!


    Her best course of action was to retreat.


    She understood what the presence of so many Wolf Demons meant.


    But her pride and anger kept her rooted in place, lifting her sword.


    A Scarlotte swordsman never feared the strong!


    A Scarlotte knight never cowered before death!


    She, Hilda Kiel Scarlotte, would never disgrace the honor of the Scarlotte Clan!


    Nor would she tarnish the name of the Blade Master lineage!


    Facing these Bloody Creatures, she would not flee!


    Since fate had placed them before her, she would cut them down here and now¡ªto forge her path to legend!


    With that thought, she shifted her stance, turning her side toward the Wolf Demon pack.


    Her rapier, slender yet deadly, hovered parallel to the ground, its tip aimed at the monstrous leader.


    Her other hand rested behind her back, her eyes as sharp as her blade, radiating an unyielding aura. Her golden hair, tied in a high ponytail, fluttered despite the still air.


    Then, in a voice as cold as winter¡¯s breath, brimming with elegance and confidence, she spoke:


    "Prepare to die."

 Chapter 66

    Listening to Hilda''s whispers, a cruel glint flashed through the eyes of the giant Slaughter Wolf Demon.


    It let out a harsh growl, and all the Wolf Demons scattered. Three of them lunged toward the heavily wounded Crystalith Serpent, while the remaining four, along with the giant Wolf Demon, surrounded Hilda.


    The battle near the Crystalith Serpent erupted quickly. Severely injured, the serpent was no match for the three Gold-rank Wolf Demons. Like a tiger fallen to a pack of dogs, it was clear it wouldn¡¯t last long.


    Meanwhile, the four Wolf Demons encircling Hilda, led by the giant one, launched their attack.


    A cold glint flashed in Hilda''s eyes as magic power rippled outward.


    Snow as thick as swan feathers began to fall from the sky¡ªbest not to lick it.


    For that might be the sword light of the Swan Blade Maiden.


    As the snow danced in the air, each flake concealed a razor-sharp sword intent.


    In an instant, dozens of slashes rained down, slicing one Wolf Demon into pieces on the spot!


    But the giant Wolf Demon''s counterattack followed immediately. Its blood-colored claws tore through the air with a piercing screech, aiming straight for Hilda¡¯s back.


    Without even turning her head, Hilda pushed off with a powerful kick, dodging swiftly. The ground where she had just stood was shattered into a massive crater several meters wide, showcasing the terrifying power of the giant Wolf Demon.


    She couldn''t afford a direct confrontation!


    Hilda quickly reached this conclusion.


    She had to rely on her superior agility to eliminate the Gold-rank Wolf Demons first before dealing with the largest one!


    With that thought, she landed, her toes barely touching the ground before she sprinted toward one of the Gold-rank Wolf Demons.


    But at that moment, a foul wind surged toward her. Hilda¡¯s pupils contracted as she instantly executed the Combat Technique¡ªGolden Flash¡ªturning into a streak of golden light that shot away from her original position.


    "Boom!!!"


    A deafening explosion rang out.


    Perched on a tree branch, Hilda gazed at the spot she had just been standing, her expression heavy as she locked eyes with the giant Wolf Demon.


    That speed¡­ it was even faster than she had expected!


    But that wasn¡¯t a reason to retreat.


    If that was the case, then she would simply be even faster!


    Flicking her slender sword, magic power surged once more.


    Golden Flash!


    A zigzagging golden light streaked toward the giant Wolf Demon at lightning speed. The demon immediately raised its claws to swat it down.


    Yet, just as it was about to make contact, the golden light reflected like a mirror, veering off and forming a sharp triangle, maneuvering behind it.


    Snowflake-like sword lights rained down again, leaving fine sword marks across the giant Wolf Demon''s back. But Hilda''s true killing move wasn¡¯t directed at it¡ªit was aimed at the Gold-rank Wolf Demon behind it.


    Just like the first one, this Wolf Demon was sliced apart in an instant!


    In the blink of an eye, another one fell!


    She didn¡¯t stop, weaving across the battlefield as a golden streak of light.


    The giant Wolf Demon roared in pursuit, and from afar, it seemed like a gold and black flash darting across the battlefield.


    But each time, Hilda effortlessly and elegantly evaded the giant Wolf Demon¡¯s attacks while cutting down the Gold-rank Wolf Demons with her slender sword.


    Through her relentless hit-and-run tactics, the three Gold-rank Wolf Demons were soon all slain.


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    Still, she did not stop and instead charged toward the three Wolf Demons attacking the Crystalith Serpent.


    The Crystalith Serpent was barely clinging to life, its body being ruthlessly torn apart by its assailants.


    Suddenly, a roar rang out. The largest of the three, likely nearing Platinum rank, lifted its head.


    But what greeted it was a golden sword light.


    Its head was severed from its body!


    "The fourth one¡­" she murmured, looking every bit the golden huntress¡ªcalm, precise, and elegant.


    From his hidden vantage point, Caius couldn¡¯t help but click his tongue in amazement.


    Goodness, no wonder she was granted the title of Swan Blade Maiden at the Platinum rank. She was far from just a pretty face.


    "Does she really need our help, Meow?" Kiki couldn''t help but ask.


    Caius focused on the battlefield before nodding. "She does."


    "Why? She''s almost wiped out all the Wolf Demons, Meow¡­ The fifth one now! So strong, Meow!"


    But Caius shook his head. "She is strong, but her sword won¡¯t hold."


    "And that giant Wolf Demon¡ªyou haven¡¯t noticed, have you? It¡¯s still smiling."


    "Tsk, what a twisted creature. It''s treating this as a game."


    Kiki stiffened, her expression turning serious.


    If it saw this as a game, that meant it hadn¡¯t even revealed its true power yet.


    Watching its kind being slaughtered one after another, it remained entertained rather than enraged. Just as Caius said¡ªit truly was a vile creature, Meow.


    But...


    Kiki glanced at Caius, who was hiding in the shadows, enjoying the show with interest, and asked, "Then why aren¡¯t we helping her now, Meow?"


    Caius chuckled and shook his head. "She¡¯s a proud girl. That confidence of hers is palpable even from two hundred meters away. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t take such risky evasive maneuvers, narrowly dodging the giant Wolf Demon¡¯s claws just to strike down the nearby Gold-rank Wolf Demon."


    "If I step in now, this proud Little Swan might just turn her blade on me."


    He smirked and shrugged. "She¡¯s a genius, and she¡¯s strong, but she¡¯s too young. So we wait until she learns her lesson. Only then will our assistance be truly effective."


    "Oh~" Kiki looked as if she had learned something valuable and nodded.


    Strangely enough, despite Caius claiming to be eighteen when he was actually only sixteen, when he called an eighteen- or nineteen-year-old girl "too young," Kiki didn¡¯t find it odd at all.


    Perhaps it was because Caius exuded the air of a seasoned mercenary.


    With both his past and present lives combined, he had forty-eight years of experience. His way of speaking and mannerisms were nothing like those of a sixteen-year-old.


    And of course, neither was his muscular physique.


    "I just don¡¯t get why she¡¯s not using Magic. Could it be she doesn¡¯t know how?" Caius muttered.


    "Impossible. As the Student Council President of Hydis Magic Academy, not knowing Magic would be a joke¡­"


    Just then, a sword hum echoed through the air. Hilda stepped onto a tree trunk and leaped away.


    In the next instant, the tree, thick enough to require an adult¡¯s arms to encircle, was cleanly bisected by the giant Wolf Demon¡¯s claws!


    Landing softly, Hilda¡¯s chest rose and fell slightly, her high-speed maneuvers and relentless slashes having taken their toll. Her Magic reserves were down to less than a quarter.


    But her eyes held more excitement than exhaustion.


    Seven Wolf Demons had been slain. Now, she only needed to take down the biggest one!


    She raised her sword once more.


    Sensing her intent, the giant Wolf Demon¡¯s grin grew more sinister.


    It spread its arms wide in a welcoming gesture, claws fully extended, gleaming coldly.


    A single leaf drifted down.


    The moment it touched the ground, gold and black streaks clashed in a violent collision.


    The golden light moved faster, more agile, weaving around the massive Slaughter Wolf Demon, dodging its attacks with precise movements. Every time she evaded a strike, she retaliated with multiple slashes, seizing every opportunity to leave wounds on the creature¡¯s body.


    Those wounds seemed insignificant compared to the massive frame of the Slaughter Wolf Demon.


    But what if there were a hundred? A thousand? Ten thousand?


    Enough to cut it into tiny pieces!


    Hundreds of golden sword arcs danced faster and faster as thick snowflakes filled the air. Hilda''s face gradually lit up with excitement and confidence.


    An opening!


    A chance to strike!


    As the Wolf Demon¡¯s claws swiped through empty air, her sapphire-blue eyes turned gold, perceiving a golden trajectory.


    If she followed that line with her blade, she could sever its head!


    That was her thought, and that was her action.


    The Wolf Demon, with its back to her, had no time to defend.


    She believed she could do it.


    Yes, she could.


    But her sword could not.


    With a crisp snap, Hilda spun through the air before landing steadily on the ground.


    However, the smile on her face vanished as she slowly lifted her sword.


    The elegant rapier was broken.


    The shattered blade was lodged in the vertebral gap at the back of the Slaughter Wolf Demon¡¯s neck.


    This strike had failed to behead the creature¡ªand had cost her her weapon.


    The Wolf Demon turned around, reaching back with its claws. It tore at the wound, ripping away flesh, fur, and the embedded fragment of the broken sword in one brutal motion.


    Its twisted grin disappeared, replaced by a hollow, expressionless gaze.


    Its eyes widened, staring at Hilda¡ªnot baring its fangs, yet exuding an overwhelming pressure that made her feel as though she were suffocating.


    Its eyes glowed red.


    The next instant, a thunderous roar erupted, sending waves of terrifying energy outward. Within a few hundred meters, crimson light surged from the corpses of fallen Wolf Demons, streaking into the body of the massive Slaughter Wolf Demon in the blink of an eye.


    The creature''s dark fur turned blood-red. Its half-meter-long claws extended to a full meter, while its towering six-meter frame shrank to around four meters with the crackling sound of shifting bones.


    Yet its muscle definition became even more pronounced, and its aura grew exponentially more menacing.


    A wave of pure brutality swept over Hilda, turning her face pale.


    Was this thing... really a Wolf Demon?


    She had never heard of a Wolf Demon possessing a second form...


    If Holan were here, he would have told her exactly what she was facing¡ªa superior variant of the Wolf Demon.


    A Slaughter Wolf Demon!

 Chapter 67

    A cloaked figure stood a kilometer away, observing the scene before them. With a shake of the head, they let out a sigh.


    Had Hilda been in peak condition, and her weapon intact, she would have been able to handle the Slaughter Wolf Demon.


    But now, she couldn¡¯t.


    For the moment, he still wouldn¡¯t intervene. Instead, he waited for the Slaughter Wolf Demon to attack Hilda, hoping to awaken the protective power within her.


    The only issue was that such an approach might damage her mental state¡ªafter all, she wasn¡¯t aware of the power lying dormant within her.


    Yet, it was better than letting her perish.


    He raised a hand, and a book appeared within his grasp. A golden brush hovered beside it, ready to record Hilda¡¯s training process and her various shortcomings of the day.


    However, his brow suddenly arched. He stowed away the book and pen, a glint of amusement flickering in his eyes.


    ...


    The transformed Slaughter Wolf Demon once again bared its fangs in a menacing grin, and Hilda could feel its murderous intent.


    Her hand trembled slightly.


    Not just from the shock of her sword striking bone, but from fear.


    Fear¡­ was she actually afraid?


    It was an awful feeling. She forced herself to calm down, gripping the remaining third of her broken sword.


    Her objective had changed.


    No longer was it about slaying the Wolf Demon before her¡ªit was about survival.


    This alone was a testament to her excellence. Even under such dire circumstances, she could swiftly adjust her mindset.


    Yet some things couldn¡¯t be overcome by mere mental adjustment¡ªlike the monstrous being standing before her.


    A low growl rumbled through the air as the Wolf Demon lowered onto all fours, its muscles tensing in preparation for a strike.


    Hilda, too, tensed her body, poised to evade at the crucial moment and escape.


    She locked her gaze on the Wolf Demon¡¯s every move, straining her focus. Then, in an instant, the beast vanished.


    A split second later, a grotesque, nightmarish maw loomed right before her, its jaws agape.


    At that moment, all her mental preparations shattered.


    Never had she imagined the Wolf Demon¡¯s second form would grant it such incredible speed, far beyond her ability to react. Her mind went completely blank.


    Her body moved on pure instinct, honed from years of training, shifting sideways to minimize damage. But even so, she knew her left arm would be lost to the beast¡¯s bite.


    That was the hand she held her sword with¡­


    At the last possible moment, a massive warhammer hurtled through the air and struck the Slaughter Wolf Demon with pinpoint accuracy.


    A thunderous impact resounded as the Wolf Demon was sent flying, smashing through boulders and trees along its path.


    The warhammer, spinning through the air, landed heavily near Hilda, shaking the very ground upon impact.


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    At the same time, a towering figure strode out of the forest, a wild grin stretched across his face.


    ¡°Picking on a little girl? How about you play with me instead?¡±


    A hundred meters away, the Wolf Demon staggered to its feet in front of a toppled tree. That hammer strike had only dislocated its jaw.


    With a snap, it realigned its jaw, its eyes brimming with savage fury as it locked onto the massive man who had attacked it.


    Caius walked past Hilda without so much as a glance, moving forward until he reached his warhammer. He lifted it effortlessly with one hand, slinging it over his shoulder before beckoning at the Wolf Demon with a taunting gesture.


    ¡°Tsk, tsk, tsk~¡±


    Provoked by Caius, the Slaughter Wolf Demon let out a furious roar before transforming into a streak of blood-red light, closing the distance between them in the blink of an eye.


    Hilda, still recovering from her shock, barely managed to call out, ¡°Be careful¡ª¡±


    Before she could finish, Caius had already swung his hammer, smashing it directly into the Wolf Demon¡¯s face, sending it flying once more.


    Hilda¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief.


    She knew firsthand the sheer power of the Wolf Demon.


    She had never dared to take its charge head-on.


    Yet this towering man before her seemed even stronger than the Wolf Demon.


    However, the Slaughter Wolf Demon¡¯s second form didn¡¯t just boost its strength and speed¡ªit also greatly enhanced its physicality and regenerative abilities. Before long, another furious howl echoed through the forest.


    This time, the Wolf Demon abandoned its leaping attacks.


    Jumping into the air meant giving Caius an opening.


    So now, it charged forward on foot, its meter-long blood-red claws slicing through the air like five gleaming scythes aimed directly at Caius¡¯s face.


    But Caius did not retreat. Instead, he stepped forward, swinging his warhammer into the claws in a violent collision that sent sparks flying.


    A familiar scene unfolded.


    Caius remained in place, wielding his warhammer in direct confrontation with the Wolf Demon. Only now, he was even stronger, and the Wolf Demon had grown even larger.


    The force of their battle shook the earth, sending tremors through the ground. Even a small cat perched on a tree branch had to grip tightly to avoid falling.


    A sharp tearing sound rang out¡ªCaius¡¯s chest now bore a deep gash.


    Yet his face showed no pain. Instead, his grin only widened.


    A blood mist rose from his wound¡ªpoison from the Wolf Demon¡¯s claws. However, in mere seconds, the poison dissipated, his bleeding stopped, and the wound began to scab over rapidly.


    Such regeneration¡­


    Hilda watched in growing astonishment.


    Blood Poison¡ªa deadly toxin present in most Bloody Creatures. Even the smallest wound inflicted with it would continue to bleed endlessly, often leading to death through blood loss.


    But Caius, with his immense vitality, had simply overpowered the toxin, stopping the bleeding and accelerating his recovery.


    No wonder he dared to fight the Wolf Demon head-on.


    When he had ascended to the Gold rank, he had unlocked part of his Giant Inheritance, revealing his formidable regenerative abilities. Moreover, as his vital energy surged in battle, his healing factor only grew stronger.


    In other words¡ªhe could afford to trade blows.


    The Wolf Demon hesitated upon witnessing Caius¡¯s unnatural recovery, slowing its attack for just a moment.


    That moment was all Caius needed.


    In his past life, he lacked such superhuman physicality and strength. His survival had depended solely on his weapons and the combat techniques forged in life-or-death battles.


    Thirty years in the wastelands had honed his melee combat skills to perfection.


    A fleeting opening¡ªbut Caius seized it instantly.


    His bulging muscles propelled his arm forward, slipping past the Wolf Demon¡¯s defenses. Like a steel trap, his fingers clamped around its throat.


    His back muscles coiled like springs, his waist twisting with power.


    With one arm, Caius hoisted the Wolf Demon up and slammed it into the ground with devastating force.


    The earth trembled.


    But his grip remained firm.


    A manic grin stretched across his bloodstained face, his battle-scarred body making him look even more terrifying than the Wolf Demon itself.


    With a powerful swing, he hurled the beast through the air, sending it crashing into a tree.


    Before it could rise, Caius was already there, driving a knee into its chest like a cannon shot.


    The tree exploded into splinters. The Wolf Demon was flung back once more, but Caius relentlessly pursued, the two juggernauts rampaging through the forest, shattering trees with every collision.


    A hammer blow. A fist strike. The Wolf Demon was sent reeling, only to be yanked back by the wrist.


    Another knee. A brutal elbow. The Wolf Demon slammed into the ground.


    A low kick crushed its ribs, sending it skidding across the forest floor.


    Caius leaped high, warhammer descending like divine judgment.


    The seamless, merciless combo left the Wolf Demon no room to breathe.


    His hammer was an extension of himself. His entire body was a weapon.


    Even a single finger could deliver lethal force.


    Then¡ª


    A sickening crunch.


    Skull shattered.


    Standing tall, drenched in blood, Caius grinned¡ªa predator¡¯s grin, white teeth gleaming amidst the crimson.


    To Hilda, it was the smile of a true warrior.


    The battle was over.


    The Slaughter Wolf Demon was dead.