Hello, is this a letter addressed to Demon Fortress?

Shia withdrew her hand, looked at the unconscious mage Valk on the ground, and gently pursed her lips.

"This guy had been watching us for a long time, but he still managed to spot us."

Subduing a mage of the same rank in an instant was not difficult for Shia.

Mages have always been fragile.

Their physical condition is often much weaker than that of warriors of the same rank.

However, it is generally difficult to hit a powerful mage with a sneak attack.

Because those who can choose the path of a magician are generally quite wealthy.

Therefore, they will all be equipped with some magical items that can trigger emergency shields.

The kind of magical artifacts that Lin Gui used when interrogating Elvia.

Unfortunately, Valk didn't have time to activate the item before Shia knocked him down.

The air behind him rippled, and the effect of [Night Veil] was canceled.

The oak staff, carrying the Forest Spirit, Elvia, and the still-sleeping Saint Eve, slowly appeared.

Elvia looked at the fallen Valk, a slight smile playing on her lips.

"Valker was known for his caution among the rebels and was highly regarded by Caesar."

"Look, this precious barrier array is now under his complete control."

She toyed with the barrier stone she had just taken from the core array of the barrier, a strange light flashing in her eyes.

"Even my father couldn't get his hands on this... Where did the rebels get it?"

Barrier Stones are an indisputable strategic resource on the continent of Akara.

With the frequent occurrence of the Black Tide, the number of demons in the wilderness has swelled to a suffocating level.

No one can guarantee that an epic demon won't suddenly rise up and attack a city-state.

At that time, the barrier protecting the city-state will be the final and most solid bulwark.

Its importance is related to the survival of a city.

Just now, during the surprise attack on those mages who were focused on maintaining the barrier and dared not be distracted.

Elvia could vaguely see the boundary of the barrier.

Although the area can only cover the mining area, it is far from enough to protect the vast capital.

But Elvia can use it to acquire some top-tier connections.

For example, the legendary Duke Sam, who guarded the Twilight Fortress.

That person's family has always maintained neutrality.

To date, it has not been incorporated into any other royal faction.

The more I think about Elvia, the more excited I get.

She leaned close to Lin Gui's ear, her voice seductive.

"How about giving this to me? My offer is enough to ensure you'll live a worry-free life."

"Money is just a number to me, Elvia, you should understand that."

Lin Gui snatched the barrier stone, examining the stone in his hand that contained strange power, feeling pleased.

Elvia knew the value of this item, and Lin Gui, being a mage, knew it even more clearly.

This is a true strategic resource that is valuable but unavailable.

The noble and rare profession of "Barrier Mage" does indeed exist on the continent of Akara.

However, they also need barrier stones to activate and maintain the barrier.

All the existing barrier stones were excavated from ancient ruins.

Its production process is impossible to replicate with the magical techniques of today's "Dark Ages," and once it's used, it's gone forever.

Seeing Lin Gui put away the barrier stone without hesitation, Elvia pouted unhappily.

Her eyes darted around, and she suddenly chuckled softly.

She climbed onto Lin Gui's back, leaned close to his ear again in an intimate manner, and decided to use her beauty to seduce him.

Warm breath brushed against Lin Gui's earlobe.

Her soft body pressed against his back.

Her slender fingers traced circles on his shoulder almost imperceptibly.

Lin Gui, expressionless, used his hand to block her approaching cheek and pushed her away without any politeness.

Since the drugging incident came to light, Elvia has become increasingly unceremonious in his presence, frequently engaging in intimate acts with him.

But Lin Gui could see very clearly that what flickered in Elvia's eyes was nothing but naked desire, devoid of any emotion, that she wanted to "become my man, cure my poison, and work with me on a great cause."

Especially after witnessing Lin Gui use a pile of stones to take down more than a hundred armed civilians and high-ranking soldiers in 10 minutes.

Elvia was almost going berserk.

I wish I could devour myself whole.

Lin Gui had no doubt that if he nodded at this moment, she would immediately pull him to a quiet corner for an "in-depth conversation".

"I've said it many times, Elvia, your seduction won't work on me."

"Oh?" Elvia smiled and lightly tapped Lin Gui's slightly flushed cheek.

"I think the temptation wasn't strong enough, was it?"

As he spoke, he made a gesture as if to lift the corner of his clothes.

Lin Gui's face darkened, and he kicked her off the staff.

As a physiologically normal male.

He was intimate with a woman as beautiful and shapely as Elvia.

Lin Gui, of course, couldn't remain completely unresponsive.

But he really had no interest in it.

Moreover, the consequences of "accepting" Elvia would be truly terrible.

He could almost foresee that once he actually gave in to her wishes...

What awaits him in the future is a life of constant toil and servitude.

He looked at Elvia, who was getting up from the ground and casually brushing the dust off her skirt and armor, and said seriously.

"The situation is critical right now, can't you just stay put?"

Elvia stood up and calmly brushed the dust off her armor.

"Critical situation? The rebels have been knocked unconscious one by one and thrown into the pit. The barrier has been lifted, and we can leave at any time."

"As for Caesar's trump card and plan, don't we already know them?"

What Caesar didn't know was...

From the moment he stepped into this mining area, an elf followed him.

In order not to arouse the suspicion of the rebels.

Lin Gui did not go out personally, but instead generously revealed the Holy Maiden's appearance.

Release a few of the scouting alchemical creatures.

Let the other party know that you, Elvia, and the Saintess are all inside, thus allaying their suspicions.

In order to avoid exceeding the maximum casting range of [Night Veil].

Lin Gui and Elvia carried the unconscious saintess and moved their base countless times.

Just to be closer to that rebel leader.

Through Shia, who was following Caesar, they not only learned about all the ambush points.

They also learned of the existence of the mysterious person who sent Caesar the saint's hair.

More importantly, they learned Caesar's ultimate weapon in assassinating the saint.

The artifact he was clutching tightly in his arms...

A magical artifact that seems to require a saint's hair to activate.

They learned all the details about the other party.

Furthermore, the combined strength of Lin Gui and Shia is comparable to that of a legendary figure.

Elvia couldn't think of any reason why she would lose.

Therefore, she was no longer the solemn woman she had been when she arrived.

At this moment, all he could think about was how to keep Lin Gui firmly by his side.

Too many factors prompted her to continuously launch a seductive offensive against Lin Gui.

She wanted him to cure her of the poison.

She wanted him to help her seize the throne, or to take her away after the new king ascended the throne.

She wanted him to give up his revenge, which she saw as doomed to failure, and to live a good life.

She also wanted... to make this a part of her life, which was filled with intertwined interests.

The only guy who dared to kick her away without hesitation, who could make her lower her guard and reveal her true feelings, and who could make her shine at her engagement party... stayed with her.

However, for Lin Gui...

Her status as a princess, her money, power, shrewdness, and even her renowned beauty were all of no use.

For Elvia, it seems that these intimate gestures that occasionally make the other person blush are the only means for her to achieve her goals.

Unlike Elvia's relaxed and carefree attitude, Lin Gui felt no sense of relaxation whatsoever.

The real adversary is yet to come.

He looked at the reward for the quest "Finding the Tomb of Queen Katalia" in the system, namely the "Eye of the Underworld," and fell into deep thought.

An attack launched through a strand of hair... is clearly the kind of soul-level attack that Lin Gui least wants to face.

He simply didn't know the specific form of the attack.

Is it a curse? Or location tracking?

Lin Gui originally wanted to wait a little longer.

Waiting for that terrifying enemy who could silently cut off the saintess's hair right in front of the Disciplined Knights.

Out of respect for the hero, the remains were sent to Queen Katalia's tomb.

Indirectly helps oneself complete system tasks.

Obtain the reward [Eye of the Netherworld] to deal with soul attacks.

But he didn't have time to wait any longer.

Caesar will soon discover the anomaly outside.

He must deal with Caesar's group before the real enemy arrives.

Just then, the oak staff floating in mid-air swayed slightly.

The saintess Eve, who had been unconscious and was hanging in the middle of the staff, slowly awoke.

Her long, butterfly-wing-like eyelashes fluttered a few times.

It reveals a mysterious and pure purple glow beneath.

It seemed to be because the redness and swelling on his forehead from being hit by a brick was still painful.

She subconsciously raised her fair hand and gently touched the wound, her delicate brows furrowing almost imperceptibly.

Her eyes initially held the bewilderment of someone just waking up, but they quickly regained their all-knowing clarity.

Quietly, I turned my gaze to Lin Gui, who silently raised the brick again.