I'm in Mota, and they all want me to confess my feelings!

The most eye-catching feature is the sphinx standing in the center of the square—in Laguna, this spot should have been occupied by a statue of the Lord of the Sea.

“That is…” Duanmu Yan paused and stared, “Does the Seven Hills also have its own Lord of the Year?”

Koleta slowly walked to his side and looked up at the majestic statue with him: "That is Ashenoso, the guardian beast of the Seven Hills. In the hearts of the people of the Seven Hills, its status is probably no less than that of Inblado, the Lord of the Year of Laguna."

She turned her head slightly, her gaze shifting to Duanmu Yan: "You should know about the connection between Qiqiu and Laguna. The people of Qiqiu do have faith in the Lord of the Year, but their way of believing is different from ours."

"The Laguna people worship the Year Lord as a god, believing that mortals are not worthy to walk alongside the gods. The Seven Hills people... while they revere the Year Lord, they also believe in the power of humankind itself. Therefore, they strive to become powerful warriors, hoping that one day they can stand shoulder to shoulder with the Year Lord."

"This is why the gladiator culture is so prevalent in Qiqiu."

"Is that so?" Duanmu Yan seemed thoughtful, then smiled slightly. "I don't dislike this kind of 'human will can conquer nature' rhetoric."

“Who isn’t?” Koleta crossed her arms and nodded in agreement. “Blindly adhering to those rules and regulations will only make Laguna more and more closed off, eventually turning it into a stagnant pool. This is precisely why the Motari family is determined to change Laguna—because we have seen with our own eyes just how vast this world can be.”

"Let's not talk about that now." The girl pulled herself out of her thoughts and looked at the darkening sky. "Let's go, we need to find a place to stay before it gets dark."

The cliff harbor where they were now located was an important gateway connecting Qiqiu to the outside world. Merchant ships and fishing boats came and went every day, anchoring here to welcome guests from all directions.

The mountain city of Kapito, nestled among distant peaks, is the true capital of the Seven Hills—not only the administrative center but also the heart of life for the people of the Seven Hills.

Duanmu Yan had long heard that Qiqiu had two famous features: one was the thrilling gladiatorial competition, and the other was the renowned public bathhouse.

He thought to himself, now that I'm here, I should see for myself whether the legendary bathhouse truly lives up to its reputation.

I'm just a little worried...

The water pipes from Qiqiu should be lead-free, right?

After all, the style here is quite similar to Rome.

……

……

As the gateway to the outside world for the Seven Hills, the commercial prosperity of Cliff Port far surpasses that of any port in Laguna.

Although in recent years, thanks to the efforts of the Motari family and other forces, Laguna has attracted many foreign merchant guilds, making the market slightly more active, it still cannot escape the omnipresent surveillance of the monastic order and is never as unrestrained and vibrant as the Seven Hills.

"Hey, have you heard? The Silva family's team has recently produced an incredible new star!"

"Of course I know. I remember a player named Lupa. He wielded the spear with incredible skill and was on the verge of winning all the major tournaments!"

"If I were the head of any other family, I'd be sweating buckets by now. If she were to snatch the crown of the quadrennial Grand Gladiator Tournament, wouldn't the Silva family truly be on the verge of establishing a dynasty?"

"Where is the dynasty? I doubt it. The other teams are not to be underestimated either."

The whispers of passersby on the street drifted on the wind.

Duanmu Yan quickened his pace, moved closer to Kolaita's side, lowered his voice, and asked softly.

"Second Miss, are the gladiators here... all supported by nobles?"

“Otherwise?” Koleta’s answer was matter-of-fact. “It’s true that gladiators hold a superior status in the Seven Hills, and every person from the Seven Hills aspires to become a qualified gladiator, but—”

She abruptly changed the subject, took a black card from her pocket, twirled it nimbly between her fingers, and then flicked it lightly. The black card made a crisp sound, and a meaningful smile appeared on her lips.

"What drives this world is ultimately money and power. Even in the arena, without a background and connections, unless you have absolute strength to crush everyone else, you will find it difficult to move forward."

"In Laguna, where divine authority reigns supreme, whether it's us Motari, the Fesalie, or any other family, everything is governed by the order's rules. While there are hierarchical levels, it's not as blatant and cruel as the Seven Hills. The Motari value ability over bloodline. Even the Fesalie, who place the most emphasis on bloodline, have never completely blocked the path to advancement for ordinary people."

“But here—” Koleta’s gaze swept across the streets and alleys, past the upper-class noble district of the distant mountains, “the chasm between nobles and commoners is insurmountable. I have seen many nobles of the Seven Hills, and their arrogance and prejudice are far more deeply rooted and undisguised than any family in Laguna.”

“Gladiators in the past may have carried a sacred mission, but now…” Koleta shook her head slightly, “The so-called gladiatorial matches have long since become a tool for nobles to amuse themselves. They place bets, gamble, and even secretly manipulate the outcome—the blood, sweat, and dreams of countless gladiators over the years are so easily sacrificed just to satisfy the perverse pleasures of those people.”

"You probably don't know this, but early gladiatorial matches were less like competitions and more like fights to the death. It wasn't until the current Governor of Seven Hills implemented reforms and introduced commercial operations that that pointless bloodshed was finally curbed."

“Speaking of this governor, he is truly a legend.” Coleta’s tone revealed admiration. “A little girl with no background fought her way up from the bottom to win the gladiator championship and reach the pinnacle of power in the Seven Hills. Such a legend… I’m afraid there won’t be another one like him in the next hundred years.”

So, is the glamorous exterior of Qiqiu really this dark?

I think it's no different from Laguna; all crows are black.

Sigh, capital, you've won.

The two entered the hotel lobby together. Duanmu Yan put his luggage aside and went straight to the restroom. During this brief moment, a sly glint flashed in Koleta's eyes.

She walked alone to the front desk, and the receptionist immediately stood up and politely said, "Greetings with a howl. Miss, may I ask who you are—"

"You only have one room left now, right?"

Before the other person could finish speaking, Koleta interrupted with a smile.

"Oh? No, we have plenty of rooms available. If you need—"

Snapped!

The black card was gently patted onto the table.

A faint smile still played on Koleta's lips as she repeated the question, each word spoken clearly and slowly.

"You only have one room left now, right?"

P.S.: Two more chapters to come!

Volume 1: Chapter 79 Koleta: I'm the only heroine! [4K long chapter combined]

"Huh, it feels good."

When Duanmu Yan finished his business and returned to the hotel lobby from the restroom, he saw that Koleta looked rather worried.

So he stepped forward and asked, "Second Miss, what's wrong?"

Koleta frowned slightly and looked at him: "This hotel... only has one room left."

Upon hearing this, Duanmu Yan was stunned for a long time.

No, this huge hotel only has one room left?

Could it be that it's peak tourist season in Qiqiu recently?

Where did all these people come from? They've filled up the hotel.

"How come there's only one room left again?" Duanmu Yan looked surprised and turned to mutter to himself, "It was the same with Phoebe before. Is it really that much of a coincidence?"

Although he spoke in a very low voice, not a single word escaped Koleta's ears.

The girl's lips twitched almost imperceptibly.

"What do you mean Phoebe's case was also like that?"

"Could it be that this guy and Phoebe lived together when they were in the Rijoli Islands?"

"Does that mean I'm behind again?"

"No wonder their relationship developed so quickly."

"So, it turns out I've been living with her?!"

"I'm clearly your girlfriend in name only, you blockhead!"

Koleta's heart was in turmoil, but she maintained her composure and ignored his whispers.

Let the past be bygones.

But now—as the second young lady of the Motari family, she is highly educated and knows how to assess situations, and she has decided to catch up on all the progress she has fallen behind in the past tonight!

"What should we do then, Second Miss?" Duanmu Yan looked at Koleta with a helpless expression. "How about we go and look for other places?"

“Never mind, I’m a little tired.” Koleta shook her head gently. “Let’s just make do for the night.” As she said this, the girl leaned closer to him and lowered her voice meaningfully, “What, you don’t want to stay with me? Or… do you have other concerns?”

"Of course not." Duanmu Yan's tone was calm and collected. "It's mainly up to you, Second Miss, to make the decision."

After all, for him, sharing a room with a beautiful girl like Colette was by no means a loss.

If it were you, would you refuse?

If you refuse, then you are truly a god.

"Is that so?" Koleta remained calm and composed, her ethereal voice seemingly unfathomable, as if no one could see through her unfathomable thoughts. "So, you mean that as long as I agree, you won't object?"

The girl gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her expression calm and composed, yet subtly revealing a hint of unfathomable pride and confidence.

"Yes. If Miss believes me."

Throughout the entire process, Duanmu Yan never dared to harbor any unrealistic fantasies.

—Well, maybe a little bit was still left.

Ultimately, he was a normal man.

Moreover, being surrounded by beautiful girls like Phoebe and Coletta all the time, it would be a lie to say that one could remain completely calm and undisturbed.

He's not the kind of person who controls the big picture with the small head.

—Dreaming doesn't count.

“Then let’s settle on that.” Koleta turned to face the front desk and smiled at the staff member in charge of reception. “One room at a time, thank you for your help.”

"Okay, miss, we'll check you in right away."

The staff member carefully took the black card, his smile slightly stiff.

She had worked at this hotel for many years and had seen all sorts of guests, but this was truly the first time she had ever encountered a situation like this.

Are they a couple?

But if they're a couple, why not be more direct?

She couldn't guess, and she didn't dare to guess.

The black card was engraved with the Motari family crest.

Although not a native noble of Seven Hills, Motari had property in the area and had close relationships with many of the Seven Hills nobles.

For the sake of one's future—or even safety—there are some things that are safer to remain ignorant of.

"These are your room key cards. The room is on the top floor."

Check-in was completed quickly.

Koleta took the room key from the staff member, whispered "thank you," and then turned to Duanmu Yan behind her: "Let's go, it's time to rest."

Duanmu Yan nodded and silently followed.

Just as they stepped into the elevator and the doors were about to close, a figure darted in—it was a girl with animal ears and hair that shimmered with a pinkish-cherry blossom-like sheen.

"Sorry, please wait a moment!"

Upon hearing her voice, Duanmu Yan quickly pressed the open button, finally allowing the girl to enter the elevator safely at the last moment.

"Phew...that was close." The girl with animal ears patted her chest, her cheeks slightly flushed, her rounded curves rising and falling gently with her soft breathing.

Duanmu Yan's gaze inadvertently swept over the undulating curves, then subconsciously glanced at the second young lady beside him.

Well, all I can say is... the future looks promising.

Koleta did not notice Duanmu Yan's somewhat subtle probing, but felt a slight ripple in her heart.

"I feel like I've been offended somehow, is it just my imagination?"

"Thank you so much for earlier." The girl with animal ears smiled brightly at Duanmu Yan. Her smile was pure and bright, without a trace of impurity. "Judging from your attire, you must be from out of town?"

Duanmu Yan nodded politely in response, "Yes, we are from Lagu."

“Laguna? No wonder your demeanor is different.” The girl extended her hand in a friendly manner, her beast ears twitching slightly. “My name is Lupa, and I am a gladiator from Seven Hills.”

"Lupa?"

Duanmu Yan repeated the name in a low voice, feeling that it sounded somewhat familiar.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up—wasn't this the gladiator everyone on the street was talking about? The favorite to win this year's Grand Gladiator Tournament!

"You're that star gladiator Lupa?"

"Hehe, you actually know me?" Lupa smiled shyly. "Actually, I'm not that good. I just got lucky and won a few matches."

“A championship isn’t something you can win just by luck.” Duanmu Yan grasped her hand. The girl’s palm was warm, and her body temperature seemed slightly higher than normal. “My name is Duanmu Yan. This is the second young lady of the Motari family.”

"Motari?" Lupa was slightly taken aback, her eyes widening. "The Motari family from Laguna?"

Koleta nodded gracefully, a perfectly timed smile appearing on her lips: "Hello, I am Koleta Mortari. I often heard people talk about your achievements back in Ragu, I never expected to meet you here today."

"Hello." Lupa's smile widened. "Are you two here for sightseeing in Seven Hills?"

"Although I came for some family business, it wouldn't be wrong to say I'm here for a vacation and to relax," Coleta said noncommittally.

Duanmu Yan was slightly puzzled upon hearing this – hadn't you said before that this trip was a business trip?