Become their wicked yet gentle lord.

Ryuu's face showed a hint of surprise, his eyes filled with doubt—Anjaberg had an older sister? He had known Anjaberg for so long, and she had never mentioned this before. So, the two sisters, one an elite in the field of potion-making, and the other a genius in magical engineering? Tipalotura had indeed gathered quite a few top talents before. But then he thought about it, and realized that she was recruiting talents from the military academy in the capital, which wasn't surprising—although it was full of noble children who were just trying to gain experience, the students from the lower and middle classes who could enter the academy must be among the most talented and capable people in the Otus Empire.

Hmm…genius twin sisters? A thought flashed through Liu Xia's mind, wondering how old Anyaberg's older sister was and whether she was as beautiful as Anyaberg. But as soon as this thought arose, Melanie looked at him with a gaze that seemed to read his mind, sighed helplessly, and said:

"You should give up that idea. Haven't you tried to steal Princess Gavin's woman enough already? Besides, Anjaberg's sister has already disappeared... That's why Princess Tipalotura found the 'enhancement potion' in Gavin's possession so suspicious."

"Disappeared?" Liu Xia frowned instantly, his expression turning serious. He couldn't help but recall Anyaberg's dejected look earlier, and a sense of unease arose in his heart. There was probably more to this than a simple disappearance.

“I used to be in the Third Prince’s faction, so I’ve heard a bit about these kinds of things.” Melanie also dropped her joking expression, sighed, and lowered her voice to slowly explain to Ryusha:

"Whether they are magicians, potion makers, or various craftsmen, they are all extremely proud of their works and their own skills. Using magical engineering to refine and accelerate potion production is undoubtedly a good thing for outsiders, as it can improve efficiency and ensure quality. However, some potion makers with radical ideas may not be able to accept it..."

Ryuka's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly asked, "You mean, Anjaberg's sister opposes this combination of potion-making and magical engineering?"

Melanie nodded slightly, her tone growing increasingly somber, deliberately slowing her speech: "This was told to me privately by Princess Tipalotura. You must keep this a secret from Anyaberg; you absolutely cannot let her know. Initially, when Her Highness asked the Anyaberg sisters to jointly develop the potion-refining method and production line, the elder sister clearly expressed her dissatisfaction. However, on one hand, because Anyaberg is her own sister, she didn't want to put her in a difficult position; on the other hand, she also felt that things like magical engineering could never replace highly skilled potion mages, so she reluctantly agreed..."

But no one expected that Anyaberg would actually team up with her classmates to successfully create a potion-making machine—not only significantly increasing the production speed of potions, but also surpassing the quality of the potions made by hand by potion makers. The simple production equipment Anyaberg and her friends had previously created in Linhu Town was merely a simplified version of the complete machine from the capital, demonstrating just how astonishing the secret workshops in the capital truly were.

"After that, a large number of potion masters left Princess Tipalotura's camp. However, Anyaberg's sister never made a clear statement, neither opposing nor agreeing. But... not long after, her sister suddenly disappeared. At the same time, Princess Tipalotura's secret production workshop in the capital was deliberately sabotaged. All the K18 production equipment in the workshop was destroyed, along with the potions that had already been produced. Those devices were built using a lot of rare materials and resources, so much so that even now, Princess Tipalotura has not been able to fully repair them..."

Liu Xia's mind went blank for a moment, and she instantly grasped the key point, asking, "You mean, this was done by Anyaberg's sister?"

"Considering that Anjaberg is still serving under His Highness, His Highness did not say it explicitly, but the implication should be this..."

Hearing Melanie's words, Ryuga understood. If things were truly as Tipalotura suspected, then Anyaberg's sister had undoubtedly defected. The reason Tipalotura hadn't brought it up was probably because she still needed Anyaberg's magical engineering talent and couldn't go too far, so she could only leave the matter unresolved for the time being.

Chapter 8 The Council in the Tower

“I see.” Ryuka nodded slowly, a hint of understanding flashing in her eyes. She said in a solemn tone, “So, the ‘enhancing potion’ found at Gavin’s place was very likely developed by Anyaberg’s sister after she defected to another faction. Princess Tipalotura cannot sit idly by and do nothing about a defector. I’m afraid Anyaberg is worried about this very thing right now… She’s caught in the middle, torn between her own sister and the princess she serves.”

Melanie nodded slightly, her tone becoming more serious: "That's right, and things aren't that simple."

She paused, then continued to explain to Ryūka, "Princess Tipalotura has always been very magnanimous towards her talented subordinates. If they wish to switch sides, as long as they haven't accessed the core secrets of her camp, she generally won't deliberately stop them. Firstly, she wants to cultivate a good reputation for appreciating talent and being generous among the young talents in the capital; secondly, her core confidantes are all witches who have followed her for many years, and these outsiders are not that important to her."

“But Anjaberg’s sister is different.” Melanie’s tone became increasingly solemn. “She was two years older than Anjaberg and joined Princess Tipalotura’s workshop a long time ago. She participated in core research and development for many years and knew a lot of unknown secrets. Therefore, His Highness had a witch with surveillance abilities plant a magical mark on her body early on, as a kind of insurance in case of accidents. But after she disappeared, the witch’s mark on her body completely lost its effect, as if it had never existed.”

Ryuu furrowed her brow, her mind racing: "The forces capable of breaking the witch's magical mark... are either the Holy See or the Chosen Ones. Now that this potion is also connected to Gavin, and Gavin has long been colluding with the Chosen Ones, the probability that Anyaberg's sister has joined the Chosen Ones is much higher."

“That’s right.” Melanie nodded emphatically, agreeing with Ryusha’s speculation. “In short, His Highness means that we should pay close attention to this matter, especially since it involves Anyaberg. We need to be more cautious and not easily provoke her. Also, we need to be careful, as our enemies might possess potions that can unleash their full power!”

"Phew... I understand."

Ryusha let out a soft sigh and nodded slowly. He had noticed Anyaberg's dazed and dejected expression in the garden earlier, and after hearing Melanie's words, he understood even more how much this had affected her. He would talk to Anyaberg privately after dealing with the immediate matters and inquire about her well-being.

As for the possibility of the enemy using such a drug in the future, that's something to be careful about. After all, even a high-ranking officer could be harmed in the short term if they used it. Although it would only last a few minutes, Ryuka needs to keep that in mind to prevent being caught off guard and suffering a sudden setback!

"The second thing is that the Bauhinia Kingdom has contacted Monica and the others again." Melanie changed the subject, bringing up another matter. "The communication crystal we seized earlier has been stored with Anyaberg. So Olivia took Monica away for a conversation, basically asking her to monitor our movements and notify them immediately if we set off again. Anyaberg took the opportunity to analyze the magical signal and finally determined the sender's location to be in the Bauhinia capital. The whole process was recorded and recorded with magical imprints as evidence. This way, when we arrive in the Bauhinia Kingdom, we'll have another trump card to restrain them."

As she spoke, Melanie took out a crystal ball from her bosom and gently handed it to Ryusha. A faint magical aura flowed within the crystal ball, which contained communication records and analysis traces—with this, they could obtain irrefutable evidence that the nobles of the Bauhinia Kingdom had secretly planned espionage against the Otus Empire.

With it, if a conflict arises, one's side will have a 'just cause'.

Liu Xia carefully put away the crystal ball, and couldn't help but feel a little emotional: "It's really hard on Anyaberg. He was clearly restless and full of worries, but he still didn't neglect his work. That's truly remarkable."

“After all, she really loved magical engineering…” Melanie couldn’t help but sigh, her tone full of regret. “Back then, she and her sister collaborated on developing magical production equipment, thinking that it would help her sister and make her sister happy with her achievements, but unexpectedly… alas, things didn’t go as planned.”

The matter concerning the sisters can only be discussed another day. After her reflection, Melanie's expression turned serious, and she slowly lowered her voice, her tone becoming exceptionally solemn: "The last matter is far more important, and it is also the core issue that His Highness and Lady Sophie are currently discussing..."

What Melanie was talking about was the matter decided by the emperor during a court meeting in the Sacred Tree Hall of the Imperial Capital! Although the emperor himself had ordered the news to be kept secret and not to be spread casually, since it concerned Ryusha, a key figure on his mission to the south, and the disposal of the Earth Dragon Beast's corpse, the emperor would naturally inform his daughter Tipalotura, who would then relay the information to Ryusha and the others.

What shocked Liu Xia the most was the Empire's plan to give him and the delegation direct control of the Bauhinia Kingdom!

Although the matter has not yet been finalized and is still under discussion, this proposal alone has already given Liu Xia a jolt and made her secretly alarmed.

Good heavens! This is an attempt to emulate the ancient Han envoys, holding imperial authority to govern the country and control a region! But the Ottus Empire is clearly on the decline, beset by internal and external troubles. How could the emperor and his ministers still have such audacity to propose such a bold plan?

But the shock didn't last long. Ryusha quickly calmed down and realized something was amiss. If the Bauhinia Kingdom were truly just a weak border kingdom, controlling it wouldn't be difficult. The problem was that this kingdom was not only connected to the Carmela forces and the Chosen Ones, but also possessed long-lost teleportation magic and a large amount of rare magical materials. If it wasn't a pushover at all, but rather a powder keg lurking with hidden dangers, then Emperor Otus's decision was far too risky, even dangerous…

Lost in thought, Ryusha followed Melanie to the door of Madam Sophie's drawing room. Melanie stopped, indicating that she would wait outside and let Ryusha go in alone. Ryusha nodded slightly, pushed open the door, and saw that only Madam Sophie and Tipalotura were in the drawing room, the atmosphere somewhat heavy.

Tipalotura leaned languidly against the soft sofa, her face pale, her brows furrowed with obvious fatigue, and even her eyes seemed somewhat unfocused. Besides this, Ryuka keenly sensed that her aura was much weaker than before, clearly indicating she had expended a great deal of energy. On the table beside her lay the Earth Dragon Beast's magic core; the dark demonic energy that had previously swirled around its surface had dissipated, and the witch's corruption within had obviously been completely eradicated.

Upon seeing Ryūka enter, Tipalotura slightly raised her head, her voice tinged with barely concealed weariness, and slowly said:

"I've already dealt with the demonic energy inside the demonic core. As for the other matters, you should have already heard about them from Melanie on the way, right?"

"Hmm." Liu Xia nodded, walked to the sofa and sat down. Instead of immediately offering her opinion, she looked up at the two of them and asked in a calm tone:

"Your Highness and Lady Sophie, what are your thoughts on this matter?"

“I have already spoken to my father, the Bauhinia Kingdom is a very complex place, and we probably cannot act rashly. But…”

Tipalotura sighed and looked at Mrs. Sophie.

Mrs. Sophie immediately chimed in, explaining to Ryūsha:

"The South has been unstable in recent years. It's not just His Majesty who intends to make an example of them; even the court officials feel the same way. Only war can satisfy their current needs. Especially after the discovery of the Earth Dragon Beast's corpse, if we don't cater to the ambitions of the nobles, things will likely become even more difficult within the Empire..."

Ryūka could understand this, but...

"Is this Bauhinia Kingdom some kind of chicken that can be killed at will? Don't get pecked instead..."

Hearing Ryūka's words, Tipalotura nodded. Those on the front lines increasingly sensed the deep turmoil in the southern kingdoms. But the pressure within the distant capital was equally imperceptible to them. The moment the Earth Dragon's corpse was contaminated, the Otus Empire may have already entered a dilemma of either internal strife or external conflict…

"Regarding the specifics, Lord Orlando and I have already discussed it. We've compiled the information you gave me, Lady Liuxia, and relayed it to Father Emperor so he can reconsider. But ultimately, we don't know how he'll decide. I hope you're prepared for this..."

After saying this, Tipalotura looked at Madam Sophie, indicating that she might leave some space for her and Ryūsha. Madam Sophie smiled, stood up, and tacitly left her drawing room.

"If Father's final decision is to go to war, I can only support him. I hope that when that happens, Ryukiya, you will also stand on my side..."

After Mrs. Sophie left, Tipalotura spoke in an unusually weak and helpless tone, which surprised Ryusha.

The mission has changed from an envoy to a foreign land to a military expedition... Although Ryūsha wasn't afraid of such a challenge, he found the whole thing strange and didn't understand why Tipalotura would comply. But throughout history, there have been many cases of people doing dirty work for their superiors only to be betrayed. What if Ryūsha suppressed the capital of the Bauhinia Kingdom, thus exacerbating the conflicts between the southern kingdoms, the Papacy, and Ottus? Would the empire then turn around and betray him?

Therefore, Ryuga was extremely wary of Tipalotura's ambiguous request and did not immediately express his opinion.

Seeing this, Tipalotura sighed softly, "I understand, you will definitely act according to your own judgment. I was rude..."

Chapter 9 - Now I really need to prepare properly!

After saying that, Ryusha looked up and saw that Tipalotura's gaze had slowly turned to her. Tipalotura's eyes were half closed, and her tone was calm but carried an unquestionable question: "Do you have time tonight?"

After a moment's thought, Liu Xia quickly sorted out the tasks at hand and slowly said, "I'm going to investigate the area near the battlefield tonight, focusing on finding clues related to the Chosen Ones. It won't take too long; I'll be back soon."

"That's good." Tipalotura nodded gently, her tone softening. "Jerberly has woken up, and I've explained the whole story to her. Tonight... can I ask you for a favor?"

The deeper meaning behind those words instantly stirred something within Liu Xia's heart. He blinked, pondering to himself. Did this mean... that Gerberi had agreed? Although he had anticipated it, when he actually heard Tipalotura say those words, he couldn't help but feel a surge of inexplicable emotion welling up inside him.

Especially since Tipalotura's tone was so indifferent, as if sending Gerberi to her side was just a trivial, insignificant matter. The thought of the usually arrogant, stubborn, and unyielding Gerberi weeping beneath her tonight filled Ryuka with excitement and curiosity, and she tentatively asked:

"She agreed so quickly? And the witch's curse on her... isn't she worried about that?"

Ryuka wondered if he were to become Gerberi's first man, the witch's curse would cause her to unconsciously fall for him. Gerberi, who valued loyalty more than life itself, would certainly be unable to accept such an involuntary bond. Wasn't Tipalotura worried about that?

“You don’t need to worry about that,” Tipalotura said confidently. “I can suppress the effects of the curse to some extent, and besides, there’s no other way for Gerberi right now…”

As she spoke, a barely perceptible unease flickered in Tipalotura's eyes, yet it also carried an unyielding stubbornness. Ryuga instantly understood that this matter was likely far more complex than it appeared, but since this princess had already made the request, what reason did he have to refuse?

Ryuga nodded immediately, but not wanting to appear happy in front of Tipalotura, she replied softly, "Understood. I'll go scout the battlefield after sunset. It won't take long; I'll be back soon."

Tipalotura replied softly, "Okay. You can take this Earth Dragon Beast Magic Core. Remember, we must depart no later than three days from now. There's one more condition—tonight, you can only be with Gerberi; no other women can be present."

With those words spoken, she turned and left without uttering another word. Watching her retreating figure, Liu Xia understood: Tipalotura's request was ultimately out of consideration for Gerberi's face and pride. For Gerberi, such a compromise was already a great humiliation; if other women were present, given her temperament, she would probably rather die than accept it.

Ryuu didn't seem to mind and readily agreed. He glanced at the sky; it was nearing dusk, and there was still some time before sunset. He immediately took the Earth Dragon Beast's magic core, turned, and left the tower to find Olivia and the others.

"Take this. I don't need to remind you how to break through, do I?"

Upon seeing Olivia, Ryuka casually tossed the Heavenly Rank Demon Core, radiating pure energy, to her, his tone nonchalant, as if he were handing over not a priceless treasure that would make countless people envious, but just an ordinary object.

Olivia caught the magic core with both hands. Her fingertips touched the warm energy emanating from it, and her eyes instantly blazed with intense light. Her tone was filled with excitement and respect:

"Thank you, Master!"

"Keep your voice down." Liu Xia waved his hand with a wry smile and pointed to the tower behind him. "If Mrs. Sophie hears this, I'll be in an embarrassing situation."

Although the old lady said she didn't care about these trivial matters, he didn't want to be stared at by her with that meaningful auntie smile, and be urged to give her a few grandchildren.

Melanie, seeing the magic core in Olivia's hand, couldn't help but whistle, a hint of envy flashing in her eyes, but she only playfully moved closer. Tall and exuding a mature, sophisticated aura, she gently pressed herself against Ryuxia's back, lightly poking his cheek with her fingertips, her tone teasing:

"Little Liuxia~ When will you get me a magic core like this?"

"You think this is like a cabbage by the roadside, something you can just pick up anywhere?" Liu Xia slapped her hand away helplessly, her tone tinged with indulgence. "Don't worry, there will always be opportunities."

Seeing Liu Xia's helpless expression, despite being younger than her, he insisted on acting like a grown man comforting his lover. Melanie found it adorable, and with a mischievous smile, she leaned close to his ear and whispered ambiguously, "Then tonight, you'd better make it up to me properly..."

Her straightforward actions, made no attempt to conceal them in front of Anyaberg, were already commonplace for Olivia and Adela, yet their cheeks still involuntarily flushed. Olivia, in particular, thought to herself that having received such a great favor from her master, she must work even harder tonight to repay his kindness.

Even the usually lively and boisterous Anyaberg blushed with embarrassment at the ambiguous scene before her. Her mood, which had been low because of her sister's situation, was slightly lifted, but a trace of unease still lingered in her eyes.

Seeing this, Liu Xia softened her tone and gently comforted her, "I've heard about what happened to your sister. Don't worry too much, we'll definitely find a way to make things better."

Upon hearing this, Anyaberg was taken aback at first, then a glimmer of light appeared in her eyes, and a faint smile slowly bloomed on her face. She lowered her head gently and nodded firmly, her voice carrying a hint of melancholy, yet also concealing a trace of determination:

"Yes, I'm not worried... my sister... she'll be alright!"

At this moment, she was no longer the boisterous and energetic girl she used to be. The loneliness in her voice was hard to hide, yet she was trying to cheer herself up. Liu Xia couldn't help but reach out and gently rub her head, turning her soft, dark red short hair into a messy bird's nest.

Facing Anjaberg's slightly displeased gaze, he smiled and said:

"You should get some rest tonight. Leave the communication crystal and Monica's affairs to Adela. Make sure you're well-rested. We'll also need you to prepare our two magic vehicles later. We're leaving in three days."

Upon hearing this, Adela was stunned. Guarding the communication crystal and Monica? Did her master mean she wouldn't be getting any tonight? She couldn't help but feel a little disappointed, but as the lowest-ranking slave, she could only obediently accept this somewhat boring task.

Before she could feel disappointed for long, Ryuka's next words made her heart pound and her face flush instantly: "Adela, there's one more thing. I'm leaving it to you to figure out how to make Monica obedient and submissive."

Seeing the knowing, wicked smile on Ryūka's face, Adela instantly understood. Her mind involuntarily flashed back to what Ryūka and Yūrina had done to her. It seemed this time, it was her turn to "discipline" that captive, Monica!

A surge of excitement welled up inside her. She had always been the lowest-ranking woman by Liu Xia's side, but now she had a new captive, Monica! And Monica was once a high-ranking, noblewoman and a great mage, a woman of exceptional talent and status. This disparity in their social standing filled her with a strange excitement.

"Yes, yes, Master... I will definitely teach her well~ so that she can learn through her body what 'proper manners' are..."

Adela's voice trembled slightly, her cheeks flushed, and her eyes were filled with excitement and anticipation. She even unconsciously squeezed her legs together, the white skirt clinging tightly to her plump thighs, outlining her alluring curves.

Looking at her wanton and eager appearance, Liu Xia couldn't help but chuckle and lightly slapped her face.

*Snap!* A crisp sound echoed in the air.

"Ah~~~" Adela let out a soft, charming gasp, a faint blush instantly appearing on her face, but her eyes grew even more fiery, and her tone became even more seductive.

"Look at your pathetic, wanton behavior!" Liu Xia glared at her with a mischievous smile, but her tone carried a hint of playful threat. "If Monica doesn't satisfy me later, I don't need to say more about what will happen to you, do I?"

"Yes, yes... If I don't do it well, Master, even if you skin me alive, I'll do it willingly!" Adela quickly replied, her tone full of flattery and obedience, and she even deliberately swayed her body to fawn over Ryūsha.

Olivia, caught up in the ambiguous atmosphere, grew increasingly intense-looking, her breath sweet and warm as she slowly leaned closer, flanking Ryusha with Melanie on either side, her fragrance lingering around his nose.

Liu Xia quickly and gently pushed the two away, saying helplessly, "I have things to do, and I can't tonight."

Seeing the puzzled looks on their faces, Ryuka shrugged and briefly explained Tipalotura's arrangements and the matter of Gerberi. Melanie, upon hearing this, immediately covered her mouth in astonishment, her eyes filled with disbelief: "That Miss Gerberi?! His Highness actually agreed to it? Ryuka, you really are..."

Halfway through her sentence, she seemed to recall the humiliation and shame she felt when Liuxia first "bullied" her, and couldn't help but reach out and gently pinch Liuxia's arm, her tone coquettish:

"Even if His Highness agreed, Gerberly is still a woman, and besides, this is her first time. Don't go too far!"

Ryuu could only smile awkwardly, offering no rebuttal. Seeing his expression, Melanie knew her advice was likely useless. She rolled her eyes dismissively, a faint magical aura emanating from her feet as she floated into the sky and turned to leave.

Olivia, standing to the side, felt a flicker of undisguised melancholy in her eyes after hearing these words. She knew she wouldn't have the chance to stay by her master's side tonight; she would have to focus on preparing for her breakthrough to the Heavenly Rank, and her master would be leaving Thunder Fortress in three days, meaning the chances of seeing each other would likely be fewer.

Perhaps she could ask her mother, Mrs. Sophie, for permission to go south with her master? This thought quietly rose in her mind, and her eyes regained their light.

Before she could think further, Liu Xia patted her shapely buttocks and urged, "Alright, stop standing there and hurry up and prepare for your breakthrough. Don't waste that magic core."

Olivia snapped out of her reverie, looked up at Ryūka, and suddenly gave him a mysterious smile. She leaned closer and whispered, "I understand, Master. Although I can't be by your side tonight, there are some things I might be able to help you enjoy yourself..."

Liu Xia immediately became interested and asked curiously, "What is it?"

“They are byproducts of some alchemical materials.” Olivia glanced at Anyaberg and Adela beside her, then leaned down and whispered in Ryusha’s ear.

"It's... some potions for enhancing pleasure and recovery... and magical items... and some kind of magical gel extracted from slimes... the specific uses are..."

As Ryuka listened to Olivia's whisper in his ear, his pupils first contracted slightly, his face filled with astonishment. Then, the surprise in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by an increasingly bright light, like a child who had discovered a new and interesting toy. Finally, he could no longer suppress the corners of his mouth, and a playful and sly smile appeared on his lips, with a hint of excitement hidden in his eyes.

"Well, I didn't expect Olivia to have these things hidden away!" He muttered to himself. These things were clearly byproducts of Madam Sophie's magic laboratory, probably not of any real use, and were simply tossed into the warehouse. It seems that the seemingly dignified and elegant old lady also harbors some unknown wickedness; otherwise, why would she secretly give these things to Olivia? This is truly...unexpected.

But it sounds like having these things would allow for many of the kinds of activities only seen in doujinshi (fan-made comics)? Especially slime gel… Ryuka can only say that no matter the world, people's imaginations when it comes to these kinds of things always seem to converge.

The undisguised wicked smile on Ryuu's face made Anyaberg and Adela shiver involuntarily. Although they couldn't understand what Olivia was saying or what strange things she had prepared for Ryuu, just by looking at Ryuu's appearance, they vaguely guessed that Gerberly was going to suffer tonight.

"I didn't expect there to be such good stuff..." Liu Xia rubbed his chin, his eyes full of amusement. With a wave of his hand, he readily ordered Olivia, "Okay~ Put them all in my room~"

He knew exactly what was going on—Tiparo Tura had specifically requested that no one else be present tonight, probably to save face for Gerberi and avoid hurting her strong sense of pride. But the more this was the case, the more Ryusha wanted to tease her, to shatter her haughty, stubborn facade. And the things Olivia had brought were the perfect aid, sure to come in very handy!

Tipalotura only said no one else was allowed, but she didn't say no props were allowed~ Ruka couldn't help but chuckle to herself, recalling the secret desires she had glimpsed deep within Gerberi's heart, her smile deepening as she thought to herself. She wasn't making things difficult for her at all; she was clearly "helping" her unleash her true self, fulfilling her desires~

written request for leave

I have something to do tonight, so I need to take a day off.

Chapter 10 A Chaotic Mind