"According to rumors, the
Leilin watched the
"In truth, the Holy City has been influenced by the Mother of Ten Thousand Serpents' true body energy, filling it with a certain energy wave or radiation that can continuously purify the bloodlines of those who share the same origin!"
Of course, this purification process certainly had some upper limit, but for those great serpent races, just the guarantee that their bloodlines would never degenerate was enough to make them flock here.
"What a pity — this high-energy radiation, for someone in my current state, is the most terrifying... poison!"
Sensing the Ten Thousand Serpent Curse Mark constantly absorbing this radiation and growing ever stronger, a bitter smile surfaced on Leilin's face.
The Ten Thousand Serpent Curse Mark on his body, despite having a seal, would inevitably become more active the closer he was to the Mother of Ten Thousand Serpents.
Having to conceal his abnormalities as much as possible while even actively approaching the Mother of Ten Thousand Serpents — for Leilin, every day felt like dancing on the edge of a blade.
"But! It can now be confirmed! The Mother of Ten Thousand Serpents' true body! Is somewhere near the Holy City!"
Leilin's eyes blazed with light. It was for this reason that even though this place was incredibly lethal to him, Leilin had to stay.
"The entire Holy City is laid out in concentric rings around the 'Statue of the Holy Mother.' The Beast Souler's Night and Emmaigia's Cottage on the commercial street are both excellent shops — once we're settled in, I'll take you shopping!"
Agnes seemed in high spirits. She then led Leilin and the others to a cluster of magnificent villas.
"This is part of our Stewald Family's estate. I've arranged a villa close to mine for you, Belinda, so that we can..."
"Ring ring ring! Ring ring ring! Ring ring ring!"
Before Agnes could finish, she was interrupted by a burst of chimes from her arm guard.
"What's going on? Didn't I specifically instruct that nothing should bother me today, no matter what happened?"
Agnes opened a communication device on her arm, her voice laced with displeasure.
"I'm truly sorry, Lady Agnes! It's just that what happened here is far too bizarre — we need you to confirm it personally!"
"What is it?" Agnes's expression turned serious. After all, for her subordinates to bother her despite knowing her preferences, the matter clearly wasn't simple.
"It's related to a mutation contamination. The danger level is at least fourth rank or above!"
"Damn!" Agnes cursed, looking genuinely shocked.
She then cut the communication and turned to Belinda with an apologetic expression. "I'm sorry, Belinda! And you too,
"Got it, Agnes! Go take care of your business!"
Belinda nodded in understanding and even shared a warm cheek-kiss with Agnes, bringing a pleased smile to the other woman's face.
"Thomas! The rest is up to you! If Belinda and Sophia are even the slightest bit unhappy, you know what'll happen!"
After handing off the task to Thomas, Agnes hurried away. Leilin watched her retreating figure, a strange smile curving the corner of his lips.
"Alright then! Two ladies, and Mr. Nick here — please follow me!"
Thomas clapped his hands. In front of the Belinda sisters, he was very mindful of maintaining his gentlemanly demeanor.
And Belinda and Sophia clearly didn't find him particularly disagreeable either, chatting pleasantly as they arrived before a gorgeously decorated villa.
*Ding!* Thomas snapped his fingers, and the entire villa lit up, warm light flooding every corner.
In the small garden, colorful dots of fluorescent light drifted out, floating about like fireflies and filling Sophia's eyes with stars.
"Voice-activated lighting, plus a daily dust-removal spell! A constant temperature magical array — every piece of furniture was personally selected by my sister for you! Since we didn't know your preferences, the servants and such are left for you to choose yourselves..."
Thomas wore a warm smile on his face.
And Belinda and Sophia were clearly quite satisfied with the villa.
"Most importantly, Sister Agnes's house is right next door — communication will be absolutely convenient!"
Thomas smiled and handed Belinda a rune key.
"Thank you for everything you and your sister have done for us! Also, where is Nick's room?"
Belinda turned to look at Leilin.
"As for Mr. Nick — I'm sorry. This area is the female guests' section!" Thomas spread his hands in an exaggerated display of helplessness.
"Why don't the two ladies rest here for now, and I'll take Mr. Nick to his room? How does that sound?"
Thomas continued with his suggestion.
Though Belinda and Sophia seemed somewhat displeased, Leilin outwardly agreed with great magnanimity, telling the sisters to stay behind.
...
"Listen up, kid! I don't care who you are, or what happened with those sisters on the road — just remember one thing! This is the Holy City! Those sisters are not someone you can aspire to, understand?"
Once they had left the villa and it was just Thomas and Leilin, Thomas's true colors emerged.
His threatening eyes fixed on Leilin, Thomas had already made up his mind — if the other party tried to resist or went back to find the sisters, he would simply call the guards and throw this kid into the moat.
With the Stewald Family's influence here and the defensive forces under their control, making a lone, friendless traveler disappear was as easy as could be.
As for those two sisters? They could only cry for a while and accept reality!
Yes! Reality! Thomas smiled wickedly — he loved that word.
"Yes, Mr. Thomas! I have no aspirations regarding those sisters! I'll cut off all contact with them from now on!"
But to Thomas's surprise, this Nick character immediately capitulated, even wearing a hint of fawning on his face.
"A humble person like me is already more than content just to have a stable life in the Holy City — how could I have any other aspirations?"
Leilin's face was full of "sincerity." "Only someone like Lord Thomas is worthy of Miss Sophia!"
"Mm, mm! You're quite right!"
The speed of his attitude shift left Thomas momentarily stunned.
Then he recalled the other man's blank expression when he'd been mocking him earlier — in hindsight, it was clearly the look of a coward and a milksop!
"This spineless personality... he was probably just a passing acquaintance of the Belinda sisters at most?"
Thomas thought to himself, and found himself looking at Leilin much more favorably.
In fact, a dark idea had already surfaced in his mind. "Later, when I bring the sisters here and show them this Nick's pathetic face, that scene will be quite entertaining..."
At this moment, in Thomas's mind, Leilin had plummeted from the position of "love rival" to something like a useful tool, and his hostility vanished almost instantly.
"And if those sisters still won't agree in the end — wouldn't it be amusing if I had Nick drug them and deliver them to my bed?"
Thomas stroked his chin, seemingly picturing some wonderful scene in the future, a curved smile playing across his lips.
"Then... Lord Thomas, I wonder if you could arrange some accommodation for me? After all, the prices in the Holy City are... truly... and without sufficient collateral, I can't rent a stable place..."
Leilin seemed to hesitate before making his request.
But Thomas, now looking upon Leilin much more favorably, agreed without hesitation — if he didn't have a few pressure points on the other man, how could he manipulate him later?
Besides, keeping the guy under his watchful eye was far better than letting him strike out on his own and inevitably get cozy with those sisters again.
"Follow me!"
Having sorted out his thoughts, Thomas led Leilin to another part of the city.
Compared to the opulence of the villa district before, this area was filled with a sense of cheapness and crowding — as if they were two different worlds.
Thomas brought Leilin before an attic. "Here it is! It's also our family's property — just don't know which idiot bought the deed back in the day..."
Before him stood a two-story attic, its walls and floor bearing wood grain patterns, exuding a damp, gloomy atmosphere and looking as though it could collapse at any moment.
The space was also extremely cramped — a world apart from the Belinda sisters' luxurious villa.
Of course, compared to the surrounding residential buildings, it was actually quite decent.
"Not bad, right? Compared to the rooms around here, yours is still pretty good. With your finances, even if you went bankrupt, you probably couldn't afford a year's rent..."
Thomas wore a wicked, satisfied smile. "But out of the kindness of my heart, you can live here indefinitely without paying rent. I'll put in a word with the local magistrate..."
"Thank you so much, my lord!"
Leilin bowed nearly ninety degrees, wearing a humble smile as he accepted the rune key from Thomas's hand.
After repeatedly promising not to go looking for the sisters and sending the contented Thomas on his way, Leilin finally activated the rune key in his hand and surveyed his future residence.
*Creeeeak!* The wooden door let out a groan under strain, and Leilin honestly suspected that if not for the supernatural forces holding it together, this building could turn into a pile of rubble at any moment.