Chapter 53: Eve

Liang Yue stood not far from the Soma Familia, watching the bustling stream of adventurers on the street, whose destinations appeared remarkably clear-cut.

Further down the street lay the pleasure quarter of the female deities, which was also the most prosperous and lively red-light district in the labyrinth city of Orario.

Naturally, he had no such intentions.

The main reason he retained a deep impression of the "Pleasure Quarter" was Sanjono Haruhime, the fox-kin maiden from the original story.

A pure-hearted and innocent fox-girl in every sense.

Because of the unique nature of her magic, she was treated as a material within the Familia for extracting magic items and was imprisoned in a cage.

"The Shinju-no-Kozuchi (The Magic Hammer)"

A rare skill that temporarily elevates an adventurer's level. Despite its time limit, it possessed an overwhelmingly powerful boosting effect whether used on individuals or for dungeon exploration!

"Therefore..."

"Must I reach at least Level 4 before even considering intervening in this matter?" From the perspectives of both functionality and practicality.

Regardless of how one looked at it, Sanjono Haruhime was a candidate who could not be missed if one wished to develop a powerful Familia.

Since he lacked the strength to resolve this at the moment, once his power gradually reached an adequate level, could Liang Yue consider arranging an encounter?

He gradually gathered his somewhat complicated thoughts. Having arrived much earlier than the agreed meeting time, he observed his surroundings with a calm gaze.

First, he needed to meet with Liliruca to confirm the details of the plan's execution.

After all, the reward she offered was merely to intercept the Familia captain, Jannis, granting Liliruca a brief window of time to escape from the Soma Familia.

At the very least, he needed a clear operational directive.

To charge in rashly without subduing the members with Blue Butterfly scales meant he would have to face an immensely massive number of adventurers!

(...)

During the brief moment Liang Yue stood waiting, a petite Prum adventurer, also draped in a grayish-brown cloak, walked past him.

She reached out and gently tugged at her own cloak without stopping her pace.

Her identity was self-evident, eliminating any need for Liang Yue to guess. Following Liliruca's footsteps, he arrived at a dimly lit alleyway.

After making sure there were no adventurers nearby.

Liliruca removed her hood, revealing the fair and pretty face of a young girl. On the eve of the plan's execution, the tension in her eyes was impossible to soothe.

She stated concisely, "I will use transformation magic later to deliver food inside the Soma Familia. If the sound of shattering plates comes from within..."

"That means the process is going smoothly, and what you need to do is..."

Liliruca raised her head to look at Liang Yue, whose expression remained as calm as still water, her tone filled with absolute seriousness: "Help me stall Jannis."

"This is the rest of your reward."

Once she successfully broke her Familia ties, she had no intention of meeting Liang Yue again. She had already arranged for a carriage to leave Orario overnight.

As for the merchant couple who had once helped her, the only thing she could do for them was leave behind 100,000 Valis as compensation.

Looking at this adventurer in front of her who wasn't all that hateful, the young girl lifted her slender white neck, a rare smile blooming on her slightly childish face.

"Thank you."

Liang Yue, I hope you can leave the Soma Familia safely and smoothly." These words undoubtedly came from the depths of her heart.

Yet, seeing that Liang Yue's calm face still displayed not the slightest ripple of emotion,

Liliruca pursed her lips in self-deprecation, reached up to pull the hood of her grayish-brown cloak back over her head, and resolutely walked toward the exit of the alley.

As the streetlights illuminated her petite figure, her pace paused slightly.

Without turning her head, she spoke with an awkward tone in her voice: "I think... what you said a while ago made sense."

"The hardships you've suffered are... not a reason to harm innocent adventurers."

"However..."

"Some adventurers really are quite detestable!"

"Especially you." Trapped deep within a muddy swamp, Liliruca had naturally dreamed during the lonely nights, yearning for the salvation described in picture books.

But after all, that was just a fantasy, and real life remained cruel.

The reason she disliked Liang Yue was simple.

Why did he have to leave her with a lifelong, unforgettable experience when they didn't have many interactions, right at a time when her hatred for adventurers was peaking?

"Thank you."

---

Soma Familia.

For the members returning fully loaded from a dungeon expedition, tonight was far more important than updating their Status.

The Captain, "Wine-Keeper" Jannis, was about to distribute the sacred wine based on their final haul.

Very few adventurers met the reward criteria, and the overwhelming majority of members intended to use the Valis they had saved up from their adventures to purchase it from the Captain.

The sacred wine possessed powerful control over the mind, making every adventurer who came into contact with it succumb to its overwhelming euphoria!

Coupled with Jannis's deliberate indulgence, the Soma Familia had ultimately plunged into unprecedented chaos!

Powerful adventurers formed cliques, oppressing low-level support members and plundering their work wages.

(...)

"Filthy vermin."

Dressed in a simple tavern employee uniform, her hair color even altered, Liliruca pushed a food cart piled high with provisions.

Struggling to push open the heavy doors of the Soma Familia, the scene that greeted her eyes.

Only deepened her already icy expression. The experiences of growing up in the Soma Familia were something she would never forget for the rest of her life...

Her deceased parents had been utterly obsessed with the sacred wine.

Having survived her early childhood through sheer begging, Liliruca had certainly touched the sacred wine back when Jannis became captain nine years ago.

If she hadn't put on a show of being captivated by the sacred wine back then...

She could hardly imagine whether she would have survived safely to this day, even though staying alive simply meant being exploited like a blood bag.

"Truly... a place that makes one want to spit in disgust!"

Utilizing her "Cinderella" magic, Liliruca suppressed the hatred burning in the depths of her eyes as she looked at the adventurers gathered in the Familia compound.

Silently pulling the food-laden cart inside.

These were all appetizers meant for those drug addicts to pair with the sacred wine, naturally laced with the Blue Butterfly scales collected a short while ago.

The dosage was controlled with precision, making it undetectable even upon close inspection.

Combined with the sacred wine that controlled their minds, causing temporary unconsciousness would be a breeze. What genuinely made Liliruca feel棘手 (thorny)...

Was the person standing on the second-floor corridor at this very moment.

Wearing a white suit and glasses, looking quite like a wolf in sheep's clothing, was the gray-haired adventurer and captain, Jannis Lustra.

As a Level 2 adventurer who controlled the Familia using the sacred wine yet had never been seen drinking it himself.

He possessed a sinister and greedy personality, from demanding exorbitant Valis for breaking Familia ties to sending adventurers to retaliate against the merchants who took her in after she fled.

Adventurers exploiting supporters.

Such common occurrences made her suspect that Jannis was undoubtedly orchestrating them behind the scenes.

This would be the greatest obstacle to the "Defection Plan." Liliruca could only pin her hopes on Liang Yue, provided he could stall for enough time!

"Mr. Jannis, the food you ordered has arrived." Liliruca felt a visceral, bone-deep fear toward this captain.

Yet, to ensure the plan proceeded smoothly, she forced herself to summon a smile.

Standing on the second-floor corridor, Jannis rested both hands on the railing, his eyes completely unmasking his inner greed as he looked down at the adventurers below.

Noticing the somewhat unfamiliar restaurant employee standing at the corner of the stairs.

This did not capture much of his attention. He casually waved a hand to signal nearby Familia members to begin distributing the food.

Who exactly was the face delivering the food?

Jannis didn't even care to expend the energy to find out, as long as it didn't delay the upcoming "carnival," that was quite enough.

"Bring me the bill, and I'll have someone send the money over tomorrow."

"Understood."

Pulling the bill from her pocket, Liliruca raised her head and caught his gaze; fear caused her body to tense up involuntarily.

She hurriedly lowered her head to avoid his eyes, gritting her teeth as she walked toward the second-floor corridor.

Just as she handed the bill to Jannis with both hands, hoping to find an excuse to leave the Soma Familia before the Blue Butterfly scales suddenly took effect,

The man's casual remark plunged Liliruca straight into an icy abyss.

"Hmm?"

Clutching the bill in his hand, Jannis gazed with sinister, cold eyes as he scrutinized the young Prum employee before him, suddenly feeling as though he had seen her somewhere before.

"I remember... clearly, we didn't place an order with your restaurant tonight."

Realizing something was amiss, his face turned chillingly cold as he demanded in an indifferent tone: "Who... exactly are you?"