Red returned to the main hall.
As soon as he came out, Brian spoke up directly.
“Red, I think I just heard Tos screaming. Did something happen?”
“No,” Red shook his head calmly.
“I think it was just the overwhelming feeling of happiness that made him call out. It’s really not a big deal, so there’s no need to worry about it.”
Hmm… thinking about it, it really was overwhelming.
Red still couldn’t figure out what exactly Monica was wearing, or why she had so much strength.
Simply put… what kind of humanoid tyrannosaurus was that?
“Is happiness really like that?”
Brian asked, a bit confused.
“Then why did you come out, Red? Wasn’t there supposed to be a white stockings-back-stepping session?”
Red leaned against the wall like a man of integrity.
“The reason is simple,” his gaze became distant, as if savoring some supreme art.
“I admit I have a pure fondness for white stockings, but what I pursue is those balanced, smooth, artistic curves. As for those flesh-strangling white stockings…”
Here, Red sighed slightly, showing the regret of an artist seeing an imperfect work.
“That overly emphasized sense of fullness, causing broken lines visually… forgive me for saying this, but it’s just not my thing.”
Brian was completely lost, scratching his head in confusion.
“I really don’t get you cultured folks and your aesthetics…”
While Brian and Red were talking, Mason returned to the group.
He glanced at Red and asked directly.
“How was it?”
Mason asked, testing Red’s reaction to Monica.
From his calm demeanor, it was clear that Monica hadn’t done anything shocking.
Otherwise, Red wouldn’t still be standing here like this.
But when Red heard Mason’s question, he fell silent.
Since he already knew the relationship between Mason and Monica, wasn’t this question basically asking
How’s my sister?
It felt weird, somehow.
“It was okay,” Red shrugged.
“Can’t deny the massage technique was great, but she’s not my type.”
“Too big?”
Mason wasn’t surprised by Red’s answer.
“Yeah,” Red’s gaze sharpened, “That big, it’s just destined to sag.”
As expected.
Monica wasn’t Red’s type.
To control someone, there are many approaches: money, power, women… and force.
Red wasn’t interested in the first two, and Mason didn’t want to resort to the last.
As for women…
His own sister was beautiful, but clearly not the answer.
Though the Empire was vast and full of pretty girls, finding a suitable one in a short time was impossible.
So in the end, the only option was to buy off Letia and use her as bait to catch the big fish, Red?
While Mason was lost in thought, Red glanced at him out of the corner of his eye and let out a quiet breath.
It was obvious Mason and Monica were working together.
What he’d said just now was only to cut off Mason’s intentions.
Inside the White Church’s monastery.
Litt finished her work for the day, ready to return home for a good rest.
“Being monitored is such a headache.”
After realizing that Molly was watching her, Litt had to work even harder to maintain her perfect persona.
She’d been tense all day, and now that she could finally relax, the exhaustion hit her hard.
And there was another annoying problem.
Even after leaving the monastery, Molly was still tailing her.
Litt glanced at a glass window by the street and saw the girl not far behind.
Her stealth and tracking skills were pretty good, but to Litt, it really wasn’t enough.
Tsk~
Because of Molly’s stalking, she couldn’t take off her disguise mask.
She’d planned to finish work and then slack off a bit, but that plan was ruined.
What to do?
Litt began to think, but just as she was pondering, her head throbbed suddenly.
A stream of new words and images flooded into her mind.
Although messy, she quickly sorted out the content.
Monica, the silly goose from before, seemed to have lost her place in the script.
It was like being demoted from main character to side character.
Previously, to avoid having Red interact too much with the original female leads, she had lured—no, invited—this silly goose to the Dream Club as a masseuse.
That had always been her plan.
After all, she really didn’t want to get involved in any rivalry or drama with other women.
From Tessaia at the start to Monica now, she had always tried to steer them away from Red.
And now, it seemed to have worked…
But why did seeing the script’s new scene make her so angry?
Especially seeing Monica massage Red—there was really a sense that her toy had been taken by someone else!
Forget it, calm down, calm down.
Litt patted her cheeks.
After all, Red wasn’t her toy.
Suppressing all those messy thoughts, Litt once again put on a gentle, warm smile.
Yes, that’s better.
But the pressing matter now was how to get rid of the tail behind her, or she couldn’t relax at all.
So, Litt wandered the streets aimlessly, looking for the right opportunity.
And she kept moving toward Red’s direction.
According to the script info she’d just gotten, Red should be back from Succubus Street by now.
“Litt?”
Just as she expected, she soon ran into Red, who was heading home.
“What a coincidence?”
Litt looked surprised for a moment, then smiled.
“Red, did you just finish work too?”
“Ah… um…”
Red really wanted to lie, but guilt made him answer truthfully.
“My friend’s sister was practicing her massage technique and asked me to give it a try.”
That was honest, right?
“Is that so?”
Litt seemed to be psyching herself up as she said to Red, “I told you before, if you want a massage, you can come find me anytime.”
Red was taken aback by her direct invitation, looking a little hesitant.
“Really? Wouldn’t that trouble you, Litt?”
“It’s no trouble at all.”
Litt shook her head, her warm smile like winter sunshine, melting the last of Red’s worries.
She tilted her head a little, twisting her fingers shyly as she added, “It’s just… my technique… might be a bit unskilled? I hope you won’t mind, Red.”
“No, no, the thought counts.”
Red was relieved that Litt didn’t pursue the matter further.
Even though he knew Litt wouldn’t mind, he still felt guilty.
But aside from Litt, there was something else on his mind.
Someone was watching him from the shadows.
Red glanced that way out of the corner of his eye and soon spotted the sneaky Molly.
And… the feeling she gave off was completely different from last night.
Did that mean it wasn’t the same group?
Maybe they changed people for protection?
Or maybe it was another faction?
Red wasn’t sure, but he stayed vigilant.
In his experience, Litt was never watched during the day.
While Red was glancing at Molly in the shadows, Litt spoke.
“Red, what are you looking at?”
“Nothing.”
Red shook his head.
“Let’s go home.”
“Okay!”
Meanwhile, in the shadows, Molly frowned deeply.
Just now… had she been discovered?
No, no, it must be her imagination.
Molly looked at Litt and Red again in the distance.
She knew the man beside Litte was named Red.
A former Creation Mage kicked out of Dawn’s Edge, and recently involved in some business with the Gilded Chamber of Commerce.
He’d also saved Litt from being Sunk in the Sea during the Sunlight Dawn Festival.
So, he was pretty strong, but as a mage, probably not great at close combat.
As for Litt… heh, just a pretty face.
Molly’s face twisted into a cruel smile.
As a member of the Black Church who had endured humiliation, she was also an Assassin.
To make the Black Church great again, there was nothing she wouldn’t do.
From assassinations to maid work, nothing was impossible for her.
Admittedly, mages were strong, but in close combat… definitely not her match.
“Sigh~”
Just as Molly was planning her next step, a childish voice sounded below.
A little girl pointed up at Molly, lying on the roof, with innocent curiosity.
“Mommy, what’s that lady doing on the roof?”
Hearing this, the woman next to the child quickly covered her eyes.
“Hey, don’t look! Sneaking around behind a young couple, lying on a rooftop—clearly the mistress who got chased out. Don’t you dare learn from her!”
“Oh!”
Molly almost fainted from rage.
She snapped back, exasperated.
“Who are you calling mistress! And! Don’t call me ‘auntie’! Call me ‘big sister,’ got it?”
Her voice cracked, drawing Litt and Red’s attention up to the roof.
Fortunately, Molly reacted quickly and ducked behind the roof’s far slope, clapping a hand over her mouth.
Damn, as an assassin, she shouldn’t show emotion.
No emotional fluctuations allowed.
If she was discovered, it’d be hard to explain.
Stay calm, she’s a professional…
Such a small thing couldn’t possibly trip her up.
Molly took a deep breath, cleared her throat, centered her qi, and opened her mouth.
“Meow~”
Oh yeah, real professional.