What a peculiar way to call someone.
Lomio didn’t give “Kafnir’s” actions a second thought.
According to the story’s progression, right now, apart from this spot and the evacuation point, there should be teams searching for and attacking each other everywhere.
Rushing in rashly would be asking for trouble.
Since this guy wants to sneak off and have a secret rendezvous with his little maid in the midst of chaos, well, that’s fine too.
“What an abstract relationship… Thankfully, it has nothing to do with me.”
Muttering to himself, Lomio glanced at Kaishia.
The girl’s golden hair was tied into a ponytail, swaying as she plucked at white flowers in the grass, mumbling, “Good luck, bad luck…”
This kid… she doesn’t look very bright…
Lomio couldn’t help but worry a little about his client’s future.
Even though he’d gotten something for nothing out of her, if she was just someone with high poison resistance and little else, this deal couldn’t exactly be called profitable.
As expected, the trial needed to end as soon as possible. With the capital and foreknowledge of the plot, he needed to find other SSRs for “talent cultivation” and bind them all!
Just then, he saw Kafnir return from behind the tree, that usual royal composure no longer flawless on her face.
Her always-upright back seemed to slump a little, too.
“Good luck…”
Kaishia was still pulling petals off her flower, chanting under her breath, completely oblivious to the subtle shift in the team’s atmosphere.
Lomio was the first to sense it.
He sat up from the ground, brushed the grass off his hands, and looked at the approaching Kafnir.
“What’s up, bro?” he asked casually.
At this, Karenina instantly tensed up. She stopped in her tracks, took a deep breath, and seemed to be organizing her words.
“It’s nothing,” Karenina’s voice was a bit dry, “Annie was a little emotional, so I reprimanded her a bit.”
“I assure you, there won’t be any more issues like this in the future.”
She spoke as if delivering a formal report.
Lomio was a little stunned by this.
Reprimanded? Assure?
What’s with this guy? Why so serious all of a sudden?
Before he could process it all, a shadow emerged behind Karenina.
The silhouette sharpened, and Annie just stood there, doing nothing.
Her eyes were rimmed red, as if she’d just cried, with unshed tears still glistening inside.
She stared at Lomio with an expression that could eat him alive, bones and all.
Lomio was left utterly baffled by that murderous glare.
What did I do to deserve this?
Did I max out your credit card or something?
He looked at the stern, waiting-for-verdict Karenina, then at the tearful, vengeful maid beside her.
“Oh… I get it now.”
Isn’t this just the classic move of shifting the blame?
“Kafnir” had just dragged his little maid behind the tree for a “reprimand.”
Now the maid comes out crying, and looks at me like she wants to kill someone.
Not to mention our first meeting was already a little unpleasant…
“Could it be… she thinks I’m trying to steal her man?”
Lomio’s face instantly twisted into a weird expression.
No way, does she see me as a rival in love?
Is that even reasonable?
No wonder this is a yuri, women-dominant world—it’s got all the elements…
The noble circles are truly fascinating.
“Why should I care? It’s not like credits are going to drop from my wallet if I get involved.”
Lomio decided not to bother.
Since he was just an innocent bystander, he’d just act like nothing happened.
However, while Lomio could play dumb, Ibuki Rei could not.
The killing intent coming off Annie was like poisonous miasma from a swamp—impossible to ignore.
As a martial artist, her sense for this kind of aura was far sharper than normal people.
Ibuki Rei’s gaze swept between Lomio and Annie.
There was a hint of amusement on Lomio’s face, as if the killing intent didn’t bother him—in fact, he seemed to find it interesting.
Ibuki Rei’s thoughts immediately raced.
There was no way he hadn’t noticed. With his senses, this level of killing intent was like a torch in the dark—impossible to miss.
The fact that he didn’t react meant he was permitting it.
“A test?”
Ibuki Rei figured it out instantly.
She’d just joined this team, and Lomio had revealed a glimpse of the grand “Credit Loan” plan.
He needed a reliable partner, not just a hired hand.
But this maid named Annie, emotionally unstable and unable to distinguish friend from foe, was the most unstable element in the team.
Lomio was waiting—waiting to see what his new “partner” would do when faced with an internal threat.
Would she stand by and watch, or would she take the initiative to protect the team’s core leader?
This was a test of her sincerity!
With her mind made up, Ibuki Rei silently stepped half a pace forward, subtly adjusting her position.
Her new spot was just right—blocking Annie’s view of Lomio, forming a faint barrier of protection.
“Boss, looks like the road ahead is safe!”
Kaishia finally finished pulling the last petal—it was “good luck.”
Satisfied, she stood up, patted the dirt from her clothes, and reported to the group:
“I used hunter’s skills to check ahead. There’s no unusual energy fluctuation on the path—should be no ambush.”
Her voice shattered the strange silence.
“Alright, let’s get moving,” Lomio nodded, as if nothing had just happened.
The team set off once more.
But this time, there was a subtle, yet profound, shift in formation.
Ibuki Rei walked at the front, seemingly clearing the way, but her senses were all focused behind her.
With Lomio’s guidance, it was clear now—the greatest threats weren’t from outside.
Kaishia, as the “client” under protection, followed closely behind Ibuki Rei, right beside Lomio, still fretting over her soon-to-be debt-filled academy life.
“Is this really good luck or bad luck…”
Lomio walked in the middle, entirely unaware of the undercurrents behind him, his mind filled with possible game plotlines.
“Almost all the SSR routes have been bypassed—there shouldn’t be any super powerful opponents left.”
Annie followed behind Lomio, silently walking in the shadow of the trees.
Karenina brought up the rear, staff in hand, all her attention on her loyal but troublesome servant.
“Don’t do anything foolish.”
She prayed silently.
Five people, five entirely different thoughts, marching forward in silence, forming a delicate balance.
After passing through a low thicket, the view ahead suddenly opened up.
“Wait!”
Ibuki Rei, in the front, suddenly raised her hand, and the entire team stopped immediately.
She didn’t look back, just lowered her voice, a hint of confusion in her tone.
“Up ahead… what is that?”
Everyone followed her gaze.
Not far away, half-buried in the muddy ground, a metallic object reflected a sliver of dappled light from the forest canopy.
It looked finely crafted—definitely not from any magical beast, nor something naturally formed.
“That’s… a family crest!”
Realizing something was wrong, the air around Karenina immediately began to freeze!
“Scatter!”
Lomio recognized the Crest of the Cromwell family, instantly activated concealment, and slipped into the shadows!
A Magitech Locator!
Not as effective as an alchemy card, but still not obsolete!
Its effect—most likely surveillance of this area!
They’d been found by Cromwell!
Beatrice—that woman—sure enough, someone was scheming behind her!
Otherwise, with her brain ruled by her lower half, she’d never choose to ambush here, at this time!
Bang!
Without warning, magic exploded—a wall of force crushed everything in its path, smashing rocks and gouging deep into the earth.
“Whoa!”
Kaishia reacted instantly, the first to escape the danger zone, hiding behind a rock and drawing her hand crossbow.
“Wasn’t this supposed to be a safe exit?! Hey!!”
“We’ll have to fight, after all.”
Ibuki Rei wasn’t hit, just crouched, hand on her sword hilt, at the front, ready to act at any moment.
Karenina sensed something too. “Make it quick. The mana fluctuations down the mountain are fading—this evacuation point is about to get crowded.”
“Ahahahaha!”
Beatrice, holding several Magitech Cards, appeared from a distortion of light and shadow, flanked by the last two members of her squad:
“Just as my dear brother predicted!”
“You gutter rats really did end up hiding here in the end!”