That night, Su Nian lay in bed, unable to fall asleep for a long time.
She kept thinking about how to use her position as Financial Chief Steward to divert funds and build up her strength.
At the same time, she couldn’t afford to stop accumulating Humiliation Value.
She needed to gather enough, safely, without angering the Horned Demon Bastard…
On the other hand, she had to find a way to quietly transfer some of Shadowmoon Manor’s funds into the secret account she had been preparing.
With money, she could contact trustworthy allies—like some righteous people she’d met before at Magic Feather Fantasy, and the teachers and students at the Magic Academy whom she thought could be won over.
Or perhaps she could simply entrust someone reliable to go to the Adventurers’ Guild and hire adventurers who would do anything for money.
And of course, there was Chu Tian, the captain of the Magic Feather Fantasy guard, who should also be someone she could trust.
***
Early the next morning, Su Nian arrived at the finance office of Shadowmoon Manor.
The room was piled high with all sorts of ledgers and documents, looking utterly chaotic.
She took a deep breath and began to organize everything according to her plan.
First, she sorted the account books by date and category, carefully examining each entry, searching for loopholes and opportunities she could exploit.
While Su Nian was busy, the Horned Demon Bastard suddenly walked in.
Chu Tian looked at Su Nian’s busy figure, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
“Quite diligent, aren’t you? Starting work for your master this early?”
Su Nian was startled, but quickly regained her composure.
Turning around, she plastered a flattering smile on her face and said, “Please rest assured, Master. I will do my utmost. Look, I’ve organized these ledgers so it’ll be easier to check them in the future.”
Perhaps.
For a moment, Chu Tian looked at the fawning smile on the girl’s face and almost thought she had already submitted, willing to work for him.
But soon, he dismissed that idea.
If she had truly surrendered, she wouldn’t have tried so hard to gain control of the finances.
More than that…
“Ding-dong, absorbed feelings of disdain, Annoyance Value +106”
Chu Tian walked over to Su Nian, casually flipping through the ledgers she had organized, his gaze sharp and scrutinizing.
“The Inventory Counting System you mentioned—let’s implement it starting today.”
Su Nian nodded quickly.
“Yes, Master. I’ll make the arrangements right away.”
She knew perfectly well that she couldn’t rush her plans just yet.
She needed to earn the Horned Demon Bastard’s trust first.
She quickly gathered the warehouse staff and explained in detail the concepts of regular inventory checks and turnover rates, setting up a comprehensive counting schedule.
Over the next two days, aside from essential performances as the Magic Girl Idol at Magic Feather Fantasy, Su Nian poured herself completely into the work at Shadowmoon Manor.
She double-checked the accounts every day and personally participated in the inventory counts.
During this process, she discovered some issues with the manor’s financial management.
After making improvements, she also cleverly planted a few minor ‘issues’—not real problems, but enough to help her quietly move some funds later.
However, Chu Tian did not trust Su Nian completely.
He secretly assigned his trusted aides to watch her every move.
Su Nian noticed she was being watched, but she didn’t panic.
She knew that as long as she was careful, she wouldn’t give herself away.
When, as Magical Girl Idol Su Nian, she negotiated with a supplier, she deliberately let her watcher overhear her bargaining for better prices for Shadowmoon Manor.
Clearly.
With Su Nian’s fame as a Magical Girl Idol and the advantage of Shadowmoon Manor’s Magic Phone products, she gained significant leverage in negotiations.
Not only could she drive down prices, she even secured more lenient payment terms.
Even the spies watching her couldn’t help but admire her abilities.
“Hmph, this girl really has some skills.” Chu Tian’s aide reported back to him.
Chu Tian nodded slightly.
He recognized Su Nian’s abilities even more, but his vigilance did not waver in the slightest.
***
During the day.
In the eyes of the manor’s maids and workshop craftsmen, Su Nian was the new Financial Chief Steward.
In private, they already saw her as one of Shadowmoon Manor’s women.
At night.
Even though Su Nian had brought supposed value to the Horned Demon Bastard, she was still summoned to his room.
But.
Su Nian had come to terms with it.
She realized that a look of disgust and humiliation only excited the Horned Demon Bastard’s twisted desires.
Rather than that, she might as well pretend to submit on the surface.
Of course, the purpose was to gain Humiliation Value and avoid being tormented too much.
Her bottom line had already been crossed too many times.
She couldn’t let it continue any further.
“Master, master, have another drink~” Su Nian cooed, her voice deliberately sweet and ingratiating.
“Ding-dong, Humiliation Value increased by 500.”
“Master, kiss me~ I like you the most~” Su Nian forced herself to endure the disgust, taking the initiative to kiss him.
“Daily Task: Address the Horned Demon as ‘Master’ 3/3, 3000 Humiliation Value (completed)”
“Daily Task: Kiss the Horned Demon 1/1, 5000 Humiliation Value (completed)”
“Mmm~… Master, you’re so naughty, don’t touch there, please, Master~” Su Nian twisted her body, feigning resistance while half-heartedly going along.
“Ding-dong, Humiliation Value increased by 7937.”
“Ding-dong, Humiliation Value increased by 9437.”
“Ding-dong, Humiliation Value increased by 12837.”
After changing her approach, Su Nian outwardly acted as if she was utterly devoted, throwing herself into his arms and speaking words that made Chu Tian believe she had completely surrendered.
Yet only she knew that every action, every word, was like a blade stabbing deep into her heart.
She hated the man before her to the core, yet had no choice but to let him toy with her perfect body, calling him ‘Master’ again and again, even pretending to love him.
But in her heart, she silently vowed: One day, she would make Chu Tian pay a terrible price for everything he had done!
Still, it wasn’t all for nothing.
At least in terms of Humiliation Value, she had made crucial progress.
Total Humiliation Value: 1,010,532 (Eligible to upgrade to Four-Star System)
Current Humiliation Value: 863,123
Though her current Humiliation Value hadn’t reached a million, and she couldn’t buy Saint-level skills yet…
But what would the Four-Star System bring her?
***
Inside her room at Shadowmoon Manor.
“System!” Su Nian whispered, eyes filled with tension and anticipation.
“Ding-dong, I’m here.”
“Upgrade to a Four-Star System.”
“Understood.”
“Ding-dong, upgrading to a Four-Star System.”
“Upgrade successful!”
“Ding-dong, after upgrading to the Four-Star System, the host is rewarded with a draw for one S-Class or higher special ability.”
A flash of white light appeared before Su Nian’s eyes.
A large spinning wheel materialized in front of her.
‘Was this…?’
‘A lottery!’
Having experienced company raffles in her previous life, Su Nian instantly understood the System’s intention.
“System, what’s the best ability I can get from this wheel?”
“SSS-Class Ability.”
Su Nian’s eyes lit up.
If she could draw an SSS-Class Ability, maybe she could finally defeat the Horned Demon Bastard once and for all.
In the void, she pressed the button to spin the wheel.
In an instant, the translucent wheel began to spin rapidly, runes and symbols weaving together in a dazzling display of light and color.
“Heavenly spirits, earthly spirits, sacrifice 100 years of the Horned Demon Bastard’s lifespan, give me an SSS-Class Ability!”
“Ding-dong, congratulations to the host, you have obtained….”
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I know why for plot reasons, but Chu Tian (human form) has shown no significant combat abilities that would make him a valuable asset, and is potentially compromised from working at the manor, to say nothing of her having catfished him then being quasi-caught