"Not now?"
The White Elf Queen gently pushed Kurose Akira aside, leaving him awkwardly smiling—he had thought now was the right moment.
"Although she has now become an independent being and is no longer bound by my authority as the Elf Queen, her ambition remains unchanged," the White Elf Queen said, her gaze drifting slightly downward toward Akira's chest. "I can suppress her, but if you wish to wield her power… you will have to conquer her yourself."
"Conquer…"
Akira took a deep breath, falling into thought.
The Dark Elf Queen's domineering personality had softened somewhat compared to before, but her ambition remained unshakable. At this stage, he couldn't be certain whether her goal was still to overthrow the Elf Queen and claim the throne for herself.
Judging by the current circumstances, achieving that goal seemed almost impossible. Even defeating the Elf Queen was questionable—not to mention gaining the approval of the Mother Tree and the elves themselves.
"I'll try… hopefully, I can bring her around," Akira said, though he lacked confidence. The Dark Elf Queen's will was far stronger than he had imagined. Even before, when she had been subjected to the onslaught of Saint Light, she had frothily spat out white foam in confusion yet never surrendered.
"She may be our opposite in some ways, but in most ways, she's the same," the White Elf Queen explained. "As a queen, as the leader of the Elf Kingdom, she would never submit to something trivial. Even with your… hmhm~ it wouldn't be nearly enough."
"Understood, Your Majesty."
Akira nodded in agreement. The Dark Elf Queen was still a queen at heart; her pride and spirit were not so easily broken.
"So~"
The White Elf Queen reached out gently, brushing Akira's hair. "Tonight, do your best to persuade her, okay?"
"Understood."
Akira nodded, though uncertainty lingered in his mind.
"I'll be waiting for your good news~"
With a soft smile, she rose gracefully and headed toward her bedroom.
Akira watched her retreating figure, eyebrows lifting slightly. As a wife, the dignified and virtuous Elf Queen was certainly the ideal choice…
cough cough!
"I'll head back first."
As he lost himself in thought, Lucia passed by, murmuring softly, "See you tomorrow…"
"Yeah, tom—" Akira turned to reply, but he noticed something strange in Lucia's gaze. There was suspicion, confusion, and even a hint of melancholy.
Curious, he asked, "Is there something on my face?"
"Nothing," she said. Her eyes lingered briefly on him before she shook her head and walked away.
But just as she stepped into the teleportation circle, she glanced back and gave him a sharp look—a gaze tinged with subtle grievance. Akira froze for a few seconds, only recovering once she disappeared entirely into the circle.
He muttered to himself, "What's wrong with Lucia…?"
Shaking his head, he refocused on clearing his deck and reviewing his codex.
Currently, only two entries remained: Void and Widow. Together, they formed the combination "Void Widow"… oddly fitting, perhaps?
In addition, he still had a silver hairpin from the Medusa Queen, though its properties remained unknown.
Sigh~
Akira rubbed his brow. For some reason, he felt that the next recruit would certainly have some connection to the Medusa Queen.
As time passed, Ivsha and the others gradually left the guild. By the time Akira had organized his backpack, it was already 7 p.m.
He logged out, only to find Xu Feiyan had long since disappeared.
"Where is she?"
Akira stood, searching the villa. Just as he stepped outside, the sound of clattering echoed from the third floor.
"What are you doing?"
He climbed the stairs to find Xu Feiyan holding a pile of cosmetics.
"Me? Just sorting out things I don't need," she said, tossing the products into a cardboard box and wiping sweat from her brow. "It's been ages since I returned—I didn't expect the room to be such a mess. Exhausting."
"Do you want some help?" Akira offered.
"I've been waiting for you to say that~" Xu Feiyan seized his wrist and pulled him into the room. She pointed toward some gym equipment in the corner. "Some of this stuff is too heavy. Could you help me move it?"
"Consider it done."
Akira lifted the gym equipment effortlessly and moved it out the door. For him, it was lighter than cotton. Even after carrying it all, his breathing remained steady. Truly the strength of a young male college student.
"Anything else?" he asked curiously.
"No…" Xu Feiyan shook her head, lost in thought for a moment. Then, she said, "Push these to the cart, and I'll take you out to eat."
"Eat? But it's—"
Akira glanced at the time: in-game it was 7 p.m., but in reality, it was 3 a.m.
"Akira, little one," Xu Feiyan laughed. "This is Zhehai, one of our country's three economic hubs! Even at 3 a.m., the city is alive! Let's go, I'll show you the night~"
"?"
Akira followed her eagerly, ready for the city's nightlife, only to regret it upon arrival. Xu Feiyan's nightlife was nothing like he imagined. It wasn't a dazzling world of neon lights, music, and revelry. It was… dull.
First, they visited a high-end nail salon. Half an hour later, Xu Feiyan had gorgeous nails. Then, a beauty spa for a new facial mask.
Akira froze when he saw the price—over a thousand for a single mask.
"Let's go."
By the time Xu Feiyan finished, it was 5 a.m.
"Ah."
Akira rose from the sofa, almost asleep—not from fatigue, but because the sofa felt like sinking into clouds.
"I've kept you waiting. I'll take you to eat," Xu Feiyan said, climbing into the car and driving toward the restaurant.
For the first time, Akira's hollow heart felt a spark reignite. After a long wait, something was finally about to bloom.
At the restaurant, he fell into thought again.
"You don't like it?" Xu Feiyan asked, resting her chin in her hand.
"No," he shook his head, picking up his knife and fork. He stared at the steak and salad before him. He didn't particularly enjoy Western food. More importantly, the portions were small!
After dinner, Xu Feiyan sent him home, said goodnight, and went straight to her room.
"Such a dull nightlife~" Akira shrugged—but he didn't mind. In contrast, he would have been uncomfortable in neon-soaked clubs.
Back in his room, he logged into the game. It was 11 p.m. in-game, the guild quiet at night.
He checked the bedrooms: Mare Lyne was asleep, while Kanluthia had just awakened.
Kanluthia stood by the window, gazing at the night sky. The full moon illuminated her pale face, her red eyes glinting. The smirk on her lips made her look ominously eerie…
She hadn't noticed him. Muttering to the moon:
"Blood! Crimson Moon! The true progenitor is born! Kekekeke!"
"?"
Akira frowned, as if looking at a fool. This vampire progenitor… seemed seriously unwell. He shook his head and closed the door.
Outside, the moon began to bleed red without his noticing.
He headed to the White Elf Queen's bedroom. After expanding the guild, many new bedrooms had been added. He had tried persuading Mare Lyne and Kanluthia to sleep in his room, but they clung like parasites.
Resigned, he compromised. They won't leave, I'll go.
Knock knock!
"Are you asleep?"
"Come in," a voice replied immediately.
He opened the door. "Sorry to keep you waiting."
But the figure before him wasn't the White Elf Queen—it was the Dark Elf Queen.
Her dark-golden eyes glimmered in the dim light, sharp with a subtle malevolence, as if seeing through the world itself.
"Sorry I'm late."
Akira swallowed, closing the door, and scanned for a place to sit. Nothing. The only furniture was a crystal bed.
"Sit here," she said, gesturing beside her.
He hesitated, then sat. She stared directly into his eyes, filled with grievance and fury, ready to erupt…
Then, in the next instant, her expression softened, calm returning.
"I know your intention."
"You know?"
"Yes," the Dark Elf Queen continued. "I can sense everything about her—touch, hearing, sight… It's slightly different from when we were three-in-one."
"I see…"
Akira now understood her state.
"If you want me to act, it comes at a price." Her gaze cut cold.
"Go on."
He smiled, letting her state her conditions. Partly because he hadn't figured out how to conquer her yet.
"I…"
She hesitated, pondering her demands. Finally, she said, "Everything is settled. I can no longer return to the Elf Kingdom to rule and lead the elves to glory."
"…"
Akira only smiled politely. He couldn't deny that in another timeline, she might have achieved it—replacing the Elf Queen and leading the Elf Kingdom to the world's peak. But such fantasies belonged solely to the Dark Elf Queen.
"Losing the Elf Kingdom does not mean I have lost everything," she said passionately, smiling at him. "I have high hopes for your guild. With careful planning, it can become the strongest force in the world! Even without thousands of subjects, a smaller group is easier to control. Moreover, each member has exceptional talent!"
"President Akira, I am willing to join you in leading the 'Puff Fantasy' guild to become the strongest force in existence!"
"You…"
Akira froze. Her words came too fast for him to take in everything. He caught fragments—she wanted to become the guild's strongest 'puff'…
cough cough~
He understood the gist.
"So, you're willing to manage the guild alongside me? Fight for a brighter tomorrow?" he asked, curious.
"Yes," she nodded. "But you must grant me administrative rights. I will manage the guild for you."
"I don't think they'll agree," he chuckled, imagining Lucia, Mare Lyne, and Kanluthia reacting. The moment she tried to command them—impossible. Control a destroyer dragon and a vampire progenitor? Dream on.
"Have you heard the saying?" she asked mysteriously.
"What?"
"Seize the king to command the lords. Once you control him, they'll obey," she said confidently.
Akira quietly pulled out his elf staff and ring. Say that again?