Tap—
Inside the hall, a graceful figure sat quietly, gazing straight out the viewing window ahead.
"You don't have anything to say?"
The matter of the Artificial Dungeon had already come to an end.
Before absolute power, everything had quickly settled.
Last night, Freya Familia had almost mobilized its entire force. They caused quite a disturbance on Daedalus Street, yet no one knew exactly what they were doing.
Especially Loki Familia—the only faction capable of rivaling Freya Familia—kept a close eye on their old opponent's movements. Even so, they found nothing.
No one knew that the real battlefield had been hidden inside the Artificial Dungeon, a place concealed for a thousand years.
After returning, Cao Ye was immediately summoned by Freya.
Clearly, Alfrigg had already reported everything about the Xenos, especially the matter of Cao Ye subduing a female half-serpent monster.
"So, Lady Freya… what would you like to know?"
Cao Ye smiled calmly. He had already prepared for this interrogation.
"Looks like you've already prepared your answers."
Freya said lightly.
Cao Ye simply smiled without replying.
In front of a god, children of the lower world could not easily lie—especially before a goddess as perceptive as Freya.
"Xenos," Cao Ye began.
"They are special monsters born within the Dungeon."
"They possess intelligence, and some can even speak human language."
"They have clear self-awareness. Monsters attack them, and humans hunt them as well."
"Hm?"
Freya was momentarily surprised by the sudden explanation.
Intelligent monsters that could speak—and were even attacked by other monsters?
It was her first time hearing such a thing.
"Ikelos Familia captured these intelligent monsters and sold them outside Orario for enormous profits."
"After all, such 'special specimens' are extremely valuable."
"So the monsters in the Artificial Dungeon were all merchandise captured by Ikelos Familia?"
"Yes."
"And from those Xenos, I also learned some interesting information."
"Would you like to hear it, Lady Freya?"
Freya narrowed her eyes slightly.
"If you have something to say, just say it."
She enjoyed speaking in riddles, but she did not enjoy being puzzled by others.
"For many years now, someone has been secretly contacting the Xenos and helping them."
"Hm?"
"You mean someone in Orario discovered the Xenos long ago?"
"Yes."
"He calls himself 'the Fool'—a figure wrapped in a black robe."
Hearing this description, Freya's expression changed slightly.
As the goddess of Freya Familia, she naturally knew many secrets of Orario.
Including that mysterious mage.
A subordinate directly under Ouranos.
Which meant—
Behind the Xenos, there was also the shadow of Ouranos.
If Orario were a game board where all gods were players—
Then Ouranos was the administrator.
Day after day, he used his divine power and prayers to suppress the Dungeon beneath the city.
Not only that, the Guild he established was the largest governing organization in Orario.
All familias were under its management.
"Ouranos…"
Freya lowered her gaze slightly.
She had not expected that this matter involved Ouranos as well.
Nearby, Cao Ye smiled faintly.
This was the trick of borrowing authority.
Just as he could borrow Freya's authority to intimidate others in the Familia—
He could also borrow Ouranos's name to shift Freya's attention.
"You may leave."
"Last night's matter ends here."
"I understand."
It was over.
Freya's thoughts were now occupied by the Xenos and Ouranos.
Cao Ye's personal affairs were no longer important.
Cao Ye turned and left the goddess's chambers, then returned to his own room.
He had barely rested all night.
He was exhausted.
After entering his room and changing clothes, he prepared to get some sleep.
But on his bed—
Someone had already taken his place.
A golden fox girl lay sprawled across the bed.
Chun Ji.
Her head was buried in the pillow, and her large golden tail occupied most of the space. She was sleeping soundly.
Seeing this scene, Cao Ye didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
You return home and find a fox girl sleeping on your bed… what do you do?
Urgent advice needed.
"Mmm…"
Chun Ji stirred slightly and slowly woke up.
Still half-asleep, when she saw Cao Ye, she immediately sat upright on the bed and knelt before him.
It looked almost like she was welcoming him home.
"You're back, Lord Cao Ye…"
"Hm?"
Cao Ye was about to ask something when he suddenly smelled alcohol in the air.
He hadn't noticed it before, but when Chun Ji spoke, the scent became obvious.
This mischievous fox had been drinking.
"You've been drinking?"
"Just a little…"
"I saw that Lord Cao Ye likes drinking, so I wanted to try it."
"Just a little?"
On the nearby desk lay an empty wine bottle.
Seeing it, Cao Ye rubbed his temples helplessly.
That was one of the rare wines he had obtained from Freya's collection.
Not divine wine—but still extremely precious.
He had planned to save it for a special occasion.
Now this fox girl had finished the entire bottle.
"Lord Cao Ye…"
"You're Chun Ji's hero."
"A hero who belongs only to Chun Ji."
"I'm so happy…"
"But Chun Ji has nothing."
"All I have is this ruined body…"
Her voice trembled slightly.
From the beginning, Chun Ji had believed that she was no longer pure.
Because she had once been forced into the life of a courtesan.
She never dared express her feelings.
She thought she was someone unworthy.
But after drinking an entire bottle of wine, her courage had grown.
She had nothing to offer.
The only thing she could give—
Was herself.
With trembling hands, she began loosening her clothing, revealing her pale shoulders.
To her, it felt like the old tales—
Where a courtesan offers herself to the hero who saved her.
Cao Ye looked at her quietly.
Then he sighed.
"You really picked quite a way to confess."
The fox girl's ears twitched.
Her face turned red.
And the quiet room slowly filled with a warm, awkward silence.
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