Under the night sky, Blackrock Stronghold was a city of two halves: one of fire, the other of sea.
In the square before the City Lord's Mansion, the fervor of military recruitment had yet to fade. The roars and sweat of men mingled, forming a primal, restless torrent.
Yet just a few blocks away, Tender Village seemed to exist in another world, sealed off by an invisible barrier.
The usual polite solicitations and alluring lights were gone.
The entire building was brightly lit, yet steeped in an unnerving silence.
Standing at the entrance were not the charming beast-girl maids, but rows of armored guards with grim expressions, their halberds held tight and their auras chilling.
The sharp edge of war preparations blended seamlessly with the establishment's inherent elegance.
As Lin Qingyue's group approached, Mia the cat-girl—the same one who had received them before—hurried to greet them.
She had shed her form-fitting waitress uniform for a tailored black combat suit that gave her a sharp, capable air.
"Esteemed guests, Lady Lilina has been awaiting you on the Star-Plucking Terrace for some time."
Mia's tone remained respectful, but the professional detachment in her eyes had vanished, replaced by sincere, heartfelt gratitude.
Under her personal guidance, the four passed through heavily guarded corridors, rode an elevator adorned with velvet and bronze, and finally reached the top floor, which had never been open to ordinary guests.
The elevator doors opened, revealing a breathtaking view.
It was a spacious, semi-open terrace. The obsidian floor beneath them was polished to a mirror-like sheen, reflecting the sparse stars in the night sky and the myriad lights of the city below.
A magnificent long dining table was already set, its silver cutlery gleaming with a warm luster under the magical lights.
City Lord Punk sat on one side of the table.
He had changed into a clean, crisp formal suit, the shattered worldview and颓然之色 from earlier now gone, his expression restored to calm.
At the head of the long table sat a woman who bore a striking resemblance to Punk.
She appeared to be in her early twenties, with a pretty face and emerald-green eyes as clear as the finest jade.
Yet those eyes held a depth of indifference and authority that seemed to have witnessed the rise and fall of empires, making her true age a mystery.
A quiet yet commanding aura emanated from her, the kind of composure only those long accustomed to high positions could cultivate.
Her cat ears were not like Mia's short-haired variety, but possessed the wild, noble features of a caracal.
The two highly distinctive tufts of black fur on her ear tips swayed slightly in the cool night breeze.
"Welcome, heroes of Blackrock Stronghold."
She spoke, her voice crisp and pleasant, yet tinged with the lazy drawl characteristic of felines.
"My apologies for hosting this banquet in such a place. After all... the City Lord's Mansion is a bit drafty right now."
At these words, City Lord Punk's face twitched slightly, but he remained silent, not responding.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Lilina, the master of this place, and also that troublesome fellow's younger sister."
She gestured toward Punk with a casual air, her tone suggesting she was introducing a little brother who had just caused trouble, rather than the lord of a city.
Punk could only manage a helpless, bitter smile.
Lin Qingyue and the others took their seats, but their gazes couldn't help but drift between Lilina and Mia, who stood respectfully beside her.
As if sensing their stares, Lilina suddenly smiled.
She reached out, pulling Mia to her side with a completely natural motion, and in front of everyone, announced a startling piece of news.
"I forgot to mention. Mia is the daughter I adopted as a child, and the heir to Tender Village."
At this declaration, both Xia Lian and Lin Xiyue showed expressions of astonishment.
A faint light flashed in Su Wan's azure eyes; her mind was already rapidly analyzing the vast information hidden behind that statement.
A mere attendant at a pleasure house, ascending to become its future owner?
But thinking back carefully, City Lord Punk's special treatment of Mia, and Mia's authority and knowledge within Tender Village—far exceeding that of an ordinary attendant—all seemed to make perfect sense now.
Only Lin Qingyue smiled, raising her glass to Mia in a silent toast before turning her gaze back to Lilina.
She knew very well that the true mistress of Tender Village hadn't gone to such lengths to invite them to this banquet merely to announce her adopted daughter's identity.
The prelude is over. The main course is about to be served.
As expected, Lilina no longer concealed her intentions.
She slowly rose to her feet.
In an instant, a soft, sacred glow erupted from her body without warning!
Behind her, the ethereal image of an ancient, luminous scale flashed and vanished.
The light was pure and solemn, carrying an inviolable sense of order. It transformed into a tangible pressure that enveloped the entire Star-Plucking Terrace.
"I, Lilina, am not only the master of Tender Village but also the Saintess of the God of Contracts, walking among mortals."
Her emerald eyes locked onto Lin Qingyue as she performed a standard, deeply respectful salute of the clergy.
"On behalf of Blackrock Stronghold, and also on behalf of the Church of the God of Contracts, I thank you all for saving this city, preserving my brother's life, and... safeguarding the foundation of faith in Order and Contract in this land."
A Divine Barrier!
A Saintess!
Lin Qingyue instantly understood.
No wonder!
No wonder Blackrock Stronghold could maintain basic order under the influence of the "Echo of the Heart's Abyss," a rule that amplified desires!
No wonder Tender Village could be an absolute safe zone where desires were traded for money, yet one could leave with their sanity intact!
The owner of this top-tier den of indulgence was actually a deity's Saintess!
Lilina sat down again, and the sacred aura instantly vanished without a trace. She reverted to the lazy, charming cat-girl mistress.
She waved her hand casually, and Mia immediately understood, presenting a tray covered with luxurious silk.
"I know that for all of you, worldly wealth and power hold little meaning."
Lilina's gaze swept over the four of them, finally resting on Lin Qingyue's face. Countless fine golden threads seemed to flash within her emerald eyes.
"My god told me, your soul imprints... do not belong to this world."
"Your power systems, your strange ability to grow rapidly in combat, all carry an 'otherworldly' aura."
Her emerald eyes shimmered with a sharp, all-seeing clarity.
"The crude iron lumps in the armory probably wouldn't catch your eyes. So, I've prepared something... you might find more interesting as a token of gratitude."
She casually lifted the silk cloth from the tray.
Four identical bracelets lay quietly on the velvet cushion.
The bracelets were woven from unknown azure crystals and bright silver mithril threads, their style ancient and simple. Under the light, magical radiance flowed within the crystals.
Lin Qingyue reached out and picked one up.
The bracelet felt cool to the touch, its texture as smooth and warm as jade.
The next moment, the Profession Panel's information popped up before her eyes.
[Contract Bracelet]
[Quality: Epic]
[Type: Accessory]
[Constitution +30]
[Equipment Requirement: None]
[Special Effect · Diligence: Blessed by the God of Contracts, your growth will be even faster. EXP Gain Rate +5%.]
[Description: A weighty gift from the Saintess of God, witnessing your defense of order.]
The moment she saw the stats, even Lin Qingyue, who had seen it all, held her breath for a second.
+30 Constitution, a core survival stat universal to all professions!
But what truly made her pupils shrink was the special effect named [Diligence].
EXP Gain Rate +5%!
This wasn't a simple stat boost; it was a permanent growth enhancement!
For Professionals like them, who needed massive amounts of experience to level up, this 5% was worth far more than an ordinary Legendary-grade item!
The last item with such a stat was a cloak obtained only after perfectly purifying a Dungeon!
"Whoa—!"
Lin Xiyue was the first to gasp, unceremoniously grabbing a bracelet and putting it on her wrist. Her small face lit up with surprise as she felt the fullness from the increased Constitution.
Xia Lian and Su Wan were equally stunned by the preciousness of the gift.
Xia Lian's small mouth hung slightly open as she looked from the bracelet to Lilina, her eyes filled with the bewildered question, "Is this really okay?"
Su Wan's eyes, however, flashed with sharp light as she rapidly calculated the massive snowball advantage their current total of 15% bonus experience would create for them in the future.
Lin Qingyue looked up, meeting Lilina's smiling emerald eyes.
"This gift... is too valuable," she said calmly.
"No."
Lilina shook her head gently, her tone unwavering.
"Compared to everything you've done for Blackrock Stronghold, it's not valuable at all."
She leaned forward slightly, her emerald eyes swirling with both amusement and mystery.
"Accept it, heroes."
"Consider this... our first small, but absolutely fair, contract in our shared fight against Chaos."