Despite standing beside Iris, Secain remained invisible to the orphans. If not for Ludmint's reminder, Iris would also miss her.

Secain wore a black overcoat on her body and a dull expression on her face. Her short purple hair gently swayed along with her controlled movement. Her sharp, black eyes focused on Iris, reading everything they could. She was shorter than Iris, but the crimson tattoo of the horizontal pupil on her forehead gave her a terrifying air.

Though surprised, Iris quickly recovered and snapped her fingers. Her Corruption Power spread and formed an isolation barrier. The orphans would not see nor hear anything out of the ordinary.

"Master Assassin? Miss Secain, are you of the Pure Races?" Iris said.

Secain nodded. "I used to be a slave assassin of Two-Fold Wind Order."

"What is that?"

Secain blinked. Surprise seeped through her dull expression. She turned to Ludmint, who wryly smiled, then back to Iris, who remained solemn.

"Is this common knowledge?" Iris narrowed her eyes as she glared at Ludmint.

Ludmint dryly coughed. "Secain, tell Iris about it. Just treat her like a tourist who knows nothing about the Garcient Kingdom."

Secain faintly smiled and nodded. Her eyes gleamed as her thoughts raced, trying to decipher Iris's situation. "Two-Fold Wind Order is one of the renounced Secret Organisations in the Garcient Kingdom. Though its headquarter isn’t located in Donhalgen, it is still strong enough to inspire terror to the local cliques."

"Forgive me if I touch upon any sensitive topic, but you mentioned something about slave assassins. Are most of them as strong as you?"

Secain is already a Master Assassin. If the other slave assassins are as strong as her, I might have to sleep in fear. It'll be difficult to always remain active against them.

"Only a few are Master Assassins; most are Assassin Apprentices and Assassins. However, my knowledge is only limited to the Donhalgen branch."

Scary. I wonder how powerful their headquarter is. Iris reached out and touched the crimson pupil on Secain's forehead. A spark jolted both Iris, who hurriedly pulled back, and Secain, who trembled, almost unable to hold her voice.

"It's a magical tattoo?" Iris said. "Is it a slave contract?"

"Yes. The enslavement effect has already been disabled, but the sense-sharing and the electrocution are still there." Secain lowered her head. A hint of pinkness emerged on her face. "Though it only brings pleasure now, it's uncomfortable to be touched in public."

Frowning, Iris turned to Ludmint. "Why are you torturing her? I know you can get rid of it."

"Because she likes it." Ludmint smiled. "She wants to enjoy the pleasure of a Monster Girl, to prepare herself before becoming one, so I modify the effect. It's now orgasmic."

Iris glared at Secain, who tensed up and shifted her posture, rubbing her thighs together.

"Miss Iris, this tattoo can sense the other members of the Two-Fold Wind Order. With it, I can warn others of any potential assassination attempt."

"Answer honestly," Iris said. "Is that really the reason to keep the tattoo?"

Secain looked up to Iris and stepped forwards. She grasped Iris's hand and nuzzled closer, pressing herself against Iris, who stood still, taking in the inviting aroma. Something about Secain is naturally soothing. It brought tranquillity, building up an urge inside Iris.

Though she dresses like an assassin, she does take care of her skin and scent. I wonder how fair her appearance is under that black fabric? Wait, something is amiss. Why am I thinking bad thoughts?

Iris seized Secain's hands and stepped back. As their distance widened, the seductive aroma faded.

"Did you try to charm me?" Iris tensed. Her aura solidified, turning oppressive, suffocating. "What I hate the most is when someone tries to change me. Do you understand?"

Even Ludmint ceased her smile. She glanced at Iris, surprised at the madness inside those beautiful azure eyes.

"Iris, please don't be mad. Secain can't control her bewitching scent. It's what every assassin of Two-Fold Wind Order has," Ludmint said. "I still can't figure out its secret. I only know that it is something mystical."

Secain also bowed. "My apology, Lady Iris. I only want you to punish me, but I unknowingly fall back into my old habit. I'll try my best not to seduce you from now on."

The thought of punishing Secain and hearing her moans made Iris lose her motivation.

If I punished her, I might enjoy it. If I did, that would be the end of me. I need to restrain myself, especially when I'm a member of the Court of Indulgence. Its name already makes me nervous, as expected of a Secret Organisation for Monster Girls.

"I won't be as lenient the second time." Iris sighed. "Since your task is to observe me, what is your verdict?"

Secain hesitated and turned to Ludmint, who nodded.

"Lady Iris, you're indeed a foreigner. Your manner, word choices, and curiosity, if not an act, strongly resemble someone who doesn't know anything about the Garcient Kingdom." Secain's voice gradually returned to steady. "Though you act shyly in front of others, my intuition tells me that you're hiding your confidence; maybe because you have something to conceal."

"You're telling me that you know I have an unspeakable secret? Don't you fear I might silence you? Do you trust me that much?"

"Lady Iris, you are a Monster Girl, have a voucher, and arrived here with Lady Ludmint."

Iris turned to Ludmint. "It seems like you're of high status here. You didn't act like that at home."

"Home is where you relax and let go of all the worries, right?"

Iris looked up at the ceiling, her smile growing mellow. "Yes. Home is like that."

While chatting, the three walked deeper into the building until they reached a stairway leading to the underground cellar of the orphanage. They passed many staffs and orphans, who greeted them, notably Ludmint, with respect and envy.

Iris came to know that some people of the orphanage knew about the Court of Indulgence. They did not fear Ludmint but instead expressed their admiration and longing towards Monster Girls. If not for keeping up the appearance, they would revere the Monster Girls and beg to become one.

Descending the staircase, Iris found herself in a spacious underground complex, which spanned the entire foundation of the orphanage. Unlike the aboveground, the underground was a place for Monster Girls and the inner members of the Court of Indulgence.

Here, there were human attendants following Monster Girls. They acted like servants, maids, yet they had the autonomy to move around, though they seldom did. They preferred to spend their time near their favourite Monster Girls, hoping to gain their favour, to experience something unattainable from the Pure Races.

"Secain, before I was here, are you also one of these attendants?" Iris said. "Did you also dress like this, or did you wear a cute outfit, like maid uniform?"

"If you wish so, I'll change into it. Please instruct me with your preference."

Iris paused, then looked back at Secain. There were resolve and anticipation in Secain’s black eyes. "Does this mean you want to be my attendant? Do you not have other favourite Monster Girls to follow?"

"I'm an assassin, Lady Iris. My job is to assassinate. No one has ever requested anything else for me, and I don't want to disappoint them."

"Does that mean you can afford to disappoint me?" Iris chuckled. "Do you want to be punished?"

Secain bowed, trembling. "I did not mean it that way. Please punish me as you see fit."

"What is so special about me that you decided to become mine?"

"You can overcome my bewitching scent. You also have no attendant and no plan to acquire more. I want to be yours alone."

Iris averted her gaze, but her eyes could not help but wander back. After entering the underground complex, Secain had taken off her black overcoat. Her petite, curvy body revealed itself under her tight-fit black bodysuit.

Though she usually wore a dull face, her occasional smiles and blushes contrasted and complimented her cold demeanour.

"Your mastery in the art of seduction is quite an achievement."

"I've picked up a few tricks from observing other Monster Girls. I hope one day I can be like you."

Admiration and craving sparked in Secain's eyes. From the bottom of her heart, she wished to become a Monster Girl, to be free from the shackle of her fleshy body.

Iris wanted to drive the conversation to find out the reason, but she had to stop talking.

Unknowingly, she had already entered a private lobby, where only a few gorgeous Monster Girls and their close attendants remained. Unlike the sensual atmosphere of the outside, this neat, quiet lounge radiated a calming quality.

If the outside is a club, then this place is a bar. Iris looked around. Soft yellow lanterns hung along the walls, dimly illuminating the black tiles and glasses tables. Faint jazz music, as well as a rustic fragrance, lingered in the air. This private lounge was for the senior members of the Court of Indulgence, one of their meeting rooms.

Ludmint, who stayed silent for a while now, stepped forwards and raised her hand. The Monster Girls smiled and nodded at her. The attendants lowered their heads and excused themselves. They routinely complimented the Monster Girls, then orderly left the room.

Secain also left, leaving Iris, Ludmint, and two other Monster Girls in the lounge. Aside from Iris, the rest of the Monster Girls had a relaxed countenance, a fleeting yet firm aura, and a faint smile on their faces. They were all the powerhouses of the regions, Condensation Phase Monster Girls.

Iris glanced at Ludmint, who remained solemn, and decided not to leave. Ludmint hadn't said anything; Iris intended to listen to the meeting, hoping to find more information about the new land she had found herself in.

Ludmint clicked her tongue and turned to the Monster Girl sitting nearest to her. "Why was I not informed?"

The Monster Girl, disguised as a beautiful human, got up and placed the napkin she was knitting on the glass table in front of her. After staring at Ludmint for a few moments, she shifted her attention to Iris. Her brown eyes glittered with strange flashes. Her silky brown hair fluttered with the cooling breezes of the lounge.

"You must be Iris, our newest member." The Monster Girl smiled. "Welcome to the Court of Indulgence. Though the few of us don't always gather here, everyone has heard of your name."

"Parmin, don't avoid my question." Ludmint took a step forwards and pressed her hand on a decorative black railing. It trembled under her grip. "Why was I not informed?"

"Because we don't know," Parmin said. "We also received the information as soon as the incident occurred. Our spies didn't catch wind of any of this."

"None of them know about this?" Ludmint turned to the other Monster Girl who was blowing her hot herbal tea. "Morbi, what do you think?"

Morbi, also disguised as a human, was sickly in both appearance and air. She dressed in a piece of tainted white fabric which draped on her body like a shroud. Her grey eyes radiated weariness. Her silver hair glimmered like starlight. On her right hand, which held the teacup, was a ring with black gemstone.

"There are two possibilities," Morbi said while taking a small sip of the herbal tea. Her pallid lips shivered as the hot tea seared her flesh. "First, this plan is of supreme secrecy, one that even the inner members have no right to know."

"Unlikely. This plan is of far-reaching consequence and needs a huge amount of preparation. It is difficult to conceal it."

Morbi placed down the teacup and tapped her black fingernails against the glass table. A screeching noise softly echoed. "The other possibility is that this plan is hastily thought up, prepared, then implemented within a span of a few days."

"A plan of this magnitude, hastily conceived? Does this mean . . ."

"As you might have guessed. The only thing that can move Chained Corpse Vessel on this scale is the Unholy Revelation."