“Quite a handful, isn’t he?” Iris placed the scroll on the table.

“Please forgive his arrogance. He’s usually uninterested in everything, but you are special,” Kasbin said.

“My bloodline is.”

“You are.” Kasbin leaned forward. “Your power contains not a hint of your bloodline. The bloodline of the Mind Breaker isn’t innate to you; you inherited it from someone. Another Monster Girl?”

“Is it wrong?”

Secain and Lorient tensed, but Iris merely smiled. Seeing her nonchalant reaction, they too relaxed.

Kasbin pressed her right hand beside the scroll and lifted it. Yellow sparks spewed out of her palm, manifesting a tiny, exquisite chest.

“We do not care whether you slaughter the weak and pillage their fortune. You are now the inheritor of the bloodline, a friend of ours.” Kasbin sank back into her seat. “No one can plunder the Mythical Bloodline. They are the power of the soul, not something we can steal, only gift.”

Her eyes unfocused, Iris gazed ceilingward. “Her name’s Oriente, a Monster Girl. She forced me to inherit her bloodline.”

“That’s why you are special, Lady Iris. We Beastkins treasure our bloodline more than everything else. Only to whom we trust will we give up our hearts.”

Iris pulled back her gaze. “Is being a friend of another Monster Girl that special?”

“Inheriting the bloodline of the Mind Breaker and staying sane is special. More importantly, your nature corrupts your bloodline. You’re likely the only tainted Mind Breaker in this world.”

“I’m doubly corrupted?” Iris giggled. “The second corruption did little to me. Am I strong-willed, or am I beyond redemption?”

“For it to feel nothing, you must’ve accepted the change. Congratulations.”

Iris tilted her head downward, her hair falling over her flushed cheeks. The memory of her losing her mind flashed. If not for Kurion and Noviscar, she might have lost control. The intense pleasure, the ecstatic sensation, and the numbing desires rose from their slumber, but she suppressed them by exhaling once, twice, thrice.

“I envy you, Iris. It must have been heavenly.” Kasbin chuckled. “Your bloodline flares up, but you manage to suppress it effortlessly. That’s why you’re special; that’s why Selvant wanted you to join us.”

“I thought you only accepted Beastkins.”

“We accept those with Mythical Bloodlines. Our purpose is to maintain our legacy.” Kasbin tilted her head up, puffing her chest. “Monster Girl or not, you are the inheritor of the Mind Breaker, our precious friend.”

“Tainted Mind Breaker. If other Pure Races try to inherit my legacy, they will fall. The moment Oriente turned into a Monster Girl, her legacy was already extinguished.”

“Doesn’t matter. For my bloodline, I’m willing to fall, especially when the example is such a lovely, powerful inheritor.” Kasbin bit her lips, winking.

Shivering, Iris resisted the urge to move away from Kasbin. The transaction was still ongoing; she mustn’t flee in embarrassment. Her followers were watching. Their faith rested on her.

“Unfortunately, my home is within The Court.” Smiling, Iris held out her hand. “Shall we complete the transaction? The auction is about to start; I have to recall my attendants.”

“It’s a pleasure touching you.” Kasbin shook Iris’s hand, her fingers stroking Iris’s soft skin. “If you wish, you can stay with me. I have a separate room where no one will know who’s getting in or out. We can bid anonymously, or even do something else.”

“I’ll . . . keep it in mind.” Iris glanced at her followers, who modestly lowered their heads. “You’re gorgeous, Lady Kasbin.”

As Kasbin picked up the sealed scroll, she exhaled. “Why won’t you give me a chance if I’m gorgeous?”

“Because Lady Iris already has us,” Secain said. “Whenever she wants, our bodies are hers.”

Surprised, Kasbin looked at Secain and turned to Iris. “You’re truly special. Your charm is too potent.”

Grinning, Iris took the small chest into her Virtual Space Ring. “I’m simply lucky. Their kindness touches my heart, so I reciprocate them with mine.”

With business done, Iris returned to her suite. She instructed Lorient and Secain to recall others. After the two left, she sat on a sofa in the middle of the room, placed the chest on the table, and unlocked it.

Shimmering light leaked through the gap, exposing the droplets of colourful gemstones decorating the inner wooden frame.

In the middle seated a carefully wrapped bundle, fastened by an ancient rope, on whose surface magic symbols shone. Iris inspected it, though she didn’t untie the item. Its volatile power was too much for a Transformation Phase Monster Girl to handle.

She might be able to handle it, but it would be a needless risk.

“The confidential files of Donhalgen Beast Museum and Elemental Council for this bone ashes.” After thinking for a moment, Iris lightly sniffed it. The intense, salty odour assaulted her nose.

Her head spun. Splashing noises echoed as cold water flooded the room, drowning everything under its oppressive might. She circulated her Corruption Power, but the chill only intensified, suffocating her heart.

She was no longer in a premium suite but floating in an endless ocean, moving through the wreckages of the ancient past.

Above her, storms thundered and twisted the currents. Yet their terror paled in comparison to the great mass of darkness, whose size, despite the distance between it and her, dwarfed hers like the sun outshining candlelight.

Because of the atmospheric haze, Iris couldn’t glimpse its feature, even if she used her detection spells. The illusory impression consumed her. Her thoughts stagnated; her instinct slowed. Still, she knew she was safe.

All was just an illusion, a memory invoked by the scent of the ocean. Only a powerful Mythical Creature could use such an extraordinary method to preserve their legacy, to reveal to the world their glory. Even if they were no more, their traces would remain so long as their remnant existed.

When Iris blinked, the raging tides vanished. The ocean and the monstrosity evaporated, leaving her with only the bundled bone ashes in her hand. She carefully placed it inside the chest and took the business card beside it.

“Kasbin, is my charm that irresistible?” Iris mumbled. The content of the business card revealed Kasbin’s address and basic information about the Suppression Sect.

The purpose of the transaction was to elevate their relationship, keeping each other close. The Court and The Sect controlled different territories and had no desire to infringe on each other’s land. They decided to cooperate to strengthen their influence.

In the future, some Monster Girls might join The Sect, and some Beastkins might fall.

The immense advantage of the first mover enticed Iris. She could accept Kasbin’s invitation. With her charm and position, she could enjoy the envoy status as well as countless wild, beastly beauties, even Kasbin herself.

Unfortunately, Iris didn’t want to sell her body, not when she treasured her purity, even if tainted. She would only allow her beloved to embrace her and not anyone else. This thread of protection was her last ray of light.

Placing the business card down, she chuckled. She’d already planned to visit Yilon Archipelago because of her pact with Duality. Her relationship with Kasbin would continue there, and it might develop into something fresh.

No. Iris shook her head. Her heart wasn’t that fickle. She wouldn’t give it to just anyone.

While she denied her desires, Secain and Lorient returned. The other attendants also came in, some looking flushed, some drunk. Though Iris told them to restrain themselves, their corrupted desires were hard to control. At least their shameful expressions were cute.

“Get ready, all of you,” Iris said. “The auction is starting soon. If you come late, you might miss a treasure you want.”

Lorient raised her head, blinking. “Lady Iris, what do you mean?”

“What The Court lacks isn’t money.” Iris pointed at her lips. “We have to flaunt our power else they look down on us.”

The attendants looked at each other for a moment before they cheered, singing praise for Iris. Some even came to Iris and kissed her cheek, though Secain and Lorient scolded them for their disrespect. Iris then told them to treat her two lovely followers well.

“This suite is built specifically for us, Monster Girls.” Iris pointed to the side, where multiple small, veiled rooms stood. “Each room is soundproof, with curious toys in it. You can have fun, but please do not disturb me.”

“Yes, Lady Iris,” a Monster Girl said. “We won’t use the first room, for it is the best, and only you can use it. Please take us in there!”

“You . . . don’t tempt me if you can’t bear the consequence.” Iris averted her gaze and tapped her finger. Secain swiftly came to her side and poured her a cup of fragrant green tea.

Iris held the cup and twirled it in front of her nose. The forest aroma calmed her racing heart, cooling her tensed mind. Staying with other Monster Girls, especially the wild ones, twisted her common sense.

She couldn’t know whether her tolerance for their vulgarity had grown, or her logic had been warped.

A low, soothing hymn rang throughout the Crystal Theatre, catching all attention. The muffled chattering faded, replaced by suppressed excitement. A wall of the premium suites turned translucent, revealing a massive hall in which countless people of all races gathered.

In the middle of the hall, an announcer walked up the stage. He wore a white mask with a black crescent moon painted on it. A row of ladies dressed in colourful oriental dresses followed him, each holding a small chest. Their faces, concealed under a veil, expressed nothing but soft smiles.

“Ladies and gentlemen, the Faceless Hall is grateful for your presence,” the announcer said. “I shall not bore you all with the formality, but I still have to give some introductions to the newcomers.”

The announcer spoke of the auction’s rules, which The Court previously told Iris. Once the monotonous speech ended, the announcer gracefully bowed and called for the first lady to come to the middle of the stage.

The veiled lady carefully opened the chest and lifted the blanket covering the item. Once the concealment magic wore off, brilliant light leaked through the chest, filling the hall with invisible currents of warmth and chill.

“We start with something special,” the announcer said. “A stem of Ever-Blazing Lotus, harvested from the volcanic depth beneath the Moonlight Sea.”

The Ever-Blazing Lotus exuded an endless radiance that would never fade, not even under the abnormal condition of the Moonlight Sea. Those who wished to venture into the ancient ruins needed it.

Iris glanced at the Ever-Blazing Lotus, and then lifted her gaze. While the bid rose, she sank onto her sofa and sipped the tea. Her eyes occasionally moved to other Monster Girls, who flirted and teased and cuddled. They sometimes asked if she would join them, but she ended up rejecting their idea, citing her status.

“Lady Iris, do you not need the Ever-Blazing Lotus?” Lorient said. “You’ve told us to gather information about the Moonlight Sea. The lotus is one of the items necessary for exploration.”

“Though having it is good, I don’t need it.” Iris giggled. “Ludmint will give me one.”

Ludmint’s friend was a Deep-Sea Monster Girl who could get a lotus for her. As for the how, it was for Ludmint’s problem. After all, Ludmint was her girlfriend; she ought to help her.

Lorient tilted her head.

Iris chuckled. “It sounds selfish, doesn’t it? Forget it.”

She stood up, cleared her throat, and channelled her Corruption Power.

“A thousand Energy Orbs,” she said. Her magnifying voice echoed throughout the auction hall.

Everyone fell silent.