You are all my wings...

They might wipe and clean their equipment, chew on monster jerky, or simply practice their sword skills.

Machiru yawned: "Elise, you can't do that. How can you speak like a resentful wife waiting for her husband to return home?"

“Master Macchiato, I, I’m not a wife yet, don’t talk nonsense.”

"Not yet? Iris, don't you have any self-awareness?"

"Self-awareness? What am I self-aware of?"

"If you and Leon aren't a couple deeply in love, what else could you be?"

Ma Qilu said with a disdainful look.

"A passionate, ardent relationship, a couple?"

Iris blinked, tilted her head, and pondered the meaning of the sentence.

Boom!

Intense heat shot out from the top of Iris's head like boiling water from a kettle.

From her long, straight neck to her fair cheeks, long, white ear tips, and smooth forehead, everything was stained with a deep red.

"Haha, Elizabeth, your face is so red, you're so innocent."

Machiru patted her stomach and laughed so hard she almost fell over.

Iris didn't say anything, blushing to herself.

Nearby, Milo and Mark chewed on monster jerky and began to discuss it.

Milo: "I didn't expect Miss Iris to be so shy."

Mark: "I never expected that she wouldn't realize that her relationship with Your Excellency was already very much like that."

Milo: "Ah, I'm so envious. Every time I see Miss Iris like this, I'm so envious of you."

“I could tell you were twisted with jealousy before, Milo.”

Bovary walked over and joined the conversation.

Over the past few days, he has gradually felt that he can keep up with the rhythm of his teammates' conversations, has become more cheerful, and is no longer so low-key.

Of course, he was very grateful to Lyon for this.

"Yes, I admit that. I've reflected on why I acted that way. Upon reflection, I realized that I initially placed Your Excellency in a lower position than myself, so I always felt that he was unworthy of his achievements and the ladies' affection for him."

"Oh, it's rare to hear you say something that makes sense."

Mark gave a thumbs up:

"So, what are your thoughts now?"

"I'm the one who doesn't deserve it."

Milo clenched his fist, a flame igniting in his eyes:

"From this day forward, I will bid farewell to all my past laziness and train with greater dedication and focus to become stronger and worthy of the title of Paladin! Once I reach that point, I believe the ladies will see my charm!"

Mark and Bovary exchanged a glance, both feeling that there was something subtly wrong with Miro's change of direction.

"Never mind, as long as you're happy."

"That's right, the key now is how to get through this."

Bovary said.

"Aren't we safe enough now? What do you mean by getting through this?"

Milo felt something was off.

"Didn't you notice that some of the people carried back were completely dead?"

Bovary shook his head:

“I have already estimated that the casualty rate for each mission is at least 20%, and the mortality rate is 7%. That means that out of three seriously wounded, one will succumb to the curse and die.”

Upon hearing this number, Mark and Milo were both startled.

"Is that outrageous?"

"If even these teams, led by at least fourth or fifth rank, are like this, it means the intensity of the battles is increasing. We should prepare more."

The expressions of the group all turned serious.

At this moment, Iris, who had been blushing from what Machiru said, finally snapped out of her feverish state.

She asked Ma Qilu hesitantly:

"Master Macchiato, since you find it funny, do you have someone you like?"

By saying this, she was implicitly acknowledging certain things.

"Like it? Humph!"

Maqilu said disdainfully:

"As a witch, a powerful figure possessing both alchemy and magic spellcasting abilities, my only love is myself! To love someone else is simply impossible!"

“Master Macchiato, I think you clearly have it.”

"Miss Iris! Don't try to understand a master like me with your immature mind!"

Machiru straightened her chest and looked down at Iris, who was half a head taller than her.

Iris blinked and said, "Okay, I'll remember what you said."

"I'll remember it!"

"Remember what?"

Lyon's voice came over.

Iris turned her head in surprise and found that Macchiato had also turned in the same direction at the same speed. The two exchanged a subtle glance.

Ahead, Lyon and Britta walked side by side.

"It's nothing, there's nothing there!"

Maggie denied it repeatedly, while giving Iris a meaningful look.

Eliza smiled and said:

“I’m learning some alchemy from Master Machilu. She’s telling me some very effective incantations.”

"Oh? Iris, what brings you to alchemy all of a sudden?"

"It's always good to have more knowledge, after all, you'll face all sorts of difficulties in the future. If you know more, you can help me more."

Iris moved closer to Leon and grabbed his arm in a somewhat coquettish manner.

Lyon's heart skipped a beat. Why was this girl suddenly being so proactive again?

He didn't think much of it; Elise had been taking the initiative from time to time lately, and he was getting used to it.

"My dear and respectable master, so what did you talk about during your long absence? And why did you all come back together?"

Macchiato's gaze darted between Britta and Lyon, her eyes scrutinizing.

Britta, without Rimakiru, smiled slightly:

"Since everyone's here, I have a few things to say."

Although Macchiato and Iris have become very close without realizing it, there is still a subtle barrier between Macchiato and Berylita.

The reasons for this estrangement are complex, but both of them assumed they weren't very good at dealing with each other, so they tacitly ignored each other.

Therefore, when Orphema asked to borrow Macchiato from Berylita, Berylita's first thought was to ask Leon.

"The first thing is the arrangements for what comes next."

Brillita said:

"I will continue to go to the wounded and sick areas to cast spells to heal those cursed by the shadow. Karl, you four, starting today, you will be added to the third squadron of the Royal Knights to participate in the suppression and cleanup of monsters."

Iris raised her hand and said, "Oh, what about me and Leon?"

“You are free people. If you’re willing, Iris, you can come and help me. Haven’t you been practicing intermediate-level light healing and light purification spells lately? There are plenty of wounded people here for you to practice on.”

"Belle Rita said."

"A free man?"

Iris blinked: "Why are Leon and I free men?"

Lyon laughed and said, "Elise, we're just unofficial staff anyway, so it's best if we don't have anything to do. Of course, if you want to practice, I think that's fine too. Her Highness the Princess has already paid the Saintess for the service fee."

This was the result of discussions between Lyon and Britta.

Because Orpheus will soon launch a major campaign to eradicate monsters, and considering that she has concealed some information, Leon's mission is to stay in the camp and rest, and go out to gather intelligence whenever he has the chance, so as to find out more of Orpheus's secrets as soon as possible.

When playing on the opponent's home turf, information is naturally the top priority.

Therefore, only Leon, who possesses the rare profession of Shadowwalker, could accomplish this kind of intelligence gathering.

As for Karon and Keku, who were caught with their braids, Leon naturally assigned them different tasks.

"Alright, then I'll go practice with Berylita."

Iris initially wanted to stay with Leon, but after thinking about it, she realized that Hamra was still waiting for her to save her life, so she had no choice but to give up this tempting option.

Chapter 160 Leon's Eavesdropping

late at night.

A blurry figure darted swiftly across the ground.

It was Leon who initiated the Shadow Leap.

His goal this time was to observe Ophie Marceau's actions and find the core intelligence of her plan.

The 41st floor is dark all over the place and seems to be the same all the time, but that's not the case. Every day, there are eight hours of absolute darkness in the environment.

During this period of absolute darkness, the legion's operations will be rapidly reduced, and it will be in a state of overall reorganization.

If Ophie Marceau needed to handle matters related to the plan, this would be the time.

Soon after, Leon arrived at Orpheus's private tent.

Compared to the busyness of other times, the tent curtains were now closed, with only a candlelight illuminating the scene. Through the white curtain, one could see the graceful silhouette of Ophie Marceau sitting alone, reading a book.

"What is she reading at this hour, all alone?"

Lyon's figure leaped up from the ground and landed silently.

He observed Ophimaso through the white curtain of the tent for a moment and felt something was amiss.

It wasn't meditation, nor was it breathing exercises; judging from the body posture, it seemed like he was reading something.

But this is an underground city, not a palace where I need to handle government affairs and documents.

Leon maintained his Shadow Breathing state, lying prone on the ground, making him extremely well concealed.

Shadow Breathing is a fundamental skill for Shadowwalkers. It doesn't consume much magic power, but it does require a lot of concentration.

Moreover, this breathing technique is much more difficult than the Knight's Breathing Technique; Lyon can currently only maintain it for a maximum of 20 minutes at a time.

Therefore, his observation time this time will be less than 20 minutes.

Once this time limit is exceeded, he must retreat, or use Shadow Leap to leave and hide in another location.

After waiting for five or six minutes, Lyon heard a sound.

"Your Highness, Lady Timia, Grand Magician Tangde, Sword King Moron, Spear King Saide, and Assassin King Xuertuo pay their respects."

"Let them come in directly, without waiting, so they won't be seen."

Huh? What a coincidence, I just arrived a few minutes ago and I've already caught these experts gathering.

These names were all well-known to Lyon; he was one of the sixth-level experts summoned by Ophelia.

Among them, Timiya and Tang De are both at the fifth level of strength, which is roughly equivalent to a sixth-level warrior-type expert.

The three sword kings, spear kings, and assassin kings mentioned later are the common titles used by warrior-type professions after reaching the sixth rank, using the word "king" as a sign of respect.