My monster cards can evolve infinitely.

Xiu Qi took a deep breath and stared intently in the direction where the darkness had disappeared.

During the battle just now, he clearly sensed four presences: an archer, an axe warrior, a spellcaster, and a wanderer.

But now, looking back, the most subtle and dangerous aura did not come from any of these four people.

There is a fifth person.

They remained hidden in the shadows, without making a move.

They quietly withdrew only after the battle ended.

Xiuqi gripped the hilt of his sword, but did not give chase.

The fact that the other party could hide from his perception for so long means that their strength is at least level 3 or higher, making them a high-level professional.

Chasing after it now is too risky.

Moreover, the fact that the other party didn't make a move might be because they wanted to observe his strength, or it might be... that they had other plans.

He opened his spatial ring and carefully took stock of his new spoils.

The purse contained a dozen gold coins, some silver coins, and an iron badge with a roaring wolf's head printed on it, which was probably the symbol of a mercenary group.

Most importantly, he found a secret letter in the axe warrior's pocket.

The letter was unsigned, but its contents were clear: "Retrieve the ruby ​​space ring, and Xiuqi Wright's fate is irrelevant."

Attached is a Contract Disintegration Crystal, which can break the initial companion contract between the user and the ogre. After completion, collect the remaining reward at the usual location.

The handwriting was neat, the wording was careful, and no direct evidence was left behind.

But Xiuqi knew who it was.

He stored the secret letter and mercenary badge in his spatial ring and began dealing with the scene.

He took out the potion from the ring—he bought it after returning from the Grey Forest, and he didn't expect to use it so soon.

The medicine was dripped onto the corpse, and the flesh sizzled as it rapidly corroded and dissolved.

Xiuqi used water to wash the ground, covering up the bloodstains and signs of a fight.

The whole process took less than ten minutes.

After doing all this, he looked at Ador and the princess.

The ogre remained loyal to him, and although the contract had been broken, the trust in its clear yellow eyes had not diminished in the slightest.

The princess had already put away her hammer and stood obediently at his feet.

"Let's go home," Xiuqi said softly.

He led his two companions, one tall and one short, and hurried across the dimly lit streets toward Oak Street next to the college.

I rented an old house with a small courtyard. The exterior walls were covered with vines, and there was an old oak tree in the yard.

The landlord was a one-eyed retired adventurer who turned a blind eye to Ado's existence after collecting the rent.

Xiuqi opened the courtyard gate, quickly entered, and locked it behind him.

Only then did he truly breathe a sigh of relief, and slowly slid down to the ground with his back against the door panel.

The exhaustion from excessive mental exertion surged like a tide, and the rare meditation stone on his chest was operating at full power, its warm spiritual energy nourishing his depleted sea of ​​consciousness.

Ado crouched down, gently touching Xiuqi's shoulder with his huge hand, and making a worried gurgling sound in his throat.

"I'm fine, Ado." Xiuqi forced a smile. "Thank you, and thank you, Princess."

The princess jumped onto his lap and affectionately nuzzled his hand with her head.

Xiu Qi stroked the cold sword hilt, a chilling glint in his eyes.

The Fernand family...

This time it's truly a fight to the death.

He took the secret letter and mercenary badge from the ring and examined them carefully under the light.

The badge's craftsmanship was quite ordinary, and the howling wolf head design was not uncommon; many small mercenary groups used similar symbols.

However, the secret letter was written on very fine paper, clearly high-quality parchment, and the ink contained trace amounts of silver powder—something that ordinary people could not afford.

"Old Fernand..." Xiuqi murmured to himself.

He put away the letters and badges, and stored all the items in his spatial ring.

Then he looked at Ado.

After the contract was forcibly dissolved, the warm spiritual connection between Ado and him disappeared.

But the ogre's gaze remained unchanged.

"Ado, it will be very dangerous for you to be with me," Hugh asked softly. "Are you still willing to come with me?"

Ado tilted his huge head, seemingly not fully understanding the question.

It thought for a few seconds, then nodded vigorously, making a firm sound in its throat.

"Ado, follow, Xiuqi!"

Even if it might lead to more danger?

Ado nodded again, his clear yellow eyes showing no hesitation.

A warm feeling welled up in Xiu Qi's heart.

He reached out, and the ogre's enormous hand gently grasped his—the movement was incredibly tender, as if afraid of hurting him.

"Then we'll sign a new contract." Xiuqi took out another blank contract scroll from his ring. "But this time, it's neither a master-servant contract nor a companion contract."

He bit his fingertip and used his blood to draw new runes on the scroll.

"This is an equal contract. We are partners, comrades-in-arms, brothers who protect each other. There are no constraints, only trust."

Ado seemed to understand but not quite, yet it could sense the sincerity in Xiuqi's words.

It imitated Xiuqi, pressing a mark on the scroll with its rough fingers.

A silver light shone, and a new contract was established.

This time, the connection wasn't a cold, emotional bond, but a warm, two-way emotional resonance. Xiuqi could sense Ado's simple thoughts—to protect Xiuqi, to listen to Xiuqi, and to be with Xiuqi.

And Ado could also sense Xiuqi's feelings—trusting it, treasuring it, and treating it as a true partner.

"Alright." Xiu Qi packed up the scroll, stood up, and said, "Get a good rest tonight. Tomorrow..."

He looked out the window at the deep night.

"Starting tomorrow, we will become stronger. Strong enough that no one will dare to mess with us anymore."

Ado let out a low growl in agreement.

The princess also waved her little fists, her silver-gray eyes burning with fighting spirit.

Xiuqi walked to the window and looked in the direction of the Royal Academy of Solma.

The academy's tower stood tall in the night, its magical lights twinkling like stars.

He knew that from tonight onwards, everything would be different.

The open and covert struggles at the ball, the life-or-death battles in the alleys, and the relentless pressure from the Fernand family—this is no longer a minor squabble between students, but a real war.

And he had to win.

To survive, to protect those around him, and for those who trusted him.

Xiuqi gently stroked the ruby ​​ring on his right index finger, feeling the stable magical fluctuations emanating from the "Crimson Oath".

The street across the street returned to silence, with only the night wind carrying away the faint smell of blood.

......

On the rooftop of a three-story building at the Harbour City Deep Water Terminal, a dark figure stood silently.

The shadowy figure held a communication crystal in his hand and whispered something.

"...Target strength assessment revised. Possesses an improved protective force field capable of binding melee attacks; Ogre's loyalty exceeds expectations, contract termination ineffective; That goblin... is suspected to be a mutant, possessing spatial abilities."

"Recommendation: Raise the threat level to 'Dangerous'. If continued operation is required, at least four Level 2 or higher professionals must be deployed, with at least one Level 3 professional among them."

After transmitting his voice, the shadowy figure put away the crystal, took one last look in the direction of the Royal Academy of Solma in the shallow waters, and then disappeared into the night.

Under the night sky, Harbour City remains brightly lit.