Once the affection level is maxed out, the rivalry begins!

"I want to join the Eternal Serpent."

One day during the October holiday, Bai Ze heard a shocking declaration of betrayal from the blonde girl in front of him.

The location was a suburban coffee shop that had almost become his and Lu Xingyao's regular haunt.

Since the owner is now taking good care of these two regular customers, it would be impolite to use vague pronouns like "cafe" or "cafe near the business center." So here's the name of the shop: "Nine Balls."

The nightmare Rhea from the Bureau of Spirit Disasters was sitting on the sofa chair opposite, sipping red strawberry juice.

Her attire was much more casual than when she was working; she wore a sleeveless vest over a white lace long-sleeved top, and a slightly oversized sailor hat on her head, covering her golden, shimmering hair.

The nightmares in folklore possess a captivating allure, and Rhea, as a humanoid anomaly reflecting this myth, may be precisely why she is so cautious about exposing her skin.

Just like now, even though I'm wearing genuine leather gloves, I still choose a long-sleeved top despite the lingering summer heat.

In the Yin Chen incident, Bai Ze revealed his identity to her, and Leia indeed did not reveal it casually.

But she certainly couldn't pretend that nothing had happened, and coincidentally, Bai Ze also had something to discuss with her alone.

The two hit it off immediately and arranged to meet here.

—As a result, he heard the other party's shocking remarks right at the beginning.

"You mean you're going to switch from a world-class supernatural organization to an obscure, illegal civilian association?"

Bai Ze said incredulously, "I'd rather believe you're here as an undercover agent."

"Yeah, that's pretty much it."

Rhea readily admitted, "But I won't leave the Bureau of Calamities; have you forgotten that you're also an unofficial member?"

"Bai Ze, I believe you have other reasons for disguising your identity and doing this, otherwise there would be no need for you to help us deal with Yin Chen."

She put down her juice. "I don't intend to press you for details, so I hope to see for myself what you're planning to do and whether it will cause even greater harm—in exchange, I can leak the activities of the Bureau of Spirit Disasters to you."

"Won't you be sent to a succubus concentration camp and disposed of for doing something like this, which is like being a double agent?" Bai Ze asked curiously.

"What exactly do you think the Disaster Management Agency is...?"

Rhea complained listlessly, "Regardless of other regions, the relevant regulations here in Fuyuming are actually quite lenient—to be honest, I could probably get approved even if I just submitted a report requesting to infiltrate the Eternal Serpent for surveillance."

Due to the existence of the War Witch, the Bureau of Spirit Disasters in the Fuyuna region is actually more like an independent kingdom.

Since most of the power is concentrated on her alone, things other than those related to witches are naturally relegated to minor details.

If Bai Ze hadn't ambushed the witch at the beginning and stolen the spoils, it wouldn't have even attracted attention.

After weighing the pros and cons, Bai Ze said, "I would welcome it—now that the disguise has been discovered, it would be even better if you could be dragged down with me."

Seeing that he agreed, Rhea was at a loss and took off her sailor hat, hugging it to her chest.

"Really...is it okay?"

"Didn't you suggest it yourself?"

"Because I don't have any particularly powerful abilities, I can only barely keep up in the battle by relying on various item-type abnormalities."

She lowered her gaze, fixing it on her knees. "Even if you want to know what's going on inside the Bureau of Spirit Disasters, you can actually find out by simply revealing your identity to the Witch—no, I should say you can directly invite her to leave the Bureau of Spirit Disasters. No matter what the goals of your supernatural society are, she should be willing to join, right?"

She was prepared to be rejected outright.

"Look up, it's not an interview."

Bai Ze replied easily, "As for your question, that's the 'hidden reason' I need to discuss with you."

He asked Rhea whether witches could transform into calamities as their self-awareness expands and their power increases.

"...Isn't this the view of the Holy Trinity?"

However, the girl gave an unexpected answer.

It is said that the gods worshipped by the Holy Trinity Order hate witches. The Order is not afraid to use the most dangerous anomalies, but when it encounters a witch, it will always choose to be hostile.

Bai Ze recalled that when he first met the priest of the cult, the priest seemed to have said something about being a chosen one before he died.

Could there be some connection between them?

"It hasn't been long since I broke free from the seal at birth, but according to the documents recorded by the Bureau of Spirit Disasters, every witch who has ever appeared in the world has indeed become a tyrant or a demon king, and was eventually defeated by heroes," Rhea added.

"And you still dare to let the witch help deal with the anomaly?"

Bai Ze was deeply shocked.

Rhea quickly explained, "These are all ancient myths and legends, and their authenticity is highly questionable. Some scholars within the Bureau of Spirit Disasters believe that the various earth goddesses and goddesses worshipped by humans in ancient times were actually witches from that era."

"The subsequent mythological shifts in different civilizations, where the father god usurped power and the mother god abdicated the throne, reflect the decline and disappearance of the witch."

"Modern witches are extremely rare, and there's no precedent for them turning evil. Bai Ze and the witch are childhood friends; can you imagine what she'd be like as a demon lord?"

The Bureau of Spirit Disasters would not conclude that the witch would inevitably become a tyrant based solely on a history that is partly true and partly false.

Moreover, even if it were true, it would be difficult to determine whether the characteristics of witches determine that they are destined to become calamities, or whether it is a person who naturally falls into depravity after possessing immense power.

"However, witches were actually worshipped as gods in ancient times..."

Bai Ze sighed.

It was precisely because he was so familiar with Lin Tingwan that he found it hard to imagine that this girl might have been regarded as a goddess in a different era.

"There's nothing strange about it. As long as the witch continues to develop her powers, she will eventually demonstrate even greater divine might."

Leia probably had more confidence in Lin Tingwan than she did in herself.

So it turns out she still hasn't really developed her powers?

Bai Ze immediately felt a sense of crisis.

Even if it was to suppress the progress of his transformation into a witch, he hoped that he would at least have the combat power to take down two witches at the same time.

I originally thought it was enough, but now it seems it needs improvement.

Fortunately, after defeating the Envoy of Artemisia, the White Knight of Plague and Domination, he also gained great results.

The first seal has been unveiled.

[Transformation: White Knight]

[Can be used as a vessel to imbue oneself. Grants immunity to toxins and diseases; significantly increases resistance to mystical attacks; grants temporary access to dominion and plague powers;]

Possession will place a great burden on both the spirit and the body.

—If there's anything that fits the definition of a finishing move, it's this.

The idea of ​​opening the first seal is also intriguing. In the original mythological texts, it can be seen as the first of seven steps to destroy the world by human hands, also known as the seven seals of Revelation.

But thinking about these things now is too far off. Bai Ze doesn't believe he currently has any tendency to go mad and destroy the world.

"Bai Ze, I think I understand why you've been acting behind the witch's back."

After hearing his story, Rhea wanted to join the Eternal Serpent even more—if witch transformation really could turn people into tyrants and demon kings, she had to help find a way to stop it!

"Please let me join!"

This time, she was much more determined.

Bai Ze then extended his hand: "Aren't you hot wearing gloves all the time?"

He was just making a casual remark and planned to welcome the newcomers with a handshake.

However, Rhea's reaction was to blush slightly, as if she was trying to suppress her shyness, as she pulled off her black leather gloves, revealing her fair and delicate right hand.

"A bit lecherous..."

Why?! Does the nightmare consider hands a sensitive area in her value system?!

She grasped Bai Ze's hand in return.

A strange, burning sensation invaded his blood vessels and nerves, with a vortex-like pull, as if trying to draw something out of his body.

Even the girl's vertical pupils became moist, like amber-colored whiskey.

Before his precious possession could be taken away, Bai Ze pulled his hand back in time, and the gravity and heat instantly disappeared.

"Is that why you usually wear gloves?"

"Well, although I'm not strong, I am still an anomaly, just like a vampire, I have the characteristic of [energy absorption], and I occasionally use contact to destroy anomaly items."

Rhea raised her index finger and lightly touched her cherry-colored lips. "But this is the first time I've used it on a living creature... Bai Ze, you really taste delicious."

Her eyes were unfocused, as if she were examining a high-quality steak.

Feeling a little creeped out by her gaze, Bai Ze snapped his fingers in front of her to wake her up.

"The first rule to follow when joining this organization: Never treat your fellow members as food!"

"Ah... I'm sorry, I lost my composure!"

The girl apologized desperately, her head almost touching the bottom of the table.

After a long while, she blushed and looked up again, coughing lightly.

"Now that I'm also a member of the organization, there's an important issue I need to discuss with Bai Ze."

She asked seriously.

Why would the Eternal Serpent hire a phantom thief to send a theft warning to the Bureau of the Supernatural Disasters?

--what?