People in the Alliance, Time Management Master

[Received system item: Mana Potion *3]

The skill [Kleptomancy] is now on cooldown: 5 days.

Blue medicine...?

All my skills don't require mana, and you want me to give you mana potions?

All I wanted to do was exploit a bug, is it really necessary to go to such lengths?

As the system notification faded, Mu Bai disappeared into the spacetime vortex.

PS:

Just chatting a bit, I hope you guys can take a look...

Cola has been in a lot of pain lately, partly because of problems at work, and partly because... her health is starting to break down.

I have to be very careful about my diet now. I don't even dare to eat much chicken or pork. I eat vegetarian food every day, and I can't drink any beverages at all...sigh.

Then... due to both mental and physical torment, I feel that what I've been writing lately hasn't been very good. I apologize to all you guys here. I'll try my best to get back into form later.

Finally, I'd like to remind everyone that you absolutely must take care of your health! Don't end up like Cola, regretting it only after it's too late!

Don't stay up late! Drink plenty of water! Pay attention to regular meals!

A doctor cannot heal himself. I cannot help myself now, and I only hope that you will not follow in my footsteps!

Chapter 1: Black-Stockinged Leader Syndra

Philol was not originally designed as a fortress. Far from being a fortress, it was once a center of tranquility and enlightenment, where talented young Ionia would come from all directions to learn how to better harness their innate abilities.

But that era is long gone. The island, once teeming with life, learning, and peace, is now a barren wasteland and a prison.

Almost no vegetation grows on the islands surrounding the fortress; only barren thickets of thorns and ghostly gray moss thrive here.

Numerous birds and other wildlife from the nearby islands now avoid this area, except for the dark, hateful crows and ravens that came with the Noxians and have never left.

Before the Noxian invasion, Ciri and other guards served as sentinels here, watching over the island's tallest spire to ensure that the person imprisoned inside would never be released.

But now, her mission has changed—she no longer needs to watch over that threat; she must eliminate it completely.

"I saw her."

Hirick raised his right arm, signaling his three teammates to stop. They stood in a circle, looking down into the depths of the pond in the distance.

A woman lay there, submerged below the surface of the water, her long, pure white hair cascading lazily around her.

“Syndra…”

This is both her name and a synonym for destruction, representing surrender to one's darkest fears and rage. Even today, her name is cursed in many provinces.

“Thank God, she hasn’t woken up yet.” One of the helpless men breathed a sigh of relief, pulling down his hood and drawing a dagger as he did so. “This is our chance, and it’s Ionia’s chance.”

The others also removed their hoods. All of them had the same exquisite indigo tattoos on their faces, the symbol of the guardians of Philor. They all looked down at Syndra, their expressions grave.

"Let me do it." After a long silence, Hirick stepped forward alone and half of his body waded into the pool.

The calm pool water rippled with her movements, and the white hair in the distance began to sway, each movement sending shivers down her spine and reinforcing her resolve.

Syndra must die, today!

She poses a greater threat to this land than Noxus!

The other helpless people watched Hilary nervously, knowing that her every move would determine their lives.

Or rather, the lives and deaths of tens of thousands of people.

The pond was already halfway across, and Hirik was very close to the sleeping woman. She could even feel her breath and see her beautiful eyelashes trembling slightly with the ripples in the water.

Syndra didn't look fierce at all. On the contrary, she was beautiful, so beautiful that even Hillary, who was also a woman, felt ashamed of herself.

But Hirik knew all too well how deceptive this appearance was. This man had destroyed the peaceful temple in the heart of Philol. Her control was entirely due to the soul of this land itself dragging her down and capturing her in this strange stalemate.

"I'm sorry... we have no grudges against each other, but I must kill you. Because your existence has brought destruction and despair to this land."

Hirick muttered as he raised his dagger, aiming it at Syndra's smooth, white neck.

Without much hesitation, she swung her arm forcefully, thrusting the sharp dagger into the depths of the pool.

But just as the blade sliced ​​through the water, a loud bang was heard.

In such a quiet yet tense atmosphere, Hirick was inevitably startled. He lost his balance and the dagger fell into the pool, disappearing instantly.

"What are you guys doing?" She frowned and turned around, but her teammates also looked puzzled, not knowing what had happened.

It's obvious that the sound they just made wasn't theirs.

The anger in Hirick's eyes was gradually replaced by confusion, and then slowly turned into fear—could it be that Syndra had woken up?

Fear surged through the crowd. If Syndra were to truly awaken, they wouldn't be able to assassinate her, let alone escape the cave!

They unleashed disaster!

"Calm down!" As the team leader, Hirik sensed the fear in the Nobody's and spoke up to reassure them. "She's still asleep... Don't make a sound, move quietly..."

The others nodded in agreement, holding their breath, afraid that their hurried breathing might shatter Syndra's sweet dream.

At the same time, they were desperately looking around, trying to find the source of the loud noise.

About half a minute later, one of the missing persons was found.

Or rather, the source of the sound itself came out.

A young man with a sword at his waist stood up from the other side of the pond, his eyes slightly dazed, as if he had just woken up.

"Where am I... how did I fall into the water..."

"Who are you!" Hirick was the first to react, asking in a low voice from dozens of meters away.

Damn it... why are there other people in the Dream Pool...?

Noxian pursuers? How did they find this place...?

The young man shook his head vigorously, wiping the water droplets from his face, before answering in a confused tone, "Me? My name is Mu Bai, a...passing traveler. May I ask where this is?"

After saying that, he looked around with a curious expression.

“…” Hillick raised an eyebrow, and several solutions flashed through his mind in an instant.

In the end, she chose the safest and easiest option—to kill the young stranger directly.

"Kill him!" Hirick shouted in the Philo dialect. "The mission cannot afford any mistakes; it's better to kill the innocent than to make a mistake!"

Before Mu Bai could recover from the dizziness of the time travel, several helpless people had already surrounded him, giving him no chance to explain.

Of course, they can't be blamed for that.

A stranger suddenly appearing in a place like this, no one can guarantee that he is not a Noxian lackey.

"Hmm? Is this how you locals greet each other? How unfriendly." Mu Bai frowned and drew Lanqie from its sheath.

A tense atmosphere filled the air.

But precisely because of this, no one noticed that the pool water next to Syndra was quietly changing color.

The next moment, the earth shook violently.

The violent shaking made everyone lose their footing, and the helpless crowd clung to the rocks beside them or lay flat on the ground, their faces filled with terror. Hirick, who was closest to Syndra, even plunged headfirst into the pool, unable to muster any strength.

Mu Bai was no exception.

He was violently battered by the surging pool water, and his body drifted to the center of the pond with the waves.

When he opened his eyes again, he saw a face so beautiful it defied description.

Their eyes met, and suddenly a system notification sounded:

[Optional Quest: First Encounter with Syndra]

Option 1: Don't say anything, just kiss her.

[Reward: Equipment [Infinity Blade] *1]

[Option 2: Gaze lovingly at Syndra and wait for her to kiss you.]

[Reward: Choose any three pieces of equipment, 10 skill points]

Option 3: Survive

[Reward: A candy with super cool waterproof packaging]

Dog system, you're really getting more and more sophisticated...

I wish you happiness and good health...

Chapter Two: The Sleepy Syndra

Syndra doesn't remember how long she slept, or even how old she is or what time it is.

Her last memory was... a temple, a destroyed temple.

She channeled her hatred and rage into magic, turning the sanctuary into ruins in an instant.

Then...then came the branches, and the rocks...the earth cracked open...

And then what?

Oh, right... the pool water and dreams...

What comes after all that...?

Countless complex thoughts churned in Syndra's mind, and she began to feel irritable, her anger giving her a splitting headache.

She suddenly opened her eyes.

Then, she saw a stranger's face. Their eyes met, and they remained silent.

"Uh... Good morning?" Mu Bai scratched his head and hurriedly backed away. But because the two of them were in the pool and their bodies were too close, he accidentally touched the other's chest.

To be honest, it's very soft, and the size is also quite impressive.

"..."

Syndra blinked, but didn't react—her mind was still a mess, and she subconsciously ignored the excessive action.