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Knight Aaron looked straight ahead, not even noticing the carriage on the side of the road. With a smile on his face, he stopped in front of Hopper's house, took the bouquet hanging from his saddle, smoothed his wrinkled coat, and quickly knocked on the door.

Judith gently drew the curtains shut and closed her eyes wearily. Yesterday, or even this morning, she would have been beside herself with jealousy. But now, she knew that all these beautiful things would be hers, with countless flowers and noble men surrounding her. A poor knight like Aaron Oriath, with his mere title, would be left to that sneaky herbalist.

Author's Note: The potion here is a private setting, please do not confuse it with the original setting. Although I always feel that the healing potion in the original setting is actually a bottle of concentrated positive energy.

Chapter 105 A Lucky Thing

The sun had already quietly set behind the mountain, and most of the sky was filled with brilliant golden and pink clouds. But in the far east, the deep blue night was quietly spreading.

Hopper closed the door and rubbed his forehead. In her long life, she had seen all kinds of people. Judith Green Harbor was not the stupidest or the most arrogant woman she had ever met, but she was definitely the most annoying woman.

Ever since Judith applied the potion, she'd been running here three times a day, just to check on her recovery. If she hadn't repeatedly told her not to let anyone see her face, Judith might have asked her to describe the changes in her face every day.

"Your Majesty, Asmodeus. Why did you restrict us when you signed the original contract? Now I can't hang Judith with her intestines."

The succubus sighed and glanced at the stone statue on the counter. It was a cute frog, crouched on a lotus leaf the size of a fingernail. Lady Harsh had given it to him. If it sensed the presence of a bloat demon nearby, it would emit a loud cry that only he could hear to warn him.

However, she had already been in the city for three weeks. During this time, she had explored almost every place accessible to ordinary people, choosing shops and purchasing raw materials. Yet, the statue remained as still as death, without a single movement.

"I haven't even finished what I'm doing yet, and I owe Viscount Frass another soul just for brewing a potion." Hopper felt a sense of urgency. Viscount Frass wasn't stingy, but debts always bothered the devil. "I really hope I can have some better luck next time."

Just then, there was a rough knock on the door. Hopper rolled his eyes, strode forward, opened the door, and said unhappily, "Judith, did you forget anything?"

But standing outside the door was the armored, anxious-looking Edim. He leaned against the doorframe, one hand struggling to support another knight, whose head was bleeding and nearly unconscious. In the brief moment the door had been opened, blood had already formed a small pool on the ground.

Hopper recognized the familiar black hair of "Knight Aaron." He had been coming over quite frequently recently, bringing her a small gift almost every other day. She quickly stepped forward to help Edim carry the limp Aaron into her room.

Edim lowered Knight Yaron, panting heavily, and was inwardly surprised by Hopper's strength. A fully armored Knight Yaron must have weighed no less than 250 pounds, and the herbalist looked completely effortless. But now was clearly not the time to discuss this. He briefly explained the situation: "I handled the orcs' sneak attack as best I could. Knight Yaron took a blow to the back while trying to shield me."

Hopper quickly produced a knife and deftly untied the armor's straps. She was surprised by the depth of the wound. Knight Yaron wore fine iron mail, but it seemed to offer no resistance to the weapon. Edimu's treatment had healed the wound somewhat, but the massive wound, diagonally running almost the entire length of his back, was a horrifying sight.

Without hesitation, the herbalist pulled her briefcase from the cabinet. She stared at Edim sternly and said, "Knight Edim, I need your oath to keep quiet about what happened today."

Edim had already guessed that she must be using some illegal means. But he barely hesitated, forming a circle with his hands—a gesture of swearing to the perfect person—and said firmly, "I swear on my family's and my own honor that I will keep secret what I saw tonight until the end of my life."

Hopper nodded, pulled out two bottles of potion from his purse, and without hesitation, poured the larger bottle directly onto the wound. The potion's effect was immediate. The blue colloid poured from the larger bottle seemed to have life, quickly adsorbing onto the wound and stopping the bleeding almost instantly.

The herbalist squatted down and patted Aaron's sweaty, pale face. The knight half-awake opened his eyes, and after seeing Hopper clearly, he even smiled reluctantly. His voice was weak but still as gentle as possible: "I hope I didn't scare you, Miss Hopper."

"Stop talking nonsense, Knight Aaron." Hopper reached out and touched his carotid artery. After confirming the situation, he poured a spoonful of the small bottle of medicine into his mouth.

Knight Aaron swallowed it obediently, but judging by his expression, the potion clearly tasted rather unappealing. However, just like the gel, the potion took effect quickly. Soon, his heavy breathing subsided, a faint blush crept into his pale face, and he finally fell into a deep sleep.

Only then did Hopper wipe the beads of sweat from his forehead, then handed the bottle to Edimu and instructed, "This is the White Spider Potion. Feed him a spoonful every two hours. It contains powdered nails from a one-clawed sea slug. Drinking too much can cause the wound to become deformed."

Edim took the bottle, feeling a tinge of disappointment. He wasn't sure what he'd been expecting, but he had a hunch that this herbalist was more than she seemed. While the potion was magical, it wasn't completely illegal; at best, it fell into a legal gray area.

Seeing Knight Yaron escape danger, fatigue instantly overwhelmed Edim like a tide. He relied on his remaining courtesy to keep from collapsing and falling asleep on the spot. Edim's fatigued brain had just remembered to thank the herbalist when he felt a warm, soft hand grasp his chin.

Hopper pinched the knight's chin, lifted his head, and said gently, "Your clavicle and shoulder are also injured. Let me clean them and apply some medicine for you."

Yidimu jumped up with a jerk, his face red as a persimmon. He jumped too hard and almost sprained his waist. He rubbed his waist and said embarrassedly, "No, thank you for troubling me. These are just minor injuries. They won't cause any trouble."

Hopper chuckled to herself and didn't insist. She simply walked over to the side, lit the charcoal brazier, and began to boil water. She held a small piece of firewood in her hand, twirling it lightly with boredom, and asked casually, "Your sudden visit really scared me. Sheriff's Square is not far from here. Isn't the doctor there here today? Why did you come to my place?"

The brown-haired knight nodded gravely. "We suffered particularly heavy losses today. Those orcs attacked us like crazy. Almost an entire team of dwarf apprentices from the Blacksmiths' Guild perished in that attack. Even Sheriff Edmund was wounded. Knight Aaron wasn't the worst injured; the healers probably can't take care of him."

In reality, he had concealed part of the reason. Knight Aaron's injuries were certainly serious, but his identity was even more crucial. Sheriff Edmund came from a distinguished family and was one of the Monte family's most elite knights, far more distinguished than an unlanded knight from outside. Therefore, most of the doctors went to care for Sheriff Edmund.

The door banged again, and before the herbalist could get up, the poor door was kicked open. Judith, with her head covered, rushed in with her shrill voice: "Hopper! Have you seen..."

However, what she wanted to ask, perhaps no one would ever know. The horrific scene of blood all over the floor and the two knights covered in mud, their lives unknown, frightened her so much that she screamed.

"You stupid, brainless woman, what are you yelling about? Get out!" Hopper screamed and quickly stepped forward, pushing Judith out with force and slamming the door. When she turned around, she found Edim looking at her thoughtfully.

"Ms. Hopper, have we met before?" the knight asked seriously.

Chapter 106: Holy Scar

When Hopper slowly woke up, it was just morning. The Dawn Fairy had already gently parted the mist with her golden-pink fingers, reached through the window, and stroked the unshaven cheek of Knight Edim. Last night, both knights had been forced to stay overnight at the herbalist's shop.

In fact, after taking the pillow, before Edim could finish his words of thanks, he fell headfirst into a deep sleep, even snoring softly.

Hopper stood up quietly. The Harsh Lady's ring was highly concealable, but it also had significant side effects. Regardless of the race she transformed into, the wearer's physiological state would tend toward that of the transformed race. This meant she would have to follow a human's routine to rest.

"Now I understand why Lady Harsh insists on implementing a Prime Plane schedule in Torchhold," the succubus muttered, expertly stirring the charcoal in the fireplace. Soon, the flames were blazing again. Hopper could have used magic to light the fireplace, but she was always very cautious about her disguise, trying to avoid any risk of anyone discovering her identity.

The herbalist glanced back. Both knights were still snoring quietly. Her gaze fell on Knight Edim. In some ways, this knight was the devil's favorite prey—young, a little slow in reaction, yet stubbornly clinging to his principles, which made him seem a bit pedantic and inflexible.

Normally, for knights like Edim, the devils could easily create a moral dilemma by carefully crafting it, making them doubt their justice and self-esteem, and then with a little guidance, they could completely fall into depravity.

But Edim was different. He had an almost instinctive intuition about the devil. Hopper believed she was impeccable, never revealing a flaw, but Edim had always been wary of her since they first met, never completely letting down his guard.

Especially last night, after he asked that question, the Devil was shocked. He was completely different from before, even his race had changed. How could he still sense something strange?

"Knight Edim, I'm flattered by your words." Hopper recalled his response last night. "Have you ever been to Mistveil Town? I rarely leave the area."

Edim shook his head, yawned loudly, and said, "I've never been so far north, but when I heard you speak just now, your tone and manner always made me feel familiar. I hope I didn't offend you."

Hopper skillfully brushed off this minor incident. But the message behind it made her feel vaguely uneasy. It also reminded her once again that she had better complete her mission as soon as possible and find the bloated demon to avoid any more trouble.

The knight mumbled in his sleep, frowning as the morning sun awoke him. He had slept on the floor beside Knight Aaron the previous night, and even then, the knight seemed to have barely registered his current location. He hummed contentedly and stretched. His shirt strings had untied in his sleep, revealing the young man's smooth, firm muscles and two dull, silver fingerprints on his shoulders.

The Knight of the Holy Mark! Hopper gasped, his heart instantly alarmed.

According to legend, when a powerful being from the higher realms recognizes the soul and virtue of a mortal, it gently touches this kind person, establishing a mysterious connection with the higher planes, allowing them to wield the purest divine power. The trace left by this contact is called a "stigma."

In Baator, not a single demon believed the Stigmata Knights truly existed. After all, everyone knew that the feathered hypocrites of the upper planes were simply nitpicking about morality. Those who aspired to this power were often denounced as power-obsessed and denied their recognition. Meanwhile, most mortals who truly possessed the ability to earn their recognition often no longer needed it.

Hopper could easily come up with a lot of jokes like "The 999 souls the Archduke promised you are as real as the stigmata."

"Wait a minute," Hopper's thoughts were suddenly pulled back. She began to carefully recall every detail of her last encounter with Edimu. The scene kept flashing back in her mind, finally settling on the moment when the Lantern Envoy patted Edimu's shoulder. "Could it be that Edimu agreed to release Levi's soul last time, and thus gained the Lantern Envoy's approval?"

Hopper felt his face turn green, and a wave of regret washed over him. If this was really the case, wouldn't he be shooting himself in the foot?

The knight noticed Hopper's wide-eyed expression and subconsciously followed her gaze, only then realizing his shirt was open. He frantically pulled it back up, blushing and apologizing, "I'm sorry, Ms. Hopper. I don't sleep well."

His voice brought Hopper back to her senses. She gathered herself, figuring it was pointless to dwell on it now. She stirred the buckwheat porridge on the fire and said shyly, "I didn't see anything, my Lord Knight. Would you like breakfast now?"

The knight took the bowl from her and looked around. The room was too small. He walked around but couldn't find a corner that was away from the other two. In desperation, the young knight simply squatted on the ground and began to eat.

"Everything was so urgent yesterday that I didn't have time to ask you." Hopper sensed Edimu's embarrassment and awkwardness. She knew this was the perfect time to get information, putting the past aside for now. "Are those orc bandits far from here? They can't possibly break into the city, can they?"

Edimu was clearly hoping for a topic to distract attention and ease the awkward atmosphere. He answered without hesitation, "Don't worry, Ms. Hopper. The battle took place much further away than where we last met you. Furthermore, we killed an entire group of orcs last night. They must have suffered greatly. They probably won't dare to come here anytime soon."

"And Lord Monte has already called on the Chancellor of Westerling and the councilors of other districts to increase their contributions. We will soon have a stronger sheriff's team. You are very close to the Sheriff's Square, and we are ready to respond to your call at any time," the reclining Knight Aaron suddenly spoke up. It turned out that he was awake too, and seemed much more energetic than yesterday.

"However, if you want me to respond to your call in time, you should let me fill my stomach first. Kind lady, can you give a bowl of porridge to the poor wounded?" The black-haired knight changed the subject and made a witty remark.

"Dear Knight Aaron, your wound has not healed yet, so don't talk too much." Hopper said with concern, turned around and served him a bowl of porridge, and added some milk, making sure that she was pretending to be a considerate and gentle female human.

She stood up and brought the porridge to the bed, and went to check on Yalong's wound. However, as soon as she saw the wound, her brows knitted tightly, and she asked in a low voice:

"My lords, are you sure we are encountering orcs? There is something wrong with this wound."

Author's Note: The stigmata are self-created.

Chapter 107: Disturbing Someone's Sweet Dreams

Upon hearing this, Edim quickly got up from the ground and walked quickly to the prone Knight Aaron. He nervously examined his wounds and said uncomfortably, "I only remembered to feed him medicine every two hours and didn't pay attention to the changes in his wounds."

In fact, Hopper had already had doubts when he took Knight Yaron in yesterday. The sheriffs had dealt with orcs more than once or twice before, and they were well aware of the strength of the robbers from Eagle's Nest. So it wasn't surprising that Knight Yaron was only wearing chain mail. After all, the orcs of Eagle's Nest rarely had access to fine weapons, let alone weapons made of fine steel.

However, the world is full of surprises and coincidences, and Hopper couldn't say for sure that an orc could have inflicted a wound like the one on Aaron's back with an ordinary sword. Fortunately, the spider potion and blue aloe potion were effective. The hideous wound that had been ripped apart by the candlelight last night had begun to heal, now showing a white tinge of blood loss.

The wound hadn't fully healed for a simple reason—it was too deep. If it weren't for the somewhat retarding effect of the mail, and Knight Yaron's muscular build, the blow would have been enough to split him in two. But if the attacker had possessed such immense strength, Knight Yaron would have broken at least two bones. The fact that it was merely a flesh wound was truly bizarre. The only plausible explanation was that the attacker's weapon was incredibly sharp, so sharp that a single blow could have sliced ​​through the mail like butter.

"How long can I live?" Even lying prone didn't stop Knight Aaron from guzzling his milk porridge. He was clearly more concerned about this breakfast than the wound on his back. "Beautiful Ms. Hopper, if I die, could you give me a small white flower?"

Hopper reached out and brushed aside the curly hair that had fallen into the bowl. Trying his best to play the role of a kind herbalist, he said gently, "Don't worry, it's just a deep wound. You'll be fine, you just have to lie down for a few more days."

Edimu was obviously not so optimistic. He took a closer look at the wound, even bending down to smell it, looking like a cat digging a mouse hole.

"So, you met the most elite orc robbers? I'm afraid only enchanted weapons can cause such smooth wounds." Hopper observed his expression. Knight Edim was quite authoritative when it came to sensing evil.

The knight straightened up, his expression softening considerably. He rubbed his face, nodded at Hopper, and said in a grave voice, "I don't see anything wrong. The attack last night was too sudden. We were already cautious, but the sudden flash of light and thick smoke threw the dwarves off. I can't blame them; after all, they were just young blacksmith apprentices, their first time out of Galena Castle. It's hard not to panic after what happened last night."

"The entire security team is truly exhausted. In previous years, we only needed to patrol once every two weeks. But lately, we've been out on patrol almost every day," Knight Yaron added. Even excluding his injuries, he looked exceptionally tired. The blood loss had left him pale, and the dark circles under his eyes were even more pronounced.

"Okay, don't worry Miss Hopper about these official matters," Edimu patted Yaron and said, "Be careful not to scare her. You should think about how to thank her."

Hopper took the bowl from Aaron with a smile, thinking to himself, "If you don't want to reveal the information, just tell me. As if bringing a bloody man to bang on the door last night wasn't scary enough."

Knight Aaron cleared his throat, seemingly understanding Edim's intention. His voice echoed from behind him: "It's my fault for not thanking you for saving my life until now. When I can get up, I will thank you solemnly. I'm only a poor knight without a fiefdom, and I don't know how to repay your kindness. If you are willing..."

Oh, the lewd and extravagant Grand Duke Maman, could he be proposing marriage? Before Hopper could figure out how to refuse, Knight Yaron was interrupted by a rapid knock on the door.

Edimu and Hopper exchanged a glance, and the Knight stepped forward to stop her, striding towards the door, ready to see who was visiting so early in the morning.

Outside the door stood a group of soldiers in neat blue-green uniforms. The wave patterns on their chests revealed their identities—the inner city guards of Emerald Harbor. Hopper turned inconspicuously, naturally picking up a blanket from the ground and draping it over Knight Aaron to cover the traces of the blue potion.

The leading soldier was a middle-aged man with a respectable mustache. He stared at Edim seriously, obviously recognizing him. Although the sheriff and the inner city guard were familiar with each other, they were not from the same system, and he did not need to be overly respectful to a knight.

The guard leader took a close look inside the room. The pungent smell of potion and the lingering scent of blood made his nose itch. He nodded to the knight and asked, "Knight Edim, I didn't realize you were here. Before dawn, a weeping woman came to the duty room, saying there had been a murder and blood everywhere. Can you explain?"

He pointed at the floor. The blood dripping everywhere last night and the bloody footprints left by trampling made this small shop look like a crime scene.

"I'm afraid that kind lady misunderstood, Mr. Brendan," Edim explained calmly to the guard Brendan, who was a head taller than him. "I'm sure you've heard that the sheriff's team was attacked yesterday. I brought the injured Knight Aaron here to seek the help of the kind herbalist, Miss Hopper."

Brendan glanced at Aaron, who lay still, but clearly still alive and kicking, and his expression relaxed. He yawned and said lazily, "With two sheriffs guaranteeing me, I naturally have nothing to worry about. Ede, the person who reported the case is a woman who has recently become quite notorious. As you know, the recent events have caused many citizens to panic. Hearing this news, we had to come here, otherwise who would want to go out so early in the morning?"

After saying this, he raised his hand and touched his helmet, as if to express his apology to the two knights, and then turned and left with his team. From beginning to end, he neither looked at the herbalist nor asked her a single question, as if she was the least important person in the herbal shop.

"I thought Ms. Judith and you had a pretty good relationship," Yidimu said, closing the door in confusion. "Maybe she was frightened last night. After all, the scene was quite bloody when she came in."

Hopper just smiled and said nothing. She was too lazy to slander a human whose brain was not even as big as a walnut.

"Haha, I'm afraid it's more than just shock." Aaron was obviously much more experienced in this area than Edim. He explained to the younger knight with interest, "The gap between Miss Hopper and her is enough to make her jealous. She will seize any opportunity."

Edim still looked puzzled. Aaron ignored him and continued with the topic he had been discussing before being interrupted. "Getting back to the point, Ms. Hopper, as a token of my gratitude, would you be willing to attend Lord Westerling's banquet with me?"

Chapter 108 Exposed?

Given Hopper's current status, this invitation was a pleasant surprise.

In the former heartland of the Reminian Empire, commoners could only live slightly better than slaves. While the class divisions in Emerald Harbor weren't as rigid as those in the Southern Twin Continents, attending gatherings hosted by those in power was practically impossible.

Although Knight Aaron never put on airs and was indeed, as he claimed, a poor knight without a fiefdom, a poor knight was still a knight, and the lowest noble was still a noble. If he were willing, there were wealthy merchants willing to send their youngest, purest daughters, or even granddaughters, to him, just to ask him to bring their daughters into the aristocratic circle.

After all, nobles only trust their own people. Even if Knight Aaron does not marry this female companion, she can use this rare opportunity to establish connections with the noble ladies and ladies, become their female companion, or even a close friend, and thus secure a bright future for herself.

For Hopper, this was a golden opportunity. Where could there be a better opportunity than a dinner party attended by all the nobles in the city to find out once and for all whether the nobles had any connection with the bloat demon?

"You know, I wasn't thinking about your reward when I opened the door last night," the demon said modestly. If she were still a little devil, her tail would be up to the sky. "I have to wear a veil when I go out today. If the girls in the city knew I stole their chance, they would hate me to death."

Knight Aaron burst into laughter, but it ripped the wound on his back, and the laughter instantly turned into a muffled groan. However, this did not dampen his spirits. The dark-haired knight was undoubtedly very interested in Hopper. Not only was she strikingly beautiful, but as an herbalist, she was also highly skilled and courageous, even capable of brewing potions. A woman like her would be the perfect marriage partner for a minor noble. Knight Aaron was convinced that marrying Lady Hopper would surely put his family on the path to prosperity.

Edim stood aside, looking a little bewildered. He hadn't figured out how the topic had suddenly jumped from discussing compensation to flirting. Hopper couldn't help but chuckle at his bewildered expression.

"So who is the lucky guy who received the invitation from Knight Edim?" Hopper asked in a good mood, picked up the armor on the ground and began to wipe it with a towel.

The girl hummed a tuneless tune as she sat unruly on a wooden stool, intently polishing her armor. The morning sun shone on her back, outlining a fuzzy golden outline. Hopper's black hair flowed like a stream of shimmering gold, winding down her graceful neck and flowing down her spine.

The two knights simply stared at her in silence. For a moment, the only sounds in the room were the scraping of towels across breastplates and the girl's soft singing voice. The sound was like a tuft of soft fur, scratching at the base of their throats.

Edim was the first to regain consciousness. Perhaps due to the growing sunlight, his mouth felt dry. The knight cleared his throat and said politely, "Thank you for your inquiry, ma'am. I was on duty that day, so I couldn't invite anyone else to join me."

Hopper keenly heard the tension in his voice, the deliberate distance he was keeping. But before she could make a point, there was another knock on the door. This time, Hopper stood up, joking with the knight, "It seems everyone's been busy this morning."

Standing outside the door was Inquisitor Igor. His face was sullen, and he was still wearing the same leather trench coat and boots he'd worn the day before at the Hanged Elf Tavern. The moment he saw him, not only did Hopper's smile freeze, but the two knights' expressions also grew solemn. An Inquisitor's early-morning visit wasn't a good sign.

"Good day, Judge Igor," Hopper greeted with a bit of trepidation, like any ordinary human woman. "What can I do for you?"

Igor shrugged his nose, his eyes quickly sweeping over the bloody footprints on the floor and the blanket on Knight Aaron's body. Seeing this, Edim walked forward and placed his hand on Hopper's shoulder, as if to give her strength.

After surveying the room, the judge pretended not to notice Edim's protest. He stared intently at Hopper, his gaze sharp as a torch, and his voice as deep and resonant as a bell: "I'm here to see a pharmacist named Humbert. Do you know where he's gone, Miss?"

"This used to be old Humbert's shop." Hopper took a step back, looking as if he was about to faint from fear, but still managed to speak, "He's too old, and his son took him south last month. Now I'm taking over here."

The Inquisitor remained silent. He stared at Hopper with a hawk-like gaze, as if trying to discern whether she was lying. After a long pause, he seemed to be convinced that Hopper had passed his test. He then took off his felt hat and placed it on his chest, bowing slightly. "I'm sorry to bother you so early this morning. I was hoping to get some potions from Humbert. Now that he's gone, I noticed the herbs you've hung in the corridor. Could you provide me with some?"

Now that things had come to this, there was no point in denying it. Hopper lifted her skirt and saluted, then stepped aside to make way. Her voice trembled as she asked, "What do you need? I'll do my best to help you."

"A bag of silver powder, amber shavings, and lavender infused with oil. A standardized cold-heart potion requires the bezoar and harpy feather ashes. If you have an already prepared potion, that would be even better." The Inquisitor walked into the shop and did not comment on the environment or the people inside. He just reported the materials he needed in a flat tone.

"Amber and lavender are readily available; I'll bring them to you right away. But the silver powder is sold out. You can go to the other end of the square. There's a jeweler who lives there; you can buy from him." Hopper replied as he quickly retrieved the Inquisitor's request from under the counter, seemingly eager for him to leave. "As for the potion and ingredients you mentioned, I've never heard of them..."

The Inquisitor raised a palm, interrupting her refusal. His gray eyes stared at her as if she were a lifeless statue, and his voice was emotionless.

He tapped his nose suggestively. "Your spider potion and blue aloe potion brewed well, my lady. Three tortured dwarf corpses in a month is enough to keep me busy. Potions are not part of my current responsibilities."