Chat group, if you have anything to say to my Holy Sword,

Break free?

No, she was already deeply in love with it and enjoyed it immensely!

This insatiable thirst for truth had long imprisoned her! She seemed to see the answer she had been searching for all her life right before her eyes; her ideals, her ambitions, everything she wanted, could perhaps be fulfilled through him!

This desire was too urgent, too overwhelming! She even wanted to drag the other person back to the lab for research immediately!

Just as Alicia was about to step forward and pull Mebius away, she caught a glimpse of a figure out of the corner of her eye. A bright smile returned to Alicia's face, and she silently took a step back, giving the stage to the next protagonist.

"Go for it!" Kevin silently cheered on the advancing figure.

“Although the plan encountered a slight mishap,” Mei said calmly, arms crossed, “this little variable only serves to highlight the drama of the protagonist’s arrival, doesn’t it?”

Her expression remained calm and composed, but Kevin was absolutely certain that she was smiling.

"Why don't we guess what will happen next?" Kevin suggested with a smile.

"It's probably like Snow White saving Prince Charming," Mei smiled.

Mebius's current state was indeed beyond Xiling's expectations. He roughly knew why the other party was acting this way. It was likely that the blood sample had fallen into the other party's hands. Just as he was about to refuse and suggest another way of dealing,

Mebius's hand involuntarily loosened its grip, and at that moment, a hand grabbed Xiling's hand and dragged her backward. Xiling took two steps back with the force, and a figure in a blue and white evening dress stepped past him and blocked Mebius's path.

"I'm sorry, he doesn't intend to make this deal with you."

Xiling looked at the familiar figure blocking her way with surprise and astonishment.

“Heh…” Mebius was interrupted by this sudden force, and the desire in her eyes faded slightly. She stared at the gray-haired witch who had interfered, her tone carrying displeasure at being interrupted: “Is that so? How do you know… he doesn’t want to agree to my deal?”

“Because I understand him.” The witch proudly raised her head.

“He won’t covet anything you’ve promised—money, power, even yourself—it’s all unimportant to him,” Elena said firmly.

“However, when you desperately seek his help, he will inevitably respond in his own way, in a different… more principled way of making a deal, to give you the help you need.” Elena turned her head slightly, her eyes seemingly glancing at Xiling behind her, her certainty as firm as a rock. “That’s how I know him.”

Mebius's dangerous gaze shifted slightly. Just then, Alicia, with a sweet and harmless smile on her face, leaned lightly close to Mebius's ear. Her lips moved rapidly, and she whispered a few words in a volume only the two of them could hear.

Mebius quickly glanced at Elena and then at Xiling, as if confirming something, and finally nodded.

After delivering the message, Alicia, like a messenger who had completed her mission, quietly retreated again, her face still bearing that flawless smile, as if she had never been involved in this storm.

Mebius looked at Xiling again, but without the eagerness and longing he had shown before.

“So,” Möbius’s voice returned to its usual cold and steady tone, “what do you think of the deal I just proposed?”

Xiling snapped out of her daze after hearing what Elena had said earlier.

After a moment of silence, he nodded.

"I'll make a different deal with you. I don't need anything from you. You just need to do me a favor."

“Okay, it’s settled then. Here’s my contact information. Remember your promise.” After saying that, Mebius gave Xiling and Elena a meaningful look, then turned around without looking back and walked straight out of the ballroom.

Alicia had already quietly left sometime earlier, leaving only Xiling and Elena in the area, along with everyone else.

Just then, the music started, and Xiling looked in the direction of the music; it was a sign that the ball was about to begin.

Xiling took a light breath, and a smile returned to his face. He turned his head and smiled.

"Thanks, Elena. If you hadn't come, I might have had to go through a lot of trouble to get away from them."

Elena turned her back to Xiling and did not respond to Xiling's words.

Have you seen Elena? Xiling herself has brought up another question.

"By the way, is your foot better? Wearing high heels again, be careful not to twist it again."

"Speaking of which, how about we go over there and get something to eat? Free food is free, so why not take advantage of it?"

"By the way, where did Kevin go? You should have seen him, right?"

"That guy actually left me behind and we never had any time together as a couple. It's unforgivable!"

Xiling's words kept echoing in Elena's ears.

Just then—Elena, who had been silent all along, seemed to have finally gathered enough strength and took a deep breath.

She didn't turn around. Only a light, almost dreamlike voice drifted over:

"Lord Brave."

However, it was her words that made Xiling freeze.

Why...why? At this moment, Elena's tone reminded him of that night, when the girl saw him for the last time and called out to him in the same tone.

Elena finally turned around slowly.

On that exquisite, doll-like face, a smile appeared that didn't belong to "The Gray Witch" Elaina. It was a pure smile, devoid of any impurities, filled with relief, gratitude, and a kind of... ultimate, radiant smile, as if approaching the end.

Xiling felt as if his heart had been gripped tightly by an icy hand! That smile…! It was the last and most beautiful smile that girl had ever shown him! It was the final, brilliant moment of her short life!

Looking at the stunned Xiling, a gentle voice came from Elena's mouth. "I roughly know everything that happened to me."

“...Is that so...I’m sorry.” Xiling lowered her head.

As Xiling heard footsteps approaching, she silently closed her eyes, as if awaiting final judgment.

However, a cold hand, just like that night, gently touched his face.

Elena's smile appeared before Xiling. "Thank you, Xiling, thank you for everything you've done for me."

Seeing Xiling's puzzled look, Elaina said, "Thank you for saving me."

"Do not......"

Just as Xiling was about to speak, a finger was placed against his lips, while the girl's other hand was placed against her own lips.

"Please listen to me, Xiling?"

Xiling stood silently in place.

"You don't need to blame yourself; our deaths have nothing to do with you."

"You saved me from reality, and you liberated her from being assimilated by the ancient gods."

"You should stand tall with pride."

As the girl finished speaking, an unknown amount of time passed.

In the silence, Xiling took a deep breath and raised his hand to cover his eyes. "That makes sense... but I just feel so guilty! My heart... feels so heavy!"

Seeing Xiling's awkward expression, Elena's lips curled into a smile, but the heartbreaking expression faded like a receding tide, and the smile that belonged to the Gray Witch reappeared on her face. "Hmph~ Well—that's your own problem, stubborn hero! The Gray Witch's precious time for emotional healing ends here!"

Xiling opened her hand a crack and looked at him, asking, "So what's wrong with you?"

Elena gently rested her slender fingers on her chin, tilting her head slightly. "Hmm...who knows?" With that, she walked right past Xiling, leaving behind a faint fragrance and a light, teasing remark, "Perhaps...it's just fate playing a trick?"

Almost at the same moment she bypassed Xiling, the music for the ball began.

A noisy and dazzling sound instantly enveloped the two of them.

“Alright, hero—” Elena’s voice cut through the music. She stopped a few steps away, turned gracefully, and faced Xiling.

Xiling lowered his hand from his eyes, and what came into view was the bright smile of the Gray Witch, Elena, appearing before him.

Elena gracefully stepped back with one foot, gently lifting the delicate hem of her blue and white dress with both hands, and slightly bent her knees—a perfect and beautiful lady's invitation to dance, flawlessly executed under the brilliant lights. Her gaze was fixed on Xiling, carrying an undeniable invitation:

"My treatments are never free, you brave warrior."

"Now, dance with me. And—you don't have the right to refuse!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Elena stepped forward and reached out to grasp Xiling's wrist, who was about to say "no"!

Under the watchful eyes of Kevin, May, and Alicia, the gray witch in a blue and white dress dragged the resisting hero into the center of the dazzling, swaying dance floor.

The ball seemed to be reaching its climax at this moment.

Chapter 116 Black Tower Space Station

"Hmm... what are you doing here?" Walking down the street, Xiling looked at Elena beside her. The witch was wearing a travel robe today, with her signature star-shaped brooch pinned to her chest.

"Hmph, I'm a traveling witch, of course I'm here to travel, otherwise what do you think I'm here for?" Elena put her hands behind her back and curiously scanned the colorful magic shops on both sides of the street.

"......you're right."

After undergoing the witch's special treatment, Xiling's shadow over that incident was greatly reduced, and he agreed to let her come into his world, at least in the city.

Moreover... looking at Elena beside him, Xiling felt as if something had changed, but... he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

Two days have passed since that dance party. That night, something embarrassing almost happened. Two people who couldn't dance went to the dance party, but they managed to escape unscathed thanks to skill cards from the chat group's marketplace.

"So? What are you going to do now?" Elena tilted her head slightly, the wide brim of her witch's hat tilting slightly with her movement.

"Claim the mission reward, then go find the creditors to pay off the debts." Xiling breathed a sigh of relief. "After all this time, I've finally collected 50 points."

"Hmm, I see." Elena nodded gently. She knew about Xiling's debts, and could only say that the confident hero was always thinking of infiltrating.

The two quickly arrived at the mission hall.

"Hey! Xiling's back." Vera looked up from the ledger, immediately flashing a bright smile, and waved vigorously at Xiling.

"Yes, you're back." Xiling slapped the crumpled task sheet on the counter. "Here, the task is complete. Transfer the payment."

"Oh my, you've worked hard. I heard about this mission, it's really impressive~ Xiling." Vera winked at Xiling.

Elena, who was standing to the side, twitched her eyebrows almost imperceptibly.

"That's right, don't you know who I am?" Xiling said proudly, puffing out her chest.

“Yes, yes, you are the esteemed Swordsman.” Vera said in a respectful tone, while quickly operating the magic panel on the counter.

A moment later, Vera raised her head again, her smile even brighter: "Because you exceeded expectations in completing this mission, you not only received 70 points, but you will also receive a special magical item!" After Vera finished explaining the rewards Xiling received, she transferred the points to Xiling's registered account and then closed the panel.

"Please be patient with that magical item; I'll let you know later." Vera clasped her hands together, her eyes curving into crescents. "Also—" she suddenly clapped her hands, "Congratulations on successfully paying off your debt! Should I prepare a big cake for you to celebrate getting rid of your debts?"

"A big cake, huh? Who's going to eat it?" Xiling gave her the middle finger.

Vera immediately covered her face with her hands, peeking out from between her fingers her eyes, brimming with tears: "I only meant well, Xiling, how could you say such a thing to me..."

“Oh, then I’ll use a more tactful way of putting it,” Xiling rolled her eyes, “Are you going to kill me, friend?”

"How could this be?" Vera lowered her hand, her face showing no trace of sadness. "How could I bear to kill you?"

"Tch, never mind you, I have things to do." After receiving her reward, Xiling still had to go find her creditors to pay off her debts.

"Let's go, Elena."

The gray-haired witch, who had been silent all along, finally nodded, a faint smile on her face. They had only taken a few steps when Vera's voice came from behind: "Don't forget to come back tomorrow to try my new creation! I've improved the recipe this time!"

Xiling waved her hand without turning her head.

Stepping out of the mission hall, the light from the Eternal Core bathed the two of them. Elena suddenly spoke, seemingly out of curiosity, "You and that lovely lady seem to get along very well; she even bakes cakes for you."

Xiling shrugged: "It was just a tragic love affair."

"Oh? A tragic fate." Elena raised an eyebrow. "Tell me about it."

"Hmm, let me think where to start... um... I guess it'll start from when I ate her first bite of food." As she said this, Xiling shook her head as if she had thought of something funny.

"Vell has some kind of curse on her, it seems she got it a few years ago. Of course, it's not a serious curse, it's just that she can't taste the flavor of food, can't distinguish the different seasonings. She can even make a dish that knocks someone out with one bite. But her extraordinary profession is that of a chef. Once I ate her food and couldn't help but complain a few times, and that's how this ill-fated relationship began."

Elena asked thoughtfully, "And then?"

"Then she set her sights on me," Xiling sighed. "Every time I came to hand in a task, she would find some excuse to make me try her new creation."

“It sounds like some kind of obsessive revenge,” Elena said softly.

Xiling shook her head: "No, Vera actually..." Xiling paused, seemingly searching for the right words, "...she's just too lonely. That curse prevents her from enjoying food like a normal person, but she loves cooking more than anyone else. My comment might be the first genuine feedback on her cooking."

The two turned a quiet street corner, and Xiling continued, "Every time I complained, she would write it down in a little notebook. Over time, her cooking actually... became somewhat edible."

Elena listened quietly, her gaze fixed on the distance: "So you became her...taste tester?"

Xiling smiled and said, "That's true."

Looking at the smile on Xiling's face beside her, Elena sighed helplessly to herself, "Why be so gentle..."

Xiling led Elena to a magnificent building with a towering spire that pierced the clouds. Three slowly rotating magical runes floated atop the spire. This was the Magic Society of Kalso.

"Please inform Vice President Kahn that I've come to pay my debt." Xiling displayed her Swordholder badge at the front desk.