Tanya knew, of course, that transforming into a bull-headed giant would inevitably tear her coat.
In fact, her bra and panties were made of a special, highly stretchy fabric.
Even in her transformed form, no nudity was exposed.
As for her skin elsewhere, while not considered private, it was inevitable that it would be exposed after transformation.
Unexpectedly, her junior brother was so considerate, promptly offering her a spare coat to cover her.
Tanya smiled gratefully at Alan.
Wrapped in her cloak, still retaining the warmth of her junior brother's body, she naturally took his arm and walked side by side towards Pamela and the others.
"Senior Sister, why are you and Senior Brother Marvin here too?" Alan asked softly.
"There are undercover agents from our academy planted within the Beast Worship Cult," Tanya replied softly.
"Undercover intelligence has revealed that the cultists operating on Magic Stone Island, including three second-level sorcerers, have a combined strength exceeding your team's."
"Deputy Dean Ganesha, worried the situation was getting out of control, arranged for Senior Brother Marvin and me to come provide support."
"Senior Brother Marvin... doesn't he need to take care of his sister?" Allen paused.
"Nora's health has improved, and she's strong enough to argue with her brother. She kicked Marvin out and said she doesn't want to see him anymore," Tanya said calmly. "Marvin was bored anyway, so he came with me."
Alan could tell that Senior Sister didn't want to discuss Marvin and Nora's situation, so he tactfully stopped asking.
...
Two weeks later.
Alan and his team eliminated the remaining Beast Cult forces on Magic Stone Island.
Although they failed to kill Spanner, Jamie, and Sarah, they had driven these three cult leaders from Magic Stone Island, and their mission was considered accomplished. Everyone boarded the boat and returned to the Warlock Academy.
Before disembarking, Marvin asked Pamela and the others to go ahead, leaving only Alan and Duke behind.
He claimed he had a personal matter to discuss with the two.
Tanya, worried about Alan, asked Marvin, "Brother, is it okay for me to stay?"
Marvin paused, then nodded and smiled graciously.
"Junior Sister Tanya is one of us, so of course it's okay."
Angel glanced at Marvin, then at Alan, his eyes filled with worry.
After a moment's hesitation, he mustered his courage and said weakly to Marvin:
"Brother Marvin, I also want to stay on the boat and wait for Alan—"
"Shut up! What's it to you?!"
Before Angel could finish his words, his fiancée scolded him.
"Who do you think you are? How could you possibly meddle in other people's affairs?!"
Pamela berated her fiancé.
Without a word, she grabbed Angel's hand and dragged him off the boat.
Angel stumbled from her rough handling.
Every few steps, she couldn't help but glance back at Allen.
Her eyes were a mixture of concern and helplessness.
"Don't worry, I'm fine!"
Alan smiled and reassured him.
Taking the opportunity to wave goodbye, he made a gesture that only the two of them understood.
"Angel, don't forget our agreement!"
The black-robed youth nodded vigorously, his eyes seeming to say:
"Take care! I'll wait for you back at the academy!"
Marvin watched Pamela and Angel walk away.
He paced with his hands behind his back, reaching the bow.
Gazing at the seagulls soaring in the sky above the harbor, he sighed and spoke slowly:
"Junior Brother Allen, Junior Brother Duke, I've left you two behind because I have an unwelcome request."
"My beloved sister, Nora, has recently fallen ill and is bedridden. She needs to recuperate in the academy's Secret Realm of Time."
"The climate and environment of the Secret Realm will aid Nora's recovery."
"Nora is a very lovely girl."
"If you meet Nora, you will definitely fall in love with her."
"For Nora, I can pay any price." , and do anything for her."
Sighing, Marvin turned his back to the three of them and continued:
"Nora is young and doesn't know how to take care of herself."
"I'm worried about letting her enter the secret realm alone."
"What's more, Noora is seriously ill and needs her family's care."
"So, as her brother, I must also enter the secret realm to take care of my sister."
"That means we need two more spots to enter the secret realm."
"Wait a minute!"
Duke's face darkened, and he interrupted Marvin.
"Brother Marvin, you're not trying to steal my spot, are you?"
Marvin turned and looked at him calmly.
"I don't like the word 'rob'; it's so disrespectful."
"I know the place to enter the secret realm for cultivation is precious, and it won't be taken for free."
"I will pay you a satisfactory thank-you gift, as well as a more valuable gift... a personal favor."
"Junior Brother Duke, Junior Brother Allen, what do you think?"
Even before the mission, Allen had anticipated this outcome after being reminded by his senior sister.
He wasn't surprised at all by Marvin's request.
The entire Pansen Martial Arts School was a vassal of the Marvin family.
This meant that Allen had no room to refuse.
Marvin's offer was a respectable one.
If he didn't appreciate it, then he wouldn't be a respectable person anymore.
Although he had no choice.
Although he had already prepared himself mentally.
Alan didn't agree immediately. Being a lackey is a profound art.
If the dog licks too eagerly, fawns over you, or behaves in a nasty way... the owner will find it disgusting and look down on the dog.
This is why, as pets, cats, with their aloof demeanor, always hold a higher status than lapdogs.
Alan gritted his teeth, feigning a fierce ideological struggle, putting on a full-throated expression.
Finally, with a long sigh, he said to Marvin, "Brother, I've given you my place. I hope it will help Miss Nora's recovery!"
"That way, when I look back on this, I won't be so discouraged by the thought that I did something good for others."
Marvin walked over and patted him firmly on the shoulder.
A rare hint of tenderness appeared in his eyes.
"Junior Brother Allen, you are a man of integrity and loyalty, a true man!"
"I, your brother, will remember this favor!"
Alan shook Marvin's hand and turned back to his sister.
Tanya glanced at him, her expression complex.
Apart from a sense of relief, there was also a hint of heartache.
She knew, of course, for whom his junior brother had compromised.
"Haha!"
Duke sneered, his face tinged with disdain.
"Alan Panthers! I thought you were a man of steel, a man who would never yield. Now I realize I was wrong. You're a worthless piece of shit! Pah!"
His words didn't embarrass Allen.
In fact, they shocked Allen at his idiocy.
To say such a sarcastic remark in such a situation...
He's offended everyone he could.
Aside from a momentary gratification, what other benefits can he achieve?
A nice guy, but unfortunately, he's clueless.
Marvin was clearly irritated by Duke's sarcastic remarks.
His thick brows furrowed as he stared coldly at the white-haired boy.
"Junior Brother Duke, aren't you planning to give up your spot?"
"Sorry, what's mine is mine, and no one can take it away from me!"
Duke's face remained defiant.
"That... isn't a good idea, is it?"
Marvin smiled, his voice a bit creepy and friendly.
"Junior Brother Duke, I'm relatively familiar with your situation."
"Frankly, you have no need, and no right, to offend me."
"In life, taking a step back opens up new horizons."
"More friends, more paths. Why insist on holding on?"
"This isn't good, Junior Brother Duke. This really isn't good."
"There are some things that, if I were to reveal them, I wouldn't be the one to be embarrassed..."
Duke had clearly grasped his implication.
His face paled, then turned pale.
Gritting his teeth, he gritted his teeth and shouted, "Stop using these empty threats! I won't fall for them!"
"I worked so hard to earn this place in the secret realm. Why should I let you just sit back and reap the benefits?!"
"Don't mention this again!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Duke turned and walked away.
Ma Wen stared at his back, his gaze growing increasingly grim.
"Junior Brother Duke, are you truly ungrateful and unwilling to accept your fate?"
"I am a dragon! My fate is in my own hands, not in the hands of heaven!"
Duke, without even turning back, raised his arms and shouted.
He possessed a certain air of heroism.
"In a year... no, four years, when I return from my training in the secret realm, I will surely amaze you!"
After uttering these harsh words, Duke casually tossed his sleeves and strode away with his head held high.