"The Saintess's beautiful mother?" Karl's eyes lit up.
PS: XP collection (try not to be too ordinary)
Chapter 36: Trust Me
"Can a bishop marry?" Karl noticed Chris's subtle expression and found it amusing.
She clearly hated him, yet had to endure and beg him in a low voice, her beautiful face contorted in a struggle, which was quite a sight.
"Clergy are not prohibited from marriage," Chris said, her tone pausing, "But I am an illegitimate Child."
"You can," Karl smirked, his gaze openly appraising Chris, "I can refrain from harming your mother, so what price are you willing to pay for that?"
Chris's beauty was undoubtedly the highest he had ever seen among women, the most goddess-like.
Her mother, he assumed, wouldn't be far behind.
Karl could leverage this point, allowing this Saintess to participate in his scoring methods.
After all, the positions available for three people were far more numerous than for two.
Upon hearing this, Chris's fists clenched. Karl's arbitrary threats left her helpless. She took a deep breath, calming herself again.
"I can agree to your terms, but you must also help me deal with the symbiotes and protect San Marino City."
When she revealed her relationship with her mother, she was prepared to pay a price.
Chris felt she understood Karl well enough; he would try to 'poke' any female. She decided to make things clear beforehand.
This way, she could also preserve her mother's chastity.
As for agreeing to his demands...
Chris had no intention of backing out. She had already experienced being bitten and stepped on; he couldn't possibly have any more perverse acts in store.
"Alright," Karl agreed. the formless daughter was already his target, and he could also get the Saintess for free.
He had truly won big.
Chris saw Karl nod in agreement, let out a sigh of relief, and said seriously, "The virus has already spread throughout the city. To stop this disaster, all forces in San Marino City need to cooperate."
"Moreover, we must also guard against Aisha's attack. Tomorrow, we must persuade Count Hyman, the City Lord, to gain his support, as only he can mobilize the city's army."
Chris kept looking at Karl as she spoke these words.
She wasn't very confident in her ability to persuade the Count of this military stronghold. She needed someone with enough weight to stand by her.
Undoubtedly, Karl's power was that weight.
Karl guessed her intention after Chris finished speaking and nodded without hesitation: "I can."
Chris, however, was stunned. This despicable fellow actually agreed so easily.
Karl saw her finish speaking and stand still, frowning, "Is there anything else?"
...Chris's expression was strange. She was waiting for him to finish before returning to her room, but this silver dragon was actually only discussing serious matters.
This made her a little unaccustomed for a moment.
"Nothing, get some rest early."
Chris left the room, closed the door, leaned against the wall, and let out a long breath.
Karl's agreement was more straightforward than she had expected, which surprised her, but she didn't doubt him. Although Karl had a bad temper, he wasn't cunning. As a teammate, it was indeed a very reassuring thing.
She looked up, silently clenched her fist, and placed it on her chest, muttering, "For the lives of San Marino City."
Aisha and her Mixed-blood Species captain had put too much pressure on her.
It even made her feel powerless to resist.
However, Chris had no intention of giving up. She would do her best to help more people.
She adjusted her mood and turned to return to her room.
In the room, Sylvie was already lying in bed, asleep.
Chris's expression was complex. She thought of what Sylvie had just told her. This warrior teammate had been driven to despair by Karl and no longer had the strength or reason to continue fighting.
She walked to the bed and lay down, looking at Sylvie's sleeping face, her brows tightly furrowed, as if she was having a nightmare.
She raised her hand, and holy light emanated from her palm, gently stroking Sylvie's back, watching her tightly furrowed brows relax a little.
Just before she went to see Karl, Sylvie had suggested leaving.
Chris didn't say much. She couldn't ask her teammate to sacrifice for her beliefs.
"Sigh."
She lay down beside Sylvie. As for what Karl said, that he would persuade Sylvie, she didn't believe it at all.
This night passed with each person lost in their own thoughts.
Time came to the next day.
Footsteps echoed outside Karl's room. He walked out and saw Chris standing at the doorway, dressed in her Saintess attire. In the morning sun, she looked like a graceful and beautiful angel descended to earth.
Sister Rabel stood beside her, clad in full Paladin armor, her short hair radiating heroic spirit.
When she saw Karl come out, a mischievous smile played on her lips, and she teased, "Were you harassed by a big sister last night? A cute Little Boy like you, staying in a tavern, if you don't protect yourself well, a big sister might sneak in through the window and attack you at night~"
"Cough, cough." Chris heard this, a flash of awkwardness on her face. She coughed a few times, "Rabel, let's go quickly, don't keep the Bishop and Count Hyman waiting too long."
Karl narrowed his eyes, understanding. Chris had not revealed any of his identity to Rabel.
Rabel truly thought he was a Little Boy.
However, a woman who found joy in telling dirty jokes to a Child was also quite unpleasant.
Karl couldn't be bothered with her. His first priority now was to deal with the formless daughter.
"Oh, the brat's quite rebellious, huh?" Rabel's tone was teasing, her peripheral vision occasionally glancing at Chris, seemingly observing her reaction.
Chris was very nervous. She wasn't sure what outrageous things Karl's personality might lead him to do.
For Rabel's sake, if she really provoked Karl, he would definitely turn her into a hot weapon.
Chris turned and shielded Karl behind her, her tone becoming a few shades stricter, "Stop messing around, Rabel. Every minute we waste could result in the deaths of many innocent people in San Marino City."
Rabel saw Chris's serious expression, and the playfulness in her eyes faded a bit. She spread her hands, innocently saying, "Sorry, you look really scary right now. Let's go, the carriage is downstairs."
The three of them left the tavern together. When they reached the carriage,
Rabel greeted the coachman, then jumped into the carriage first, extending a hand to help Chris and Karl get in.
The carriage began to jolt.
Inside the carriage, the atmosphere was somewhat heavy.
Chris also realized that her words just now had been a bit too strong, but she couldn't explain to her friend, so she remained silent.
Karl, however, was indifferent. His mind was completely occupied with how to 'get' the formless daughter's symbiote.
Rabel's eyes kept secretly glancing between the two of them.
The carriage traveled all the way to a manor, passed through an exquisite iron gate, drove along a tree-lined avenue, and stopped in front of a building with a strong medieval aristocratic feel.
Rabel was the first to jump off the carriage. Led by a servant, the three of them passed through the magnificent hall.
"Bishop Victoria and Count Hyman are inside," Rabel stopped, pointing to a closed door.
Chris took a deep breath and looked at Karl again, her eyes showing a pleading look.
She was really worried now that Karl would mess things up once she went inside.
Karl nodded slightly, signaling her not to worry.
Receiving Karl's tacit approval, Chris then gently knocked on the study door. After receiving permission, she pushed the door open and went in.
She couldn't expose Karl's identity casually right now. When discussing secrets, there was no reason not to bring him along, so she had to let him wait outside first.
Karl also didn't want to cause any extra trouble and honestly leaned against the wall.
"Hey, is your name Karl?" Rabel, however, leaned over.
"Yes," Karl narrowed his eyes slightly. This beautiful knight had been very concerned about his relationship with Chris since yesterday. He pretended to be nervous and said, "I'm sorry, Sister Chris forced me to do it."
? Rabel
Chapter 37: Reason
Doubt flashed in Rabel's eyes. She had observed that Chris's attitude towards Karl was completely different from her usual self.
She wanted to probe for some information from Karl.
But she had only just asked his name when the Little Boy in front of her self-destructed.
Rabel keenly caught the key phrase in his words: "Chris forced him to do it."
What exactly did Chris make this Child do, and was it by force?
Karl faced her gaze, his expression nervous, yet trying to maintain composure.
But at his age, such a disguise was clearly seen through by an adult at a glance.
Rabel didn't rush to question him. Instead, she watched him, her eyes slightly narrowed. She also understood some interrogation techniques; at this moment, not speaking would make someone with poor psychological resilience paranoid.
At the same time, she carefully observed Karl. This Child was very cute, like a finely carved jade figurine, seemingly not yet twelve years old.
At such an age, a Child's emotions and feelings were written on his face, pure and direct.
As time passed, minute by minute.
A hint of fear and unease was revealed in Karl's eyes, which further confirmed Rabel's guess.
This Child might have truly experienced something that scared him, and this thing was forced by Chris, which also explained why Karl showed a stress reaction as soon as he saw her.
Rabel's mind raced, and in an instant, she sorted out the entire logic.
She had already grasped the rhythm, so she was no longer in a hurry. Her gaze was as sharp as an eagle's, fixed on Karl: "Tell me the whole process, and perhaps I can help you."
Rabel had to admit that a Child of Karl's age, especially one so beautiful, truly easily aroused a woman's maternal instincts.
She already had some guesses in her mind.
Chris actually liked this kind of Little Boy.
"Sister Chris said that if it wasn't sucked out, my life would be in danger," Karl said, his expression even more aggrieved.
"Ah? Sucked out what? Where were you poisoned?" Rabel's brows furrowed. Had she guessed wrong? "Let me see."
Karl stammered, his fingers fumbling with the hem of his clothes, appearing nervous and uneasy.
Then he slowly unzipped his pants.
? Rabel had originally thought the injury was on his thigh or somewhere similar, until she saw the enormous dragon artifact, her eyes almost popping out.
She stared incredulously at the dragon artifact in front of her. This was simply not something a Child should possess.
She looked up at Karl. His tender cheeks formed a stark contrast with this ferocious dragon artifact.
"Wait, suck?" Rabel's mouth twitched. Was Chris playing such a big game?
"I... I seem to be poisoned," Karl's expression suddenly turned panicked. "Sister Rabel, can you help me? I don't want to die."
Karl's voice was tearful, his large eyes filled with tears, as if they could spill over at any moment.
"Huh?" It took Rabel a while to come back to her senses.
She looked around. This was the study corridor. Servants usually avoided it and wouldn't approach the study.
Inside the study, the Count, the Bishop, and the Saintess were discussing the life and death of San Marino City.
It was absurd to even think that this Child would make such a request.
"Cough, cough." Rabel coughed twice, knowing she had discovered an incredible secret. She quickly said, "It's alright, you won't die anytime soon. When Chris comes out, let her help..."
She was halfway through her sentence when she suddenly saw Karl leaning over, pressing against her armored thigh.
"Hey! Brat!"
Rabel's brows furrowed tightly. She had only guessed that Chris had an illicit relationship with this brat, but it had only stayed on a mental level. She hadn't expected it to be this big.
Now she just wanted to pretend nothing had happened.
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