Time is a funny thing; when you're not paying attention, it slips away incredibly fast. Furina counted on her fingers but still couldn't figure out exactly how long she had been here on the Douluo Continent. Regardless, her Axis Cult was looking more and more like the real deal—even if the headquarters was still a shabby courtyard that felt cramped despite being expanded twice. The number of people coming to ask for cake... no, wait, seeking the Water God's protection, was overwhelming, nearly flattening the doorstep.
Her own Rank was soaring like a rocket, reaching Rank 30 before she even realized it. Three spirit rings swirled beneath her feet: Purple, Purple, Black! If any Food Element Soul Master saw this configuration, wouldn't their eyes pop out? Anyone who didn't know better would think she ate Spirit Beasts for breakfast.
Her First Soul Skill was still that strawberry cake, a classic basic model, quite effective for treating things like headaches, fevers, or flesh wounds. The Second Soul Skill was blueberry; by chanting the line "Blessing of the Water God, light as a swallow!", it could make a person run like the wind. According to the boast of one believer who ate the cake to chase down a little thief who stole a coin pouch, that speed was so fast they almost took flight.
The third spirit ring was a shiny black, granting a flashy, Colorful Fruit Cake piled high with all sorts of fruits. The incantation was deathly long and incredibly embarrassing to recite: "In the name of the Water God, cleanse the filth and bestow universal grace!"—But the effect of this thing was truly powerful. Eating it could dispel a whole mess of negative statuses like poisoning, weakness, or dizziness. After eating, not only were the ailments gone, but one would feel an immediate mental jolt, their strength would increase, their eyes would brighten, and their whole being would feel like they'd been injected with chicken blood, with all attributes soaring.
She was happily calculating whether this Third Soul Skill could fund another luxury renovation for her shabby courtyard when a "ding" sounded in her head; that wretched System had popped up again.
[New Mission: A Glimmer in the Dark]
[Content: Star Luo Empire, White Tiger Dukes Mansion's sphere of influence. Target: Huo Yuner (Chronic illness/injury, critically ill). Related Character: Her son, Huo Yuhao (Young, key point of fate).]
[Requirement: Provide effective treatment to ensure Huo Yuner's survival.]
[Special Note: This matter must be absolutely secret! The Host and any members of the Axis Cult must not directly or indirectly reveal their identities! No directional traces must be left! Failure will result in a massive deduction of points! Serious consequences!]
When Furina saw the two names "Huo Yuner" and "Huo Yuhao," her heart skipped a beat. She knew them well! Weren't they the bitter, deep-seated protagonist of Douluo 2 and his incredibly tragic mother? In the original plot, it seemed Huo Yuner didn't make it through this period and died! This System mission... was asking her to change the script?
But the following string of "absolutely secret," "must not reveal," and "massive deduction" made her scalp tingle. The White Tiger Dukes Mansion! That was a dragon's den! Her Axis Cult was just a tiny thing; getting close wouldn't even be enough to fill the gaps between their teeth.
She absolutely could not go herself. With her conspicuous white-and-blue hair plus her "outstanding" temperament (as she thought), going there would be no different from announcing her identity. As for the believers under her? Forget it; they were just ordinary folks who, at most, had better health from eating cake. Asking them to conduct a secret operation around the Dukes Mansion? They'd probably just be delivering themselves as a snack.
Her eyes darted around, and her gaze landed on the three "senior employees" nearby.
Mademoiselle Crabaletta's crab claw gave a "clack," flashing with a cold light. Gentilhomme Usher's tentacles curled slightly, as if adjusting a non-existent bow tie in an effort to look solemn. Surintendante Chevalmarin floated a bit higher, the bubbles around her refracting a subtle luster.
Well... these three didn't look like normal people no matter how you sliced it. Theoretically, it shouldn't be easy to trace them back to the source, right? And their combat power seemed... okay? At least running away shouldn't be a problem... right?
"Ahem," Furina put on her Pope's persona, though she looked more like she was negotiating. "Everyone, I have an arduous and glorious mission to entrust to you."
Lowering her voice, she explained the situation: they needed to go to a very powerful and dangerous place, secretly save a very sick woman, absolutely must not be discovered, and slip away immediately once finished.
The three non-human creatures didn't show much reaction. Mademoiselle Crabaletta's claw opened and closed once, as if indicating no problem. Gentilhomme Usher seemed to find the phrase "secret operation" very stylish, as his tentacles straightened a bit. Surintendante Chevalmarin... well, she was just as always, floating.
Furina quickly whipped up a few super-effective Third Soul Skill fruit cakes on the spot. The effect of these cakes was ridiculously strong; hopefully, they could keep her alive.
Just in case, she also whipped up a strawberry cake from her First Soul Skill. She carefully handed the cakes to Mademoiselle Crabaletta (because her claws looked the steadiest).
"Take these, find the woman named Huo Yuner, and find a way to make her eat them. Remember! Do NOT let anyone see you! Come back immediately when you're done!"
The three strangely shaped creatures "looked" at each other (perhaps they had a unique way of communicating), then Mademoiselle Crabaletta cautiously gripped the cakes with her claw. Gentilhomme Usher pulled out a mini top hat from somewhere and wore it loosely, while Surintendante Chevalmarin floated in front to lead the way. The three of them formed a task force with a very peculiar art style, quietly slipping out of the courtyard and disappearing into the crowd.
Furina watched the direction they left, her heart full of unease. Sending a crab, a bubble seahorse, and a suit-wearing octopus to execute a cross-border secret medical rescue mission... why did this plan sound so unreliable?
She could only pray silently, hoping the guards at the White Tiger Dukes Mansion would be feeling relaxed that day, or would just ignore these three as some kind of strange mutated Spirit Beasts.
Whatever, she wouldn't think about it. She still had to distribute (ordinary) cakes to the new believers. Being a Pope was busy work!
A few days later, the three of them strolled back. They looked unchanged, except for some mud on Gentilhomme Usher's tentacles, which he was trying to wipe off with a bit of disdain.
Mademoiselle Crabaletta's claws were empty. The cakes must have been delivered.
[Ding! Mission 'A Glimmer in the Dark' completed. Reward points have been issued.] The System's notification sounded right on time.
Furina let out a long sigh of relief. Done! Although she couldn't imagine at all how those three had snuck into the Dukes Mansion, found Huo Yuner, and fed her the cake. The process was likely full of unspeakable mysteries.
Anyway, as long as the mission was complete. No need to look too closely at the details.
What she didn't know was that on that night, in the most remote and damp servants' quarters of the White Tiger Dukes Mansion, a woman at her last gasp felt something sweet and soft being carefully fed into her mouth while she was unconscious, carrying a rich fragrance of fruit.
After eating it, a gentle yet powerful warm current rapidly spread to her limbs and bones. The pain and weakness that had tortured her for years miraculously receded significantly, dragging her back from the brink of death.
On the floor by her bed, a small patch of dampness was left behind. A faint, sweet scent of cream lingered in the air, and outside the window in the corner of the wall, there seemed to be the shadow of a blue-glinting crab claw quickly retracting.
Beside the bed, a few more pieces of cake had appeared...