Chapter 136: Chapter 98: She’s Just Here to Ruin My Dao Heart

They all looked like they were in terrible pain, constantly screaming and wailing. Their voices were exceptionally grating.

And so, from that time on, she resolved to walk the path of the Dawn faith, hoping to become a Holy Professional so she could protect people from disaster, plague, and corruption...

Those scenes, like a series of clear pictures, flashed through her mind, forming a book of memories she could flip through at any moment.

Kali snapped out of her daze, seeming to realize she had zoned out, and said sweetly, "Maybe I just want to punish all evil."

"Punish?"

Wei’en looked at the brightly smiling Kali in surprise, as if he were meeting her for the first time. ’Based on what I know about Kali,’ he thought, ’shouldn’t her answer be—to heal?’

"Exactly. That way, so many people won’t have to suffer or feel sorrow and despair... Yes, that’s what I’ve wished for since I was a child."

"Is that so... huh?"

Before he could finish, Wei’en saw that detestable figure—Melbel—appear at the intersection of Golden Street.

’He’s like a ghost that won’t leave. And now I have to see him again!’

Thoughts aside, Wei’en watched the figure warily, ready to use his Blink Spell to escape at a moment’s notice.

"Melbel," Kali spotted him too. "What are you doing here? I’m warning you, you are not to harm Wei’en. Understood?"

"As you command, Your Eminence."

From start to finish, Melbel’s eyes never left Kali. He acted as if Wei’en, standing right beside her, didn’t even exist.

"Still, your timing is perfect. We bought lots of delicious food, you should come too?" Kali looked at him expectantly.

"No, thank you. I was just passing by..."

"Oh, come on, don’t be a stranger." Kali grabbed his arm, pulling him toward Golden Street.

Wei’en: "..."

’Well, so much for my plan to scrounge a free dinner tonight...’

...

...

「At that same moment」

In a hidden, dimly lit room, more than a dozen figures sat around a long table.

Each wore an ornate crown or headdress. Their robes, denoting their noble status, were embroidered with family crests and adorned with jewels and gold.

At the head of the long table sat a handsome young man. He had broad shoulders, and his long, thick black hair was worn loose, accentuating his noble bearing.

Everyone leaned back calmly in their black, high-backed chairs, some with their arms crossed, others unconsciously toying with objects in their hands, all occasionally glancing toward the door.

CLACK, CLACK CLACK...

"He’s here."

Sayam pushed the door open and entered. After his gaze swept over the others, he walked without a word to a seat at the far end of the long table.

The young man’s face broke into a smile as he raised his wine glass. "Gentlemen, praise the glory!"

"To the great glory!" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Everyone raised their glasses together, as if celebrating a victory.

But the moment they lowered their glasses, a middle-aged man with effeminate features looked toward the end of the table. "You shouldn’t have made a move against him, Old Ceres."

"He knew too much." Sayam remained unmoved, lowering his head to toy with the ring on his finger.

"He was just a common Investigator. There were many ways to force him to drop the case. But your move nearly threw everything off course. That lady from the Montoya Clan won’t care about the rest."

"Golden, don’t be so harsh,"

Another, deeply magnetic voice spoke up. "Fortunately, our objective was achieved. Thanks to Tosiyam, we successfully drew the Black Pearl’s attention to the West Coast. Now..."

"But I lost three of my sons!"

"Didn’t you have one left? Your third young master... I believe his name is Bean, is it not?"

"I’m telling you, my losses were heavy this time. You all need to compensate the Ceres Clan!" Sayam looked up, his gaze sweeping across the room before finally settling on the young man at the head of the long table.

"What do you say, Mr. Lan’er Ernst?"

"As for myself, I certainly agree to your request, and I trust no one else here will object." Lan’er smiled gently, his bearing impeccably graceful. "If you have any other requests, you may raise them as well."

"I want an extra five percent!"

"Impossible! Sayam, this plan was..."

"Enough, Golden. Old Ceres’s request isn’t unreasonable... Hmm. I agree. The rest of you?"

"Agreed."

"Seconded."

"..."

At this, Sayam finally managed to force a smile. "My thanks to you all."

"Then it is settled. Everyone, return to your own preparations."

The dozen or so figures present, all except Golden, calmly rose and departed.

Once all was quiet, only Lan’er remained seated at the head of the table, swirling the red wine in his glass. "I must thank you for your intervention. It’s because of you that the plan proceeded without any accidents."

"Oh? And how do you plan to thank me?"

A figure stepped out of the void. It was none other than the Favored One of the Lord of Desire—Mitra!

...

...

In the end, Wei’en did get to taste Kali’s cooking: Salt-baked Snow Mushrooms with Cheese, and a Green Jade Rice Bowl.

It tasted surprisingly good. ’As expected,’ he thought, ’the only drawback to expensive ingredients is that they’re expensive!’

’A single meal cost nearly two gold pounds. What kind of family can afford that?’

Wei’en grumbled to himself for a moment, then patted his stuffed stomach and got up. "I’m so full. I’m heading back now."

Just like Melbel, he ignored the other’s presence, not even glancing in his direction.

"Okay. Thanks for helping with the vegetables today. I’ll treat you again next time."

"I’ll be leaving as well."

"Huh? You’re both leaving already?"

Kali watched them leave. After a moment’s thought, she decided not to follow. Melbel had already promised her he wouldn’t make a move on Wei’en, and she believed him.