Iris had learnt her reason. She curbed her desires for perfection and chose only above-average outfits. She donned pastel-coloured clothes with a short-sleeved jacket over them. Her pink skirt reached her thighs, revealing only the slightest skin. Her milky white stocking covered her legs. She complimented them with leather high heels, not too bright, not too shabby.

Why am I dressing up again? Iris bitterly smiled. I used to disregard these things. Now, I want Lenmia and the rest to praise me, to look at me with their eyes gleaming in delight.

Iris picked up the pink herbal lipstick and carefully painted her lips, staring at herself from the mirror. She also touched up her eyelashes, puffed up her cheeks, and admired herself. Her eyes glued to her transformed appearance, stunned, seduced.

Contrasted to her previous life, in which she radiated a cold, weary air, Iris of now smiled with otherworldly beauty, amplified by the Corruption Power, aroused by the Monster Girl’s scent. She tilted her head. Her reflection followed.

That girl inside the mirror was her, not an illusion.

Yesterday, I went so overboard that I didn't recognise myself. This time, I can see a hint of the old me through these makeups and dresses. Iris touched the mirror, her fingers brushing her reflection. I am still me. Though a few parts of me have changed, and such change is inevitable, I will continue to exist as me.

"Iris, are you ready?" Ludmint's voice echoed from another room.

"I'm coming." Iris drew back her hands and smiled at herself. Her reflection smiled back.

She got up, erased the trance on her face, and walked to the door. Standing in front of it, she took a deep breath and grabbed the door handle. She pushed open the door, revealing Ludmint, who cloaked herself under a thin wet towel. The translucent fabric exposed hints of her skin.

"How am I?" Ludmint said. "Not too bad for someone who stays in the lab all day, right?"

Iris nodded while biting her tongue, keeping her expression straight. Fortunately, the experience she had with her sisters, all those long, exhilarating nights, numbed a part of her morals. Her threshold was higher than before.

"Why did you call me when you aren’t ready?"

"Are you shy?" Ludmint chuckled. "I want you to help me with my clothes. I saw you yesterday; you have better eyes than me."

So you indeed kept tabs of me. Iris smiled. "But I thought you were inside your lab the entire day?"

"I managed to glimpse at you when you left."

"Then, Miss Ludmint, please forgive me if I mess up your style. I don't have much experience in this matter, especially when I need to dress up others; this is my first."

"No need to worry; this is my first too."

Left with no choice, Iris helped Ludmint dress up. Ludmint was taller, slimmer, and more handsome than Iris. She had the air unlike the pureness of Iris; it was like the old Iris, the aura of stability, concealing within it the undercurrent of madness.

Iris gave Ludmint sets of clothes which captured the essence of her character. She had an ice-cold demeanour, her sharp eyes radiating wise air that came with her profound knowledge. The blue cap complimented her pale, almost sickly skin colour, while the neat tuxedo revealed her silhouette in a way that invoked admiration, not lust.

"Miss Ludmint, why do you have clothes of my size?" Iris said. "I know that you can change your appearance, but these clothes don’t feel suited for your character, the colour schemes and all."

"I bought them because I want to have a younger sister." Ludmint wryly smiled. "Unfortunately, I only have a younger brother. Well, I only had one. I'm now a Monster Girl; I can't have a younger brother anymore. The Corruption Power is incompatible with men."

"My apology."

"There's no need to. I'm fine now." Ludmint chuckled. Her eyes gleamed with the brightness of the stars. "But if you want to compensate me, help me with a few experiments. I promise it won't be inhumane."

"I'll reserve my promise until I know the details. I have a feeling that I might get cheated."

"I will never cheat you. I only add bonuses. You'll love it."

After a few moments of chattering, Ludmint stood up and spun gently. The large mirror in front of her revealed the reflection of a dignified lady neatly dressed in a suit. Her sleek black accessories magnified her excellent aura, invoking sharpness dormant inside her style.

"You look handsome, Miss Ludmint," Iris said. "No one will be able to resist your charm."

"Is that so?" Ludmint turned to Iris and seized her hands, laughing. "Then, Iris, may I have your hands?"

Iris paused, then grinned. She had already expected this outcome. The teases done on her didn't go to waste. "It will be my honour, Milady."

"Oh, I didn’t expect this. You’re a cunning lady. "

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"Please allow me to take advantage of you, once." Iris faintly blushed. Though she had imagined it in advance, speaking the words out loud was still too much.

Ludmint noticed her flushes and smirked. She pulled Iris close and guided her out of the house. Outside, Ludmint transformed into another person, calm, collected, gracious, unlike the excitable scientist she was inside her lab.

"Where are we going today?" Iris said. This was already the second time she had gone out. The attention didn't bother her as much as before. Most of the eyes were also on Ludmint.

"I'll tour you around first. We can visit a few renounced stores: restaurants, jewellery stores, clothing stores, anywhere you desire."

Iris nodded. Ludmint will bring me to the hideout sooner or later. I'll just need to trust her. For now, let's relax and go with the flow. I need to let loose too.

The presence of two extraordinary beauties attracted many gazes and greetings, but Ludmint, perfectly assuming her role, played up her cold personality and evaded multiple playboys. Though she was ruthless, it only served to amplify her air, drawing even more attention.

In contrast, Iris made herself shy, petite. She attracted the gazes which sought to protect her. Though she was not short, the act of standing beside the taller Ludmint instilled an impression of minuscule into her.

No matter what she told herself, she could not deny with all her heart the fact that she enjoyed the praises and attention.

If Lenmia and others see me like this, will they be able to resist themselves? Iris covered her reddened face with her hat. I want them to fail. I want them to ravish me, defile me, make me theirs, take—

Ludmint stopped. Iris almost walked onto her. Iris quickly collected her thoughts and raised her head. She and Ludmint stood before an intersection. A few carriages, pulled by horses, gradually crossed over, stopping the traffic.

"Do you want to get on a carriage?" Ludmint said. "I know a place with good prices and routes. We'll walk a little further. They're just a few corners away."

Iris nodded. Her eyes fixed on the expensive black carriage in the middle of the group. Its material proved superior to the rest of the carriages, on which multiple guards and maidservants boarded. It was not an ordinary carriage train but an official carriage for an important person.

It is not every day one gets to see an official carriage. I wonder who's inside that carriage, and why are they here? Iris glanced at Ludmint, who lightly smiled. Ludmint’s eyes locked onto the carriage as if she could peer through the magical curtains and concealment formations.

After the carriages passed the intersection, the traffic resumed. Iris and Ludmint strolled into another street, where expensive stores started to appear. The number of pedestrians lessened, but their quality of life drastically improved. They were in the wealthy district now.

Because of Ludmint's encouragement, Iris toured almost every shop. She restrained herself at first, but the fun she had was simply too addicting. Coupled with Ludmint's recommendation and deep pocket, Iris practically tried everything she could.

After a few hours of fun, Iris and Ludmint seated themselves in front of an outdoor cafe. On the table were desserts and drinks, as well as Iris and Ludmint's bags of purchases.

"You really like shopping," Ludmint said. "Don’t you have the opportunity to do so in the past?"

"My life has always been hectic. Only after I come here can I relax a little. Even if it's just a little, I'm grateful."

"Won’t it be great if you can do this and many other fun activities, all day, every day?"

"Is that your dream?" Iris narrowed her eyes.

"Many others’ too." Ludmint's voice was somewhat hoarse, solemn. "What do you think about it? Pipe dream? Improbable? Or are you optimistic about it?"

"I know my capability. The current me is too insignificant to move anything of such scale. However, if the dream echoes the sentiment of the mass, it will happen; I do not doubt that."

Ludmint nodded. "We also think so, which is why—"

A strange hymn murmured throughout the street. Depressive air descended and engulfed the neighbourhood. This gloomy atmosphere originated from a sickly man wrapped under a thick layer of stained bandages. He stood in the middle of the road, his head hung down, his mouth moving, whispering something inaudible.

It was unclear how and when he appeared there, but his detestable aura was unmistakable. When his murmurs grew louder and more erratic, the ordinary visitors finally noticed them. They treated him as a madman and avoided him, but he paid them no attention.

With all his heart, he chanted, his voice growing bleaker and bleaker, hoarser and hoarser.

"Seven stars atop the sky, once thought eternal, dimmed and waned under the horizon. Seven stars atop the sky, once thought unreachable, collapsed and fell on the ground?"

Iris frowned. She shifted her position, clenching her fists. The madman exuded a peculiar aura which Iris had never encountered before. His power was comparable to her, at the Transformation Phase, though he didn't seem to attain such power through continuous effort.

The madman raised his head and swept his gaze across the street. The ordinary pedestrians froze in their place as their muscles convoluted. Their faces twisted in pain. An invisible swarm of hands seized them and ripped them apart. Their ripped flesh and organs fell on the ground, their screams echoing endlessly.

Those close to the madman fractured like glasses, their blood rupturing into a tempest. A metallic stench swamped the atmosphere, accompanied by panic and terror.

Even when Iris was in the Legacy Ground, she had not met such a gruesome scene. The battles between her and her enemies were decisive, not sadistically torturous. Now, in front of her, human lives faded away like candles amidst a thunderstorm.

As once a human, Iris trembled in anger. She was not a paragon of virtues, but she still had her principle. She had killed, but she had not prolonged their suffering through pure spite.

What should I do? If I fight him, I'll expose myself and Ludmint. But if I let him do as he please, more lives will be lost. Iris looked at Ludmint, who, staring at the scene, shook her head.

"An imperial carriage has recently passed through this street, and now you want to cause trouble?" Ludmint said. "Iris, look carefully. This will happen if you dare to create chaos amidst Donhalgen."

Ludmint pointed at the madman. Iris followed Ludmint's direction. Sensing two extraordinary gazes, the madman turned to Iris and Ludmint. His blurry eyes grew dark. A hint of rationale flashed inside his decaying pupils. He laughed and sprinted towards Iris.

"Beauty is a sin!" As he ran, his bandages fell off, revealing countless worms infesting his skin. "Flesh body is a vessel. Virtue is a shackle. Only when you tear it apart will you—"

Countless symbols emerged from beneath the streets and shone. Brilliant lights submerged the invisible hands and the stained bandages and the madman. A majestic pressure descended, crushed all opposition, and shattered the evil aura that occupied the street.

The madman became nothing. The bloody aftermaths, the ruined streets, the broken stores, and the dead, all reverted to their original states, their memories wiped, their thoughts deceived. Such was the power that be.

Stunned, Iris intensely observed the symbols sinking into the ground. They came and went without any sound, yet their ominous presence hung in her heart. She could not resist such might, and it could strike her at any moment.

"Sister Ludmint, what was that?" Iris said.

"Finally, Sister Ludmint instead of Miss Ludmint." Ludmint grinned. "Didn't I tell you I'm quite a famous scientist? That's the project we've been managing: Evil Punisher Grand Formation."