Gantil slashed her cutlass. The last Master Assassin raised her arm and blocked it. The blade tore apart her sleeve, revealing a black vambrace. As the momentum carried her, she exerted her legs to the limit, jumping back to a nearby window. Her hands tensed and flicked, shooting out a pair of poisonous needles.

The Master Assassin didn't hesitate to abandon her partner, who was delaying the Monster Girls from catching up. Because of the narrow space and the looming threat of the Evil Punisher Grand Formation, the five Monster Girls could not unleash their full power.

The Master Assassin spun around and braced herself. Once she crashed through the window, she would have much more room to manoeuvre. In such an open space, her chance of survival would increase tremendously.

As she was about to reach her salvation, a pitch-black light beamed and landed on her. Her thought stagnated, her mind muddled. The air grew thick, with invisible hands clutching her limbs. Her strength, powerful enough to crack brick walls, turned fleeting.

During that instant, Secain materialised beside the Master Assassin and stabbed the Master Assassin's thighs. Her dagger cut through the black uniform and the soft flesh, severing muscles and tendons.

Blood spewed out as pain surged throughout the Master Assassin's body. She collapsed on the ground and groaned. Her hands rapidly reached for the hidden pockets on her sides, but Secain stomped her right hand and threw a dagger at her left.

Knowing there was no escape, the Master Assassin bit her teeth, aiming for the fast-acting poison capsule. A ray of black light flashed again. Everything turned heavy; the Master Assassin's thought slowed, her movement rigid. As she watched a figure donned in black and white clothes walk to her, despair filled her muddled eyes.

Iris gently knelt, took off her gloves, and grabbed the Master Assassin's jaw. She reached into the Master Assassin's mouth, searching for any hidden items. Once done, she drew her right hand to the side. Secain, holding a handkerchief, carefully wiped the saliva and blood sticking to Iris's hand, then wore the white gloves for her.

"I didn't think you would be this fierce," Iris said.

"If I weren't fierce now, I would regret it later. It's better to be ruthless before you lose what you treasure."

"Am I what you treasure?"

Secain smiled and touched her chest. "Your worth is inside here, guarded by my heart. They will have to crush it before they can touch you."

"I now feel much safer. Thank you for everything." Iris patted Secain, who lowered her head, indulging in the emotion she never thought she had. "You protect me, and I help you. We'll support each other. We'll be both happy."

Secain didn't say anything, but she inched closer to Iris. Her powerful temperance melted, replaced by meek expectation, which subtly requested a reward after hard work.

Iris chuckled and pulled Secain to her chest. While caressing Secain's cheek, she turned around. The other Monster Girls had already subdued the subordinate assassin. Gantil had her right foot on top of the Master Assassin's neck, preparing to stop whatever the Master Assassin would do.

Sensing Iris's gaze, Lorient walked to Iris. She lowered her head and knelt, tensing. Her hands pressed against the hardwood floor, her fingers gripping her palms until they bled. The splinters and shards pricked her skin, but she felt no physical pain.

"I've failed you, Lady Iris," Lorient said. "I've secretly looked down on you and neglected my duty. I didn't thoroughly check the surrounding, resulting in this perilous assassination attempt. Please punish me. It won't ever happen again!"

Lorient bent down until her head touched the floor. Fear and panic mixed in her heart and wreaked havoc on her body. A rush of chill and heat fought in her body, churning her stomach. She feared the consequence of losing the grace of the Court and disappointing the senior members who had taken care of her.

"Get up; we Monster Girls only knee to our lovers and mentors." Iris waved her hand. "How can I punish you when you readily admitted your mistake with sincerity? Am I that petty?"

"Of course not, Lady Iris!" Lorient sprung up, still tensing. "Even though you didn't want to punish me. Please do it. It'll serve as a reminder for the future."

"Then, you will serve me diligently for a month, in addition to the tasks delegated by the Court."

"By your command." Lorient suppressed her cracked voice. Excitement overflowed in her eyes. "Thank you for such a precious opportunity!"

Iris nodded. "Your first task is to clean up this mess. Be quick. We must leave soon."

As Lorient eagerly went back to other Monster Girls, Iris turned to Gantil. She reached out and clasped her right hand. Her Virtual Space Ring glowed; a colourful vial and a Seed of Corruption manifested in her grasp. She held it in front of Gantil, smiling.

"Would you like to do it yourself, or let me do it for you?" Iris said.

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"Please feed her for me." Gantil shielded her heart, grabbed the Seed of Corruption, and swallowed it.

A burst of heat engulfed her. Her chest felt suffocated, her arms tingling, her heart throbbing. A torrent of strange, tempting thoughts plagued her mind, whispering words she found hard to resist. The tone of the invisible voice melted her brain, turning it into a blob of desires. She bit her lips, trembling. Everyone in the room seemed so inviting to her; she could barely contain her urge.

Looking at the shivering Gantil, Iris found it cute. A desire to touch Gantil and push her over the edge of reason manifested, but Iris suppressed it well. She grabbed the vial and walked to the side room. There was a corpse of an assassin, but Iris paid it no attention.

"You're lucky to have such a wonderful mother." Iris opened the vial and helped Mantil drink it.

The colourful, everchanging liquid gradually slipped inside Mantil's mouth and went down her throat. Iris did it slowly while monitoring Mantil's condition; she, too, wanted to know how miraculous this vial was.

After a few seconds, Mantil's pale face twitched. She shifted her posture as if she were having a nightmare. Her blue hair quivered, glimmering in faint, magical light. Like a fairy, her pale body glowed, regaining its lively lustre in seconds.

Iris took back the vial, placed her hands on Mantil's chest, and closed her eyes. She silently observed the pulsation of the heart and the rate at which the medicine was absorbed. It was much faster than what ordinary mortal could do, even when counting the effect of the miracle medicine.

She has a talent for magic? How envious. Maybe this is why the Two-Fold Wind Order wants to poison her. They can control the antidote and slowly brainwash her into their loyal member. Iris sighed and petted Mantil, who snapped open her sparkling blue eyes and stared at Iris, confused.

"Miss, are you a doctor?" Mantil said, her voice tired. "Did you save me?"

Iris shook her head. "I'm not a doctor. I didn't save you; your mother did."

"Mother?" Mantil grabbed the edge of the bed and pushed herself up, but the weariness overwhelmed her. She fell back on her pillow. "Where is Mother? I want to see Mother."

"Sleep for now. She will come soon." Iris smiled and pressed her fingertips on Mantil's forehead. "You need more rest. Look, you're already a lady; how can you act like a child?"

Iris channelled her Corruption Power. It merged at her fingertip, morphed into a spell, and entered Mantil’s forehead. Drowsiness permeated her mind. Her eyelids drooped, and she collapsed back into the dreamland. Though she had a talent for magic, she could not do resist a spell of a Transformation Phase Monster Girl.

After confirming that there was nothing wrong with Mantil, Iris went back to Gantil, who found a chair and sat on it. She gripped the armrests and stared at the ground, panting. Her face was red, cute, and sensual.

"Do you need help?" Iris sat on a chair Secain prepared for her. "The effect of the seed is unusually intense because you've just exhausted yourself."

"I can handle it." Gantil glanced at her daughter. "Will there be any follow-up? Is there any side effect? How do I contact you again?"

"She will recover in a few days. You don't have to do anything except feed her healthy food. You can also buy beauty supplements from us; she has a lady look. It would be a waste not to elevate it." Iris reached inside her suit and took out a letter. "If you want to repay me, write to me occasionally. This is my address."

Gantil sluggishly took the letter. "I'll remember your help, Lady Iris. If you ever come to Yilon Archipelago, write to me; I'll help you whenever I can."

"Lady Iris." Lorient came to Iris. "We've already cleaned up the place. If anyone sees the scene, they will think of it as an accident and nothing more."

Iris lightly knocked her black cane on the floor and stood up. The guest room was still messy, but the traces of blood and corpses and fighting had disappeared, buried in the skilful artificial covers. Without magic, no one would know the truth.

"Then, it's time to leave." Iris pulled out a Card of Destiny and tossed it up. The card shone in soft golden light before burning to ashes. Its function was to disrupt divination magic. "Have a pleasant future, Lady Gantil."

Secain took a step forwards and vanished. Iris tapped her bonnet and strolled out of the building. She brought with her the poison-coated daggers and the two artefacts, while the rest of the Monster Girls took the fainted captive and everything else. They planned to interrogate the captive at their base, where they could assist the process with magic.

Lorient wanted to follow Iris, but Iris told her to stay with the group.

The door of the carriage opened, and Iris entered. She rested on the soft cushion as she exhaled, took off her gloves and mask, then placed down her bonnet and cane. The carriage door closed by itself. Its curtain swiftly concealed her figure from the outside. Secain was there somewhere, faithfully hiding, guarding.

"Secain, you've done well." Iris held a dagger in her hand. "This is the most intact dagger we've acquired. I reckon that the poison on it is extraordinary. You can have it."

After a second, Secain, in her modest maid dress, materialised in front of Iris, sitting on the opposite seat. She grasped Iris's hand, caressing it, and grabbed the dagger as if it were a family heirloom. She held it close to her face.

"Thank you for your reward," she said. "Please give me more reward in the future as well."

"So long as you stay with me, I'll shower you with much more."

"Then I'll always stay with you. Even if this body isn't there, this mind will always think of you." Secain lowered her head, her cheeks pink. "Do I still need to hide? Can I sit with you like this?"

"You can think of it as a reward."

Secain nodded. She sank in her seat and fell silent. Her eyes focused on the new dagger she got, occasionally glimpsing Iris, who took out a Card of Destiny and flipped it.

Using three Cards of Destiny in short succession was taxing, but Iris wanted to confirm that there was no more problem. She didn't want to place her trust in luck anymore.

Luck is never as it seems. I can't be too careful.

Her Corruption Power surged into the card; a hazy, fleeting vision played in her mind. She was sitting with Secain, chatting happily. Her carriage moved into a lively street, where visitors walked to and fro. They sometimes marvelled at the carriage's elegant design before moving on with their lives.

As Secain asked Iris to pet her again, the carriage came to a halt. The driver, frowning, opened the tiny window and informed Iris that there was a carriage accident ahead. They had to change their course.

Iris thought for a moment, signalled Secain to hide, and told the driver to change the course. The carriage shifted its path and went through another street, passing multiple stores and buildings. All the time, Iris held the black cane and the two artefacts, the darkness-type ring and the holy-type box, in her hands.

Her body and soul tensed, preparing for all types of assault, but nothing happened. The carriage safely arrived at a hideout of the Court.

The vision cleanly ended.

Iris frowned and looked at the Card of Destiny. On the front, a pink heart manifested. Carved on it was a cute line of red ink written with passion and love.

"My Dear Iris, they've deceived you!"