Drown Justice was an organisation created by the native of the Yilon Archipelago. Their objective was to free themselves from the clutch of the Garcient Kingdom the Churches. Despite their savage and monstrous nature, they possessed exotic power, whose origin was the Vanishing Whale, a false god. A dangerous, radical group.

Iris closed the book on the geography and culture of the Yilon Archipelago. She’d spent two hours reading a few books on various topics, ranging from the mundane lives of the ancient past to the military exploits of the recent time.

Unlike the first two floors of the Prime Archive, the third floor could only be accessed by the powerful and wise. Here, magic became common knowledge, secrets ubiquitous.

Iris finished her glass of champagne and reached for the bottle. She smoothly picked it up, feeling its weightless state, and found out that she had already emptied the bottle. Time passed, but she was too engrossed to notice it.

Standing up, she stretched and arranged the books neatly on the table beside her. Her Virtual Space Ring glowed, collecting the notes she wrote while reading. Once she finished fixing her wrinkled clothes, she pulled the bell pull and asked the maids to put back the books.

“Would you like to take anything home?” a maid said. “Not just the books, but our food is also free of charge. And if you desire us, we are honoured.”

Iris looked at the maid, who lowered her head. “Prime Archive is a place of knowledge. Distraction will prove detrimental. However, I’ll let my desire be known when the time comes.”

“We’ll be waiting, Lady Iris.” The maids bowed before taking the books and the champagne tray away. Some stayed behind to clean the lounge.

As Iris reached the gate to the second floor, a series of light footsteps echoed behind her. With a bright, grateful smile on her face, Zici stopped in front of Iris and curtseyed.

“Lady Iris, please pardon my interruption.” She took out a neat, sleek purple card with Iris’s profile and name engraved on it. The gemstones decorating it glimmered with magic, but they weighted little like feathers, not cumbersome to carry around. “I’ve told the management team to make a deluxe card for you. Please accept it.”

Iris took the card, chuckling. “I like the sender.”

“Thank you for your compliment.” Zici faintly smiled. “Please contact me whenever you come to Prime Archive. I’ll provide you with our best.”

“Are you not a supervisor on the second floor? I doubt you can serve me with your new schedule.”

“My main task is your comfort, Lady Iris!”

“Then, allow me to take advantage of your gratitude.” Iris waved at Zici and then descended the stair.

The bustling atmosphere of the nobles and commoners returned to her, but they failed to evoke her feelings. Without Zici and Jania, the Prime Archive lost its lustre. When she came out of Prime Archive, the sun had touched the horizon, its bright red glares painting the sky.

The day was ending, but her schedule was not. She boarded a carriage to Yellow Dandelion Orphanage. She had to maintain her current disguise, and she also had something to do there; it wasn’t the best way, but she had to get stronger fast.

If she didn’t want to rely on others, she had to sacrifice something.

After chatting with the orphans, she descended to the hideout of The Court, heading toward the private lounge, where Parmin often resided.

Parmin was lying on the couch, playing with a few intertwined red strings. Her fingers gently shifted, creating a shape of the heart with the threads. Her eyes pivoted to Iris, flashing with glee, as she pulled herself up.

“I never thought you would invade my domain,” she said. “Your personality forbids intimacy, but your reservation tempts others. You’re tricky to deal with.”

Iris faked coughing and stepped forward, but she stopped before she could close in on Parmin. There was a sticky white thread in front of her face, flickering as light reflected on it. Her eyes narrowed, and multitudes of strings revealed themselves, surrounding her.

“Don’t hastily move,” Parmin said, smirking. “You’ve made a mistake entering my territory; there is no escape for my prey.”

“I’m . . . not going to escape.” Iris held her breath, trying to stop herself from blushing. “I can give you . . . my body and pleasure, but I need a favour. It’ll be a transaction.”

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“Interesting.” Parmin raised her hands and curled her fingers. The threads retreated from Iris. “What kind of favour? I’ll attend to it with care and tenderness.”

“The progression of my power is . . . unusual. My ability to mimic the power of others is extraordinary, but I need . . . intimacy, to know you mentally, emotionally, and physically.”

“I can teach you all of them, but will you teach me yours?”

“I’m ready to pay for it.” Iris shifted her posture, tensing. “After all, I’m . . . not against your touches.”

As Parmin came near, Iris closed her eyes. She pursed her lips and clenched her trembling hands. The anticipation was killing her, but the thrilling kiss didn’t grace her. Before she could open her eyes, Parmin grasped her chin and caressed her cheeks. The sharp, delicate fingernails tickled her.

“I’m not prepared to face Ludmint’s wrath.” Parmin giggled. “Instead, help me with a task. Consider it another test for your senior membership.”

Iris shuddered. “I . . . can I refuse?”

Parmin tilted her head. Her eyes sparkled. “It seems your first mission terrified you. To tell the truth, everything after the meeting wasn’t a part of the test. We never allow our senior members to come near any danger. And for this mission, we’ve prepared more teams to protect you.”

“More Monster Girls will only result in more casualties. When the enemy has the privilege of the Grand Formation, we cannot do anything unless one of you comes with us.”

“Your concern is valid. Unfortunately, you lack the essential information.” Parmin pointed at the stacks of papers on the nearby table. Thin threads sprung from her fingertips and pulled the documents to her. “Your mission is to go to the Crystal Theatre, an auction house controlled by Faceless Hall, a Secret Organisation specialising in trading and information brokerage. They have ties with multiple Secret Organisations, Evil Cults, and even the forces of justice.”

“How can we be sure of their code of conduct?”

“They have a secret of the Grand Formation, the ability to obstruct its surveillance. The Churches and the imperial family will never side with them, and the other Secret Organisations will not go against them.”

“What do I need to do?” Iris gradually slipped out of the webs of pale threads and went to a seat. “I don’t think I can get the secret of the Grand Formation out of them.”

“We need you to make another transaction, but this time, you’ll meet up with a representative of Suppression Sect.” Parmin licked her lips. “A Secret Organisation of Beastkins whose bloodlines descend from Mythical Creatures.”

“Will there be a problem if I have an inheritance of a Mythical Creature?” Iris raised her right hand. Her human skin morphed into a blue membrane before shifting its hue to purple. A neon tentacle emerged from the back of her hand, wiggling happily. “The bloodline of the Mind Breakers.”

Parmin stepped forward. Her figure blurred and arrived before Iris, holding Iris’s murky hand. “You have many secrets, Iris. It’s hard to contain the fire inside my chest.”

“Please don’t derail the conversation, Lady Parmin.” Iris clenched her fist. The tentacle vanished, and her hand returned to its human appearance. “How will they react when they know about this?”

“They do not care whether you are of Pure Races or Corrupted Races. If you wish, they will accept you for your bloodline. However, you won’t leave us, right?”

“The Court is my third home.”

“And you are my third love.” Parmin leaned forward and kissed Iris’s cheek. “I’m taking my advance payment. Please don’t fall for me, or Ludmint will be furious.”

“She can be jealous, and I still couldn’t care less!” Iris averted her eyes. Her face reddened. Despite her words, she felt sorry for Ludmint.

After recollecting herself, she stared at Parmin, who was still standing in front of Iris, observing, grinning. “Is there something else I need to know?”

Parmin frowned. “Have you gone to Prime Archive?”

“What’s of it?”

Parmin opened her mouth and then closed it, repeating her motions a few times before her thoughts clicked. “Due to the recent unrest, we’ve shifted the senior meeting forward. As our youngest, you should prepare yourself, for there will be more senior members attending than those you know.”

“Can you give me some advice? Am I missing something?”

“You’re quick to notice difficult matters but slow when it comes to emotional ones.” Parmin stepped back. “Nevermind. I don’t want to ruin the fun. Go back to prepare yourself. I’ll send the detail later.”

“Can I request a few specific people to come with me?”

“Anyone but Ludmint; she’s promised to do more work if we gave her a special artefact. We can’t let her have fun with you.”

Iris paused, her gaze shifting to her engagement. An urge to kiss it manifested, but she suppressed herself. Ludmint, you’re such a fool. I didn’t want this ring, so why did you sell yourself for it?

“I didn’t want her; I want Secain and Lorient to come with me. Those two are under my commands, are they not?”

Parmin nodded. “Take good care of them. We The Court can only lend our resource so much without raising suspicion, but you, a kind-hearted scholar, can help them.”

“If I could help them, why not The Court?”

“There are . . . eyes and ears around us. If we move too much, we might come under the spotlight. The Court Founder laid this policy herself. Even I do not know the reason.”

“Then, let’s hope I never get on the stage.” Iris stood up. “Please excuse me, Lady Parmin. There is something I must do. I shall return home now.”

“Your engagement ring is a pretty one, Iris. Don’t be upset with her. She’s stubborn like that.”

“I know. That’s why I’m upset.”

Iris left Yellow Dandelion Orphanage and rode a carriage back home.

Inside, she took out her engagement ring, playing with it between her fingers. The diamond at its head glimmered as soft sunlight penetrated through the curtain and illuminated the dim interior. Ludmint had spent much for it. Iris would keep it safe and near. It would accompany her until she no longer was.

Soon, the carriage came to a halt. Its door creaked open, revealing the beautiful, quiet street. Iris alighted the carriage, frowning. She did not return to her street but to another familiar place.

She stood before the Cathedral of Deliverance.