Chapter 117 – Turning the tables on the snake. (2 of 2 double surprise!)

Chapter 117 – Turning the tables on the snake. (2 of 2 double surprise!)

The next day-

Domentzia invited Primo to dinner at her house at her mother's behest due to Primo's relationship with Gerhart as his cousin. Primo agreed to it and had dinner with the mother and daughter.

At the dinner table, Prisca was elegantly eating at the head of the table, with Primo and Domentzia eating on either side.

"Mother, you seem more cheerful than usual." Domentzia suddenly said.

Prisca usually carried a tepid air of elegance, unmoved by almost anything, even herself. And yet, her mother was- happy. Almost motherly.

"Hmhmhm. Yes. I am. I have good news, Domentzia. You're going to have a younger brother or sister soon." Prisca said with the look of an expecting young mother in love.

"Oh, congratulations." Primo smiled.

Domentzia was stunned by this sudden revelation. She could only utter, "Congratulations."

In her mind, she wondered who the father was. "Is it Ianurius? Did he do it before he died? Or could it be Gerhart? No- He is half her age. But she does have young looks in her middle-aged body." Domentzia started contemplating.

Having no way to confirm things, she continued eating.

"Primo, Domentzia, how do you feel about the Heroic Group?" Prisca asked.

"If nothing happens, I should be able to join." Primo confidently said.

"I am not that lucky. I have a strong competitor called Baldri." Domentzia shook her head.

"The difference between you two is not great. I can put a good word for you. I am sure Saintess Himeko is not so petty to choose based on raw strength." Primo comforted.

"Oh... Thank you. That means a lot to me." Domentzia lowered her head in thanks.

"Haha. Don't mention it. Cheers!" Primo lightly laughed and raised his glass.

"Cheers!" Domentzia gave a rare smile and toasted back.

"Cheers! For a bright future." Prisca said.

The three continued dining, and half an hour later-

Thud*

Primo faceplanted on his plate.

"P-Primo? I don't feel so- Thud*"

Domentzia followed suit.

A minute later, a masked figure entered the room and analyzed them.

Status: Coma(Sleeping Drugs, 12 hours)

"Good. Have these two transported to the Silver Silk Lounge through your underground passage." The masked man ordered.

"You will hold your end of the bargain, right?" Prisca glared at him.

"Of course. You and your daughter's situation would remain secret. You might even obtain a Pure Blooded Sword Saint son-in-law." The masked man promised.

"Fine." Prisca glared as henchmen entered the room, dragging the unconscious bodies to the basement through a secret tunnel Ianuarius built for convenient travel, leading close to the Silver Silk Lounge.

They then dragged Primo and Domentzia through a side passage and into a VIP room before placing them on a bed. He even had Prisca personally do the honors of undressing them.

"He is more well-hung than me. I wish I could have cut it off and stuff it in his ass." The masked man maliciously thought.

"Is this enough, sir?" Nereida, who was beside him, asked with a fake smile.

"Yes, this would do nicely. Oh, and send your daughters over to serve me together with you. I don't like doing a dead fish and need encouragement." The masked man said.

"Of course, sir. And your promise?" Nereida asked.

"I will keep my word." The masked man said.

"Okay. I will call my daughters over." Nereida gave a charming smile before exiting the room.

"Then I shall make my leave," Prisca said and was about to leave.

"Wait. You stay here and undress. You will serve me together." The masked man had a lecherous look.

"... Fine." Prisca's face twitched before forcing a seductive smile and undressing herself.

"It is fine, Sir Primo. We will take this scum to the castle prisons." Max said, personally handling the masked man.

"We will be confiscating these," Italica said, taking the man's clothes and items.

"You have done a great deed today, Sir Primo. The gods smile upon you." The Reverand kindly said and left.

"We shall leave now. Please take your time to recover and get dressed." King Annibalianus said and turned to his daughter. "I leave the rest to you."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Princess Libania bowed.

"I will also leave. I don't wish to embarrass Domentzia." Primo said, having put on his pants. He took the rest of his clothes and sword and hastily left the room, leaving only the women behind.

"I shall also take my leave," Isidorus said, following Primo.

"I will also go with my girls." Nereida and her girls took their leave and closed the door.

Only six women remained in the room. The first to break the silence was Domentzia.

"Mother, what just happened?" Domentzia squinted at her mother.

She could tell her mother likely drugged her and Primo, using them as bait to capture this masked man.

"I apologize, Domentzia, but we needed it to look as natural as possible." Prisca apologetically said as she brought clothes for Domentzia to wear.

"Yeah, we are sorry about this. But we learned that the Echos are very careful and calculating. If we didn't disarm him, he would have escaped!" Himeko apologetically said.

"Hah... I came here for one day, and an Echo got caught. I don't know what to say about this." Scarlet shook her head.

"Yeah. That guy can only blame himself for being a pervert!" Princess Lydia scowled.

"Imagine what would have happened if Baldri joined us!" Princess Libania shuddered.

The other women also shuddered at the thought.

"... Tell me everything from the beginning." Domentzia requested and put on her clothes.

"It is like this..." Prisca began explaining everything to her daughter.

After hearing everything, Domentzia understood the gist of it.

Primo noticed Baldri acted suspiciously, so he secretly had Isidorus, who swore loyalty to his cousin Gerhart, follow him. He found that he switched to a different persona at some point and visited Prisca's mansion and the Silver Silk Lounge. Primo then personally visited them to ask everything, and they admitted they got blackmailed, and Baldri wanted to frame him and do horrible things to Domentzia.

Primo made a prompt decision and contacted Himeko and explained the situation. Deeply disgusted, Himeko immediately contacted the King and the Reverand, who, in turn, contacted Max and Italica, who eagerly agreed to help once they learned it was an Echo. They also readily agreed to pardon Prisca, Nereida, and Isidorus for all sins and crimes. It was a small boon to give for capturing an Echo!

Primo then used himself as bait, allowing himself to be drugged along with Domentzia to lower the Echo's guard. Prisca and Nereida lowered the Echo's guard even more via seduction, disarming him.

The pivotal piece was the tier 6 Magic Shackle, restricting the Echo's power. Without it, it would be many times more difficult to capture him. The one who gave it was Gerhart, giving it to Primo in case he needed it. As it turned out, he did.

"Okay, I understand now," Domentzia said, now fully dressed. "I would have appreciated it if you told me about this prior."

"I'm sorry, my daughter. I knew you would agree if we told you, but you were always bad at acting outside of having a poker face. I was afraid you would reveal something." Prisca apologetically said.

"I know." Domentzia bitterly replied.

Although she was good at being a merchant, she sucked at acting. She adopted a poker face to hide her emotions but still had flaws that an expert could pick on, such as nervousness.

"Anyways, we owe Primo a lot for this," Himeko said.

All the women in the room nodded in agreement. Primo was undoubtedly the star of this show.

"Also, I think we don't need to continue the selection," Scarlet said.

"Yes. Any more would be unnecessary." Princess Lydia nodded.

"I also think so." Princess Libania smiled at Domentzia.

"So, how about it? Will you join my heroic group, Domentzia?" Himeko asked Domentzia, who became stunned.

"Are you sure? I am the daughter of Ianuarius, a scumbag, and an Echo." Domentzia widened her eyes in shock.

"One's parents don't dictate who they are or will be. I believe in you, Domentzia." Himeko sweetly smiled, dimples on her cheeks, and hugged Domentzia.

"Yes, we believe in you." The other girls also hugged her.

"I..." Domentzia shook, her poker face broke and her eyes turned teary, silently returning the hug.

That night, Domentzia felt a bit of her inner scars heal.