Chapter 178: Go to Eldoria, Kryssia Winterhart

"What the hell was that?" Strax thought after leaving the meeting room. What on earth was that woman thinking? What a crazy situation!

He wasn't angry, far from it—at least he knew she was favorable to him. But what drove him to utter confusion was... What led to this?

He hadn't done anything with her for her to give herself to him so... easily? 'I mean, let's be morally considerate here. I didn't do anything. I just... was myself?

Ah! What a mess!' He stomped his foot while walking, trying to shake off the negative feelings, but...

It was impossible!

'I'm not a difficult man to deal with, but what drives a woman to give her first kiss to a man she met, what, five days ago?'

He couldn't believe what was happening, and it wasn't just any woman... It was an elf! A damn elf!

"Elves are known for their longevity and superior intellect. So why the hell would an elf do something like this, just out of the blue?" Strax really wasn't understanding the situation Evelyn had put him in. It was as if...

"She's not that desperate... Although she's dying, of course, but... No, what the hell was that!" He kept cursing as he continued walking through the mansion towards the exit...

He passed by unnoticed, no one stopping him, and finally reached the exit where his beautiful wives were waiting. And immediately—

"Why do you look like that?" Monica was the first to ask, as the look of confusion on his face was truly indescribable.

"Something happened that's driving me insane." He said, not giving details. "But I want you to train. Since we have little time, I need you to be sharp. We already have the plan; we need to focus on it." Strax said to the three of them.

"This is already becoming a big drag. Waiting and training... What the hell." Samira said, clearly exhausted. "Besides, did you send the letter to Diana?" Strax asked Monica, completely ignoring Samira's bad mood, which was understandable.

"Yes, I sent a detailed report on what we discovered, but I kept the description of Evelyn and her group, as well as Rogue, vague. We don't need to share everything, just the necessary details about the mission, not about the friends and relationships we made during the journey." Monica said with a smile before receiving a pat on her head.

"Good job, dear." He said while looking at the mansion. "I think we should stay alert... I feel like something is wrong." Strax murmured, glancing at one of the windows, as if someone was watching him...

"Let's go." He said, leading the girls.

Meanwhile...

The sound of devastation was accompanied by an absolute silence, as if the forest itself were in shock at the magnitude of power that had just been displayed. She stood unmoved, almost indifferent to the chaos around her, her cold and calculating gaze observing the carnage with a faint smile on her lips.

"This is getting more and more tedious..." She murmured, having been traversing the continent's border for days, just erasing the existence of each beast in frenzy. "Someone is generating mana beasts... This is unusual." She thought.

She was about to turn back to her tasks when a messenger appeared, emerging from the shadows with an aura of urgency. The man, dressed in simple clothes but with an air of reverent respect, approached cautiously, his posture reflecting the gravity of the situation... despite him nearly wetting his pants just by facing her.

"G-General," he said, his voice trembling slightly. Was she that frightening? Yes, she was. "I-I bring an urgent message," he stuttered.

She did not turn immediately, but the tension in her posture was enough for the messenger to understand that his message had to be important.

She extended her hand, her nails sharp as claws, to receive the letter the man offered. With a swift movement, she broke the seal and unfurled the scroll, her green eyes fixating on the words with fierce concentration.

"To the General of the Kingdom, Kryssia Winterhart,

A significant event is about to take place in three days in Eldoria. It is an illegal auction, where the most valuable item up for bid will be the Dragon's Heart that was stolen from one of our facilities. Your presence is required to ensure that this artifact is recovered and returned to our King.

The Dragon's Heart is of great importance to the plans we have underway. Your participation is crucial. If it is not possible to recover it through passive means, destroy it.

Sincerely, Alderith Gobefry, Royal Advisor."

"Three days," she murmured, her tone filled with a chilling calm. "We have enough time to prepare the chaos we want without rushing."

She looked at the messenger, who seemed to be in a state of silent terror. "And you, what is your role in all of this?" she asked with a frigid tone.

"I am merely the bearer of the message, G-General," he quickly replied. "I have no further information beyond what is written."

The General nodded slowly, her eyes gleaming with a cruel and predatory light. "Very well. You may go now."

The messenger bowed quickly and retreated, disappearing into the shadows of the forest. The General was left alone, the sounds of the forest now a symphony of calm after the recent massacre. She was perfectly at ease, her power and presence as overwhelming as the devastation she had wrought.

"An illegal auction, hmm?" she whispered to herself, her mind already starting to plot the necessary steps to ensure the Dragon's Heart would be within her grasp. "I always appreciate a good challenge."

"Who knows, I might even find someone amusing to toy with until death."