Chapter 10 Experiment
All the way, Ji Ma continued to pry into the seven negative desires in the hearts of passersby. At first, she was cautious, but she found that even in front of the statue, no one noticed her peeping, which made her increasingly brazen.
It wasn’t until they entered a gray military building and stepped into the hall that Ji Ma restrained herself and closed her “Eyes of Desire.” Inside, there were fully armed soldiers. The clanking of armor echoed throughout the corridor.
Ji Ma did not feel intimidated by the weapons in the soldiers’ hands. Instead, she did not want to leave a worse impression on Cardinal Gregory. She wanted to avoid being invited to enjoy the baptism of holy fire on the pyre.
As they ascended the stone steps, passing through a corridor supported by marble columns, they entered an office with a bed. Cardinal Gregory, dressed in a red robe with gold trim and a gaunt face, stood behind a long table, waiting for them.
Gregory glanced at Ji Ma and said, “It seems your little succubus enjoys her role as a servant.”
“Cleaning George’s great sword is much easier than being on the pyre,” Ji Ma replied with a smile.
“George, it seems your educational methods have a few small issues.”
“My lord,” George said somewhat awkwardly, “I swear, I’ve never let her hear such vulgar jokes.”
“Succubi have inherited memories; this path is harder than you imagine,” Gregory said, shaking his head. “Young people always prefer the rocky path over the smooth one.”
“Doing the right thing is more important than taking shortcuts,” George said seriously.
Ji Ma liked his foolishness; or rather, as long as he did not lead her along the straightforward path to the pyre, she liked him however he was.
“Enough, don’t call me ‘my lord’ anymore.” Gregory had no airs about him. He picked up a sealed scroll from the long table and handed it to George, saying, “We have found a way to nullify the slave contract.”
Immediately, Ji Ma and George’s eyes fell on the letter. George took it and sighed in relief.
“That’s great,” Ji Ma said. “Master George won’t have to sob on light-colored sheets anymore. Recent rumors have broken his heart.”
“Ji Ma! No more of that word,” George said. “And don’t lie.”
Gregory was staring at Ji Ma, seemingly assessing how much firewood would be needed to burn her to ashes.
“Oh, it seems the cathedral is a graveyard for jesters.” Ji Ma sighed, “No matter how humorous or interesting a jester is, here they are pushed to suicide by the blockheads.”
“Stop being glib.”
As soon as Gregory spoke, Ji Ma immediately behaved herself.
She stood next to George, her eyes glancing at the letter in his hand, looking for words she cared about.
Ji Ma was very nervous; the destination of this mission was extremely important to her, directly related to her power restoration progress.
“Shalin City?” George asked.
“The benevolent lord of Shalin City promotes slave contracts; this alone is enough to warrant a hundred burnings at the pyre,” Gregory said. “But only Shalin City may have the method to nullify slave contracts.”
The ‘benevolent lord’ is an honorary title for the masters of slaves ruling Shalin City.
“The benevolent lords of Shalin City have crowdfunded over thirty thousand gold coins for my head,” George said. “Any other intelligence?”
“Trust me, to nullify a slave contract in a short time, Shalin City is the most profitable place to go,” Gregory said. “You can also choose to be cautious. As long as you can endure a succubus who constantly calls you ‘master,’ for three or four years.”
“Sigh.” George sighed. “It must be done.”
“Sometimes, I feel like I’m a ‘tank’ that weighs more than a cow,” Ji Ma said.
Though she was complaining, Ji Ma’s heart was actually bursting with joy.
When she was the Demon King, Shalin City was her favorite place. It was the world-renowned “talent market,” where one could buy any talent as long as they had money.
Previously, Ji Ma enjoyed going to Shalin City to experience the cutting-edge “maid service techniques.” She even hired several seasoned instructors and bought eighteen maids, becoming the most important client in Shalin City—the type featured in promotional posters.
Now, Shalin City’s allure to Ji Ma was ever-increasing. She had a large deposit of gold coins in a local bank and a key to a treasure room just in case.
It was time to take her tools and head to Shalin City to unlock the treasure room, stepping onto the express lane of revenge and rebuilding her harem.
Provided that George would take her along.
“Do I have to go as well?” Ji Ma raised her hand. “It’s not that I don’t want to go; I’m just asking. If I stay at the cathedral, one day, I’ll surely end up as roasted meat on the pyre.”
No one paid her any mind.
“What should I do when we get to Shalin City?” George asked Gregory.
“We have a trustworthy, long-standing informant,” Gregory said. “It was he who sent the information that the benevolent lord might have a way to nullify slave contracts.”
“George, George.” Ji Ma waved her hand. “Paladins can’t lie; you need my little mouth.”
“Ji Ma, I will take you with me,” George finally turned his head to say, “as long as I don’t have to storm the mansion and punish the benevolent lords; I can take care of Ji Ma.”
“Then let’s go.”
To Ji Ma’s surprise, Gregory wholeheartedly agreed.
Though she did not know what Gregory’s intentions were, she didn’t give it much thought; as long as she could get to Shalin City, it was fine.
“I oppose this.”
A clear feminine voice came from the doorway. Ji Ma looked toward the entrance and saw Jena, dressed in silver robes with flowing golden hair.
She was a beautiful young girl. Her chest was full and the fabric was tight, yet her ample bosom did not detract from her pure aura. She appeared to be surrounded by a faint halo, making it hard to harbor any thoughts of desecration.
As she entered, the whole room brightened, the morning light streaming in from the window, gilding her with a golden edge, as if a goddess had descended.
“Brave George, this is a mission as perilous as battling a demon king.”
Jena took her stand next to Ji Ma and spoke. Her voice was light and airy, as if little angels were fluttering around playing a harp in the room, “You need a reliable teammate you can trust.”
Jena paused for a moment, casting a cold glance at Ji Ma, “And not a demon you’ve only known for a few days.”
Coming back to her senses, Ji Ma recognized her at once.
It’s her, the one who buffed George and stabbed me to death… what a beautiful girl. That pure expression; if she wore a maid outfit and knelt on the ground, she’d be even more enchanting… Heh, after I regain my strength, she’ll be the first maid in my rebuilt harem.
Lost in her beautiful delusions, Ji Ma unknowingly smiled.
Jena took this as mockery, snorting softly, and turned to George, saying:
“George, what do you think?”
“Since the saintess is willing to lend a hand,” George sighed in relief, “the three of us have a greater chance of success.”
Jena instinctively wanted to refute, not wanting to be with a succubus that liked to seduce men. But then she thought it would make George think of her as a petty woman.
“Alright,” Jena nodded, “the Lord of the Dawn will smile upon us.”
“Great.”
Though it was still a long shot for Ji Ma to bring Jena into her harem, the thought of being able to take advantage of her as a woman all the way made her extremely happy; her tail was wagging, “I’m very glad to travel with the saintess.”
“Good.” George nodded.
Jena almost said something harsh but held back just in time.
That was close; that succubus must be saying that on purpose, trying to make me angry and lower George’s impression of me. I won’t fall for it, Jena thought.
“I’m afraid that’s not possible.” Gregory said, “As soon as the three of you leave White City, your movements will appear on the tables of the benevolent lords in Shalin City the next day.”
“This is a surprise attack. The teleportation array set up near Shalin City can only send two at a time, and the next use won’t be available until half a month later.
“So George, you can only bring one companion.”
Ji Ma’s smile gradually faded. From any angle, bringing a saintess was better than bringing a succubus.
Jena subtly puffed out her chest. Eager to fight alongside George again, this time it would only be the two of them; after they nullified the slave contract, the succubus would have no reason to linger by George’s side.
“I choose Ji Ma,” George said.
Both women looked at him in shock.
“I think if I can find a way to nullify the slave contract, it is most likely known by only a few individuals. And those criminals, fearing divine judgment, will not dare to enter the cathedral,” George said. “The safest method is to take Ji Ma with me to nullify the slave contract on site.”
“George, that’s too dangerous,” Saintess Jena almost lost her composure. “Last time you fought against the demon king who colluded with them and rescued innocent girls, the benevolent lords of Shalin City dream of tearing you to pieces and devouring you.”
The cathedral was extremely angry at Shalin City for promoting the slave contract. Seeing the threat of the slave contracts spreading, the cathedral daringly sent a hero to take down VIP clients of Shalin City—someone who aspired to open a harem. The deterrent effect was significant.
“I vowed to nullify the contract on Ji Ma as soon as possible,” George said, “and with my strength, I can still handle the benevolent lords of Shalin City.”
Ji Ma was almost moved to tears. Meeting such a foolish lad was truly a blessing she had earned over three lifetimes.
Gregory stroked his goat beard, lost in thought. Saintess Jena cast a pleading look at him. George was someone who could hear opinions, as long as the cardinal spoke up.
“George makes a good point; may justice be served.”
“May justice be served,” George slightly bowed in response.
“You’ll set off tomorrow; you all have one day today to prepare,” Gregory said. “George, there are some things I want to discuss with you.”
“Goodbye.”
Ji Ma waved her arm at them and followed the icy saintess out, gently closing the door.
All the way, Saintess Jena treated Ji Ma like air.
Meanwhile, Ji Ma, leveraging her feminine advantage, shamelessly eyed the saintess’s bosom, capturing every sway of them and admiring her holy face. In her mind, she fantasized about one hundred and eight ways to serve a saintess maid.
Just as Ji Ma was lost in her fantasies, Jena’s cold voice rang out.
“I’ve read George’s mission files. I’m not the only one who can see that you signed the contract with George through deceit.”
Jena stopped walking, and Ji Ma then noticed they had entered a secluded patch of grass, beneath an old tree. No one was around.
“You exploit his kindness, and you’re quite pleased with yourself. You think you can keep deceiving him and lead him astray.” The saintess paused by the tree, “But George is the chosen one; he will soon discover your true face.”
“Even if he falls deeply, our friends and his bond with them are enough to pull him out of hell.”
Ji Ma noticed many names carved into the tree, including George and Jena.
“I’ve known George since childhood at the cathedral,” Jena said, resting her hand on the tree, her chin slightly raised in pride. “You won’t harm George, demon.”
Ji Ma felt as if she had been doused with cold water, awakening her completely from her daydreams. Looking at Saintess Jena, she increasingly felt that her previous fantasies were mockingly exaggerated.
George had a saintess doting on him, while she could only pitiably engage in lewd thoughts from the sidelines, draped in the skin of a succubus, drooling like a little dog watching delectable food on the table.
“George he—”
The very mention of George’s name felt particularly jarring, pricking at her pride as a man.
“That’s enough.”
Ji Ma interrupted, a wild thought rising from the depths of her heart. Now that the saintess was feeling jealous, just as she was jealous of George.
She opened her “Eyes of Desire,” directing her gaze at Jena.
