Chapter 186 News Spreads Like Wildfire

While the Dawn Mercenary Group was holding a grand banquet on the Eternal Night Emperor to celebrate the success of their rescue mission, news of the Battle of Moros spread like wildfire across the world.

Those professional intelligence merchants always had ways to spread information in the shortest amount of time. Before dawn, the printing presses of the major Lingdun newspaper groups were already working overtime to print special editions with the explosive news.

In the early morning, before the city of tens of millions had awakened, early-rising newsboys were already riding their bicycles through the streets and alleys, stuffing these special editions into the mailboxes of thousands of households.

The Ruing Royal Family, members of Parliament, the Alchemist Guild, the Wilderness Hunter Guild, the Professional Alliance, the Mercenary Guild... people from all major forces received the newspaper special and learned about the battle that had taken place thousands of miles away.

A new organization called "Dawn" had launched a surprise attack on the North Sea Fleet's base, causing tens of thousands of pirate casualties, and had retreated unscathed.

The course of the battle was simply unbelievable.

But it was a fact.

Meteor Drunkfall destroyed the Agaparnon Temple.

Then, immediately afterward, a shocking battle.

All kinds of bizarre events occurred frequently.

Although the names of Soren and the others in the Dawn Mercenary Group were not known to outsiders, their nicknames spread first.

There was "Mr. Mirror," who could face the eighth-order veteran powerhouse "King of the North Sea" Oleg head-on and even gain the upper hand;

There was "Silver-Armed Behemoth," Barrett, formerly the commander of the Royal Knights' [Sacred Judgment Legion], a newly advanced seventh-order, Void Armor stacker, with unmatched combat power;

There was a female Sword Saint suspected of having a Threefold Awakening talent, "Rakshasa Sword Saint," who cut through the Mafa Royal Mechanical Legion like slicing melons and vegetables with a sword, breaking through sixteen layers of armor with a single strike;

And there was also the "Death Puppeteer."

This one occupied a great deal of space in the newspaper and even overshadowed the two eighth-order protagonists. The war reporters used a documentary style to describe the horrifyingly bloody battle in the central arena of Moros.

The headline was: 1 vs. 200,000!

One person controlled an army of nearly a thousand puppets, slaughtering tens of thousands of pirates like a meat grinder.

Someone even managed to take a blurry black-and-white photograph from afar.

In the arena, a giant cross floated in the sky, and the cloaked figure pulled countless threads, as if controlling a terrifying puppet show. In the photo, corpses were piled up like mountains, and severed limbs flew everywhere. Even through the newspaper, people could feel the desperate atmosphere of falling into a slaughterhouse.

Puppet Masters were already a very niche existence among Professionals, not particularly outstanding in the realm of top-tier Professionals.

For the first time in a hundred years, people discovered that Puppet Masters could actually possess such absurd combat power. Could one person's destructive power be equivalent to several legions?

In the eyes of ordinary people, pirates were synonymous with evil robbers. The news that someone was slaughtering pirates in their own den was extremely uplifting.

Even the few Puppet Grandmasters in the Ruing capital were incredulous when they saw the content of the newspaper, but they were also very excited.

One against two hundred thousand?

Although they knew that the headline must be an exaggeration, was this not the dream of any Puppet Master?

The Puppet Legion passed through, slaughtering everywhere, with gods and ghosts retreating!

At this moment, the front page of the newspaper was the shining moment for Puppet Master Professionals!

It was foreseeable that after the news fermented, the Puppet Profession would usher in a new spring for many years to come.

As soon as this newspaper came out, a Puppet Master craze was quietly rising among the students in various academies and the Professional apprentices in the Alchemist Guilds.

In the newspaper, Soren had accomplished something that most seventh-order Professionals could not, but in reality, it was not that he already had the combat power of a top-tier Professional.

It was just that the intelligence merchants had overlooked the fact that it was because Qian Tiao and Barrett held back the top-tier Professionals of the North Sea Fleet that Soren was able to let go and control the Puppet Theater to kill the enemy, achieving such amazing results.

It was because battles between top-tier Professionals were difficult to resolve quickly, so even after fighting for a long time, there were no pirates with bounties exceeding one billion who were killed. There was spectacle, but it lacked the "newsworthiness" to grab attention.

The newspaper also glossed over it.

Only with a dark background can the stars shine.

Because of this, Soren's "stellar" achievement of causing tens of thousands of pirate casualties was even more sensational.

The pirates below the sixth order were killed until blood flowed like a river, and more than ten wanted criminals with bounties of over 100 million died at his hands.

He single-handedly cleared a large portion of the Bounty Hunter Guild's list at once.

In this battle, "Dawn" also entered the eyes of the world in an incomparably powerful posture.

Well-informed major forces also received detailed intelligence as soon as possible.

When they saw that several old Bloodkin who hadn't appeared in centuries from the Province of Saenodia had participated in the battle, and that Mr. Mirror was a high-level Bloodkin, everyone roughly guessed that this suddenly appearing mysterious eighth-order powerhouse was very likely some big shot from a thousand years ago.

Being able to face the North Sea Fleet head-on, this was definitely a new force not to be underestimated. And now it seemed that this "Dawn Organization" was an enemy of the Mafa Empire, the Ruing Empire, the North Sea Fleet, and Duke Raphael. For other forces, whether it was to win them over, co-opt them, or secretly cooperate with them, they were the best targets.

And now, taking advantage of their first appearance, was the best opportunity.

As soon as the news came out, those top-level bosses with keen intuition also had ideas.

Intelligence merchants on the black market were also busy, searching for clues to confirm what the "Dawn" was all about and how to contact them.

While the news in the newspaper was still fermenting, Mr. Black had already obtained today's newspaper in a library in Lingdun City.

Although he already knew about the rescue, after carefully reading every word in the newspaper, the old man's face showed a gratified smile: "Reading the report makes people's blood boil..."

Thinking, he wrote something on the parchment.

Not long after, rumors spread on the black market, roughly meaning: Dawn is a free and neutral organization that exists to research alchemy and promote the development of alchemic civilization.

......

Pandora had left, without any hesitation.

But in the Eternal Night's laboratory, Soren looked at his long-lasting physical reaction and didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Her charm spell is really powerful."

Pandora had set him up before she left, probably as revenge for being treated as an enemy by Soren, stripped naked, and hung up roughly for many days.

Although this charm technique didn't cause any harm to Soren's body, the "sequelae" seemed to be significant.

He had tried meditating for a moment just now, but he still couldn't eliminate the agitation in his body.

This was the first time Soren had experienced a state where physical desires were not controlled by reason. His mouth was dry, and his body was slightly covered in a layer of fine sweat.

Thinking about it, it wasn't all bad.

At least this time, the one who used this trick was an acquaintance, not an enemy.

With the experience of being hit, it would be easier to defend against next time.

After all, all spells have a limited duration. Soren felt that the sequelae should subside in a while, so he didn't think too much about it and began to sort out the instruments and notes in the laboratory.

But just when a thought flashed through his mind, like the strong after-effect of drinking alcohol, that delicate touch actually brought a very real pleasurable aftertaste to his body.

"Eh..."

Soren then realized the anomaly.

He let out a long breath and his eyes became very strange. He thought: "A slight thought triggers it, is this charm technique a divine secret art?"

He looked down at his body and shook his head with a wry smile.

This spell was different from any charm technique he knew, with some things beyond understanding.

He didn't pay too much attention to it, thinking that perhaps... the spell would dissipate after a while?

Then he started tidying up the laboratory again.

Until... two hours later.

......

Soren finished cleaning up the laboratory. The data recorded in those notebooks was complex and profound, and the samples analyzed in the instruments would also require a lot of time to study in the future. There was no need to rush to digest them for the time being.

After finishing, he looked at his body again and frowned slightly.

He then realized that Pandora's prank was not simple.

Even though his mind was focused on work, his body didn't stop at all.

Soul and body, each minding their own business.

His reason was thinking about science, but his body was very honest.

It wouldn't do to keep going on like this. Soren looked at the clock on the wall. It was almost eight o'clock. He thought about going back to the captain's cabin for a cold shower.

When he was on the ship, he rarely used his soul perception ability, after all, he also had to take into account the privacy of his companions.

He walked to the captain's cabin, knocked on the door, and as expected, there was no response from inside.

After advancing to Sword Saint, Qian Tiao practiced her swordsmanship more diligently. She would go to the deck to practice swordsmanship every morning at six o'clock, rain or shine.

Mr. Mirror also didn't seem to be there.

Soren opened the door and walked in.

He took off his clothes and went directly to the simple bathroom behind the curtain and took a cold shower.

The water flowed, making him feel refreshed and comfortable.

But Soren looked at his body, which was still not subsiding, and finally felt a little discouraged. He muttered to himself, "This is really weird."

He also knew that cold water was useless, but taking a shower always felt better.

Unexpectedly, perhaps because he had been showering for too long, the door "clicked" open from the outside at this time.

Qian Tiao, who had finished her swordsmanship practice, walked in carelessly.

She saw the clothes hanging on the coat rack and the sound of water in the bathroom, so she knew that Soren had come.

She glanced at the naked Soren behind the shower curtain and habitually teased, "Yo... coming back to take a shower so early in the morning, does that mean you had a pleasant time with Miss Pandora last night?"

Soren was used to this kind of communication and didn't refute it when he heard it. He casually responded, "Yeah."

"Tsk tsk... you kid really have good luck with women."

Qian Tiao's tone was full of teasing and she was used to it. "Come out quickly, I want to take a shower."

As she spoke, there was a rustling sound of undressing in the room.

Originally, this was a very normal scene for the two of them. Qian Tiao wouldn't avoid Soren at all. She boldly took off her training clothes, then untied her chest wrap, took off her training shorts, until she was completely naked.

Qian Tiao was taking off her clothes and didn't hear the sound of the water stopping. She urged, "Hey, hey, have you finished washing? I want to take a shower."

Saying that, she seemed impatient, "Forget it, you're too slow. Fill the bathtub with hot water for me, I want to take a bath."

Listening to her tone, she was probably planning to take a shower together.

"..."

Soren didn't say anything.

It wasn't that he didn't want to go out now, but his body didn't seem willing to obey that order.

Especially listening to the sound of undressing, the sequelae left by that charm technique reflexively came to his head again.

After all, he still had to save face, so Soren continued to face the wall and reflect on his mistakes.

Qian Tiao walked over naked and then realized that the tap was spraying cold water. She wondered, "It's not hot today, why are you taking a cold shower?"

Saying that, she stood next to Soren, twisted the hot water switch, intending to adjust the water temperature and rinse her body.

She always felt that Soren seemed strange today. She glanced up and down and noticed the abnormality.

However, Qian Tiao, with her personality, was not surprised at all when she saw that fierce state. Instead, she teased with a chuckle, "Yo, does that mean you didn't have a pleasant time with Miss Pandora?"

"..."

Soren rolled his eyes and ignored her teasing.

Qian Tiao became even more energetic, looking him up and down and not forgetting to complain with disgust, "Hahaha, is that all you got? How ugly."

There was no embarrassment in these words.

The two of them had already been honest with each other and had slept in the same bed countless times, it's just that Qian Tiao really had no interest in certain matters between men and women.

Since the experience in Mount Yin, Soren's wandering hands had become more and more frequent, but Qian Tiao always found it boring. Occasionally, if he tried to take advantage, she would slap his hand away.

This way of getting along made both of them uncomfortable.

Soren wasn't the kind of person who would be dominated by lust. Too much affection was not suitable at all.

These days, the two of them had gradually returned to the state where they had been unreserved with each other.

Qian Tiao also felt that this relationship was the most comfortable.

So now she wouldn't avoid Soren at all. Taking off clothes, changing clothes, taking a bath, whatever, look if you want.

Occasionally, when they slept in the same bed, she would put her arms and legs on him in a big "X" shape.

Even if Soren was occasionally dishonest at night and secretly tried to get away with something, Qian Tiao would turn a blind eye as long as he didn't go too far.

......

Under normal circumstances, Soren was rational enough.

But now, certain functions of his body were out of control.

Qian Tiao was standing very close to him naked. She even squeezed Soren to get herself under the showerhead.

Warm water showered on her body, making her feel comfortable all over. Qian Tiao let out a happy sigh.

At this time, she seemed to have noticed something. She turned to look at Soren, whose expression was slightly different, and then moved her gaze down. She blinked, as if she had guessed something, and asked uncertainly, "You've been hit by a charm technique?"

Soren shrugged. There was nothing to hide. He said with a rather helpless tone, "Yeah."

When Qian Tiao heard this, a hint of schadenfreude flashed in her eyes. "The technique was cast by Miss Pandora? Oh, what did you do to her?"

She was just about to tease him a little more, but when she turned to look at Soren staring at her, Qian Tiao immediately changed to a gloomy look, warning as if guarding against a thief, "Hey, hey, let me tell you, don't get any ideas about me. I can't help you."

Soren rolled his eyes and said angrily, "I didn't want to get any ideas about you. I just wanted to take a cold shower. You came here yourself."

Qian Tiao's figure was also extremely alluring, and she was standing next to him naked. A normal person would have ideas.

Beauty lies in the skin, in the bones, and in the charm, and even more in that temperament. In Soren's eyes, Qian Tiao had a unique charm that was not inferior to anyone. But he didn't want their relationship to become strange. Reason rejected transgression.

The two of them already had a deep understanding, and Qian Tiao naturally understood the contradiction in Soren's expression.

Her tone changed from teasing to a hint of concern, and she asked, "Didn't you try using a potion?"

"It's not a negative toxin, what potion would I use? Moreover, this spell is very strange. Before I figure out its principle, using a potion might inhibit normal bodily functions in the future."

It wasn't that Soren hadn't thought about it, but this level of charm technique was very powerful and might require a large amount of inhibitors to suppress the body's reaction.

And this was also a very taboo treatment method in medical techniques. Before clarifying the cause, blindly using medicine to solve the symptoms might hide certain problems deeper.

Moreover, it was just a prank by Pandora and there was no malice.

Soren felt that it was far from the point of using medication to suppress it.

There was no need to mess with medicine and affect the body's functions for real.

Qian Tiao tilted her head and thought, "Then what should we do? That Pandora has already left, Yuzi is still in Mount Yin, your succubus maid isn't here either, and there's no one on the ship who can help you..."

After a pause, her beautiful eyebrows raised, and she seemed to seriously think about it, "Filo could help you ask. But I think you definitely don't have the guts."

"..."

Soren was speechless when he heard this.

This gambling addict really had no filter, even getting ideas about Mr. Mirror.

Qian Tiao glanced at Soren's distorted state and suggested, "Why don't you try the traditional way yourself?"

Until now, she hadn't deliberately covered her body, whether it was the spectacular towering peaks or the well-proportioned and sturdy legs.

Not caring was one thing.

Now, looking at her expression, she was probably hinting: Look if you want, do it yourself.

"..."

Soren only felt that this gambling addict's suggestion was getting more and more outrageous.

If it were that simple to solve, he wouldn't be struggling until now.

Not only did Qian Tiao's suggestion not solve the problem, it instead made Soren's gaze unconsciously fall on her, looking up and down her figure. The influence of the charm technique was getting bigger and bigger.

Qian Tiao also felt uncomfortable being watched. She pouted, "Forget it, find a way yourself."

She looked bored and couldn't think of any other way, "I want to take a bath."

The hot water was almost ready, so she got into the bathtub and soaked.

......

In the simple bathroom, the two of them hadn't spoken for a long time.

Soren wanted to rinse off and leave, but his body wouldn't let him.

Hearing that there had been no movement behind him for a long time, Qian Tiao looked back at Soren, who looked very pained, and said, "Why don't you take a soak too? Maybe relaxing will help?"

Hearing this, Soren was still thinking about the problem in his head, but his foot stepped into the bathtub.

With a splash, the warm water in the oversized bathtub overflowed and flowed onto the floor.

His body was immersed in the water, and the buoyancy made him feel a lot lighter.

He sat next to Qian Tiao, put a towel behind his neck, and leaned back on the edge of the bathtub.

The two of them occasionally took a bath together like this on weekdays. Although it was intimate, they didn't feel anything special.

The steam boiler was still continuously heating the water, and there was a soft sound of flowing water in his ears.

No one bothered them, the atmosphere was peaceful and tranquil, and it seemed no different from usual.

Soren closed his eyes and rested, trying to think about the experimental research as much as possible.

Although he was close to a faint, smooth touch, he didn't have the slightest intention of transgressing.

Qian Tiao, who already had an understanding with him, naturally understood?

She glanced at Soren's expression from time to time and looked at the reflection in the water from time to time.

Finally, after the two of them had been soaking for about ten minutes, Qian Tiao tentatively said in a tone that was a little unsure if she could do it, "Why don't I... try to help you?"

Hearing this, Soren still closed his eyes and rested, not thinking that this was a good suggestion.

But no matter what he said, it seemed strange.

So he didn't say anything.

Qian Tiao pursed her lips, looked at it, and tried to reach over.

She awkwardly fiddled with it a few times.

Soren was quite surprised by her actions and felt very warm.

This gambling addict was still very good to him.

At least this action definitely required a lot of effort from her character.

Qian Tiao was still trying.

But the technique was indeed a little off, making people not know whether to laugh or cry.

Soren finally said unhappily, "Hey, hey... Sister Qian Tiao, that's not right."

Qian Tiao really looked blank and said, "Ah, then how should I do it? I thought it was the same, the feel is about the same."

She already felt it was very troublesome and muttered gloomily, "Forget it, I can't help you. You can figure it out yourself."

"..."

Soren felt that the word "figure it out" had a strange magic, as if it were some kind of permission.

He put his hand on Qian Tiao's shoulder, like they usually did.

But Soren used force to pull her closer.

The two of them could clearly feel each other's heartbeat.

Qian Tiao also realized that something was wrong, and slightly pouted, but after thinking about it, she didn't stop him and let him do it.

Probably because of her tacit consent, Soren became even more presumptuous.

That wandering hand was very impolite, drooping down and gently stroking and kneading.

Qian Tiao leaned back there, closing her eyes and resting.

Not caring, and not welcoming.

Because she really felt that this kind of ambiguous behavior was really boring.

But because it was Soren, she didn't hit him. Da Feng Novel

Occasionally, she would also take action, closing her eyes and helping a little.

Soren was enjoying himself.

That wandering hand was not polite at all, caressing everywhere, becoming more and more unscrupulous.

Qian Tiao fought back once, once, and again...

It also added a little fun to the bath.

She would occasionally think back, when did this guy Soren start being so impolite to her?

It seemed to be in Old Lingdun, in the hotel in the Dawn City ruins camp?

At that time, that kid was still very serious...

Later, as the relationship became familiar, they became intimate little by little, and that was how it was.

Forget it.

There was nothing unpleasant.

Let's just leave it like this for now.

Steam was rising in the air, and the temperature was warm.

The atmosphere in the bathroom became more and more subtle.

It was probably like gradually getting used to something, even if it was boring, she wouldn't feel any resistance.

Soren also took advantage of all kinds of benefits.

The atmosphere was harmonious and happy.

Suddenly, Qian Tiao let out a soft "Huh" and grasped it, "Huh... how has it changed..."

She didn't feel anything unusual.

But it seemed that there was something unusual.

After all, she released her anger without any temper.

"You... Soren, you hateful guy..."

"You got it everywhere!"

The two of them tossed around for a while and finally calmed down.

Soren was refreshed.

Qian Tiao complained gloomily, "I have to rinse again, it's very troublesome!"

ps. Tomorrow will be the new volume 'Lingdun Mist', which I currently feel should be a very interesting volume.