Chapter 175 - 170: Succubus Nature
A mounted party from the Golden Sail Commerce Association cut through the fog, entering Newly Town stealthily under the cover of darkness.
Hoofbeats clattered on the stone path in front of the Lord’s Mansion as Caroline deftly swung down from her horse.
Her black riding attire clung to her waist, accentuating her striking curves. Beneath her trousers, her legs were long and straight, and her tall leather boots made a sharp clicking sound on the flagstones.
A night breeze swept by, and she nonchalantly brushed aside a sweat-dampened lock of hair from her temple, cutting a truly valiant figure.
Velin was already waiting at the door.
"Did you bring the materials?" he asked, cutting straight to the chase.
Caroline tilted her chin up, her eyes betraying her annoyance.
"Velin, couldn’t you at least ask how I am?"
"I rode nonstop to get here, without even a carriage, and all you care about are your materials?"
"You’d better have a damn good reason for this." Caroline stepped forward, getting in Velin’s face. She pulled a piece of paper from her pocket and slapped it against his chest. "To scrape together the godforsaken items on this list—things even the royal Alchemy Workshop might not have in stock—I had to mobilize the entire commerce association’s network. Do you have any idea how long that bill is?"
"A fortune rivaling a dragon’s hoard. Is that reason enough?"
Caroline’s chest rose and fell with indignation. Finally, with a cold huff, she brushed past him and strode into the mansion.
’She hated it when Velin acted like he had everything under control, and she especially hated that there was never anything she could do about it.’
Down in the laboratory, on the third basement level of the research institute.
Mia sat quietly in a chair.
Her eyes filled with anticipation as she saw Velin enter with a blonde woman and an old man with a white beard.
"So this is the ’tongue’ you spent over eight hundred Golden Suns to save?" Caroline folded her arms, looking Mia up and down. "This is a succubus? She looks more like a scrawny, underdeveloped waif."
"Looks can be deceiving."
Velin placed the materials on the lab bench. Within easy reach, a complete set of laboratory equipment crafted from high-grade inert crystal was neatly arranged.
The Dragon Blood Crystal was ground into a crimson powder.
The Activated Coral emitted a faint glow in the solution, slowly dissolving.
Master Valerius was assisting on the side, his expression focused. For him, the chance to handle so many rare materials at once was precious alchemical experience.
"What’s that?" Caroline’s gaze fell on a fist-sized, flesh-colored organ.
"The gland of a Silver Moon Snow Mink," Velin replied without looking up.
"I’ve heard of them. It’s a Level 4 Magical Beast." Caroline’s curiosity was piqued. "But what is it for?"
"It secretes a special hormone that temporarily raises a female snow mink’s combat power by one level during mating season, allowing it to overpower the male, and then..." Velin paused, not continuing.
Caroline froze for a second before it dawned on her. A blush crept onto her cheeks, and she spat to the side.
"Vulgar."
Velin ignored her comment. As far as he was concerned, there was nothing immoral about stating a simple biological fact.
A moment later, he carefully injected the prepared Magic Potion into the gland.
The entire gland contracted sharply, then began to pulsate rhythmically as Magic Patterns surfaced upon it.
"Done." Velin picked up the still-pulsating gland and walked over to Mia. "Open your mouth and swallow it."
Mia’s pupils constricted. She stared hesitantly at the writhing object and shook her head frantically.
"Don’t waste time. The potion’s effects will wear off soon."
Seeing Mia still hesitating, Velin lost his patience. He pried open her jaw and, ignoring her struggles, stuffed the entire gland inside.
The gland slid down her throat.
Mia let out a dry heave, her body arching.
But soon, a warm current rose from her stomach, spreading rapidly through her entire body.
It was like a parched riverbed being drenched by a downpour.
Every cell in her body was screaming, cheering.
The hunger and pain that had plagued her for decades, a torment rooted in the depths of her bloodline, melted away like ice and snow.
"Nnngh..."
Mia couldn’t help but let out a moan, her body arching back uncontrollably.
A large amount of white vapor steamed off her body, filling the entire laboratory with a strange, sweet fragrance.
She felt her mind being overwhelmed by a storm of sensations. Her consciousness grew hazy as her body spasmed uncontrollably. A subtle current of electricity spread from the soles of her feet, coursing over every inch of her skin before surging into her brain.
"Ahhh—"
A high-pitched cry emerged from the vapor. Her coiled body straightened with a series of sharp cracks from her bones. Her skin grew taut and flawless, and her silver hair began to float, animated by an unseen force.
Her once scrawny, withered frame filled out at a visible rate, becoming voluptuous and alluring.
The steam began to thin.
A tall figure with a narrow waist and generous hips gradually came into view.
The three of them first saw a pair of purple eyes glowing with the light of Magic Power and two small, exquisite demon horns.
Her long, silver-white hair cascaded like a waterfall, parting around the prominent curves of her chest.
Behind her, a black, heart-shaped tail was restlessly flicking from side to side.
Mia was fully unleashed.
Feeling the vibrant power filling her body and the profound satisfaction in her soul, tears of joy welled in her eyes.
Her gaze toward Velin was filled with gratitude, adoration, and a... certain emotion she couldn’t name.
"Master..." The word slipped out reflexively. "Thank you..."
Her voice was enchanting, with a slight tremor. Driven by some unknown impulse, she took a step toward Velin.
The child-sized clothes she wore were stretched taut over her new, sultry figure. With every movement, the sound of tearing fabric was clearly audible.
Ignoring the succubus’s bizarre transformation, Velin opened his system interface.
[Mia]
[Level: Level 3 Mage]
[Bloodline: Primal Lustflame (Golden Tier) 57%, Mixed Bloodline 43%]
[Abilities: Shadow Stealth, Charm (Temporary), Shapeshifting (Temporary), Matter Conversion]
[Overall Assessment: Due to the implantation or absorption of a special organ, this individual can now convert large quantities of food into the various hormones necessary for survival. However, this conversion pathway is inefficient; the energy obtained can only satisfy her most basic survival needs. To utilize her full abilities, she will still require supplementary, specially-brewed Magic Potions.]
[Preparation Method: ...]
Then, under the shocked gazes of Caroline and Valerius, she hugged Velin tightly.
An astonishing softness pressed against him. Velin’s brow furrowed in an instant; he was displeased by her forwardness.
It didn’t end there.
Driven by her newborn succubus instincts, Mia tilted up her naturally bewitching face, closed her eyes, and clumsily leaned in toward Velin’s lips.
Velin was startled and instinctively started to push her away.
"You shameless succubus! Let him go!"
With a furious roar, Caroline flew into a rage.
She shot forward, grabbed Mia by the horns, and yanked her off Velin with all her might.
"OW! That hurts, it hurts!" Mia’s eyes welled with tears as she was pulled away.
"Oh, so you *can* feel pain?" Caroline trembled with rage, pointing a finger in Mia’s face. "We use *my* money to cure you, and the first thing you do is try to climb into a man’s bed? Is there anything in that head of yours besides filth?"
Mia was stunned by the scolding.
She looked down at her ripped clothes, which now barely covered her, and her cheeks instantly flushed crimson.
Although the instincts of a succubus flowed in her very bones, decades of suffering had given her no opportunity to act on them. Being called out so publicly by Caroline, a wave of shame instantly overwhelmed her nascent desires.
But she wouldn’t back down. Puffing out her impressive chest, she forced a calm tone and said,
"I... I was thanking my Master. What business is it of yours? Who are you, anyway, to be so nosy!"
"Who am I?" Caroline let out a laugh of pure indignation. She shoved Mia aside, stepped next to Velin, and staked her claim.
"I’m his partner! That potion you drank, the money spent on it—that was all mine! And now you think you can make a move on my man? Not a chance!"
Watching this absurd scene unfold, Velin felt a major headache coming on.
He rubbed the bridge of his nose, just about to speak and put a stop to the farce.
Just then, a light knock sounded at the laboratory door.
A guard reported from the other side, "My Lord, the rat is about to enter the mousetrap."