Chapter 61: The Price of Loyalty and the Alchemist’s Deception

Promen, however, was furious. Despite his clear combat advantage, his efforts felt like futile punches striking cotton.

Nevertheless, as the pursuer, Promen still held an advantageous position.

Within the labyrinth of the 54th floor, a faint purple mist drifted like spectral wisps.

It wavered erratically in the dim light, at times dense, then dissipating into thin air.

A musty odor permeated the damp air, mingled with the scent of earth and decay.

The ground, an expanse of dark, soft earth, had become saturated from prolonged dampness.

Every step taken upon it was accompanied by a faint, squelching sound.

Upon this sodden terrain grew a scattering of gnarled trees, their branches contorted into bizarre shapes.

They appeared to writhe in an agony that seemed eternal.

These trees stood barren, devoid of leaves, their skeletal forms reduced to withered bark and sharp, thorny branches, like a legion of silent guardians.

Above, the sky was shrouded by a thick canopy of gray clouds.

As Promen arrived on this floor, his senses were immediately disoriented.

The desolate space was devoid of any wind, yet indistinct cries and howls of ghosts seemed to echo in his ears.

Previously, when Theresia and her group executed large-scale withdrawals, they had to clear the maze of wild monsters and traps.

Promen could then simply follow their cleared path and track their movements.

This time, however, Promen discovered that Theresia and the others had vanished completely.

All traces seemed to have been erased by an invisible force.

Promen narrowed his eyes, still vaguely able to sense the labyrinth’s entrance.

‘That doesn’t matter,’ he thought. ‘I just need to head straight for the entrance. Theoretically, Theodore and his group would have to reach the vicinity of the entrance to escape.’

Thus, Promen began to move.

“Hahahaha, I laugh at Promen, who is, after all, nothing more than a common soldier. He’s actually heading straight for the entrance.”

Promen’s movements were far from subtle. He didn’t understand the correct strategy for this floor, nor did he have time to ponder it.

Instead, he relied on his divine power to leap and fly, aiming to reach the entrance in the shortest possible time.

Unbeknownst to him, Theresia, hidden near the passage between the 54th and 55th floors, watched his retreating figure and shook her head.

The special mist of the 54th floor was capable of disrupting perception, and the rapidly self-restoring terrain perfectly erased Theodore’s traces.

It would be foolish to confront Promen head-on, knowing he had hidden tricks up his sleeve.

Theodore exhaled lightly. “Now, all we can do is wait for Samuel and the others to arrive. I hope they have a way to deal with Promen.”

“Indeed.”

Theresia nodded. With a flick of her small hand, Theodore found himself surrounded by layers upon layers of people.

They all eyed him with predatory gazes, appearing ready to devour him whole should Theresia give the command.

Theodore said, “…Theresia, you’re not the type to turn on me, right? I’m telling you, if I struggle, I’ll definitely attract Promen. So, don’t mess around. This kind of behavior isn’t good for my heart.”

Theresia narrowed her eyes, looking at Theodore. “Hehehe, but what if you don’t struggle?”

“Don’t struggle? Are you trying to morally blackmail me? You’re joking, my morality was completely devoured by you years ago…”

As Theodore spoke, he noticed something abnormal with his body; it felt incredibly soft and weak.

He looked at Theresia in alarm. “When did this happen?! I was guarding against you poisoning me!”

“That’s right, but you didn’t guard against us medicating you,” Theresia said, her gaze dark as she looked at Theodore. “Do you remember when the alchemist mentioned giving you a potion for rapid physical recovery during our last stop? You couldn’t possibly think that potion had no side effects, could you?”

Theodore: “!!!”

While the previous line-switching delay tactic had been highly effective, its premise required Theodore and Theresia to entangle Promen.

This was to ensure the front line could hold until a new formation was established.

Such high-intensity combat, while Theresia, a pure-blooded black dragon, could endure with her exceptional stamina, health, and regeneration, Theodore, as a late-blooming giant, struggled to sustain.

Without special circumstances, it would take decades for the Giant’s Blood to completely transform his body.

This also aligned with the growth cycle of giants.

When Theodore was preparing to force himself into a strategic role, the alchemist, seeing the situation, produced the potion.

At the time, there was truly no other option, and Theodore used it without much thought.

Who knew there would be a period of weakness!

“Don’t look at me like that; giving you that potion wasn’t my arrangement.”

Theresia looked at Theodore, whose gaze was utterly bewildered. “There was no other better potion to handle the situation back then. If you hadn’t taken it, you would likely have died in that last battle.”

“I’m merely taking a small advantage of that potion’s side effect. Don’t worry, this side effect will pass quickly, and it can’t even really be called a side effect.”

“It merely redirects all your bodily functions towards recovery. However, before you fully recover, we need to settle some matters. Bind him for me!”

Theresia tossed out two ropes used for caging.

“Everyone, stop!”

Just as the others were about to approach Theodore, Larkin stepped forward.

‘Hiss, I forgot to tie this boy up first. But for him to dare jump out in this situation, he truly is loyal. It’s just a pity that loyalty doesn’t fill stomachs; this is a good opportunity to give him a beating. Theresia’s eyes gleamed with cold light. Theodore’s situation cannot be delayed. Larkin, is it? I’ll remember you. Then let you accompany Theodore—’

“Let me!”

Larkin didn’t even wait for Theresia to finish her threat.

He snatched the ropes and expertly hog-tied the speechless Theodore, even tying a neat bow.

Bound tightly, Theodore asked in anguish, “Larkin, what is the meaning of this? Aren’t we close teammates? How will you explain this to the Old Patriarch?”

Larkin sighed heavily. “Brother, it’s not that I don’t want to help you, but I’ve been deeply captivated by Lady Theresia’s charm.”

“The longer I spend with my fellow strategy team brothers, the more I regret my past actions of opposing Lady Theresia. Now that I have an opportunity for a complete change of heart, I naturally cannot miss it to promptly declare my loyalty.”

“Rest assured, Theodore. I’ve heard that Lady Theresia has no intention of harming you. Being benevolent, kind, and gentle, she still remembers all the good you’ve done for her.”

“She will merely delete those unnecessary memories of yours, so there’s no need to struggle.”

Theodore: “…You little rascal, you only jumped ship when you saw the situation was unfavorable, didn’t you? You think that as long as my memories are deleted afterward, your actions won’t be exposed, right? Is this how you treat a good brother?!”

“Of course not, am I that kind of person? It’s simply that, compared to you, Lady Theresia suits me better. And good brothers should give a push when their brother is about to succeed!”

Larkin approached Theresia, bowing deeply. “Respected Lady Theresia, what do you think of the knot I tied? Please, I implore you to admire my knot; it’s the culmination of 20 years of skill, and I’m quite confident in it.”

Theresia glanced at the nearby strategy team members, who immediately stepped forward to inspect the knot. She, in turn, smiled at Larkin, patting his shoulder.

“Excellent, excellent. You have potential. I’ve always believed that those who understand the times are true heroes, and it’s clear you fit the role of a hero.”

“Hahahaha, you’re too kind, you’re too kind.”

By betraying his team, Larkin successfully gained +20 favorability with Theresia, entering the ‘familiar’ stage.

“Oh, by the way, once we leave the labyrinth, I’m inviting Princess Lola to visit my family’s workshop. Are you interested? I can custom-make a few sets of magic armor for you then.”

Theresia’s favorability with Larkin increased by another +20, entering the ‘friendly’ stage.

“It’s a deal.”

Theresia said to Larkin earnestly.

“It’s a deal!”

Larkin suppressed his inner ecstasy. ‘Ahahahaha, Father’s task was nothing; it was practically effortless.’

Theresia no longer paid attention to Larkin. Instead, she crouched down in front of the hog-tied Theodore.

At this moment, she was the butcher, and Theodore was the fish.

Theresia’s earlier indignation had vanished. The glee of a schemer succeeding made her incredibly high-spirited.

She gently cupped Theodore’s face, stroking his slightly rough skin, a wild smile irrepressible at the corners of her lips:

“Ah, Theodore, you’ve worked hard. To be honest, I’m incredibly touched, hehehe. To think we hadn’t seen each other for seven years, and the moment we met, you gave me such a huge fright.”

“But it’s alright. The benevolent and kind Black Dragon King, who always stands by her brothers, won’t hold this small matter against you. After all, who doesn’t have a fantasy of being a Dragon Knight? Heheheh…”

Theodore: ‘(▼▽▼) Theresia, you wicked dragon! I’ve stumbled, but when I rise again, you’ll repay all of this twofold! Damn Promen! If not for his interruption, whether in human or dragon form, he would have succeeded!’

A strategy team member leaned forward and asked, “Lady Theresia, I’m quite skilled at memory wiping. Do you need assistance?”

Theresia waved her hand. “No, the situation is still unclear. We might still need him. Once we’re sure it’s safe, take him up and slowly clean his memories.”

“Indeed, Your Wisdom is profound, my Lady.”

“Yes, you truly prioritize the larger picture.”

“Noble and just, never letting personal feelings interfere with public duty.”

Watching Theresia, surrounded by the admiring crowd and brimming with pride, Theodore’s expression was: ‘(﹁﹁) Just let you be arrogant for a little while longer!’

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