Elias Moretti lowered his eyes to look at Saskia in his arms, a trace of mockery flashing in their depths.
But when he spoke, his voice was a low, lingering whisper. "Missed me?"
Saskia's face flushed, her throat dry. Her hand crept over Elias Moretti's body as she said coquettishly, "Do you even have to ask?"
In the next instant, Elias Moretti gave a wicked smile and rolled on top of Saskia, covering her body with his.
Evangeline was "forced" to watch a live erotic show. Because of Elias Moretti, a Six-star Beastman, she didn't act rashly. Instead, she waited, listening to their conversation for any clues about the Mermaid Tail Skirt.
From Saskia's tone, this Elias Moretti had to be from the Grymdale Tribe. Otherwise, why would she mention the destruction of the Oasis Tribe?
The Witch of the Midridge Tribe and a male from the Grymdale Tribe with a Six-star Pattern.
Her mind could only conjure a single word: 'Collusion.'
'Elias Moretti…' Evangeline frowned. 'In the original story, the protagonist kicked the bucket so early that the novel barely mentioned anyone else. I'm completely in the dark now.'
Evangeline sat cross-legged on the ground, chin in hand, watching the two intertwined figures before her with utter boredom.
She had to admit, the male Beastmen of the Beastman Continent were truly "peak performers," paragons of "unyielding endurance."
This particular bout of lovemaking didn't end for a long time.
Elias Moretti got up and slipped on a silk robe. The sight of his eight-pack abs was enough to make one dizzy.
The musky scent of their recent affair hung in the air. Evangeline waved a hand in front of her nose.
Elias Moretti's brow furrowed, and he turned to glance in Evangeline's direction.
Saskia was half-reclined, her cheeks flushed, gazing at Elias Moretti with infatuation. She cooed, "Now that you've successfully advanced to a Six-star Pattern, the position of the Grymdale Tribe's leader should rightfully fall into your hands, right?"
Hearing Saskia's voice, Elias Moretti slowly retracted his gaze and said coldly, "Are the offerings ready?"
Seeing Elias Moretti's all-business attitude, Saskia was a little dissatisfied. She bit her lip. "Why are you being like this? Can't you tell me about the Grymdale Tribe? I'll be going there sooner or later."
The next moment, Elias Moretti's eyes turned sinister. He suddenly raised his hand and seized Saskia's throat.
The corner of Evangeline's eye twitched up as she watched the drama unfold with rapt attention.
'He hasn't even been off her for a minute and he's already showing his killing intent. Talk about fucking and chucking someone.'
'As expected, none of the Beastmen from the Grymdale Tribe are pushovers.'
"I asked you, are the offerings ready?" Elias Moretti leaned down, his narrow eyes fixed on Saskia. His gaze was a mix of scarlet and malice, completely devoid of its earlier tenderness.
Saskia stared at Elias Moretti in terror. When he finally let go, she couldn't stop herself from collapsing onto the stone bed, coughing violently and gasping with hoarse breaths.
"They're... they're ready," Saskia said in a hurry, not daring to delay.
Elias Moretti adjusted his robe and nodded in satisfaction. "For this offering, add some more silk."
Hearing this, Saskia's expression turned ugly. She was about to say something, but upon seeing Elias Moretti's face, she fell silent.
Elias Moretti patted Saskia's cheek. "Once the Midridge Tribe is annexed, you'll be the Witch of the entire Northlands."
At these words, a glimmer of light flashed in Saskia's eyes, and her expression finally softened.
After a moment, Elias Moretti asked, "That female from The Fox Clan in the Oasis Tribe, she didn't escape to the Midridge Tribe?"
Hearing this, Saskia frowned, her expression cautious. "The Grymdale Tribe is hunting her. How would she dare come back here? A strange female did arrive in the tribe today, but it wasn't Evangeline."
After a pause, driven by some unknown impulse, she added, "A very ugly female."
Elias Moretti seemed uninterested. "I'm leaving," he said flatly. "Someone will come to collect the offerings tomorrow."
"You're leaving already?" Saskia was reluctant to let him go. She struggled up from the stone bed, wanting to be intimate with Elias Moretti a while longer. But the bastard was clearly not interested. He left the cave and vanished into the darkness.
Saskia stood in the cave, her face grim. It took a long while for her to calm down.
She slumped onto the stone bed, and with a flick of her wrist, a crimson fruit appeared in her hand.
Saskia stared at the fruit for a moment before popping it into her mouth, a look of comfort spreading across her face.
Evangeline's eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint within them.
'So, the Witch of the Midridge Tribe has a spatial ability?'
'A Silkworm Beastman... small and fragile, but quite lucky, it seems.'
'At this point, there's no doubt. The Mermaid Tail Skirt is one hundred percent in Saskia's spatial storage.'
Evangeline stood up, dusted herself off, and stared at Saskia. She formed another hand seal, and a faint wisp of light shot out, burying itself directly into the Three-star pattern on Saskia's forehead.
Evangeline snapped her fingers. Instantly, Saskia's body went rigid, her eyes turning vacant.
'The Enchanting Spell. It works on those with less power and weak spiritual power, allowing for temporary control.'
'As someone with cheats, she never hesitated to use her abilities.'
'These were the fruits of her labor, learned through countless trials and tribulations across eighty-one small worlds. They were her own, and it was only natural and proper to use them.'
Evangeline revealed herself and waved a hand in front of Saskia's eyes. The other woman didn't react.
"Get the Mermaid Tail Skirt for me," Evangeline demanded without ceremony.
Saskia's eyes were vacant. She stood frozen on the spot, as if her system had crashed.
Evangeline's expression soured. "The Mermaid Tail Skirt isn't on you?"
Saskia opened her mouth and replied mechanically, "It isn't."
Evangeline took a deep breath and pinched the bridge of her nose. To be so close to success, only to fail at the last hurdle!
She looked at Saskia, her brows knitting together. "Where is the Mermaid Tail Skirt?!"
Saskia spoke again. "Mermaid Tail Skirt, offering, Grymdale Tribe Female Leader."
"..." Evangeline looked like she'd just eaten shit.
'So, Saskia got the Mermaid Tail Skirt from Verdant not to wear it herself, but to curry favor with the Female Leader of the Grymdale Tribe??'
'Fine. Very... pragmatic.'
Evangeline sighed. It seemed a trip to the Grymdale Tribe was unavoidable.
She glanced up at Saskia. "What did Elias Moretti mean by 'offerings'?"
Elias Moretti was clearly a dangerous man. If she was going to the Grymdale Tribe, knowing her enemy was the best strategy.
"Offerings of fem—" As she spoke, Saskia's eyes flickered, and a look of struggle appeared on her face.
Evangeline paused, then changed the question. "What were you just eating?"
'The Enchanting Spell was like that. It was related to spiritual power. There were some questions the enchanted person would strongly resist, and that resistance could even cause them to wake up.'
However, a question like "what were you eating" clearly didn't cross any lines.
"Pregnancy Fruit." Those two words made Evangeline raise an eyebrow and shoot Saskia a disdainful look.
'Their "Lineage Optimization Department" never bothered with such hocus-pocus. They relied on pure strength.'
They called it a "Pregnancy Fruit," but it had no real magical properties. It was simply rich in phytoestrogens, which promoted ovulation and increased the chances of conception. That was why it was mythologized on the Beastman Continent.
When Evangeline left Saskia's cave, she was munching on a "Pregnancy Fruit" herself.
'If she wasn't mistaken, the 'offerings' Elias Moretti mentioned were simply the Midridge Tribe becoming a vassal to the Grymdale Tribe, routinely offering up food, precious goods, and... females.'
'Tomorrow, there should be a chance to head to the Grymdale Tribe.'