Volume 2

Chapter 1: Beast and Lunatic

The teleportation array, one of the top three most influential spells in the history of magic and Ether Theory, played a massive role in the Empire’s development.

If not for the terrifying Ether vortexes swirling in the Tianlu Mountain Range, preventing stable spatial channels, the Empire would have long marched westward, unifying the continent.

This practical spell allowed Anselm, far in the Northlands, to instantly arrive in the West Kingdom or any part of the Empire.

By comparison, while that other world’s transportation system was impressive, at a higher level, it couldn’t rival the extraordinary.

However, given that world’s pace of development, who could say if something like a teleportation array might appear?

A thousand years…

Anselm sighed inwardly.

The Empire’s millennium was merely a stagnation in the dead waters of the extraordinary, with occasional ripples but little progress.

Yet that world’s millennium could bring changes Anselm couldn’t even imagine.

“Anselm… Anselm!”

Hitana’s call snapped Anselm out of his thoughts.

The girl waved her hand in front of him: “Why are you zoning out?”

Anselm took Hitana’s hand, smiling: “Just thinking about some things… Ready? Don’t be nervous.”

Hitana’s cheeks flushed slightly, and she touched the collar around her neck with a hint of glee, clearing her throat: “Of course! It’s just the Imperial Capital, what’s there to be nervous about!”

Anselm and Hitana would head to the Imperial Capital first.

The maids would pack Anselm’s belongings, with most returning to the Hydra’s territory, while a few who had served Anselm for years would follow him to the Hydra family’s mansion in the Imperial Capital.

Marina would join them in the Imperial Capital after completing the final handover tasks.

As the teleportation array’s light flared, Anselm glanced at Hitana, noticing that the girl who had just boasted about not being nervous now had anxiety practically written on her face.

Anselm couldn’t help but laugh, saying lightly:

“Hitana, do you know the usage rate of the Imperial Capital’s teleportation arrays?”

“I’m not nervous, I’m not nervous, I…” Hitana, muttering “I’m not nervous,” nearly bit her tongue, stumbling: “Wh-what usage rate?”

“The Imperial Capital has thirty-six teleportation arrays in total, and the cost is over ten times that of regular teleportation.”

“Even so, using the Imperial Capital’s arrays requires booking at least a week to half a month in advance.”

“Even the arrays reserved for high-ranking officials and extraordinaries usually require reservations.”

As he spoke, Anselm reached out to adjust Hitana’s collar:

“But we don’t need to, Hitana.”

The young Hydra looked at the wolf girl about to embark on a new journey with him, saying:

“Because I am Hydra and you are my Contract Head.”

“If I need something, countless people will rush to offer it with both hands; if I despise something, countless others will scramble to eliminate it.”

“Even in that city, no one would dare challenge you or speak a word against you. If they do—”

The Empire’s greatest villain smiled gleefully:

“Then I now grant you the freedom to act as you please, to crush, destroy, and annihilate anything you deem an enemy.”

His voice was so gentle yet filled with a power that sent Hitana’s heart racing.

The girl was no longer nervous.

She grabbed Anselm’s hand, rubbing it against her cheek, squinting contentedly: “Got it, Anselm… but I won’t do that!”

She stuck out her tongue playfully and confidently at Anselm: “I’m not the type to bully others with power. How’s that any different from a noble? And I definitely won’t cause trouble recklessly anymore!”

Anselm smiled, patting her head: “Then let’s go.”

“Mm!”

Hitana responded with high spirits, stepping into the teleportation array’s light alongside Anselm.

In the chaotic spatial shift, the two instantly arrived in an extravagantly decorated room.

Coming to her senses, Hitana stared at the room’s dazzling gold and shimmering magic crystals, her newfound confidence deflating by half.

She’d never seen so many shiny things in her life—except in the Chishuang Manor’s treasury.

But that was a treasury!

This was just a teleportation room?

Did it need to be so lavish?

“Esteemed Lord Hydra.”

A soft, melodious female voice suddenly filled the room: “Welcome to Tianxin. Is there anything I can do for you?”

“A carriage to the Hydra Mansion, with the best dishes from Glutton’s Mouth for this season prepared inside, for two.”

Anselm, familiar with the process, sat on the room’s sofa, stretching comfortably: “Call me when it’s ready.”

“All as you wish, Esteemed Lord Hydra.”

After the female voice faded, Hitana sneakily glanced left and right, sitting uncomfortably beside Anselm.

“What was that voice?” she couldn’t help but ask.

“Just a receptionist. Is it strange?”

“Well, not exactly, it’s just…”

Hitana hesitated, starting and stopping.

Though in Chishuang City, most people always had to mind her mood, Hitana had never been treated with such meticulous hospitality.

“More importantly—”

Anselm suddenly grabbed Hitana’s hand, pulling her into his arms amid her startled yelp.

“Glutton’s Mouth wouldn’t dare keep me waiting long, but preparing dishes good enough takes some time.”

The wicked Hydra whispered softly in the ear of the gradually softening Hitana:

“Shall we do something,Hitana?”

Anselm was speaking the truth.

After that night, the insatiable Miss Hitana had become somewhat unrestrained.

Compared to Marina, who had to take stamina potions to keep up, Hitana’s physical prowess was far too abundant.

Her body, transformed by the Head of Strength, allowed Hitana to fully revel in that pleasure, making our Beast King Miss unleash her wild side almost daily.

Not that Anselm had any reason to refuse.

Though her technique was still unpolished, Hitana’s physical condition was simply too exceptional—not just outwardly, but, well… even internally, she could use muscle control to achieve an incredibly tight embrace.

Hitana, lying across Anselm’s lap, gave a token struggle, her face slightly flushed as she murmured: “But here, isn’t it a bit improper…”

Anselm teased her chin, chuckling: “No one will disturb us here and no one would dare spy. Besides…”

His fingertip brushed Hitana’s snowy neck, lightly tapping her collar.

The girl let out a soft moan, the surging current now a unique kind of pleasure for her.

“Besides, haven’t we tried it in even more open places? I can always sense people immediately, right, Hitana?”

Hitana, her voice growing more suggestive, panted softly: “But the clothes, the clothes…”

“Clothes? Clothes aren’t an excuse. You know I can handle such minor spells.”

Miss Wolf stopped talking, obediently lowering herself, silently nibbling Anselm’s fingers.

Anselm laughed silently, his hand gently stroking Hitana’s back, sliding downward, and then—

For some reason, his expression briefly tightened, but it quickly softened into a gentle smile.

—The smile he often wore when training Hitana.

“An-Anselm?”

The girl called out, slightly dissatisfied: “Why’d you suddenly stop?”

“Well, because…”

Bang!

The room, which should have been undisturbed, echoed with the sound of a door being violently forced open.

In the faint gust of wind, a pristine white coat’s hem appeared.

“Click.”

The sound of high heels striking the floor rang out.

A woman with blue-gray hair tied in a high ponytail stood expressionlessly at the door, staring at Anselm, who sat on the sofa with a beaming smile, and Hitana, who was bent over with her hips raised.

“It seems I’ve interrupted your fun, Lord Hydra.”

The woman adjusted her gray-white framed glasses, her tone icy yet laced with an indescribable sarcasm.

“!!!”

Hitana, slow to react, instantly sprang up, shouting in a mix of shame and fury:

“Who the hell are you!”

The woman at the door was strikingly tall.

Even with high heels, she matched Hitana’s height, enhanced by the Head of Strength.

If Hitana’s perfect figure still carried a trace of youthful innocence, this woman in a simple white coat exuded a fully mature charm.

Ignoring Hitana, she kept her gaze on Anselm: “Three years ago, after leaving the Imperial Capital, you ignored my 723 communications, 586 letters, and refused 374 visits.”

Her cold voice finally carried a trace of emotion—anger.

“Hydra.”

She enunciated each word: “You ignored me for three whole years, and the Contract Head you chose—”

Her icy gaze shifted to Hitana:

“Is this uncivilized, rutting beast who can’t control herself in public?”

“…”

Our Miss Hitana froze for a full three seconds before realizing she was being insulted.

“You damn—”

The matured Hitana forcibly swallowed her urge to snap back, grinding her teeth: “I’ll ask one more time—who are you!”

Amid her anger, Hitana felt something odd.

This woman… Why doesn’t she smell much like a person?

The woman ignored Hitana, hands in her white coat as she stepped forward: “Hydra, you refused to let me become your Contract Head, but in these three years, I’ve achieved results without you.”

Four iron-gray objects flew out from under her loose coat.

Hitana stared blankly at these flying metal clumps, completely clueless about what they were.

The woman slightly raised her chin, her frosty expression unwavering: “I’ve proven my—”

“Oh… you updated the floating cannon design?”

Anselm raised an eyebrow: “Sorry, I didn’t notice.”

“…”

In just two sentences, the woman, who had maintained an icy demeanor since entering, had two veins bulging on her forehead.

“You didn’t… notice?”

She squeezed out four words through her teeth, repeating: “Didn’t notice?”

“Is that strange?” Anselm, resting his chin on one hand, said nonchalantly, “Or, Miss Mingfuluo…”

“Do you think you have anything worth my special attention?”

The reception room echoed with Mingfuluo’s increasingly heavy breathing.

Hitana, though unsure of the situation, felt—

So satisfying!

This random woman who barged in acting superior deserved to be chewed out by Anselm!

“Lord Hydra! My deepest apologies!”

Just as the woman in the white coat seemed ready to explode, a well-dressed middle-aged man suddenly appeared in the teleportation room.

Standing between them, he bowed deeply to Anselm with utmost remorse: “This is our unforgivable mistake. Please—”

“No need to take it to heart, Mr. Okan.”

Anselm waved dismissively with a smile: “The one who bypassed your security system was Mingfuluo, not anyone else, so it’s not your fault. I don’t mind her disrespect either.”

“No, no—”

Mr. Okan showed no intention of straightening up, his tone still brimming with apology: “Ultimately, it’s our negligence.”

He pulled a purple crystal card from his pocket, respectfully presenting it to Anselm with both hands:

“Please accept this compensation. If you have any delivery or teleportation needs in the Imperial Capital, I humbly request your generosity to allow me to continue serving you.”

“Since you insist, Mr. Okan.” Anselm took the purple crystal card with a hint of helplessness, “I’ll accept it.”

Okan sighed in relief, then straightened and turned to the icy woman.

Mingfuluo Zege, the unrivaled genius among the Empire’s young sorcerers, a dire threat in the eyes of the Ether Academy, a supreme treasure within Babel Tower, and…

An utterly intolerable lunatic.

If Hitana’s troubles at Tianlu Tower stemmed from her volatile temper, lack of control, and arrogant foolishness… Mingfuluo’s infamy in the Empire’s academic circles and beyond was due to—

Her equal, absolute disdain for everyone.

“Miss Zege,” Okan’s tone grew flat, carrying a hint of warning, “Your actions are a grave disrespect to Lord Hydra. Even if Lord Hydra forgives you, we could take you to the Imperial Court.”

“Then do it.”

Mingfuluo spat out the words coldly, her gaze still fixed on Anselm.

“Hydra, let your Contract Head fight me.”

“Hm?” Anselm raised an eyebrow, “You interrupt me and still want such a favor?”

“Ha! You said it yourself!”

Before Anselm finished, Hitana eagerly stepped forward, a faint beastly shadow twisting behind her, the room echoing with a subtle growl.

Okan’s eyelid twitched, and he quickly forced a smile: “Miss Lans, you…”

“Anselm!”

Hitana turned to Anselm, brimming with excitement: “Can I teach this one a lesson right now?”

Seeing her overwhelming enthusiasm, Anselm didn’t want to dampen his girl’s spirits, especially after Mingfuluo’s barrage of insults.

“Hm… alright.”

Under Okan’s slightly horrified gaze, Anselm nodded with a smile: “But go easy, got it?”

“Hmph, got it.”

“Against this kind of trash…” The ferocious wolf-beast raised her chin, gripping her collar, her smile growing increasingly savage.

“If I got serious, it’d be my loss.”

“Come on!”

Hitana pointed at her head: “Don’t ruin the clothes Anselm gave me. Aim here.”

Okan, sensing trouble, hurriedly said to Anselm: “Lord Hydra, you—”

Anselm merely raised a hand, and the distinguished-looking man fell helplessly silent, quietly reinforcing the room.

Mingfuluo didn’t hesitate, not even bothering with taunts.

The floating cannons at her side unleashed a blazing beam, striking Hitana’s head.

Hitana’s head tilted back slightly, her face starting to smoke.

When she lowered it again, her face, well… had a slight burn.

In an instant, the powerful self-healing of her body, enhanced by the Head of Strength, restored her cheek to its smooth, fair state.

The girl, arms crossed, tilted her head disdainfully:

“That’s it?”

Mingfuluo, expressionless, fired again, the beam noticeably hotter, but the damage to Hitana… was even less.

“…”

The woman narrowed her eyes, a glimmer passing over her gray-white glasses.

The next second, all four floating cannons fired simultaneously, the barrage looking like it meant to blast Hitana’s head apart.

Okan watched, heart pounding, but the girl just clicked her tongue, standing there bored, too lazy to move.

“Lame.” Hitana spat in disgust, her saliva instantly vaporized by the beam, yet she walked forward, head-on against the relentless bombardment, step by step toward Mingfuluo.

“Yelling like that in front of Anselm, I thought you were some… cough, thought you were a big deal.”

She strode through the beam barrage, swaggering up to Mingfuluo, grabbed her neck, and lifted her off the ground.

“Apologize now.”

Seeing Mingfuluo stop firing, Hitana, assuming she’d conceded, said smugly:

“And apologize properly to Anselm, with respect, and I’ll let you off.”

“…Basic data collection at fifty-six percent, analysis model establishment requirements…”

“…Hm?”

The girl looked at the woman whose head was drooping, muttering something incomprehensible, and instinctively leaned closer: “What are you mumbling about?”

“Data meets minimum requirements.”

After saying this, the sorceress, whose face seemed perpetually frozen, raised her head. The unreserved contempt and disdain in her eyes pierced through her glasses into Hitana’s.

“We’ll meet again soon, uncivilized foolish beast.”

And then, Miss Mingfuluo Zege…

Exploded.

Amid the rising thick black smoke, the unscathed Hitana stared in disbelief at the “head” in her hand.

Half its face was blown apart, revealing a metallic skeleton glinting with cold iron light.

“This, this—”

“Alchemical puppet,” Anselm shrugged, “She wouldn’t use her real body the first time she came to mess with you.”

“Shameless jerk!”

Furious, Hitana crushed the metal head with one hand: “Coward! Stinking woman! Damn hag! Don’t let me catch you!”

She thought she’d shone brilliantly, thrashing her opponent, only to realize she’d been played, making her so angry she wanted to find Mingfuluo’s real body and pummel her into the ground.

“No wonder she didn’t feel quite right, barely any human scent.”

The keen perception from the Head of Wind had already given Hitana an unnatural feedback, but our country wolf girl couldn’t discern what it meant.

Okan, watching the farce conclude, cautiously said to Anselm: “Lord Hydra, the carriage and food have been prepared for you.”

“Mm, thank you, Mr. Okan.”

Anselm stood, leaning on his cane, and looked at Hitana, who was still indignantly stomping on the puppet’s parts, chuckling:

“Alright, Hitana, we should get going.”

“…Huh? Oh, okay…”

The girl gave a final, resentful kick to the parts and followed Anselm out.

Walking down the corridor with Anselm, Hitana held back for a long time but finally couldn’t resist:

“Anselm, who the heck is that woman! Putting on that smug face for who?”

“You’ve met her before, forgotten?”

“…I have?”

Hitana paused, puzzled: “When?”

Anselm tapped his temple: “Here.”

The girl thought for about four or five seconds, then gasped, shouting:

“That lunatic! Mingfuluo… Mingfuluo! No wonder the name sounded familiar!”

In the memories of the original timeline Anselm showed Hitana, during her wandering days, she’d briefly encountered Mingfuluo, clashing once. Later, when Hitana went to Chishuang City to settle scores, the desperate Count Chishuang had tried to kill her with a weapon designed by Mingfuluo.

In those memories, Hitana’s interactions with Mingfuluo were brief, but recalling that woman’s “you useless idiots” attitude, combined with the cold demeanor she’d just seen, our Beast King Miss’s temper flared.

Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, her anger turned to wild joy.

“Anselm!”

Hitana whipped around, grabbing Anselm’s arm excitedly: “She’s the target this time, right!”

Her eyes practically glowed, her elation suggesting she wanted to personally take on Mingfuluo’s “training.”

“Indeed, it’s her.”

Anselm couldn’t help but laugh: “But why are you so excited, Hitana?”

“I… I’m gonna make sure you handle her harshly!”

Hitana rubbed her hands eagerly: “Ten times harsher than you were with me!”

“Well, heh…”

The wicked Hydra said meaningfully:

“I can promise, it absolutely won’t disappoint you, Hitana.”

*

When the rolling wheels slowly came to a stop, Anselm pushed open the carriage door and stepped out, turning to Hitana inside with a light chuckle, extending his hand:

“What, ate too much and can’t walk?”

Her face flushed, now in a different outfit, the girl leaned out and pinched Anselm’s palm hard.

The beautiful female coachman bid farewell to Anselm and Hitana before driving off, and Anselm led Hitana into the Hydra Manor in the Imperial Capital.

There were no servants lined up at the manor’s entrance to welcome Anselm’s return. He wasn’t interested in such formalities. If the servants had time for that, they’d better finish their work or rest well to maintain their physical and mental health, which mattered more to Anselm.

But that didn’t mean no one came to greet him.

“Anselm!!”

Barely two steps into the manor, a warm, exuberant call rang out from nearby.

A blonde woman in a long dress ran toward him, her face beaming with a radiant smile, reaching Anselm in the blink of an eye.

“Anselm!”

She hugged Anselm tightly, her voice trembling with excitement.

“It’s been so long, and you finally came back to see Mommy!”

Elnilisa Drenan, Anselm’s mother.

“Three years to visit once.”

The mature, gentle woman acted like a child, ruffling Anselm’s brilliant golden hair, so like her own, with dissatisfaction: “You never contact me. Do you hate me that much?”

“…You’re exaggerating, Mother.”

Anselm’s face broke into a smile as he gently pushed Elnilisa away.

“This is my Contract Head, my first Contract Head, Hitana Lansmarlos.”

He introduced her, and Hitana, snapping out of a daze, hurriedly bowed in a flustered manner:

“Uh, um, I’m Hitana, no, I’m Lansmarlos, I’m… Anselm’s…”

“Oh, you’re the girl who can inherit two Contract Head powers.”

The woman in a simple dress exclaimed with delight, hugging Hitana: “Amazing! And you really like my Anselm, hm…”

She sized up Hitana’s figure, nodding with satisfaction:

“Among Anselm’s suitors, you’d rank near the top!”

“Keep it up.” The current Lady Hydra waved her fist, chuckling, “I’m rooting for you, Hitana.”

Hitana, her face bright red, was rendered speechless, her already stumbling words now completely stuck.

“Oh, we can’t just stand here chatting. Let’s go to the lounge. I’ve prepared so much… Oh, and there’s a guest waiting for you, Anselm.”

Elnilisa reached for Anselm’s hand, but he subtly dodged. She wasn’t upset, only smiling secretly at how her child had grown, gazing at Anselm’s increasingly tall and upright figure with contentment and relief.

Three years had turned a child into a young man, a world of change. Elnilisa always regretted not watching her son grow.

“The Imperial Capital’s seen a lot these three years. That girl Ivora’s getting more radical… The Ether Academy and Babel Tower are always clashing, and…”

Anselm walked side by side with his mother, quietly listening to her recount the capital’s events over the years, occasionally smiling but mostly calm.

They soon entered the manor, heading to the lounge under Elnilisa’s lead:

“I’ve collected a ton of books these years, Anselm, you could read for ages… I even called Old Mofur from the territory to cook for you. Oh! Mel’s coming back soon too. It’s been ages since our family ate together!”

“Is the guest here, Mother?”

Anselm stopped before a room, asking suddenly.

“…Huh? Oh! Yes, almost walked past it.”

The mature Lady Hydra sheepishly touched her cheek: “It’s been so long since I talked to Anselm… I’ve turned into a chatterbox.”

“…You’ve always been a chatterbox, Mother.”

This was Anselm’s first response to Elnilisa’s words.

“Hm? Have I?” The woman blinked, then laughed happily, “I wouldn’t know, but if Anselm says so, I guess I am.”

“The guest is here for you, so I won’t intrude. But come find me after your chat, or I’ll be mad!”

Elnilisa poked Anselm’s forehead, then hummed a tune, leaving with light steps.

Once she was gone, Hitana couldn’t help but ask:

“Anselm, your mother…”

Anselm didn’t answer, instead turning the doorknob with a light chuckle: “Let’s see who’s visiting us so early. If I’m not mistaken—”

“I said we’d meet again soon.”

In the lounge, a woman in a white coat sat with one leg crossed, her thigh, clad in matte iron-gray stockings, looking long, full, and glossy.

Mingfuluo adjusted her cold-glinting gray-white glasses, sneering:

“The beast tamed by Hydra.”

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