In the Capital City, there seemed to be no distinction between night and day. It was perpetually engulfed in dusk, neither bright nor dark, causing unease in people's hearts.

Indistinct and indecisive.

It was as if this world and this kingdom, like other nations, were slowly but surely immersing themselves in death, yet still a long way from a swift end.

As if lying in an ICU, hooked up to tubes.

Death itself is not the torment; the endless, protracted agony that precedes its arrival is.

"I think they're all quite pitiful."

Within the massive temple, seemingly constructed for Giant Beasts, Huai Shi heard Fu Yi's lament.

Huai Shi glanced back at her, unable to resist remarking, "Your sentiments might seem a little more sincere if you'd spit out that pine cone before you speak."

"But what does that have to do with me?" Fu Yi tilted her head, calmly retorting, "It's not like I'm the one being used as a tool. If anyone needs to be gung-ho, you're always there to charge ahead, aren't you?"

"Wow, you really have no compassion at all, woman."

Fu Yi rolled her eyes, "I've turned into a White Weasel. Why should a Husky be lecturing me about a lack of compassion?"

Hearing her somewhat weary voice, Huai Shi shook his dog-like head.

"Were you frightened?"

Even the well-traveled Huai Shi had been a bit creeped out by that scene, let alone Fu Yi.

"If you mean startled, then yes, a little. But more than that... it was probably disgust," Fu Yi mused, then added seriously, "Clinging to life so desperately, refusing to die cleanly and swiftly... it's just too unsightly."

She felt an indescribable revulsion.

Noticing her expression, which far from showing fear, seemed to scream, 'How shameful, hurry up and leave the group chat!', Huai Shi began to wonder if this woman's nerves were perhaps a little too resilient.

"Seriously, aren't you afraid at all?"

"Afraid of what?" Fu Yi countered. "I have GM privileges and a Gold Medal bodyguard. What's there to be afraid of? You're not trying to make me leave the group again, are you? I refuse!"

The translucent White Weasel retreated back into the bell, adopting an 'I'm not listening to any Erha preaching' posture, leaving Huai Shi utterly exasperated.

"Fine, stay or go, it's your decision."

Huai Shi shook his head as he heard a knock from outside the temple.

"Holy Great Spirits, the metals you requested have been delivered."

Huai Shi reached out, nudged the bell into a spot in his robes hidden from view, coughed twice, and signaled the Lizard Men serving him to enter.

However, looking at their moribund state, Huai Shi genuinely feared they might suddenly drop dead while pushing the carts in.

Two large carts were piled high with the various metal items Huai Shi had requested.

Already more than a mere trifle's worth, Gold and Silver, as well as Bronze and Iron, had accumulated into a small hill, emitting a sweet, delectable aroma of rust and the pungent scent of metal.

A fine dinner, plus rare metallic materials.

After they departed and the door was closed, Huai Shi casually scooped out half for his midnight snack, then retrieved the snake spine he had dragged for who knows how many tens of thousands of miles with his tail.

The flat surface of the snake spine was now coated inside and out with several layers of Huai Shi's iron saliva, exuding an indescribable slobbery odor that made Fu Yi's nose twitch uncomfortably.

"What are you doing?" she asked, poking her head out.

"Isn't PvP starting tomorrow?" Huai Shi pinned an iron stake with his paws, grinning to reveal a row of sharp teeth, "I'm planning a few surprises for the opposition."

Soon, shrill sounds of metal grinding reverberated from within the temple, rumbling through the night.

Initially, Fu Yi was incredibly annoyed by the noise. Later, however, listening to the rhythmic sounds, she gradually drifted off to sleep, only to be startled awake near dawn by screams emanating from the city.

She snapped her eyes open, looking at Huai Shi in astonishment. "What's going on?"

Huai Shi, who had somehow fashioned a dog-powered grinding wheel, turned his head in bewilderment, his ears twitching aimlessly. His voice boomed, "What did you say?!"

Great. After a whole night of elaborate tinkering, he hadn't achieved much else, but he'd managed to nearly deafen himself.

Fu Yi frowned. "Listen carefully."

In the silence, Huai Shi strained his ears and finally caught the gradually fading screams and wails, which sounded as if they were losing strength, leaving only a feeble, dying echo.

The direction seemed to be... the Royal Palace!

Instantly, both their expressions turned grave.

"Should we go check it out?" Huai Shi picked up the bell, poised for action. He worried that some traitorous rebels might cause trouble, assassinate the King during the night, and then lead an army to 'Clean the King's Side'... well, to clean out this group of Monsters invited by the King.

Before he could push the door open, he heard a soft knock from outside.

A deep voice he had never heard before spoke.

"Excuse me, is Mei here?"

It was a voice unlike those of the city's Lizard Men—polite, speaking Latin with a rather refined articulation and an authentic accent.

Huai Shi and Fu Yi exchanged a bewildered glance.

"An acquaintance of your mother's?" Huai Shi asked in a low voice.

"I don't know." Fu Yi shook her head. "No impression. Never heard it before."

"It seems Mr. Niflheim was correct; Mei's daughter was indeed accidentally drawn into this," the deep voice continued. "Hello, Mr. Huai Shi behind the door. I am Jonathan, a member of the Internal Exploration Group for this Witch's Night. I've been sent to confirm Miss Fu Yi's safety. If you have any concerns, Miss Fu Yi can use the plugin to verify my identity."

A pop-up window suddenly appeared before Fu Yi, displaying Jonathan Her's information.

Astronomical Society Continuing Court, Gravitational Balance Group; dual scholar in geomagnetism and geology; senior alchemy scholar and member of the archaeological team... A-level clearance.

Registered name: [Sea of Ice]

Only after Fu Yi nodded did Huai Shi nudge the door open. He then saw a black snake coiled on the stone steps outside, motionless as a statue, its entire body shimmering with the luster of crystal stones, its eyes like amber.

Huai Shi narrowed his eyes slightly.

Based on their deductions, the type of animal one initially transformed into was likely determined by personality and habitual behavior. And a snake, by any measure, rarely signified a good person.

"Please don't misunderstand. Although we both appear elongated, I'm... actually a lizard type," Jonathan said, seemingly guessing Huai Shi's thoughts. He awkwardly lifted the two rather small and delicate legs from beneath his body. "During my Metamorphosis, I chose a Crystal Lizard from Hell... Strictly speaking, I'm from the same school as Mei. In any case, I wouldn't harm anyone, especially not in front of an internally rated S-level Military Officer."

Huai Shi had heard of the Crystal Lizard and had even seen illustrations of it. It was a variant of the Petrified Giant Lizards, a gemstone-class Alien Species. Ignoring its excessively large body, it wasn't too different from what Jonathan described.

But... an internal S-level ranking? Huai Shi himself was shocked. Why was the rating so high?

"If it's alright, could I come in first?" Jonathan craned his neck, glancing at the White Weasel hiding behind a pile of metal. He tried to force a kind smile, but it ended up looking rather ferocious. Fu Yi quickly ducked her head and refused to come out.

"Please, come in," Huai Shi said, stepping aside. Once Jonathan was inside, he closed the door.

"Those screams outside... they were likely from a few overconfident Explorers who tried to seize the Holy Remains while the Kingdom is in decline. They're reaping what they sowed now, I suppose."

Jonathan, seeming to know their primary concern, spoke first. "I've spent the last couple of days mainly studying that thing. It's not something we can handle at our current level. Without at least six Metamorphoses, forget about consuming it; you'd be devoured by its residual will... A pity. I did warn them, but no one listened."

As he spoke, the screams finally faded away, replaced by a profound stillness.

Silence once again enveloped the entire Royal City.

Listening to this, Huai Shi couldn't help but draw a sharp breath.

As expected of the Astronomical Society; why are there so many hard-headed people? That piece of junk on the altar... even Huai Shi felt his skin crawl just looking at it. How could anyone dare to covet such a thing?

He and Fu Yi had already speculated, based on the murals they had seen in the cave, that the god worshipped by these Lizard Men was likely one of the Terrible Beasts of yore, a creature comparable in size to mountains.

The remains left by such a Giant Beast, even if they were an upgrade item, were not something that newbies like them, who had just arrived in Storm City, could possibly handle.

"I've come this time primarily at the request of Mr. Niflheim and Mr. Shah, the two Creators, to find Miss Fu Yi, to apologize for our oversight, and to offer assistance and compensation," Jonathan said in a measured tone. "If Miss Fu Yi wishes to leave, we just need to wait a short while, and a dedicated passage can be prepared outside. With my assistance, there will be no problems."

Fu Yi remained silent, her eyes rolling upwards to focus on the dust on the ceiling, as if she hadn't understood a word.

Jonathan seemed about to say more, but his open mouth suddenly froze. A faint, sharp crackling sound echoed in the air.

Fu Yi's fur twitched, and Jonathan, too, paused for a long moment.

Soon, a look of understanding dawned on him. He glanced at Fu Yi with a knowing half-smile. "It appears Miss Fu's progress is much further along than I anticipated. Then again, with Mr. Huai Shi assisting, there shouldn't be any danger..."

Huai Shi was dumbfounded.

What exactly happened? And, Big Brother, aren't you trusting me a bit too much?

"What the hell is that S-level rating about?" he finally asked, clearing his throat.

"Ah, that's an assessment of an internal member's potential," Jonathan explained, turning back. "In the document Mr. Niflheim sent me, Mr. Huai Shi is classified under a trusted profile, eligible for priority assistance and commissions when necessary. Your ranking is quite high...

"Honestly, achieving such terrifying feats by seventeen is astounding. Moreover, your integrity and commendable conduct are exceptionally rare. Although there might be slight blemishes concerning your relationships with the opposite sex, these hardly overshadow your virtues..."

"Hold on!" Huai Shi's eyes widened as he cut in, restraining his anger. "Don't you dare talk nonsense! What damn blemishes do I have in my relationships with the opposite sex?!"

Slandering me like this in front of my good buddy! Even if the Prince could tolerate it, Paradise certainly couldn't! Do you have any idea what the penalty for damaging my image is?!

"Ahem, my apologies. These are, after all, personal matters." Jonathan appeared embarrassed, the black snake offering Huai Shi a placating smile, "Please don't mind it."

BEEP! Favorability -100! Huai Shi mentally added sound effects, even picturing the text in blood red. He walked towards the door, annoyed. "Alright, since Fu Yi doesn't want to leave, I'll look after her. There's no tea to offer here, Mr. Jonathan. You can see yourself out."

"Ahem, wait, just a moment!" Jonathan seemed flustered and quickly said, "Actually, my purpose in coming here, besides wanting to escort Miss Fu Yi out, was also to propose an alliance..."