CHAPTER 262: WOMAN, WHAT MAKES YOU THINK YOU CAN BEAT ME?

The guard stood dumbfounded, trembling as he held up the small broken triple-headed emblem.

He didn't understand what Viktor meant by "council member" - after all, he was just a simple gate guard.

But looking at the man in the black coat before him, he knew Viktor wasn't someone to be trifled with.

The guard took the emblem and said respectfully to Viktor:

"Y-yes... I'll go notify the city lord right away!"

He was about to turn and leave, but Viktor suddenly called out from behind.

"Don't be in such a hurry."

The guard turned back, looking at Viktor with a hint of fear.

Viktor stood with his hands in his pockets and said flatly:

"Now, let us through."

...

Eventually, Viktor and Henie were allowed entry into the city by that guard.

After hearing Viktor's words, the guard had plunged straight into the sea to find the city lord.

Naturally, the two were permitted to enter.

As soon as they entered, Henie's eyes widened in amazement at the magical city before her.

The entire city seemed to be enveloped in water elements, with buildings of various sizes standing majestically above the sea surface. Curved water flows wrapped around the buildings, as if the earth itself had risen up to cradle this city in its palm.

Rather than solid ground, the surface beneath their feet was entirely composed of flowing water. Looking down, the massive city extended through the undulating water surface deep into the profound ocean depths. Scattered lights descended along the sea surface like tiny red flames burning weakly but persistently in the depths.

Beneath the ocean, various colored corals surrounded the buildings as if deliberately carved. Different types of algae floated aimlessly in the air. At night, merged with the light blue city, it created an exceptionally beautiful scene.

The whole place had such magical scenery that Henie found herself completely mesmerized.

Looking around, Henie observed the steady stream of pedestrians. Like the gate guard, they all had ancient mysterious patterns drawn on different parts of their bodies. They walked continuously on the sea surface, yet their clothes remained completely dry above the water.

If Henie hadn't used magic to block the water from her clothes, her robes would have been soaked through long ago.

She noticed their necks - they all wore identical necklaces that flowed like water. Their wrists too were adorned with flowing water like floating ribbons.

Puzzled, Henie looked at her own arm where the same water flow circled. She remembered this was given by that guard earlier. Apparently without this, the guard wouldn't have let them enter the city.

However, that guard couldn't resist Viktor's forceful approach. In the end, they still entered this water city.

Walking behind Viktor, Henie secretly glanced up at his back and arms. The professor had nothing on him - no mysterious water flow, nothing with any 'water' elements at all.

Perhaps this was why the passersby's gazes kept turning their way.

Henie was very sensitive to others' gazes. All along the way, she could feel many people constantly watching them with all kinds of different looks - curiosity, confusion, disgust, disdain...

It was hard to imagine that these emotional gazes would simultaneously come from these passersby's eyes toward them.

Henie felt somewhat scared being stared at by countless eyes, though she knew most of these gazes were focused on Viktor. There was almost no hostility shown toward her.

"Because of that 'Ocean Contract' on your arm," Viktor explained.

"Ocean Contract?"

Henie was confused for a moment, looking down at the faint water flow wrapped around her arm.

Viktor nodded and continued: "The sea people show hostility toward anyone entering the sea city. But having this means you've accepted the ocean."

Viktor pointed at Henie's arm, and the water flow seemed to activate, slowly flowing around her arm. The water droplets floating in the air began to rotate simultaneously.

Henie looked at the water flow ring on her arm with surprise.

"You're willing to become part of the ocean," Viktor explained calmly, but Henie felt somewhat dizzy trying to understand. What did this have to do with becoming part of the ocean? She still didn't quite get it.

Viktor withdrew his hand and put both hands in his pockets.

"You can keep this thing on your hand for now. The city lord will find us through your 'Ocean Contract'. We'll rest here for a day. Tomorrow, Duke Levi and Erica will arrive here too."

Hearing Viktor's words, Henie blinked. Learning that Erica would come, she felt delighted. After all, she had a good relationship with Erica, and Henie considered them friends.

Having very few friends, almost none, Henie especially cherished those who were kind to her.

But unconsciously, Henie felt a slight disappointment. She didn't know why it arose. Perhaps it was because she had been looking forward to traveling alone with the professor, but suddenly it became a group of four.

The little succubus never hid her feelings - when she wasn't happy, she showed it.

Viktor noticed her mood and casually glanced down at her. Then, he walked to a roadside vendor selling accessories, pointing at one of the crystalline ornaments.

The ornament looked like a water drop, carved lifelike, gleaming and seeming to be filled with rolling clear water.

"How much is this?"

The vendor was also a sea person, his muscular arms covered in patterns, even his Ocean Contract appearing broader than most people's.

When he saw Viktor, his face immediately darkened. Looking at Viktor with unfriendly eyes, his mouth curved slightly downward.

"I won't sell anything to you..."

BOOM.

A scorching red magic suddenly burst from Viktor's fingertip, a sharp flame spike embedded itself in the floating sea surface. The spike began to collapse, flames slowly falling onto the sea surface.

The next second, a wall of fire rose from nowhere, completely surrounding the vendor.

Seeing the fire wall about to completely engulf him, the vendor was suddenly terrified, hurriedly sitting down on the ground and backing up several steps. But behind him was still the scorching high temperature, he could only curl up in place.

Viktor's voice, however, remained calm: "How much is this?"

"O-one thousand Geo."

Geo was the universal currency in this world, not just usable within the Empire. The price wasn't expensive, just the cost of a magic potion exclusively sold by the Kravina family brand.

Viktor casually waved his hand, and a bag of coins appeared out of nowhere, falling in front of the vendor. He got the water drop ornament as he wished, and the fire wall gradually disappeared.

The shop owner was still shocked by the high temperature from earlier, his mood taking long to recover.

The surrounding passersby had already noticed the commotion Viktor caused. They watched him vigilantly, their expressions all showing gravity and fear. After all, the magic Viktor just released had power that couldn't be underestimated.

Moreover, Viktor's behavior was truly heretical. Who would use fire magic in the sea city? Wasn't this treating other sea people as nothing?

But after Viktor demonstrated his power, no one dared to cast any more looks his way. No matter where, having strong fists was always the hard truth.

Henie stood in place, staring blankly at Viktor. He held the blue water drop-like ornament in his hand, walking toward her step by step.

Could it be that the professor was doing this for her...

Henie's mood suddenly felt complicated. She felt both joy and panic simultaneously. If the professor really intended to give that item to her, how should she respond? Should she accept or refuse...

Wuwu, no good, Henie couldn't figure it out!

Seeing Viktor getting closer and closer, even pinching that water drop ornament and slightly raising it, the panicked Henie hurriedly closed her eyes. Her heart beat rapidly, very uncooperatively.

But the expected sensation never came.

Then, Henie opened her eyes. She saw Viktor's palm sliding off the crow's head on his shoulder. On top of that black crow's head, a water drop ornament flowing like water was worn.

The crow raised its proud head, looking at her as if showing off something.

Henie couldn't help blinking in confusion, then heard Viktor say: "This isn't for you."

At these words, Henie couldn't help showing disappointment. Right, what was she imagining? The professor even saw through her fantasy and specifically reminded her. No one would prepare gifts for her at all. Even with the professor, she had imagined too much...

"However..."

Hearing the voice, Henie was slightly startled.

But before Viktor could finish, suddenly, countless guards wielding spears formed of water rushed over from both ends of the street. Without exception, their wrists were also wrapped in light blue water flows.

Numerous guards gathered here, attempting to surround the two.

Seeing this, Henie couldn't help feeling panicked, closely sticking to Viktor's side, not daring to move. When had she ever seen such a scene?

But looking at Viktor, he still had his hands in his pockets, expressionless. As if he had already anticipated such a situation, he didn't take these guards seriously at all.

After quite a while, a tall figure sitting on a transport gliding across the sea surface slowly came down. He wore a small badge on his chest, like an azure star. Under the night sky, it sparkled with faint starlight, as if a real star had been plucked from the sky.

One look was enough to tell he was definitely not an ordinary guard.

"Listen well, outsider without an Ocean Contract ahead. Your behavior has disturbed the peace of the sea city. Now, please cease resistance and immediately accept our arrest and investigation."

As the words fell, all the surrounding guards raised their spears, the sharp spearheads rippling with water, pointing directly at Viktor.

Indeed, Viktor had triggered investigation by the sea city's guard members.

He silently thought to himself. In the game, every player who forcefully entered the sea city without receiving an invitation would be surrounded by the guard squad.

And at this time, as a player, what would they usually do?

Almost at the same moment those words fell.

Behind Viktor, a violent blazing flame arose. The coat was instantly covered with crimson patterns, the entire coat burning with raging fire, like an enraged fierce beast.

The guards widened their eyes, unconsciously gripping their spears tighter.

From within those angry flames, Viktor's voice slowly rang out:

"Arrest me?"

"Are you qualified?"

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