If Maple Burn was still with her, Maple Syrup or Maple Cang would have been the ideal options for negotiations. But now… perhaps her only choice was Mistblade.

And she just so happened to have something from Maple Burn that was valuable enough for negotiations. If it was something even Maple Syrup needed, Mistblade definitely wouldn't pass it up either.

The unresolved matter between her and Mistblade needed to be settled. She had to figure out how Mistblade had tracked her down. Otherwise, every time she came to Lania Kaia, she would risk being hunted.

Now might be the best opportunity to negotiate. Mistblade wouldn't dare kill a renowned alchemy genius of the Undead faction right here in the Undead capital. And as an apprentice to Apache, there was no way she would get sliced in two the moment she stepped into the alchemy shop. As long as she could get the chance to speak, there was room for collaboration.

Besides, she hadn't stolen anything for herself—it was all for Apache! Apache was the real mastermind here!!! Read exclusive chapters at My Virtual Library Empire

Rita stepped out of the teleportation array and immediately confessed to the seven-tailed moon fox leading the guards. "I surrender!"

The seven-tailed moon fox stared at her, speechless. …Just three words, and my reward just dropped by thirty percent.

She thought about having Nivalis return to the pet space, but the little dragon refused, wanting to meet Mistblade. Besides, Rita had sprayed herself with [I Really Don't Have Time to Shower] and was disguised with the transformation artifact from the Holy Cup. So, she didn't insist.

With the Moonfox guards escorting her, Rita carried the tiny mongoose-like Nivalis and arrived at Apache's alchemy shop.

There were two neat rows of Moonfox guards standing outside, and all the customers had been cleared out of the store. Inside, Apache sat at her usual table by the window, facing Mistblade. Apache wore a gray robe with low-key black thread embroidery, while Mistblade, now fully healed, had changed into an elegant crimson robe.

Rita couldn't help but notice that Apache's aura was no weaker than Mistblade's. Despite the level and power disparity, her confidence and defiance were undiminished. She's the kind of person who could die standing tall with her chin up.

Kayden was squatting in a corner of the shop. She didn't seem injured but was drawing circles on the ground out of boredom. When she saw Rita being brought in, her confused expression quickly turned into one of realization and worry. Oh no, they're about to wipe out the entire alchemy shop.

Rita was led by a Moonfox guard to stand by the table. She turned to look at Apache, silently asking with her eyes, What happened? But Apache avoided her gaze, instead staring at the ceiling with feigned nonchalance.

Mistblade gazed at Rita with a faint smirk. "Switched skins again, I see?"

In a respectful tone, Rita asked, "Your Excellency Mistblade, how did you know I was an apprentice of Teacher Apache?"

Apache glanced at Rita's current player name——and couldn't stop herself from making a face that screamed "I can't believe this idiot." In a low voice, she muttered, "Can you not keep the same name when you're playing dumb? Try Little Lucia next time, maybe?"

Little Apache (Rita): "..."

Mistblade: "..."

What Apache didn't know was that Mistblade had already encountered Rita once in Moonfox City. However, Mistblade now clearly understood what Rita was referring to. A few hours ago, back in Moonfox City, this so-called apprentice had been disguised as a goblin, with no detectable connection in name or scent.

Mistblade, however, had no intention of clarifying things for Rita. Instead, she simply said, "Return what you took from me. If you don't, you and your teacher won't make it out of here alive."

Rita quickly tugged on Apache's sleeve and whispered, "Teacher, quick, give her back the book! Her Excellency Mistblade will surely forgive us. We were just so overwhelmed by admiration for Moonfox culture that we made a terrible mistake!"

Apache looked calmly at Rita. "She's definitely not talking about a book."

Rita turned to meet her teacher's gaze, her own firm and determined. "She definitely is."

Apache, in an even more resolute tone, replied, "She's definitely not!"

Rita gasped. "If it's not a book, then what else could it be?!"@@novelbin@@

Apache shrugged. "How would I know?"

Mistblade elegantly picked up the tea cup on the table and took a sip. Calmly, she ordered, "Mistrest, go kill that little undead over there. Let's educate these two."

Apache and Rita shouted in unison, "Wait!!!"

Kayden, wide-eyed and teary, looked helplessly at her teacher and this strange foreigner. I will love them forever, even as they throw me to the wolves…

The Moonfox guards froze in place, halting their movements. Mistblade turned her gaze back to the two women, one of her nine tails lifting to tap on the table with its black tip. "Put everything on the table. Now."

Once again, Apache and Rita spoke in unison, "We really don't know what you're talking about!"

Mistblade & Kayden: "..."

Mistblade chuckled. Sometimes when someone is just that clueless, you can't help but laugh. Apparently, moon foxes weren't immune to this phenomenon.

Even Nivalis couldn't bear to watch anymore. She raised her tiny black paw to cover her eyes and turned away in Rita's arms, facing Mistblade with her rear instead.

Apache and Rita simultaneously turned to look at each other, the atmosphere awkward beyond words.

Mistblade's nine tails fanned out like a peacock's display. A mist spread throughout the shop, suffocating the air. If killing Apache wouldn't result in her world relic disappearing, Mistblade likely would've acted already. She stared coldly at Rita. "This is your last chance."

Rita sighed inwardly. She had decided not to run earlier for two reasons.

First, she wanted to see if Apache would still protect her when facing Mistblade directly.

Second, she couldn't abandon Apache and Kayden. If she had arrived in Dark City and found things in chaos, her first instinct to leave would not go unnoticed by Apache.

Even if she set aside the personal bond she had built with these two undead, the simple matter of preserving future opportunities was too important. Abandoning Apache and Kayden would effectively cut off her connection to Lucia.

Though Apache never openly acknowledged being Lucia's student and there was little evidence of direct collaboration, the signs were undeniable. When Apache acquired a Moonfox book, she would organize the notes and send them to Lucia. Similarly, when Lucia couldn't receive Moon Sand, her first choice was to use Apache as an intermediary.

Clearly, their relationship was far deeper than appearances suggested. And Rita's ability to peacefully trade with Lucia? Apache's influence was undoubtedly key.

Betraying Apache would be the same as severing ties with Lucia.

Without these two masters, where would she go to study alchemy? Back in High Tower, she'd been forced to specialize in cooking—not because she loved it, but because there was no opportunity to pursue alchemy. Now that she had an amazing teacher, she fully understood just how important that was.

Rita pulled out the bargaining chip she had prepared. "Do you need a translator for ancient languages? I can speak 666 of them."

Mistblade's eyes shifted immediately. For a split second, her killing intent surged to a terrifying peak, only to vanish just as quickly. She waved her hand, dismissing the Moonfox guards from the shop. As the guards left and the door shut, Mistblade turned her attention back to Rita. "You want to follow me?"

Rita's eyes widened in horror.

No! I just wanted to freelance! Who said anything about pledging allegiance?!

Mistblade could see the panic written all over Rita's face…

She hadn't felt this kind of insult since the time she found her handcrafted, master-level potions being auctioned off to the highest bidder.