Lin Gui soon understood what Elvia meant by "easy to talk to for men."
As soon as they entered Eagle Fortress, Lin Gui and Theia were stunned by the scene before them.
To put it simply... a large number of banshees with female bodies and eagle claws were making merry with male mercenaries and adventurers, oblivious to everyone else.
The entire Eagle Fortress was less like a military bastion and more like a giant pleasure house.
The air was thick with the scent of pheromones.
The fortress's internal structure had been heavily modified; the corridors and rooms originally used for defense were now hung with suggestive gauze curtains, turning them into semi-open cubicles.
The banshees ran their sharp claws over the tense muscles of the male adventurers, letting out ear-piercing yet seductive laughter.
As for the men being entangled, their faces were written with reluctance.
After all, although they were called "banshees," only their torsos resembled human women.
Their arms were feathered wings, their lower limbs were sharp, scale-covered eagle claws, and their faces bore the features of birds of prey.
It was difficult for a man to feel desire for them... unless he was a complete deviant.
Lin Gui immediately recalled the records of banshee habits in the 《Demon Encyclopedia》 and realized he had been played by Elvia.
He grabbed Theia, wanting to retreat immediately.
"Relax!" Elvia immediately caught him and reassured him.
"I won't make you pay the 'crossing fee' like those low-level adventurers and mercenaries!"
"Crossing fee? What's that?" Theia asked curiously.
Lin Gui answered first with a dark expression, "What else could it be? They want seeds."
"Banshee tribes only give birth to females; this is their way of ensuring their population numbers."
"I just didn't expect it to be so... 'civilized.'"
"Usually, they just snatch males directly into their nests and... drain them."
Elvia laughed, "Yes, that's exactly it."
"But with Queen Selene here, they won't do anything as shortsighted as killing the goose that lays the golden eggs."
"Then how are we going to get through? We aren't really going to..." Theia looked displeased.
"Don't worry, there's a second way to pass through here," Elvia whispered into Theia's ear.
"Don't get jealous in a bit."
Under Theia's confused gaze, Elvia intimately linked her arm with Lin Gui's, leaning almost entirely against him.
Then, with a smile, she walked toward the core area of the fortress.
Soon, several banshees circling above the fortress flew down excitedly.
But after seeing the royal badge on Elvia's chest and the intimate way she was holding Lin Gui, they flew back in disappointment.
Elvia explained in a low voice, "There is only one way for a man to pass through Eagle Fortress unharmed: by being 'someone from the royal family.'"
She held onto Lin Gui and looked at Theia with a mischievous smirk.
Theia looked at her speechlessly.
Just when Lin Gui and Theia thought they could slip through that easily...
"Princess Elvia?! Is that you? You're back!"
A voice full of surprise rang out from the side.
This voice was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, instantly drawing everyone's attention.
The rowdy area quieted significantly as countless gazes focused on Elvia.
"It really is Her Highness!"
"Princess Little Seven, have you returned from Caran?"
"Wonderful! We thought you were exiled to that remote city and would never return."
Greetings rose up one after another.
The mercenaries and adventurers, who had previously looked listless, now showed genuine gratitude and respect in their eyes.
Theia leaned into Elvia's ear and whispered, "You have quite a lot of prestige among the adventurers and mercenaries of the Royal Capital."
Elvia maintained a proper smile, nodding to those around her while her lips moved slightly as she whispered back to Theia.
"Because most of the connections among the nobles, knights, and the Defense Force were divided up by my brothers and sisters long ago."
"To survive, I could only pick up these 'scraps.'"
"Are mercenaries and adventurers not good? There are many powerful individuals among them," Theia said, confused.
"Heh, you country girl," Elvia mocked softly.
"Only in a city-state like Caran, which lacks logistics channels, would the City Guard be unable to suppress the Adventurer's Guild."
"In the Royal Capital, if you really make a name for yourself among adventurers, there are usually only two paths waiting for you."
"First, become a member of the nobility and marry a noblewoman; second, get eliminated directly."
"There is a third path," Lin Gui added flatly. "Become a rebel."
Elvia's brow furrowed as she looked at Lin Gui.
This guy knows quite a lot... is he really just a mage from a wandering background?
Suddenly, a lazy and seductive voice drifted down from the top of the fortress, clearly drowning out all the noise.
"Princess Elvia, it has been a long time."
"Come, let me see... let me see the 'husband' you brought back from Caran."
Elvia wore a mysterious smile as she turned to Lin Gui and Theia.
"Let's go. Time to see the Queen."
Several banshees with powerful auras descended from the sky, each radiating the pressure of the Legendary Rank!
They took Elvia's group of three and instantly arrived in the core hall at the top level of the fortress, before a certain presence.
Sitting on a magnificent bone throne was the Epic Rank Banshee Queen—Selene.
Her human part was practically flawless; her face was exquisitely seductive, and her body's curves were breathtaking.
However, the giant wings covered in deep blue feathers and the eagle claws flashing with a cold light clearly declared her terrifying strength and non-human nature.
Simply by sitting there, her invisible pressure made the surrounding air feel as if it were solidifying.
Selene, with eyes that seemed able to pierce the soul, sized up Lin Gui with interest.
"Hmm~~ a Mid-tier High Rank mage? Rare black hair and black eyes..."
"As for his looks, 78 points."
"Hmm~~ if only he were a bit taller and stronger."
Being appraised to his face by an Epic Rank demon, Lin Gui didn't show a hint of dissatisfaction; he even wore a friendly, fake smile.
After all, the opponent was Epic Rank.
Moreover, she was a sonic-type and perception-type demon, the kind that most countered his concealment style.
The only reason she hadn't discovered the raft he had hidden was because she hadn't used her skills.
If she became serious, the Shroud of the Gloomy Night could not escape the perception of the Banshee Queen in front of them.
"This... is your man?" Selene looked at Elvia, her red lips parting slightly.
Elvia didn't dare to be slow; she immediately stepped forward and said flatteringly,
"In response to Your Majesty the Queen, this is the man I met in Caran City. It was love at first sight between us..."
As she spoke, she tightened her grip on Lin Gui's waist.
Lin Gui cooperated perfectly, reaching out to gently drape his arm over her armored shoulders.
"Then what about this elf behind you?" Selene's gaze turned to Theia.
Elvia was about to say she was a maid, but Theia took the initiative first, grabbing Lin Gui's right arm with a sweet smile and saying,
"I am also his wife."
Ever since that world-ending rain of blood destroyed all order, the monogamous view of marriage had collapsed.
The 《City-State Alliance Treaty》 allowed marriages in every sense.
A powerful male could have multiple wives.
Of course, a powerful female could also have multiple husbands.
On the surface, this treaty was to ensure there was no population crisis caused by the apocalypse, but in reality, it was just for the convenience of those in power.
After all, in the City-State Era, population was only ever considered too high, never too low.
Theia's sudden move caught Lin Gui by surprise; he instinctively tried to pull her back, but this movement made Selene laugh.
"Rest easy. In my eyes, there is no essential difference between the Demon Race and other races."
Hearing this, Theia's body shuddered violently.
Selene had said "Demon Race" rather than "half-demon"!
Her identity was exposed.
Elvia's expression remained normal, as if she had long expected this.
She turned her head, wanting to see Lin Gui's reaction.
As it turned out, Lin Gui was even calmer than she was.
"Tsk," Elvia muttered.
Pulling Theia more firmly behind him, Lin Gui bowed respectfully to Selene and spoke.
"I thank Queen Selene for her understanding. I ask that you please keep this a secret."
"Oh~?" Selene licked her sexy lips, the interest in her eyes growing stronger.
"Then, what can you give me in exchange for my silence?"
Lin Gui's expression didn't change as he spoke flatly.
"I can provide the Queen with information that might be helpful to you and the entire banshee race."
Selene was startled, and she sat up straighter with interest.
"Let's hear it."
Lin Gui looked up, meeting the Queen's eyes, and said clearly,
"In the Whispering Forest outside Caran City, I encountered a 'Brain-Digger Demon' from the Red Clay Desert."
The moment he finished speaking...
Boom!
A terrifying, Epic Rank aura exploded from Selene!
Elvia felt her heart skip a beat!
Theia, behind Lin Gui, was nearly triggered into an extreme reaction by this pressure, but Lin Gui himself didn't budge.
He was used to it.
On the road to the Magic City, he had encountered no fewer than ten Epic existences.
Compared to those truly world-destroying fellows, Selene's pressure was nothing.
The Legendary Rank banshee guards nearby knelt down tremblingly under the pressure.
Elvia reacted instantly, pulling Theia down to the ground to kneel with her.
She was a princess and royalty, but the banshee before her was the only Epic Rank existence within the entire influence of the Royal Capital.
Never mind her—even her brothers, who wielded immense power in the Royal Capital, would have to kneel.
The entire hall was deathly silent, save for the sound of Selene's sharp nails tapping on the throne's armrest.
After a long time, Selene's cold voice rang out.
"Are you certain, human?"
Lin Gui nodded, his tone firm.
"I am very certain."
"Your Majesty may send guards to investigate immediately."
Selene gestured to a banshee elder who had been silent by her side.
The banshee understood and beat her wings, disappearing from the fortress as a blur.
After the banshee elder left, the terrifying aura on Selene slowly retracted, and she revealed her seductive smile again.
"This information is indeed enough for me to keep the secret for that 'Demon Race' lady."
"You may go. I am tired."
Lin Gui and the others bowed and quickly withdrew.
Just as they were about to step out of the hall, Selene's lazy voice, carrying a hint of warning, came again:
"By the way, as a friendly reminder: that Demon Race girl's concealment magic is far too crude, and her demon energy is leaking significantly. It seems to be a recent awakening."
"If you don't want to die, find her a concealment spell or a concealment accessory of at least the Legendary Rank."
"At the same time, keep her well hidden until she completely masters demon energy, this new power."
"If a half-demon who can use demon energy is exposed in the Royal Capital, Elvia, you know how miserable her fate will be."
Lin Gui's brow twitched. In his perception domain, he couldn't feel the existence of demon energy.
He hadn't realized that Theia still carried this risk.
The Shroud of the Gloomy Night couldn't block the seepage of demon energy.
It seemed that once they reached the Royal Capital, he couldn't take Theia on adventures until this hidden danger was completely resolved.
Lin Gui turned and said with sincere tone, "Thank you for your reminder, beautiful Queen."
After being escorted out of the fortress by the banshees and crossing just one more hillside, Lin Gui and his group saw the second destination of their journey.
The City of Mountains—the Carter Royal Capital.
Rate on N.U.
