As Acheron left the bathroom, Lucian ultimately took off his bathrobe and continued his shower, since the soap bubbles covering his body hadn't been completely rinsed off yet.
"Acheron should be guiding Tiernan's Sin Thirster at this time, but since she came to me now so purposefully, it's obvious that something went wrong with Tiernan's Sin Thirster. Most likely, he's been resurrected under the influence of the script, just like Mikhail and Razalina."
Lucian quickly figured out Acheron's purpose for coming.
Acheron must have come to learn why Tiernan was resurrected and how he had managed to snatch something right under the Nihility's nose.
Understanding this, he began to think carefully about how he should trick her.
He really wanted to coax her into joining his side, since a powerhouse like her would only put him more at ease if she stayed under his roof.
As he thought hard about it, Lucian ended up dragging his shower on for quite a while.
===
In the living room downstairs, Acheron casually sat on a sofa, her sword laid flat across her thighs, waiting quietly for Lucian to finish his bath before discussing her purpose of coming.
*Creak—*
Just then, Robin pushed the front door open, clutching a delicate paper bag embossed with the gold 'Starry Dreamwear' logo—the blush on her cheeks from Lucian's teasing earlier hadn't yet faded, while her heart was still pounding.
Her mind was now filled with the image of those light, lacy pieces of fabric inside the bag, as well as Lucian's mischievous grin, which seemed to be waiting to enjoy a show.
"I... I'm back!"
As Robin stepped into the living room, she spoke with a voice that carried a bit of breathlessness, mixed with the giddy excitement and shy pride of someone who had just completed a daring mission.
But as she looked up, expecting to see that familiar carefree figure lounging on the sofa, her steps froze.
Instead of Lucian, the one sitting in the living room was an unknown woman—a woman whose figure was almost unfair—long legs, big chest, and a body that seemed crafted to perfection.
Her long violet hair cascaded down like a waterfall, and her simple yet sharp outfit carried a chilling, heroic air as she sat quietly at the center of the room, radiating an aloof, unapproachable aura.
"Who... are you?"
Robin blurted out the question, her voice edged with caution.
For her, this house was her and Lucian's cozy little home.
Having an unfamiliar woman suddenly appear here felt like someone had just pried open the lid of her favorite candy jar.
Hearing Robin's voice, Acheron turned her head slowly.
Her calm, emotionless gaze swept over Robin, then settled on the paper bag in her hand—which clearly held something 'special'—without showing the slightest reaction.
"I mean no harm. I'm just here to see Lucian."
Acheron's voice, like her gaze, was calm, without any rise or fall.
"To see Lucian? Why?"
Robin asked again while instinctively hiding the paper bag behind her back.
No way she could let anyone see what was inside.
If someone did, her image would be ruined, her persona shattered—instant social death.
"To learn from him—to study how to create new life under the influence of the Nihility."
Acheron answered calmly, her tone brief and straightforward.
Indeed, the reason she wanted to meet Lucian was to have him teach her how to bring new life into existence when under the Shadow of IX.
For her, that knowledge was crucial—it might determine the success of her fight against IX.
"Learn? Create new life?"
*BOOM!*
Robin felt something explode in her head.
'C–Create new life?!'
Inside her mind, those three words hit her like lightning-charged hammers, pounding on her fragile nerves!
Nihility, aside from meaning 'empty' or 'void,' also referred to 'dark' or 'night,' so didn't that mean this woman wanted to learn how to make babies at night? {Note: In Chinese.}
Was this mysterious, cool, and stunning woman who appeared out of nowhere actually Lucian's woman?
Besides, why did Lucian never mention this woman to her before?
Even worse, they were already planning to have a child?
A wave of panic and jealousy instantly flooded Robin's mind.
"I... I came first! Even if it's about... about that, you'll have to wait your turn!"
Robin swallowed hard, her voice trembling with grievance, while her face turned crimson as she sank deep into her imagined 'main wife catching the mistress' scenario in those dramas she watched.
Acheron, meanwhile, simply assumed Robin had also come to Lucian seeking help with some important issue, so if that was the case, waiting for her turn made perfect sense.
In the end, under Robin's aggrieved stare, Acheron nodded politely and even stepped aside slightly.
"Alright. You first. I'll go second."
Acheron spoke expressionlessly, her tone remaining calm and gentle.
"???"
Robin was confused at first, but the next second, she froze.
'What kind of response is that?! Shouldn't you be flustered, or at least deny it?! How could you just agree, so easily, to go second?!'
In Robin's eyes, Acheron's reaction was way too weird.
"Is Lucian that important to you?"
Robin asked cautiously, her face still flushed.
"Yes. For now, he's my only hope."
Acheron nodded gently, not denying in the slightest.
Ever since becoming a Self-Annihilator, her hope had, since then, been to sever the Nihility itself. Anyone who could resurrect Sin Thirsters surely possessed a way to counter the Nihility, so of course, that meant hope.
"He's... important to me too..." Robin murmured, her flushed face becoming even redder. "Y-You really don't mind? Being second... after me?"
"Why would I mind?" Acheron replied calmly. "First come, first served. Once he's done bathing, you can go first."
"B-But... it's still daytime..." Robin blinked her eyes in panic. "S-Shouldn't we wait till night?"
"I don't mind either way," Acheron replied, gently shaking her head. "Whatever's comfortable for you, I'll follow."
Upon hearing this, Robin suddenly felt this woman wasn't so bad—in fact, she was rather kind and easy to talk to.
"By the way, my name's Robin. What about you?"
"My name... You can just call me Acheron."
Somehow, the two women started chatting like friends, and the atmosphere between them gradually grew oddly pleasant.
When Robin learned that Acheron's homeland had been destroyed—leaving her as the only survivor—she couldn't help but tear up, her heart filled with pity.
"It's okay..." Robin said warmly. "From now on, we're sisters. I'll help you, I promise."
As expected of Robin, upon hearing such a tragic past, her compassion instantly surged and completely replaced her jealousy. Now, deep in her heart, she had already decided that Acheron was one of them, and she would make sure to help her stay.
"...Thank you."
Acheron felt that something was off with Robin, but everything she said seemed perfectly reasonable.
Besides, Robin was also very friendly, so she should be a nice woman.
"By the way, I just bought new outfits," Robin said cheerfully, pulling the paper bag from behind her back. "I heard from the clerk that once you wear them, any man will agree to whatever you ask. Let's share them and try them on together. Your size shouldn't be much different from my mother's. I'll take you to my bedroom so we can change."
With that, Robin grabbed Acheron's hand without waiting for her answer and led her inside her bedroom.
Acheron hadn't seen what kind of outfit it was, but she couldn't bring herself to refuse her new friend's kindness, given that Robin meant well, and she had even let her cut in line.
Besides, she was a bit curious about these so-called outfits that made men agree to anything.
What kind of outfit could do that?
Inside the bedroom, soft rustling sounds followed soon after.
Acheron: "What kind of outfits are these?"
Robin: "You'll know when you put them on. It's my first time wearing something like this, too."
Acheron: "Alright then..."
===
A few moments later, Lucian finally stepped out of the bathroom after finishing his long shower.
Sensing around the house, he detected that Acheron was surprisingly in Robin's bedroom with Robin, but just as he wondered what they were doing together there, he suddenly heard Acheron's loud shout.
Acheron: "Absolutely not!"
Robin: "I'm not tricking you! I'm trying to help you!"
"Hmm, they seemed to be arguing? What's going on...?"
Lucian muttered thoughtfully before immediately going to check on them.
He couldn't let his little bird get bullied, so without bothering to knock, he pushed the bedroom door open as soon as he arrived.
*BANG!*
In the next second, he was greeted by a marvelous scene that could only be accessed by VIPs on exclusive adult channels.
===
[A bonus chapter for every 500 Power Stones.]
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