NOVEL WEB chapter 164
89. Miss Succubus
In the remote district, the lights still shone brightly.
A large number of guards, under the shouts and orders of their superiors, split into small teams, plunging into alleys filled with sewage and filth, aggressively capturing the scattered rats.
Of course, the effect was minimal.
Though they caught few, in the eyes of the onlookers, it was still a grand performance.
At least the lower district hadn’t been this lively in a long time.
“Oh my, even the guard team has been mobilized. It seems my decision to hold back was the right one.”
From the shadows of a distant building, the shopkeeper, wrapped in a black robe that couldn’t conceal her alluring figure, nervously patted her magnificent chest, the beautiful scenery swaying, but unfortunately, no one was there to appreciate it.
“But it doesn’t matter; I don’t really need the ancient dragon’s heart. Even if I did get it, I would just sell it at a high price to someone else, and it might even bring trouble.”
“What a pity… I haven’t found that guy who bought the Tear of True Love.”
The shopkeeper’s gaze fell, scanning the outskirts of the district once more, but after finding nothing again, she withdrew her sight in disappointment.
The Tear of True Love, that gem, was what she truly needed.
Unfortunately, her pockets were empty, and she couldn’t afford to bid high; she could only watch it become someone else’s possession.
Even the mysterious Number 88 who bought it was nowhere to be found. Unlike the powerful gangs in the lower district, she was ultimately just one person.
“Forget it, even if I did get it, it would only hold a glimmer of hope.”
The shopkeeper consoled herself, “And I’ve harbored this futile hope too many times, and without exception, they all turned into disappointment, even despair.”
Perhaps it would be better to sever this thought.
The greater the hope, the heavier the disappointment.
She had endured this pain too many times.
There should still be some time left to earnestly enjoy her limited, peaceful daily life: attending classes, conducting experiments, teasing some interesting fellow; perhaps for her current self…
“Excuse me, beautiful lady, did you lose this golden Tear of True Love, or this silver Tear of True Love?”
In the once empty alley, a woman’s enchanting voice suddenly echoed.
The shopkeeper’s pupils constricted, and she turned around sharply.
“Who!”
“Oh dear, no need to be so fierce, I’m just a kind passerby.”
From the depths, the sound of crisp footsteps emerged, sharp as a blade piercing metal.
Those were high heels at least ten centimeters tall, echoing against the cobblestones.
From the shadows, a woman with an alluring figure stepped out, her waist twisting like a water snake, moving gracefully.
She wore a form-fitting leather jacket that accentuated her curves, a devilish silhouette that could make any normal man bleed from the nose. The jacket had an extremely low V-neckline, plunging even to her navel, revealing two perfect half-moons.
Her face was strikingly seductive, with red eyeshadow accentuating her features, and her glossy pink lips seemed to beckon with every smile, as if capable of ensnaring souls.
She displayed the two teardrop-shaped pink gemstones in her hand, smiling sweetly:
“Look, the Tears of True Love you wanted, won’t you choose one?”
The shopkeeper glanced casually, her body instinctively tensing up.
“Both are fakes, why would I choose? And who exactly are you?”
“Hehe, nice to meet you, or rather, nice to meet you in this way. You can temporarily call me Miss Siren.”
Miss Siren smiled, her hands delicately pinching at an imaginary skirt, performing the etiquette of a noble lady.
Yet this etiquette was not elegant; it exuded a different kind of allure.
“As for these two gemstones… whether real or fake, the outcome is the same, isn’t it? You might as well choose one, consider it my little gift.”
“What do you mean?”
The shopkeeper narrowed her eyes, slowly retreating.
“Oh dear, are you angry? It seems that a little joke to bridge the distance isn’t quite working.”
Miss Siren casually crushed the two fake gemstones, then shifted her posture, one hand behind her back, the other in front, like a gentleman inviting a beautiful lady to dance at a ball.
Her cherry lips parted to reveal a name that made the shopkeeper’s breath catch:
“Then I won’t keep you in suspense any longer, join us, Anna Karberlin, you belong to our side.”
“Wh—how do you know…”
Called by her true name, the shopkeeper’s stunning face, usually hidden beneath a hood, revealed a rare look of panic.
Countless thoughts flooded her mind, causing her captivating eyes to display an incredibly complex array of emotions.
Shock.
Anger.
Confusion.
Fear.
Then these emotions mixed together, like the tide, gradually receding.
Only the resignation and sadness, as if anticipated, remained.
“So it is like this…”
She seemed to have realized something, murmuring softly, “You all still came to find me, didn’t you?”
“It seems you have understood who we are and have long known this day would come; that makes things easier.”
The lady demon still extended her hand, smiling as she asked:
“So, what is your answer?”
“Sorry.”
Without any hesitation.
The shopkeeper, or rather Anna, resolutely refused:
“I will not join you.”
“Why not?”
The lady demon maintained her charming smile:
“We… are of the same kind, aren’t we?”
“I am not of your kind.”
“Not?”
The lady demon tilted her head, seemingly perplexed by Anna’s words:
“Then who do you think you are of the same kind with? Surely, you don’t still think of yourself… as human.”
At this point, as if she had heard the funniest joke in the world, the lady demon clutched her stomach, laughing uncontrollably.
“Human? Human! You actually still think you are human? Do you dare to roll up your sleeves and look at the marks left by the great moon on your arms, and say such things?
Or do you still retain this innocence, believing you can return to being the filthy and lowly human? Ah, yes, from your desperate yearning for tears of true love, it seems you are indeed that naïve.”
“……” Anna remained silent.
“It seems I am not persuasive enough; in that case, there is nothing that can be done.”
The lady demon suddenly stopped laughing, gradually straightening her posture.
At this moment, Anna felt as if a dangerous cobra was rising before her, rearing its upper body.
“Your identity is incredibly noble, even far surpassing mine; I should not have used such disrespectful means.”
The lady demon slowly drew two crescent-shaped curved blades from behind her, a chilling aura rising from her.
“But time is running short; in order to ensure your return to the great embrace of the moon before that moment, to complete the final ritual, I can only… resort to a bit of dangerous means.”
“Don’t blame me, oh, noble divine offspring.”
—
The delicate pink tongue of the succubus licked the glimmering blade, gazing at Anna, whose expression was growing increasingly grave, and let out a soft, mocking laugh:
“Next, I will take away everything you possess.”