This Life, I Will Be the Protagonist

The oak-horned shopkeeper glanced at Rita, his expression unchanged, but Rita could keenly sense a hint of killing intent. She swiftly pulled out a hundred gold coins, placed them in a pouch in front of the orc, and handed it over. "One hundred gold. This item is valuable, but that's all I can offer. Any more, and you might get yourself into trouble."
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Then she took out a level-13 chainmail and a pair of level-13 heavy boots, items that Nivalis had obtained while helping the Special Affairs Bureau clear dungeons. They seemed to suit this orc perfectly. "Here are two pieces of equipment. I hope they can protect you."

Finally, she presented twenty high-level healing potions, five high-level antidotes, and five high-level invisibility potions. "I also have these potions. I hope they might help."

Sincerity is an SSS-rank Divine Gift! And throwing money at problems is its first divine technique!

The orc didn't even glance at the oak-horned shopkeeper's offer of two hundred gold. Instead, he immediately handed [Four Wan] over to Rita. His massive, goblin-sized hand wrapped around her tiny one as he rumbled, "The Beast God will bless you to be reborn in our tribe in your next life!"

Rita: Please, no need!!!

You're already blessed by the Beast God, and look how you're doing. Why would I want to go there?!

With a parting "blessing," the orc took his gold, equipment, and potions and left decisively.

It wasn't that the two hundred gold didn't tempt him, but the goblin's warning—"any more and you might get into trouble"—had struck a nerve. More importantly, the goblin's gifts were comprehensive: money, equipment, potions, all thoughtfully tailored for him. He was genuinely touched!

Compared to the oak-horned shopkeeper's earlier attitude, the orc didn't hesitate to choose the goblin. He was even worried that if he took the two hundred gold from the oak-horned shopkeeper, he'd end up thrown off Sky Island by nightfall.

The moment Rita acquired the tile, a system notification sounded in her mind. Not wasting any time, she tucked away the tile, used [I'm in a Hurry] to teleport outside, and prepared to make a swift getaway.

Only seven minutes remained on her [Disguise!], just enough time to make it back.

But as soon as she landed, a luxurious robe filled her field of vision.

A familiar scent wafted into her nose, and she slowly looked up to see a face of regal elegance framed by white fox tails tipped in black, set against the sky.

And there, above, a line of red text read: Mistblade Level 120 | 100%┃100%

Mistblade!!!

The next instant, she felt her body freeze, her magic locked, and her skills disabled.

Out of the corner of her eye, Rita saw the oak-horned shopkeeper, who had followed her to the door, slam it shut and close up the shop.

Mistblade's tail twitched, and Rita found herself floating in the air. Mist rose up, wrapping both of them in a shroud at the edge of the island.

The Malicious Intent Detector around her neck wasn't vibrating, but Rita knew Mistblade wasn't someone to be taken lightly. She quickly willed the pocket watch pressed against her chest back into her inventory.

Mistblade spoke. "Do you know what that item is?"

As Mistblade finished, Rita found she could move her face again. Her first action was to retrieve Melting Time from her fake tooth and swallow it, then reapply her disguise skill.

Mistblade's gaze grew even colder.

Rita met Mistblade's eyes with a calm, innocent look, trying to seem like she was fearless because she didn't understand the danger. "I don't know. My master just asked me to collect it."

Mistblade believed her without hesitation, as only those at the pinnacle of power knew the true nature of this item. She, too, had sent a few trusted subordinates to retrieve such pieces, but she would never reveal their real value.

This complicated things—this highly charming goblin was someone else's lackey… and she carried the scent of a dragon, albeit faint.

Mistblade asked, "Is there a dragon behind you?"

Rita's heart skipped a beat, realizing that Mistblade had detected Nivalis's scent.

When they had first met, Rita had been doused in a perfume from Apache and surrounded by a thousand foxes with mingled scents. With the crowded smell in the library, it made sense that Mistblade hadn't noticed. But now, even though she hadn't used any perfume and had been in Lania Kaia for some time, Mistblade could still detect it. Had she absorbed Nivalis's scent by spending so much time with her?

This realization weighed on her like a heavy stone. This was an even more unique and deadly identifier than her level or appearance.

She held her expression steady. "I don't know. I only know that I receive a lot of gold each month. If I collect this item, I get rewarded."

Mistblade replied, "Sell me the item you just bought. I'll pay handsomely—double whatever your master offers you."

Rita paused, considering how to respond, but before she could speak, Mistblade's central tail drifted forward, brushing her cheek.

Rita's thoughts raced. What's going on?! Why is she using her tail all of a sudden?!

Mistblade gave a small smile. "Even if you try to run now, it won't matter. I'll find you. Have you decided? Sell it to me, and I'll lift the Fragrance Blade from you."

Without hesitation, Rita replied, "How do I know you'll actually remove it?"

Mistblade's gaze was stern. "I never lie."

Rita scoffed. "What kind of claim is that? I can fool people without lying too."

Mistblade: … With a mouth like that, you must be good at tile games.

Thinking of the dragons, Mistblade's tails twitched, and she laid down an array of restrictions around them.

As the mist grew denser, Rita felt her breathing become labored.

She was unwilling to hand over the item, but it seemed impossible not to. If she ever wanted to return to Lania Kaia, she had no choice.

She stalled, "How do I know you won't silence me afterward? I know how foxes work; you have plenty of ways to find me."

Mistblade, unconcerned with Rita's escape now that the Fragrance Blade marked her, lifted the restraints on her. She then presented a triangular gemstone with a pink flower preserved at its center and a bottle of perfume in her palm.

"[Spring Not Late] — this gem can permanently remove all lingering marks of any kind from your body. It can also temporarily break any bloodline constraints for a hundred days."

"[I Really Don't Have Time to Shower] — developed by the Windtail clan. Using it will erase all scent from you, and for the following three days, neither your body nor your clothes will emit or retain any scent."

Rita's heart skipped a beat. Her first question was, "What is a bloodline constraint?"