Chapter 168 Balaur . . .

I closed my eyes and kissed her back.

I took my time, indulgently licking her lips, biting them softly before sucking them sensually. Not before long, her little fingers found their way into my hair, pulling me closer and deepening the kiss.

Wet erotic suction sounds dance in the air as our kiss turned deeper, more intense – more passionate.

Wordlessly and with great effort, I pulled away.

Amara still embraced me tightly, panting on my chest. "Be careful."

"I will."

After Amara and the others made their way toward the Academy, I went to the Ale to finally execute my next plan.

When I was sure that I was alone and no player was in sight, I equipped the [Evil Toothy Maw], [Mantel of Dementia], and [Demented Boots]. With the gears on me, there was no one who could recognize my face.

I then went to the Ale next.

There was a brewing shop here that supplied the town with freshly brewed ale, mead, beer, wine, and all kinds of alcoholic beverages.

I walked to the back of the town, passing the Goblins' corpses that were butchering of what remained of the inhabitants and players.

I stumbled upon a group of players in front of a tattered shop. They were surrounded by dozens of goblins, screaming for help.

When they noticed me passing by, the players looked at me with hope in their eyes. One of them pointed at me and yelled.

"Hey, you! Help us!" he said. But I was so sure he was using me as bait. I was alone, and goblins loved to gang up on creatures who were alone.

The evil glint in his eyes and smirk on his lips was apparent, further strengthening my guess that he wanted the goblins to go after me so they could escape.

His voice was so loud enough for the goblins to flick their attention in my direction. But the goblins only spared me the barest glance before they went closer to the group of players.

Too bad. The goblins were more afraid of me than them.

Despair was thick on their faces that I could almost touch it when Goblins started pouring out from a corner. That guy's loud voice must have attracted them. Instead of escaping while using me as bait, he further sealed their fate.

"Hey, help us!" They yelled again.

And I did.

I leaped forward and cut the goblins. With a single swing, numerous goblins' heads rolled on the ground until the others that were left scampered away, shrieking.

Lucy growled, spitting the green goblins' blood on the floor.

<Host, is so nice~>

Is that so?

The players all sighed in relief. And when they finally saw me up close, they squinted their eyes and dissected my face behind the mask.

They wouldn't be able to know it was me and wouldn't be able to piece Lucy with me since my blade had already evolved and changed its appearance.

It was exactly the reason why I equipped my gears, so no one would know if I kidnapped players left and right. I needed those numbers as payment for Dementia.

"You look familiar."

"Are you a player?"

"Your stat must be so high to kill those Goblins with just a few strikes."

I faced them. "Ah. That's right. My stat is indeed high." At least, higher than yours.

They smiled in relief, like they found their salvation in the form of me.

"Then can we come with you?"

"It's safer that way too."

"The more of us, the more we could stay alive."

In short, you mean to say that you would leech off me, right?

I smiled at them. "Sure. You can come with me."

Their faces lightened, and I tapped the shoulders of the two nearest me. When they disappeared without a trace, the remaining two were stunned at first.

"Don't worry. They are much safer in where they are. And we can be together all the time too. Just like you wanted." I grinned.

The two gasped, and before they could let out a scream, I tapped their shoulder, and they teleported inside my [Evil Pocket Dimension]

Now . . . where was I?

<Going to the Ale?>

Ah . . . yes.

I went to the back of the town while kidnapping players whenever I got the chance. I lost count of how many players I had put in the [Evil Pocket Dimension]. Not that I was counting.

The more, the merrier.

<It would surely make Dementia happy!>

I hope so.

I was going all through this trouble for her after all.

I finally reached my destination after fifteen minutes. In the back alley just behind the red light district was a lone house made of wood.

It had a heavy thick oak double doors with bronze knobs. Reinforced glass windows and wooden slabs as walls. Its roof was tiled, and there was a brick chimney on one side.

At first glance, it looked like a house, but the placards hanging over its doors said:

Blood iron Ale

How fitting. I thought.

It looked harmless at first glance . . . if only the loitered limbs and guts of Goblins weren't spilled all over the place.

There were like dozens and dozens of goblins' corpses in here. Their blood made the dirt look like it was covered in grass.

Back to the Ale shop. The windows were broken, and the doors were destroyed, with one panel hanging on what remained of the hinges.

I went inside and found that there was no sign of destruction in the interior. There was a fireplace that looked like a metal dragon's mouth on one end of the wall. Hanging gas lanterns illuminated the area. There was a wooden stair leading to the basement and going upstairs. And at the front desk were numerous barrels of alcoholic beverages neatly labeled.

Behind that counter was a man six feet tall. Muscles stretched his white shirt under his black vest. His dark hair was neatly cut, as well as the beard on his grumpy face.

( . . . continuation on NOTES)