Rory turned toward Jasper, her expression no longer burning with fury but cooled into sothing far more dangerous—thoughtful, asured, and calculating.
"Is there a way," she asked slowly, each word chosen with care, "to make those two Rank Ten powerhouses obey you in the future?"
She tilted her head, eyes narrowing as her thoughts aligned.
"Sothing permanent," she continued. "Poison them so only you possess the antidote. Or bind them with a pact that forces loyalty. If they ever even think about betraying you, you could erase them instantly."
They were Rank Ten, after all—monsters standing at the very pinnacle of the Empire’s strength. How many beings like that existed across all star systems combined? Killing them outright felt like discarding an irreplaceable weapon.
Far better to do exactly what Yuel had suggested—send them to the outer battlefield. Let them slaughter Chitinids endlessly, burning through enemies until they were either broken... or proven undeniably useful.
Jasper paused, genuinely taken aback by how swiftly Rory had grasped the strategic implications. His gaze lingered on her for a mont longer than necessary.
"There is... a thod," he said at last, voice low. "But it’s not sothing males can use."
Rory’s focus sharpened instantly, like a blade finding its edge.
"There exists a master–servant contract," Jasper continued. "A rare one." He hesitated briefly. "To sign it, a male must willingly surrender a fragnt of his ntal power to a female."
Rory’s breath caught, just slightly—enough to betray the weight of what that truly ant.
"If that male ever harbors disloyalty," Jasper went on, voice steady, "the ntal fragnt destabilizes instantly. The female can collapse it in a single thought. When that happens, the male’s ability reverses and flows back into her, accelerating her ascent."
A male who lost his ability—and suffered ntal collapse—would beco no different from an ordinary beast.
And an ordinary beast was sothing any awakened female could kill without effort.
Rory’s lips curved into a slow, satisfied smile.
"That contract sounds... perfect."
She silently thanked the Beast God for once again providing exactly what she needed.
"Only females can initiate it?" she asked.
Jasper nodded. "Only a female can act as master. Only a male can submit."
"Then I’m coming with you."
The words left her mouth without hesitation.
Just imagining two Rank 10 males bound under her authority sent a profound sense of security through her chest. It didn’t matter how old or powerful they were—having them tethered to her would drastically raise her survival odds.
Jasper studied her for a mont, then nodded decisively.
"I’ll prepare everything. We leave imdiately."
***
The Violet Obsidian Clan resided deep within the Central District. From their current location, the journey would take roughly two days—long enough for plans to solidify and consequences to begin unfolding.
"I’ll pack as well," Rory said imdiately, already turning toward her room. "We’ll be gone for several days."
Her thoughts were already racing ahead. She would need to bring Burnt Dumpling, of course. And leaving Yuel behind wasn’t even an option—whatever lay ahead would demand every ally she had.
"Female Master, I’m coming too."
Nix stepped forward as he helped her sort through her belongings, his movents efficient, his tone calm but unmistakably resolute.
"I need to return to my lab regardless," he continued. "I’ll bring my cha and my warship—and I’ll construct a new lab near the Central District." He t her gaze without hesitation. "Wherever you are, that’s where I’ll stay."
The words were steady, almost casual, but the promise beneath them was anything but.
Rory paused for just a fraction of a second.
Whenever soone commissioned advanced weaponry or a new cha, Nix had a habit of vanishing into his work completely, shutting out the world around him. If he ended up stationed in the Central District for an entire year, it was entirely possible she might barely see him at all.
That was unacceptable.
"So I’ll bring my lab to you," he continued simply. "Once it’s completed, I won’t accept any new commissions for a year. I’ll build you the finest warship, the most advanced spacecraft, the best cha in the Empire. Anything I can create—I’ll make for you."
Rory stopped what she was doing and looked at him.
"Nix... that’s incredible."
She was genuinely moved. cha technology fascinated her—sleek, lethal, impossibly expensive. She’d watched others pilot them before, knowing she’d never be able to afford one herself.
Her fingers curled around his hand, eyes bright with excitent.
"When you build mine," she said eagerly, "can I watch? I’ve always wanted to see how sothing that advanced is made."
Nix smiled without hesitation. "Of course. If you want, I can even teach you."
Normally, interruptions during his work drove him mad. But if that interruption was his huntress?
The thought alone filled him with quiet joy.
Just as Rory finished speaking with Nix, her light-brain chid.
A ssage from Paros.
"I heard you ran into trouble yesterday. Now you’re heading to the Central District?"
Jasper must have already inford Matt Slade and Ethan Gabriel. Ethan, unsurprisingly, had passed the information straight to Paros.
"Yeah," Rory replied. "We’re heading there to settle the Violet Obsidian Clan’s ss."
She paused, then added honestly,
"I didn’t get the chance to thank you for sending Ethan to help . Next ti I see you, I’ll give you a free ntal comfort session as thanks."
On the other end, Paros frowned.
Was that really all she thought he wanted?
A free session? A handful of star coins’ worth of comfort?
What he wanted to know was why—when she’d been in danger—she hadn’t contacted him at all.
"I’m fine," he replied after a mont. "Don’t need ntal comfort right now."
The words felt insufficient, so he added another ssage.
"I’ll be heading to the Central District in a few days as well. If you have ti, let’s et."
Rory read the ssage and frowned slightly.
Why et if he doesn’t need comfort?
It’s not like we’re especially close...
Still, he had just sent Ethan to back her up. Turning him down would feel rude.
"Sure," she replied.
Paros stared at the single word on his screen, scowling.
Just "sure"? No follow-up? No suggestion of where to et, or what to do?
Aren’t females supposed to... care about these things?
...
An hour later...
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