Arknightcraft Modpack
Chapter 619: I'm Serious Too
After every spy hidden within the village had been rounded up, the rest was simple.
Once the other Inquisitors arrived and took custody of the traitors—who had all been thoroughly tied up by Shoggy—Steven had effectively completed the mission on Irene's behalf.
Sitting beside Irene on the railing at the village entrance, watching the Inquisitors escort the prisoners away, Steven couldn't help but sigh.
"Honestly, how should I put this...? You've practically been infiltrated like a sieve. There are already twenty or thirty members of the Church of the Deep hidden in a village this close to your main base. I don't even want to imagine what the coastal villages look like."
The situation in Iberia was far worse than he had expected.
To be more precise, Iberia had simply been too broken for too long. Even now that people were trying to fix things, it wasn't going to be easy.
"It can't be helped. This is the Iberia that was left behind after the Profound Silence."
Irene let out a quiet sigh.
"That's why I want to become a High Inquisitor like my teacher. Even if I can only change a small part of this reality, that would be enough to satisfy me."
As she spoke, she turned toward Steven with eyes full of gratitude.
Truthfully, she had never dared hope things could improve this much.
If not for the miraculous boy sitting beside her, Iberia might have continued plunging toward despair without end.
But now...
Things were finally moving in a better direction.
"Honestly, I should properly thank you. If it weren't for you, things would only have gotten worse."
Irene spoke her thanks sincerely.
"Oh? Then I'll graciously accept your gratitude."
Steven grinned.
"Though a verbal thank-you doesn't really do much, does it? It'd be better if there were some actual rewards involved."
Watching Irene struggle to suppress her embarrassment and force herself to speak honestly was simply adorable.
The little bird was so cute in moments like this that he couldn't resist teasing her further.
"Hm? What kind of reward?"
Irene immediately raised her guard and met Steven's gaze.
Her instincts were screaming danger.
Whenever Steven smiled like that, it almost never meant anything good.
More often than not, he'd just come up with some ridiculous idea.
And considering the strange tentacles he could summon from underground—an ability she had never seen before—and how suspiciously experienced he was at tying people up...
Well.
It was hard not to wonder what exactly he'd been doing with his life before this.
"For example, something tangible."
Steven tapped his chin thoughtfully.
"Like our date later. You're not seriously planning to show up wearing that Inquisitor uniform, are you?"
Truthfully, he hadn't fully decided what reward he wanted.
But at the very least, he could indulge his eyes a little.
It wasn't that Irene's uniform looked bad.
In fact, the female Inquisitor uniform resembled an elegant dress and suited her quite well.
The problem was that it felt completely out of place for a date.
"Huh?! Why does your mind always go there?!"
Irene nearly smacked him on the spot.
Seriously, his thought process was unbelievable.
It felt like any attempt at having a serious conversation with him would inevitably derail into something absurd.
"I was being sincere and genuinely thanking you, you know!"
"Yeah, and I'm sincerely and genuinely expressing my own wishes."
Steven blinked innocently.
"I just want this kind of reward. Following one's heart isn't a bad thing, right?"
He paused before adding with a grin:
"Or would you prefer I asked for something outrageous? Like telling you to wait for me in bed tonight?"
"..."
Irene fell silent.
After all, he wasn't wrong.
Compared to everything Steven had done for Iberia, this request was practically insignificant.
Slowly lowering her head, she muttered:
"...I suppose that's true."
Then, after a brief pause, she continued in a much quieter voice.
"But... is that really all you want?"
"And besides..."
"I don't actually have any normal clothes for everyday wear."
As an Inquisitor, Irene had never really had the concept of a vacation.
Her daily clothes were the uniform she wore now, and things like fashionable outfits or cosmetics—the things girls her age normally enjoyed—were luxuries she had never even dared think about.
Iberia's situation had already deteriorated to such a degree.
Who still had the spare time or energy to worry about dressing up?
"That's not a problem."
Steven didn't look disappointed in the slightest after hearing her answer. Instead, he raised an eyebrow confidently.
"I'll just take you shopping and buy some. Your only job is to be the mannequin. I'll pick the clothes, and you put them on."
Far from being troubled by her lack of casual clothes, Steven looked positively delighted.
Wasn't the date plan solved now?
Taking his little bird shopping was exactly the kind of thing he loved doing.
Especially when whatever he bought was something she'd have to wear.
That made it even more satisfying.
This time, Irene didn't argue.
She could tell that this was Steven's way of showing kindness.
There was no reason to stubbornly reject him over something like this.
Seeing her obediently lower her head and nod, Steven glanced around one final time.
After confirming there were no more Seaborn or other nuisances lurking nearby to ruin the mood, he immediately grabbed Irene's hand.
It was time to take her to Lungmen.
The Seaborn attack earlier, along with the spies hidden throughout the village, was undoubtedly suspicious.
It was obvious someone had been targeting either Irene, himself, or perhaps both of them.
But Steven couldn't be bothered investigating further right now.
That could wait.
The date couldn't.
Once lost, time was gone forever.
Besides, what was more important?
Investigating conspiracies, or strolling through the streets with Irene?
The answer was obvious.
He didn't even bother informing Carmen.
The mission was finished, the work was done, and the remaining time belonged to them.
What objection could anyone possibly have?
. . .
When Irene was finally released from Pokéball space, the sight before her was something she had never witnessed in her entire life.
Towering skyscrapers rose into the heavens like a forest of steel.
The countless citizens of Lungmen flowing through the streets wore clothes unlike anything she had ever imagined.
Elegant.
Stylish.
Colorful.
Modern.
The entire city radiated an atmosphere that felt completely foreign to her.
For a moment, Irene felt like a country bird who had just flown into a great metropolis for the first time.
Everything around her was dazzling.
So dazzling that she couldn't take it all in.
"This's a mobile city called Lungmen."
Steven's voice pulled her back to reality.
"For now, relax a little. Put aside your identity as an Inquisitor."
With a gentle smile, he extended his hand toward her and bowed slightly, making a perfectly gentlemanly invitation.
"Why not try living like an ordinary girl for once?"
Still somewhat dazed, Irene slowly placed her hand into Steven's palm.
The unfamiliar environment made her instinctively want to hide herself against him.
"So this is Lungmen..."
She looked around once more, her blue eyes filled with wonder.
"So a mobile city looks like this..."
The words escaped her lips almost unconsciously.
Iberia had once possessed abundant cities like this.
It had even surpassed Yan and every other nation in its glory.
But that was history.
A distant past she had never personally witnessed.
The Iberia she remembered had always been crumbling, weathered, and worn down by endless hardship.
Yet here in Lungmen—
Everywhere she looked, people carried themselves with confidence and energy.
The streets were alive.
The city was alive.
And for the first time in a very long while, Irene felt as though she had stepped into a future instead of staring at the ruins of the past.
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Note: Character Illustration is in this Google Drive:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1iuyfwNVFHzIi9H4rWNT_lAm7jTSiah_M
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Tn: I updated the story daily, but if you want to see more chapter of this story ahead of time, please go to my Patreon.
Latest Chapter: Chapter 689: Impossible to Refute[1]
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