Is the Primordial Sovereign a descendant of the Magician Sovereign? The one renowned for his formidable reputation? Mitsuru Reina's expression subtly shifted, genuinely stunned by the official's revelation. The Chiyoko Group and the Wu-Xing Alliance had never maintained strong diplomatic ties—rather, their connection was primarily with the Heavenly Judgment (a subordinate organization). Thus, Mitsuru Reina first learned of the Magician Sovereign not during his period of prominence across the continent, but during his time in the West, living with women. For a while, the internal forums of the Chiyoko Group frequently circulated similar gossip about romantic affairs. First, a mysterious man from the continent became the beloved of the new president of the Goddess Association. Then, the same man won the heart of a Heavenly Judgment official, the two traveling to a certain destination for their honeymoon. Next, he was seen frequently dining with a noble lady at premier hotels. Then, a noble lady found herself in rivalry with the reserved prosecutor, leading to a public dispute—triggered by none other than a Chinese-origin, enigmatic man. That enigmatic Asian man, who keeps appearing on the forum every few weeks, is always sleeping women—the beautiful, divinely appointed Executive, the poised Prosecutor, the noble heiress, the wife of a prominent figure, even the notorious evil specialist. One day, Shina Reo curiously asked her teacher, Ryuzaki Ichiro, who this mysterious man was. The teacher replied: "He's the Mage King!" The Mage King has slept countless women, including high-profile figures' cherished ones, wives of powerful officials, and highly sought-after women—so naturally, he's been targeted. From public duels to underhanded assassinations and silent, relentless curses, the attacks have been relentless. Yet this once-enslaved, once-evil figure not only survived abroad but has demonstrated an astonishing level of strength—defeating one opponent for every one he faces, and two for every pair he encounters. He has defeated as many lawful and evil champions as he has women he has slept with. Shinoya Ryō deeply admired the enigmatic figure, both drawn to his strength and wary of his reputation, since Ryō herself was a well-known beautiful young woman within the Chizuka group. What if, one day, the legendary king of demons heard of her fame and journeyed all the way from overseas to request her as his consort? Later, Shinoya Ryō realized she had overthought the matter—before her beauty could gain widespread acclaim, the once-celebrated prodigy had already returned to the spiritual realm. In Ryō’s mind, the demon king stood as a symbol of evil and eccentricity, while the Primordial Heavenly Sovereign was a sincere, trustworthy young gentleman—two figures as different as day and night. Their only shared trait was their exceptional natural talents. Shinoya Ryō gazed into space, lost in thought, while the hunter of demons remained silent, sipping his wine slowly. "I particularly enjoy strong, robust wines, but the fourteenth generation introduced me to the exquisite charm of clear, delicate sake." Setting down her empty cup, the hunter turned slightly toward Shinoya Ryō and offered a gentle smile. "You needn’t be nervous—just a few questions, that’s all." Rei Hayashi blinked and turned to Kuroda Ichiro, who nodded. Rei Hayashi took a deep breath, bowed slightly: "What would the Executive Officer like to know? I'll tell you everything I know." The hunter-mage's deep blue eyes fixed on Rei Hayashi, and spoke seriously: "Have you and he entered several dungeons together? Have you ever noticed a black circular moon mark appearing on his forehead when he clears a dungeon?" Rei Hayashi thought for a moment, then shook his head. "No!" The serious young man with golden hair suddenly asked: "No, or never?" Rei Hayashi lowered his head and answered truthfully: "I've only entered dungeons with the Primordial Sovereign twice—one was a combat dungeon, the other a guild dungeon. During the combat dungeon's final settlement, he wasn't with me, so I didn't see it. During the guild dungeon, he had already become a Saint, and his mark was a nebula." The serious young man nodded and said nothing further. The huntsman continued, "Report every item he has used." "This... " Shinoya Ryō furrowed her brow, quickly organizing her thoughts. How strange that Tenpaku would ask about the items used by Genzai-kun. Ah—yes. They said Genzai-kun was a descendant of the Magician King, so perhaps they wanted to verify whether he truly belonged to that lineage through the items he used. Shinoya Ryō considered this possibility and felt she had grasped the truth. If Genzai-kun hadn't inherited the Magician King's legacy, how could he possibly be a descendant? From this, she inferred that Tenpaku's organization was after the treasures left behind by the Magician King, which is why they were investigating Genzai-kun. The huntsman spoke gently, "You're from the same faction as him, so you can't betray him outright. But sharing information about the items you've used doesn't count as betrayal—so as long as it's not betrayal, speak freely." Seeing that she remained silent for a long time, the official assumed she was hesitant to betray a fellow faction member. Hakuba frequently signaled to Asano Ryō, urging her to cooperate. Asano Ryō pressed her lips together and said, "I understand. However, I haven't had much interaction with the Prince of Yuan Shi, so I may not be familiar with all his tools. I'll just report what I see..." Seeing no objections from the guests of Tianfa, she continued, "The Prince has a set consisting of two robes—one in water color and one in fire color, earth-colored boots, and a belt. He also possesses a weapon that can transform into three forms: a shield, a hand cannon, and a small hammer. Additionally, he has a red soft hat that comes with its own space..." As she recalled, she listed the items. In total, she mentioned four items—the set of the Purple Thunder Cannon, the Mountain God's Staff, the Great Luo Star Disk, the Little Red Hat, and the Set of the Heavenly Sacrifice. She had chosen these items deliberately. First, all four had left a strong impression on her, as the Prince frequently used them during the quest. Among these, the Mountain God's Staff comes from the Slayer Raid, and as a participant in that raid, she can be certain it has no connection to the Demon King. The Heavenly Sacrifice Set is equally unrelated—Shinoya Ryō knows from this year’s Five Elements Alliance’s tournament that the first prize at the Supernatural Stage is the Later Earth Boots. The Kiyoko team has gathered intelligence on the Primordial Sovereign, so such significant information would naturally not be overlooked. Of course, they are unaware of the specific attributes of the Later Earth Boots. Thus, only the Red Cap, the Purple Thunder Cannon, and the Great Luo Star Disk remain uncertain in origin. However, if these items originated from the Demon King, the Primordial Sovereign would surely have used them far more frequently—wouldn’t that simply be a clear, straightforward message: “Passing by? Don’t miss it—come see, take a look at me, the Demon King’s heir”?—though Shinoya Ryō does not believe the Primordial Sovereign to be the Demon King’s heir. Of course, Reina still remembered the Wind Mage's gloves being used quite frequently, but she couldn't possibly reveal all of the Master's secrets—only share a portion sufficient to appease the Heaven's Judgment Organization. She couldn't remain silent, yet she couldn’t reveal everything. After listening intently and asking detailed questions about the items' functions, the Hunter-Mage turned to the serious, golden-haired young man and said, "That red soft hat seems to be from a fairy tale—like Little Red Riding Hood." The golden-haired young man replied, "It might not be exactly that. The Little Red Riding Hood is said to possess a transformed ability, but she didn’t mention it—those details aren’t crucial. It’s not one of her items." The Hunter-Mage nodded slightly, then produced her phone, opened a document, and handed it to Reina, saying, "Please take a close look—have you seen any of the items listed here?" Reina nodded and took the phone with both hands, carefully reviewing the document, which featured illustrations of various items accompanied by brief descriptions of their abilities. The descriptions are not very detailed—they appear to focus on the outward capabilities demonstrated by the items. There are a total of sixteen items in the documentation, spread across two major regions, with all being balanced and neutral in alignment, and every one of them being at the level of a Saint or higher; no extraordinary items are found. Of course, when the Archmage gained fame beyond the realm, he may have already reached the status of a Sovereign. After reviewing the compendium, Asano Ryō shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I haven't seen the Primordial King use any of the items in this compendium." The hunter and the three young people exchanged glances. Kobayashi Ichiro observed the atmosphere and laughed warmly. "Ryō and the Primordial King have only met twice, both times in dungeons—so they don't really know each other well." A young man with a light, aloof demeanor and exceptionally handsome features smiled. "How could they have invited our Ryō to join his faction if they didn't know him well?" Kobayashi Ichiro chuckled again. "Our Ryō is a well-known beauty among the Chihaya group—so charming and lovely. Anywhere, a beautiful "This is to inform the guests of Tianfa that Yuanshish Tianzun has been eyeing our cool, elegant Miss Shallow. The graceful young man studies Shallow Reo's face with a knowing smile. Shallow Reo rises gracefully, citing a need to use the restroom, and as she approaches the door, the serious young man speaks: 'There's one more matter that requires Miss Shallow Reo's cooperation!' Shallow Reo smiles gently, 'Please go on.' The golden-haired young man says, 'Regarding anything that happens at the banquet today, you must keep it strictly confidential—especially from Yuanshish Tianzun. This is not merely a verbal promise; you must sign a formal contract.' Shallow Reo's small fist, tucked inside her kimono, tightens suddenly, yet her expression remains humble and composed. 'Understood,' she says. Then she gazes steadily at the golden-haired young man, waiting for him to produce the contract. The golden-haired young man maintains his composed, serious demeanor, speaking softly, 'Simply gaze into my eyes and make your vow.' Is he a knight? Rei Aso was somewhat surprised—there were so few knight professions, and she had never seen one alive before. Calming herself, she fixed her gaze on the other person, and suddenly, a shimmer of golden light emerged in the pale blue depths of their eyes, sacred and majestic. The golden-haired young man said, "Follow me. I swear, I will never reveal what we've discussed tonight to anyone. Should I break this vow, let me return to the spiritual realm." "I swear," Rei Aso declared loudly, "that I will never tell anyone about tonight's conversation. Should I break this vow, let me return to the spiritual realm." The golden light in the young man's pupils flared intensely, his noble face now as still and sculpted as stone, his voice resonant and solemn. "I have witnessed it!" A gentle, pale golden glow spread out, then gently swept through the inn. Rei Aso felt a sudden sense of clarity, as if invisible rules had been established and a force had formed within her, binding her—only to fade away instantly. The contract was sealed, and the guests bearing the celestial punishment returned their gaze, continuing to drink. Hitoshi Ryō pushed open the door of the tavern and stepped briskly toward the restroom, her pace growing faster—first a light shuffle, then a hurried walk, and finally a small run. Reaching the restroom, she pushed open a vacant stall, leaning against the door with her hands pressed to her chest, gasping for breath. Her expression turned profoundly frightened; the composure and grace she had displayed at the dining table vanished entirely. In her mind, one thought dominated: Master Yuan Shi is a descendant of the Magician King! It couldn't be wrong. In her guidebook, she had seen two familiar items—first, a ring that could change one's appearance, and second, blue wind-mage gloves. The gloves were obvious. As for the ring, she had seen it before—in the killing instance quests. During her journey through the primordial forest, Master Yuan Shi deliberately altered his appearance to avoid being targeted by evil-class characters, and at that time, he was wearing exactly that ring. If it's a mere coincidence that one prop ends up in a collision, then the overlap of two props... "I must remind the Prime Sovereign, or else he'll be discovered by the Celestial Judgment! But I've made a vow—not to reveal this." "I need a prop that can exempt itself from a contract, or one that can absorb and transfer damage—like a substitute that takes the blow." Yet, even if such props exist, she simply can't find them. Thoughts raced through Haruno Reo's mind, and beads of sweat formed on her forehead from anxiety. Suddenly, she had an idea—why not ask the Prime Sovereign himself? With so many treasures at his disposal, and as a celebrated figure among the Five Elements Alliance, he would surely have access to such props—even if he didn't possess them personally. He's such a strong support, yet she still feels so anxious, all on her own. Thinking of this, Asahina Ryō hurriedly pulled out her phone from the inner pocket of her kimono, opened the messaging app, and sent a message to Yuan Shǐ Tianzun: "Lord Yuan, I have an urgent matter to consult you. I was compelled to enter into a contract under the witness of a knight. Is there any way to exempt myself from the binding power of this contract?" Pausing a moment, she added: "I don't need the contract fully resolved—just a way to transfer the burden or to sacrifice myself once, that's sufficient." Fu Xue said, Hurry up, hurry up, don't disturb me and my son having a quiet chat. At the dinner table, Zhang Yuanqing was attentive in pouring wine for his mother-in-law, praising her as a true strong-willed woman, saying that Guan Ya simply can't compare with her. He expressed his hope that they would work together to grow the company, make it strong and successful, and look forward to a successful collaboration. Fu Xue scolded him, saying she wasn't unaware of his true intentions—after all, he just wanted to tie her down to his boat, so that she'd have no choice but to follow him down the same path. Though he had offered her an offer she couldn't refuse, she had to accept it. Fu Xue had drunk quite a bit of wine, her eyes and corners of her face glistening with redness, her gaze now soft and alluring, her voice growing stronger and more passionate. She said you wouldn't believe it—Fu family lacks any warmth or human touch. To live a comfortable life, one has to work tirelessly, just like the oxen in the production team, and even they don't work as hard as I do. Z Fu Xue finished off her red wine and continued: "You can't imagine how hard it's been for us, a mother and a few children. I'm not particularly talented, not especially capable—besides looking good, I don't have much to offer. All my life, I've been pushed aside by those people in the family. Good opportunities always go to others. Guan Ya has talent, but she's so ungrateful! She doesn't understand me at all—she even curses me. Don't think I don't know—I'm a scout! She curses me, that's one thing, but she doesn't even keep improving—she stagnates at her level. Honestly, what a mess! Zhang Yuanqing, I'm stunned—Mom, are you drunk? Are you just making up stories? Do you even remember who Guan Ya's mother is? Zhang Yuanqing was furious. "Tell me who your friend is," he said. "Give me her address, and I'll make sure he doesn't even recognize his mother when he wakes up." Fu Xue waved her hand. "I don't care about her anymore. Good thing you have some filial piety and understand how hard it is for me. Come on, son, let's have a drink." After three rounds of wine, Fu Xue was weeping softly against Zhang Yuanqing's chest. Just as Zhang Yuanqing was about to call for a rabbit girl to carry the drunken woman back to her room, his phone buzzed. It was a message from Shallow野 Ryō. How can I waive the power of the contract? If I had that option, why would I still wear my work hat and cozy up with Lady Guan? Zhang Yuanqing muttered to himself. "Beep!" A second message arrived quickly. Zhang Yuanqing held the drunk Fu Xue in one hand and his phone in the other, frowning. "Only once? What happened to Shallow野 Ryō?"