"You're really not holding back, are you?" Derick couldn't help but remark, looking at Cipher.
"It's fine, I have thick skin, I don't care," Cipher said nonchalantly, even extending a snow-white thigh out of the hot spring, her toes pointed, her arch curved into a beautiful arc.
This tempting scene made Derick stare blankly for a moment.
"Derick, let's go in too," Castorice said softly, standing behind Derick.
Behind Derick, her lips were slightly pouted, looking a little unhappy.
She was jealous.
"Ah... okay." Derick was gently pushed into the bath by Castorice. His clothes had been blasted off, leaving only his shorts, so there was no need to change. Castorice pushed Derick into the pool water, then stood by the edge of the pool and took off the stockings on her legs. In front of Derick, Castorice showed little shyness, smiling as she took off her socks, revealing her bare feet.
The skin revealed beneath Castorice's white stockings was fair and smooth, her toes slender and long, like naturally carved jade. The arch of her foot had a gentle curve, her steps light, and the skin on the soles of her feet was soft, with a faint pink hue, like freshly bloomed petals.
Normally, Castorice wasn't so shy, but looking at Derick's gaze, her cheeks flushed a light pink. Her toes curled, and she hurriedly stepped down into the hot spring water.
Aglaea and Hyacine also entered the hot spring pool afterward. Aglaea's slender, straight, mature legs and Hyacine's youthful legs, revealed after taking off her white stockings, were side by side, each beautiful in their own way. The two of them, along with Cipher, also maintained a distance from Castorice in the hot spring.
Tribbie, Trianne, and Trinnon couldn't go into the hot water and were currently sitting by the edge of the hot spring pool, playing with the water.
Even though there would be more to deal with later, they had to at least enjoy the current leisure time.
Derick stretched his body in the pool water.
This hot spring water was truly comfortable.
Suddenly, he felt his foot being stepped on.
Derick's eyes widened as he looked over and saw Cipher on the other side of the pool with a mischievous smile.
Derick quickly pulled his leg back.
Cipher wanted to press her advantage and 'attack' further. However, just as she took a step forward, Castorice extended her leg to shield Derick.
Facing Castorice's deathly aura, Cipher didn't dare to move. She retracted her foot, sat down cross-legged, and looked at Castorice provocatively.
Castorice said nothing, merely silently protecting Derick and meeting Cipher's gaze.
However, as they stared at each other, both Castorice and Cipher felt their eyelids growing heavier. Gradually, they all leaned against the edge of the pool and fell asleep.
"Aglaea, your medicine really works," Tribbie couldn't help but say to Aglaea upon seeing this.
"Of course, to knock out a demigod, how could it work without some investment," Aglaea said, her gaze turning to Cipher.
She would naturally pay the reward for rescuing Castorice and assisting in resolving the Okhema crisis. However, the matter of her stealing Derick also needed to be addressed.
Golden threads appeared in Aglaea's hand, wrapping around Cipher and lifting her out of the pool.
She had been evading her responsibility, and now that there was an opportunity, how could Aglaea let her leave so easily?
Derick and Hyacine were unaffected. Hyacine's eyes widened, somewhat at a loss.
Aglaea, however, pointed at the unconscious Cipher and asked Derick with a smile, "You, do you want to take revenge by punching her a couple of times while she's asleep?"
"Aglaea, don't teach bad things to children," Tribbie said to Aglaea from the side.
"Let's forget it. Although she kidnapped me, she also helped me later. The real culprit behind this incident is that Elder from the Elder Council named Caenis," Derick said, shaking his head.
"Yes, she is the root of all evil. And her methods will only become more ruthless," Aglaea said, looking at Derick.
"Next, you and Castorice need to be wary of her schemes."
"Don't worry, I will."
Derick nodded, indicating he understood.
At the same time, he wondered how to solve this trouble.
Knowing that he had obtained Nikador's power, Caenis's actions would only escalate. To resolve this, there was only one way.
He had to find a way to kill her.
Afterward, Derick picked up Castorice, preparing to find a place to rest.
This time, it was finally his turn to carry someone else, instead of being carried. Derick felt a little excited.
Passing by the still-unconscious Cipher, Derick felt that doing nothing was letting her off too easily. He looked around and noticed a cucumber on a nearby platter.
"Cats are most afraid of cucumbers, and that includes Cipher. She seems to be somewhat afraid of cucumbers too. I'll put a cucumber on her first to scare her."
Derick tucked the cucumber behind Cipher's back and then carried Castorice away.
...
At the Elder Council, Caenis received news of Derick and the others' return a little later.
"That Cipher actually delivered Derick into the hands of Aglaea and her group. Indeed, the Golden Lineage is the Golden Lineage; they can't be on our side."
Looking at the intelligence report, she muttered to herself.
Among the soldiers who had gone with Phainon, there were members of the Elder Council. Caenis was fully aware of everything that had happened with Derick.
And looking at the content of the intelligence report, she felt an immense shock.
"A pitch-black humanoid monster appeared and devoured Nikador. Nikador's Core Flame is missing. Also, that young man named Derick, after being pierced by the Blade of Scourge, also obtained power from Nikador."
Looking at both Derick and the pitch-black monster, Caenis's heart stirred even more.
So it wasn't just the Golden Lineage who could obtain the power of the Titans; other people could do it too. If they could obtain the secret from Derick, these Elders could also gain the power of the Titans, thereby grasping power over Okhema and even all of Amphoreus.
If that were the case, what use would there be in keeping those Golden Lineage members around?
Caenis was a woman with an extremely strong desire for power. She had tolerated Aglaea before because she had no other choice. Now that Aglaea had made a major mistake, and she had found a way to replace the Golden Lineage, her desire for power could no longer be restrained.
"Aglaea, look what you've accomplished with the power you hold! Besides you and Tribios, no Core Flames have been obtained."
She stood up and walked towards the Dawncloud Cliff.
She was going to tell all the other Elders the news she had learned and discuss convening a general assembly of all Okhema citizens to make Aglaea step down, restrict the Golden Lineage, and force Derick to hand over his secret.
________
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