Phrolova scoffed upon hearing this: "That sounds quite nice…"
But before she could finish, she felt a gust of wind rushing from behind.
Phrolova's pretty face instantly flushed red: "W-What are you doing?"
Lucian mused, "Doing."
Rover, Phrolova: "?"
"Once the dream ends, I won't get to hit anymore, so shouldn't I take this chance to give it a good smack?"
With that, Lucian delivered another palm strike akin to the Buddha's Palm.
Phrolova's bound figure staggered under the sudden force, the curves beneath her hem trembling slightly.
Yet, she was utterly helpless against Lucian, only able to say in shame and anger: "Lucian, don't go too far. Next time we meet, I'll definitely make you… ugh…"
As Phrolova spoke, Lucian's palm came down abruptly once more.
Phrolova lowered her head, her face burning with shame, a sense of humiliation surging in her chest, her throat letting out a suppressed whimper: "N-No… don't…"
Lucian chuckled, leaning down to whisper by her snow-white earlobe: "Do you remember what I told you to call me? Let me hear it."
Phrolova: "…"
No matter how Lucian struck her, palm after palm, Phrolova clenched her teeth and refused to make another sound. She vowed to etch every humiliating thing Lucian did to her into her memory, determined to take fierce revenge next time!
"Rover, are you just going to stand there and watch Lucian do this to me?"
Rover laughed lightly: "If it were any other woman, I definitely wouldn't agree to him doing this, but you are, after all, part of the Fractsidus."
"Even though this is a dream and we can't drag you back to Jinzhou's prison to work the sewing machine."
"But you've done so many bad things in Jinzhou, so isn't it only fair you receive a little punishment?"
"However, Lucian is such a flirt. He really should stop here, lest he gets ideas he shouldn't have."
As Lucian ceased his actions, Phrolova, listening to Rover's words, collapsed limply onto the grass, her beautiful eyes brimming with tears.
A gentleman's revenge can wait ten years—this grudge, I've noted it down!
Once back in reality, I must thoroughly discipline Lucian in front of Rover, letting her feel the pain of losing a loved one. Only then can I vent the hatred in my heart!
The white cat licked its paw: "I think what Lucian said makes sense. It sounds profound, but it's still easy to understand."
"Only by acknowledging your own limitations while not giving up on the possibility of breaking through can you work with everyone to find a fundamental solution to The Lament."
"The Somnoire might hold a way to counter The Lament, but turning the entire world into a dream to fight it is simply escapism."
Rover nodded slightly: "See, even the little white cat understands it so clearly. Could it be that Phrolova's education level isn't up to par?"
"In that case, it seems Ma Xiaofang's education level might be a bit higher."
Phrolova: "?"
Phrolova closed her beautiful eyes, silently brainwashing herself.
Don't get angry… getting angry will earn you the Eighteen Palms of the Dragon Subduer…
Lucian, smiling, pinched Phrolova's pretty face: "Alright, let her go back too. It's just a pity we can't take her with us in the dream."
"But no matter, there's plenty of time in the future."
The white cat nodded slightly, and a blue light enveloped Phrolova, causing her to vanish before the two.
Having done all this, the white cat stretched lazily: "I can finally go back through the door, and you guys should wake up, meow."
Lucian asked curiously: "Will that black gatekeeper appear again?"
The white cat nodded slightly: "Of course, there's still a lot going on behind that door."
"Once he regains his authority, he'll definitely try every way to cause trouble."
"There'll be plenty of things you'll need to help with in the future, so I'm counting on you!"
With that, the white cat took a few steps back and was sucked into the strange door.
Immediately after, the door shut completely.
A wave of dizziness hit, and as Lucian slowly opened his eyes, he saw Rover, wearing a small black nightdress, sitting on him, licking her lips with a half-smile as she looked at him.
"Time to fulfill our agreement and do some morning exercise…"
Lucian: "…?"
Wasn't this your unilateral agreement?
…
Meanwhile. Ragunna
In a certain room in Ragunna City.
The time limit on Phrolova's immortal-binding rope finally ended.
Phrolova sat up from the soft bed, pursing her thin lips, a trace of shame and annoyance flashing in her eyes, before getting up, slipping on her high heels, and heading out the door.
A blond, green-eyed man had been waiting outside for some time.
The man leaned against the wall, arms crossed, and said with puzzlement: "I thought you'd gone back to Jinzhou. How else could you have appeared in that livestream?"
Phrolova's face was cold, unwilling to explain much, as in her heart, this was something of a dark history.
"It's a long story."
Seeing Phrolova's mood wasn't great, the man chuckled lightly: "You seem a bit disheveled…"
"With so many powerful people gathered together, including that Rover and the recently famed Lucian…"
"I'm even more interested in this plan now."
Phrolova paused her steps, slightly turning her head: "I won't interfere much with your plans, except for Lucian."
"No matter what you plan to do to the others, Lucian must be left to me."
The man raised an eyebrow, chuckling lightly: "Looks like you care about him a lot. Did failing to take him down at Mt. Firmament hit you that hard?"
Phrolova let out a cold hum, offering no further explanation, and strode off on her slender legs.
Both of them were members of the Fractsidus, colleagues after all, so Phrolova still offered a reminder.
"I advise you not to be too confident, lest you capsize in the gutter."
The man laughed lightly, unconcerned, and casually replied: "Thanks for the reminder. I'll be careful."
…
Some time later, Rover fell into a deep sleep with a smile, her delicate body sinking into the soft bed, looking thoroughly satisfied.
Lucian took this opportunity to exit the Sonoro Sphere, preparing to return to Jinzhou and hand over the props for entering the Sonoro Sphere to them.
Amid the admiring gazes of the public officials around the City Hall, Lucian swaggered into the City Hall.
They had watched the livestream early that morning and knew that Lucian, the Intelligence Officer, had once again saved Jinzhou.
The matter had even been published in the Jinzhou Daily and the Jinya Forum.
As a result, Lucian's reputation in Jinzhou had essentially reached its peak.
Entering the deepest part of the City Hall, Jinhsi and the others were already seated at the desk.
Changli smiled slightly: "Jinzhou's great hero has arrived."
She shifted slightly to the side, making room for Lucian.
Lucian grinned: "We're all friends here; no need to be so polite."
Ignoring the seat Changli had vacated, Lucian instead lifted her up, placing her on his lap, wrapping his arms around her slender waist and kissing her warm lips.
Savoring the fragrance between Changli's lips and teeth, Lucian lazily leaned against her soft, ample chest, utterly content:
"Reality really is the best…"