Day 12:

  Waking up the next day with his butt feeling better, Rilden triggered the twice, a strange expression crossing his face.

  "Lucky bastard..."

  After breakfast, Rilden met the City Lord in his office, not letting Erose join them.

  "I can help you break through your realm." Were the shocking opening words Rilden said.

  BAM*

  "You can help me break through my realm?!" Varkas smmed his table, shocked and excited.

  He was a peak tier-5 powerhouse, a step away from being a tier-6 legendary warrior! Even in the Erebium Empire, a legendary warrior was considered a valuable expert that even the emperor had to respect. With Tulens being surrounded by threats, becoming a legendary warrior would significantly improve their defenses!

  Helping his talented daughter, Erose, break through from tier 3 to tier 4 was far easier than tier 5 to tier 6! It was especially so when he was less talented than his daughter.

  "Yes, I can help you. All we need to do is go together on a fun father-and-son trip to the city." Rilden smiled.

  Varkas raised an eyebrow, interested. "Alright. I can take a day off if it means having a breakthrough."

  He then turned to look at Pesem. "Pesem, I trust you will handle things in my absence today."

  "Yes, my lord. Please have a fun time with the young master." Pesem bowed.

  "Father-in-w, let's wear a disguise. We wouldn't want to be recognized where we are going." Rilden smiled.

  "I am getting curious about what you have in store. Alright, I will py along." Varkas nodded.

  Half an hour ter, the two men exited the mansion through a secret exit, wearing disguises. Varkas secretly left the mansion occasionally, so some of his servants were make-up artists who helped him hide his face.

  Of course, even with a disguise, Varkas was a towering figure in the crowd.

  The two walked through the busy streets, soon reaching the wealthy district. It was walled and guarded, separating it from the rest of the city, funded by the affluent to maintain exclusivity. However, the City Lord's mansion was located in the city center to maintain its authority and remain accessible to the people.

  "Hah? Why are we here? Does someone in the wealthy district have an item to help me break through?" Varkas asked, surprised.

  "You're opportunity is indeed there." Rilden mysteriously said but didn't eborate.

  The two walked to the walled gates, only to be blocked by two guards.

  "Halt! This is the wealthy district and a restricted area. Show me proof of entry." A guard frowned.

  Would-be thieves yearned to steal from the wealthy, and Rilden and Varkas were cloaked and disguised. However, the affluent sometimes liked to conceal themselves, and they sometimes used mercenaries and couriers, so he didn't drive them away.

  Varkas pulled out a silver pque and showed it to the guard. "Official business."

  The two guards widened their eyes before immediately making way. "Please enter, two sirs."

  After entering, Rilden curiously asked, "What was that?"

  "A City Lord permit issued to my elite guards and agents on missions. Obstructing them is punishable by heavy fines, flogging, and even immediate execution in severe circumstances. I will issue you one ter." Varkas expined, putting the pque away.

  "Thanks!" Rilden's eyes lit up.

  Rilden noticed some of the houses and estates in the district sustained damage, especially the gates and doors.

  "Why are these buildings damaged?" Rilden curiously asked.

  "Some resisted arrest two days ago, and I had to take action. I tried to keep the damage minimal, though." Varkas replied.

  "Ah... right." Rilden nodded.

  After receiving the ledger, Varkas cleansed the cancerous nobles and wealthy people and forcibly seized their property. Colteral damage was predictable.

  As the two walked, Rilden looked around before spotting a rge and vish three-floor townhouse with marble columns, an exquisite wooden door, and a golden orchid emblem above it.

  "This is it," Rilden said, stopping before it.

  "Here?" Varkas frowned and looked at the pce, his expression turning strange. "The Hidden Orchid? I think I heard about it once. Isn't that the exclusive gentlemen's club for wealthy people? I was once invited, but I refused since it was beneath me."

  "Heh... Well, if you went there sooner, you could have broken through already." Rilden chuckled.

  "For real?! What's so special about it? Isn't this just an elite social gathering and high-end brothel?!" The City Lord was shocked.

  "You will see." Rilden mysteriously said, walking to the door before knocking.

  Knock* Knock* Knock*

  A muscur bouncer in an expensive suit opened the door and asked, "Password?"

  "The hidden orchid blooms under the dreamy amethyst sky in the nether ke," Rilden said.

  "Welcome to The Hidden Orchid." The bouncer said, opening the door and letting Rilden in.

  "He learned the password?! Even I don't know of it! What powerful divination abilities!" Varkas was shocked but still followed Rilden.

  The inside of the brothel was dimly lit, with a perfumed air, sounds of ughter, the scent of high-end alcohol, and beautiful and rexing violin music.

  "Wow... So this is how wealthy men enjoy themselves." Rilden thought.

  "Distinguished Sirs, please have a seat, and one of our proprietresses will address you." The bouncer said, gesturing at an avaible table.

  The other tables had wealthy men drinking and ughing, served by seductive dies in half-revealing clothes.

  However, Rilden had other intentions.

  "Can you please lead us to Madam Riveria? We are on official business and don't want to cause a scene." Rilden said, turning to Varkas, who knowingly fshed the City Lord pass.

  The bouncer widened his eyes but immediately adjusted his attitude.

  "Of course, Sirs. Please, follow me." The bouncer respectfully said.

  Rilden and Varkas followed him upstairs, reaching the third floor, where the courtesans and the madam resided.

  Soon, Rilden and Varkas entered a fancy office and bedroom in one, where they saw a voluptuous and sexy woman in a gaudy dress smoking a long pipe with special scented herbs, puffing velvety smoke.

  Her purple left eye, not covered by her brown and silky bangs, looked at the two gentlemen and then the bouncer. The bouncer discreetly whispered something in her ear before being dismissed. Once alone, the madam fshed a charming and disarming smile with tempting lips.

  "Well, well! Official business. What can a humble pleasure dy like me do to help you two fine gentlemen? Would you like a drink on the house while we discuss? Or perhaps some fine company? I can assure you that we paid all due taxes on time. You can look through the ledger." The madam said, about to pull out the income ledger from her desk.

  "We are not here for that kind of business... pleasure demoness," Rilden said, lowering his cloak.

  The madam suddenly froze, and even Varkas widened his eyes in shock. The air turned still and chilly.

  "What are you talking about, I wonder? I am just an ordinary, defenseless woman. Not some demon." Madam Riveria tried pying dumb.

  "There is no need to hide it, Grynlyss. You are a peak tier-4 succubus who has mingled in this city for 104 years, changing your identity five times, and leader of this succubus den." Rilden said.

  "104 years?! There was a succubus den nesting right under my and my family's noses all this time?! And he even knows her name?!" Varkas shook.

  The madam widened her eyes before gritting her teeth. Suddenly, she grew a pair of goat horns on her head, her canines grew longer, and a pair of fleshy wings grew on her back.

  She pointed at Rilden with a cwed finger and growled with burning purple eyes and an ethereal voice, "Who are you, human?! How do you know my True Name?! Are you here to bind me to your human magic or banish me from my home?! My children and I didn't harm anyone!"

  Varkas, who had been silent until now, took a heavy step forward, emitting the deadly aura of a peak tier-5 warrior. "Wench, keep your threats to yourself."

  The succubus was immediately shaken, her demonic features receding before slumping to her chair again, deep fear and resignation in her eyes. "So, even the City Lord himself is here... Great. Just great. Are you here to be demon syers? To take glory in butchering peaceful women who want to be left alone? To parade our heads and sacrifice us to the hypocritical gods above for their grace?"

  "Oh, I think we started on the wrong foot. I know you and your kin are peace-loving succubi who only drain excess energy, but not enough to harm your clients. Instead of harming or controlling you, we are here for your help." Rilden smiled.

  "You come into my home and openly reveal my True Name, and now ask for my help instead of forcing me? Well... That is a new one." Madam Riveria took her long smoking pipe, took a deep puff, and blew a heart-shaped cloud before shooting another arrow-shaped one through it and asking, "How can a humble succubus possibly help someone like you? I only know how to drain men from their essence, and I am no great coven witch."

  "Oh, that is what I am hoping for. You see, my father needs your services." Rilden smiled while pointing at Varkas.

  "..."

  "..."

  The room suddenly turned quiet, the mighty and dignified City Lord and the seductive mistress of the night staring at Rilden as if looking at someone with mental damage.

  A few moments ter, Varkas looked at Rilden with twitching lips. "Lad, you better expin yourself..."

  "Yes, why would you want a succubus to service your... father?" Madam Riveria warily asked, noticing an important piece of information.

  "Since when did the City Lord have such a son? Or is he a son-in-w? And the City Lord seems to respect him... But his vitality smells pretty weak. Then again, he somehow knows my True Name. Is he special?" The Madam thought.

  "Father, how was your sex life for the st ten years?" Rilden asked, not answering their questions.

  "I have rarely indulged in it after my te wife, your mother-in-w, died. Why?" The City Lord warily asked.

  "Well... That is exactly the problem. High-level warriors have vigorous vitality and high energy that needs to be regurly vented, and not doing so is detrimental to your health. If not done for long enough, like how snot hardens when not properly cleaned, your energy becomes clogged, and regur sex wouldn't unclog it anymore. You accumuted enough, and your talent is sufficient, but this clogging stopped your advancement. And that is where a succubus comes in. She can drain your blocked energy, having a tonic that could help her directly promoted to a tier 5 succubus, while you can get promoted directly to a legendary powerhouse. A win-win!" Rilden grinned.

  "..."

  "..."

  The City Lord and demoness fell silent, looking at each other strangely, and then at Rilden again, speechless.

  "You... You are not joking, right?" Madam Riveria warily asked.

  The offer was very tempting for her, almost too good to be true. Indeed, if she sucked the essence of the City Lord, that would allow her to get promoted.

  "I wish he was..." Varkas frowned with a struggling look.

  Having an affair was one thing, but knowingly ying with a succubus would be damning if spread and might lead to religious issues.

  "Oh, I am serious, lovely Madam Riveria. Also, we won't bother your establishment or your kin and will keep your secret hidden." Rilden smiled and said.

  The madam immediately beamed, "We have a deal!"

  "Hey! I didn't agree to this." Varkas frowned.

  "Father, would you like to be stuck in your current realm until you die?" Rilden smiled and asked.

  "Is there no other way?" Varkas reluctantly asked.

  "Of course there are, but any other method would require you to risk your life or pay an exorbitant price. Besides, you came here incognito. Nobody will know you were here, and you can deny any accusations." Rilden smiled.

  "I... Hah. Fine. You win." Varkas conceded.

  "Hmhmhm~. I will give you a great time, my big and strong City Lord~." The madam flirtatiously said before turning to Rilden, "While I and your father have fun together, how about you enjoy yourself downstairs? Drinks on the house~."

  "I will take you on that offer." Rilden grinned.

  "Hey! You are already engaged!" Varkas frowned.

  "No worries, Father~! I will be drinking and gambling downstairs~! Have fun!" Rilden grinned and gingerly left the room.

  "So~. How about I help relieve all that pent-up stress, handsome~? Hmhmhm~." Madam Riveria giggled, flirtatiously hugging Varkas from behind, pressing her alluring body on his back, and whispered in his ear.

  "..."

  "Rosmelia, forgive me..." The City Lord prayed to his departed favorite wife before engaging in debauchery with a literal demoness.

  Clothes rustled down, and the room soon shook, loud and scandalous moans and beastly growls leaking out.

  Six hours ter-

  Varkas exited the room, feeling vigorous despite being drained by an experienced succubus, having broken through to the Legendary Level.

  "Please come again, love~! My door is always open for you, free of charge~!" The brothel madam, who had the best meal of her life and even increased her strength, stood at the exit and waved, infatuatedly looking at Varkas's powerful back.

  Varkas awkwardly waved back to the demoness and hurried away as if his pants were on fire.

  Downstairs, he looked left and right before finding his son-in-w pying cards with three other young men. He had a rge pile of gold coins and two beauties serving him, one massaging his shoulders and another feeding him grapes.

  "Sorry, boys! Straight flush." Rilden grinned, pcing his cards.

  "Ah!"

  "Dammit!"

  "You lucky rapscallion!"

  The others threw their cards on the table in frustration, Rilden dragging his winnings to himself. And then he noticed Varkas gaping at him.

  "Oh, my partner, had a good time?" Rilden asked, giving a toothy grin.

  Varkas rolled his eyes and gave up on retorting, "Haul your ass up. We are leaving."

  "Okay, okay," Rilden grinned even more and stood up.

  He then separated twenty gold coins from the stack, giving ten each to the two happy serving girls, "Your tips, beauties."

  "Aw! Thank you, handsome~! Mwa!" The two girls ecstatically kissed Rilden on both cheeks.

  And then, looking at the three downcast men, Rilden grinned, "Also, give these three fine men a good time with the remaining winnings."

  The three young men's eyes lit up.

  "Oh, wow! Thanks!"

  "You're a good guy!"

  "Come py with us again sometime!"

  Rilden waved to them and then left with Varkas.

  After they left the brothel, Varkas couldn't help but look weirdly at Rilden.

  "You haven't id with a woman all this time and instead gambled? Not even one?"

  "Father, do you have so little trust in me?" Rilden asked back.

  "Yes." Varkas seriously nodded.

  Rilden rolled his eyes. "I would, but I am not some vigorous bull with too much energy. And can't I enjoy myself in other ways?"

  "Point taken... But not a word about this to anyone. Understand?" Varkas gred at Rilden.

  "My lips are sealed." Rilden said before whispering in a way only men knew, "So, how was it?"

  Varkas remained silent for a moment before solemnly answering.

  "It was great."