“Did you see that? That’s the kid — the one kept by those three… three female devils.”
“Shh, do you want to die? Back at the guild, that aura… my legs are still shaking even now.”
“What a shame, he’s actually quite handsome. Tsk, tsk. This kind of luck, an ordinary person couldn’t handle it.”
The whispers weren’t loud, but Lynn heard them loud and clear. His face burned with heat.
‘What luck? This is a death sentence!’
“Brother, where are we going?”
Lilith’s voice rang in his ear, innocent and bright.
Lynn glanced at the sky.
The sun was about to set; they had to find a place to stay the night.
He did not want to camp in the wilderness again.
He never wanted to experience a nightmare like the one from last night for the rest of his life.
“Find an inn,” Lynn said concisely.
“I know the best one!”
Vivian spoke up immediately, her tone carrying an unquestionable command.
“Follow me.”
Alicia didn’t speak, but she silently walked to Lynn’s other side, making her stance clear through her actions.
Sandwiched in the middle, Lynn felt a massive headache coming on.
Eventually, they stopped in front of a three-story building.
This structure was significantly more refined than the surrounding houses, with a sign hanging over the door that read “Golden Wheat Inn.”
Before Lynn could say anything, Vivian had already pushed the door open and walked inside.
The inn’s lobby was much cleaner and tidier than the guild.
Red carpets covered the floor, and the air smelled of baked bread and ale.
A few guests sat in the corners, conversing in low voices.
Their entry caused the lobby to fall silent once again.
Everyone’s eyes focused on the four of them.
A young girl wearing a clean server’s uniform stood behind the counter.
When she saw them enter, her eyes lit up, and she immediately put on a professional smile to greet them.
“Welcome to the Golden Wheat Inn! Are you guests here for a meal or to stay the night?”
The girl looked young, likely sixteen or seventeen years old.
She had a few freckles on her face, making her look quite lively.
Her gaze swept over Vivian and Alicia with a look of pure amazement before finally landing on Lynn, who was surrounded in the center.
“Staying,” Lynn said, wanting only to finish the procedures quickly and lock himself in a room.
“Certainly! we have the best Heaven-tier suites available. They have a wide view and independent…”
“Four rooms,” Lynn interrupted her.
“The best ones, single occupancy.”
The girl blinked, likely not expecting these four seemingly close people to choose separate rooms.
However, she reacted quickly, and her smile grew even sweeter.
“Of course, no problem! Four Heaven-tier rooms!”
As she spoke, she turned to grab the keys.
Her movements were brisk, showing she was well-versed in her work.
After retrieving the keys, she turned back, her enthusiasm undiminished.
“Is this your first time in Black Iron Town, Lords and Ladies?”
She winked, acting quite familiar.
“Besides lodging, our inn also provides some exclusive guide services.”
She pulled a beautifully drawn map from under the counter and spread it out.
“Take a look. This is a map of the area surrounding Black Iron Town. Nearby is the Whispering Forest, which contains many rare herbs, and Crystal Lake, which has beautiful scenery. If you are interested, we can arrange the most reliable guides and tasks for you.”
Lynn’s eyelid twitched.
“Tasks? He got a headache just hearing those words now.”
“No need, we are just passing through,” he rejected coldly.
But the girl clearly didn’t intend to give up.
She thought Lynn was just being modest.
“Lord, don’t be so quick to refuse.”
She leaned closer and lowered her voice, a scent of cheap perfume wafting from her.
“I know the tasks at the guild are messy and dangerous, but ours are different. They are personally screened by our boss — safe, with high rewards. For example, this one…”
Her finger pointed to a spot on the map marked with a skull.
“Black Wind Mine. There’s been a small problem inside recently, and the mine owner is willing to pay a high price for someone to clear it out. For strong individuals like yourselves, it would be as easy as taking a walk.”
As she spoke, she looked up at Lynn with eyes full of admiration and expectation.
To let Lynn see more clearly, she leaned her upper body forward and reached her arm across.
Her fingertips, accidentally and lightly, brushed against the back of Lynn’s hand resting on the counter.
In that instant, Lynn’s mind went blank.
**[Warning! Unknown contact detected!]**
**[Vivian’s Blackening Value has increased by 5%! Current: 89%!]**
**[Alicia’s Blackening Value has increased by 5%! Current: 92%!]**
**[Lilith’s Blackening Value has increased by 5%! Current: 97%!]**
A series of blood-red warnings flooded Lynn’s retina like a waterfall.
The ambient temperature seemed to plummet by dozens of degrees.
Lynn could feel the three gazes behind him instantly turn into knives, all pinned onto the receptionist girl who was still completely oblivious.
Vivian’s breathing grew heavy.
Alicia’s fingers began to be entwined with Holy Light.
Lilith’s grip on his sleeve was so strong it felt like the fabric was about to tear.
The shadow of death loomed over the entire lobby.
The receptionist girl finally noticed something was wrong.
Her smile froze, and she looked up in confusion, meeting Lynn’s face, which was distorted by terror.
Survival instinct overrode everything at this moment.
Without a second thought, Lynn yanked his hand back as if he had been stung by a scorpion.
He took a step back to create distance and, using every ounce of strength in his body, let out a righteous roar at the bewildered girl:
“Have some self-respect!”
Everyone in the lobby jumped in fright, their eyes snapping toward them in unison.
The girl trembled all over, her face turning pale with fear.
Lynn didn’t stop.
He had to play the part to the fullest; he had to prove his innocence to the three gods of plague behind him!
“I am a man with a family!”
He pointed at his own nose, his voice even cracking slightly from the agitation.
“What kind of behavior is this, pulling and touching like that! What kind of people do you take us for?!”
The receptionist girl’s mouth hung open in an “O” shape, her eyes filling with mist as if she were about to cry.
She completely failed to understand how a mere brush of the hand had turned into “pulling and touching,” or how she had been saddled with such a scandalous accusation.
The surrounding guests were also dumbfounded, whispering among themselves.
“What… what’s going on?”
“Wasn’t that receptionist being pretty professional?”
“This guy’s reaction is way too extreme…”
Lynn didn’t care about any of that.
He only cared about the three deities behind him.
He stole a glance at the System Panel.
**[Vivian’s Blackening Value: 87%]**
**[Alicia’s Blackening Value: 90%]**
**[Lilith’s Blackening Value: 96%]**
It dropped! Although not by much, it actually dropped!
“It worked!”
Lynn was ecstatic inwardly, but on the surface, he maintained the look of an indignant victim who had just been harassed.
With a cold face, he grabbed a handful of gold coins from his pouch and slammed them onto the counter.
“This is for the rooms! Keep the change! Give us the keys!”
His tone was cold and resolute, filled with disdain for this “unseemly” woman.
The receptionist girl was stunned by his shouting and tremblingly pushed the four keys toward him.
Lynn snatched the keys and turned to leave, not wanting to stay for even another second.
“Brother…”
Lilith pulled at him timidly.
“Brother did the right thing.”
Vivian’s voice carried a hint of hidden satisfaction.
Alicia also cast a look of approval, as if saying: A Holy Son should indeed remain pure and self-controlled.
Lynn just wanted to cry.
He bolted up the stairs as if fleeing for his life, followed by his three “family members.”
He left behind a bewildered, defenseless receptionist girl and a lobby full of wide-eyed onlookers.