Chapter 71: Caenis and Cleaners
As everyone knew, a storm, no matter how heavy, would eventually subside.
Once the raging tides of the storm retreated, what remained was a beach marked by the strange calm that followed disaster.
In Lucian's bedroom, the halo of the floating lamp gradually stabilized again, casting a gentle light that illuminated the fine dust slowly settling in the air, and also shone upon the mess scattered across the room.
Now, that once-expensive deep-purple dress had become nothing more than torn scraps that could not even cover one's body, pitifully strewn across the dark carpet and the edge of the bed, like tattered butterfly wings ripped apart by the storm.
Even so, under the warm light, they still reflected a faint, mysterious luster.
On the bed, Polyxia leaned against Lucian's chest, her body no longer tense like a drawn bow but completely relaxed, soft beyond imagination. Her head rested in the crook of his neck, her warm breath brushing rhythmically against his skin, bringing a subtle tickling sensation.
In this gentle atmosphere, Lucian lightly tapped his fingers against Polyxia's arm.
Polyxia seemed startled by the slight movement, shivering just a little like a sensitive mimosa, yet the resistance Lucian had expected never came as she only burrowed even deeper into his neck with her eyes still closed.
"Elder Sister isn't good at expressing herself, but I know she loves you just like I do."
Polyxia, keeping her eyes closed, spoke softly with a lazy tone that carried the warmth of someone completely at ease.
"Do you like my sister?"
"Of course I do." Lucian blurted out without thinking.
If he were back on Earth, where having multiple women wasn't common sense and was frowned upon, he would have had to think twice before saying something like that.
Fortunately, he had transmigrated to another world that followed a different common sense, so there was no need to hesitate.
"In that case, you need to be the one to take the initiative." Polyxia hugged Lucian even tighter. "My sister is definitely too shy to confess her feelings."
"I'll try my best, but..." Lucian nodded, then shook his head. "I can't rush it, and I can't treat her the same way I treat you, or she'll probably get scared off."
Upon hearing this, Polyxia smiled faintly, gazed at the ceiling for a moment, and then spoke again.
"Well... I'm different because, unlike my very kind sister, I can't help but think all sorts of negative things when I see you with another woman—especially when I thought you'd leave me for someone else..."
"I mean, you brought me back to life and let me experience so many wonderful things. You're also good to me and to my sister... after all that, loving you and not wanting to be abandoned by you is normal, so me getting anxious and kinda rushing it is perfectly normal, okay?"
"Honestly, I can be reserved too."
Seeing Polyxia trying so hard to make excuses, Lucian chuckled and gently stroked her cheek.
"Alright, alright, let's say you are then..." Lucian said with a helpless sigh.
Just like that, after their feelings were finally made clear, their relationship became even closer than before.
Polyxia claimed to be reserved, but after reading all those overbearing CEO romance stories, she kept coming up with new and even more peculiar requests, wanting to try all sorts of things.
Yet, whenever outsiders were present, she would instantly slip back into being that gentle, quiet sister next door.
Who could have imagined this young woman had such a different side to her?
===
Half a year passed in the blink of an eye.
During this time, Polyxia became good friends with Aglaea and Tribios, and they often went to the Hero's Bath together.
Thanks to that, Lucian got to see them in swimsuits that no one else could.
===
Another half a year unknowingly slipped by.
Reluctantly, Polyxia prepared to leave this home that had been filled with lively nights—the place where her first time was taken.
"I hope the next time we meet, I'll hear good news about you and my sister."
Polyxia waved to Lucian with a smile and turned to leave.
However, unlike last time, Castorice returned swiftly this time, which showed that the two sisters hadn't talked much.
Lucian didn't even need to think to know that Polyxia must have urged Castorice to come back as soon as possible.
"What happened?" Castorice asked, looking puzzled. "Polyxia doesn't seem willing to chat with me about the fun things she did, like usual."
"Maybe she's just going through a rebellious phase?" Lucian gave a sheepish smile. "Everyone has those days at this age, after all."
As soon as he finished speaking, Lucian couldn't help but get lost in thought.
'I just finished with the little sister, and now I'm supposed to immediately confess to the big sister? Isn't this a bit much for Cas? Maybe I should wait a while...'
Just like that, Lucian decided to wait.
===
Time passed once more.
Now, Lucian had grown familiar with life in Okhema.
As a new day began, Castorice went alone to the Marmoreal Market to buy needles, thread, and fabric, planning to make the clothes she had promised Lucian.
Lucian originally wanted to accompany her, but she refused to let him come along, saying it was a surprise.
In the end, with nothing else to do, Lucian, as always, lay at home, pondering a problem that had haunted him for over twenty years.
'How am I supposed to complete this script... Am I really supposed to save Amphoreus or something?'
*Knock-Knock—*
As Lucian lost himself in his thoughts, someone knocked at the door.
Lucian quickly stood up, went to the entrance, and opened it.
As expected, it was Aglaea again.
"So, what do you want to talk about today, Agy?" Lucian asked with a smile.
"My golden thread network is already set up." Aglaea smiled back. "Now, we can use teleslates to chat."
However, after Lucian brought Aglaea into the room, he noticed her smile had vanished, replaced by a serious expression.
"Lucian, I think there's something you need to hear for yourself. It's about the Council of Elders."
Aglaea had already woven her golden threads throughout Okhema, even into every corner of the Council of Elders, allowing her to listen in on all their conversations.
It was because of this that the Council of Elders had been so quiet these past two years, causing no trouble.
Why?
Because any trouble they would have caused was already dealt with by Aglaea before it could even begin.
"Let me guess—the Council of Elders can't hold back anymore and wants to make a move on the Holy Maiden of Resurrection?" Lucian smiled, his expression calm yet cold as he voiced his guess.
"You knew already?"
Aglaea was momentarily surprised, not expecting him to guess right immediately.
"I really can't hide anything from you, huh..." Aglaea sighed helplessly, then reached out her hand toward Lucian. "Anyway, the Council of Elders is conducting a meeting now. Want to hear it?"
Lucian did not hesitate as he interlaced his fingers with Aglaea's, listening to the voices carried by her golden threads.
[Tch, the Holy Maiden of Resurrection is getting closer and closer to Aglaea. We can't just ignore this.]
[Hmph, all our requests have been ignored, so they clearly don't care about us at all.]
[More importantly, Aglaea keeps seeing through our plans in advance. I'm starting to think there's an impostor among us!]
[And that first demigod, she must have been helped by the Holy Maiden of Resurrection—that's why she's back to her prime.]
[We have to make a decision quickly. If those Chrysos Heirs really gain the power of resurrection, they'll only become stronger, and we'll never survive.]
[Right. Either we get the Holy Maiden, or we destroy the Holy Maiden!]
[Don't worry. To prevent leaks, Elder Caenis has already started taking action in secret. Maybe we'll hear some good news soon.]
Just like that, the conversation ended.
From their exchange, Lucian understood one thing—the Council of Elders had finally grown tired of living and were seeking death.
Just then, Aglaea's body suddenly grew tense.
"My golden threads sense something wrong at the Marmoreal Market!" Aglaea suddenly stood up. "It's Castorice! Elder Caenis has already made a move!"
Aglaea was ready to rush out and help, but before she could take a step, Lucian grabbed her hand to stop her.
"Tell me the location with your golden threads."
Aglaea didn't mind Lucian holding her hand and immediately complied, sharing the golden threads' information.
Thanks to the golden threads, Lucian quickly pinpointed the exact coordinates.
The next moment, Lucian placed his hand behind Aglaea's waist and gently pushed, activating Absolute Hit.
*Swish!*
In an instant, the two vanished.
===
Several minutes ago, in Marmoreal Market.
Marmoreal Market was the heart of daily life in Okhema, where its many shops kept the city's routines going and offered a dazzling array of goods, from fine crafts to classic books.
Castorice had come to pick up some fabric she had ordered.
During her year in the nether realm, she hadn't been idle, for alongside her duties as the Death Titan, she devoted her spare time to practicing tailoring, determined this year to finally make clothes Lucian would like, just as she had promised.
"Castorice, or should I say Holy Maiden of Resurrection, stop."
On the bustling street of Marmoreal Market, as Castorice walked, holding a note in one hand and a shopping bag in the other, an old, white-haired woman suddenly blocked her path.
"Do you need something?" Castorice looked up and asked, confused.
Everyone in Okhema knew the old woman was Elder Caenis of the Council of Elders, yet even after living in Okhema for more than a year, Castorice still didn't recognize her.
"Of course I do." Caenis replied, her voice and expression cold. "You've refused us too many times, and even helped one of those Chrysos Heirs regain her strength. Now, the Council of Elders can no longer tolerate your actions. What a shame... If we can't have you, then we must destroy you."
As soon as she finished speaking, she waved her hand, and in that instant, over a dozen people in black appeared around them.
They were known as 'Cleaners'—assassins specially trained by the Council of Elders.
By special means, they inherited the memories and experiences of past generations of Cleaners, all for the sake of hunting down the Chrysos Heirs.
"Kill her!"
Caenis coldly ordered the Cleaners, without even a hint of mercy in her voice.