The King of Black Fog

"The leader of the 'Glorious Society'—Calvino, his Instinct is 'Torture'."

According to a man named Ferrante who had undergone this treatment and was a subordinate of Yafeiluna, it was as if nails were continuously and endlessly piercing the entire body, capable of driving a person mad or killing them within three minutes.

"Are there any restrictions when using it?" Qing Lan asked, "For example, must you maintain eye contact with the target?"

"When Calvino applied it on Ferrante, he was indeed looking at him, but it is uncertain if eye contact is a necessary condition," Yafeiluna replied.

Qing Lan nodded slightly, indicating for her to continue.

The head of the 'Personal Possessions' in Sicily—Hedde, his Instinct is 'Initiation Ritual'."

Here, we need to talk about the traditional Mafia initiation ritual in Sicily.

Prospective members kneel before the leader prior to joining, their left hand holding a sacred image (an effigy of the patron saint or the Virgin Mary).

The leader takes a dagger, cuts the finger of the member's right hand, and lets the blood drip onto the sacred image.

The leader asks, "In front of the saint, do you swear by blood to always abide by the rules of the family and never betray the clan?"

The member brings his hands together, holding the sacred image, and answers, "I swear."

Then, the leader lights the blood-stained sacred image in the member's hands and says, "The saint is witness. If you betray us, you will be scalded in this world like this holy image or suffer by fire in hell."

Just before it burns his hands, the member places the sacred image on the floor and bows to it with his head and hands together.

In the end, the leader comes over to embrace the member and says, "The saints bless you, my brother (my child)."

This tradition has been deeply ingrained in the hearts of Mafia leaders from generation to generation in Sicily, so after the Value game began, Hedde naturally awoke this Instinct.

Any subordinate who swore loyalty to him and later betrayed him would suffer the agony of scalding until death if they did not die first.

"Quite interesting," Li Changzhou lifted his napkin to wipe his mouth, then his hands, before starting to enjoy his post-dinner coffee.

'Torture' and 'Initiation Ritual' were Instincts that existed solely for controlling others, perfectly suited to reward Yafeiluna, making it easier for her to manage her subordinates and serve him more conveniently—now it was collecting herbs, perhaps something else in the future.

This way, he could save his energy and didn't need to spare a Skill Slot to learn a skill for controlling his subordinates.

Yafeiluna required no worries from him.

Her Instinct 'Mafia Mistress' depended on him. If she found a new reliance, such as a new lover, or if after obtaining 'Torture' and 'Initiation Ritual' she gathered enough powerful subordinates and wanted to rebel, Li Changzhou could simply strip her of her abilities or outright snap her Identity Card.

"So full, so full," Li Qianxia patted her little stomach, the last one to finish eating.

More than half the food was still left on the table.

Yafeiluna was about to order the removal of the items when she saw 'the master' raise his hand.

"Hiss... Hiss..."

The chilly hissing sound sent a shiver up her spine, like a damp tongue licking upwards from her tailbone.

A four-meter-long King Cobra, sinuous and ominously majestic, slowly made its way onto the table, opened its mouth wide, and began devouring the food.

"This is Golden Crown," Li Changzhou introduced.

"G-Golden Crown, nice to meet you," Yafeiluna gazed at the enormous snake coiled before her, repressing the urge to summon her grey mist subordinates, and managed to squeeze out a smile.

Golden Crown raised its front half toward her, a chicken clutched in its triangular head, its pale, sharp fangs glistening.

Watching her, it tilted its neck back and swallowed the chicken whole.

Yafeiluna saw clearly how the chicken moved inside the snake's body, slipping into its stomach in a spherical shape, starting from the head.

Golden Crown withdrew its gaze and continued feasting along the table, with Li Qianxia even suggesting which food was tastier!

"Master," Yafeiluna tried not to stare at the King Cobra between them, "would you like to meet my subordinates? I've also subdued some players."

After a pause, she continued, "However, they are just common people who didn't wish to sell their freedom to the other two families, not vicious enough in their actions and their abilities are not that outstanding."

"Okay," Li Changzhou nodded and then asked the other two, "Will you join?"

"Didn't you say we were going to see the ocean?" Qing Lan said, puzzled.

So enthusiastic?

"Schedule it for the evening," Li Changzhou immediately ordered Yafeiluna, "Give me the address and I'll go directly."

"Yes."

"Also," Li Changzhou's eyes fell upon Golden Crown, "take it with you and have someone feed it all the poisons, toxic substances, and poisonous plants they can get, not too much of each."

"...Yes."

Li Changzhou raised his eyes and offered a half-comforting smile, "Don't be afraid, not only will it not harm you, but it will also protect you."

Yafeiluna left, followed by Golden Crown.

As long as Golden Crown consumed all the poisons Yafeiluna could gather, they wouldn't have to worry too much about being poisoned in Italy.

After her departure, the seaside terrace restaurant quieted down.

"When did we agree to go see the ocean?" Li Qianxia suddenly turned to look at the two, "I'm giving you a chance to come clean."

Li Changzhou put down his coffee cup.

Before he could speak, Qing Lan calmly said, "Your brother now has the same Intelligence as you, 6 points, not suitable for handling official matters."

"So you found an excuse to go see the ocean?"

"Yes," Qing Lan nodded, her expression unchanged all along.

"So it's like that," Li Qianxia nodded in realization, then looked away.

The next moment, she suddenly turned back and shouted sternly, "Do you think I'm stupid?! This is your last chance! Or the wet nurse will deal with you!"

Qing Lan was startled by the outburst, shuddering slightly, then shared a 'big sister at work caught playing a prank on the new girl' knowing and complicit smile with Li Changzhou.

Bright and lively, just like the sunrise that was ascending above the Mediterranean.

Li Changzhou picked up the coffee cup and drained it in one gulp, not bitter at all.

Liked it.

Leaving the terrace restaurant, the three of them wove through the alleys that only allowed two people to walk side by side, making their way down towards the sea.

Soon enough, even within the alleyways, one could hear the sound of the waves.

A sense of ease and comfort naturally arose.

The only regret was that the alley remained narrow, accommodating only two people side by side; Li Changzhou, walking alone behind, felt sentimental as he gazed into the distance.

The waters of the Mediterranean were so blue they seemed like a dream, different from any other place, as if possessed of a classical beauty.

"Brother, hurry up! We're at the seaside!" Li Qianxia yelled; she and Yang Qinglan were standing at the end of the stair-like alley, looking back at him.

"Coming——" Li Changzhou's gaze returned from afar, and he replied in a drawn-out voice, quickening his pace.

The floral dress fluttered in the air above the alley, balconies were filled with flowers, and a cactus stood by the side of the alley like a signpost.

At the seaside... the Mediterranean was nothing special, hmph.

With Li Qianxia around, absolutely nothing Li Changzhou had fantasized about the night before going to sleep happened (such as holding hands with Miss Yang or splashing water on each other, getting their clothes wet, and kissing under the sunset).

But this was fine too.

The three of them strolled by the sea in the early morning, and he helped both women take photos.

The wind blew gently from the surface of the sea, and the scattered islands near and far glittered in the morning light, with several tour boats preparing to set sail.

After leaving the seaside, they went shopping on the main street.

This was Sicily's hottest tourist spot and perhaps its most commercialized place, with luxurious brands and exquisite boutiques lining the streets.

They used the Euros given by Yafeiluna and their proficient English, with some effort—Sicily certainly spoke Italian—to enjoy the pleasure of shopping.

Li Qianxia bought a white tube-top dress so pretty that even her brother almost couldn't take his eyes off it; with her ponytail let down, she looked every inch the princess.

Because the dress was so splendid, Li Changzhou couldn't think of an occasion she could wear it to.

Yang Qinglan bought a bunch of cheap Italian language books and a blue chiffon dress, gentle and elegant; the shopkeeper even began to chant a prayer upon seeing her, thinking he had witnessed a goddess.

Li Changzhou decided to create a walk-in closet in the "Honey Pot World" to buy and store all the dresses in the world.

The two women didn't forget about Li Changzhou either; they got him a full set of gentleman's suits. Left hand wielding the "Spider Bee·Antenna Cane," right hand in his pocket, he struck a pose.

"Has the air of a Xia Country young master who studied abroad in the last century, doesn't it?" Li Qianxia asked Yang Qinglan.

Yang Qinglan smiled, sizing up Li Changzhou: "Just missing a vintage car and a gold pocket watch."

"My dream is to own an Opai electric car," Li Changzhou said as he adjusted his suit collar, not used to suits after getting accustomed to shirts, it felt tight.

Yang Qinglan extended her hand and adjusted it for him, making his collar neat while keeping it comfortable.

The sound of taking photos with a cellphone came from behind, followed by Li Qianxia's snicker.

It was only then that Yang Qinglan realized what she had done.

Li Changzhou's handsome, smiling face was right in front of her.

She kept her heartbeat and the urge to step back under control, continuing to fix his collar as if nothing was happening, her face growing hotter.

Li Qianxia bit her lower lip, switching her phone to camera mode, excitedly looking at the two in the lens.

Li Changzhou, too happy to contain himself, finally laughed out loud, and Yang Qinglan stomped on his foot.

"Is this good?" Yang Qinglan asked about the comfort of the collar after sweeping up the hair from her cheeks.

"I'm good," Li Qianxia said seriously.

"Haha!" Li Changzhou laughed heartily.

Yang Qinglan elbowed him in the chest, causing him to catch his breath and cough, though the cough was mixed with laughter.

Leaving the store, Yang Qinglan left the two behind.

"Brother!" Li Qianxia grabbed Li Changzhou's hand, speaking earnestly, "There is a chance, absolutely a chance!"

To this, Li Changzhou only wanted to say, "Nonsense! If not for you, she and I would have already held hands by the seaside and even exchanged our first kiss!"

"First kiss?!" Li Qianxia covered her mouth, her eyes widened with excitement.

"You can keep dreaming if your dream wasn't fulfilled," said Miss Yang with 10-point Perception from up ahead.

"Mhm," Li Qianxia cleared her throat, suddenly all business.

Li Changzhou held the cane in his left hand, pocketed his right hand, and whistled at a silly-looking Shiba Inu by the roadside (aren't Shiba Inus from Japan? How come there's one in Sicily?).

Li Qianxia was about to hurry forward to catch up with Yang Qinglan when she was suddenly pulled back by her brother.

"Send me the photos and videos later!" Li Changzhou said in a low voice.

"One month's lunch," Li Qianxia said.

"Are you robbing me?! One day!"

"You're the one robbing me?! 29 days!"

"Can't we both show a little more sincerity? Three days."

"If that's how it is, I can only say 27 days, take it or leave it."

Yang Qinglan was speechless about the brother and sister, thinking Li Qianxia was naughty and loved to tease, thinking Li Changzhou was hopeless but also a good brother; as she pondered, her lips also curved into a smile.