Derick knocked on the room's door.

"Cipher, I'm here," he said softly.

Upon hearing his voice, the sound of footsteps came from within the room.

Hearing the footsteps, Derick frowned slightly, sensing something was off.

Despite Cipher's tall and curvaceous figure, her movements were as light as a cat's; she wouldn't make a single sound when she walked. But the footsteps in the room now were noticeably heavier, as if someone was stomping forcefully on the floor in small leather shoes.

Could Cipher be trying to cosplay as someone again? Just like when she dressed up as Sparkle.

Just as this thought crossed Derick's mind, the door slowly opened, and a petite figure appeared on the other side. She was so shy that her entire body was hidden behind the door, with only her head peeking out.

Her delicate and charming face was as beautiful as a doll's, making one's mouth water just looking at her.

It was Hyacine.

Could Cipher be disguised as Hyacine to play some kind of game?

That was Derick's first thought.

However, he instantly felt something was wrong. The person before him wasn't Cipher disguised as Hyacine, but the real, genuine Hyacine.

What was she doing here?

Derick stood there, stunned.

Seeing Derick frozen, the shy expression on Hyacine's face deepened. Afraid of being discovered by others, Hyacine quickly reached out, took Derick's hand, and pulled him into the room. After pulling him inside, Hyacine peeked her head out into the hallway. Seeing that no one else was there, she closed the door with a sense of relief.

Once inside, a bewildered Derick asked Hyacine, "Hyacine, what's going on? Cipher didn't trick you into coming here, did she?"

He was worried this was one of Cipher's pranks.

With just the two of them left in the room, Hyacine became a little bolder. She took Derick's hand, looked up at him, and said, "No, I knew."

After saying this, Hyacine paused for a moment before continuing, "Derry, I like you. I want to be with you, before we set off for Amphoreus."

As Hyacine finished speaking, Derick could clearly feel the temperature of her soft, boneless little hand skyrocketing, becoming scorching hot.

Seeing her reaction, Derick lowered his head slightly, thinking about how to respond.

As Derick pondered, Hyacine grew anxious. She moved even closer to him, her rich, floral scent practically enveloping his body. Her other free hand pressed against his chest with a gentle force.

"You... don't reject me, please. I... I really don't want to be left behind by you all..."

Hyacine whispered anxiously.

Hearing her anxious words, Derick reached out and stroked Hyacine's hair, playing with her spiraled pink locks as he asked her seriously, "Hyacine, do you truly like me, or do you just not want to be separated from us and continue adventuring? If it's the latter, you don't have to do this."

"That's not it." Hyacine shook her head, her grip on Derick's hand and her hand on his chest tightening. "I really do like you, Derry, and I want to be with you. I... I don't want to just be a witness to your love. I want to be a real part of it."

As she spoke, she tapped her small foot on the ground. As she did, the little leather shoe slipped off, exposing her small, stocking-clad foot to the air.

Cipher told me that Derick really likes this.

Derick looked down. Although Hyacine was petite, her legs were straight and slender. Her small feet, not even as big as Derick's palm, were dainty and exquisite. Through the white stockings, he could see the delicate pink of her soles and her crystal-clear toes.

Seeing Derick's gaze truly fixed on the soles of her feet, Hyacine shyly curled her feet up.

But after a moment's hesitation, Hyacine looked up at Derick, wanting to see his reaction.

As she was wondering, Derick moved closer to her, his eyes level with hers.

Looking into Derick's eyes, Hyacine knew his answer.

The corners of Hyacine's mouth turned up, about to form a smile. But before the smile could fully bloom, Derick's lips were pressed against hers.

Derick was never one to be good at refusing.

Hyacine was lifted into his arms. Her small feet kicked in the air a few times before instinctively hooking around Derick's thigh, allowing her to balance her body.

But this balance didn't last long. Soon, feeling Derick's intense and fiery passion, Hyacine's little feet began to kick wildly in the air again.

Derick released the teary-eyed Hyacine and then asked her softly, "Do you want to continue?"

"Yes, of course I do!"

Hyacine's tone was incredibly firm.

"Mhm."

Holding Hyacine like this, Derick walked towards the bed...

...

Even as a physician, this was the first time Hyacine had witnessed the true wonders of human anatomy.

So it was true that sometimes, having a weight of over a hundred pounds on you didn't feel heavy at all.

So it was true that sometimes, your body's flexibility could allow your foot to touch your own cheek without any discomfort.

So...

Hyacine's thoughts drifted aimlessly as she reached out to pull away the pillow Derick had placed under her stomach, allowing herself to lie more comfortably flat on the bed.

That Derick... he was too energetic, and too creative.

No sooner had Hyacine settled down than she felt a warm, damp sensation on her shoulder. She glanced sideways and saw Derick holding a hot towel, gently wiping the sweat from her body.

Feeling his gentle touch, Hyacine squinted like a cat, savoring his tenderness. Her exposed calves nudged closer to Derick, wrapping around his waist.

"Derry, did you put my stockings away safely?" Hyacine asked him in a small voice.

Hearing her question, Derick, while still wiping her down, picked up Hyacine's white stockings from the side.

The cicada-wing-thin white silk was torn, and there were tiny specks of bright red blood on it.

Seeing this, Hyacine's face grew hot, and she quickly waved her small hands.

"Derick, put that away first," she said hastily in a low voice.

Seeing Hyacine look like she was about to turn into steam, Derick didn't tease her any further and properly put her stockings away. After doing so, Derick also lay down on the bed, pulling Hyacine into his arms.

Feeling Derick's embrace, Hyacine rested quietly in his arms.

"Rest for now. After you've recovered for another two days, we should get ready to leave for Amphoreus," Derick said softly to her, playing with her small hand.

"Mhm." Hyacine nodded, then thought for a moment and said to Derick, "I wonder, when we get back to Amphoreus, what will Lady Aglaea and Lady Cipher think of us."

"What will they think? They'll give us their blessing, of course."

Derick interlocked his fingers with Hyacine's, their hands clasped tightly together.

"I can't say for sure about Lady Aglaea, but I'm sure Lady Cipher will be so shocked her jaw will drop."

"Alright, I'll remember that. I'll be sure to tell Sister Cipher later."

"Derry, you're so mean..."

After a bit of teasing, Hyacine must have been too tired, as she soon closed her eyes and began to rest. Derick held Hyacine in his arms, but he didn't rest for long.

Derick didn't go back to sleep.

He still had many things to deal with. They would be returning to Amphoreus soon, and many preparations were needed.

"I haven't checked on my First Clone in a while. I wonder how things are over there."

Derick thought to himself.

So, while holding Hyacine, he began to shift his perspective, adjusting it to that of his First Clone.

...

Amphoreus.

Derick found that his First Clone's hiding spot was very secure, with no signs of anyone having discovered it.

"Now that I have the authority of the Earth and Ocean Titans, hiding has become much more convenient."

Derick thought, then controlled his First Clone to leave its hiding place.

He remembered that back on Amphoreus, the Council of Elders and Aglaea were still in a standoff. He hadn't been here for a while and didn't know what had happened.

Derick steered his First Clone quietly towards Okhema.

Seeing that the sky over Okhema, which Cipher had tricked into being bright, was still illuminated, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Nothing major had happened here, thankfully.

But when he entered Okhema's inner city, Derick became puzzled.

Why were the streets completely empty?

Where had all the people of Okhema gone?

Derick wondered.

Sensing more carefully, Derick discovered that the city wasn't empty, but that many of Okhema's residents were confined within their own homes.

As for the Council of Elders and the troops they controlled...

Derick sensed carefully and found that those troops had already moved outside the city of Okhema. And opposite Okhema's forces, another army was arrayed.

"But it seems the Elders are about to go to war with Aglaea? Are these Elders insane? What do they have to fight Aglaea, Phainon, and Mydei with? It can't be that Lygus has completely sided with the Council, can it? According to his way of thinking, that should be impossible!"

Although Derick's departure had taken Castorice, Cipher, and the others, greatly weakening Chrysos's strength, they were still far beyond what the Council of Elders could compare to. Aglaea had only chosen to leave because she cared about the civilians of Amphoreus, but in a situation like this, shouldn't she act, no matter how much she wanted to hold back?

Puzzled, Derick quietly approached the battlefield. He wanted to see what had happened on the battlefield to make Okhema's army so bold.

When he reached the edge of the battlefield, the scene that appeared before him was quite unexpected.

The number of troops from Blade's Edge City facing the Council's army was much smaller, which was within Derick's expectations. But the leaders of those people were beyond his expectations.

Only Cipher, Xian'an, and Xianshou were there.

"Where are the others?" Derick wondered.

In the next second, he got his answer from Cipher's furious roar.

"You people from the Council of Elders are rotten to the core. Little Derick moved Blade's Edge City here to protect Okhema from the Black Tide's invasion. But you guys actually took advantage of the Black Tide's attack, while Aya and the others went to fight it, to launch a sneak attack on us. We may be few in number, but we will not surrender!"

Hearing Cipher's roar, the new Ceynes, who had inherited the name, sneered coldly.

"Once Blade's Edge City and Okhema are merged, we will naturally be able to wield greater power to fight the Black Tide."

Listening to this exchange, Derick felt considerably relieved.

So they just went to fight the Black Tide, it wasn't a real emergency.

Then the problem wasn't a big one.

At that moment, Okhema's army began its attack. Seeing this, Derick quickly estimated that Sister Cipher's side didn't have enough strength to handle them.

If Okhema's attack were to break through, Sister Cipher and the others could be in danger.

I have to make a move.

So, as Okhema's army charged towards Cipher and her group, Derick quickly moved behind the Elders, brandished the scythe in his hand, and began to slaughter them.

A swing of the blade, a fall, and several Elders were decapitated by Derick before they could even react.

Perhaps these Elders hadn't done anything truly terrible, but since they stood with the new Ceynes, they were the enemy.

It was just like the hundreds of billions of Xingli he had slaughtered before; some among them might not have been evil. But sometimes, the side you're on matters more than anything else.

Kill, kill, kill...

Derick, controlling his First Clone, eliminated a whole string of Elders.

He charged straight up to the new Ceynes. When Ceynes saw Derick's First Clone appear, she subconsciously moved to defend herself.

She raised her hands to resist.

Then, Derick's First Clone slashed, and the new Ceynes was cut down and killed without even putting up a fight.

Derick's current power was at the Half-Emanator level. Although the energy within his First Clone was far less than his main body's, his insight was still there. It was difficult for anyone who wasn't a Half-Emanator to defeat his First Clone. Not to mention someone like Ceynes, who was so weak she couldn't even beat Firefly without her tail. One slash from Derick's First Clone was all it took to finish off the new Ceynes.

Of course, he didn't stop after killing her.

Last time, he had only killed her without devouring her, which allowed a new Ceynes to be born.

Derick had no desire to deal with this a third time.

So he controlled his First Clone to open its mouth and swallow the new Ceynes's corpse.

However, Derick wasn't eating a person. He planned to devour her memories and everything else within her before spitting the body out.

Eating people was something Derick was still incapable of doing.

______

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