Chapter 162 : Why Am I a Free Laborer Again
Chapter 162: Why Am I a Free Laborer Again
【Perform well.】Hera left behind one final meaningful remark. 【Don’t embarrass me.】
The voice fell completely silent.
Lilia stood where she was, her emotions tangled into a mess.
Although knowing that her boss was watching from the shadows did give her a bit of confidence—at least she didn’t have to worry about actually being turned into fertilizer—it didn’t change her current situation!
The one in front of her was an old monster on the same level as Hera!
And she was supposed to act as an undercover agent right under her nose?
How was that any different from pulling teeth from a tiger’s mouth?
Lilia took a deep breath, trying her best to keep her expression from looking like she was heading to a funeral. Since her boss had spoken, she could only brace herself and go through with it. She turned her head, just about to squeeze out a flattering smile at Vivian and try to earn some leniency.
However—
The expected “training scene” did not happen.
Vivian stood less than two meters away from her. The perverse, excited smile that had been on her face had, at some point, frozen.
Those emerald vertical pupils were fixed tightly in the direction Hera had left, her brows gradually knitting together. The teasing look in her eyes slowly faded, replaced by a deep… suspicion.
Something was off.
Very off.
Vivian knew Hera too well. That woman’s possessiveness was outrageous—back then, even a single bug landing on her skirt would be burned to ashes.
For hundreds of years, there had never been any living being by Hera’s side, let alone something like this clearly marked “Personal Maid.”
That protective attitude Hera showed earlier definitely wasn’t an act.
But—
The moment she proposed borrowing her, Hera had agreed so readily?
She didn’t even bargain, just tossed the person over and left?
It was like a miser suddenly lending you the key to their treasury for two days—the only explanation being that there was probably a bomb buried inside, or that it wasn’t a treasury at all, but a trap.
Vivian’s gaze returned to Lilia.
What was special about this girl?
A curse left behind by Hera?
Or some kind of forbidden spell trigger that could blow the entire Forest of Life into the sky?
Or perhaps Hera simply intended to use her hand to kill the girl, then find an excuse to flatten this forest?
No matter which possibility, it all reeked of conspiracy.
That damned old fox!
Trying to scheme against me?
No way!
“Wait!”
Vivian suddenly spoke.
Lilia, who had been preparing to accept her fate (or start acting), froze.
What kind of development was this?
Over before it even started?
Outside the treehouse, on the path that had been empty, space distorted slightly. Hera’s figure reappeared as if rewinding time. She turned around, a trace of perfectly measured confusion on her face.
“What?” Hera raised an eyebrow slightly. “Already bored of playing?”
What great acting.
Lilia applauded silently in her heart. If she hadn’t just been chatting with her in her mind moments ago, she might have believed it.
Vivian narrowed her eyes, sweeping her gaze back and forth between Hera and Lilia several times before letting out a cold snort.
“Hera, put that act away.” Vivian crossed her arms, wearing an expression that screamed “I’ve already seen through everything.” “How many years have we known each other? You’d really be so kind as to leave your precious treasure here for me to play with?”
“There’s definitely something troublesome about this girl, or you’re planning to use my territory to do something shady.”
The more Vivian thought about it, the more convinced she became that she was right.
Someone like Hera never made a losing deal. Agreeing so readily meant the profit far outweighed the cost.
“I’m not borrowing her anymore.” Vivian waved her hand, and the vines blocking the entrance of the treehouse instantly parted. They even thoughtfully made way, as if afraid Lilia might refuse to leave. “Take this hot potato back yourself. I don’t want to burn my hands.”
Lilia: “…”
Even though she was being rejected, why did it feel so good?
Did being rejected in reverse just save her life?
Hera stood at the doorway, her expression unchanged, without the slightest hint of embarrassment at being exposed.
“If you don’t want her, then the Seed of Life…” Hera deliberately dragged out her tone.
“Take it.”
Vivian answered with unusual decisiveness.
Even Lilia was stunned this time. Had this woman’s brain short-circuited? She had just refused desperately, and now just to avoid keeping her, she was giving it away for free?
Was she really that dangerous?
“However—”
As expected, there was a twist.
Vivian revealed a sly smile, the kind of expression of a fox scheming against an old wolf.
“Giving it away for free is impossible. You know my rules.” Vivian raised a slender finger, pointing at Lilia, then at Hera. “Since you’re unwilling to lend her to me, I’ll change the condition.”
“I want her to do something.”
“What?” Hera asked.
The curve of Vivian’s lips widened further, her eyes gleaming with anticipation as if watching a good show.
“To the west of this forest, there’s a place called ‘Despair Swamp.’ Recently, it hasn’t been very peaceful—something seems to be trying to crawl out.” Vivian played idly with a strand of her hair. “I’m too lazy to deal with it, and I don’t want to dirty my garden.”
“Send your little maid to deal with the trouble there.”
Vivian paused, her gaze locking onto Hera’s eyes as she spoke word by word:
“As long as she comes back alive, even if she’s barely clinging to life, I’ll hand over the Seed of Life with both hands. And…”
She lowered her voice, her tone filled with temptation.
“I’ll even throw in a bottle of ‘Life Essence.’”
Lilia’s heart skipped a beat.
Despair Swamp?
That name alone didn’t sound like a proper place! And why did this plot sound so familiar? Wasn’t this just Dark Moon Canyon with a different map?
So in the end, she was still going to be free labor?
Hera did not agree immediately.
She fell silent for a moment, her gaze passing over Vivian and landing on Lilia. There was no inquiry in that look, only a calm assessment, as if evaluating the sharpness of a weapon.
“Despair Swamp…” Hera repeated softly. “Mm.”
She looked at Vivian.
“Deal.”
Lilia: “???”
Wait, boss, aren’t you even going to ask for my opinion?
I’m not actually a production team’s donkey!
“Since you’re being so generous, I can’t be stingy either.”
“Lilia.”
“Here…” Lilia responded weakly.
At this moment, Lilia felt like her entire being had shattered.