Leveling Up by Executing Monsters

Lloyd hesitated for a long moment, struggling to find the words before finally blurting out:

"You... I’m trying to have a serious discussion with you!"

"Oh my? Are you angry? Hehe, I’m so very sorry. A bad woman like me just loves to make people angry... Alright, alright, I’ll stop teasing you. Whatever you want to discuss, this isn’t the right place. Aren’t you worried Weiya will see us?"

Meditis was as sarcastic as ever. She gestured for Lloyd to follow, then strode toward the exit of Tower Nine.

’My Weiya isn’t that petty!’

Lloyd shouted inwardly. But considering how often he borrowed the bell from her, he braced himself and followed Meditis’s steps.

Then again, she was always in that filthy white lab coat, which completely hid her figure. But when she walked, her slender waist swayed beautifully, like a gorgeous, venomous snake dancing as it moved.

It was a shame she spent most of her time drunk off her mind and rarely walked this normally.

Soon, the two found an empty bench in a secluded spot outside Tower Nine.

But Meditis got there first. Her petite frame plopped down right in the middle of the bench, taking up the whole thing and preventing Lloyd from sitting next to her.

’That certainly fits the style of a "bad woman"...’

Then, she took a few big gulps—GULP, GULP, GULP—before asking:

"So, what did you want to discuss with me?"

Lloyd had no choice but to stand beside the bench. He explained the Orbit failures and recounted the "words of experience" from the Military Supply Priest, Andrew. Finally, he asked:

"Have you encountered any failures these past few days? Were you in any danger? How did you handle it?"

"My, my, you sure have a lot of questions. I really don’t know how that Weiya girl puts up with you every day. But... hmm-hmm~ Are you worried about me? I suppose I can allow myself to be a little touched. After all, I am a bad woman..."

Meditis maintained her flippant tone, taking a few more swigs of alcohol before continuing:

"I did run into failures twice, but they weren’t serious. Nothing a little quick thinking couldn’t solve. Hmm? Why are you looking at me like that? You don’t actually think the Demons on Floor -3 could really give me trouble, do you? I just can’t be bothered with the hassle..."

"However, I do agree with that Priest’s assessment. The presence of a High-ranking Powerhouse is about more than just providing combat strength... Hehe, don’t try to rack your brain. None of this is in the books."

Meditis’s eyes and face were always hidden behind that messy, seaweed-like hair, completely obscured from view. Yet, she seemed to possess a pair of sharp ’drunken eyes.’ Even when tipsy and disoriented, she could still catch the subtle shifts in Lloyd’s expression.

That was why being stared at by her always felt a little unsettling, like being targeted by a venomous snake.

"Why isn’t this stuff in the books?"

Lloyd asked, confused.

"Who knows? Maybe they thought it wasn’t important, or maybe it was written and I just missed it. After all, I’m just an ignorant ’bad woman,’ not a hard-working, ambitious person like you."

Meditis said, shaking her head.

But despite her words, according to Lloyd’s previous [Probe] result, her stats had actually inflated again:

[Target: Meditis]

[Status: Mild Madness]

[Rationality: 70]

[Spiritual Power: 69]

[Inspiration: 42]

[Cognition: 55]

This rate of increase was on the same level as his sister, Evelor.

Lloyd found the two of them to be truly ridiculous. One spent all day running a magazine, the other spent all day drinking, yet their Attributes increased faster than Weiya’s, who studied and practiced her swordplay diligently every day.

’Is it because they’re both short and flat-chested?’

Lloyd mused inwardly, but he continued their previous conversation aloud:

"Well, since you see it that way too, it means the Chief Judge’s departure has indeed had an effect on us here. It looks like we’ll need to be more careful during executions from now on. Especially when I’m not around, you need to be extra cautious."

"Hehe, you really like worrying about others, don’t you? You won’t even spare a ’bad woman’ like me? Oh my, I’m suddenly starting to think you’re kind of cute."

Meditis said sarcastically, tilting her head back slightly. The tip of her sharp chin peeked out from between the strands of her hair as she continued:

"But don’t you underestimate me. I’m the baddest woman in the world, not some little girl who’s all talk."

’No... with your height, your figure, and that mouth of yours, aren’t you the very definition of a "little girl who’s all talk"?’

Lloyd grumbled to himself, but then moved on to the real reason he had sought out Meditis:

"Anyway, I might have to leave for periods of time now and then. It probably won’t be for long, about the same as this time, I guess? When I’m gone, this place might have to rely on you... Seriously, I’m really worried something might happen here."

The Eighteenth District was his home, but as an ambitious young man with vision and perspective, he couldn’t just stay cooped up at home all day.

Whether it was his agreement with the butler or the Chief Judge’s mention of Mizkakotok University, he would have to be away from time to time.

Because of this, Lloyd was especially concerned about the safety of the Eighteenth District and Tower Nine, lest he return one day to find his home destroyed.

But Lloyd’s earnest concern was met with a sharp retort:

"Hmph. I really don’t get people like you. Why do you always have to worry about everything, like you’re trying to save the world?"

He could hear that her tone was no longer just playfully malicious; it was now tinged with genuine anger.

With that, she clearly had no intention of talking to Lloyd any longer. She turned and staggered away, chugging her drink as she went.

Her gait no longer held its earlier serpentine grace; it was now stumbling and pathetic.

Her frail silhouette looked exceptionally powerless and lonely.

’Did... Did I say something wrong? Why did she get angry all of a sudden again?’

’Is this also a symptom of [Mild Madness]?’

Lloyd stood there stunned, scratching his head helplessly.

’It’s like I’ve caught some strange disease today that makes girls angry at me.’

’In this world, my sister and Weiya are probably the only ones who wouldn’t get mad at me, right?’

A wry smile on his face, Lloyd turned and headed back toward Tower Nine.

But then again, he always felt like something must have happened between Weiya and Meditis in the past.

But neither of them ever said anything...

Which only made Lloyd all the more curious.

...

Having inexplicably offended Meditis, Lloyd had no bell to use today. He had no choice but to brute-force his way through the books he’d borrowed from the library.

Although his high Cognition and [Focused Learning] ability meant his efficiency wasn’t much lower, there was still a sense of imperfection, an uncomfortable feeling. It was like playing a Krypton Gold Mobile Game and having a Holy Relic with a few dozen fewer points in Critical Strike damage than someone else.

’Looks like I need to get a music box for myself...’

The thought of the music box reminded Lloyd of Balderes. He put down his book, took out a pen and paper, and prepared to write a letter to Balderes to establish contact.

After some deliberation, he decided against using his real name. Instead, he chose a pen name that would feel familiar and friendly to Balderes and prove his identity: ’Black Knight’.

And at the very beginning of the letter, he addressed Balderes directly as ’White Knight’.

This way, he wouldn’t need to mention words like ’Supreme One’ or ’Beloved’ for the other party to understand his origins.

After a brief self-introduction, Lloyd continued writing:

"I have become aware of your accomplishments in Orbital Mechanics and engineering, and I wish to engage in a simple discussion with you..."

He went on to describe his concepts for the miniaturization and portability of Orbits, but he didn’t rush to push his ’get rich quick’ plan. He was taking it step-by-step, first establishing a dialogue and then slowly working to bring him on board.

In the process, he found a suitable opportunity to mention the Revolver, asking if there were any more in stock and if they accepted custom orders.

He finished with some pleasantries, adding a concluding sentence to deepen the other party’s trust:

"I sincerely hope that our exchange can lead to a future free from shackles."

’That should do it.’

The letter was anonymous. He would just find a random mailbox to send it from later, and he didn’t need a reply.

Because in the letter, Lloyd had already arranged to meet Balderes tomorrow at 3 PM in the "Right on Target" game area of the ’Dream Theater’. It was the perfect place for an anonymous conversation.

Just as he finished the letter and was about to go back to his book, Weiya suddenly appeared at his door with two unfamiliar Judges.

"Hello, Executioner Lloyd. I am Riggs from the Second District, and this is my partner, Gold."

"We’re here about a case of stolen materials."

The two Judges spoke one after another as they entered.

The fact that they could immediately spot Lloyd in his vest meant their [Inspiration] wasn’t low.

Lloyd froze for a moment, recalling that Weiya had once mentioned this ’Second District’ to him.

"The Second District? I remember that’s the one in charge of internal affairs investigations..."

His heart skipped a beat. ’Could they have found out that I skimmed a little off the top?’

Judge Gold nodded and continued:

"That’s correct. So please cooperate with our questioning, because you are the witness who had the most contact with the stolen goods."

"The only witness?"

Lloyd seemed to realize something, and he couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief.

They hadn’t called him a suspect, but a witness—and the ’only’ witness at that...

Something suddenly occurred to Lloyd:

"Could it be... the cargo from the airship I took on my return trip is missing?"