Qin

"I... I'm alright."

Bai Pu was a little unaccustomed to physical contact from a woman and gently pulled away.

The attack just now seemed fierce, but Bai Pu had stepped forward to take the hit early, preventing the Blood Ring Hammer Knight from dealing maximum damage.

The moment it struck his waist, Bai Pu's body contorted like a nimble snake. The bones in his waist, chest, abdomen, and legs all seemed to shift and dislocate with a series of cracking sounds, appearing incredibly gruesome.

In reality, this deformation was an extremely effective way to cushion the blow! It was equivalent to using his entire body to absorb the impact force, and the damage he ultimately took was...

19 points.

Bai Pu still had over a fifth of his Health Points remaining. He wasn't in good shape, but he wasn't down yet.

One could imagine that without defenses against "Blunt Damage," this attack would have dealt close to 40 points of damage! Bai Pu only had 30 Health Points left at that time, so he definitely would have died on the spot.

The Female Knight nodded at Bai Pu. "Greetings, Warrior. My name is Yvette. I offer you my highest respects."

Bai Pu received a string of Spirit Realm Will notification messages.

[Combat ended.]
[You have unlocked Combat Expertise: Basic Shooting Level 1.]
[Your Combat Expertise: Basic Fighting has been upgraded to Level 2.]
[Royal Junior Knight: Yvette's Favorability towards you has increased by 300. Current Favorability Level: Acquaintance.]
[Royal Junior Knight: Yvette's Favorability towards you has increased by 1000. Current Favorability Level: Friend.]

Why did the Favorability increase twice? That was an unexpected bonus.

Bai Pu had reason to believe that this Female Knight named Yvette must be a key Native character, making his adventure worthwhile.

What made Bai Pu's eyes light up even more was that a Blue Treasure Chest was floating above the corpse of the Blood Ring Hammer Knight!

Bai Pu hadn't dealt much damage, but he had blocked the Blood Ring Hammer Knight's most powerful skill, so his combat contribution wasn't low, earning him the treasure chest. However, since the Native Yvette had contributed the most, the quality of this treasure chest likely wouldn't be very high.

From the Native's perspective, they couldn't see or touch loot treasure chests; only Awakened individuals could.

Of course, Natives could directly snatch equipment from the deceased without needing Spirit Energy Resonance, something Awakened individuals couldn't do.

While the Militia celebrated their victory and scavenged for loot, Bai Pu subtly reached out and placed the treasure chest into his storage space. He then nodded at Yvette. "Greetings, esteemed Knight. My name is... Dio Fulei. You can call me Dio."

The Spirit Realm Will automatically adapted Bai Pu's appearance and clothing. In the eyes of the Natives, Bai Pu wasn't a Chinese person with black hair and black eyes, but a Northern European with a high nose, deep-set eyes, and blond hair.

His adapted appearance was based on his original Charm value, so his attractiveness hadn't decreased.

Of course, Bai Pu still had to make up a name for himself; his real name couldn't be used.

At this moment, the Female Knight finally removed her helmet and faceplate, revealing her true features.

She had long, slightly curly, sea-blue hair and equally striking, deep blue eyes. However, the corners of her mouth were pulled down slightly, giving her a somewhat aloof and stubborn expression.

Yvette gazed at Bai Pu's excessively handsome face and was about to speak when a pair of enthusiastic hands suddenly clasped his.

"Thank you for your help, Brother Dio! My name is Ingvar!"

The speaker was the young Militia member who had asked Bai Pu for advice earlier. He shook Bai Pu's hand sincerely and introduced himself enthusiastically.

Bai Pu paused for a moment before replying, "A pleasure to meet you, Brother Ingvar."

Ingvar was somewhat slender, with brown eyes and a few freckles on his nose. He smiled gratefully and said, "Brother Dio, thanks to your intervention, we would have been finished."

Bai Pu shook his head and looked at the Female Knight Yvette beside him. "It's thanks to Lady Yvette's intervention. We should thank her."

Yvette shook her head. "No, your bravery was also crucial."

Just then, a voice came from the side. "Who are you two? Why are you here?"

The heavily injured Militia Captain, supported by two Militia members, approached Bai Pu, Yvette, and Ingvar.

"Dio Fulei, from a village upstream. My home was destroyed by the Blood Ring Fortress, and I want revenge," Bai Pu explained briefly.

He didn't dislike this Militia Captain; after all, he had led the Militia bravely from the front. His only flaw was his lack of brains.

"My name is Guna."

The Militia Captain Guna nodded at Bai Pu, acknowledging his origin.

[Main Quest I: Choice, completed. You have gained an additional 11 hours, 34 minutes, and 33 seconds of free exploration time. This time will automatically take effect after all your current stay durations have ended.]
[You have joined the Brandenburg Territory.]
[Your reputation within the Brandenburg Territory has increased by 500. Current Reputation Level: Respect.]

"Over ten hours of extra free time?" Bai Pu shook his head slightly, not feeling much joy.

Perhaps free exploration time was precious after officially becoming an Awakened, but he was currently in the middle of the Awakened Trial, which itself had a 10-day stay duration.

Captain Guna then turned to the Female Knight Yvette, his gaze lingering on the Blood Ring emblem on her chest plate.

"Yvette, a Knight from Chukroona Castle," Yvette replied.

"Chukroona Castle?!" Guna reacted as if facing a great enemy and took a step back.

The other Militia members looked confused. "Captain, what's wrong with Chukroona Castle?"

Guna roared, "Everyone stay back! Chukroona Castle is its old name; now it's called Blood Ring Fortress!"

The militia members immediately tensed up.

"I only believe what I see with my own eyes," Bai Pu waved his hand. "If Ms. Yvette hadn't intervened just now, we would have been killed by the monsters from the Blood Ring. Ms. Yvette hails from Blood Ring Fortress. If she's willing to join Brandenburg, everything she knows will be invaluable intelligence!"

Clearly, Bai Pu's "Respected" level favorability had an effect, and the militia members accepted his words. However, Captain Guna was still cautious and asked, "Ms. Yvette, you come from Blood Ring Fortress, so why are you an enemy of the Blood Ring? Please tell me your reasons!"

Yvette shook her head and said, "I bear an important mission and must see the Lord of Brandenburg Castle before I can reveal it. Please take me to see Duke Frederick William immediately."

Evidently, Guna, as a militia captain with low standing, was not given much importance by Yvette.

Captain Guna hesitated for a moment and said, "His Grace the Duke is indeed inspecting the area. However, I do not have the authority to bring you for an audience. I can take you to see Lady Qin first. She is an advisor to the Duke."

"I've heard of the learned Lady Qin; she's an outstanding physician."

Yvette looked at Bai Pu and said with concern, "Mr. Dio, will you come with me? It would be best for Lady Qin to treat your injuries."

Indeed, Yvette's favorability wasn't unearned.

Bai Pu's adventure had yielded initial benefits. Without Yvette's favor, as a commoner with no exceptionally high faction reputation, how would he have qualified to directly meet with the faction's high command?

On the way, Bai Pu wasn't idle. During a rest stop, he opened the blue treasure chest.

[You have obtained 109 Spirit Energy Points.]

[You have obtained a chance to draw a Loot Card. Current draws available: 1.]

Looking at the 24 blue cards neatly arranged before him, Bai Pu sighed and closed his eyes, tapping one at random.

Whoosh! The card flipped, its image revealed, and it finally transformed into an ancient scroll.

The other cards turned into particle streams and dissipated into the air along with the blue treasure chest.

[You have obtained an Advanced Weaponry Skill Scroll. Using this scroll will allow you to learn the Combat Expertise: Advanced Weaponry (Two-Handed Hammer) Level 1.]

Good news: he got an item.

Bad news: he couldn't use it.

Bai Pu sighed and still used the scroll. He couldn't use it now because he didn't have a two-handed hammer weapon, but that didn't mean he never would.

As the scroll was used, a stream of information flowed into his mind. The experience of countless swings with a two-handed hammer began to integrate into Bai Pu's limbs, transforming into instinctive combat skills.

Soon, in Bai Pu's personal status interface, under the "Expertise" column, a new entry appeared: "Advanced Weaponry (Two-Handed Hammer) Level 1."

Through association, Bai Pu also gained some insight into one-handed hammer weapons. Bai Pu's Basic Weaponry Expertise column derived a branch: "Basic Weaponry (One-Handed Hammer) Level 1." When wielding the Bone Hammer, he felt much more at ease.

Brandenburg Territory, Stettin Town.

Bai Pu and Yvette met the Lord's advisor: Qin.

Qin had shoulder-length curly black hair, and her deep brown eyes were hidden behind hanging spectacles, giving her an aura of an intellectual beauty.

She wore a loose black robe, yet its contours still hinted at her well-endowed and shapely figure.

"Greetings."

Qin examined Bai Pu carefully and smiled, saying, "Mr. Dio, your body seems a bit... unusual?"

Bai Pu lifted his tattered linen shirt and pointed to the bluish-purple scratch marks on his chest. "Bad luck. I was scratched by a Plague Dead."

"I wasn't referring to that..." Qin glanced at Yvette beside him and stopped that topic, smiling. "However, the toxin from the Plague Dead does need to be removed quickly, or you might become the next Plague Dead."

As she spoke, Qin took out a turquoise-inlaid necklace from the collar of her black robe and gently pressed it against Bai Pu's chest.

"I'll do it myself..."

Bai Pu was about to take the turquoise necklace when Qin waved him off. Her fair, slender fingers lightly glided across Bai Pu's chest skin, almost like an oily caress.

The warm turquoise necklace circled his chest, seemingly carrying a faint milky scent, making Bai Pu's body stiffen.

He lacked experience in the past and wasn't adept at interacting with the opposite sex.

Qin slowly rubbed Bai Pu's chest with the turquoise necklace while speaking to Yvette, who looked somewhat flustered beside them, "Ms. Yvette, I heard you are from Blood Ring Fortress. The Duke and I are very curious as to why peace was broken and why the vanguard of the Blood Ring crossed the Baltic Sea to invade Brandenburg's borders."

Yvette took a deep breath. "The decision to invade was made by His Majesty the King, and I am... the Queen's Knight."

"The Queen?" Qin's movements paused slightly. "Is it Maria Eleonora? I recall she is the sister of the old Lord of Brandenburg and married into Sweden due to the friendly relations between the two countries. How is she doing?"

"Not well. Queen Eleonora and Princess Christina are both under house arrest by the King." Yvette replied.

"Gustav? Has he gone mad?"

Qin frowned. "Christina is the Matriarch of the Flesh Plague, carrying the original curse! She was the first to come into contact with that cursed meteor. How could Gustav lay hands on her? If Christina loses control, the entire world will fall into chaos!"

Yvette shook her head. "His Majesty the King views the Princess as a source of power, constantly extracting her blood for research to create the Blood Ring Army. Even the Queen, who originally disliked the Princess, could not accept this action and defied His Majesty the King, which led to both of them being placed under house arrest."

"So, Queen Eleonora sent you to Brandenburg to seek aid?" Qin asked.

Yvette nodded.

"I understand. It seems the war between Brandenburg and the Blood Ring is unavoidable."

Qin pulled open the collar of her black robe and placed the turquoise necklace back within her ample cleavage. "Go and see Duke William."

The bluish-purple toxin on Bai Pu's chest had vanished without a trace. He stood up and said, "Then I will accompany you for the audience as well."

Since he had joined Brandenburg, getting acquainted with the boss wouldn't hurt.

"Wait a moment," Qin looked at Bai Pu with a fiery gaze. "To be honest, I'm very interested in your body..."

"Ahem!"

Yvette interrupted Qin's suggestive words. "Lady Qin, you are Duke William's advisor, please mind your position... Even if you have designs on Dio Fulei, you shouldn't be making such an invitation in public!"

"It seems you've misunderstood,"

Qin said with a smile. "My interest in Dio isn't limited to what you're thinking... I'm more interested in his physique and want to study it. Dio's physique might be key to fighting the Blood Ring."