The Battle for Supremacy

On the other side.

The Franca Royal Palace, inside the King's bedroom.

King of Franca closed the communication window and dismissed the System Panel in front of him. His previously exaggerated expression gradually subsided. After letting out a long sigh, he stood up, walked to the liquor cabinet next to him, and poured himself another glass of strong liquor.

Next.

He held his wine glass and slowly walked to the huge French windows, gazing at the night view of the palace outside, a thoughtful expression on his face.

Although the King of Franca was somewhat embarrassed after being scolded by his daughter in the communication just now.

But at this moment, as the true ruler of Franca stood silently in the shadows, his imposing, mountain-like figure exuded an overwhelming sense of oppression.

"I didn't expect this----"

King of Franca downed the strong liquor in his glass, feeling the burning pain in his throat, and murmured, "I never imagined that Architect from Nine Provinces would be this terrifying. Flawless Blood Frenzy —he actually managed to make the Frans Flawless Blood Frenzy— "

Putting everything else aside.

For this reason alone, the entire nation of Franca treated them with the utmost respect.

As for turning against Nine Provinces, that's even more impossible.

Thinking of this...

King of Franca held the empty wine glass, a complex emotion flashing in his beastly eyes.

It seems that every time Franca thinks she can have an equal dialogue, Nine Provinces always manages to crush Franca so much that she can't even lift her head.

The last time was when Long Tiger Clan was in power, and the time before that was during the alliance period.

Every time Franca gained a little confidence, Nine Provinces would beat him down.

What's even more outrageous is that every time Franca is defeated, it rises to prominence for a period of time.

For example, when the alliance was broken up, the loose alliance was dissolved, but Franca truly gained national identity, instead of being temporarily pieced together by an unbreakable alliance. Subsequently, the Long Tiger Empire was established and could even directly contend with the Red Tide.

When the Long Tiger Empire was overthrown, the slaves were freed. The Long Tiger Royal Family's chaotic actions almost led to the destruction of Red Tide by the neighboring Red Tide Franca.

In the end, it was only through the slaves' fearless Blood Frenzy Art that the situation was stabilized.

Therefore, the people of Franca have always had a complicated view of Nine Provinces.

This goes without saying for the current ruling race.

kindness?

A little.

hatred?

It seems there is a little bit.

Hatred can never be pure, nor can gratitude ever be complete.

The messy past is impossible to unravel. After numerous conflicts, collaborations, and ups and downs, almost all the Frans can only sigh and silently remark, "Our neighbor is really strong."

They originally thought that after gamification, the suppression would no longer occur, and they would finally be able to have an equal dialogue with Nine Provinces.

Especially after Franca also emerged victorious in the previous special event.

But unexpectedly...

Lu Xiu has appeared out of nowhere again----

This time.

It was no longer the suppression of the entire nation of Nine Provinces, but rather the achievement of a single person from Nine Provinces.

This was something King of Franca never dreamed of.

It really is.

Is the National Fortune really that dramatic?

King of Franca gave a wry smile.

Just now in the communication, he asked Rosalind to also become Lu Xiu's Guard —of course, he wasn't deliberately trying to trick his own daughter.

As the head of the Franca, he is more aware than anyone else of the current situation and crisis facing the royal family.

As the World Gamification, the power of the individual is being amplified infinitely.

Add to that the loss in the ring battle.

Among the ancient clans and powerful figures within the country, voices of discontent with imperial rule are growing louder.

If we don't send Rosalind over there----

King of Franca gazed at the night view outside the window.

If this is truly just sending elite warriors to Nine Provinces, then it's uncertain whose orders they will follow upon their return.

Therefore, Rosalind must go.

Rosalind herself possesses Flawless Blood Frenzy, which gives her an irreplaceable advantage over the royal family.

"For the future of Franca, for the future of Silver Fox ----"

King of Franca sighed and placed the empty wine glass on the windowsill, "I guess my daughter will have to make do for now. After all, who could have imagined that the Architect from Nine Provinces would be so outrageous?"

Speaking of which...

King of Franca was silent for a moment, then suddenly smirked, "That Architect is a beautiful young woman; she wouldn't lie to my daughter, would she? Besides, we might even benefit from the National Fortune."

After saying that.

He couldn't help but laugh first.

If only it were possible----

But in any case.

Now that things have come to this, he has no other choice.

At the same time.

Nine Provinces.

Inside a conference room.

Several high-ranking officials who had been urgently summoned were listening to Yan Fushou's report.

After listening...

All the top executives exchanged bewildered glances, their expressions more varied than the last.

Several minutes passed.

The elderly man at the head of the table rubbed his temples. "The Franca Delegation, this is your first formal contact with Lu Xiu, isn't it?"

Yan Fushou nodded with a wry smile, "Yes, all told, the exchange didn't last more than half an hour."

The crowd fell silent once more.

I'm at a loss for words.

That's outrageous.

Half an hour.

The Frans almost sold their own princess.

Save the princess, Flawless Blood Frenzy, and arrange for Guard ----

From now on, maybe we should just let Lu Xiu receive the delegation directly.

On the other side.

The old man at the head of the table opened his mouth, unsure of what to say, and could only rub his temples again. "--Never mind, it's all good news. Let's make contact with the Franca Delegation."

Yan Fushou was silent for a moment, then said, "We've made contact. Franca just sent a note; they immediately asked for ten thousand soldiers—"

Old man. "--------They want the Nine Provinces?"

"And the Red Tide side is making quite a fuss, probably because they know about Franca's situation, they're practically blocking the door and asking when they can see Lu Xiu."

9

Just as the outside world was in an uproar because of Lu Xiu.

Witch Forest, by the Bonfire.

With a flash of Bai Guang, Lu Xiu withdrew from the Construction Space.

"Call----"

I just logged out.

Lu Xiu let out a soft breath, a hint of regret on her face.

Just now, the progress bar for that system's data collection spiked to 90% and then completely froze.

She slashed through Orphan of Kos many times, and even tried various combinations of Qi and Blood, but the progress bar just wouldn't budge.

"It seems that working in isolation is not an option."

Lu Xiu stretched and sighed.

Next, I guess I'll need a sudden flash of inspiration or something.

Actually, after she noticed the progress bar wasn't moving, she wanted to just complete the Bloodborne Dungeon directly.

Although it's a practice dungeon, after a lot of trouble, the enemies have basically all been built up.

But then she remembered that Shen Nian and Jian Li were waiting outside.

She withdrew first.

After all, she did seem to be making an excuse to run away just now.

As expected.

As soon as Lu Xiu returned to the Wooden Cabin, she was met with a resentful gaze.

Jian Li was alright; she just watched.

The moment Shen Nian saw Lu Xiu, she stepped forward, grabbed Lu Xiu's shoulders with both hands, and shook her violently.

"Fraud!"

"Hey hey hey!"

Lu Xiu felt a little dizzy from being shaken, and because she was losing her balance, she quickly grabbed her wrist. "Buy, buy, buy! Let's go buy clothes, okay? Stop shaking me!"

Upon hearing this...

Shen Nian then stopped: "You really did that on purpose—"

She muttered a complaint under her breath, then got down to business. "By the way, I told Yan Fushou about what happened not long ago, and then Yan Fushou just contacted me. He said that Franca sent a note saying they would send ten thousand elite soldiers to be your Guard. He asked me to ask you if you need that many people—"

"Taking away the young master?!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Xiu's beautiful eyes widened instantly.

Shen Nian: "Ten thousand."

"Don't want!"

Lu Xiu replied directly, "Why send me so many people? Where am I supposed to put them? This isn't a zoo. A thousand people at most. Let them pick the elites to send over!"

Ten thousand people is fine!

While having 10,000 kemonomimi girls is pretty cool—this is way too many!

"Good."

Shen Nian brought up the communication panel: "Then I'll reply to him now."

After sending the message, Shen Nian immediately closed the system page.

As for how much trouble Yan Fushou would have after seeing the replies from a thousand people, and how he would deal with Franca, that was beyond her consideration.

After all, she was just a messenger secretary.

Let's go.

After taking care of the important matters...

Shen Nian took Lu Xiu's hand.

Jian Li then took Lu Xiu's other hand.

As if they were afraid she would run away.

Lu Xiu: "----"

Half an hour later.

Chen Capital.

Wuyi Lane.

There are quite a few commercial streets in the capital, in fact, you could say a lot.

Although the World Gamification, people still need to eat. Although you can exchange Survival Points for food in the game store, there are still places where you can feel the warmth of human life.

Most people are still willing to experience it.

Moreover, the Nine Provinces government encourages this, preserving the operation of basic businesses, which in a way also preserves people's hope as human beings.

Therefore, Wuyi Lane was bustling with people at this time.

It's not much different from before the gamification.

The stuff they're selling is a bit strange; quite a few players are even setting up stalls to sell dungeon items—all sorts of random things.

Lu Xiu even saw the Adaptive Suit she had seen when she first came to this world.

The price remains at 300 Survival Points.

This was an astronomical price for her at the time.

But now, these few Survival Points aren't even enough to get a ticket into her instance.

I had no idea how long I'd been in this world.

As Lu Xiu walked, she secretly observed the scene, feeling somewhat moved.

What she didn't know was that while she was secretly observing, others were also secretly observing them.

after all.

Three stunningly beautiful girls, each with a distinctly different aura, walking side by side down the street—it's hard not to turn heads.

Although Lu Xiu had the foresight to wear a hat that covered most of her face, and dressed conservatively and wrapped herself up tightly.

But the captivating profile beneath the hat brim, the fair skin, and the stunning figure that even the tightest covering couldn't conceal were still eye-catching, leaving much to the imagination in that fleeting glimpse.

As for Jian Li and Shen Nian walking beside her, they were even more outrageous.

At this moment, the two of them were still wearing those eye-catching black and white maid outfits.

Shen Mind Energy, and she really looks like a butler when she walks down the street, while Jian Li has a cold and indifferent expression. Paired with her exquisite maid outfit, she exudes a strong sense of unapproachability.

Two exceptionally beautiful girls, dressed in proper maid outfits, stood guard on either side of one person, protecting him from the middle.

to be honest.

Even if Lu Xiu saw it on the road, she would have to turn back----

"----I mean, at least change your clothes before you go out, right?"

After a moment of reflection, Lu Xiu finally sensed the frequent gazes directed at her. Feeling as if she were being pricked by needles, she couldn't help but turn around and complain, "Don't you feel embarrassed wearing this on the street?"

"—You were in too much of a hurry."

Shen Nian glanced down at her clothes, her pretty face slightly flushed, and subconsciously moved closer to Lu Xiu, trying to use Lu Xiu to block the gazes of those around her.

"No----"

Looking at Shen Nian, who was practically pressed against her, Lu Xiu said irritably, "Why are you hiding from me like that? The more you squeeze in, the more eyes you get. And is it appropriate for a maid to hide from her master like that?"

Many passersby were simply looking at the pretty maids.

Now the pretty maid is clinging to her with a shy, coquettish look—is she trying to shift the blame?

Shen Nian insisted, "This is called close protection for your safety."

I don't need your protection.

Lu Xiu leaned closer to Jian Li with a look of disdain. "Besides, how can a maid be shy about her attire? Look at Jian Li, how calm and professional she is."

That's all.

She turned to look at Jian Li on the other side.

Jian Li remained calm, her face expressionless, as if she were dressed in the most normal attire. However, her small hands seemed to be fidgeting, gently clutching the hem of her maid outfit.

Shen Nian glanced at it, then suddenly turned around. "Her skirt is all wrinkled!"

Jian Li immediately glared at her, her eyes like knives.

Shen Nian shrank back towards Lu Xiu again.

"Stop, stop, stop."

Lu Xiu widened the distance again and offered a very constructive suggestion. "This can't go on. I think we should pretend we don't know each other. I'll go first, and you can follow half a step behind. We'll pretend we're each wandering around on our own. That way, it won't be so conspicuous. What do you think?"

"Don't want!"

Shen Nian quickly grabbed Lu Xiu's arm and pressed herself against her. "Aren't you just here to stare at the two of us in maid outfits? You're our mistress, you have to take responsibility."

On the other side.

Following suit, Jian Li silently took half a step forward, took Lu Xiu's other arm, and leaned closer.

That's good now.

Most passersby were initially only admiring the two beautiful maids.

Seeing these two maids with such different temperaments, who immediately took Lu Xiu's arm and acted as intimately as could be, everyone's attention instantly shifted and focused on Lu Xiu.

Envy, curiosity, and curiosity—countless complex gazes intertwined.

"Okay, okay, okay----"

Feeling the sudden gazes directed at her, Lu Xiu was so angry she laughed, "I treated you all like sisters, and you used me as a shield, huh? Then you'd better run!"

She took the initiative, dragging the two of them along, and started walking quickly through the crowd.

"Hey! Master, slow down—"

"Let go! And master, don't bark so loudly! Why are you barking so loudly now when you never used to!"

"No—and Lu Xiu, are your ears red?"

"Bullshit! Besides, Jian Li, you've gone bad too."

1

"Owner."

Lu Xiu pulled the two forward quickly, stumbling and falling, their high heels making a crisp sound on the stone pavement, but they refused to let go.

The bustling crowd around them receded like flowing water, and the soft sunlight filtered through the buildings on both sides of Wuyi Lane, casting dappled patterns on them.

The three girls stumbled and began to walk quickly, pulling each other as they crossed the noisy street.

A gentle breeze rustled her skirt, accompanied by the girl's clear complaints and soft laughter.

This scene was beautiful to everyone except those directly involved.

Half an hour later.

A fairly large supermarket nearby.

I give up.

Shen Nian slumped helplessly onto a bench in the corner rest area, staring up at the mall's ceiling. "Are we shopping? Who shops like they're on a forced march?"

"This is what you call highly efficient, inspection-style street sweeping; most people don't get to experience it."

Lu Xiu was still being held by the two men, even after she had sat down. "Let go of me."

"Don't want."

Upon hearing this, Shen Nian sat up straight, still stubbornly insisting, "We'll share the hardships together."

However, as soon as she finished speaking, her expression changed somewhat.

She glanced down at her long legs, which were pressed together, and frowned slightly before quietly tiptoeing.

Jian Li on the other side wasn't much better off.

Although she sat upright, her center of gravity unconsciously leaned towards the back of the chair.

Both of them wore high heels to match their maid outfits.

Although both of them were physically exceptional and unlikely to sprain their ankles like ordinary people, being pulled along at near-running speed for half an hour while wearing these things on the uneven cobblestone path was definitely not comfortable.

Lu Xiu noticed their movements. "Are you feeling unwell?"

"Fine."

Shen Nian gently shook her head, casually brushing aside a few strands of hair that were obscuring her glasses.

Jian Li shook her head as well. "I'm fine too."

"All right----"

Lu Xiu remained silent for a moment, glanced at the two women's long legs together, then looked down and stared at their arches, which were accentuated by their high heels, for a while. She nodded, as if accepting the explanation.

Let's go.

After feeling much better, Shen Nian stood up and said, "Let's go upstairs to buy clothes. You were just saying on the way that you had to be back before evening—it's almost four o'clock now."

Jian Li also stood up.

Lu Xiu sat on the bench, letting the two pull her along, but instead of using the leverage to get up, she gently pulled them back down to sit again.

"Don't leave yet."

Lu Xiu casually took off her baseball cap, and her long, flowing hair, no longer restrained, cascaded down in an instant, revealing her beautiful face to the light. Her fair, jade-like skin seemed to glow with a delicate luster under the light.

She smoothed her hair and complained, "I don't know why that ring fight had to be broadcast live. Now I have to act like a thief just to go out for a walk. It's exhausting—why are you leaving? Sit down for a bit."

Shen Nian was taken aback. "Then we should finish even faster and go back. Although this is a corner, there are still quite a lot of people here."

Lu Xiu gave her a light glare. "I said rest, so it's rest. Sit down, dog, don't run around."

"I'll bite you!"

On the other side.

Jian Li didn't speak because she noticed Lu Xiu's gaze as she spoke. Following her gaze, she looked down at the high heels under her skirt, realized something, and pursed her glossy red lips.

On the other side.

Shen Nian, who had been gesticulating wildly, noticed Jian Li's actions and looked down at him.

Then, slightly startled, she and Jian Li looked at Lu Xiu.

Lu Xiu: "----What kind of expressions are those?"

"I was thinking, even without live streaming, you'd still be watched if you went out on the street."

Shen Nian snapped out of her daze, looking at Lu Xiu's captivating profile with a hint of admiration in her eyes. She swung her long leg and bumped Lu Xiu's knee, drawing out her words: "After all, she's a beautiful, kind-hearted, and pretty young lady—"

Can't you speak properly?

Lu Xiu shrugged her long, shapely legs and moved closer to Jian Li, her face full of disgust. "Besides, the description was a bit nauseating."

Although I was scolded.

Shen Nian smiled gently, leaned back in her chair, stretched out her long legs, and seemed quite happy.

Jian Li tilted her head. "Lu Xiu has never worn high heels."

"Um.

Lu Xiu nodded. "But you haven't heard of it even though you've never worn it?"

I guess I've gotten used to it.

Lu Xiu was actually able to understand half of what Jian Li was saying.

"Would you like to give it a try?"

"Yes!"

"Don't want!"

Lu Xiu rolled her eyes at the two of them and leaned back in her chair.

The two stopped arguing and simply stayed close to Lu Xiu, enjoying the rare peace and quiet as they soothed the discomfort in their feet.

Although the surroundings were quite noisy, it also made me feel exceptionally at ease.

However, once she had some free time, Lu Xiu's thoughts drifted away again.

The progress bar, stuck at 90% and refusing to budge, reappeared in her mind.

At the same time, I also thought about my career.

"Speaking of which----"

After a period of silence...

Lu Xiu suddenly asked, "Has Chu Huai changed jobs? Hasn't he come out yet?"

The original plan was for Chu Huai to switch to the Hundred-Battle Soldier class, but even after he switched to the Pioneer Hunter class, there was still no movement from that side.

Shen Nian was enjoying the feeling of slacking off with Lu Xiu when she heard this and asked in surprise, "----Why are you suddenly asking this?"

"I suddenly remembered."

"----It's said to be a dungeon I entered the day before yesterday."

Jian Li replied, "Chu Huai hasn't appeared yet, but his name is still lit up on my friend list, proving he's still alive. Besides, the job change dungeon shouldn't kill anyone."

"They're still not out----"

Upon hearing this, Lu Xiu seemed to be deep in thought.

Even with Chu Huai's abilities, it's unbelievable that he could get stuck for so long.

It seems that the "Hundred-Battle Soldier" profession is not as simple as it seems.

But the idea had barely formed in her mind.

bite.

The notification tone suddenly rang.

The three of them looked up together.

[Global Announcement]

[Congratulations to player Chu Huai (Region: Nine Provinces) for having honed his skills through countless battles and life-or-death struggles, successfully breaking through the limits of the battlefield and completing his transformation!!]

[Job change successful!]

Player Chu Huai has officially changed his class to -- [Hundred-Battle Soldier]!

[The battle is ready! All players in the Nine Provinces Region will now have a slightly increased chance of obtaining a first job advancement certificate when defeating monsters on the main stage!]

Speak of the devil and he appears.

Lu Xiu withdrew her gaze, about to say something.

bite.

The second announcement was made.

[Global Announcement]

[Congratulations to player Li Zhong (Region: Nine Provinces) for successfully conquering the extreme limits of wilderness survival and undergoing a transformation in the life-or-death hunt!!]

[Job change successful!]

Player Li Zhong has officially changed his class to -- [Pioneer Hunter]!

At the same time.

A third player has successfully changed jobs!

bite.

Before everyone could even recover from the second announcement...

[Three players in the Nine Provinces Region have completed their job advancement, reaching the threshold.]

[To allow other players to catch up, the Profession Contest War has officially begun.]

All new Versus Instance built by Nine Provinces Architect will receive bonus rewards as long as the rating meets the requirements (S or higher). Players will enter the dungeons to compete and fight, and the winners will receive Profession Certificate.

Players who already have a class and win will definitely receive their class's Second-Job Advancement Certificate.

[Note: The final class a player obtains will be determined based on the type of dungeon, the overall quality of the dungeon, and the intensity of combat within the dungeon.]

The more ingenious the dungeon design, the more intense the player battles, and the rarer the final class obtained.

[Currently, there are 3/3 remaining slots in the Versus Instance that Profession Certificate]

Lu Xiu: "----"

At the same time.

Guardian Capital a satellite city located right next to the capital of Nine Provinces.

The headquarters of the United Will Guild, top-floor office.

Li Zhong was staring down at his hands, feeling the changes after changing jobs. Even though he was usually dull, he couldn't help but blush with excitement.

Really!

Although he didn't particularly like Lu Xiu, he had to admit that nothing from that woman's dungeon was bad!

This Pioneer Hunter class is incredibly powerful!

"Pity----"

Li Zhong clenched his fists tightly. "It's a pity that such a person lacks the heart of a strongman and is actually willing to cooperate with the Nine Provinces government!"

And the recent actions of the Nine Provinces official towards the major guilds----

Thinking of this...

Li Zhong's initially excited expression instantly turned gloomy.

He slowly lowered his hand, shook his head vigorously, barely suppressing the gloom in his heart, and turned to head to the Training Ground to try out the passive and active skills of the new profession.

But at that moment...

The third announcement rang out without warning.

Hearing the contents of the announcement.

Li Zhong's steps suddenly froze.

For some reason, a strong sense of regret suddenly welled up inside him.

I feel like I changed jobs too early.

If the upcoming Versus Instance introduce stronger classes----

"No need to regret it."

Just then, a hoarse voice suddenly rang out from the shadows in the corner of the previously empty office.

"The next three slots for the Versus Instance will definitely go to Lu Xiu, and for her dungeon—President Li, do you think you can beat the Strategy Group from the Coordination Bureau?"

"Who?!"

Li Zhong's pupils contracted sharply, and he turned around abruptly.

Clang!

at the same time.

With a clanging sound of metal scraping against metal, he pulled out a katana from his backpack, its blade pointing directly at the shadowy figure in the corner. "Come out!"

From the shadows, a person dressed in a large gray robe and wearing a hood slowly emerged.

Who I am is not important.

The hooded man stopped in his tracks. "I just wanted to ask one thing—Chairman Li must be under a lot of pressure lately, right?"

"Lu Xiu acquired that real-world Astera and threw out such a huge lure, drawing all the core players that you big guilds painstakingly cultivated to the front lines. Plus, with Lu Xiu's help, the Nine Provinces government is getting stronger and stronger. Now, those people only want equipment, they obey orders but not commands, they're practically ready to quit their guilds."

"Not only that."

The hooded man paused, then continued, "The Coordination Bureau has recently started frequently recalling regular troops from the front lines. President Li, standing at such a high vantage point, haven't you noticed that the outskirts of your major guilds have actually been secretly surrounded?"

Upon hearing this, Li Zhong's hand gripping the hilt of his sword bulged with veins, and his face turned extremely grim.

"The Coordination Bureau is now 100% confident that it will implement the new regulations that it has been planning for a long time."

2

The hooded man continued, "If it weren't for the sudden visits of delegations from Franca, Red Tide, and Canaan, which diverted the government's attention, you so-called major guilds would have been wiped out long ago."

"With one foot already on the edge of a cliff—"

"You're actually gloating over your successful job change, Chairman Li? I really don't know whether to call you carefree or stupid."

"Shut up!"

Li Zhong shouted.

Of course he knows that!

What has been causing him the most anxiety and fear lately is the prospect of his guild being purged and absorbed by the authorities.

But he would never show his weakness or panic in front of a stranger.

Who are you?!

Li Zhong stared at the furtive man in front of him, his voice filled with undisguised murderous intent. "What exactly is your purpose in sneaking in here and spouting this nonsense to me?"

"I've already said, who I am is not important."

The man raised his hand and slowly removed his hood, revealing a face with a half-smile, "As for my purpose, I've come to discuss a collaboration with Chairman Li."

"President Li probably doesn't want to be purged by the authorities, right?"