Chapter 124: This is not Corvina

Corvina stepped out of the bookstore in a fairly good mood.

At least, before she looked up.

Today, she had spent a great deal of time just deciding what she should wear. Ever since meeting Laviana, especially after seeing Erik in those recordings, a problem Corvina had deliberately pushed aside had become increasingly clear.

She could frighten monsters, manage her subordinates, and lift someone off the ground with one hand when things got tense. But if she really met Erik, she did not want the first time he saw her to make him think she had come to collect a debt.

Just imagining Vylana or Laviana telling him how she had once smashed a table and lifted someone up was enough to keep Corvina awake at night.

So today, she had decided to try it.

Just once.

Her very long black hair, which normally nearly reached her waist and was slightly messy, had been carefully tended into soft waves that fell over her shoulders. The heavy purple makeup around her eyes had been reduced significantly, making the natural deep violet of her eyes stand out more clearly.

Her familiar black lipstick had also been changed to a deep red.

The leather corset, tight pants, and biker boots were all gone. In their place was a long black dress that hugged her waist gently before falling open below. The color still suited Corvina’s preferences, but the style was completely different from the image she usually presented before her subordinates.

Her tall Titan physique had not disappeared because of that. Her shoulders were still broad and her arms still toned. Her long legs and full hips made the dress more feminine than usual, but did not make her look weak in the slightest.

Corvina was also carrying three books in her arms. One was about communication, one taught basic cooking, and the last was a romance novel that she had stood before the shelf for nearly ten minutes before taking down.

Corvina looked at the last book.

’Just reading it for a try.’

’Not because of Erik.’

She told herself firmly.

’I just want to know how ordinary people talk to one another.’

She took another step, then sensed two gazes.

Corvina looked up.

Karin stood less than ten meters away. Beside her was a purple-haired Succubus with both hands bound behind her back.

The three looked at one another. No one spoke.

Corvina blinked. Her first glance fell on her subordinate: the ropes, the tear in her shoulder, and a small bruise near the corner of her lips. Then she looked at Karin.

But before she could ask anything, Corvina realized that the golden-haired woman was looking at her with an extremely strange expression.

Karin slowly took out her personal device. The screen lit up, displaying a photograph.

In the photo, Corvina wore a leather corset and biker jacket, her long black hair nearly reaching her waist and slightly disheveled, heavy makeup surrounding her violet eyes, black lipstick on her lips, and one hand resting on a large motorcycle.

Karin looked at the photo, then at the woman before her, then at the photo again, then back at Corvina.

Corvina began to feel that something was wrong.

The purple-haired Succubus beside Karin was also standing there with her mouth open. She looked Corvina up and down: the carefully styled hair, the red lips, the long dress, the high heels, and the books in her arms.

The woman’s expression began to change.

Corvina immediately wanted to turn around and go back into the bookstore, but she was too late.

Karin slowly asked, "Is this Corvina?"

The purple-haired woman did not answer.

Karin looked at the photo again, then at Corvina. In the end, she could not hold it in any longer. "WTF?"

Several nearby pedestrians immediately turned to look.

Corvina: "..."

Karin pointed at her. "What the hell is this?"

The corner of Corvina’s eye twitched.

The purple-haired woman finally reacted. "No."

Karin turned to her. "What?"

The woman shook her head with absolute certainty. "This is not Boss."

Corvina: "..."

The hand holding the books began to tighten.

Karin looked at her, then at the photo again. "But the face is the same."

"Impossible." The purple-haired woman continued shaking her head. "Boss does not wear dresses."

A small vein began to bulge on Corvina’s forehead.

"Boss does not wear red lipstick either."

Corvina drew in a breath.

’Stay calm.’

’She is a subordinate.’

’Do not hit her.’

The purple-haired woman looked at the three books, then her eyes stopped on the romance novel. She froze completely.

Corvina immediately hid the novel beneath the other two books, but it was too late. Karin had seen it too.

She looked at the photo on her device again. "Are you sure?"

"Sure," the purple-haired woman said. "Boss would never buy that."

Corvina felt as though half her soul had just died.

But just as she was about to speak, her eyes fell upon the wound on her subordinate’s shoulder. The embarrassment was immediately pushed aside.

Corvina’s face turned cold. She placed the three books beside the door. "You did this?"

Karin was still looking at the photo. "Hm?"

Corvina pointed at the purple-haired Succubus. "You hit her?"

Karin looked at the bruise. "Only a little."

Corvina vanished.

Karin immediately sensed danger. But her body had not yet fully recovered from her fight with Meira. On top of that, the contrast between the image in the dossier and the woman who had just stepped out of the bookstore had made her lose focus for exactly one beat.

One beat was enough.

Corvina’s fist appeared right before her face.

"Wait..."

Boom!

Karin flew backward across the street. Her body slammed directly into the wall of the shop opposite, cracking the outer layer of brick into a wide web.

Crash!

Dust fell down.

The purple-haired woman’s mouth fell open, then her eyes immediately lit up. "Boss!"

Corvina was already standing before her. "Where are you hurt?"

The woman looked at Corvina, then at Karin lying amid the rubble, then at the dress. The smile on her face slowly vanished.

She took a step back. "Do not come closer."

Corvina paused. "?"

The purple-haired woman looked wary. "You are not Boss."

Corvina: "..."

She felt that she should punch Karin again, then punch the person in front of her as well.

On the other side of the street, Karin slowly crawled out of the rubble. Her golden hair was covered in dust, and one cheek had reddened. The black feathered wings behind her spread unconsciously to help her keep her balance.

Karin looked at Corvina, then at the wall she had just slammed into, and finally at the Titan woman’s fist.

A thought slowly emerged.

’Again?’

Ever since coming to Silver Moon, she seemed to keep encountering women who looked strange but had even stranger strength.

Meira had just beaten her up. Now there was a woman wearing a dress and carrying books who had stepped out of a bookstore.

Karin was starting to genuinely dislike this city.

Corvina turned toward her. "Who are you?"

Karin wiped the dust from her cheek and did not answer.

Corvina stepped forward. "You hit one of my people."

Karin looked at the purple-haired woman. "I only borrowed her."

The purple-haired woman immediately shouted, "You beat all five of us!"

Karin frowned. "Be quiet."

Corvina heard that and clenched her fist. A very soft crack rang out from her knuckles.

Karin saw it and immediately spread her black feathered wings completely.

Corvina frowned slightly. "Stay there."

Karin took half a step back. "No."

"You came looking for me."

"I have changed my mind."

"Come down here and talk."

"Next time."

"You..."

Karin had already launched herself off the ground.

Corvina was about to chase after her, but at that moment, the purple-haired woman gave a soft groan when she tried to move her shoulder. Corvina’s footsteps stopped immediately.

She turned back. "Your shoulder hurts?"

"It is fine."

"What about the other four?"

"They are all at the garage."

"Are their injuries serious?"

"Not serious."

Corvina let out a breath. At least the golden-haired woman had held back.

She walked over and untied her subordinate. The moment the purple-haired woman was free, she rubbed her wrists before looking at Corvina again. Her eyes traveled from the red lips down to the dress.

Corvina stiffened.

’Damn it.’

She turned her head. The three books were still beside the door, with the romance novel lying on top.

Corvina immediately walked over, but the purple-haired woman was faster. "Let me help!"

"Do not!"

Too late. She had already picked the books up.

The Succubus looked at the cover. A man was holding a woman in a dress.

She fell silent. Corvina fell silent too.

Several seconds later, the purple-haired woman looked up. "Boss..."

Corvina held out a hand. "Give it to me."

"This is..."

"Give it."

The woman immediately handed over the book.

Corvina pressed all three books to her chest, her expression cold enough that an outsider might think she was about to kill someone. In reality, her mind was saying:

’Run.’

’I want to run.’

’Right now.’

The purple-haired woman looked at the dress one more time, then suddenly opened her eyes wide. "I understand!"

Corvina: "?"

"A disguise!"

Corvina fell silent.

The Succubus thought about it more and more, finding it increasingly reasonable. "Boss is on a secret mission?"

Corvina looked at her. A way out had just appeared.

"...Hm." She replied with utmost seriousness.

The purple-haired woman’s eyes immediately lit up. "I knew it!"

Corvina relaxed slightly.

The woman continued, "How could Boss suddenly turn into the kind of soft woman who wears dresses, puts on lipstick, and goes out to buy romance novels?"

Corvina: "..."

The hand holding the books slowly tightened.

Crack.

The Succubus did not notice at all.

"It must be a very important mission to make you sacrifice your image like this."

Corvina looked at her. "Hm."

"Boss has worked hard."

Crack.

"Hm."

"Your disguise looks so real."

Corvina closed her eyes.

’I bought the dress myself.’

’I chose the lipstick myself.’

’I stood in front of the bookshelf for nearly ten minutes.’

’Idiot.’

But she could not say it. If she admitted it now, the image she had maintained for years would probably die right here.

Corvina turned away. "We are going back."

The purple-haired woman immediately followed. "Boss, who was that woman just now?"

"Do not know."

"She was looking for you."

"I heard."

"Should we have everyone track her down?"

Corvina thought of Karin. The golden-haired Succubus clearly knew who she was and had tracked her all the way here. That was not normal.

"Check on everyone first."

"Yes."

After the two had gone some distance, the purple-haired woman kept glancing at the dress. Corvina began to get annoyed. "What are you looking at?"

The woman immediately stood straight. "Nothing."

"Then look ahead."

"Yes."

After taking several more steps, the purple-haired woman spoke again. "Boss."

"Hm?"

"This disguise is really impressive."

Corvina did not answer.

The purple-haired woman continued, "If you had not punched that woman all the way across the street, I truly would not have recognized you."

Corvina: "..."

"You look just like an ordinary woman."

Corvina stopped walking. The purple-haired woman stopped too.

Corvina turned around. "Do you want to walk home?"

The woman immediately understood. "I will be quiet."

"Very good."

Corvina continued walking. This time, the person behind her truly did not dare say another word.

After a while, Corvina lowered her gaze to look at her dress, then at the three books in her arms. She was silent for several seconds before finally taking out her familiar biker jacket from her spatial ring and putting it on.

At least it covered a little.

But the matter of that golden-haired woman was not over.

Corvina recalled Karin’s golden eyes, long hair, and black feathered wings as she fled. An unfamiliar Succubus who knew exactly who Corvina was, defeated the entire group at the garage, and then used some method to trace her all the way to the bookstore.

Corvina frowned slightly.

In Silver Moon, there were not many people with an information network wide enough for her to ask.

One name immediately came to mind.

Laviana.

That red-haired woman definitely knew more.

Corvina looked toward the center of the city.

’First, I will go see whether those idiots are hurt.’

’Then...’

She would go find Laviana.

As for the dress...

Corvina glanced at the Succubus walking ahead, her gaze gradually turning dangerous.

’If the whole group knows by tomorrow...’

’I will make that girl repair every motorcycle in the garage herself for a month.’