Chapter 309: An Impure Motive
"The Brotherhood is vast and influential, but living off our resources without income isn't sustainable. Thus, obtaining magic crystals has become our primary source of funding. You all know that the boss isn't a stingy person and has no concept of saving money; otherwise, he wouldn't open the treasury for ventures that don't return profits."
"All spoils of war must be handed over to the Brotherhood. Each quarter, a portion of these spoils will be distributed."
"The higher your rank, the more spoils you'll receive."
"The spoils aren't limited to magic crystals. They also include gold coins and labyrinth items."
"Does anyone have any objections? If you do, speak up. If there's anything you don't understand, feel free to ask me."
In the hall, Rose spoke loudly.
No rules, no order.
The Brotherhood was large, so its rules had to be strict.
The members of the Brotherhood in the hall exchanged glances.
Rose was the vice president, so her words represented the boss's will.
Could they have objections?
"Alright, then it's settled!"
"The supplies in the hall are for you to take. I hope you leave fully equipped!"
"Disperse now; it's getting late!"
As Rose finished speaking, the hall erupted into chaos.
Groups within the Brotherhood rushed toward the towering piles of supplies.
Before long, the mountain of supplies visibly diminished.
---
Meanwhile, on the upper floor of the Brotherhood's base.
In the hallway outside Li Meng's room, a graceful figure in a purple, low-cut, form-fitting dress stopped at the door.
She had long, bright auburn hair pinned elegantly atop her head, giving her an air of dignity.
The tight dress perfectly outlined her voluptuous figure.
She seemed somewhat uncomfortable in her outfit, occasionally tugging at it, trying to loosen it slightly.
Standing before the closed door, a trace of nervousness flashed in her eyes.
She raised her hand to knock, hesitated, and lowered it.
After repeating this twice, she finally knocked.
Knock, knock, knock!
The crisp sound of knocking echoed through the hallway.
Soon, a soft click was heard as the door opened from the inside.
Li Meng stood behind the door, scrutinizing the woman in front of him.
She was tall, wearing a pair of elegant high heels. Her dress was exquisite, highlighting her alluring curves.
Her flawless, fair face was quite attractive.
She was human, likely around thirty years old.
"What's your name?" he asked.
She was a Sword King, her strength considerable.
Hearing the boss ask her name, the woman smiled faintly.
She lifted her dress slightly and curtsied gracefully.
"Boss, my name is Bella."
Li Meng opened the door wider, stepping forward to wrap an arm around Bella's waist and hips.
Bella's face flushed slightly as she followed him into the room.
With a bang, the door shut behind them.
Not long after, the sounds of intimate activity filled the room, enough to make anyone blush.
---
As night deepened and silence settled over the base, Li Meng's room finally grew quiet.
In the bedroom, Bella lay in Li Meng's arms, drenched in sweat and panting heavily.
Her face was flushed with seduction, a dazed look flickering in her eyes.
As a Sword King, she found herself unable to keep up with him.
Now, her entire body ached, and she didn't want to move even a finger.
"You're the one leading the team tomorrow, right?" Li Meng asked.
The Brotherhood didn't have many members with Sword King-level strength.
Li Meng's left hand rested on Bella's waist and traced along her hips.
Bella took a deep breath. "Yes, I'll be leading the team to accompany you to the labyrinth."
"Why did you do this?" Li Meng asked suddenly, his tone unreadable.
Bella understood his question. She looked up at his smooth, bald head.
"Boss, don't underestimate a woman's curiosity. Many women in the Brotherhood want to get close to you because of their curiosity—and their admiration for strength. I'm one of them. Worshiping the strong is a woman's nature."
Previously, Li Meng had suspected that the women approaching him were being coerced by Rose due to her role as vice president.
With their three-year agreement in place, most adventurers wouldn't break their promises. Even if unwilling, they had to comply with Rose's arrangements.
But now, it seemed he had overthought it.
Rose hadn't caused him trouble.
Instead, many of the Brotherhood's women had latched onto Rose, forcing her to spend considerable effort sorting them out.
"Tell me the truth," Li Meng said.
Bella chuckled awkwardly before sitting up and brushing a strand of hair from her face.
Her fair, delicate body was fully displayed before Li Meng.
"Boss, you've probably guessed it already," she admitted.
"To gather information?" Li Meng asked.
Bella nodded slightly. "Your sudden appearance has drawn the attention of many factions in the labyrinth city. The magic wine that can regenerate lost limbs has especially piqued interest. I'm from the Westwind Adventurer Squad, affiliated with the human kingdom 'Armenia' on the Southern Continent."
Looking at the stunning woman beside him, Li Meng frowned.
He had long suspected that the women trying to get close to him had ulterior motives.
Since the Brotherhood's founding, he had rarely shown himself, leaving most matters to Rose.
Most members revered him but feared him.
Few had the courage to approach his bed so openly.
Why so many all of a sudden?
Even going to the Magic Tower to make business cards was understandable, but wearing provocative dresses?
It felt suspiciously like seduction.
"You're honest. Aren't you afraid I'll kill you?" Li Meng asked.
Bella gave a charming smile and shook her head. "If you were a bloodthirsty person, you wouldn't bother helping the homeless—a thankless task."
Why did people always think they understood him?
Not bloodthirsty?
Bella's comment made Li Meng want to laugh.
He only helped the homeless because it served his purposes.
The Brotherhood gained a good reputation, a steady stream of manpower, and a firm foothold in the labyrinth city.
The magic wine also provided them with a group of powerful fighters.
"What do you think I'll do?" he asked.
Bella's seductive body leaned against him again, her lips brushing against his head in a kiss.
"Boss, let's pretend this never happened. I'm just a subordinate. Three years from now, I'll quietly disappear."
"Why?" he asked.
"Because I want to live," Bella replied, her tone earnest.
She had already felt the terrifying aura beneath his calm demeanor.
Despite the lack of magic fluctuations from him, this very strangeness made her heart race with fear.
If she continued to stir up trouble and stayed with ulterior motives, her end would surely be grim.
To avoid that, Bella had decided to come clean.
If the boss couldn't tolerate people like her, she hoped he'd at least spare her for the night they'd shared.