The following dawn.
The first rays of sunlight struggled to pierce the perpetual black smog hanging over Blackrock Stronghold, gilding the colossal steel behemoth with a frigid, golden edge.
At the city gates, the Quantum Battleship team stood fully equipped and ready to depart.
After a night of rest, all four members had renewed to peak condition.
Lin Qingyue, in particular, was brimming with energy after her brief, tender moment with the queen the previous night. Her entire being radiated vitality, almost glowing with renewed vigor.
Without lingering, they strode through the massive steel gates and set out on the road leading to the Silent Forest.
The acrid sulfurous stench of Blackrock Stronghold's industrial zones quickly faded into the distance, replaced by the wild, fresh scent of damp earth and verdant grass carried on the wind.
The landscape transformed from cold steel pipes and gears back into lush, verdant forest.
After about two hours of travel, a bustling settlement suddenly came into view.
It was a sprawling encampment nestled at the edge of the forest. Countless animal-hide tents, crude wooden huts, and haphazardly arranged market stalls were crammed together, forming a settlement rivaling a small town in size.
A cacophony of human voices surged toward them.
The air hung thick with the savory aroma of roasting meat, the sour tang of cheap mead, and the primal, untamed aura of the Beastmen themselves—a heady brew of sweat and wild energy that pulsed with raw vitality.
Brawny bull-men with thick horns surrounded a stone table, arm-wrestling for a small pouch of Magic Beast Cores. Each exertion of strength was accompanied by earth-shattering roars.
Perched lazily on the rooftop, a nimble Cat-girl sharpened her claws with a small knife, her amber-colored vertical pupils scanning the passersby below for potential "prey."
A Rabbit-man merchant with ears standing tall counted coins with such speed that his hands blurred, his long ears twitching excitedly with each clink of metal.
By the roadside, a Fox-man with a fluffy, voluminous tail stood before a crooked wooden sign:
[Selling Secondhand Enchanted Equipment. Part-time Tail Grooming: 10 Copper Coins per session. Fluffy, Smooth, You Deserve It!]
"Wow! It's so lively here!"
Lin Xiyue's curiosity ignited instantly, her eyes shining like searchlights as they darted between the furry tails and twitching ears, already mentally grading their quality.
[Fox Tail: Fluffiness 9/10, Smoothness 8/10 (estimated)!]
[Rabbit Ears: Length perfect 10/10, Wiggle Frequency Absolutely Adorable! 10/10!]
[Those Bull Horns... Hmm, they look rock-hard! Hardness 10/10!]
Su Wan's brow furrowed into a tight knot.
With a practiced, subtle move, she grabbed Lin Xiyue's arm and tugged her closer.
With her own body, she forcibly interrupted Lin Xiyue's unrestrained gaze and the almost tangible fantasy of petting those fluffy ears.
"Stop staring. We have business to attend to," she warned, her voice carrying a sharp edge.
Xia Lian, meanwhile, nervously trailed half a step behind Lin Qingyue, desperately trying to minimize her presence.
The atmosphere here was still too... wild for her comfort.
As expected.
The moment the four strikingly beautiful young women with their distinct auras appeared, they instantly became the center of attention in the entire camp.
The female Beastmen, in particular, brazenly scanned the group with bold, direct gazes.
Half of their gazes were locked onto Paladin Lin Xiyue's muscular physique and palpable strength.
The other half converged in astonishment on Lin Qingyue's striking pink hair.
"Look at that pink hair!" a Cat-girl perched on a tent roof whispered to her companion. "Is it dyed or natural?"
The Wolf-woman beside her sniffed the air suspiciously. "It smells kind of sweet... I wonder if I could snip a strand to soak in wine?"
A tall, muscular Leopard-woman leaned against her stall, blowing a loud whistle when she spotted Lin Xiyue and boldly winking at her.
"Hey! Little shield-maiden! Nice build you've got there!"
"Interested in joining me in the forest for some fun? I just dug up a nest of fluffy Griffin cubs—you can pet them all you want!"
These brazen, fetish-baiting words stunned Lin Xiyue into silence, her eyes going wide.
Su Wan's face instantly turned icy, her gaze shooting daggers at the Leopard-woman.
The Leopard-woman, however, remained unfazed, grinning even wider. She licked her lips, her gaze practically overflowing with flirtatious provocation.
"Ignore them. Let's go," Su Wan said, pulling Lin Xiyue—who kept glancing back—away with a brisk, expressionless stride.
Their goal was to find clues about Karula, not to waste time discussing Griffin petting techniques with a bunch of female hooligans.
A faint, almost imperceptible smile played at the corners of Lin Qingyue's lips. Her gaze swept casually through the crowd, yet it precisely locked onto a One-eyed Wolf-woman carrying a massive axe.
It was the same veteran adventurer they'd seen at the Adventurers' Guild yesterday.
The Wolf-woman clearly recognized them too, her eyes gleaming with amusement as she sized them up.
Understanding her intentions, Lin Qingyue deliberately led the group to a stall near the Wolf-woman.
The stall owner was an elderly Bear Race uncle, dozing off.
"Uncle, may I ask you something?" Lin Qingyue stepped forward, flashing a polite smile.
The Bear Race uncle opened one eye, sized them up, then extended a furry bear paw, palm open, and rumbled in a deep, gravelly voice:
"Directions or information, one silver coin. Secrets about others cost extra. Clear pricing, no cheating young or old."
Without even blinking, Lin Qingyue flicked her fingertip, sending a silver coin arcing through the air to land precisely in the Bear Race uncle's palm.
Satisfied, the Bear Race uncle tucked the coin into his vest before slowly straightening up. "Ask away, little girl. For that coin, I'll answer anything I know."
"We're looking for someone, a human Mage named Karula," Lin Qingyue stated directly. "She likely passed through here about ten days ago. Does the name ring a bell?"
The Bear Race uncle stroked his furry chin thoughtfully for a long moment, then shook his head.
"A human Mage? We've seen plenty of adventurers lately, but a Mage... I can't say I recall one. This place favors warriors with swords and axes."
"Then do you know the way to the Elven Territory deep within the Silent Forest?" Lin Qingyue asked, tossing another silver coin his way.
"Elven Territory?" The Bear Race elder caught the coin, his expression instantly turning grave as he pushed it back.
"Little girl, heed my advice: that place is forbidden. The elves despise outsiders. If you trespass, you'll be in grave danger. I won't take your money."
"We have urgent business that requires us to go there," Lin Qingyue insisted.
Just then, a hearty voice boomed from nearby.
"Well, well, aren't you the little sisters who took on that Red Bounty at the Adventurers' Guild yesterday? You're really planning to raid the Elven Territory?"
Lin Qingyue turned "as if she had only just noticed" the speaker—the One-eyed Wolf-woman, Kali, with her massive axe slung over her shoulder.
"Big Sister Kali," she greeted with a smile.
"So it really is you girls."
Kali strode toward them, her gaze sweeping over the group before locking onto the seemingly most harmless member: the Pink-Haired Priest.
"Tsk tsk, how interesting."
She circled Lin Qingyue, even leaning in to sniff her, her eyes gleaming as if she'd discovered a rare prey.
"You smell like milk, yet you feel more dangerous than the Ironback Bear I just butchered. Little sister, your innocent facade is quite deceptive."
"Big Sister Kali, are you familiar with the Silent Forest?"
Lin Qingyue smiled warmly, completely ignoring the probing, predatory gaze directed at her.
"Not bad," Kali said nonchalantly. "I've been operating in the outer reaches for years, and I've dealt with those pointy-eared types a few times."
"What, trying to pry information out of me? Fine by me, but I don't come cheap."
"What do you want?"
Kali's single eye narrowed, a feral glint sparking within it. "Simple," she said with a wicked grin. "I've got my eye on you. Tell me your name, then agree to take a stroll through the forest with me, and I'll tell you everything I've seen. How's that for a fair trade?"
Su Wan's aura suddenly turned icy.
Lin Xiyue's hand already rested on her sword hilt.
Xia Lian had her shortbow drawn, an arrow nocked and ready.
"Ha ha ha! Just kidding!" Kali burst into raucous laughter. "You little girls are quite entertaining. Fine, I'll tell you what I know."
Her laughter faded, replaced by a grave expression.
"In the Silent Forest, we only dare operate in the outer reaches, gathering herbs and hunting low-level Magic Beasts. As long as we don't damage the environment or venture too deep, the Elves usually leave us alone."
"But if you cross their boundary, you're on your own. Elf arrows aren't vegetarian."
"As for the mage you're looking for..." Kali stroked her chin, as if recalling something.
"About half a month ago, a human woman wearing mage robes entered the forest. She seemed quite formidable, daring to venture in alone."
"We even placed bets on how many days it would take for the Elves to throw her out. Surprisingly, we still haven't seen them dump her corpse. She might just be the one you're looking for."
Armed with this crucial clue, Lin Qingyue felt a surge of confidence.
"Thank you very much, Big Sister Kali."
"No need for thanks." Kali waved her hand, her gaze filled with admiration as she looked at Lin Qingyue.
"Little sister, I'm quite impressed with you. It's a pity you're the captain—otherwise, I'd try to poach you for my own team."
With that, she shouldered her axe, turned gracefully, and strode away without another word.