On a quiet street, a beautiful black carriage moved forwards. Its wheels monotonously rolled, pushing the pebbles on their path. Occasionally, the driver, donned in a brown jacket with a grey bowler hat on his head, reined in the horses and clicked his tongue. He looked ordinary, but with his control, the carriage ride was stable, relaxing.
Inside, Iris sat opposite Secain. Unlike her previous black overcoat, Secain wore a black and white maid outfit, though there were modifications to retain her original silhouette and lessen the movement restriction. Her maid dress fluffed to her knees, and a pair of black stockings hugged her thighs.
"Lady Iris, please tell me your request." Secain pressed her hands on her chest. "There is no need to hesitate. The Court has assigned me as your attendant. Unless it is the Court Founder, I only answer to you."
Iris leaned on the red cushion and tilted up her head. She was adorned in a neat black suit, a feathery white scarf, and a black bonnet. Her white inner clothes and her white gloves contrasted her suit, creating a mystical feeling around her. She rested her hands on a black cane, on whose head embedded a milky gem.
For this mission, Iris changed her demeanour and style of clothes. She also changed her hair colour and eye colour to black, making herself look mysterious and aloof.
"Tell me, how do I look?" Iris laid the cane on her lap and gazed outside. She took off her gloves and pressed her right hand on the window frame. "Do you think I'll be the centre of all attention?"
"Someone of your calibre is naturally eye-catching. However, unless one closely observes you, they will not be able to connect your current appearance with your true appearance."
Iris lightly nodded. "You, too, change a lot. Your current attire is much more lovely than before."
"It is because of your suggestions." Secain coyly lowered her head. "Is my new appearance to your liking?"
"I like you in any clothes, just some more than others."
"I'll try my best to dress in the kinds you prefer." Secain smiled. "When the time comes, please be gentle."
Iris chuckled but said nothing. Silence returned. The carriage had taken another turn to where even fewer people frequented. The tall buildings on both sides of the street silently overlooked the street, their hidden gazes locking onto the carriage.
"Secain, this will be my first command to you," Iris said. "Hide. Do not reveal your presence to anyone except me. Tap my shoulders or whisper to me if there is a need to report something."
Secain bowed. As her head drooped down, her figure disintegrated. She evaporated into thin air, but Iris knew she was still there somewhere, hiding, protecting.
Once Iris confirmed that the carriage was approaching the destination, she took a deep breath and exhaled. A puff of mist gushed out of her mouth. Her Corruption Power surged and flooded the carriage with a thin layer of vapour.
Amidst the concealment, Iris took out a Seed of Corruption and played with it. It was a purple candy-sized orb. She caressed its smooth, fragile surface. Its sweet, inviting aroma drifted into her nose, but she knew better than tasting it.
When the Monster Girls corrupt the Pure Races, we do so according to our instinct, granted to us by Lilith. Such corruption fundamentally and irreversibly affects the body, mind, and soul. I still cannot understand its profundity, but the Court Founder must have already grasped it.
After playing with the seed, Iris wrapped it with a white candy wrapper and put it in her pocket. Taking a deep breath, she reached forwards and grasped at nothing. Her Virtual Space Ring flickered; a delicate deck of cards appeared in her hand.
She gently tossed it in the air. The black cards, glittering in the faint mist, spun and came to a halt around Iris. They surrounded her with their faces down, their results hidden from her gaze.
They were the Cards of Destiny, something Iris had created. Inspired by the knowledge from the Puppeteer Legacy Ground, she combined the art of mini formation, artefact, and destiny spell into one. With Ludmint's help, she successfully created the Cards of Destiny. They were tiny pre-made destiny spell formations.
"Cards of Destiny, gateways to the future, I call upon my Destiny to reveal my path." She didn't have to say that, but it suited her current identity.
With her eyes closed, Iris followed her heart and picked a card. Her fingertips pinched its edge and flipped it. Her Corruption Power seeped inside the Card of Destiny and activated the spell formation. A blurry image manifested on the front of the card, while a fleeting vision manifested in Iris's mind.
In the hazy mist, Iris was chatting with a shadowy silhouette. The room they were in was blurry, undiscernible. The content of their conversations was ordinary yet indecipherable. As everything went smoothly, the roof above Iris and the shadowy silhouette collapsed, and a black wave of darkness descended. The room grew chaotic, and the vision shattered.
Though the Cards of Destiny were compact and practical, their potency was inferior to the full version. Iris had to interpret the content and speculate to fill in the blurs of her visions. Nevertheless, knowing was better than not knowing.
As expected, there will be dangers. Iris chuckled and raised her hands. The unused Cards of Destiny flew to her and disappeared into her Virtual Space Ring. The used card landed on her hand. On its front was a scene in which Iris sat peacefully, savouring a cup of tea in silence.
Once I used tens of these cards, maybe I can make them into a set. Cards of Iris will be the set of the finest quality. Will this turn into a prominent mark, my proof of existence, in history?
The carriage gradually slowed until it stopped on the side of an empty road. The carriage driver reined in the horses and pressed on his hat, lowering it to conceal his expression. He leaned on the wall behind him and closed his eyes, taking a nap.
Iris wore her white gloves and white masquerade mask. She stood up, grasped her black cane with her right hand, and nodded lightly. The carriage door clicked and opened. As the faint milky vapours gushed out, Iris alighted the carriage and walked to the nearby building.
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To her side, there was another carriage, black like hers but less sophisticated. This carriage was the group of Monster Girls tasked to accompany Iris on this mission. Of the five, three were at the Metamorphosis Phase, the other two at the Transformation Phase.
Iris glanced around. The surrounding buildings, like their dismal appearances, remained dull, still. The people inside them made little sounds and movements; they did not detect anything unusual or come out of their houses to take a walk.
With no power, one can easily get influenced by unseen, unknown beings without any knowledge. Even with power, I still can’t move out of the confine of those who stand atop the world. When they crash, not to mention the mortals, even those like me only amount to mere distractions.
Adjusting her bonnet, Iris went up the three-step stair. Up against the door, she grabbed the door knocker and pushed it against the door lightly. A series of footsteps echoed from the inside, and the door slid open.
A girl dressed in casual yet formal attire surveyed Iris until her eyes fell on a small badge on Iris's chest. It was an emblem of a winged rose with two snakes intertwined around it, the symbol of the Court of Indulgence.
"Please forgive my impertinence, Lady Iris," the Monster Girl said. Her pink eyes sparkled. "You must have learned about me from the Court, but it'll be discourteous if I didn't properly introduce myself. My name is Lorient, a Plant-Type Monster Girl."
Her tone was not too cold nor too warm. She didn't disregard Iris, but she also didn't respect her either. After all, Iris was only at the Transformation Phase. How could she become a senior member without doing anything?
"Miss Lorient, I'll be in your care today." Iris smiled. "Let's meet up with the rest. Miss Gantil is waiting."
"I'll lead the way."
Iris followed Lorient, passing the other four Monster Girls, who stood around the building, scattered yet close to each other. They were looking for any abnormality, guarding against any ambush or violence.
Taking a few steps, Iris paused and turned to the side. Her gaze passed through the murky window and landed on the bricked wall of the other building. She looked at each window in the building and grinned, faintly nodding. Her action took only a second. She quickly caught up to Lorient.
In the guest room, Gantil sat alone, sipping her warm tea. To her right was an ocean-blue tricorn, and on the back of her chair was her blue jacket. She also placed her flint-locked pistol on the table. Her blue eyes flickered when Iris entered the room. She stood up, her short silver hair fluttering.
"My name is Gantil Babille." She bowed, then sat down. "Miss Representative, please have a seat."
Lorient glanced at Iris and stepped out of the room, closing the door. Iris observed the guest room. It was decorated with simple picture frames and shelves, with signs of worn and tear. The glass vases around the room animated the atmosphere, but the flowers in them faintly exuded a sense of withering.
"No matter how decorated and expensive a house can be, it will never live up to a home lived." Iris walked to the table and sat opposite Gantil. "My name is Iris Goodwill, the representative of the Court."
"May our cooperation last until time itself ceases." Gantil poured a cup of tea for Iris. "Please criticise my tea-brewing hobby."
"Like you, it smells wonderful." Iris took the cup and sipped it. The warm green tea flooded her tongue. "An unexpected sugary flavour, but a welcome one."
"I've modified the existing recipe of our family during a voyeur. Sugar is a delicacy, and I aim to elevate such sensation with my simple tea." Gantil lowered her head. "My daughter is my first tester, and she likes it so much she's asked me to teach her how to brew it."
While talking, Gantil shifted her gaze. On the side of the guest room was an entrance to another room. Mantil was resting on a bed, sleeping silently. More accurately, she was put to sleep. Her breathing was uneven, her face pale, her body shivering. An air of decay radiated from her body.
Looking at her daughter, Gantil's expression moved. Her eyes reddened. Her cheeks flushed. She trembled as if trying to endure the suffering for her daughter. She wanted to sit by her daughter's side and calm her pain, but she could not do it now. She had to endure. An important guest was here.
Iris, who had remained silent, tapped her fingers on the table. A muffled noise echoed, pulling back Gantil. She regained her composure and bit her lips. Pain crept on her face and suppressed her sorrow.
"My apology, Lady Iris." Gantil took a deep breath. "Could we please skip the formality and begin with the transaction?"
"If that is your wish." Iris leaned the black cane on her chair and took out a vial containing ethereal liquid of everchanging colours. She placed it on the table, smiling. "A drop of this nectar will flourish life and treat ailments, both poisons and illnesses. So long as there is still a hint of life in her, she will recover."
Gantil held her breath. She wanted to grab the vial and rush to her daughter, but she had not yet owned it. "What must I do to obtain it? I'm willing to do anything."
"Join us, and your desires will come true." Iris reached into her pocket and pulled out a white candy. She unwrapped it, revealing the Seed of Corruption. It wiggled in her hand as she placed it on an empty plate. "Your freedom, or her life?"