Without making her wait any further, I picked her up by her waist, placed her on my thighs, and whispered while embracing her—one hand gently patting her head and the other on her lower back, "Who said nobody appreciates your work? You are the cutest, hardworking fiancée."

"That's more like it," she giggled, placing her hands around my shoulders.

Our eyes locked as we both subconsciously moved closer.

Just as it was about to happen, Ume's ears suddenly twitched. She immediately shoved me back and rose to her feet, taking her usual dignified posture of a queen.

"Hey, why would you do that?" I complained, rubbing my head that had hit the wall from her sudden push.

Instead of her sweet, melodious voice, two annoying voices entered my ears.

"Greetings, Your Majesty," Jambavan and Vyaghra said, both emerging from the shadows.

"Ughh, how many times are these two gonna come in the way?" I muttered, clenching my teeth.

"What is the situation in the camp?" Ume asked, her previous playful expression now turned authoritative.

"Those mortals were about to get into a serious fight with each other because of the theft and surprise attack, but Theon stepped in and threatened them with the name of Nyx," Vyaghra explained. "As soon as they heard her name, the chaos settled and everyone returned to their camps."

The moment Ume heard Nyx's name, her expression darkened, and I felt a raw fury radiating from her. It was the first time I had seen her this angry.

Rising to my feet, I approached the trio, grabbed Ume's hand, and asked, "Is there something bothering you, Ume?"

She slipped her hand away from mine and replied with a smile, "It's nothing. You need not worry."

Even though she was smiling, I could clearly tell it was a fake smile she was using to hide something from me. I wanted to ask her again, but I decided to wait for her to tell me herself.

Coming back to the topic, she ordered the two, "Have you found the location of those three?"

"Yes, Yer Majesty," Jambavan replied. "As we guessed, there was indeed another army hidden inside the forest, waitin' fer the right moment to ambush us."

"That wench sure loves to play the game of hide and seek," Ume muttered, a frown appearing on her eyebrows.

Without realizing, I instinctively let out a gasp upon hearing those words coming from Ume's mouth. Not counting the moments of her tragic past that I witnessed in her memories, I only knew her as a lovable and adorable woman—I never imagined her saying such harsh words. This was a completely new Ume for me.

Realizing that I had heard her, she turned to me and ordered, "Raj, go to the camp and continue with what you were doing there."

"B-but I also need to know about this other army—"

"We will take care of it," she replied firmly. Her eyes clearly told me not to insist any further.

"Fine… fine," I sighed.

"Vivi, activate Vyaghra's blessing."

"Initializing Host's request…

Activating Blessing of Vyaghra…"

The moment the tiger spirit hid my presence, I jumped off the wall and moved toward the camp again.

"Huh? Why does the camp seem farther than before?" I murmured, confused.

As I walked further, I realized they had really shifted their camps dozens of miles back to avoid getting hit by the array's attack again.

"Hehehe, do you think you can avoid me by moving a few miles back?" I snickered as I infiltrated the camp once again.

From that point on, the next three days became complete hell for the front end of the army. During the day, I would join any of their bloody duels and absorb the opponent's Soulforce, and once night fell, I would steal the Soul Stones of either a sleeping person or make them sleep by ambushing them. And as a parting gift, each night I attacked the array with a different kind of attribute.

Surprisingly, in these three days neither did I see the hidden army making any move, nor did Jambavan, Vyaghra, or Ume move from their position on the wall.

On the fourth day, when I reached the camp, I found the enemies at the front half carrying deep dark circles and tired visages.

"Are we being targeted... by an angry spirit?" one of them cried.

"It might be... I haven't taken a wink of sleep for the past three days," the other beside him replied, joining his trembling hands together. "I'm afraid that the moment I sleep, I will lose my Soul Stones as well."

"You aren't robbed yet?"

"I was. But I kept some of my Soul Stones in the other ring that I was hiding behind the pillow. Hehehe, that ghost bastard can never rob me completely."

I did acknowledge his smartness in hiding the Soul Stones in another location; however, he was also equally stupid to think I was the only one aiming for his Soul Stones.

Within minutes, dozens of hungry people gathered around him and ordered:

"Give me some stones."

"Me too. I had a duel yesterday and I am completely out of Soulforce. I need those Soul Stones more than you."

"No, give them to me!"

"Me!"

"I will take them."

...

Before the man in question could even reject them, the crowd lunged at him like hungry wolves and began beating him.

However, things didn't end with just the robbery. He only had dozens of Soul Stones left, which the stronger ones took away.

As for the weaker ones, who were going crazy with hunger, they began beating him nonsensically.

Soon, the one under attack screamed in pain, and a pool of blood filled the area as they tore him from limb to limb.

Crunch... crunch... munch... munch...

The attackers' laughing faces drooled with crimson as they literally devoured every part of his body.

Seeing this bloody hell before me, I remembered that these bastards were all criminals and inhuman monsters.

Gritting my teeth, I entered the back end of the army camps and reached the tent where Vyrion and his companions were staying.

"Hohoho~ so you finally came," Vyrion said, coming out of his tent. "Why didn't you wait for four more days?"

Without exchanging any greetings, I replied, my voice serious as I handed him a small chit, "I can let you keep all the Soul Stones you earned over the past three days if you accomplish this task."

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