About crossing over to the other world and becoming a member of the Bound God's family.

The beautiful trickster lady is currently suspended from the ceiling beams, bound and gagged! She's still wearing the same revealing dress from her performance, but the ropes bind her even more tightly than before. Her arms are tied together above the elbows, then pulled back and secured to the ankles of her long legs, which are also bound from the upper thighs. Her body is further restrained by a diamond-shaped rope bondage, resembling a turtle shell. A thick hemp rope, braided from multiple strands, starts at her waist and is secured to several hooks on the ceiling beams, suspending her delicate form in mid-air. A gag with holes is stuffed in her mouth, and drool pools on the floor. Hearing the door open, she lifts her head with some difficulty, whimpering. The sight stuns the three of them into silence. Jessica even conjures an ice spike. Vina, however, is accustomed to such scenes. She quickly assesses the situation: there are no signs of a struggle, everything is neatly arranged, and the array of colorful props on the bed makes it hard to believe they aren't Lydia's own possessions. "Mmmph mmmph," Lydia continues to whimper at Vina, even playfully winking. Well, it seems she did this to herself. Vina steps forward and removes the drool-covered gag. Before Vina can speak, Lydia casually greets the three of them, "Hi, Nana, and Nana's friends. Sorry, I don't think I can entertain you properly right now." "What's going on here?" Vina touches the hemp ropes on Lydia's body, feeling a strange itch herself at the sight. "Training! I'm training for my performance!" "Your escape act?" "Of course," Lydia proudly lifts her head. "I'm a professional!" "And can you get out of this?" Vina strokes her chin. "That anti-magic collar you're wearing is also professional-grade. You haven't broken through to Archmage yet, have you?" "Not yet! That's why I can't get out!" Lydia continues to state matter-of-factly. Rest was impossible. Ivy dragged her towards a strange-looking rack. Kris didn't recognize its purpose, but she knew she would soon experience its function with her own body. First, her legs. Kris's legs were untied, only to be immediately folded and bound in a position where her calves were pressed against her thighs. This posture was not only humiliating but also far more agonizing than before. And Ivy had bound her with exceptional force, her heels almost touching her crotch. This, of course, was not the end. Kris's upper body was also re-bound, her arms separated from her torso. Her body was subjected to a 'standard' Shibari, except it was tied exceptionally tight. The diamond-shaped rope net dug into her flesh, creating raised mounds, and the knot of the crotch rope was so deeply embedded between her legs that it was almost invisible. Her arms, however, were bound together from wrist to elbow, completely immobilized. Kris was fortunate to have such flexibility, otherwise, this alone would have sent her screaming. The rack's height was just enough to hoist her hands high behind her back. Bent over, the chain from her collar connected to an iron ring on the ground. This position was far from comfortable. One only had to imagine it: her legs, unable to straighten, were squatted on the ground, the ropes from her knees pulled to the sides of the rack, forcing her legs wide open. Her body was bound in a severe Shibari. Her arms, bound at the elbows, were then hoisted up, her wrists positioned higher than her head. The only way she could find any slight comfort for her arms was to stand on her tiptoes or straighten her back. But her back couldn't straighten, and her head couldn't lift. She could only look down at the ground before her. So, Kris could only lift her heels slightly off the ground, but after a few seconds, all her efforts were in vain. Instead, the tension on the ropes throughout her body almost made her faint. Even the Church of Bondage had never devised such a cruel binding method. Kris couldn't even beg for mercy; the gagged mouth could only emit suppressed moans. "We've arrived." It was even darker here, as if deliberately designed by its creator. All the illuminating crystals had been extinguished. Vina lit them with a casual gesture and began to survey the surroundings. The room wasn't large. Besides the now-lit crystals, it was filled with countless magic stones whose purpose was unclear, and even the floor beneath their feet was inscribed with magic circles. Kris couldn't understand any of this and immediately asked, "Sister Vina, can you tell what these formations do?" Vina shook her head. "The only thing I can be sure of is that what we're looking for is within the central metallic device. It... seems to be charging this ruin. It's a shame. If Sika were here, perhaps she could discern more." Without Vina needing to say it, Kris couldn't ignore the metallic 'giant egg' at the very center. The closer she got, the more she felt a sense of kinship, as if whatever was inside had an extraordinary connection to her. A realization dawned in her heart. She approached the giant egg and leaned her forehead against it. The cool, smooth touch was somewhat comforting. Then, Kris felt her mental energy being rapidly absorbed, but not in large quantities. After only a slight feeling of fatigue, it was over. She stood up straight and opened her eyes. Everything before her was completely beyond her expectations. There was no divine artifact, nor was it empty. Inside the metallic device were two women, tightly bound! They were two women with exquisite figures. Their heads were covered with black hoods, obscuring their faces. Long hair spilled from the gaps in the hoods, falling somewhat messily onto their shoulders, and subtly stirred by a strange magical force. They faced each other, their hands locked behind their backs with identical single-hand restraints. The material outlined the curves of their hands, revealing that their hands were clenched inside and heavily bound with rope from wrist to elbow, rendering them completely immobile. They were completely naked, clad in an exquisite rope dress that accentuated their already stunning figures. The leather straps extending from the single-hand restraints reinforced the bindings on their upper bodies, forming a tight cage with the rope dress, locking them securely. As for their slender legs, they were bound by dozens of ropes from their ankles to their groins, then folded together. Their toes could almost touch their beautiful buttocks, and their two pairs of fair, tender big toes were tied together with thin threads, leaving no room for separation. At their groins, a thick, large vibrator was naturally inserted into their deep gardens. Supported by the crotch ropes, these two vibrators were almost completely submerged within their bodies, with only a hint of red marks visible, held in place by the ropes. The crystalline fluid secreted from their crevices made their thighs appear wet and glistening with the same luster, exuding an aura of utter abandon and debauchery. Kris summoned a chain and attempted to touch the two women. Only then did she discover an invisible barrier of light separating them from the outside. As her chain touched the barrier, wave-like ripples spread out, and the entire room suddenly brightened. An unseen wind blew, and Kris felt something connecting her to them. Who were they? Did they have any connection to the divine artifact? "No need to try," Vina said from the side. "This is extremely precise magic. Without the relevant knowledge, it cannot be opened." "Not even you can?" Kris asked. Vina shook her head and replied, "I could break it by brute force, but the result probably wouldn't be good." Kris nodded in understanding. It seemed there was no other way. Just then, her mental energy suddenly fluctuated slightly, as if her connection to the outside had suddenly weakened. She looked at Vina, noticing a subtle change in her expression. "My cheap master, or rather, the contract between us, has disappeared." Kris suddenly realized. After entering the ruins, she hadn't paid attention to the now-useless tool. Only now, when she tried to sense it, did she realize the person no longer existed. Simultaneously, this was also an extremely secular faith. It required no offerings, no piety. The followers of the 'God of Enslavement' simply reveled in the pleasure of stripping others of their freedom and possessions amidst chaos. They could not, and did not need to, provide much faith power, merely using it to satisfy their own desires. Here, on the outskirts of Rogel, was one of the 'Slave Island's' strongholds. Several figures cloaked in black, their faces hidden by masks, gathered together. There were no idols here, nor was prayer needed. Bypassing tedious rituals, they convened simply to plan their next move. "Number 1 is successful," one of the black-clad figures said hoarsely. He clapped his hands, and from the shadows, the sound of chains grew closer. Then, a figure crawled slowly on all fours. With each movement, a melodious moan could be heard. Yes, this was a domesticated female dog. Her limbs were folded, as if she had no calves or forearms, forcing her to crawl on her knees and elbows. A collar adorned her neck, and its chain was naturally held in the black-clad figure's hand. A bit was in her mouth, its central ring open, and her tongue was pulled out by an exquisite little clip. She was truly like a dog, only able to whimper and let her saliva drip. Her eyes were fitted with semi-transparent crystal lenses, allowing her to see only a few meters ahead. She crawled wantonly to the black-clad figure before stopping. Then, she obediently prostrated herself at Number 1's feet, her buttocks raised. A clearly visible dog tail was deeply [X_X] inside her body, swaying gently with her movements. She was the 'Number 1' the black-clad figures spoke of. None of them knew where she came from, nor how the black-clad figures acquired her. Even with their faces masked, their eyes were filled with envy. Such an obedient slave was something they had yet to possess. But none dared to harbor any improper thoughts towards her. Having participated in several meetings, they all knew how formidable this female dog's combat power was, and how much value she held for the black-clad figure. Take this mission, for example. Number 1's target was one of their commercial rivals. Her assassination not only left no evidence, but they could even devour his inheritance while his family was unprepared. As for his family members, they would naturally become their slaves. Using the divine arts of the 'God of Enslavement,' their control over slaves was not limited to the physical. Faced with slaves of vastly different strengths, they could control everything, both mentally and physically. This was the reason for the 'God of Enslavement's' growing influence. These individuals all held high positions and wielded considerable power, acting with impunity. Their subordinates were influenced by them, and slaves they deemed unworthy were naturally divided as spoils of war. The last time she encountered such a situation was also with Vivian. That failed ritual had cost her her name and existence. And this time, it was her again... Kris was initially afraid of this, but as Vivian had said, Vivian, who had left her legacy in the future world, still existed. But until this moment, she suddenly understood. The Vivian who paid the price for the ritual was not the Vivian of the past, but... the true Vivian, who existed in the same world as her, right now! Without further attention to Nina and the others, Kris rushed into the Hall of Delights. At the deepest part of the dungeon was a seal enacted by Kris's authority, naturally imprisoning the culprit, Emilia. She was now firmly restrained by a divine artifact of the Church of Bondage. The magical ropes cast by Kris, as if alive, ceaselessly tormented her mind and body. In addition to the ropes, Emilia's body was encased in a set of strict restraint devices: a straitjacket, shackles, and a hood. She was truly unable to move even a finger, her sight and hearing completely deprived, her mouth gagged, and even her sole breathing hole was only opened every few seconds. Kris unceremoniously pulled off her hood and asked without hesitation, "In your memory, besides yourself, how many bishops were there in the Church?" "Mas-master?" Emilia was still dazed from returning to the light. Extreme restraint and emptiness had long made it difficult for her to quell her desires. If not for the contract's binding, she might have already been unable to resist moaning. Even so, her reaction was indeed slow. But Kris couldn't wait. She slapped her, the crisp sound followed by her stern voice, "Answer me!" "Th-three." "Names!" "Adeline, Iiyeta, and Nina." "Damn it..." Kris finally recalled. Emilia's memory contained no trace of Vivian. Even if they had clashed in the past, Vivian had likely never revealed her identity. She no longer paid attention to Emilia, waving her hand again to have the hood cover Emilia once more. Despair, darkness, and suffocation once again enveloped the former Pope of the God of Enslavement. She let out a moan of unsatisfied desire, continuing to endure her punishment. Angela was still handling official business when Kris burst in. With Emilia's capture, the curse in her bloodline had significantly lessened. However, she found that she seemed to have grown accustomed to being bound. Upon learning from Kris that the stunningly beautiful woman was her ancestor, after extreme shock, she simply accepted that being bound was an ingrained factor in her bloodline, something that couldn't be alleviated by removing the curse. Thus, she still wore shackles, and along with Rita, she was taking stock of losses and reviewing the list of newly recruited personnel. "Angela, do you remember the person who lifted the curse for you?"

"It's a bondage system." The receptionist nodded, not really surprised, and smiled, "Don't worry, we won't force our sisters to do anything they don't want to." "Uh-huh." Clarice answered softly. "Then may I ask if you possess divine or magical talents?" "Yes." "Then please use this magic crystal to test it." "Okay." Kris put her hand on the magic crystal, and sure enough, it glowed brightly, looking at the shocked gazes from the opposite side of the room, she felt nothing but irony in her heart. How did this classic novel's pretense become a prelude to losing one's freedom when it came to her? Sure enough, after the receptionist expressed her admiration, she rummaged through the closet and found the props that Clarice was already familiar with: the forbidden magic collar was really popular in this world, and I don't know whether it was because the people she was in contact with weren't normal, or whether this stuff was really everywhere. But no matter what, there was no turning back when the arrow was on the string, Kris obediently smoothed her long hair to the side, revealing her snow-white neck, and with the sound of a click, Kris could feel that the magical power in her body had been restrained, and could not be lifted up by the slightest bit any more. "Well, then the next step is to bind your sister, this is also to allow you to adapt to the next life as soon as possible." "I know." What else could Kris say? The receptionist had obviously received similar training, she skillfully brought Kris to the container-like hut next door, she first shook off the twine and cut Kris's hands behind her back, tied them horizontally before reinforcing them vertically and tying them in knots. Next, she took out a single glove and fixed her arms firmly behind her back. The leather strap of the single glove went across her body, from both sides of her body, around her shoulders and chest, so that her arms became one with her body, and she couldn't move a bit anymore. She then sat Chrissy on one of the side seats and tied her legs together before attaching the ankle ropes to the rings below. Finally a chain was passed through Chrissy's collar and the chain was attached to a lock on the wall. Chrissy could only remain seated and wait. Chrissy's face was covered with a blindfold, and she couldn't feel anything in the dark except the tightness of her bonds. According to the receptionist's information, the registry office transported new indentured servants to the Cherry Pavilion every night. So there was no telling how long she would have to wait. She twisted her body slightly, but there was no sign of her bonds loosening. She regretted that she should have at least come back later to sign up!

Lia, however, was an exception. She was neither shy nor overly nervous; she simply preferred to get straight to the point rather than waste time on pleasantries. Since that was the case, the Mistress was happy to oblige, her hands already well-practiced and familiar with the task. After Lia chose a position, the Mistress efficiently began her work. The sensation of her hands being bound felt strange. Lia clenched her fists and struggled slightly, but the hemp rope between her hands held her restraints firmly. Then, she felt the rope trail down her arms, binding her elbows together behind her back, almost touching. She felt a tightness around her chest, the rope digging into her flesh with a peculiar, yet not entirely unpleasant, sensation. "Is it too tight?" she heard the Mistress's voice. Instinctively, she shook her head, then added, "Tighter." "Alright." Lia felt the rope wrap around her joints a couple more times. As these loops tightened, she sensed a significant increase in the overall restraint, the intense feeling of confinement causing her to breathe rapidly. There was no turning back now. The Mistress had already shifted her attention to Lia's legs. Lifting the long skirt, the Mistress revealed Lia's legs clad in the most noble-looking purple stockings. The Mistress brought her legs together and tightened the restraints from top to bottom in the same manner, securing them. The bindings were indeed tight. Lia silently savored the peculiar feeling of complete loss of freedom. Being bound by ropes gave her a strange sense of security, as if she were being enveloped. Finally, the Mistress produced a collar and fastened it around Lia's neck. This accessory, more symbolic than restrictive, brought a flush of humiliation to Lia. However, the Mistress explained, "Your session is booked for three hours. I will return to release you afterward. This collar will monitor your physical condition to prevent any accidents during this time. However, please be aware that we will not release you early unless absolutely necessary. This means that once I leave this room, you will have no opportunity to regret your decision." What else could Lia say at this point? She simply nodded in response, "I understand." "Good. Now, please open your mouth." Seeing the stocking in the Mistress's hand, Lia complied and opened her mouth. She didn't want to make any embarrassing sounds, and compared to a humiliating gag, a clean stocking was a softer and more suitable option. The stocking filled her mouth, and another stocking was then used to secure it tightly from the outside. Finally, the blindfold. Deprived of her sight, Lia could only hear the rustling sounds around her, followed by footsteps receding. With a 'bang' as the door closed, she was left alone in the room with only the faint sound of her own breathing. Lia remained seated on the sofa, as if sinking into it, quietly experiencing the sensations. In the darkness, with most of her senses dulled, her body's sensitivity heightened. Lia felt the bindings on her body tighten even further, becoming somewhat uncomfortable. She tried to adjust her position but found that even simple movements required a significant amount of effort. It was just the beginning, and she already regretted booking such a long three-hour session. Having lost all sense of time, every second seemed to stretch on interminably. From initial comfort to the frustration and discomfort of being restrained, then to unbearable attempts at struggling, and finally collapsing, exhausted, gasping for air, Lia had no idea how much time had passed. Yet, she was experiencing that perplexing mix of "unexplainable pleasure" and torment. It was contradictory, yet undeniably real. She simply closed her eyes, hoping to make time pass faster through sleep. This was wishful thinking. For Lia, a newcomer who had never experienced bondage before, even simple restraints were disorienting. Under such severe bindings, falling asleep peacefully was out of the question. Thus, Lia remained still as a log for a long time. She finally understood why the Mistress had warned her before leaving. She confirmed to herself that she truly regretted it. Three hours. During work, those three hours would have flown by in an instant, but in this situation, they felt agonizingly long. Lia had never anticipated the sound of the door opening more, but each time she thought enough time had passed, she was met with disappointment. Completely immobile, yet yearning to break free, to touch her body with her hands, to spread her legs. The desperate waiting in the darkness finally made Lia unable to bear it any longer, and she began a new round of struggles. But this only resulted in her wrists and legs being abraded and sore, with no other effect. Lia had no idea how she passed the final period. She didn't even hear the sound of the door opening that she had been so eagerly awaiting. It wasn't until the Mistress removed her blindfold that she sluggishly registered her surroundings. At this moment, she was lying on the floor, having almost rolled into a corner of the room. The sudden exposure to light, though not blinding, still made her uncomfortable. But she couldn't afford to care. She blinked her eyes rapidly, signaling the Mistress to release her as soon as possible. The process of untying needs no further description. Lia lay on the soft carpet, making no other movements for a long while, simply spreading her limbs and reveling in the bliss of freedom. The stark contrast from extreme restraint brought an overwhelming sense of relief. The Mistress's perfectly timed massage made her want to moan aloud. Fortunately, at the last moment, she regained her composure and didn't lose her dignity in front of the Mistress. She simply gazed at the ceiling, her mind blank, thinking of nothing. Ultimately, neither of them spoke. Once her strength returned, Lia finally stood up. She touched the red rope marks on her arms, mentally calculating what kind of clothes she would need to wear the next day to conceal these "abnormal traces." Looking back at the pile of ropes on the floor, for some reason, she found herself starting to reminisce about the extreme experience of confinement in the darkness. We'll see about that later. She shook her head and prepared to leave.

The restraints on Chris vanished without a trace. She knelt on the ground with her eyes closed, enveloped in a hazy, sacred light that warmed and illuminated the space around her. Anyone witnessing this scene would undoubtedly mistake her for a saint in devout prayer—if her hands weren't clasped behind her back. Her exceptional flexibility allowed Chris to achieve this difficult pose with ease, requiring no external assistance. Her hands, clasped behind her, seemed to be praying to an omnipresent deity. Only Chris knew that the deity had long been asleep, and all her actions were merely to unlock the final secret of this space. Even without any divine response, this space, under the protection of predecessors, already possessed considerable divinity. As the Pope, Chris naturally accepted its gift. Invisible ropes slowly rose from the void, extending upwards along her smooth, tender legs like vines. They were neat and precise, binding Chris’s entire body firmly once more. Her hands, clasped behind her, were similarly bound, not just her wrists but even her fingers. A majestic pillar of light shot up from beneath her, as if to break through the constraints of this space. Instead of sacred bells, the crisp clanging of chains echoed. Chris’s expression gradually relaxed. She seemed to see walls of light, forged from countless rays, gradually solidifying in the surrounding void. Before her stood a colossal crystalline object, also forged from light. Its, no, *His* appearance was difficult to describe. Several chains floated around Him, and various objects, like planets, slowly revolved around Him between the chains. The core within emitted a radiance as brilliant as the sun, something mortals could not behold directly. Chris suddenly found it amusing. The deity of the God of Restraint was such a bizarre entity. She remained still, yet the crystal suddenly shot a chain from nowhere, piercing her forehead. There was no pain, no discomfort. Chris felt a cacophony of whispers echo in her mind, then vanish without a trace. Was this a knee-jerk reaction? If gods had knees… Was it a ripple in her spirit that stirred the slumbering deity, or was it her own increasing vitality as Pope, empowered by the growing faith, that enhanced His activity? As a former atheist, Chris, now a charlatan of sorts, felt a flicker of doubt. She recalled Vina’s words: gods are born from humans, human faith makes them powerful, and when they become powerful, they respond to their followers’ prayers, which is what is called divine magic. The church attributed divine magic to the gods’ blessings, but these blessings originated from humans themselves. If that were the case, why awaken such a thing? An answering machine? She looked at the entity, which pulsed slowly like a heart, its diffused light filling the entire space, and suddenly laughed. 'Bind me tighter?' Without uttering a word, everything Chris thought in her mind became reality under this automatic response mechanism. She felt more ropes clinging to her body, and the existing restraints tightened abruptly. Simultaneously, she keenly sensed threads of faith being drawn from her body, flowing towards her deity as nearly invisible golden threads. Chris made a bold decision. After the God of Restraint ceased to respond clearly, the divine arts of the God of Restraint Church underwent changes. The products born from the fusion of magic and faith naturally required drawing magic from the caster. But now, being so close to the deity, the partially revived deity could certainly satisfy this 'devout' follower who brought Him so much faith. So, Chris began to desperately use all the divine arts she knew, and the target of these divine arts… was the deity himself. To bind herself with the God of Restraint’s power was an absolutely insane decision, an act of extreme blasphemy in any church. Both Popes and ordinary believers would have their brains instantly incinerated by the powerful divine force. But this was the God of Restraint; He represented the very concept of restraint—restraining others, restraining oneself. If one surveyed the history of the church, the latter was far more prevalent than the former. This led to a peculiar phenomenon: the non-sentient God of Restraint very cooperatively unleashed divine arts upon Himself, one after another, far beyond human capability. The light gradually dimmed. Layer upon layer of seals reduced the God of Restraint’s vitality bit by bit. He seemed to have used his last ounce of strength, like an extreme obsessive-compulsive, unrestrainedly binding every inch of His skin, every joint. He was tireless, felt no pain, tightening, and tightening again! This process seemed to last for a long time, yet also felt like an instant. When the space returned to void, when darkness descended once more, Chris finally smiled. She didn’t need eyes. Her consciousness gently nudged space, and the 'deity,' now shrunk beyond measure, obediently flew towards her. It entered her forehead. Chris’s body suddenly emitted a dazzling light, and after only a few seconds, the light dissipated again. She opened her eyes and found herself back in the Archdiocesan Conference Room. Her awakening was silent. She saw Jessica sitting in a chair, looking at something, her face flushed. She could sense Nina rummaging through something in her room, with a large chest beside her already filled with many items. A playful urge struck her. Without any visible movement of her body, she appeared behind Jessica, resting her head on her shoulder and asking with a smile, "Teacher, what are you looking at?" "Ah!" Jessica jumped. If not for the familiar voice of Chris by her ear, she would have reflexively cast magic in surprise. "Hehe, let me see… 'An Alchemist Apprentice's Journey of Restraint,' it looks quite interesting."

Three people were returning together: Kris, the current Pope of the Church of the God of Restraint, who was being pushed into the role; Vina, a master of destruction magic and the current Bishop of the Church; and Xingyun, an artificial intelligence lady dug up from Haiyuan City, the so-called本体 of the divine artifact. The Church in Haiyuan City was already an empty shell, and Kris had no intention of letting it see the light of day again, so it was enough for Xingyun to leave a clone there to assist in maintaining the ruins. Kris had originally thought that obtaining the divine artifact would at least make her stronger. Xingyun herself did have some combat power, but it was of no use to Kris personally. Vina was driving the magic car, and Kris, finally free from her duties, had the chance to talk to Xingyun properly. "Xingyun, what other functions do you have?" The artificial intelligence lady, unusually unbound, tilted her head and replied expressionlessly, "Master, Xingyun does not understand your meaning." Kris scratched her head helplessly. "I mean, do you have any way to make me stronger?" "Yes," Xingyun nodded. "A special enhancement system can be activated when you are by my side. Do you confirm?" "Of course, confirm!" Kris was overjoyed. She knew it! The Bishop promotion ceremony could directly allow Teacher Jessica to break through to Archmage, so why shouldn't the Pope have this qualification? It was waiting for her here! Upon receiving the command, Kris only saw the other party's pupils dim slightly. Then she felt her mental power change. Xingyun's consciousness seemed to be slowly merging with hers. Suddenly, a white light flashed before her eyes, and her brain briefly crashed, like falling from the clouds. Kris shivered. When she opened her eyes again, she found herself still sitting in the car, and Xingyun opposite her seemed unchanged. Is that it? Kris didn't believe this could make her break through. As expected, Xingyun slowly said, "The special enhancement system, phase one, is activated. Please complete the current mission to unlock phase two." "Phase one?" Kris was still wondering when a message suddenly appeared in her mind: "Walk 50,000 standard units in a restrained state." "What the hell!" Kris sat up straight and pointed at Xingyun. "Do you know how far 50,000 is?" Xingyun seemed to have changed as well. Although still expressionless, her tone became stern. "Because it has been detected that there is a powerful assistant by your side, the mission difficulty has increased tenfold. Please choose to start the mission immediately or leave the assistant, otherwise Xingyun will enforce it." "!" Kris finally realized she had been tricked again. "Sister Vina, stop the car!" "Are you sure?" More information appeared in Kris's mind, but she didn't have time to explain it to Vina in detail, so she could only nod with a bitter face. "You go back first, I'll figure it out myself." Seeing Vina's worried expression, Kris added, "With Xingyun here, you don't need to worry about safety on the road. It will just take a little longer." "Alright then." Vina reminded her and had no choice but to leave. Watching the magic car get further and further away, Kris couldn't help but feel sad. Why was this happening? Fortunately, as the car's tracks disappeared from sight, that terrifying number finally dropped: 50,000 became 5,000, which was still a long way. It was probably half the distance from Aismur to Rogel. There was no other way, she had to bite the bullet and continue. She didn't need to tie herself up. Xingyun beside her had clearly switched modes. Before, she had been like a loyal dog to her master, but after activating the system, she had directly transformed into a cruel instructor. The so-called forced execution state, in more convoluted terms, meant that once this command was activated, Kris could not order her to abandon her previous command, even if that command was not what she truly wanted to give... In short, she could only accept it step by step. Xingyun took out a rope from her equipment库, then held Kris down, bound her hands, and began to tie her up. Not to mention, Kris hadn't been tied up with a rope for a long time. Although it was slower than directly summoning ropes to bind her, the experience of gradually losing her freedom was not bad. Pah, pah, it wasn't good at all! Kris quickly shook her head to dispel the strange thought. In a short while, she was tied up like a zongzi. It could be considered that the system had some conscience, at least it didn't tie up her thighs—Kris had been tormented like this before. Unfortunately, she had underestimated Xingyun, or rather, her designer. Her thighs were indeed not tied, but her ankles were locked with shackles connected by a thin chain. The chain was quite long, but unfortunately, it also had an extra section connected to the crotch rope. If she took a big step, the crotch rope would tighten, and that feeling would be unbearable. She had to bear it, even if it was unbearable now. Xingyun finally took out a magic-suppressing collar. With Kris's eyesight, she could tell that the quality of the item was definitely not low. It made sense, after all, the lowest level of person Xingyun served was a Bishop... It was a pity that she had originally wanted to secretly cast a lightness spell on herself to cheat, but now there was no way. Walking on the deserted road with Xingyun, Kris could only make the best of a bad situation. At least her mouth wasn't gagged, even though she was with an artificial intelligence lady she couldn't chat with. At least her eyes weren't covered, even though she didn't know the way. Hey, at least looking at the scenery wasn't bad. It was fortunate that she had set the route for Xingyun in advance, otherwise Kris feared she would never return to Rogel in her life. Kris remembered seeing what was called exile. Prisoners, shackled and chained, were driven by guards into the wilderness. She now knew what that experience was like. She even felt that being packed in a box and unable to move before was better than walking aimlessly here. "I'm tired!" Kris felt her legs go weak. Her toes were squeezed by her shoes, and her heels were rubbed raw. Her ankles were also numb from the restraint of the shackles. Looking at the still desolate road ahead, she felt her steps falter and her legs unable to lift. "You cannot rest yet." Xingyun held a whip in her hand and swung it through the air, making a whistling sound. "Please cooperate, otherwise Xingyun will enforce it." "Don't, don't." Kris rolled her eyes. "I'll walk, I'll walk, okay?" This scene had played out many times before, and Kris had always reacted this way. But this time, she really didn't want to move.

Chris was somewhat fortunate to have chosen Salina; at least, for the sake of the cargo's value, her actions, though a bit rough, were entirely without intent to harm her. This was for the best. Although Chris walked with some difficulty, her stamina had significantly improved after the first mission and a few days of walking, so she no longer collapsed on the ground from exhaustion like before. However, she still had to act the part. Chris didn't want Salina to become suspicious, so halfway through, she stopped, panting heavily, pretending she couldn't walk any further. Salina tightened the chain in her hand and snarled, "Get up! You idiot, do you think this is still your home? Move it! I don't have time to dawdle with you!" "Mmmph," Chris feigned fear, whimpering pitifully, but her body remained rooted to the spot, refusing to move. This continued until Salina produced a weapon and placed it before Chris, saying menacingly, "If you don't move, do you believe I'll slash your pretty little face with this sword!" *You wouldn't dare,* Chris grumbled inwardly. *If you slash it, how will you sell me?* But channeling her inner actress, she put on a terrified expression and, with a limping gait, followed along, appearing exhausted and forced. In this state, she obviously couldn't go far. Soon, Chris employed the same tactic again, this time collapsing directly onto the ground, refusing to stand up even under Salina's threats. Indeed, this performance fit Salina's stereotype of the delicate, pampered mages from their ivory towers. There was nothing for it but to let Chris rest. However, even during the rest, she was extremely cautious. First, she leaned in to meticulously inspect the anti-magic collar, then she tossed the chain over a branch of a nearby tree that extended overhead. Her practiced movements indicated this was far from her first time doing such a thing. With the chain secured, Salina finally had free hands. She sat down beside Chris, appraising her appearance. "Tsk, tsk, I must say, you are quite beautiful, though that gag is a bit of an eyesore." After a moment's thought, she stood up, moved behind Chris, and with a gentle flick of her fingers, unbuckled the leather strap at the back of Chris's head. The gag, along with Chris's saliva, was removed from her mouth. Salina gave Chris no opportunity to speak, covering her mouth with her hand and looking down at her. "One warning: you are not to speak without my permission. Otherwise, I will make you understand regret!" "Mmmph mmmph," Chris nodded pitifully. This was for the best, as she didn't know how to communicate with this woman anyway—should she beg for mercy or scream for help? Fortunately, Salina solved this dilemma for her. She continued, "Now, I will ask questions, and you will answer. If you dare to speak any nonsense, for every extra word, I will draw a bloodstain on your skin. Do you understand?" "Mmmph mmmph mmmph," Chris nodded again. Salina finally released Chris's mouth. She held a dagger in her hand, a clear threat. "Your name, and where are you from?" "Lis, from Abyssal City." "Abyssal City?" Salina frowned. "Then why were you in Dis City?" "I was captured by that woman before. *cough cough*. I was originally going to Eismoor to seek out my teacher." "Eismoor? Tsk, tsk, a mage traveling alone, you're quite bold. Truly worthy of someone who spends all their days in a laboratory [X_X]." Salina sneered, a mocking smile playing on her lips. "Then we have one more question: who sent you?" "Huh?" Chris was taken aback by the question. Before she could react, Salina lunged at her like a leopard! Chris, of course, was unable to resist and was roughly pushed to the ground. Her face stung from a hard slap, and when she opened her eyes, the dagger was already at her throat. "Do you take me for a fool? Speak, are you a spy for the city guard or a whore from some mercenary group? How generous, to send such a prize like you my way." "I, I don't know what you mean?" Chris had no idea what these slang terms meant. Her cheek still burned, her face was pale, but she dared not move. "I, I was really captured." "Captured?" Chris felt the dagger press closer to her cheek, feeling as though even a slightly larger breath would draw blood. "Do you take me for a fool? Your act was good, but your legs showed no subtle tremors from genuine fatigue. You might fool others, but you can't fool Salina's eyes. Hmph, a mage with such stamina, putting on such a show for me, what do you think it's for? And that woman who supposedly sold you, hmph, her flaws were even greater. She neither signed a contract with me nor took any precautions, as if she didn't care at all about gaining anything from you. What, is she a philanthropist?" "I, but I'm really not a spy? *cough cough!*" Before Chris could finish, Salina withdrew the dagger and immediately choked her. Her breath was cut off, and Chris's eyes widened, gasping for air. She struggled desperately, but her body was not only tightly bound but also pinned down by Salina, rendering her immobile. The intense struggle finally ceased with Salina's movement. Able to breathe again, Chris began to cough uncontrollably. Cold sweat beaded on her forehead, and her vision blurred, making it difficult to see. "I'll give you one more chance. Tell me the truth, or next time, I won't let go." "I, I'll tell you, I'll tell you everything!" Chris coughed twice more in her disheveled state. "I, my true identity is a slave girl." "Slave girl?" Judging by Salina's expression, Chris felt she was thinking, *Lie, keep lying.* Salina's hand rose, as if ready to grip Chris's throat again at any moment. "I'm really not lying to you!" Chris was on the verge of tears. "That woman was just completing my master's task. She wanted to toy with me, so she handed me over to you. She, she just wanted to see me tormented." This statement was half-truth, half-lie, but to Salina, it sounded utterly preposterous. "You mean to say you were willing?"