After leaving the team, the adventurer ladies regretted it deeply

Aiko's angry expression froze on her face.

Some surprise.

And some embarrassment.

Her feelings were quite complicated.

Is that so.

So, you really do consider me a 'friend'.

In my eyes, you were just a Shar Pei...

Aiko experienced a strange emotion that was indescribable and inexplicable.

Overall, she found herself looking at Lia more favorably.

But this stupid team captain simply didn't understand that it was the team members protecting her, not her protecting the team members.

The only thing that could be commended was Lia's bravery in charging ahead to confront the Magical Creatures.

Remembering Lia's various foolish actions, Aiko couldn't help but laugh.

The black fog in her eyes quietly dissipated.

"There is one last question."

Aiko whispered in Lia's ear, "What is your opinion of Lin Da with the 'Eye of True Knowledge'?"

I was just really curious.

Wondering how this Powder Keg would view Lin Da.

Aiko rubbed her hands together in anticipation.

She took out a Video Recording Magic Stone and held it close to Lia's mouth.

No matter what, she had won. If Lia said she liked Lin Da, she could threaten the thin-skinned Lia with the Video Recording Magic Stone. If you don't stay away from Lin Da, I'll give this stone to the White Dove Morning News, and let the whole city know that you, Lia, are a stubborn tsundere freak.

And if Lia considered Lin Da as a rival, an enemy, that would be even better.

Aiko could rest easy, never having to feel jealous of Lia again.

But...

She waited for a long time.

The sleeping Lia didn't say a thing.

Passed out in sleep?

Aiko slapped Lia's face.

No response.

This dead pig...

Aiko shook her head and went to find a blanket to cover Lia with.

When she reached the second floor stairs, suddenly, Lia's dreamy mumbling began.

She said something.

Aiko's pupils contracted.

Her expression went from shock, to disbelief, to contemplation, and finally to acceptance.

Right.

If one day Lia became candid, with Lia's character, she would indeed give such a concise answer.

Only five words.

But Aiko understood everything.

Her biggest rival in the future was indeed this person.

Aiko put away the Video Recording Magic Stone.

She no longer wanted to threaten Lia with that thing.

It was too despicable.

Aiko covered Lia with the blanket.

Then she tied her blonde hair back with a headband, returned to her room, and pulled out a white suitcase from under the bed that she had never opened in nearly three years.

The suitcase was covered with dust; after patting it twice, Aiko coughed heavily.

She opened the suitcase and took out a book that was thicker than a brick, "Advanced Knowledge and Application of Light-based Magic (Volume I)"

Aiko took a deep breath, rubbed her cheeks, her gaze firmed and she sat down at the desk with the thick book, ready to read by lamplight into the night.

No one knew that Aiko was also a bookworm in the past.

She was determined to be the first among Snow Goose and the others to step into the Star Rank!

...

...

Under the starlight, Lin Da drove the carriage back to the villa.

```

"That's fine."

Remembering Aiko's tearful expression, Lin Da sighed and quietly said to himself.

Aiko indeed made a good impression on him, beautiful and a powerful mage.

But he couldn't keep biting off more than he could chew, with already four people in his current team.

Lin Da had a thin face.

Where others formed oaths on a 1v1 basis, him going 1v4 was already outrageous enough, hands couldn't even connect, and to put rings symbolizing the Oath of Protection on the girls required them to line up.

But at least they were his teammates, and outsiders could kind of understand that. Forming an Oath with someone from another team, on the other hand, was quite playful.

The content of the Oath was to protect each other for a lifetime as adventurers. Many teammates with good relationships formed such Oaths, man and man, woman and woman, man and woman, all combinations existed, essentially a pure and holy relationship.

But to form an Oath with an adventurer from another team... was basically either for money or for the body.

Public opinion would not let Lin Da off the hook, and his teammates would be angry too!

Even he only regarded Aiko as a somewhat closer former teammate, not to the extent of going all out to form an Oath with her.

So, this was quite good.

As his reason concluded the answer.

Within Lin Da's heart, however, he was anxious, and while driving the carriage, he was somewhat distracted and almost forgot to turn the corner.

"I'm back."

Ten minutes later, Lin Da arrived at the villa in the Goldfinch District.

The temperature control Array made the villa's temperature comfortable, he took off his coat, and placed it on the rack by the entrance.

Walking into the living room, Lin Da paused.

Everything was cleaned spotlessly, not a speck of dust, he almost thought he had entered someone else's home.

"Impressive."

From when he left to when he returned, it had only been half an hour. To clean to this extent in such a short amount of time was nothing short of miraculous.

Lulu glanced at Tasya with a touch of faint admiration in her tone, "Most of it was done by her."

"Indeed." Tasya proudly puffed up her chest.

"Very commendable, Tasya, you are an excellent maid," Lin Da praised as he nodded.

A smile appeared on Tasya's face.

She elegantly bowed, "Master's praise is the maid's greatest honor."

"It's getting late, everyone should go to sleep."

Lin Da thought for a moment and said, "We'll clear the ninth level tomorrow and officially become a Rock-level Squad."

Clearing the ninth level would allow him another upgrade, almost.

Then, the Teleportation Array to the Great Mystery Continent on the tenth level would open up to the Phoenix Tail Flower Team.

With Lulu as a 'Sub-Star Level' and the seasoned Star Rank Tasya, perhaps they could aim for that thing.

The three said their goodbyes in the living room.

Lin Da returned to his room and doubted his eyesight.

This room, as tidy and clean as a five-star luxury hotel, was his own?

Admittedly, Lin Da had a hint of a cleanliness obsession, but it was only slight. Sometimes, engrossed in strategizing, he would forget to eat or sleep, even forget to wash his face.

But what about this room?

The floor that could mirror a person, the bedsheet whiter than swan feathers, and the small magical chandelier on the ceiling which had some dust on it before, now shone like new after being wiped clean.

The entire room seemed to glow, dazzling Lin Da's eyes!

A pleasant fragrance of flowers filled the room, a type of magic material air freshener.

Lin Da had the illusion of stepping into a green meadow filled with birds singing and flowers blooming. In such a room, his mood became relaxed, and his entire being unwound.

On the nightstand, several new items appeared. Lin Da walked over curiously. They were black bells with different words on each, respectively:

[Food][Changing][Cleaning][Service][Other].

"What do these bells mean? What will happen if I press them?"

With a hint of curiosity, Lin Da pressed the one labeled [Service].

Dong dong.

In less than ten seconds, there was a knock at the door.

Tasya's voice came through, "Master, did you call me?"

"Oh, it's like room service, I was just playing with it, never mind," Lin Da said awkwardly.

"If you need anything else, please feel free to call me. I will arrive as quickly as possible."

The voice came through the door.

Therefore, Lin Da didn't know what Tasya looked like on the outside.

```