The Social Gathering

"Over here, over here!"

Liyana waved to Luo Lun and Mo Lini, who were outside the door.

"You're meeting friends?" asked Gauss, sitting across from Liyana. The somewhat dim lighting of the bar cast interlacing shadows of light and dark across his face.

"Of course. If someone comes to a bar to drink all alone, that would just be too pathetic," Liyana said, spreading her hands as if it were a matter of fact. She then shook her head with a bit of regret, gave a sympathetic wry smile, and sighed.

Gauss subconsciously rubbed the bridge of his nose. He somewhat suspected that Liyana's words were a pointed remark—after all, he was sitting here all by himself at this very moment.

But in reality, he was definitely overthinking it. It was simply that Liyana was rather thick-skulled.

Ring, ring—

The bell hanging above the bar's entrance chimed as Luo Lun and Mo Lini pushed the door open and walked in.

The two of them walked straight over to Liyana's table.

Luo Lun's appearance immediately drew sideways glances from quite a few people. With her tall, sexy figure and beautiful face, she was actually the center of attention wherever she went... But after joining Xia Lun's team, she wished she could completely turn into thin air; she didn't dare to show off any presence.

At this moment, with Xia Lun and Aina absent, Luo Lun's suppressed charm finally revealed itself slightly.

Actually, Liyana's natural beauty was not inferior to Luo Lun's in the slightest. It was just a pity that her erratic personality and peculiar words and actions completely masked this radiance... If her personality were a bit more normal, she would definitely be a heartthrob as well.

After all, the fact that Liyana had managed to flirt with so many young girls in the past wasn't due to any extraordinary emotional intelligence or smooth talking.

"Your friend?"

Luo Lun walked up to the table, her sharp gaze sweeping over Gauss, her tone carrying a trace of imperceptible scrutiny.

As a lone-wolf assassin... she actually somewhat repelled contact with the opposite sex.

"Ahem, more like an acquaintance. I won't disturb you all." Gauss tactfully stood up and left.

Luo Lun and Mo Lini took the opportunity to sit down in the empty seats.

"Liyana, what did you call us here for?" Mo Lini looked around curiously, her large eyes full of novelty. A quiet yet somewhat mysterious place like this was a first for her.

"Well, it's not good to stay in the manor all day, and who knows when Xia Lun and Aina will be back... So I called you out to have some fun and make a few friends," Liyana said with a beaming smile.

Luo Lun cast a suspicious look at Liyana.

"Make friends?" Mo Lini tilted her head.

Liyana giggled and said, "Yeah, a few more people will be coming in a bit. We'll all just drink together and play some games... Ah, Mo Lini, you should just stick to milk or juice."

"I'm an adult already too," Mo Lini muttered with some dissatisfaction.

Liyana glanced at Luo Lun, whose expression was gradually becoming a bit strange, and added, "Don't worry, everyone is a girl."

"Oh." Luo Lun felt slightly relieved.

She had thought Liyana was setting her up.

She certainly didn't have any thoughts in that direction... Besides, who had the ability to be worthy of her anyway?

Soon, the bar's doorbell rang again. The friends Liyana had mentioned walked in.

It was three pretty girls, and Delyan was among them.

Of the other two, one was a young woman with smooth, long blonde hair wearing an elegant white dress, possessing a gentle disposition; the other had her flaxen hair tied in simple braids, wore round-framed glasses on the bridge of her nose, and looked somewhat shy and reserved.

"Ah, Miss Liss!" Liyana still remembered the blonde girl. Back then, she was also a member who went to the Ashen Corridor together, serving as the team's healer.

"You actually still remember me, Miss Liyana." Liss revealed a soft smile.

"Of course. How could I ever forget the name of a beautiful and moving girl like you?" Liyana flashed what she considered a charming smile.

"Hey, hey, hey!" Delyan shot Liyana a somewhat displeased glance, and Liyana chuckled, scratching her head.

Luo Lun and Mo Lini exchanged a glance.

"This child is Annie, ahem... the one who confessed her feelings to me before. She's also sort of my student," Delyan introduced the girl with the braids.

"H-hello, Lady Liyana. I am truly sorry, I didn't know you were Teacher Delyan's girlfriend." Annie bowed deeply and vigorously.

Because she bowed with too much force, there was a soft thud, and her forehead knocked solidly against the edge of the table.

"Ugh—" Annie pitifully clutched her forehead.

Liss skillfully raised her hand and cast a simple healing spell.

"She's a child that makes it hard not to worry, isn't she?" Delyan nudged Liyana with her elbow.

"That's for sure." Liyana watched Annie's dazed appearance, the corner of her mouth twitching uncontrollably.

Delyan: "And she's very cute too... So you understand me, right? I just made a mistake that any woman would make..."

Liyana: Stare—

Delyan felt entirely uncomfortable under her gaze and awkwardly shrank her neck.

"Long time no see, Teacher Mo Lini. After so long, you've become even cuter," Delyan greeted Mo Lini.

"I-is that so?" Mo Lini blinked her large eyes. "Thank you."

Luo Lun looked at Mo Lini in surprise. So her previous claim about being a teacher was actually true.

"You are not allowed to make a move on Teacher Mo Lini." Liyana's tone carried a hint of warning.

"Why not?" Delyan retorted unyieldingly, with a deliberate touch of provocation. "Liyana, just because you can't get something yourself, does that mean you won't allow others to have it?"

"Mo Lini is too young!"

"She's already an adult."

"Listen!" Liyana suddenly turned serious, reaching out to pat Delyan heavily on the shoulder, and said earnestly, "Today you make a move on an adult Mo Lini, and tomorrow you might set your mind on a true minor... I am saving you, Delyan!"

"What are they talking about?" Mo Lini tilted her head and asked Luo Lun beside her. She completely failed to keep up with this jumping conversation, only knowing that it seemed to be about her.

Luo Lun covered Mo Lini's ears. "Don't listen."

She finally knew what Liyana had called them here for.

This was clearly a lesbian mixer, and she and Mo Lini were the resources Liyana had brought along.

Everyone was a hunter, and everyone was also prey.

Luo Lun didn't have much interest in romantic matters, regardless of men or women... She cared much more about how to improve her own strength.

But she couldn't just stand by and watch Mo Lini fall into the clutches of these people. After all, she and Mo Lini shared the same ancestor.

Luo Lun took a step forward, shielding Mo Lini behind her.