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“I… can I refuse?” Behn asked, his face pale and his body trembling. He had already exhausted a great deal of effort on the sword, and the thought of strengthening two more left him feeling drained.

“You can,” Yaeger replied, smiling sweetly, though the sound of her knuckles popping as she clenched her fists told a different story. Behn’s face grew even paler, his pupils shaking as if he could hear her unspoken threat: “Refuse, and you’ll regret it.”

‘How did I end up with someone like her? I must be paying for the misdeeds of all my past lives!’ After silently cursing his fate, Behn straightened up and forced a solemn expression as he looked at Yaeger, then at Yunuen and Little Fairy. “It’s always a pleasure to strengthen your weapons, ladies!”

“That’s too kind. Master Behn, you’re already exhausted,” Yunuen said politely.

“Exactly, why don’t you sit down, have some tea and a bun?” Little Fairy added indifferently. Though their words were considerate, the eager glint in their eyes betrayed their true intentions. They were just being polite!

‘Just as expected from the friends of the Black-hearted Princess. They’re just as insincere!’ To Behn, Yunuen and Little Fairy were no different from Yaeger—cunning and calculating. They were probably plotting against him already! The thought sent a shiver down his spine, making him tremble uncontrollably.

“No, no, I’m in perfect condition. I could strengthen ten more weapons! Ahahahaha!” Behn laughed awkwardly, trying to sound confident.

“Did you hear that? Master Behn said he could handle ten more,” Yaeger chimed in. Behn’s face turned a sickly shade of green at her words.

“No, that’s not true! I was just joking. I can only manage two! Two at most!”
“Oh, I see. No need to act tough,” Yaeger responded.
“No, I’m not acting tough! Just give it here!”

Behn patted his chest, pretending to be fine, though internally he was crumbling. ‘Sigh, my bones are going to fall apart tonight…’

“Shouldn’t you thank Master Behn quickly?” Yaeger smiled, not exposing his bluff.
“Thank you, Master Behn,” Yunuen and Little Fairy said in unison.

Yaeger then took out a collection of rare materials and laid them on the ground, discussing the strengthening process with everyone.

“Little Fairy’s sword can be strengthened using Swift Black Dragon and Devil Spider materials. Yunuen’s staff can be enhanced with the [Devil Spider Core] and other toxic substances.” Yaeger quickly proposed a solution.

Little Fairy had no opinion on the matter, as she wasn’t familiar with the process.

As for Yunuen… “Princess, I’m a Priest. Isn’t it a bit strange to use a poisonous staff?”

“It’s fine. A toxic Priest sounds perfect to me,” Yaeger said with a smile, patting her on the shoulder. She was clearly amused by the idea.

“Ugh, fine.” Yunuen nodded reluctantly, feeling helpless. She realized she was drifting further from being a traditional Priest, with no way back.

“Behn, time to get to work.” Yaeger withdrew her hand and glanced at the weary craftsman, who was already downing medical tonics to regain his strength.

“Yes…” Behn replied, his hope drained as he tearfully opened the [Omni-Furnace].

Time passed swiftly.

Because her weapon wasn’t damaged, it took only an hour to complete the strengthening process for Little Fairy’s sword. Little Fairy gazed at her newly upgraded sword, now gleaming with a black light, and a radiant smile spread across her face as excitement welled up inside her.

After a fifteen-minute rest, Behn began the process of strengthening Yunuen’s magic staff. This time, the process took significantly longer.

First, he meticulously ground away the impurities from the magic core. Next, he carefully shaved the core and embedded it into the staff. Finally, the staff itself required precise modifications.

Yaeger watched in admiration. Behn wasn’t just a master craftsman; he was skilled in jewelry processing and proficient in engraving. It seemed there was nothing he couldn’t do.

Yunuen’s magic staff was certain to be much more powerful once he completed his work. With the help of the [Omni-Furnace], the magic staff and its strengthening materials slowly fused into a single, perfected weapon.

Two hours later, the furnace was opened, revealing the newly enhanced staff.

The top of the staff was now embedded with a polished crystal magic core, emitting a faint green aura. Another dark green gemstone adorned the bottom, and the staff’s body gleamed with a pitch-black metallic sheen.

“Wow, it looks completely different!” Yunuen exclaimed, marveling at the brand-new appearance of her staff.
“That’s true. The old staff looked like a bloodthirsty weapon—it was a bit frightening,” Little Fairy added.
“This looks much better. It suits you,” Yaeger nodded in approval.
“Hehe, I really like the new look!” Yunuen said, gleefully grabbing her staff.

She was thrilled at the thought of finally shedding her image as a violent Priest. However, her excitement faded the moment she noticed the new name of the staff.
‘What the hell is [Staff of Tyranny: Crimson Toxin]?’

Everyone gathered to inspect the staff, and mixed feelings arose among them. The physical and poison damage stats of this magic staff were absurdly high. Though it was meant to be a magic staff, its attributes made it more akin to a poison sword.

Its other stats were also enhanced, but all were related to critical strikes. In the end, this staff was still tailor-made for a violent Priest.

“Sob, I knew it!” Yunuen wanted to cry, but the tears wouldn’t come. It seemed her image as a violent Priest would remain tarnished for the foreseeable future.

“Princess, is he going to die?” Little Fairy asked, pointing at Behn, who was lying on the ground, vomiting white foam with his eyes rolled back. He looked barely alive.

“Nonsense. Master Behn is tough. I bet he could even strengthen two more weapons,” Yaeger replied with a casual grin.

The moment she said that, Behn’s legs gave out, and he instantly fainted. His last thought before losing consciousness was, ‘This damned demon!’

“Princess, is he going to be okay?” Yunuen asked, worry evident in her voice.

“He’ll be fine. He’s tough as rocks. But it’s getting late; let’s find somewhere safe to log off.” As she spoke, Yaeger picked up Behn with one hand and carried him into the shop. Yunuen and Little Fairy quickly followed.

After tossing Behn onto a bed, Yaeger led them out of the city. With Kastina having demolished the Item Shop, they no longer had a safe place to log in and out.

Given the attention Yaeger had drawn, she knew it was safer for them to log out outside the city. As for the Imperial Auction House, it wasn’t suitable as a hideout just yet.

Yaeger wasn’t ready to reveal her ownership of the auction house. With so many guild members frequenting the place, it was only a matter of time before suspicions arose.

‘Once they get used to the convenience of the auction house, they’ll keep doing business here—even if they find out I’m the owner,’ Yaeger thought to herself.

Outside the city gate, Yaeger instructed Yunuen and Little Fairy to log off first. Once they vanished, she quickly scanned the horizon.

‘If nothing goes wrong, Richard will return within the next three days. I need to use this time to rake in as much cash as possible,’ Yaeger mused.

Yaeger knew the Imperial Auction House could only operate for a short while in this trial phase. She suspected it wouldn’t run officially until after her rebellion succeeded.