Chapter 38: Magical Armament Devices

The two returned their convention wristbands to the staff and headed to the dressing rooms to change. Iris, a smile playing on her lips, slipped back into the elegant gown she had worn the last time they parted.

A cascade of beautiful black hair fell like a waterfall. Her arched, willow-leaf brows framed a pair of captivating, soul-stirring eyes, and her delicate, flower-like face was as clear as jade. The air of elegance she exuded now was a stark contrast to the alluring charm of her cursed armor. She was noble without being ostentatious, dignified without being affected. Standing there, she was the most breathtaking sight in the crowd.

Meanwhile, after entering the changing room, Phantom Butterfly canceled her transformation, reverting to her original appearance.

Upon leaving the convention, an expensive Ferrari was parked steadily at the entrance. Bai Yuze recognized it instantly as the same car he had ridden in before. He slipped into the passenger seat with practiced ease, gazing at the night view outside the window as he asked casually, "You've invested so much money and effort into Yeqiu City. Aren't you worried it will all go to waste when the Calamity Beasts destroy it?"

He didn't know exactly how many industries she had in Yeqiu, but judging by the fawning behavior of Mr. Xia, a prominent entrepreneur in the city, the investment was substantial. If a Gate of the Abyss were to appear in Yeqiu, and thousands of Abyssal beasts flooded in from another world, the situation would be beyond even the Abyss Succubus's control. Everything she had built could easily be washed away.

Before Iris could answer, a wave of soft, fragrant warmth pressed against him. "Little Ze, are you worried about your sister?"

Bai Yuze couldn't quite describe the feeling. Dizziness? No. A sense of being embraced? That didn't quite cover it either. Oh, this damned sense of security—it was truly intoxicating.

A moment later, Bai Yuze struggled to pull himself away. Security was nice, but it wasn't something to linger in; he was afraid he might give in if he stayed any longer.

"No, I’m just feeling bad about all that wasted money. It’s a shame to see it all just vanish."

"Actually, to me, the entire Earth is like a game world within your computers. Does winning or losing money in a game affect a person's real life? It doesn't, right? Real life goes on just the same."

At the end, perhaps to accommodate Bai Yuze’s feelings, Iris added, "Alright, cheer up. I’m not as indifferent as you think. Doesn't the real world have plenty of people who get so obsessed with games they can't pull themselves out? Maybe I’m just one of them!"

In truth, Iris wasn't exactly comforting him. Many aspects of Earth—its culture, technology, and food—were quite appealing to her. Unfortunately, the decision of whether the Abyss would invade Earth didn't lie with the Abyss Succubus, but with the Lord of the Abyss, who held the highest authority and represented the will of the Abyss itself. This was why she had said yesterday that the Lord of the Abyss residing within a human might actually be good news for humanity.

Bai Yuze had been mentally prepared for Iris's explanation, so he chose to change the subject. "How is the development of Abyssal prosthetic technology coming along?"

Iris pondered for a moment, frowning. "You mean that little project you had a group of Abyssal scientists researching—the one meant to prevent corrosion in humans, right?"

"Yeah..." Bai Yuze nodded. That was the one.

Iris shook her head, her dark green eyes meeting his inquisitive gaze. "Ever since you left the Abyss, that project was scrapped."

"Uh, I see." Bai Yuze let out a long sigh; it was within his expectations.

Seeing the flicker of disappointment in his eyes, Iris achieved her desired effect. Her lips curled upward, her eyes crinkling, and she stopped teasing him. "But, your sister here stood up to the pressure from that old woman, Nia Luo, and managed to restart the project for you. It’s on a very small scale, but after these few years, there should be some minor results."

"Oh? Thank you very much." Bai Yuze looked back at Iris, his eyes suddenly filled with gratitude. He truly hadn't expected such a pleasant surprise.

The transformed Iris, with her solemn and elegant aura, reached out with slender fingers to tilt Bai Yuze’s chin. "Hey, don't be in such a rush to thank me. 'Thank you' is the most useless thing in this world."

Bai Yuze swatted her hand away, glaring at her deep green eyes. "Have you been watching those domineering CEO soap operas again lately?"

"Heh, what’s the difference? Look at me—I have cars, houses, and industries all over Yeqiu City. Not to mention, you owe me countless favors. You're just one step away from offering yourself to me." Iris smiled playfully at Bai Yuze, her words laced with banter.

Bai Yuze ignored her.

Upon reaching the mall, an eager Iris dragged Bai Yuze off to pick out clothes. Unlike his sister, Bai Youqing, who liked to pick one store and browse carefully, Iris preferred to pop into every single shop. In