The Vice-Commander's Arrival
After completing her quest, Jung Su-a returned to Ayora, the capital of Pantera, and was speaking with the person who had arranged the commission. The woman possessed long, beautiful green hair and elongated ears that clearly set her apart from humans. Erill, who had previously entertained An Rok-san together with Su-a and Cindy Macglen, served as secretary to Pantera's supreme ruler while wielding real influence behind the scenes. She accepted the quest items from Su-a and finalized the compensation.
Having finished the request, Su-a met Erill, handed over the items, and received her reward. As an S-rank adventurer who had also gained Erill as a sponsor, Su-a could accept high-level commissions directly without going through the guild, pay no fees, keep the full income, and advance in rank more quickly. It was technically an exploit, yet because this was a game world, Su-a paid it little mind. More importantly, she was still growing through her own efforts.
"I've confirmed the Junior Basilisk scales and Life Stone. Thank you, Lady Su-a."
"I only did what was asked. If anything, I'm the one who should be grateful. Thanks to you, Erill, I can work comfortably with high-ranking clients."
"I'm glad to hear that. Still, I am merely following the orders of Lady Cindy and Lord An Rok-san. There is no need to thank me."
"We seem to have this same exchange every time we meet… haha. Please deposit the payment into my Bio Device."
"Understood. You have now cleared all the accumulated A-rank requests. If you wish, I can arrange others. What would you like to do, Lady Su-a?"
"No. I plan to rest for a while starting today. Cindy mentioned that a guest would be arriving… By the way, Erill, may I ask you something?"
"Of course. What would you like to know?"
"Do you know anything about a man named Arpa? Cindy contacted me and said he is an acquaintance of An Rok-san. She mentioned he would be visiting Pantera soon…"
"I know him well. He is Lord An Rok-san's closest friend."
Su-a had hoped Erill might provide new information, but the description of Arpa she received was no different from what Cindy had already told her.
"Thank you for telling me. I'll head home for now."
"Understood. Shall I arrange transportation?"
"No need. The anti-gravity vehicle you provided is more than enough."
"Very well. I must return to my duties, so please excuse me."
After parting with Erill and returning home, Su-a showered and lay on her bed, thinking over Cindy's proposal. Had anyone else made such a suggestion, Su-a would have refused outright. But because it was Cindy, she found herself hesitating. Among Kang-hyun's women, Cindy followed his command to enjoy his "free colors" within the virtual reality game most faithfully. Her belief that "it's just virtual reality, so it doesn't matter" was stronger than anyone else's (except Yoo-ran). That was why she had enjoyed the game most during the Changcheon Murim days and even after the bet with Jung Dae-woon ended. Watching Cindy's play had made Su-a blush and touch herself more times than she could count.
More than anything, remembering how Kang-hyun grew excited watching Cindy with another man, Su-a understood exactly what he desired when he gave them that order. Not only with Cindy, but when Ji-min had once overpowered Kang-hyun and let other men have her right in front of him, Su-a herself had felt an overwhelming sense of immorality. The memory of Kang-hyun embracing Ji-min so fiercely that night remained one of the most vivid scenes in her mind.
"I've changed quite a lot too… haa~"
Su-a's face flushed as she replayed Cindy's words that being with Arpa had felt even better than with An Rok-san. The week of debauchery she and Cindy had spent with An Rok-san stirred her lust and feminine instincts. Moreover, now that she had already lain with a man other than Kang-hyun, refusing to betray him any further felt like nothing more than selfish self-justification.
Yet there was another reason Su-a hesitated.
'I'm sorry, but honestly, it's your fault we're all left alone like this! Me, Cindy, Hwa-ryun, Yoo-ran, Ji-min, and Se-yeon too! We're all about to grow cobwebs down there! Hiiing~!! I hate you!'
It was a complaint shared by all of Kang-hyun's women. And since Su-a had already tasted the pleasures of the flesh and possessed a body with strong lewd instincts, she seriously considered Cindy's proposal before finally making her decision and contacting Cindy.
However, even after using her Bio Device to reach out, only the ringing tone played; the call never connected. Su-a felt something was off, but soon gave up and lay down on the bed. Fatigue from battle slowly closed her eyes.
Su-a did not know the reason Cindy could not be reached: on An Rok-san's orders, she was being taken by countless wealthy and powerful sponsors of the Martial Alliance across many Earths.
Two days after trying to contact Cindy, the time Su-a had agreed to meet Arpa arrived in the blink of an eye. With a tense expression, she waited at a café inside Ayora's space station for Arpa's spaceship to appear. In the end, having already accepted An Rok-san, combined with her resentment toward Kang-hyun and a timid desire for revenge, plus the sexual experiences Cindy had described, Su-a had resolved to accept Arpa's offer. Though the details remained unknown even to Cindy, she had heard that the man would not force terms on a woman who refused. Trusting Cindy rather than Arpa, Su-a intended to make the deal and go meet Hwa-ryun.
While sipping Pantera-grown coffee and waiting for Arpa, a message arrived on her Bio Device notifying her that the spaceship she had registered had landed. She boarded the anti-gravity vehicle Erill had given her and headed toward the meeting point.
Upon arriving at the location of Arpa's spaceship, Su-a's mouth fell open in surprise as she recalled what Cindy had told her.
"It really is… an impressive ship…"
She already knew the ships Erill and An Rok-san used were excellent, but seeing an Imperial vessel—reputed to have the highest technology—up close made her realize just how magnificent it was. She sent a message to the contact number Cindy had provided via Bio Device.
—This is Jung Su-a, as I mentioned. I've arrived at Vice-Commander Arpa's spaceship.—
Only seconds after sending the message, a reply arrived on her Bio Device, and the entrance to the waiting spaceship opened.
Beep
—The entrance is open. Come in.—
Swallowing hard at the brief message, Su-a stepped inside the spaceship. Though the exterior had looked splendid, the cybernetic high-tech facilities within made her realize anew that she had entered a sci-fi world. Pantera felt more fantasy than science fiction.
'The western regions in Changcheon Murim were similar to fantasy, but… this place has its own distinct atmosphere.'
Briefly lost in nostalgia, Su-a passed through several automatically opening doors until she reached her destination. Moments later she arrived at the residential area, which resembled a luxurious apartment. Though she admired the sophisticated interior design that felt more like a high-end hotel than a spaceship, her expression hardened the moment she saw Arpa seated on the central sofa.
Noticing her arrival, Arpa rose with his massive frame and approached, extending his hand.
"You must have heard from Cindy, but a formal introduction is still best. Pleased to meet you, S-rank adventurer Jung Su-a. I am Arpa von Valentine, Chief of Staff and Vice-Commander of the Epsilon Legion."
"N-nice to meet you. As you just said, I'm Jung Su-a, currently an S-rank adventurer affiliated with the Pantera Adventurers' Guild."
'H-he's huge… I was told he's a reinforced human, but isn't this too big…? And that deep black skin… it reminds me of the Kunlun slaves we met in Changcheon Murim. I had a hard time at the Huanxi Sect back then… and their thing was big too…'
Having the same thought as Cindy and recalling her past encounter with a Kunlun slave, Su-a shook Arpa's hand while her mind continued to wander. Arpa's face carried an Eastern cast, yet his black skin evoked images of Black people. Changcheon Murim had implemented Kunlun slaves in exactly that manner, so Su-a looked at Arpa while remembering how she had infiltrated the Huanxi Sect, met a Kunlun slave, and mingled with him. The difference was that Arpa possessed an even larger build and height than the Kunlun slave she had met back then.
'His hand is enormous and so firm…'
Unconsciously savoring the texture of his skin while holding his hand, Su-a was startled back to reality by Arpa's voice.
"Haha, I'd appreciate it if you let go now."
"…?! Ah, I-I'm sorry."
Hurriedly releasing his hand, Su-a blushed at the lingering sensation on her palm. Following Arpa to the chairs, she sat down and began serious negotiations to finalize the deal she had heard about from Cindy.