Inanna reminded again, "Don’t be too serious, it wouldn’t be good if you really hurt him."

No. 4 nodded at the mushroom cap, deciding not to self-destruct this time.

Phineas smiled slightly as well, "Rest assured, I will be measured."

Phineas stood holding his sword, his face still carrying a hint of leisurely calm. He perceived this as a playful interlude during the banquet, elegantly gesturing "please" to that Puki.

However, the moment the referee waved his hand—

The tips of No. 4’s few soft mycelium tentacles suddenly flashed three inches of cold light, whipping and sweeping fiercely forward! Phineas’ pupils shrank drastically, his head tilted back in panic, the sharp blade grazed past his scalp, shaving the front into a short cut.

He hadn’t steadied himself when the second strike arrived.

A mushroom cannon hit his chest armor solidly, blasting Phineas to be thrown backward, tumbling two rounds embarrassingly.

Momentarily bewildered by a sudden string of attacks, Phineas forgot his opponent was a Puki, angrily shouting, "How dare you—"

Good opportunity!

A segment of soft cool mycelium was flicked into his open mouth, it was a small break-off of the tentacle’s tip from No. 4.

The flavor of [Delicious Level 10] exploded on his tongue, Phineas uncontrollably swallowed, a sigh of complete abandon escaping his throat:

"Mmm... snort..."

That sound was a nearly intoxicated pig snort.

Taking advantage of his distracted moment, No. 4’s tentacles fell like a rainstorm, cracks and snaps unfailingly sounded.

Phineas had no parrying ability, swaying left and right under blows, finally collapsing on the ground with his suit shattered, blonde hair in disarray.

In the dead silence, No. 4 approached with small steps, tilted its head to scrutinize for a moment, imitating the memory of Marshal Puki’s stance stepping on prey, it "Puki" stepped on Phineas’ bewildered face.

The audience was silent.

Only No. 5 below was jumping excitedly, continuously cheering in the Fungal Network, "Four brother brave! Four brother strongest!"

The referee was stunned for several breaths, only then as if awakening from a dream he loudly announced, "Mushroom Race No. 4... wins!"

Upon hearing, No. 4 promptly drew back its tentacles, the cold light vanished, with its round body lightly jumping off the ring into Inanna’s already opened embrace.

Inanna caught it smiling, giving it an affectionate victory rub.

As everyone’s attention was drawn to No. 4, Edin quietly lowered his hand, the glow at his fingertips silently dissipating.

A pre-prepared suggestive illusion technique enveloped Phineas’ heart.

Shame, defeat, spirit dazed... At this moment, Phineas’ mental guard was fragile as paper.

He didn’t even sense anything amiss, only felt a slight dizziness, then the scene before his eyes quietly changed—

Being defeated by a Puki was just his wishful thinking!

He saw himself standing proudly on stage, the sword’s tip pointing at the fallen Puki.

The guests cheered for him, and Duke Alama nodded in approval.

And Inanna... Inanna was gracefully walking towards him, her pink eyes glowing with admiration he had never seen. She placed her hand gently into his palm.

The illusion swiftly transitioned.

He stood shoulder to shoulder with Inanna under the moonlight in the garden, she had become his fiancée, followed by a grand wedding, she was veiled in white, smiling at him.

Fame, status, beauty in his arms... The illusion of great success made him complacent, losing all vigilance.

In the illusion, after a family dinner, he faced the now-wife Inanna, shedding all pretense.

"At those banquets, you just need to smile and be present. The rest... women better not meddle." The Phineas in the illusion swirled his wine glass, tone arrogant.

Inanna seemed to want to say something, but he frowned, heavily placed the wine glass on the table.

"Remember your position, Inanna, I am the master of this family!" His voice turned cold, filled with control desire, "Do your duty, obey your husband, that’s your greatest value. The family’s future and plans don’t need a woman to participate, or don’t blame me for getting angry."

The piercing words echoed in the banquet hall.

"Mm...!"

"Oh my..."

Below the stage, several noblewomen were the first to cover their mouths, letting out uncontrollable soft exclamations.

Many guests’ expressions suddenly changed, and their eyes involuntarily shifted from Phineas, who was lying on the ground babbling, to the Duke behind them.

The silver wine cup in Duke Alama’s hand had unknowingly been deformed from his grip.

Veins at his temple faintly throbbed, and his eyes at this moment surged with an anger nearly tangible, locking fiercely onto Phineas.

At this moment, a surprising consensus formed in the minds of all the guests—this Phineas kid is done for.

No. 4 had no awareness of having just crushed the ambitious future of a noble genius.

It merely curled up contently in Inanna’s arms, its mycelium trembling slightly in pleasure, indulging in the warmth of caresses and the satisfaction of new moves.

[Delicious Level 10]!

What a perfect control technique!

It had even begun calculating improvements, perhaps next time it should try combining with the [Juicy] skill, wildly spraying delicious juices during battle; as long as the enemy accidentally consumed a bit, their body would become uncontrollable!

Finally, the victor of the duel, the glorious Mushroom Race No. 4, was carried away into the garden by Inanna to have a private discussion about what good things to pick from the old man’s warehouse for No. 4.

As for Phineas, still lying on the ground in a daze, no one glanced at him now.

It was clear to everyone that as Duke Alama swept away, the anger surging around him was almost tangible.

Not crushing him on the spot was the last restraint of etiquette, but surely afterwards, he wouldn’t let this guy go easily.

The figures of No. 4 and Inanna disappeared behind the corridor columns, and No. 5, seeing no familiar companions around, shook its mushroom cap and trotted back, finally clambering back onto Vera’s back.

Vera and the other two, having witnessed the whole process, were leaning against the stone pillar beside the corridor. Chewing on a piece of crystalline fruit, Fei Ling muttered through her mouth, "The noble circle... is really scary. Vera, you’re not going to turn out like that, are you?"

Vera couldn’t even be bothered to reply, just shot her a "what nonsense are you talking" look and absentmindedly slapped Fei Yin’s hand away from the wine—she’d had a bit too much tonight.

They had eaten and drunk their fill, and the show had been watched.

Noticing the feast gradually dispersing, and guests starting to leave in twos and threes, the three of them patted their clothes and prepared to leave.

At this moment, Warren, having changed into a fresh set of clothes, walked through the thinning crowd towards them.

He stopped not far away, lightly touched his right hand to his left chest, and gave a simple yet solemn salute. "My thanks to you, Lady Vera, for stepping in earlier. If not for your pull, I fear I would’ve become the laughingstock of the entire gathering."

He paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over the three of them: "If you do not mind, allow me to show you around the Royal Capital tomorrow."

This was akin to the custom of adventurers repaying a favor with a drink, so Vera naturally gave face, accepted, and they laughed and chatted as they left together.

After leaving the Duke’s Mansion, Edin slipped into a secluded alleyway, split himself into two, then four, heading off in different directions.

Meanwhile, the true body, invisible, quietly slipped away through another small path.

This was all just in case.

As the mastermind who guided Phineas to speak his mind, on the bright side, he helped Alama see the true colors of these young talents, preventing any harm to Inanna.

On the downside, he turned this matchmaking banquet into a joke.

Locked in his room, Duke could get angrier the more he thought about it, and might catch up to give him a beating.

If there’s no life-threatening danger, the boss probably won’t intervene.

But Edin didn’t want to get beaten up more, so better to be cautious...

...

The plan went quite smoothly.

With Alama’s angry pacing back and forth in solitude, it seemed short-term he wouldn’t get such ideas again.

After Inanna returned to the Mushroom Garden, Lin Jun made a birthday cake for her, giving a casual courtesy.

Then attention shifted to Ferguson’s side.

Ferguson had just received new information.

Urbik Territory, the Blood Race Marquess’ territory in the Northern Territory through the Teleportation Array, fell into chaos after his disappearance.

And not long ago, the Hand of Death actually held a large-scale sacrificial ceremony there: a city, two affiliated towns, and six villages were all sacrificed together.

Nearly one-third of the Urbik Territory became a dead zone.

Even worse for the Empire, it seemed not only did the people inside die, but they also transformed into Wraiths?