Chosen By The Lover's Constellation-Chapter 170: Dynamic Duo

{January 21}

The studio lights glinted off Lianna’s heterochromatic eyes as she sat beside Enverna, the atmosphere charged with the excitement of the live interview.

The interviewer, a seasoned host with a friendly demeanor, steered the conversation with ease.

"So, Enverna, Lianna," the interviewer began, a smile lighting up her face, "you two have achieved quite the remarkable feat, completing over 50 missions in under a month! What’s the secret to your incredible teamwork?"

Enverna, exuding grace and confidence in her elegant attire, leaned slightly forward, her gaze thoughtful yet playful.

"Well, it helps when you’re working alongside your fiancée," she answered with a soft chuckle. "There’s a level of trust and understanding that translates seamlessly into our missions, you know?"

Lianna, sporting a casual yet stylish outfit, grinned at Enverna’s response.

"Definitely," she added, nodding. "We know each other’s strengths and weaknesses like nobody else."

The interviewer’s attention then turned to Lianna, her tone light yet curious.

"Lianna, I have to ask. There’s a nickname circulating among players, calling you the ’Dragon Merchant’. Have you heard it before?"

"Uh, no, I can’t say that I have."

"Well, people are calling you that because you always find so much powerful loot. Care to share your secret?"

Lianna’s cheeks colored slightly.

"Oh, well," she began, her voice carrying a hint of modesty, "I suppose I’ve just been a bit lucky with our loot drops. Right place, right time, I guess."

The interviewer then said:

"Now, Lianna, let’s talk about your recent missions. If there was anything you could change about them, what would it be?"

Lianna leaned forward slightly, a thoughtful expression crossing her features.

"Well, we’ve been fortunate with our successes, but if I could change anything, I wish we had more time in between fights." She cast a sideways glance at Enverna, a playful glint in her eyes. "You know, maybe steal a few more kisses along the way."

The comment was light-hearted, drawing a chuckle from Enverna beside her and a few amused reactions from the audience.

As the conversation drew to a close, the interviewer smiled warmly at the duo.

"Well, it’s been fantastic having you both here," the interviewer said, glancing at the time. "Before we wrap up, is there anything you’d like to say to our viewers?"

Lianna’s playful side emerged as she turned to face the camera directly.

"Just a little message," she said with a wink. "If there are any cute girls out there watching, don’t be shy. Feel free to say hi! Both my fiancée and I would ~love~ to meet you."

Enverna chuckled beside her, shaking her head fondly.

With laughter and a round of thanks exchanged, the interview concluded, leaving a buzz of excitement in the studio and among viewers as the two of them left the stage.

---

The dorm room buzzed with a mix of excitement and relaxation as Lianna and Enverna returned from their television interview.

Mel was first to greet them, planting a kiss on Lianna’s cheek.

"You two were very cute," she said with a little smile.

[She’s gotten a lot more affectionate recently...] Lianna couldn’t help but notice. [Not that I mind, but yeah.]

Zura, lounging comfortably on the couch, chimed in, saying:

"Yeah, it was nice, but it was hard to focus with the camera on Enverna’s tits the whole time," she teased, nodding towards Enverna’s attire from earlier.

Enverna rolled her eyes playfully.

"I told you this was too much cleavage," she muttered to Lianna.

"I am sure the world as a whole would disagree with that," Lianna responded.

"I know I do," Zura affirmed and Enverna walked over, playfully smacking her shoulder with a smirk.

At that moment, Lianna’s excitement took hold of her.

"We should look for another mission to take on!" she exclaimed, her eyes alight with excitement. "Maybe we can set a record or something."

Enverna, always prepared, retrieved her laptop from her Inventory and set it on the coffee table.

"I’m all for it," she agreed with a smile, opening the device and quickly navigating to their mission database.

"Search and Rescue, Search and Rescue, Extermination... Lots of Search and Rescue lately, huh?" Lianna remarked as Enverna scrolled down the list, the soft glow of the laptop casting shadows across their faces in the dimly lit room.

Enverna nodded in agreement, her brows furrowing slightly as she scanned through the mission descriptions.

"Seems like it," she replied, her voice thoughtful.

Lianna leaned closer to the screen, her expression growing more serious.

"With Jack gone, I thought maybe the Fiend attacks would slow down, but it looks like they’re only getting bolder," she mused, tapping her finger against her chin in contemplation.

Enverna’s eyes flicked to Lianna, a shared concern evident in her gaze.

"Yeah, it’s strange. We’ve been vigilant, but it feels like there’s more to this than meets the eye," she replied, her tone tinged with a hint of unease.

Lianna sighed, the weight of responsibility evident in her features.

[Whoever commanded the Fiends to fall back still hasn’t revealed themselves. I’ve been making sure to keep an eye out, but... Well, whatever. All we can do is wait, I guess.]

"Whatever. Let’s pick one of these missions and get to work," she suggested, her determination resolute.

Enverna nodded in agreement, her fingers hovering over the laptop’s keyboard.

"Agreed. We’ll need to stay sharp," she added, accepting the challenge with a nod of determination.

After careful consideration, they settled on a Search and Rescue mission that seemed urgent yet manageable, given their current resources and capabilities.

Enverna confirmed their acceptance, setting the mission in motion as they prepared themselves mentally for the tasks ahead.

On that note, they went and got ready.

---

The trek through the dense forest towards the designated mountain was not without its fights but, these days, with Lianna and Enverna’s stats being so high thanks to their buffs, none of them could be called "challenging".

Lianna took the lead, her instincts honed by the many missions they’d gone on.

Enverna followed closely behind, her spear at the ready, while Mel and Zura flanked them, watchful and alert.

As they neared the mountain’s base, peering through the thick foliage and rocky terrain, Lianna’s eyes scoured the environment, using {Reconnaissance} every step of the way, whenever she was able.

However, to her surprise...

"There are no Fiends in the area," Lianna muttered.

"What?" Enverna, spear still in her hands, at the ready, asked.

"Yeah," Lianna reiterated, looking south, north, east, and west. "I can’t see anything."

The absence of these malevolent creatures, especially in an area marked for an Extermination mission, raised immediate concerns.

"I suppose we should have probably had a few fights by now," Enverna murmured, her voice low as she scanned their surroundings warily. "Something doesn’t feel right."

Lianna nodded in agreement, her senses on high alert.

"Keep your guard up," she advised the group, her hand instinctively resting on her bow.

Navigating cautiously, they pressed onward until they stumbled upon the grim discovery: the bodies of the missing players from the previous mission.

The sight sent a chill down their spines.

Zura stepped forward, kneeling beside the fallen players, examining the signs of their demise.

Her furrowed brow betrayed her growing concern as she inspected the wounds and markings on the bodies.

"Setting aside the obvious fact that none of these people were swallowed, these injuries weren’t inflicted by Fiends," Zura stated grimly, her voice tinged with solemnity. "They were killed by blades."

The revelation hung heavy in the air, casting a shadow over their mission. Lianna’s mind raced with questions, her thoughts swirling as she tried to piece together the puzzle before them.

"Who would attack another group of players out here?" Mel voiced the question that echoed in all their minds.

"In a place this remote..." Zura replied quietly, "I mean, the only way they could have even run into these people is if they knew to come here."

"Maybe they accepted the same mission?" Lianna asked.

"Or," Mel countered, "maybe they were looking for others who had."

Enverna’s grip tightened on her spear, her expression hardened with resolve.

"Whatever the case, we need to be prepared. This just became more than a simple Extermination mission."

Lianna nodded, her jaw set in determination.

"You’re right. We can take a look around, maybe. See if we can find the people who did this anywhere nearby. If not, we’ll head back and report what happened."

"Agreed."

The team scoured the immediate area meticulously, searching for any signs of the assailants or clues that might lead to their whereabouts.

However, the forested terrain yielded no fresh tracks or lingering presence of the attackers.

With a shared glance of disappointment and frustration, they acknowledged the grim reality: the perpetrators had slipped away without a trace.

"We’ll have to report this to the authorities," Enverna remarked solemnly as they prepared to depart. "There might be other groups in danger if these killers are roaming freely."

Mel and Zura nodded in agreement, their expressions reflecting a mix of determination and concern.

With a final sweep of the area, they retraced their steps, the weight of the unsolved mystery hanging heavy over their shoulders.