The children regarded the affluent district's inhabitants with trepidation and vigilance; upon seeing Summer's knightly attire, which clearly did not belong to the slums, they instinctively considered making their exit.
The girl picked up the eyeball-shaped magical core, her apprehensive gaze flickering towards the lord.
From their previous brief interaction, this foreign lord had proven to be rather amicable.
Chu Yan, for the moment, refrained from detaining them, nodding instead:
"I have no use for the crystal core; if you wish to take it, please do. We can discuss further upon our next meeting."
With the lord's permission, the children scattered in delight.
They seemed unfazed by the earlier peril posed by the sludge creature, as if they had grown accustomed to such dangers.
As he watched the children depart, Chu Yan turned his attention to Summer, greeting her with a warm smile.
He sensed her goodwill, likely stemming from her concern for his well-being amidst the dangers of the outside world.
"Good morning, Summer. What a coincidence; have you risen to enjoy a morning stroll as well?"
It was approximately five-thirty in the morning, and the sky had not grown any brighter; the somber clouds still loomed heavily, with only fleeting rays of light piercing through the gaps.
Dim light cascaded down upon Summer, illuminating her radiant visage, where strength and delicacy coalesced effortlessly. Her nonchalant expression rendered her thoughts inscrutable.
In this half-lit dawn, the knightess's graceful figure was accentuated by the interplay of light and shadow; her attire, though modest, perfectly showcased her generous curves, casting a shadow upon her slender waist.
"Yes, I was strolling when I inadvertently heard some commotion; I never expected to find you in such a precarious situation, nearly drenched in sweat."
Summer's tone was calm, as if recounting a commonplace occurrence, yet there was an emphasis on the word "inadvertently."
Chu Yan chose not to dispute the matter, directing his gaze towards the spot where the sludge creature had appeared, a sense of curiosity stirring within him.
"Do these monsters truly manifest in the slums?"
"Are you not the lord? It is surprising how unfamiliar you are with the Dead Sea border..." Summer sighed before responding, "Yes, but this is a rare occurrence. There are individuals in the slums who deal with these creatures; the nobles' servants also assist in clearing them away, as it is their duty in this territory."
"Please, tell me more about this place."
Chu Yan earnestly requested.
Summer met his gaze in silence, guiding him to a nearby stone where they could sit and discuss the information she possessed.
The knightess was not affiliated with the Dragon Flame family; she, too, was new to the Dead Sea border, imprisoned here simply because this region served as one of the continent's exile zones.
Ordinary jails could not contain those who dared to breach societal taboos.
"Lord, you must have witnessed the dangers of the Dead Sea border. Stability exists only in the affluent upper district, which is also where we are confined."
"You might wonder why the prisoners seem so unrestrained. This is because the nobles rely on the power of those who dare to defy the rules to suppress the monsters that freely roam here, especially the more formidable ones."
"If the nobles were to confront these monsters themselves, their forces would be utterly decimated, and the Dragon Flame family would refuse to regularly send reinforcements here."
Had Chu Yan not yet grasped the true state of affairs at the Dead Sea border, he might have vehemently condemned the family's negligence and inaction.
Yet after witnessing it firsthand, he could understand why...
The source of the monster proliferation was deemed to be that very ocean, and they could not simply fill it in.
Moreover, the population of the Dragon Flame family was limited, making it impossible to continuously send individuals to quell the monsters—a bottomless pit they could not fill.
Thus, the local minor nobles under the Dragon Flame family managed to handle matters themselves without causing trouble for their superiors, leading the clan elders to turn a blind eye to the situation.
Having gleaned a general understanding of the circumstances, Chu Yan nodded in realization:
"Ah, I see; no wonder the prisoners regarded as high-risk threats can roam so freely... But why don't you simply escape?"
Although they would face persecution from various factions, including the Church of the Holy Light, outside the Dead Sea border, living discreetly would allow them to evade harm, wouldn't it be preferable to being confined here?
Summer shook her head, highlighting a blind spot in Chu Yan's reasoning. She asked:
"Do you truly believe that I and the others in the prison are regarded as taboo individuals merely because our powers are disdained by the various factions?"
"Are you suggesting that we are out of control...?"
"Precisely! Without unfounded rejection, we are acutely aware that the powers we wield are indeed perilous. The stability of the upper district hinges significantly upon the presence of a colossal ancient magical array that can ward off the Dead Sea monsters while also mitigating our potential loss of control."
Summer's expression was solemn, devoid of jest or exaggeration.
From her gaze, Chu Yan surmised that she had sensed the seeds of loss of control within herself.
Others within the prison, including Janette, likely shared that ominous feeling.
They chose to remain within the confines of the lord's prison to suppress the effects of their powers.
Freedom was a concession the nobles granted to those who defied the rules.
Imprisonment was a choice made by the defiers themselves.
Summer shifted her tone, shrugging lightly:
"However, do not be under the illusion that those who tread upon the path of forbidden power possess any noble character. Everyone is motivated by self-interest; who truly knows what past transgressions they have committed using their powers?
Therefore, Lord, you should still be wary of your surroundings while you sleep; don't let your guard down."
Are you attempting to frighten me away so you can claim the large bed for yourself?
How naive.
Chu Yan maintained his composure, saying:
"Rest assured, I have a keen sense of who harbors animosity towards me."
"..."
Summer rolled her eyes in exasperation, but fortunately, Chu Yan swiftly changed the subject to inquire about other matters.
"Are there any restrictions upon the local minor nobles? For instance, are there unavoidable duties?"
"What are you planning?"
"I wish to establish a civilized city, transforming Extreme City by the Dead Sea into a thriving coastal haven."
"Oh, how astonishing! The lord possesses the uncanny ability to speak of dreams while awake!"
Summer's expression was laced with mock admiration.
"I am serious; at least in regard to fulfilling the family trial, I am indeed earnest."
Chu Yan found no need to dispute; his intentions were not born of lofty ideals but rather a desire to avoid being sent to the Holy Reproduction Hall as a breeding dragon descendant.
"Lord, the minor noble families in Extreme City are essentially local tyrants or wild kings; if we speak of duties, they are solely responsible for clearing out the small fry monsters.
These creatures disrupt their activities, yet the taboo individuals will not waste their powers on such lesser nuisances, leaving the minor nobles to manage them."
Understanding this, Chu Yan realized how to address the superficial tasks at hand in preparation for the imminent midterm examination.
The sludge creature was his greatest asset.
When that monster had pursued the children, the ground it traversed became utterly clean, devouring the withered grass and branches, transforming them into its own magical energy through corrosion.
Was this not a perfect waste collector?
It could even convert excrement.
Once the sludge creature had its fill, the local nobles could handle the cleanup, and he would merely have to summon another sludge creature.
However, this would inevitably lead to conflict with the minor nobles.
Given their attitude when they welcomed the lord, it was evident that they regarded Chu Yan with disdain.
Yet such conflicts were almost a foregone conclusion, for he had come here with the genuine intent to pass the family trial.
Chu Yan grasped the lady knight's hand earnestly, saying:
"Summer, there is a favor I would like to ask of you, which could effectively cancel out the five favors you owe me; it would be quite advantageous for you!"
Summer did not hide her disdain, her lips twitching as she replied:
"You certainly possess quite the imagination; I must refuse."
"Then I owe you a favor in return; two months hence, I shall relinquish the large bed for your exclusive use, while I will take to the floor."
Summer raised an eyebrow, hesitating to reject him outright, for the proposition aligned perfectly with her own desires.
Her morning outings had been motivated by the wish to enjoy the large bed in solitude.
What a fortuitous opportunity!
Though two months felt somewhat lengthy, it was not as interminable as one might imagine; at least after that, the lord's bedroom would effectively belong to her.
"Agreed, but if you add any conditions along the way or require me to do anything extra, you must shorten this two-month timeframe."
"Not a problem!"
Thus, Chu Yan and Summer shook hands, sealing their sordid arrangement regarding sleep.
Observing Chu Yan's prompt acceptance, so oblivious to the world around him, Summer felt a twinge of guilt.
His innocence was disarming, his delighted smile contrasted sharply with her scheming intentions to push him off the bed, revealing a lack of integrity on her part.
Yet, Summer overlooked one crucial point—
When the two months elapsed, and Chu Yan successfully completed his family trial, that large bed had always been meant for her alone.
Essentially, Chu Yan was offering her two months of free occupancy.
With a smile, Chu Yan began to pray:
"May Summer discover the truth in due time and not grow angry..."