Chapter 16: Similar Eyes

There was a feature about Li Ge that was somewhat similar to Ais.

That was the faint, translucent radiance in his eyes.

Even though Li Ge's eyes were purely black, completely different from Ais's dazzling gold, and outsiders could not see any similarity, if a third party were to observe them directly, they would be surprised to find that their eyes were surprisingly similar.

Both had a faint, translucent radiance.

Both were somewhat indifferent.

And both carried a resolve that was hard for outsiders to detect.

As the parties involved, Li Ge and Ais were both stunned the moment they made eye contact.

Because they also noticed that the other's gaze was similar to their own, giving them a sense of déjà vu, as if they were seeing another version of themselves, or their own reflection in a mirror.

This sense of déjà vu made them maintain their eye contact for a long time, seemingly forgetting the people around them and forgetting to look away, without speaking for a long while.

In the end, it was Li Ge who first broke out of this strange state. Under Ais's gaze, he nodded in greeting and then turned around to help the members of the clan who were stationed at headquarters move the spoils of war brought back by the expedition team.

Ais watched Li Ge, her transparent golden eyes flickering slightly.

"Ais-sama?"

A voice suddenly woke Ais.

It was a young elf girl standing behind Ais, who was more of a follower than a companion.

The elf girl had her chestnut-colored long hair tied into a long ponytail that hung behind her. On either side of her face, strands of hair framed her leaf-like, pointed ears. She looked younger than Ais but already had a beauty that could be described as moon-faced and flower-like.

"Raphia"

Ais, regaining her senses, subconsciously called out the elf girl's name.

"Yes." The elf girl nodded repeatedly, but asked hesitantly and timidly, "What are you looking at?"

"I" Ais was about to answer but was interrupted by another girl who pounced on her back.

"I saw it!"

This energetic voice belonged to Tiona, an Amazon girl who was the same age as Ais and also a Level 5 adventurer and a member of the Loki clan.

"Ais was just looking at that boy! Hehe!" Tiona teased first, then looked in Li Ge's direction with a puzzled expression and said, "Who is that person? I don't think I've seen him before."

"Idiot." Tione, apparently drawn by the conversation, crossed her arms and glanced at the busy Li Ge, saying indifferently, "If we haven't seen him before, he's either a new member or not part of our clan."

"But, but he's helping to move things." Raphia, holding a staff, couldn't help but look at Li Ge a few times and said softly, "Since he's helping and is in our base, he must be a new member, right?"

"Ah, I see!" Tiona looked enlightened and said, "A new member, and a boy at that. It's been so long since Loki has recruited a male new member."

"You don't know what Loki is like. She loves cute and pretty girls, you know?" Tione pouted and said, "But Ais, you actually paid attention to a new member, and a boy at that. That's rare."

Raphia nodded vigorously beside her, her gaze on Li Ge taking on a hint of ferocity for some reason.

Ais didn't notice this, but remained silent under the constant verbal attacks from the others, her eyes following Li Ge's back, lost in thought.

This sight made the Amazon twin sisters exchange glances.

"I've never seen Ais like this before." Tione was both surprised and giggling, "Could it be that our doll princess has finally reached that age?"

"It would be so much fun if everyone knew, wouldn't it?" Tiona said with a childlike innocence, "Especially Loki and Burt, hehe."

Tiona's voice caught the attention of someone with a vested interest.

"Hey, idiot Amazon, what are you saying about me?"

The young werewolf Burt glared at Tiona.

"Hehehe!" Tiona stuck out her tongue at Burt and said, "I won't tell you, let you stew in your own juices, hmpf!"

"This idiot Amazon" Burt looked annoyed.

Just as the two were about to argue, the dwarf warrior Gris disengaged from his conversation with Finn and Loki and shouted at the group.

"Stop fooling around and go take a shower and get some rest. There are still people waiting to use the bathroom!"

The clan leader's reprimand made everyone stop and quickly enter the tower to clean up and rest.

Only Ais remained standing in place, causing Raphia to slowly approach her.

"What's wrong, Ais?"

The elf princess's tone was solemn, but her gaze on Ais was gentler than on anyone else, as if she were looking at her own daughter rather than a junior clan member.

"Nothing."

Ais didn't reveal her thoughts, nor did she look at the busy Li Ge again. She responded briefly and then turned to leave.

Raphia watched Ais's back, her eyes filled with affection, and then her gaze shifted to Li Ge.

"A new member?"

Raphia thought to herself.

No one knew that everything that happened here was being watched by a deity with a vested interest.

"So he's already been noticed, huh?"

Loki observed silently, but felt inexplicably pleased.

"Loki?"

Finn, who was talking to Loki, called out to her when she suddenly fell silent.

"Sorry, sorry, I got a bit distracted." Loki snapped back to reality, laughed loudly, and said, "You guys go take care of your own business and get some rest. We can talk about other things later tonight."

"Alright." Finn nodded and said, "I'll go in first, and we'll deal with the spoils of war tomorrow."

"Go ahead, go ahead." Loki waved her hand, dismissing her clan leader and first child.

After the expedition members entered the base, Loki grinned and shouted in Li Ge's direction.

"Kid, come back early tonight, don't stay out too long!"

The shout from behind made Li Ge pause slightly.

He knew that Loki was preparing to fulfill last night's promise and introduce him to his "teacher."

"Understood."

Li Ge had to suppress the urge to explore more levels of the dungeon today and put his plans on hold.

Time always seemed to pass quickly.

When the sky darkened again, the city of Orario welcomed back the adventurers who had safely returned from the dungeon and the civilians who had finished their day's work.

It was as if only at this time did people mix together regardless of status or racial differences, filling the streets with a lively and relaxed atmosphere.

And this atmosphere was particularly strong in the Twilight Hall today.

Perhaps because the expedition members had returned, the Loki clan was much livelier than the past two days, with a very active atmosphere.

After a full rest, the expedition members finally shed their fatigue from the days of battle, took off their equipment, and immersed themselves in the relaxed and pleasant clan atmosphere.

Normally, at this time, the clan would begin to settle the spoils of the expedition.

Even though the clan leader Finn, considering the hardships of the expedition, decided to handle the spoils of war the next day, it was still a matter of course to deal with other things at this time.

For example, many clan members were eager to update their ability values with Loki, to see how much they had grown during the expedition and whether they had accumulated enough valuable experience to level up.

Unfortunately, Loki didn't seem to be in the mood to handle this today, and in her capricious nature as a deity, she postponed the task of updating ability values.

"Let's do it in a couple of days!"

Loki only threw this one sentence to the clan members, leaving them both helpless and forced to comply.

Fortunately, after the expedition, the clan's main task was to handle the spoils of war, with few other tasks to complete, allowing everyone to enjoy a rare period of leisure before the next expedition. Therefore, many people were not in a hurry.

In this situation, in Loki's divine chamber, the clan leaders and officers gathered.

"It seems everyone has rested well, I'm relieved."

Loki looked at the spirits of the Level 5 adventurers in the clan and nodded in satisfaction.

To this, the werewolf Burt seemed somewhat unhappy.

"What's the matter? Suddenly calling us all here!"

Burt seemed to be complaining that the deity had disrupted his schedule, but his eyes kept drifting to Ais, and his tail wagged, proving his words were not sincere.

"To call us all together like this is indeed rare."

Tiona hugged one of Ais's arms in a close manner, making the young werewolf secretly envious and jealous.

"I thought you would only call the leaders for a talk." Tione's tone then shifted, saying, "I don't mind, as long as the leader is there, I'll be there."

For the bold declaration of the Amazon sister, the leader Finn only had a look of helplessness.

Raphia also shook her head, sitting beside Ais and waiting for Loki to speak.

"What's the matter that you called all the officers here?"

Gris stroked his long beard, looking at Loki and asking.

Only Ais, from start to finish, did not make any movement, sitting there in silence.

Thus, Loki put her hands on her hips, looking proud and satisfied, and spoke.

"Don't be in a hurry." Loki said, "I just want to introduce a troublesome kid to everyone."

Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned.

"Introduce someone?"

Everyone became even more puzzled.

What kind of person would make their carefree deity treat them so seriously and gather all the officers and leaders?

Everyone looked at each other, finally becoming curious.

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(End of Chapter)