223: Irina's conditions: a kiss and a touch!

Irina looked at Su Mo, her golden eyes flickering with struggle and inquiry. She remained silent for a long time, so long that Su Mo thought she wasn't going to ask.

Then she spoke again,

"Su Mo, why have your Merits (merits) increased so quickly?"

She finally asked the question that lingered in everyone's minds, yet no one dared to voice in front of the Queen.

The battle the night before last.

Although Su Mo and his three women were incredibly strong, the number of enemies they killed was ultimately limited. Even with the addition of those three equally monstrous summoned creatures, at best, they could have accumulated around 200,000 Merits (merits).

But Her Majesty the Queen personally stated it was… 2.5 million!

"Oh? Captain Irina is very interested in my Merits (merits)?"

Su Mo smiled. He looked at the proud elf in front of him, her eyes no longer purely filled with disgust and vigilance, but now with a hint of inquiry and confusion.

This feeling was quite good.

He liked seeing these self-important, higher beings have their perceptions overturned bit by bit in front of him, eventually forced to lower their noble heads.

"I'm just... curious." Irina avoided Su Mo's playful gaze, forcing an explanation, "I've never heard of any talent that can increase the speed of Merits (merit) acquisition to this extent."

She paused, as if finding a reasonable excuse for herself: "Our Forest Elf Clan needs a strong individual like you. Understanding your abilities will allow us to... cooperate with you better."

"Cooperate with me?"

"Captain Irina, that reason of yours is a bit far-fetched."

As Su Mo spoke, he slowly swam towards Irina.

The warm spring water parted before him, and the misty steam enveloped his muscular body. As he drew closer, a strong sense of pressure washed over her.

Irina watched him approach step by step. Behind her was the cold pool wall, leaving her nowhere to retreat.

She could only force herself to straighten her back, glaring at him coldly with her golden eyes, attempting to hide her inner panic this way.

"Don't push your luck!"

"I'm just answering your question."

Su Mo stopped a meter in front of her and spread his hands, "You want to know my secret, so you'll have to pay something, right? There's no such thing as a free lunch."

"What do you want?" Irina watched him warily.

She was already prepared for this shameless human to make an outrageous demand.

However, Su Mo's next words completely stunned her.

"It's simple."

Su Mo's appreciative gaze swept across her proud and beautiful face, finally resting on her red lips, slightly pursed due to tension.

"Kiss me."

"Or..." Su Mo's gaze shifted downwards, falling upon her impossibly long, straight legs, which were immersed in the warm spring water and appeared even more slender and striking amidst the hazy mist.

He also paused, adding: "You choose one."

"As long as I'm satisfied, I'll tell you exactly what my talent is."

What did she just hear?

"You... you're dreaming!"

Irina refused without a second thought.

Make her kiss a human she'd only known for less than two days? And a scoundrel who had "humiliated" her in every way?

Let this scoundrel touch her leg?

She, Irina, the dignified Captain of the Forest Elf Clan's guard, had lived for hundreds of years. Her body had never been touched by anyone other than the Queen!

"Is that so? Then forget it."

Su Mo looked indifferent, turned around decisively, splashing water, and made to get out of the water.

"Anyway, you'll all know this secret sooner or later. I just wanted to give you an opportunity to get to know your future 'husband' in advance."

"You..." Irina looked at his dashing, resolute back, her silver teeth almost grinding to dust.

He was playing her!

He knew she was consumed by curiosity about him now, knew she was desperate to uncover the secrets surrounding him! That's why he dared to make such an unreasonable request of her with such impunity!

Damn him! How infuriating!

Irina's heart was in turmoil.

Logic told her she should turn around and leave immediately, getting as far away from this dangerous man as possible.

But that damned curiosity, like an invisible hand, gripped her ankles tightly, preventing her from moving.

These questions and curiosities, like countless fine needles, pricked her heart, making her restless.

"Wait!"

Just as one of Su Mo's feet was about to step onto the shore, Irina's voice, tinged with a tremor and humiliation, finally sounded from behind him.

Su Mo stopped, but didn't turn around, "What? Captain Irina, changed your mind?"

Irina bit her lower lip hard, "I agree to your request... both... both are fine!"

"As long as you answer my questions truthfully!"

After saying this, Irina weakly lowered her proud head, not daring to look into Su Mo's eyes again.

She had lived for hundreds of years and had never been so humiliated as she was today.

Voluntarily asking a man to... "humiliate" her... Su Mo was also stunned when he heard her words.

He had originally thought this proud, queen-like golden-haired elf would choose at most one.

He hadn't expected her to... want both?

Alright! What nerve!

Su Mo turned around, a playful smile on his face, and began to walk again, towards the tall, golden-haired elf with long legs, who was so mortified she wished she could find a hole to crawl into.

The warm spring water parted before him once more.

He walked step by step until he stood before her, with only a thin layer of mist separating them.

Irina could clearly feel the scorching heat emanating from him. She closed her eyes nervously, her long eyelashes trembling incessantly, betraying her inner turmoil.

Su Mo didn't speak. He simply reached out a hand, his fingertips warm from the spring water, and gently lifted her smooth chin, forcing her to look up.

Irina was forced to open her eyes, and her golden gaze, filled with shame and indignation, met Su Mo's eyes, which held a teasing smile.

"My dear Captain, you truly are... full of surprises."

His thumb gently caressed her delicate cheek, "Since you're so sincere, it would be rude of me to be too modest."

Su Mo leaned down to her ear, his hot breath caressing her sensitive elven ear, causing her body to tremble slightly.

He chuckled softly:

"So, my dear Captain, are you ready?"

"Which one shall we... start with?"