Ashley looked up at the sky and judged that the gray fog was not a spatial ability.
It was proven by the fact that the wind had not stopped, and the water flow had not changed; it still flowed in and out through the gray fog, indicating that the inside and outside were connected.
This layer of fog only served to deceive vision, just like the Mist of Deceit.
Therefore, the best way to leave was to pilot the flying cadaver on the helipad and break through the fog layer.
Whether jumping into the river or taking a speedboat from the lower hold, they would be entangled by the flesh tentacles attached to the ship’s bottom and attacked by the monsters swimming in the water.
These grotesquely twisted monsters were all woven from flesh matter created by Grandmother using the Wolf Girl.
To earn her 6-pound salary, Ashley prepared to rescue the hostage, stuff her into the Slanted House, and take her away; she wouldn’t bother with anything else.
The perverted collector’s human trophies were a secret that couldn’t see the light of day, probably hidden somewhere below deck.
Ashley descended from the first-floor terrace to the small hall on the negative first floor when suddenly, strange noises came from the garden just one wall away.
She remembered that the ‘Vortex’ plant life was stored there. If the refrigeration unit failed, then…
“Help…”
A faint voice rang out, sounding somewhat familiar—it was the girl from the walkie-talkie plea!
Ashley dashed into the garden in one arrow step and saw the girl desperately trying to crawl out of a pitcher-plant-like bottle-shaped plant.
Her hair was soaked wet with glistening sticky nectar, making her whole body look like a soft white rice cake dipped in honey. The plant’s cage lid and lip edge clamped her waist, looking like it was about to squeeze her flat.
When Ashley grabbed the girl’s hand, she noticed something wrong—it was soft and limp, with no muscle power, and her fingers couldn’t grip back.
The sticky, slippery softness made it impossible to exert force.
“What’s going on?”
“They operated on me; my tendons are out of control…”
Recalling that painful memory, the girl’s small face scrunched up as terror surged.
“Bite my finger—bite hard!”
Ashley bent her index finger and shoved it into the girl’s mouth.
The girl hesitated for a moment but bit down, her teeth locking onto the joint, allowing her to exert force. She yanked herself out with one pull!
Squelch!
The sticky girl collided into her embrace, the nectar’s fresh fragrance wafting through the air.
“Sorry… that must hurt…”
The girl hurriedly apologized. To drag her body, she had to bite desperately, and seeing the bite marks on the loli’s finger made her even more heartbroken.
“It’s fine; my Amber won’t get jealous… Can you still walk?”
“I… I can’t walk…”
The girl gritted her teeth, pounding her severed Achilles tendons in hatred.
Because they had guests to entertain, after toying with her, Coleridge had just left her here. She crawled to the corner to lick her wounds, only to encounter the refrigeration failure next; the plant life broke free from restraints—misfortunes never came singly.
Upon learning that Ashley was the ‘Tribunal cadre’ from the walkie-talkie, the girl’s fantasies shattered, her face turning ashen.
Impossible…
A girl even younger than me…
A loli…
How could she possibly save me…
We’re done for…
Completely done…
Even worse, those bizarrely shaped plants had surrounded them from all sides, wriggling madly in a chaotic dance of demons!
Just as her heart turned to dead ashes, the Blue-Haired Loli inserted a three-dimensional carved cylindrical key into the void, twisted it to open a hollow, reached in, and drew out a soft whip!
Touch of Will!
Crack! Crack!
These plant lives, whose self-consciousness had not yet formed, were immediately infused with thoughts, becoming Ashley’s loyal servants.
Ashley tugged the whip and asked:
“Hey, Miss Sticky, what’s your name?”
“Vicky! Vicky Jones!”
Seeing this unbelievable scene, the girl’s hope reignited, but her body was completely limp, so she could only strain to lift her head and look at her.
“I’m asking you, are there any other people kidnapped here?” The loli’s eyes sparkled like natural gems washed by river water.
The girl was mesmerized by her small face—that confident and powerful glow was exactly what she craved, utterly captivating.
“I-I…” She stammered, tongue-tied.
“Now’s not the time to fall for me, Miss Sticky.”
Ashley flashed a charming smile, extended her finger, and wiped across the girl’s soft white cheek. The crystalline transparent nectar trickled down her slender finger, shimmering, before she sucked it into her mouth.
Amber won’t get jealous, but I’ll sneak a taste of the nectar!
Surprisingly delicious!
Vicky’s small face flushed red as she muttered, “I thought it was poisonous…”
Under Ashley’s soothing, her emotions gradually calmed. She recalled:
“Yes, lots of big sisters and little sisters, some pretty boys, and a few strangely dressed people locked in cells…”
After hearing this, Ashley thought, Good grief, he’s turned the cruise ship into his private territory.
When desires lost their shackles, nothing was off-limits.
Though the Card Court Society was assassinating Coleridge, both sides were cut from the same cloth—using their extraordinary powers to do as they pleased.
Ashley scooped up the slippery, squishy Miss Vicky and, following her guidance, ran all the way to the special elevator that required senior privileges to open. Then, she took explosives from the Slanted House and stuck them to the door.
Boom!
The two iron doors blasted open. Ashley leaped into the elevator shaft, passed through the floating dust, and landed lightly.
Vicky barely suppressed the urge to scream at the top of her lungs, her heart in her throat, but being held tightly in the Blue-Haired Loli’s arms, she felt perfectly steady.
Aside from her limbs flopping like a jointed doll, there was no shaking at all. As her heart settled, a strong sense of security welled up.
But this feeling didn’t last long before they encountered the nightmare of her life!
A figure stumbled toward the elevator, his white python skin coat lost somewhere, his body splattered in blood—though none of it was his. It looked ghastly.
Coleridge!
Vicky’s pupils contracted, her whole body shuddering uncontrollably as she whimpered in the Blue-Haired Loli’s arms.
Ashley pondered thoughtfully: Had he clashed with the Card Court Society? He had surprisingly survived the first wave of attacks.
“It’s you!” Coleridge gnashed his teeth, eyes ferocious. “Aren’t you a Tribunal cop? Take me to the helipad on the third floor!”
Ashley gently shook her head.
Several people stood beside Coleridge; though injured, they retained full combat effectiveness.
“Sir, let’s do it!”
“Just kill anyone in the way.”
…
Before they could reach a consensus, Ashley had already acted!
Plant lives dropped from the elevator shaft like dumplings, charging at Coleridge. Some extended tendrils, some sprayed seeds that exploded into black spikes, others whipped poisonous vines…
She had intended to wear them down, but the plant lives’ combat prowess was unexpectedly fierce. Their high-strength plant fibers rivaled steel, and the neural fiber network pervading their bodies had no primary or secondary parts, meaning no single weak point to exploit.
Even better. Ashley merely circled, feinting attacks, and recorded three abilities.
“Forced Blade Reversal”
“Ding Fish Curtain Yan”
“Black Bee”
The first two protected Coleridge’s safety: one absorbed attacks and reflected needle-like extraordinary torrents along the original path, enough to pierce reactive armor; the other formed thin yet sturdy protective layers around Coleridge.
The third was like “Human Nemesis”—full-body enhancement, growing insect chitin shells, with arms elongating into pitch-black spikes like rapiers for high-speed thrusts.
Seeing the stalemate persist, Coleridge grew anxious and roared, pointing at Vicky in Ashley’s arms:
“Do you know how much tax I’ve paid to Union City?! Tax thief! You want to protect her? This worthless thing only fit as a playtoy! What the hell are you even protecting?!”
“What do your taxes have to do with me? Would I, Ashley, bend for 6 pounds?” The Blue-Haired Loli sneered coldly.
