"Come! Mr. Snite, please try our Mushchinu Kingdom’s specialty, the potent liquor ’Lion’s Milk’. A real man should drink such strong stuff."

Beside him was a true bunny girl, "charming in every way," though a bit furry, eagerly pouring a cup filled to the brim with golden, rich liquor for Milan.

The potent liquor brewed with grapes, dates, and fennel reached 70 degrees, and just its aroma was intoxicating.

At first, the liquor in the cup was crystal clear, without any color.

But when the bunny girl added a few ice cubes to the glass, foam surged rapidly, and the pure liquor transformed into a milky white.

Calling it liquor, it was more like a cup of milk.

The intense alcohol and fennel aroma, coupled with this unique appearance, truly matched the grand and fierce name, "Lion’s Milk".

Milan glanced at the glass, closed his eyes and drank it all in one go.

Even with his Tier 3 Transcendent’s physical constitution, his face immediately flushed.

Exhaling fragrant breath, he didn’t forget to praise the imposing man seated at the head wearing a crown:

"Your Majesty Rhine, of all the strong liquors I’ve tasted before, none surpasses this ’Lion’s Milk.’ It truly is excellent wine!"

The man Milan referred to as His Majesty Rhine sat at the top seat of the banquet, with a lion nose, wide mouth, and golden mane that bristled like swords.

Wearing a simple white robe, he exposed his hairy chest and arms thicker than a grown man’s thighs.

Even when smiling, the majestic and powerful aura he emitted made it hard to face him directly.

"Hahaha, since it’s good wine, have another glass. Apart from the Paracelsus Wizard who visited over four hundred years ago, you’re the only outsider to reach the kingdom.

Even if the positioning techniques fail due to the [Magic Forbidden] effect, it’s not a problem. Tomorrow I’ll order a search for your companions. As long as they’re within the kingdom’s territory, I’ll definitely find them."

"Thank you very much, Your Majesty Rhine. In my group, there’s someone skilled in biological modification, the predicament you face won’t be a problem for him."

Faced with an extremely formidable Tier 4 [Titled Knight], Milan wasn’t afraid to boast, patting his chest vigorously.

"That would be wonderful then, you’ll all become lifelong friends of the Mushchinu Kingdom!"

Compared to Aiven and Olivia who ended up in the "Gray Forest" Magic Forbidden Zone and encountered [Residue], and Jelos stranded in the Ceramic People Palace, Milan was like a stroke of luck incarnate.

Upon jumping, he activated [Magic-like Technique: Observing Time Line], choosing the most advantageous start for himself, descending directly into the Animal Kingdom’s royal palace.

Very soon after being exposed, when deciding whether to "hide" or "reveal" his identity, he decisively chose the latter and was immediately treated as an honored guest by the king.

Moreover, he easily obtained clues about the "Crowned Wizard" from the mouth of the Lion King.

By now, Milan’s tail was soaring to the heavens:

’All of you tremble under my luck, finding people really requires an astrologer’s touch, eh heh heh heh... hic!’

After a drunken hiccup, Milan’s vision was spinning a bit, wobbling as he fell onto the small table in front of him, faintly hearing the king’s laughter:

"Hahaha... got drunk so easily. You two escort Mr. Wizard Snite to rest and accommodate this guest’s every request.

Since he is an outsider, surely he must have similar quirks to the Paracelsus Wizard, no need for me to instruct you right?"

"As you command, Your Majesty!"

The two red-eyed, adorably buck-toothed bunny girls exchanged a shy glance and nodded, jointly supporting Milan, though now a father, still remarkably handsome, as he walked away.

At the same time.

Tap.. tap.. tap..

A human girl in red high heels with a skirt hem, like a cloud, floated from one building to another, arriving shortly at the marble structure closest to the royal palace.

Her long silver-gray hair draped over her shoulders, wearing a pristine, jasmine-flowered white ruffled-sleeve dress, and a red ribbon cinched her slender waist.

Though her attire was sweet, her delicate face held a cold and firm demeanor, looking strong. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Through the open window before her, she gazed at the brightly lit palace nearby, reaching out to grasp a silver ring shimmering with spiritual light from the air.

"Actually, my favorite research direction remains the spatial abilities, but this treasure completed after [Truth Embodiment] is simply irresistible.

Parallel timelines, constantly resetting time, a courtyard never reaching outside the wall, even if... the costs are considerable.

Let me see your skills, fellow traveler."

[Witchcraft Artifact: Time Gate]

Perceptively glancing in the direction of the city gate, she smiled faintly, radiant and dazzling.

Whoosh——!

The evening breeze filled with inexplicable spirituality lifted her jasmine-flowered white skirt, revealing a glimpse of her crystal-clear, fair calf.

As the wind ceased, her presence by the window was entirely vanished.

It seemed like something just happened, yet it felt like nothing at all occurred.

At this moment.

Aiven, Olivia, and Orange Cat Tom happened to enter Aguirre Ancient City together.

...

A quiet night.

On the morning following the "New Moon."

In the eternally pleasant climate, with spring breezes of [Witchcraft Garden: Poseidya].

On the top layer of the three-tier rectangular city, amidst flowers and plants with medicinal and decorative uses, stood a two-story building of simple and brisk style, constructed with wood, steel, and glass.

"Good morning, Hesi."

"Good morning, Aiven."

Pop!

Following the routine of giving a good morning kiss, Olivia propped herself up on Aiven’s solid chest and sat up. The thin blanket slipped off her silky skin.

Porcelain-white skin, soft rounded shoulders, slender waist, shallow waist dimples... The infinite beauty made the morning room suddenly shine brightly.

"Ah..."

Soon after the girl’s exclamation, strange sounds echoed in the room again.

After almost another hour, the two of them finally lazily got out of bed, changed clothes, and enjoyed the timely breakfast set on the table.

Well, this house is equipped with a set of well-established kitchen appliances, cooking is just basic operation.

They pushed open the unused hotel room door, changed into a set of proper hunting attire, and, full of energy, entered the lobby.

"Sir, Madam, good morning!"

Behind the bar, a brown bear bartender with a monocle and bow tie smiled and nodded at them.

"Good morning!"

After returning the greeting, the two walked out of the hotel hand in hand.

Plop!

They just happened to see a hurried dog-headed postman accidentally stumble and fall into a roadside mud puddle.

"Ouch."

Snap——!

With a snap of Aiven’s fingers, he had already cleaned the clothes and the wet mail.

After walking a few more steps.

A flower-selling pony approached them with a basket full of various flowers. Aiven smiled, picked a delicate rose and placed it in his wife’s hair, then put a silver coin in its basket.

Afterward, they slowly strolled around Aguirre Ancient City.

Aiven initially wanted to use the Positioning Talisman to locate two companions.

But not only did the Positioning Talisman not react in the outside Magic Forbidden environment, even inside the city where the magic element was reactivated, it remained unresponsive.

This indicated that aside from the two of them, "none" of their companions were present here!

After discussing, they felt instead of painstakingly searching aimlessly in the outside Magic Forbidden environment, it was better to wait for the others to come and join them.

After all, Aguirre Ancient City is one of the landmark cities within the Secret Realm, and the Animal Kingdom is a friendly force towards humans.

This is also one of the backup plans for exploration activities.

"Temporarily lost" isn’t a difficult problem for seasoned companions.

Meanwhile.

Because there are too many traces from the outside world in this city, it’s almost certain that at some time in the past, outsiders must have come here, though it’s not certain yet whether it was the Crowned Wizard.

The total area is 430,000 square kilometers. Even achieving a target exploration degree of 10% is very challenging, so it’s better to start from this core city.

Markets, restaurants, craft workshops, commercial areas, schools, military camp...

Until dusk.

Aiven and Olivia spent the entire day exploring every place in the city except the Royal Palace and Great Divine Hall, yet they didn’t obtain any valuable information.

During this time, wherever they went, the Positioning Talisman remained unresponsive.

When the two returned to the hotel preparing to experience some of the local delicacies.

It was then that Milan, having been hungover all day, finally shook his head and slowly woke up from the large bed inside the Royal Palace.

Just about to call for someone, his mind suddenly recalled the events from last night with lightning speed, and his expression suddenly stiffened.

Stretching out a trembling hand, he slowly uncovered the sheet covering him, and then... slowly covered it back.

He inserted his hands into his hair, staring blankly at the air in front of him, his expression growing dazed, muttering repeatedly:

"Fuzzy... one... two..., fuzzy... one... two..."

Apparently, last night’s dream was no dream.

...

The morning after the "New Moon".

"Good morning, Hesi."

"Good morning, Aiven."

Pop!

"Ah..."

The brown bear bartender:

"Sir, Madam, good morning!"

Plop!

The dog-headed postman:

"Ouch."

After snapping his fingers, Aiven instinctively took out a silver coin, just in time to see a pony with a basket approaching.

"Hmm?"