"...Sergeant Kate, go check which rooms they're in."

Fen克斯's voice drifted from the restroom—the same man who'd led the earlier provocation.

"Leave it to me, boss."

Fat Kate replied with a cold smirk.

"Boss, there are four of us. One woman won't be enough to share," Mularat, the double-chinned man, raised his doubt.

"You sly dog. What nasty idea are you cooking up now? Spit it out."

Fen克斯 stroked his stubbled chin, chuckling darkly.

"I say we go all in. Heh heh. Grab both the mistress and her maid. Then... heh heh heh..."

Mularat rubbed his hands together, squinting his narrow eyes, drool nearly dripping.

"Brilliant! Heh heh heh heh!"

Fen克斯' eyes lit up. He locked gazes with Mularat, their laughter merging in wicked collusion.

"That girl's different. She's nobility," Aris, the bald one—the only thinker among them—frowned in warning. "We shouldn't touch her."

"Aris, what’s that supposed to mean? Killing the mood?" Mularat straightened up, glaring at the bald man.

"That count’s daughter dared to act high and mighty in front of the boss. How can we let her off?" Kate grumbled from the side.

"Damn it, Aris. You backed down earlier, and now you’re saying not to touch her? Are you really that scared of some girl?" Fen克斯’ face darkened.

"Alright, alright. I overthought it. Don’t ruin brotherhood. I’ll follow your lead. After all the times we’ve done this, nothing’ll go wrong now," Aris quickly backtracked under their glares.

Fen克斯’ expression softened slightly. A cold smile curled his lips.

"Of course nothing’ll happen. Remember—we’re in Tree Spirit Forest. Thousands die here yearly. If trouble comes? No turning back. Two more bodies in the mass grave forest won’t be noticed."

"Boss is wise! When do we strike?" Mularat flattered with exaggerated enthusiasm.

"Sooner the better! Tonight!" Fen克斯 slammed his decision.

"Same method: erase their check-in records first. If things go sideways, drag them into the forest." Fen克斯 outlined the plan—clearly not their first time.

"Mularat, prepare the knockout incense and ropes."

"Aris, once we have their room number, lure away the guards patrolling their floor. We move separately." Fen克斯 commanded with practiced ease.

"Got it. Wait—they brought a mercenary squad!" Aris nodded.

"No problem. I’ll have my four guard squads on standby. If they retaliate afterward? We’ll label them as thieves attacking the Rest Station and execute them." Fen克斯 grinned coldly.

"Feasible. There *is* a sizable bandit group nearby. We’ll pin it on them if needed."

...

The conspirators inside the restroom never noticed their target standing just beyond the door.

Verlith had heard every word of their plot—and their cover-up plan—through the thin wall.

*How adorably stupid. Plotting crimes in such an exposed place. Have they never been caught? Or do they have powerful backing?*

Either way, Verlith’s hostility solidified.

Their conversation revealed seasoned predators. How many girls had they ruined in this tiny Tree Spirit Forest Rest Station?

If Verlith had only intended to warn them earlier...

Hearing their plan to target Alyssa changed everything. A warning wouldn’t suffice anymore.

*Time to get serious. They won’t remember this lesson without bleeding.*

Verlith muttered to herself.

Though since the transformation, she seemed to have gained a passive skill:

—*Wolf Magnet.*

Seriously. Wherever she went, perverts surfaced. A lecherous duke in Voltus, now four military thugs.

*"Such beauty invites trouble."* How true.

Being too beautiful wasn’t always a blessing.

If given a choice, Verlith would trade this stunning face for plainness any day.

*Ordinariness is bliss.*

—*Would beauty-obsessed girls want to strangle her for that thought?*

After several yawns, Verlith finally heard the restroom door burst open.

"Hahaha! Settled then! Let’s prep—"

Fen克斯 backed out first, head turned toward his cronies, laughing.

Suddenly—

His shoulder collided with something soft.

"Ah!"

A honeyed voice rang out.

All four men snapped toward the sound, captivated by its birdlike sweetness.

The Silverhaired Maiden gasped, shoved against the wall by the impact.

She braced herself with slender arms, her near-fall radiating fragile vulnerability that tugged at the heart.

They realized the girl blocking the restroom door was none other than their target.

The women’s restroom sign behind her suggested she’d just exited—perfect timing.

*Too lucky!*

Their eyes gleamed with shared excitement.

Fen克斯 and his men exchanged glances, unspoken agreement flashing between them.

No need to wait for nightfall.

The beautiful prey had delivered herself to them!

What a time-saver!

"Heh heh heh..." Ugly laughter spilled from all four throats simultaneously.

The Silverhaired Maiden flinched upon seeing them. She ducked her head, pressing against the wall to slip past.

The four men stepped in unison, forming an impenetrable wall before her.

She tried sidestepping—blocked again.

Twice more she attempted to weave through, but the human barrier held firm.

Trapped, the Silverhaired Maiden twisted her hands together, tension tightening her shoulders. Forced to lift her breathtaking face, she pleaded:

"P-please... big brothers? Could you move aside?"

Verlith’s coquettish tone made her own skin crawl.

Her slight shiver, however, was mistaken for fear by the thugs.

They burst into raucous laughter.

"Oh-ho! Heh! Such a lovely voice! She’s asking us to move, Mularat—should we obey?" Fen克斯 leered, eyes raking over Verlith.

Verlith stared back like a startled rabbit, wide pink eyes blinking innocently.

That hypnotic gaze stoked Fen克斯’ lust into a fever. He devoured her slender figure with his eyes.

"Of course we’ll obey a beauty’s wish. But you’re not going *that* way—you’re coming *this* way."

"T-this way? Where... where is that?" Verlith whispered timidly.

"Elevator to the fifth floor—our dorm. I’ll give you a private tour."

"Your dorm? But... that’s the men’s quarters! I-I can’t go there!" Verlith covered her mouth, feigning shock.

"Why not? With me, Fen克斯, you can go anywhere in this Rest Station! Come. I’ll show you what a *real* man is."

Fen克斯 slapped his bony chest, laughing boisterously. His hand shot out to grab her wrist.

"Eep! Don’t—!"

Verlith dodged with a sidestep.

After several failed grabs, Fen克斯 only caught her sleeve.

The others closed in, surrounding Verlith.

Pushed and jostled, she was herded toward their dormitory.

...