"Where did you get that medicine?" Larry asked Alicia curiously after parting ways with Peter.

"I swiped it from Walkerley," Alicia replied cheerfully.

Walkerley was one of the S Rank Adventurers in the Adventurers' Guild. He stood as the undisputed top biologist, pharmacist, and alchemist on the Mazersley Continent. Of course, he was most infamous for his chilling adventurer title: the Dissection Maniac. That alone made it clear he wasn't normal. The medicine the Eis Empire had painstakingly developed? He'd already created a superior version—more effective, fewer side effects. But to him, it was just a challenge completed, not some noble act of saving lives. His lab overflowed with miracle drugs, each worth a fortune outside. Yet Walkerley, reclusive and eccentric, let them expire unused. Only Alicia visited him regularly. Among S Rank Adventurers, he actually had a decent heart—but crippling social anxiety. You had to persistently, warmly initiate contact to build trust. Why would Alicia, who disliked socializing herself, suddenly be so attentive? Well, duh! He was the world's top doctor they'd ever met—rumored to revive the dying with a breath, the Disease Terminator. And once you were on good terms, his full diagnosis cost nothing. If you had such a genius nearby, wouldn't you butter him up? Her skills only covered curses and wounds; this world's diseases were bizarre. Besides, Walkerley was decent. Ha, he just occasionally cut you open to study anatomy—comparing elite adventurers' bodies to ordinary ones. For world medicine and "full-body" check-ups, Alicia and Larry volunteered yearly for his dissections. At first, they resisted. But they adapted. Ha, his surgeries were painless, leaving zero scars. Alicia treated it like a massage parlor—waking up refreshed, blood flowing smoothly, bones and muscles limber. Better than those overpriced ** treatments, right? Ahem, I digress. Anyway, Alicia helped clear out piles of "junk" he couldn't bear to keep or discard. The medicine for Peter was one such item.

Alicia grinned wickedly. "Heh, since we're all being used anyway, why not let us benefit? We're the better deal. He'll respect us more, support our actions actively, and no backstabbing worries. I'm a genius!"

Larry looked at her admiringly, but his tone dripped sarcasm. "Truly, my toxic friend! Such a vicious heart, exploiting a sickly little girl. My god, it's so safe being with such a despicable, filthy guy."

Alicia gnashed her teeth. "Dear Larry, my ears work fine. If you insult me under the guise of praise, I'll show you the real meaning of those words."

"Filthy and dirty? Planning to be filthy to me? Come on, my arms are open!"

Seeing Larry tease her, Alicia's smile turned dark. "Mitchell, someone clearly misunderstands 'filthy.' We need to educate him properly."

At her call, Mitchell emerged from the void, his "whisper" jarringly loud. "Exactly! This lowly, disgusting creature doesn't know 'filthy' isn't about sex—it's true art, like SM! Great Miss, let me craft a special 'love punishment' set just for him!"

"I refuse!" (Larry)

"I agree!" (Alicia)

...

"So, Richards is dead." King Garp fell silent upon hearing the report.

"Two people forced us to deploy over a hundred soldiers—and still no survivors. They lived only because the enemy didn't care to kill them."

The reporting general flushed with shame, wishing he could vanish into the floor. "Your Majesty, my crime deserves a thousand cuts. But I must warn you: those two are monsters. Our weapons couldn't break the woman's Barrier. The man moved too fast to see. In a blink, our men fell like harvested wheat. Please be cautious!"

Garp pondered, as if recalling something. "Monsters? Understood. Go take your punishment."

"Yes!"

After the general left, Garp murmured to the shadows. "What do you think? You're quite a monster yourself."

"That's harsh for a partner." A pitch-black substance oozed from Garp's shadow, forming an octopus-headed humanoid. "Don't worry. We can do the same—and we have more than two. Your safety is guaranteed. Just focus on our plan."

"How reliable," Garp replied calmly. "I've had the Yuan Technique array drawn on that land. It's ready for the handover to Jeep."

"You're reliable too. Let's continue this mutually beneficial partnership. Heh heh heh." The octopus-man laughed shrilly and retreated into the shadow. Garp acted as if nothing happened, returning to his paperwork.

...

Days later, nobles gathered for a grand court banquet at the palace. Thanks to Peter, Alicia and Larry entered as servants carrying ingredients. After confirming Alicia's medicine worked, Peter grew proactive—even securing the palace layout. Inside, Alicia beamed. "Alright, let's check the crime scene first. Detective Alicia, on the case!"

Larry covered her mouth and yanked her aside. "Are you kidding? We're infiltrating! Shouting like that? Do you want to get caught?"

Alicia smiled confidently, wagging a finger. "Amateurs hide. Pros eliminate anyone who spots them. Like this." She pointed her Yuan Staff. A palace maid hiding nearby collapsed unconscious.

Larry stared. "...Are you serious?"

Alicia rolled her eyes. "My friend, when did your IQ drop to Chira monkey levels? Of course not. If we went on a rampage here, no one could stop us."

"No, it's not my IQ. They say pregnancy makes you dumb for three years. Same with transformations, I guess."

"Got it. I'll go on a rampage now."

Alicia glared and moved to act. Larry hurriedly pulled her away. "Focus on the mission!"

...

"Comrade Larry," Alicia said later, leaning against a wall as he dragged a knocked-out soldier to cover, "wasn't this supposed to be stealth?"

Larry's face blended into the night. He'd planned stealth but overestimated their skills. He was a pure warrior; she was a healer—or poison healer. They couldn't move like assassins. Larry alone had been spotted four or five times. In the end, they'd knocked out everyone who saw them to "stealthily" reach the spot. Alicia seized the chance to mock him—but stopped there. They had business.

The room where the former king died was sealed off. No one could enter without permission. Now, two uninvited guests arrived.

"Cleaned spotless, as expected?" Alicia sighed, scanning the tidy room. No blood, no bodies. Without knowing the king and queen died here, no one would suspect a crime scene.

"It's been so long. Of course it's clean. They wouldn't leave it waiting for us," Larry said.

Alicia scratched her head. "But it's weird. Why is this room still sealed? Peter mentioned unusually heavy guards here. We saw three patrols. Why so cautious for a cleaned crime scene?"

Larry frowned. "Unless they're guarding something."

"Garp fears you, doesn't he? Daring to invade our sanctuary."

As they puzzled, a voice like a brain worm drilling into their skulls echoed.