Hypnosis Depth (Loyalty): 82 points.
【Hypnosis is nearly complete. She harbors intense emotions and desires for you; at the mere sight of you, her heart flutters with barely contained anticipation.】
【Caution: Her emotions are overwhelming rational thought. Monitor her psychological state closely for visible shifts.】
Gu Qinghan froze stiff as a wooden statue.
It had risen again—skyrocketed.
The Hypnosis Nullifier hadn’t just failed to work; it had deepened the hypnosis.
Why?
Gu Qinghan couldn’t make sense of it.
Liana, submerged in the medicinal bath, wore a coquettish expression, gazing at Gu Qinghan with tender longing. She likely didn’t even realize the look on her own face—utterly consumed by pleasure. Only a sliver remained before total hypnosis.
How?
A buzz erupted within The Cortex of Gu Qinghan.
The tub still held ample crushed mana core powder. Katarina, who entered the bath nearly simultaneously, had her hypnosis lifted in moments. Yet under identical conditions, their outcomes diverged wildly: Liana’s Hypnosis Depth surged instead of fading. Dizziness washed over Gu Qinghan. He’d suspected a Level 2 Hypnosis Nullifier might not suffice—but seeing it fail firsthand crushed him with helplessness. At this rate, her depth would hit 100. By then, reversal would be impossible.
*“Once Hypnosis Depth reaches 100%, the potion becomes ineffective. Use it promptly.”*
Hohenheim’s own words, penned in his notebook.
Gu Qinghan drew a sharp breath, forcing calm. Only one option remained: try again.
Half an hour later.
Gu Qinghan brought a second wooden tub. Crafting wasn’t complex—but with his current skill, Level 2 success rate hovered at thirty percent. Of the three barrels of Clarity Spring Water prepared, one was already gone. His heart hammered in his throat; cold sweat slicked his palms gripping the mana core. Two chances left. Statistically, near fifty percent failure risk.
He crushed the mana core. Grinding to nano-scale demanded absolute mental focus. Breath held, he finished the powder.
But during gel formation, unstable mana flow triggered internal turbulence—ruining the first attempt.
Gu Qinghan stared blankly at the spoiled potion, jaw clenched.
“Mister Hohenheim…”
Liana’s soft murmur from behind, laced with concern.
His mind spiraled. Obvious. Yet her voice grated.
Why no reduction? Even if Katarina absorbed partial potency, it shouldn’t have intensified the hypnosis. Could remaking it even help? Doubt crept in—then he shook his head hard. *Not the time.* Calm. Finish the potion.
He took a new mana core. Began again.
Another half hour passed.
Success. The Hypnosis Nullifier was ready.
With Gu Qinghan’s support, Liana crossed her arm over her chest, carefully stepping into the tub.
But as feared—the worst unfolded.
Hypnosis Depth (Loyalty): 85 points.
【Hypnosis is nearly complete. She harbors intense emotions and desires for you; at the mere sight of you, her heart flutters with barely contained anticipation.】
【Caution: Her emotions are overwhelming rational thought. Monitor her psychological state closely for visible shifts.】
Gu Qinghan stood frozen, eyes hollow.
It rose again.
And this time—he had no recourse.
What now?
No answer.
He’d believed crafting the Nullifier would break the Golden-haired Affinity’s hold. Reality proved far darker. Moonlight traced Liana’s breathtaking form—a death sentence in Gu Qinghan’s eyes. A suffocating silence hung between them.
After a long pause, Gu Qinghan parted his parched lips, voice raspy:
“It’s late. Go home. Dress properly.”
Liana blinked, then lowered her head with a faint nod.
Failure clung to them all that night.
For Katarina: no clues found.
For Liana: craving twisted pleasure.
For Gu Qinghan: trapped in despair.
All desires unmet. Only a hangover-like nausea remained.
…
A sleepless night.
Dawn broke; Gu Qinghan realized he hadn’t slept. Last night’s events defied logic. Grand Enchanter Hohenheim’s notes—game antagonist, meticulous—couldn’t be wrong. The Nullifier worked. Unless depth hit 100. So why fail *now*?
Only one explanation: the subjects themselves.
Katarina: recently hypnotized, high resistance, strong will. Depth started at 2—easily cleared.
Liana: long past a psychological “threshold.” Her mental state had shifted.
Gu Qinghan exhaled shakily, drained. To restore the Nullifier’s effect: uncover why her mind changed. Guide her back.
*“So… I must learn what truly happened in Liana’s past…”*
Head throbbing, he sank into the bedding. *How would she ever tell me?*
As the thought surfaced, drowsiness surged. Exhaustion crashed over him the moment his nerves loosened.
Sunday.
One day until routine inspection.
Gu Qinghan made his choice.
To end the entanglement with Liana—he must first draw closer.
To achieve reverse conquest—he must first conquer the girl.
