18. Reina (2)

Even though Reina was cunning, she wasn't a coward. She knew that running away blindly would only hasten her death. So, when Camilla's attack came, she met it head-on, brandishing the knife she had hidden on her person.

"Bang!"

As the two clashed, Reina quickly realized something was wrong. Her once-vibrant muscles felt sluggish, almost as if they were filled with lead. Even her mind began to grow fuzzy, her vision blurring as if shrouded by a thick fog.

'W-what poison... how despicable!'

Reina cursed Camilla in her mind, but in her current state, that was all she could manage. The poison coursing through her veins took hold swiftly, and the fight, which was never fair to begin with, became entirely one-sided.

Despite her fierce resistance, the strength was draining from her body with every passing moment. Under the relentless assault, Reina was eventually subdued by Camilla, who delivered a swift blow to the back of her head. The world spun around Reina as her vision dimmed, but before she lost consciousness, she managed to glimpse one last sight—a shockingly handsome man with burning red eyes, smiling down at her like an ominous devil.

---

As an experienced bandit, Reina had long prepared herself for the possibility of capture. Living the life of a bandit meant dancing with death, and she considered herself fortunate not to have been killed on the spot. Yet, the joy of survival was fleeting as a stinging pain in her head brought her back to reality.

"Uhh... what is this?"

Reina struggled to lift her head and noticed her surroundings had changed. She was now in the main hall of the fortress, a place all too familiar to her. In the main chair of the hall sat the terrifyingly handsome young man she had seen before, his red eyes burning like magma as they scrutinized her with an arrogant, knowing expression.

Reina felt a pang of intimidation. The man's authoritative aura and piercing gaze, which seemed to see through all her secrets, weighed down on her heart like a boulder. But despite this, her years of experience as a bandit leader told her that showing fear would get her nowhere. So, summoning her courage, Reina spoke with the arrogance she always carried as a leader.

"Release me now, you bastard!" Reina glared at him. "When you saved and freed the captives, I first thought you were some noble hero. But seeing as you killed all the other bandits and left only an innocent little lady like me, your intentions must be impure. Ptui! What should I have expected from a group of nobles? Rotten and disgusting to the core!"

Camilla, who was holding Reina's chains to prevent any mishaps, felt her face darken at the continuous curses and insults hurled at Lucius. The air around Camilla grew colder, and Reina could feel the chilling gaze stabbing into her back like daggers. As she turned around, she saw a soft white hand reaching toward her, but the overwhelming malicious intent emanating from Camilla made her blood run cold.

"Camilla, stop."

Just before Camilla's hand could reach Reina's face, Lucius's voice sounded out, halting her actions.

"Camilla, just do what she says. Let her go. The poison should still be in her body for a long time, so she should be extremely weak right now. Even if she wants to play some tricks, she doesn't have the strength to hurt a child. What can she do?"

Camilla frowned, clearly wanting to teach this arrogant bandit a lesson for slandering her young leader. But since Lucius had instructed her to leave Reina alone, she had no choice but to comply. With a cold snort, Camilla let go of the chains around Reina before reappearing at Lucius's side in an instant.

Lucius took this time to get a proper look at the bandit leader. Before bringing her here, Camilla had cleaned Reina up and confirmed her identity with the victims, ensuring no mistakes had been made. Now, Lucius could see her clearly.

As Lucius looked at the woman with burning red hair, he had to admit he was a little breathless.

Her body was mesmerizing.

Even Camilla, who he had considered having the best figure he had encountered thus far, was slightly outmatched in comparison.

Reina's fiery red hair and a face that resembled that of a fierce wildcat only added to her allure. Her figure was voluptuous, with curves that could drive any man to madness. Her plump hips and ample chest strained against her clothing, hinting at a raw, untamed beauty that was hard to ignore.

As Lucius's eyes roved over her body, a devious light flickered in his gaze.

At this point, he would be the first to admit that the bandit lady was right—his intentions were definitely impure.

Since coming to this world, what had been his biggest reliance? Of course, it was the heroine capture system!

But other than flirting with a few heroines to farm some Love Points, Lucius would also admit that he had been a little passive.

It was called the "heroine capture system," not the "heroine flirting system"!

He wasn't here just to sit and watch a few heroines. As a man, it would be a lie to say he hadn't had some thoughts during this time. And now, with Reina in front of him, those thoughts were becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.