As long as you have the courage, fierce ghosts go on maternity leave.

"Kassadin, to call yourself a peer to that chosen one insect is a disgrace to the Imperial!" Desert sneered.

"Got a problem?" Kassadin, never one to suffer fools, spun around and shouted, "Insult my brother one more time and see if I don’t end your life!"

"You—" Desert was seething, his finger pointing at Kassadin but unable to find the words.

"Point at me again and see if I don’t break that finger off!" Kassadin, fiery-tempered and not one to bear slight, was overtly threatening.

Desert trembled with rage. "Kassadin, go ahead, flaunt your arrogance! Soon our army will encroach upon the Dark Hell, and though you may be Imperial, you consort with the empress of the Dark Hell. You won’t escape a terrible fate!"

"To be honest, I’m not too fond of that woman," Kassadin grimaced at Desert. "But since you mentioned it, I’m curious what methods your Endless Abyss has up its sleeves. Are you sticking around for me to challenge you?"

"Wait for it!" Desert’s face changed colors several times before he ultimately left in a huff.

"Coward!" Kassadin snorted, then turned to Alexander with a grin. "This guy thinks he’s something just because he’s familiar with the Empress of the Endless Abyss. He’s trash when it comes to fighting. If he dares accept my challenge, I’ll have him crying for mercy!"

"Too strong!" Alexander shot up his thumb in approval. Although he’d been familiar with the fiery temperament of the Kassadin Imperials, he hadn’t expected this one to command such awe.

Is Desert truly that weak? Pondering a moment, he reasoned that even if Desert’s talents were subpar, just his being among the Seven Sages of the Endless Abyss, ranked sixth no less, indicated that his combat capabilities must be bolstered for the sake of reputation.

Having commended Kassadin, Alexander then inquired with a hint of puzzlement in his expression, "Kassadin, aren’t you worried that your way of referring to the Empress will get back to her?"

Kassadin chuckled sinisterly, his eyes sharply glaring at Edward in an obvious threat.

"Mr. Kassadin, your actions just now undoubtedly enhanced the reputation of the Dark Abyss. Truly admirable!" Edward caved immediately, placing his gloved hands on his chest as he slightly bowed.

"You really are...," said Kassadin, whose Imperial temperament was known for its volatility. He wasn’t fond of Edward, but he’d promised to keep secrets, so he subtly added, "You never forget to be graceful, do you?" 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"Cough..." Alexander, fearful that the ever-so-proud Edward might feel awkward, quickly shifted the topic.

"It’s great to run into you here. Although I’m traveling with Mr. Edward, neither of us knows much about the Mist Instance. You must guide us." As soon as the words escaped his lips, even Edward’s eyes lit up.

Don’t be fooled by Edward’s know-it-all attitude about the Mist Instance. In reality, he’d recently ascended to the rank of Ghost King and was stepping into the Mist Instance for the first time.

Whatever information he’d relayed to Alexander was gathered from other Ghost Kings. His boastful demeanor was clearly just a manifestation of his habitual ostentation.

"Of course, that’s not a problem. But this isn’t the place to talk; follow me upstairs to a private room," Kassadin suggested.

His gaze shifted to an empty space next to Alexander, then announced, "Young lady, since you’re Alexander’s woman, you should come along too."

This statement sent a ripple of shock through both Alexander and Edward. Was there actually someone else there?

"You didn’t even know your woman was here?" Kassadin asked, visibly surprised by their reactions.

"But Alexander, you’ve got quite the skill in wooing. This young lady is extraordinary! Her ability to stay invisible is so impressive that even I couldn’t detect her. Had she not sought my help, you’d be in real trouble this time."

Selena!

Alexander instantly realized whom Kassadin was referring to and an epiphany washed over him. No wonder he hadn’t seen Selena; she had been invisible all along.

Considering she was the sister of that enigmatic James, and a chosen one at that, her life-preserving tactics didn’t surprise him.

Sure enough, as Kassadin finished speaking, a hazy halo began to flicker not far from Alexander’s side. As the glow vanished, Selena’s stunning figure appeared before them.

In response to Kassadin repeatedly claiming her as "Alexander’s woman," Selena didn’t show the slightest objection. Instead, she smilingly linked arms with Alexander, seemingly to affirm this declaration as though staking her claim.

Without feeling the need to clarify, Alexander climbed the stairs alongside Kassadin, who wore a teasing smile on his face.

Upon ascending the wooden staircase, they arrived at the second level of the steamboat. This level was markedly more luxurious than the cargo-filled lower deck. The entire floor consisted of private booths lining the corridor.

Maid-clad women with expressionless faces wandered to and fro, carrying trays laden with fruits, food, and beverages.

Alexander’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly. These maids were far from ordinary. Their aura alone rivaled, if not exceeded, that of Edward who was walking beside him.

Even more astonishing, Alexander noticed that one of the maids was carrying a tray that held a box of cigarettes and a bottle of champagne, both of which were of Ghost King level.

More intriguingly, these women exuded a familiar energy, akin to the forbidden powers wielded by the Hell Warriors he had encountered before.

Unfazed by this unsettling atmosphere, Kassadin smoothly stopped one of the maids. "Could you please bring us an A-level meal?" he asked courteously.

"Of course, please wait in your booth," the maid responded. Her voice was polite, her face impassive. Although her gaze seemed slightly vacant, it was evident that she was better off than the Hell Warriors he had seen earlier.

After placing their order, Kassadin led Alexander into one of the private booths. Alexander had expected an ostentatious, possibly even garish setting, in line with the thematic extremes often seen in the horror world.

To his surprise, the room was furnished in a down-to-earth, businesslike manner. A couple of sofas and a long table were all that occupied the space.

"Have a seat. Once the food arrives, we can eat and discuss matters simultaneously," Kassadin declared, plopping down onto a sofa.

Following his lead, Alexander and Selena took their seats. Selena, however, clung tightly to his arm and opted to share the same sofa. She was dressed in a form-fitting leather outfit that allowed her to sit snugly against him.

As Alexander felt the warmth and softness radiating from her, a brief flicker of hesitation crossed his features. But before he could make any comment, the door swung open, and another maid entered, carrying a tray of food which she placed on the long table.

A platter of dark-colored items, somewhat resembling strawberries, was accompanied by four heart-shaped fruits of a vivid red, a plate of pastries, and a pot of tea.

"Try these Blood Heart fruits. You won’t find them outside of this instance!" Kassadin said with a grin, grabbing one of the heart-like fruits and taking a generous bite, juice splattering everywhere.

Naturally, Alexander and his companions wouldn’t turn down Kassadin’s generous offering and each picked up a fruit.

Blood Heart Fruit

Grade:Ghost King

Description: A peculiar fruit that forms in the mists where countless warriors from various horror realms have perished, irrigated by their spilled blood.

Attributes: Boosts all attributes by 20 points, increases ghost energy by 10,000.

What a remarkable find!

Upon seeing the attributes of the Blood Heart fruit, Alexander couldn’t help but widen his eyes. Ten thousand points of ghost energy—taking this fruit outside and fully absorbing its essence could elevate one to Fierce rank.

But what’s more critical is the additional 20 points in attributes.So far, this was the first time Alexander had ever encountered an item that directly boosted attributes.

Although he could craft ghost food that would eventually raise his attributes given enough time for digestion, that didn’t mean this fruit was any less valuable. What might be superfluous for Alexander could be indispensable for others.

Other chosen ones didn’t share Alexander’s unique physiology; ghost food would have no effect on them. Their only option for physical enhancement would be to slowly strengthen their bodies with their internal ghost energy.

A bump of 20 attribute points is a goal that even a soldier-level chosen one would take nearly a month to achieve!

As Alexander placed the Blood Heart fruit to his lips and took a bite, a wave of sweet juice instantly filled his mouth.

The flesh of the fruit was as soft as melting cheese, not overly sweet, yet carrying a subtle, pleasant aroma. Even the finest fruits conjured with his ghost culinary skills couldn’t surpass the experience of savoring this rare delicacy.

"This is delicious! How many ghost coins would a fruit like this cost?" Alexander couldn’t resist asking. His question was prompted not just by the fruit’s exquisite taste, but also by its beneficial attributes.

Alexander could instantly absorb ghost food to replenish his ghost energy, but enhancing his physique still required time—especially for more potent types of ghost food, which also required a period for recuperation afterward.

Though the ghost energy offered by the Blood Heart fruit might seem modest, it was unquestionably valuable.

In response to Alexander’s question, Kassadin offered a faint smile, a trace of inscrutable wistfulness flickering in his eyes.

"Hasn’t Edward told you? The currency consumed here is not ghost coins but ghost energy. Though you can convert ghost coins into ghost energy, the rate is quite slow. Just this A-grade meal set would cost two million units of ghost energy."

"Two...two million?" Alexander’s eyes widened in disbelief, the succulent fruit in his mouth suddenly losing its charm.

Two million! A mere soldier-level ghost only possesses one hundred thousand units of ghost energy. Two million is equivalent to the entire ghost energy reservoir of two newly-promoted general-level ghosts.

Converting from ghost coins, that would be a staggering twenty-plus million ghost coins! If gifted to the Fierce-level members in the Fierce Ghost Association society, that could create hundreds of soldier-level ghosts.

Even though Alexander currently had three "money-printing machines" and was about to start selling his ghost food—a product capable of plundering ghost coins—he couldn’t help but wince at the prodigious expenditure. Even if all that ghost energy were to be obtained from the Kassadin Imperial.

"It seems you’re not very familiar with the Mist Instance. Allow me to elucidate," Kassadin declared, seizing the opportunity to elaborate.

As Kassadin Imperial saw the stunned expressions on Alexander and Edward’s faces, his own feeling of heartache at the extravagant expenditure of ghost energy seemed to lessen. "In the Mist Instance, there are actually three key things to keep in mind: discretion, ghost energy, and breaking the deadlock," he began.

"Do go on." Alexander perked up, sensing that the crux of the matter was finally at hand.

"Firstly, discretion. No matter your level of power in the Mist Instance—be it King-level, Imperial-level, or even Ghost Emperor and Legendary Ghost Emperor—being cautious and low-key is imperative.

Though when it comes to being cautious and low-key, who would understand better than you Chosen Ones? In that regard, you actually have a significant advantage."

"That’s true!" Alexander nodded. He could guess why, just by looking at the maids wandering through the corridors outside.

However, as he nodded, Selena and Edward both rolled their eyes, exchanging glances that could only be described as peculiar. Cautious? Low-key? And he has the audacity to agree?

The admonition might apply perfectly to any other Chosen One. In this world, regardless of who they were, everyone had to be cautious and keep a low profile upon entering the Mist world.

This was a world where malevolent ghosts could tear you apart at any moment. Learning to be cautious and understated was a survival necessity for each Chosen One. Those who hadn’t learned this had perished—all except you, Alexander.

Edward, of all people, knew Alexander too well. When had Alexander ever been low-key?

In the beginner instance, he had received an SSS rating. At the Ghost Restaurant, he had even audaciously used the Blood Queen to carry out a killing.

Edward vividly recalled his feeling of bewilderment and resignation when he returned to the Ghost Restaurant and found an empty restroom.

If Alexander knew what Edward was thinking, he would undoubtedly feel wronged. But at this moment, his entire focus was on Kassadin.

"Is the situation you face in the Mist Instance the same as ours in the horror instance? Surely every ghost in the Mist Instance possesses forbidden powers, right?"

"You’re correct," Kassadin nodded. "In fact, it’s even more dreadful. In the horror instances, even if the main ghosts know your identity as Chosen Ones, they won’t act rashly. After all, they’re interested in generating fear, not simply indulging in senseless killing.

However, in the Mist Instance, if we reveal our identities, we’re practically signing our own death warrants. Every ghost treats killing you as their highest priority. Perhaps calling them ’ghosts’ is inaccurate."

"Because they’ve died once, maybe countless times, and are fundamentally different from us. It would be more apt to refer to them as ’Phantasms,’" Kassadin added.

These words gave Alexander pause. Died countless times? Could it be that these so-called Phantasms can actually resurrect?