C2 Benefit Quest

The Sylvian Continent was not Egerton's original home. He was a traveler from another world, the Eastern Region, a realm of cultivators where Egerton had been among the elite, considered one of the strongest.

However, shortly after reaching the pinnacle of his power, Egerton faced his lifelong nemesis in a final showdown. In the heat of battle, he overused forbidden time rules, and even though he emerged victorious, the River of Time punished him. It swept him away to a world beyond the Eastern Region, landing him in the Sylvian Continent.

Returning wasn't out of the question. The River of Time tasked Egerton with a mission: spread his teachings across this new world. Once his followers numbered half the population of the entire Sylvian Continent and they united to defeat the impending invasion of the Evil God, he could return home. Until then, all of Egerton's powers from the Eastern Region were sealed.

Yet, Egerton's most formidable power, the Law, had transformed and now resided within the missionary system, complete with special rewards to stave off despair. Still, the prerequisites to regain his abilities were a source of great frustration.

"Level B corresponds to Class 4, but the difficulty is only D. I can't imagine what this mission entails." Puzzled, Egerton followed the missionary system's directions to Hayne Lane, a quiet alley rarely frequented at night.

Hayne Lane was situated in the residential district of the Starmoon Duchy, where Egerton currently resided, always enveloped in an invigorating atmosphere.

"You have reached the mission's trigger point. Find and protect Lankro within seven minutes," announced the missionary system, taking Egerton by surprise.

"Locate Lankro? A search mission? Who is this Lankro to warrant a Level B reward?" he wondered silently as he scoured the alley. It didn't take long before he spotted his target.

A bundle of burlap writhed on the ground, hugging the space between the wall and the floor as it inched forward. Its cautious movements and intermittent shivers vividly conveyed the fear and trembling of the person beneath. This scene gave Egerton a rough idea of the mission's context.

"It looks like someone's being pursued. And the pursuer's strength can't be that great. Could this be a noble?"

Approaching the burlap, Egerton pondered. He reached out to unveil it, but the person underneath seemed to sense his presence and bolted in the opposite direction like a startled rabbit. Egerton watched in amazement. "Damn, how can someone move that fast while lying on the ground?"

In a blink, the burlap had scurried over ten meters away, far beyond the speed of an ordinary person.

"Too bad, I'm no ordinary person either!" A glint of light flashed in his eyes, and Egerton vanished from his spot.

The next moment, as the person under the burlap turned to check if Egerton was following, a wall materialized, blocking her path.

Before Lankro could think to flee again, a pair of large, powerful hands reached out, firmly grasping her delicate wrists and ankles.

"Alright, calm down. I have no intention of harming you," Egerton said in a deep voice, his eyes betraying a flicker of astonishment.

Now he could see clearly; the individual hiding under the burlap was a charming Catwoman. Her long tail, adorable cat ears, statuesque figure, and pretty face all radiated a distinct feminine allure. Even the ragged burlap clothing couldn't detract from her youthful beauty, as she appeared to be a girl of about seventeen or eighteen.

"Let go of me, let go!" Lankro didn't trust Egerton's words, struggling in vain. Her efforts only succeeded in reddening her wrists and calves, and her tail, the only limb free to move, couldn't touch Egerton.

"Are you trying to evade someone who's after you?" Egerton asked directly, furrowing his brow.

"You... you're not one of the people trying to capture me?" Lankro asked, her voice tinged with fear.

If those people had already captured her, why would there still be any conversation?

"Why would I bother capturing you?" Egerton mumbled, only to notice Lankro giving him a peculiar look. He examined himself and realized that his current actions might be somewhat improper. Hastily, he said, "I'll let you go, but promise me you won't run, okay?"

Inwardly, he scoffed, "Not that running would do you any good."

"Please, will you save me?" Lankro pleaded as soon as she was released.

"How can I save you?" Egerton feigned composure.

"Do you know of any safe places?"

"...Could you first define what you consider safe?" Egerton countered.

"A place where no one can find me!" Lankro responded urgently.

Maybe it was her eagerness, or perhaps she wasn't cautious around Egerton, but as she leaned forward, her chest brushed against his arm, stirring a soft sensation within him and a sense of nostalgia. Back in the Eastern Region, he had been surrounded by such tenderness and warmth.

"Then come to my place," Egerton suggested, snapping back to reality with a smile.

"To your house?"

Lankro eyed Egerton with suspicion but couldn't detect any ulterior motives in his clear gaze, which made her hesitate.

"Yes, it's just me at home," Egerton said, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly, hinting at something more.

"...Okay." After a moment of internal struggle, Lankro finally nodded.

As a Class 1 Walker, she had been trafficked to this unfamiliar place. No matter how much she strategized, getting home would require the assistance of others.

He's so much more powerful than me and hasn't mistreated me. Maybe he really can help me.

"You agreed so quickly; I was actually looking forward to teasing you a bit," Egerton admitted, somewhat taken aback. He had intentionally spoken in a suggestive tone, but Lankro had agreed without any hint of suspicion.

"Let's go then." With time running short, Egerton didn't delay any further. He gestured to Lankro, and they headed toward his apartment.

Egerton had been on the Sylvian Continent for two months now. While he wouldn't claim to be overly familiar with this new world, he had at least mastered the layout of Hayne Lane, where his apartment was. He could easily navigate from a nondescript alleyway straight to his doorstep. After making sure the coast was clear, he swiftly escorted Lankro up to the second floor and into his apartment, promptly lighting the lamps.

"Strange, isn't the mission supposed to be over by now?" Egerton mused to himself after shutting the door. Normally, once a mission was completed, the missionary system would confirm its conclusion and deposit the rewards into his Space Bag. This mission's objective seemed straightforward: escort Lankro to a safe place, and that should be the end of it.

"Could it be that this place isn't considered safe? Or does protection mean more than just temporary shelter?" Egerton pondered, his brow furrowing.

If it was the former, it wouldn't be too concerning. The mission was only rated D, and with the capabilities of a Class 2, it should pose no issue. But if it was the latter, implying an extended protection duty, that could be quite the headache.

Long-term protection, regardless of the danger, would mean being constantly tied to this Catwoman named Lankro, which Egerton did not anticipate being an easy task.

"Gugu." As he contemplated the mission, a peculiar noise interrupted his thoughts. They exchanged glances—Egerton's gaze teasing, while Lankro's cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

"I haven't eaten all day, so... that's why..." Lankro murmured, her voice soft and her head bowed.

"There should be some beef left in the cabinet. You know how to heat it up, right?" Egerton gestured toward the kitchen.

"Yes, of course!" Lankro replied eagerly.

"Would you like some too?" she asked, pausing before entering the kitchen.

"No, I'm good. I haven't skipped a meal like you have." "Gugu!"

Egerton was at a loss for words, glancing at his betraying stomach, almost wishing he could punch it into submission.

Here he was, the Strongest, a being who could obliterate a realm with a mere gesture, and yet he was brought low by hunger.

"Don't worry, there's enough for both of us!" Lankro assured him, peeking at the beef in the cabinet and offering a soft, reassuring smile.

Ten minutes later, the two finished their late-night snack, and the apartment was once again enveloped in silence.

"By the way, don't you think you should change your clothes? I have some gender-neutral options here," Egerton suggested.

Lankro's tattered hemp clothing, while not diminishing her beauty, left too much of her delicate skin exposed, presenting a distracting allure to any typical man.

"Ah, yes, thank you!" Lankro exclaimed, seemingly just realizing the state of her attire. She bashfully lowered her head and curled up, murmuring softly.

"Don't worry about it. If I wanted to look, I would have done so already," Egerton said with a chuckle.

Lankro's cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

Without further ado, Egerton fetched a few pieces of clothing from another room and handed them to Lankro.

"Change in my room. Don't worry, I won't peek," he reassured her, noticing the apprehension in her eyes.

"It's not that, I just... Thank you," Lankro stammered before retreating to the inner room.

Three minutes later, a transformed Lankro reemerged, catching Egerton's eye. She was now clad in a fitted sheepskin top that accentuated her shapely figure, paired with snug leather pants that showcased the Catwoman's slender legs to full effect. The colors were subdued, and the attire was less revealing, yet it exuded a unique charm.

However, noticing Lankro's slightly constrained and uncomfortable expression, Egerton had a realization. "Your tail doesn't seem to fit well with these clothes. How about I cut a hole for it? You can take off your pants, and I'll fix it."

Mid-sentence, Egerton noticed Lankro's cheeks turn crimson, and her gaze at him was peculiarly awkward.