Augustine was lost in an intimate moment with Su Yaoyao. His kisses fell like rain upon her, his fiery passion an uncontrollable, surging tide.

Just then, the Light Computer on his ring suddenly blared to life, displaying a call request from Roland. The urgent ringing shattered the intimate atmosphere in the car.

A flash of displeasure crossed Augustine’s face, pulling him from their tender moment. His brow furrowed as a wave of irritation washed over him. He hung up immediately and returned to Su Yaoyao, as if trying to cast all outside distractions from his mind.

However, as if to spite him, the device began to ring again, just as urgently.

The heated atmosphere had muddled Su Yaoyao’s senses, but she was slowly regaining them. She gave Augustine a gentle push and said, slightly out of breath, "Your Majesty, you should answer. Roland might have something urgent." Su Yaoyao knew Roland was always composed. He would never dare disturb them at a time like this unless it was an absolute emergency.

Augustine sighed in frustration. He fought to suppress the heat still coiling inside him before finally accepting the call.

He spoke into the device, his low, cold voice laced with obvious impatience and a clear warning. "This had better be a matter of unparalleled importance."

On the other end of the line, Roland’s voice was filled with anxiety and alarm. "Your Majesty! An S-Class berserk beast has appeared in the Imperial City! It’s already caused considerable chaos. The Holy Knight Order deployed at full strength to stop it, but... but the beast was too powerful. We couldn’t hold it. It escaped."

Augustine’s expression changed in an instant. The haze of desire in his eyes vanished, replaced by a sharp, cold focus.

’An S-Class berserk beast appearing in the Imperial City is no small matter. The slightest misstep could lead to widespread panic and disaster.’

He immediately sat up straight. The languid tenderness from his moment with Su Yaoyao vanished, replaced by the authority and decisiveness befitting an Emperor.

"Report in detail!" Augustine’s voice was low and powerful, resonating through the car.

Not daring to delay for a second, Roland quickly recounted the entire sequence of events: from the sudden appearance of the out-of-control Nine-tailed Fox at the hotel to the fierce clash with the Holy Knight Order and the current situation.

Augustine listened in silence, his expression growing steadily darker as his fists clenched unconsciously.

’A fox... a hotel... It all pointed to the berserker being Lucia.’

Augustine hung up. Su Yaoyao hadn’t heard what Roland said on the other end.

She looked at Augustine, her eyes filled with bewildered confusion. "What is it? What happened?"

Her cheeks still held an intoxicating crimson flush, the afterglow of their passion. Her gaze was filled with worry and concern, brushing against Augustine’s heart like a gentle spring breeze.

Augustine gently caressed her cheek, his touch as soft as if he were handling a priceless treasure. Like a docile kitten, Su Yaoyao affectionately nuzzled his hand, a gesture that stirred a complex mix of emotions within him.

"Yaoyao, there’s an emergency in the Imperial City that I have to deal with. Head back to the palace. I’ll arrange for your protection."

Su Yaoyao nodded lightly, understanding his duties as the Emperor. "Be careful, Your Majesty."

Augustine leaned down slightly and placed a kiss on her forehead. "Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon."

After he spoke, the car pulled over to the side of the road. He opened the door, stepped out quickly, and his figure soon vanished into the night. Su Yaoyao was left alone in the car, gazing in the direction he had gone, silently praying for his safety.

...

"Your Majesty, it ran toward the western woods."

Augustine led his elite troops, closing in on the Nine-tailed Red Fox’s escape route with phantom-like speed.

At that moment, he hovered proudly in the air, his jet-black wings spread wide like twin curtains of night. Each powerful beat stirred a fierce gale that sent his long, silver hair whipping about, its strands gleaming with a cold light under the moon.

His wine-red eyes were locked on the Nine-tailed Red Fox as it fled frantically through the woods, his gaze filled with cold resolve.

With a wave of his hand, Augustine gave the order: "Fire!" The archers of his elite unit quickly nocked their arrows, the tips already coated in a special incendiary substance.

With a single, sharp WHOOSH, countless flaming arrows streaked toward the Nine-tailed Red Fox like a meteor shower.

The fire arrows landed precisely in the woods along the Nine-tailed Red Fox’s escape path, instantly igniting the dry branches and leaves. With a BOOM, a raging fire spread rapidly, forming a wall of flames in the blink of an eye.

Fanned by the wind, the blaze spread outward at an astonishing speed, gradually cutting off the Nine-tailed Red Fox’s retreat and forming a massive ring of fire.

The Nine-tailed Red Fox seemed to sense the danger. It frantically searched for an opening at the edge of the fiery circle but could not break through the blockade of raging flames.

Its once-proud form now looked wretched as it let out periodic roars of both fury and fear.

Meanwhile, the elite troops moved quickly, using the ring of fire as a barrier to completely surround the Nine-tailed Red Fox. They stood ready with weapons in hand, their eyes revealing their wariness of the berserk beast.

Seeing the Nine-tailed Red Fox was trapped, Augustine dove down like a black meteor, his Dark Long Sword aimed straight for the creature’s heart.

Just as the tip of his sword was about to touch the fiery red fur, the complex yet gentle look in Su Yaoyao’s eyes as she had looked at Lucia suddenly flashed through his mind. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

The emotion in that gaze pierced his hardened defenses like a sharp arrow. It was proof: Su Yaoyao had feelings for Lucia.

His heart stuttered, and his unwavering resolve began to falter.

In that critical instant, with a twitch of his slightly trembling wrist, Augustine shifted his aim. The long sword veered from the Nine-tailed Red Fox’s heart and plunged viciously into its shoulder instead.

SQUELCH! The sound of the blade sinking into flesh was unnervingly clear in the silence, followed by another piercing shriek from the Nine-tailed Red Fox. The cry was like a sorrowful dirge for a life about to be extinguished, one that could stir pity in any heart.

Its body trembled violently, and its nine tails fell limply to the ground. The light in its eyes, once filled with rage and madness, gradually faded.

After struggling a few more times, the Nine-tailed Red Fox finally collapsed. Its legs gave out, its eyes closed, and it passed out.

Augustine retracted his wings and landed softly beside the Nine-tailed Red Fox, his heart a tangle of conflicting emotions.

On the one hand, as the Emperor, he shouldered the responsibility of maintaining peace in the Imperial City. The actions of this Nine-tailed Red Fox had posed a grave threat to the safety of his people.

On the other hand, he knew full well that this Nine-tailed Red Fox was, in truth, Lucia—the very person who had stirred feelings in Su Yaoyao’s heart.