Chapter 301: The Red Sword Emperor "Jacqueline"
"Boss, let's go out and have some fun!"
Ame whined, bored out of her mind.
"No, I need to stay at the stronghold."
"Why? It's been so quiet this past month. No trouble has come our way."
Li Meng stood up and walked to the window, gazing at the slowly reviving slums outside.
"Many people are already paying attention to this place. I need to seize an opportunity to showcase my strength to secure the Brotherhood's position."
Labyrinth City was teeming with powerful individuals.
Without him holding the fort, the Brotherhood, even with tens of thousands of members, could easily be wiped out.
The Brotherhood was still too weak.
Aside from him, the strongest combatants were a few king-class professionals who had yet to fully recover.
The rest were upper, mid, and lower-class professionals.
Over the past month, nearly a thousand people had been dismissed from the Brotherhood.
Though many of them were strong, including dozens of king-class professionals, they were too old to fight.
Surviving long enough to witness the Brotherhood's rise was already a stroke of luck.
"Boss, just how strong are you?"
Ame leapt into Li Meng's arms like a puppy, curling up comfortably.
Li Meng casually stroked Ame's fluffy tail, his movements practiced and natural.
"I don't know. I haven't met an enemy worthy of being my equal yet."
Though he had faced many challenges in the past, ever since leaving Goblin Forest, Li Meng's strength had reached a level that could be considered extraordinary.
His immense physical strength aside, his several million units of magical energy alone made him comparable to a natural disaster-level creature.
The only truly formidable opponent he'd encountered was "Carlos, the Southern Sword King," during his weaker days.
Subsequent encounters with demons and other entities had been challenging, but by then, Li Meng was already strong enough to handle them with ease.
Ame blushed slightly as she lay in his arms.
The boss seemed to have a particular fondness for their fluffy ears and tails.
Though it felt good to be petted, those areas were sensitive spots for girls.
The boss didn't seem to understand this, and they didn't bother to explain. They thought it was a good way to grow closer to him anyway.
"Boss, boss! Trouble!"
An adventurer suddenly rushed in, panting and flustered.
"Someone's here—it's the Red Sword Emperor, Jacqueline!"
Jacqueline?
The name sounded strange to Li Meng. His eyes lit up, and he patted Ame lightly on her waist and hips.
Ame leapt off his lap, giving him space.
"Is it a woman?"
The adventurer quickly nodded.
"Yes, a female red dragon demi-human!"
"Is she old?"
The adventurer shook his head.
"Not sure. She looks to be around thirty."
Li Meng rose and walked out of the room, grinning.
He had been waiting for someone like this to show up.
This battle would solidify the Brotherhood's position.
---
At the Southern Gate of the Stronghold
The appearance of the Red Sword Emperor, Jacqueline, caused a stir atop the city walls.
Brotherhood adventurers crowded the parapets, eager to catch a glimpse of her.
"She's so beautiful, like a flame!"
"This is my first time seeing the Red Sword Emperor!"
"Mine too!"
"Wow, those curves! The president loves women like that!"
"She's here to cause trouble, right? Do you think the boss can win?"
"Of course! The boss took out the Brotherhood Thieves' Guild single-handedly!"
She truly was stunning.
Standing about 100 meters from the open southern gate, Jacqueline exuded confidence.
She wore tight brown leather armor, short shorts exposing her long, pale legs, and a chest plate that revealed her slim, toned waist.
Her fiery red hair cascaded down to her waist, and two small red horns adorned her head.
Her golden eyes, sharp and predatory, completed the look.
On her shoulder, she rested a large crimson sword.
"The boss is here!"
Li Meng walked out of the open gate at a leisurely pace, dressed in his usual black robe.
He stopped on the street outside the gate, 100 meters from Jacqueline.
"I am Jacqueline. State your name—I do not strike the nameless!"
Jacqueline's sharp gaze locked onto him as she raised her voice.
"Silver Mask."
Despite the distance, their voices carried clearly.
"So, you're the one backing the Brotherhood Thieves' Guild?"
Li Meng smirked as he studied her.
She was indeed stunning, a perfect example of a voluptuous and strong woman.
As a member of the dragonkin, her physical attributes were remarkable.
Her stats exceeded ten thousand across the board, and her talent skill, "Crimson Dragon Bloodline," provided poison immunity and greatly enhanced her physical growth attributes.
"No."
Jacqueline denied any connection to the Brotherhood Thieves' Guild.
"Then why are you here?" Li Meng asked.
"To repay a favor."
A favor?
Li Meng understood immediately. Favors were often troublesome debts, and mishandling them could cost one's life.
Jacqueline planted her sword into the ground.
"Have you said enough? If so, let's begin!"
"In deference to the fact that you're a woman, I'll let you have the first move."
Jacqueline's golden eyes narrowed, her lips curling into a fierce smile.
"You'll regret that!"
Her voice was cold and filled with anger.
As a Sword Emperor, she had never been so underestimated.
"What if you lose?"
"What?"
Jacqueline's expression darkened, her brows furrowing.
"I won't lose!"
She stood tall, meeting his gaze with confidence.
As a Sword Emperor, she was certain of her strength.
"I said, *what if*? I don't want to kill you."
Jacqueline raised an eyebrow, a hint of doubt flashing in her eyes.
This man's outfit was strange, like a clown's.
Yet he carried himself with more confidence than even she did as a Sword Emperor.
"What do you want, then?"
Jacqueline hesitated briefly but played along.
"If you lose, give me a child."
Li Meng's words drew snickers from the adventurers on the walls.
They had a feeling he would make such a request.
"Oh, give you a child?"
Surprisingly, Jacqueline didn't get angry.
She looked at Li Meng with amusement.
"If you can beat me, I'll be your woman from now on. You can have as many children as you want!"
Li Meng grinned, though she couldn't see it.
He spread his arms wide.
"Come on, then. I'll let you take the first shot!"
"Fine. Brace yourself, Silver Mask!"
With that, fiery red energy erupted from Jacqueline, enveloping her like blazing flames.
She raised her sword, poised to strike, her right foot stepping forward.