The increase and strengthening of the Black Fog Beasts had no impact on Han Zhan.

Whether they were Tier Four or Tier Six, whether there were a thousand or ten thousand, none could withstand even a single move from Han Zhan.

They moved swiftly like electricity to the edge of the dreamscape and indeed saw the giant Dark Steel Seal standing at the end.

The only difference was,

compared to the Dark Steel Seal they saw yesterday, today’s Dark Steel Seal contained numerous floating words apart from the Interstellar Hyena.

"Subjugation", "Believer", "Devotion", "Fervor"...

These words assembled together, converging and dissipating on the Dark Steel Seal, converging again.

Such was the cycle, endlessly repeating.

Upon seeing this scene, Han Zhan did not speak immediately; he first set down the reluctant Marianne, and then spoke:

"You need to quickly figure out who exactly this relates to."

Han Zhan didn’t give many hints.

After he said these words, he started dealing with the pursuing Black Fog Beasts.

Leaving Marianne alone, standing before the Dark Steel Seal, gazing at the sporadically emerging words, lost in thought.

After a while.

When Han Zhan was about to deliver the final blow to the last Black Fog Beast, Marianne finally spoke.

"I suspect it’s Lady Dais."

"The Dark Steel Seal was taught to me by Lady Dais."

After a round of internal struggle, Marianne chose to reveal everything.

The main reason being, this is a dreamscape; although the person before her is Han Zhan, it should only be a condensation in the dream.

"The Dark Steel Seal is a method to control slaves; not only me, almost all the noble ladies in our circle learned this method from Lady Dais."

According to Marianne,

the Dark Steel Seal is a means to control the slaves’ thoughts; once this Thought Steel Seal is implanted into the slave’s body, they cannot defy the owner’s will.

For noblewomen who love to tame slaves and have them perform various perverse acts, the Thought Steel Seal is indeed perfect.

"Moreover, learning to use it is not complicated; rather, it’s quite simple."

The Thought Steel Seal can be mastered easily; one only needs to merge their consciousness into the seal, forming word seals, and imprint them on the target’s consciousness sea.

Not only simple, it doesn’t require a high Realm level.

According to Lady Dais, the Thought Steel Seal is effective on all targets below Tier Eight.

This point is rather intriguing; what gives Lady Dais the confidence that the Thought Steel Seal works on targets below Tier Eight?

Why does she go to such lengths to promote the efficacy of the Thought Steel Seal in the noble circle?

Han Zhan pondered.

It was the violently struggling Black Fog Beast in his hand that pulled him from his contemplative state.

Suddenly, he had a suspicion.

"Is it possible that Lady Dais actually wants to control you all?"

"Us...?" Marianne was not foolish; with Han Zhan’s hint, she quickly thought of more details.

For example, she didn’t know when the organiser of every noble gathering had changed to Lady Dais.

None of the other noble ladies opposed; they accepted it as a matter of course.

Lady Dais held the highest voice in the noble circle; whatever anyone wanted to do always seemed to require a word with her.

Even Marianne herself, when building the Tukalu Camp east of Uda Desert, consulted Lady Dais, who gifted her a batch of Energy Suppressors.

At the time, Marianne only felt Lady Dais was enthusiastic; aside from her eccentricities, she was almost a queen-like perfect persona.

Now, within the dreamscape, after Han Zhan pointed it out, Marianne’s view of Lady Dais plummeted uncontrollably.

"One more thing."

"I started having nightmares the second month after mastering the Thought Steel Seal, and ever since, I’ve been plagued by nightmares."

"Yet, I never thought that the nightmares were related to the Thought Steel Seal?!"

Once the solidification of the Thought Steel Seal was broken, thoughts began to flood, as if a dam had burst, uncontrollably.

Behind Marianne, the giant Dark Steel Seal began to strongly shake, as if hit by some massive impact.

The hyena within the Dark Steel Seal, seemingly lifelike, subtly showed signs of reviving and stepping out of the seal.

"It’s about time."

"We can’t startle the snake too much."

At that moment, Han Zhan’s voice echoed in Marianne’s ear.

He strangled the last Black Fog Beast.

This meant that the nightmare they were in had completely ended.

...

Marianne awoke from her slumber, and it was already the second day.

Soft sunlight spilled onto the bed, flecks of golden light, warmth adhered to the air.

With Han Zhan around, surely one can sleep well! Marianne thought joyfully.

She turned to look beside her.

Only to find that her pillow companion had already risen earlier than her.

Without the mountainous expedition like yesterday, Marianne found herself somewhat at a loss.

She summoned the maid responsible for her day-to-day affairs, asking about Han Zhan’s whereabouts.

"Lord Zhan?"

"He arose an hour ago and went to the library; he mentioned there were a few more books unfinished from yesterday."

The inquired maid answered honestly.

The library?

Getting up so early, just to read books in the library?

Are the scholars of Blue Star all as diligent and earnest?

"Call him back later to have breakfast together." Marianne nodded and said.

"But Madam, Lord Zhan already had breakfast." The maid reminded.

"I said call him back to have breakfast together, understand?"

Marianne emphasized the word "together".

Upon hearing this, the two left and right-standing maids exchanged glances.

"Yes!"

"We will arrange it right away!"

Suppressing their inner shock, they bowed their heads and retreated.

Lady Marianne actually wants Lord Zhan to accompany her even for breakfast.

The title of humanity’s top male Enchanting Demon just keeps gaining in stature!

Half an hour later.

Han Zhan sat bewildered at the table, watching Marianne across the long dining table enjoying the feast, she seemed to have a good appetite.

"What’s wrong? Is there something on my face? Why do you keep staring at me."

Han Zhan asked baffled.

"So similar, but alas, not him." Marianne mused to herself.

"What?" Han Zhan did not hear clearly and asked in confusion.

"Nothing." Marianne shook her head, withdrawing her gaze from Han Zhan.

"Are you adapting to being a librarian?" She changed the subject and asked.

"Not too bad." Han Zhan shrugged, "but it’s a bit inconvenient."

"Inconvenient? Where’s the inconvenience?" Speaking, Marianne slightly adjusted her sitting posture.

Han Zhan lifted his hands, gesturing towards the energy suppressor shackles he held.

"Wearing these shackles makes browsing, writing, and walking not particularly convenient."

"Energy suppressor?" Marianne paused after seeing Han Zhan’s "source of inconvenience" clearly.

"Opening them is actually not a problem, but their key has always been with Lady Dais. We might have to wait until the next gathering..."

Before Marianne could finish, the butler entered after a knock.

"Madam, Lady Dais wishes to visit, she is currently outside the residence."