Judas exited the inn shortly after. The climate in the Dragon region was steamy.

The volcano below and the sun above made the temperature unlivable for someone like him, who would get heatstroke the moment the temperature hit thirty degrees Celsius.

Nyx was already gone. The little dragon had vanished from his shoulder the moment they stepped past the threshold, likely sniffing out the nearest treasury or pickpocketing wealthy merchants. Judas didn't worry about her. If anyone was in danger, it was the city's economy.

The moment he walked onto the main street, a wave of heat passed through him. The air was thick, humid, and smelled faintly of sweat and spices.

The locals walked around with exposed skin and light fabrics, obviously adjusted to the temperature.

But for a Northerner like Judas, whose body was tempered by snow and biting winds, this was torture. He had no immunity to temperatures above thirty degrees Celsius.

Sweat pricked his skin instantly. His thick Northern robes, designed to trap heat, were doing their job too well. He felt like a turkey being slow-roasted.

"First priority: wardrobe change," he muttered, wiping his brow.

He ducked into a secluded alleyway, checking to ensure no one was watching, and opened the Couple Space.

With a shimmer of spatial distortion, four figures appeared.

"Fresh air!" Nina cheered, hopping out first. Immediately, her ears drooped. She stuck her tongue out, panting. "Hot! Husband, it's hot!"

"It is disgusting," Luna complained, fanning herself with her hand. "The air is thick with moisture. It feels like breathing soup."

"Stop complaining," Ezra said, though she was already rolling up her sleeves. "We need to blend in. Look at us. We look like we're dressed for a funeral in the tundra."

Summer's face had turned completely red. Judas became worried after seeing her.

"Are you okay?"

"What do you think?" Summer breathed. "I am not sure if I can survive here for a day, let alone a year. Whoever thought it was a good idea to build a city over a volcano is smart."

Judas bit back a laugh as Summer glared at him like the climate here was his fault.

'In the eyes of wives, the cause of every problem is the husband,' Judas remembered the old saying.

He coughed, changing the topic.

"There's a clothier down the street. Let's move."

The five of them walked back onto the main thoroughfare. The effect was immediate.

Scale-Iron City was a bustling metropolis, filled with adventurers, merchants, and commoners. But the noise of the street seemed to dip as Judas's group passed.

Countless pairs of eyes latched onto them. It couldn't be helped. A man walking with four women—an exotic wolf-girl, a high elf, a fierce warrior, and a red-eyed beauty—was a beacon. They were too attractive to be low-key.

"Look at that elf..." a mercenary whispered to his companion, his eyes glued to Luna's legs.

"The redhead... bet she's wild," another muttered, licking his lips.

Judas didn't break stride. He didn't mind admiration; his wives were beautiful, and people had eyes. But there was a difference between admiration and lustful disrespect.

He didn't glare. He simply released his Intimidation.

A heavy, invisible pressure descended on the street corner. After his Intelligence attribute improved, the effect of Intimidation was stronger than before. He didn't hold back the skill at all, so anyone who dared to look at them shivered and looked away.

"Keep walking," Judas said softly.

"Did you do something?" Ezra whispered, smirking as she noticed the sudden clearing of their path.

"I have no idea what you mean," Judas lied smoothly.

They entered the clothing store, a chaotic space filled with colorful silks and open-air changing stalls.

"Buy whatever you want," Judas told them, leaning against the counter. "Something breathable. I'm not having you pass out from heatstroke before we even register."

The next hour was a whirlwind of fabric.

Nina picked a short, sleeveless tunic that looked more like an oversized shirt, allowing for maximum airflow. Luna, refusing to compromise on elegance, chose a silk dress with high slits up the thighs—"for ventilation," she claimed, though Judas suspected she just liked the look. Ezra went for practical combat leathers that exposed her midriff and arms, while Summer...

Summer chose a dress that was barely legal. It was red, translucent in the sunlight, and clung to her like a second skin.

"Is it too much?" she asked, twirling.

"It's perfect," Judas said, paying the stunned shopkeeper a handful of silvers without haggling.

He also bought a few more pairs for future use.

Dressed in local attire, the heat became bearable. Judas led them toward the center of the city, where the massive spires of the Dragon Academy pierced the sky.

"So, explain this academy again," Luna said as they walked. "Why do you need a dragon egg? You have Nyx."

Judas almost lost his footing after hearing her. He looked around, breathing in relief after seeing no Nyx nearby.

He moved close to her and spanked her ass when no one looked.

"Ah..." The daring elf even looked at him accusingly after saying such provoking words.

"Do you want your husband to be scorched by dragon breath?" he said. Luna sealed her mouth shut, though her eyes were still filled with defiance.

It seems his wives considered Nyx as his mount already. Not that he opposed it. But a man had to be self-aware.

"Nyx isn't a pet," Judas reminded her. "She's a business partner with a temper. The Academy gives a dragon egg to anyone who passes the assessment and enters the inner court."

"At least two bloodlines," Ezra recalled. "Stronger than anything found in the wild."

"Exactly. Even if we don't hatch it, an egg like that is worth a kingdom in gold," Judas said. "Plus, the resources inside—libraries, cultivation towers, pill furnaces—are state-owned. It's the best place to get strong quickly."

They reached the registration plaza. It was crowded but efficient.

The process was surprisingly simple: no background checks, no questions about lineage. Just a test of attribute awakening.

The registrar, a bored-looking old man, looked up as Judas approached with four women.

"Five applicants?" the man asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Five," Judas confirmed.

The man didn't comment. He just handed them five metal tokens with numbers etched into them.

"Assessment is in seven days," the man droned. "Don't be late. No weapons in the waiting area. Next."

As they walked away, Nina tugged on Judas's sleeve. She was pointing at a large, flashy poster plastered on a nearby wall.

[The Lustrous Lounge: Grand Auction]

[Rare Cultivation Cauldrons. Exotic Lineages. High-Quality Slaves.]

[Tonight!]

"Slaves?" Nina's ears flattened. "That's mean."

"It's a brothel," Judas noted, reading the fine print. "A high-end one. They auction off people with rare constitutions."

"Disgusting," Luna scoffed.

"Profitable," Summer noted, her eyes lingering on the sign. "Maybe we should go? We might find something useful."

"Not tonight," Judas said, steering them away. "We need rest. And I need to wash this city's grime off me."

Also, he was sure the auction was not going to happen. How could Nyx miss such a treasure-hunting opportunity? The treasures would come to him anyway, so why waste time on some annoying auction?

They spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the market district, tasting the spicy street food—which made Nina breathe fire—and buying supplies.

By the time they returned to the inn, the sun had set, but the heat hadn't dissipated. It hung in the air, sticky and suffocating.

The female attendant at the inn stared as Judas walked in with four stunning women trailing him. Her eyes widened as they all headed toward the single luxury suite.

Judas flicked a gold coin onto the counter.

The attendant caught the coin, bowed deeply, and suddenly became all smiles. "Enjoy your evening, Young Master."

They entered the room. The air inside was perfect. The cold stones made the temperature perfect.

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