In the living room, the Serpent Clan agents were deep in thought when the phone rang. H?u K? glanced at the screen.

  – “It’s His Highness.”

  He answered at once. Trúc Di?n’s voice on the other end was tense and urgent:

  – “Have you found the address of My’s shop yet?”

  H?u K? replied immediately:

  – “We were planning to wait a little longer. If we move too fast, Quang and his assistant will get suspicious.”

  Nh? Phu, who had been thinking quietly, spoke in a low voice:

  – “My is currently hospitalized, and she didn’t bring the scented pouch with her.”

  L?p Thành rested his chin on his hand:

  – “Then I’ll go ask.”

  ??i Ng?c shook her head:

  – “A man asking about where to buy lipstick won’t work. I’ll do it.”

  Trúc Di?n instructed them firmly:

  – “Report the result immediately. I’ll continue investigating. You all stay there and keep monitoring.”

  ***

  After Trúc Di?n hung up, ??i Ng?c stepped out and slipped into the role of a female student. She knocked on Quang’s door. The one who opened it was Quan:

  – “What do you need my help with?”

  ??i Ng?c replied in a bright, innocent tone, just like a college student:

  – “I think Miss My’s lipstick color is so pretty. My friend’s birthday is coming up, and I want to take her to buy it as a gift, but I don’t know where to get it.”

  Quan smiled openly, relaxed:

  – “Oh, that’s all? Wait a moment, I’ll give you the address. When it comes to cosmetics, it’s better to go in person to choose.”

  Quang walked out from inside and added:

  – “That’s right. At the shop, staff can give advice and there are testers too. If you buy online, the color you get often looks different from the photos because of lighting and angles. Then it’s a hassle to exchange.”

  Quan handed her a business card:

  – “Here. This is the address of ch? My’s cosmetics store. They sell everything there — skincare, makeup, body care, hair care, all of it. You and your friend can take your time choosing. The prices are pretty affordable too — perfect for students.”

  ??i Ng?c beamed:

  – “Thank you so much, anh. I’ll take her there right away.”

  ***

  When she returned to the room, H?u K?, L?p Thành, and Nh? Phu all clapped at the same time. L?p Thành laughed cheerfully:

  – “You’re amazing. We should nominate you for Actress of the Year.”

  H?u K? laughed as well:

  – “Where’s that place? I’ll send the information to His Highness.”

  ***

  At the Bình Chánh headquarters, Trúc Di?n received H?u K?’s message and moved swiftly:

  – “We’ve got the result. We’ll go here.”

  Master V?nh, the mage, offered his opinion:

  – “There are definitely cameras in the shop. She’ll see junior brother and Lita going in together and get jealous. After all, she already had hackers investigate your information before. I think… you should let someone else go in your place.”

  At that moment, Phong Túc walked in:

  – “Then let me go. I’m skilled in disguise techniques. I can take on any role.”

  The moment his words fell, the space ahead seemed to compress. A vortex of black smoke spiraled up from beneath Phong Túc’s feet, mixed with cold, shimmering golden lights like stardust being torn apart in the darkness.

  Within the hazy, rotating glow, his body trembled slightly, as if touched by an arcane force. His broad shoulders drew inward; the sharp muscles beneath his skin gradually softened, gliding as though melting into the thin veil of smoke around him. His proud chest contracted, his skeletal frame shifting with exquisite precision — millimeter by millimeter — making way for gentler curves.

  His handsome, angular masculine face began to transform. The sharp jawline rounded, high cheekbones lowered, the bridge of his nose slimmed, as if sculpted anew by an invisible hand. The cold, lethal eyes of a nocturnal hunter widened, their gaze softening into bright, round eyes of a young girl.

  His long, smooth hair — jet black, thick, straight like a blade — suddenly burst into a slender glow. Individual strands separated, writhing as if alive, then slowly curled into soft waves.

  The roguish aura vanished, replaced by lightly curled hair cascading sweetly down his back, gently bouncing with each swirl of mist, carrying the youthful, gentle charm of a female student straight out of a manga.

  As the transformation spread to his legs, the taut muscles shrank and slimmed, becoming soft and delicate. And within just a few breaths, the figure of an innocent schoolgirl stood where the Black Lynx handsome man once was — fragile, sweet, and surreal, like a slow-motion film scene.

  The smoke gradually dispersed, revealing a petite, adorable schoolgirl. His eyes sparkled as her clear voice rang out like the chime of crystal bells:

  – “Now everyone believes it, right?”

  The Royal Satan agents stared in shock.

  One of them blurted out:

  – “If this guy cross-dresses, no one can beat him.”

  Another chimed in:

  – “There’s Bách Di?n too… but even he might not be as good.”

  Lord Satan smiled in satisfaction.

  – “This is the legendary disguise technique. As far as I know, at present… only Phong Túc and Bách Di?n possess it.”

  The old Grand Madam Advisor nodded thoughtfully:

  – “There may be a few more, but they simply haven’t revealed themselves yet.”

  In a narrow alley, a small single-story house was filled with laughter and chatter. Young men and women with colorful hair — usually carrying a flashy, street-smart vibe — had come today to help Huy decorate the house for the upcoming wedding.

  A girl with red-highlighted hair was in a mess with a bag full of multicolored tinsel strings:

  – “Where on earth do we hang this?”

  A girl with orange hair was sticking foam letters onto the wall, complaining as she worked:

  – “You guys take a look, is it crooked or not? I’ve stuck it on and peeled it off so many times, and it still looks crooked to me.”

  In the kitchen, Mrs. Nguy?t was mixing lemonade.

  She glanced at her husband, her eyes filled with happiness:

  – “Today is really joyful, huh? These kids are usually so wild, but today they’re surprisingly hardworking.”

  Mr. Tín smiled and nodded:

  – “I just hope they focus on making a living so their parents don’t have to suffer. And that boy Huy… once he’s married, he needs to take proper responsibility for his wife and future children, not fool around like before.”

  ***

  At D?ng’s villa, the design team had also arrived. The living room buzzed with discussion. Today’s designer was a young man. He opened his laptop and turned the screen for everyone to see:

  – “Earlier, Miss Anh Th? chose a fairytale-themed concept for both the stage and the at-home setup. This is the 3D draft — please take a look first. If there are any details you want changed, I’ll adjust them according to your preferences.”

  Anh ?ào nodded as he looked:

  – “It’s nice, but we should add pink and sky-blue hydrangeas…”

  Anh Th? added another idea:

  – “If so, then my wedding dress should have fairy wings on the back to match the concept. Handmade wings would look the best.”

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  Anh Tú grimaced slightly:

  – “I’m not sure if making those wings now would be in time. And I don’t even know any place that can take a rush order.”

  A sudden idea flashed through Anh Th?’s mind:

  – “Then we can make them ourselves. Build the wing frame with metal rods, cover it with tulle, then add glitter.”

  The designer looked a bit worried:

  – “That’s very difficult. The wing frame needs to be steel wire or aluminum electrical wire wrapped in fabric. Inside, you have to sew a layer of high-grade mesh, then meticulously stitch each feather one by one. Complex designs also include hand-attached Swarovski crystals. Even simpler models still require carefully selected turkey feathers or ostrich feathers.”

  – “As for 3D-printed plastic frames, they take quite a long time. If the size is large, the frame has to be printed in separate parts and then assembled. Just finishing the frame alone would take several days.”

  Dì T?, standing nearby, also chimed in:

  – “You could choose a different detail, like a veil decorated with fabric flowers, or a unique bouquet. I’ve seen lots of beautiful designs on TV.”

  But Anh Th?, who had been pampered since childhood, was a bit stubborn:

  – “Then let’s just buy them. I want my wedding to be dreamy — I have to look like a fairy.”

  Anh Tú sighed:

  – “Buying wings online is doable. But I’ll say this upfront — they won’t be handmade quality like on the runway. Even the simplest handcrafted wings take at least half a month, and complex ones can take several months. The wedding is this weekend — there’s no way it’ll be ready in time.”

  Mary nodded in agreement:

  – “I think the wings sold online look pretty good too. You’ll only wear them for the wedding anyway — it’s not like you’ll use them again.”

  Join thought to himself:

  – “Using magic, this could be done in an instant… but these kids are a bit too sharp-tongued, so forget it.”

  Then he spoke, agreeing with Mary:

  – “That’s right. There are plenty of beautiful designs online. I’ll look for some.”

  Anh Th? was a little annoyed, but with time running out, she had no choice but to accept it:

  – “Fine then. Brother in law and anh Join, you look for them. But they have to be beautiful — and big enough to suit me.”

  Anh Ph??ng was also hesitant:

  – “Using magic would be fast, but if our parents find out, we’ll probably be kicked out of the house.”

  At My’s cosmetics store – District 3

  The exterior of the shop radiated modern luxury, with transparent glass walls and warm golden lights reflecting off the signboard like shimmering satin threads. Stepping inside was even more dazzling — each display counter was arranged in the style of a luxury boutique, crystal lights reflecting off countless powder cases, cream jars, and lipstick tubes from well-known brands.

  Beyond cosmetics, the store also featured a fashion accessories section: Sparkling gemstone hair ties, limited-edition designer hats, velvet-soft leather mini handbags — everything combined to create the feeling of walking into a miniature haute couture showroom.

  Phong Túc, in the guise of a sweet-looking schoolgirl, stepped lightly into the store. From posture and gaze to the curve of her smile and every subtle gesture, no one could possibly guess that this was a strikingly handsome man performing the legendary art of disguise.

  The automatic glass door slid open, and a cheerful staff member greeted her with a smile:

  – “Hi there, what are you looking for today? I can help you choose.”

  Phong Túc’s voice rang out clear as crystal, soft and perfectly fitting for a seventeen-year-old girl:

  – “I want to buy some lipstick… something light-colored. I don’t really like dark shades.”

  The staff member nodded knowingly:

  – “Light shades suit your age best — they look very cute. Darker colors usually fit women around twenty-five and up.”

  She led Phong Túc to the lipstick counter, glowing with vibrant colors, each tube exquisitely designed, unmistakably high-end.

  The staff member picked up a soft pink shade and held it out:

  – “You have fair skin — this color would look lovely on you. We have testers on the shelf. Would you like to try it?”

  Phong Túc gently shook her head, her expression perfectly innocent:

  – “No need… I already like this color just by looking at it, so I don’t need to test it. Could you show me a few similar shades too?”

  The staff member took out several suitable options. After observing carefully — her investigative habits flawlessly hidden behind a na?ve demeanor — Phong Túc selected five lipsticks:

  – “Please wrap these up for me.”

  While the staff member was packing the items, he casually gathered more information, still maintaining the image of a pure schoolgirl:

  – “I’m also thinking about selling lipsticks online… Is it possible for me to source products from here?”

  The staff member responded enthusiastically:

  – “Of course! If you buy in larger quantities, we offer discounts. And for a student like you, selling lipstick is the most practical — l ow capital investment. Other products like skincare or makeup powders require much more upfront cost.”

  Phong Túc followed up immediately:

  – “So… where can I get the supply from?”

  The staff member honestly handed over a business card:

  – “Here — this is Miss My’s card, the owner of the shop. Just contact her using this phone number.”

  At that moment, a small delivery truck stopped in front of the store. The staff member glanced outside:

  – “They’re delivering goods today. This lipstick line sells really well — the factory works nonstop and still can’t keep up with demand.”

  She carefully placed each lipstick into a small paper box, then put it into a branded paper bag and handed it to him:

  – “That’ll be three hundred thousand.”

  Phong Túc pretended to be surprised, her eyes widening in a very schoolgirl-like way:

  – “Only sixty thousand per lipstick? Then I actually have enough money to buy stock!”

  The staff member laughed:

  – “Yep. Our prices are student-friendly, but don’t worry about the quality — it’s not some random, unverified product.”

  Phong Túc slightly bowed, perfectly embodying the polite and adorable manners of a high school girl, then walked out of the shop. He circled around behind the delivery truck, his gaze sharp as a blade, memorizing every detail — especially the license plate number.

  Across the street, inside a café, two motorcycle ride-hailing drivers were sipping their drinks. One of them lightly touched a mini communicator hidden in his collar:

  – “General Phong Túc is done.”

  The other leisurely lifted his coffee cup, his voice calm and steady:

  – “The target is now fully under the surveillance of the Royal Satan Satellite Network.”

  At the Bình Chánh Headquarters

  Inside the control room, bathed in blue light from countless holographic screens, Arian stood before the central console. His icy blue eyes glinted coldly as new data streamed in from the Royal Satellite:

  – “Everything is now within range, Father.”

  Demon King Satan crossed his arms, satisfaction clearly written on his face:

  – “Once Phong Túc takes on a role, no one can see through it. Follow that delivery truck closely and find out where the production facility is.”

  Beside him, the Grand Madam Advisor leisurely fanned herself with a black phoenix-feather fan, each plume shimmering with a ghostly hue:

  – “With our level of technology, the monsters’ magic is nothing more than child’s play.”

  She tilted her head slightly toward Satan:

  – “I wonder how things are on Erion’s side. If the General gets involved in the investigation, things might get rather chaotic.”

  Satan let out a low chuckle:

  – “His Black Diamond organization is no less formidable than the Royal Satan forces. Their military satellites are top-tier as well. And on top of that, they have Din and Yin — two vampire lords with exceptional investigative skills. Especially Din — cunning and extremely devious.”

  Standing behind them, Trúc Di?n glanced sideways, the corner of his lips lifting faintly:

  – “No wonder my brother-in-law always looks down on me.”

  Satan raised an eyebrow, his tone calm:

  – “Erion’s abilities are on par with mine. He’s stubborn and hot-tempered, but he never bows to fate. Strategically, though… he falls far behind me.”

  ***

  At Mr. D?ng’s Villa

  The sun was already high in the sky, its heat growing more intense. C?u D?ng and M? Linh had just returned from their morning exercise when Anh Th?’s irritated voice echoed from the living room, complaining yet again about the matter of “angel wings or fairy wings or whatever.”

  Anh Tú’s voice sounded exhausted:

  – “I’ve looked through more than twenty designs already. None of them are good enough for you?”

  Anh Th? pouted:

  – “They look so tacky. There’s nothing elegant about them at all.”

  Sitting on the sofa, Join let out a quiet sigh:

  – “Those costume wings sold online are already considered nice. If you want custom handmade ones like you imagine, there’s no way they’ll be ready in time. And they’re very expensive, too.”

  The designer also looked helpless in the face of Anh Th?’s sky-high demands:

  – “As for the home décor and wedding stage theme, I’ve finalized the design according to your preferences, Miss Th?. Tomorrow morning, my team will come to take measurements so we can calculate how many fresh flowers are needed. As for the wings, I have a suggestion: Buy a pair online first, then purchase extra crystals, lace fabric, or any decorations you like and simply attach them. It’s fast and much more cost-effective.”

  Anh ?ào nodded in agreement:

  – “I think that works. Time is really tight now, and there are still so many things left to prepare.”

  Standing outside the door, C?u D?ng listened and let out a long sigh, wiping the sweat from his forehead:

  – “Good heavens… a wedding, and she’s treating it like a fashion show! She even needs wings like a runway model?”

  He glanced at M? Linh:

  – “Don’t you see how troublesome this is? It’s because you’ve spoiled her too much. Ever since she was little, she’s always demanded things completely out of this world.”

  M? Linh could only give a helpless smile, utterly at a loss.

  C?u D?ng and M? Linh walked straight into the living room. The atmosphere, already tense, grew even heavier as the argument had yet to die down.

  C?u D?ng slammed his hand lightly on the table, his voice sharp and irritated:

  – “Is this a wedding or a Victoria’s Secret show? You even need crystal-studded wings now? With demands like this, even if I sold the house, I still couldn’t satisfy you!”

  Anh Th? crossed her arms, her attitude indifferent, as if none of this concerned her:

  – “Do you want me to lose face? You’re a well-known businessman in the industry. There will definitely be journalists covering my wedding.”

  M? Linh quickly stepped in, trying to keep the peace:

  – “From the beginning, both families agreed to invite only close relatives and friends. Mom thinks that’s already more than enough.”

  Seeing his stubborn sister-in-law frowning, Anh Tú held back for a moment but eventually spoke up:

  – “What the designer suggested earlier was very reasonable. Buying wings online and adding crystals afterward can still look nice. Do you even know how much the wings on a catwalk cost?”

  Anh Th? shook her head, her tone careless:

  – “I don’t know. But I don’t think they’re that expensive.”

  Anh Tú sighed, rubbing his forehead:

  – “Those complex designs are estimated at around one hundred thousand dollars — more than two and a half billion VND.”

  Anh Th?’s eyes widened:

  – “Two and a half billion?”

  C?u D?ng’s face twisted completely, his voice dropping into a growl:

  – “Last time I already spent five billion to pay off your gambling debts with that bastard. Otherwise, I could’ve bought one already! Now you’re still making demands? Enough! I’ll let you follow that worthless deadbeat, so you can learn what real life tastes like!”

  ***

  Outside the Villa

  In front of C?u D?ng’s gate, Professor Charles’s Camry had just come to a stop. As he stepped out of the car, the sound of shouting carried clearly over. The corner of his lips curled slightly:

  – “It’s already this noisy… and it’s only the beginning. There’s still a long way to go. Slowly savor it.”

  Just then, from the opposite direction, Mrs. Nga and Hi?u returned from the supermarket. Their scooter stopped right in front of the Camry.

  Mrs. Nga smiled warmly:

  – “Professor, when did you get back? Why don’t you come inside?”

  Charles smiled gently, his tone calm:

  – “I just arrived and already heard the arguing from Mr. D?ng’s house.”

  Hi?u got off the scooter to help his mother with the groceries, glancing over to watch the drama:

  – “That house fights twenty-eight days a month, Professor. Stay here a little longer and you’ll see.”

  Mrs. Nga wheeled the scooter into the yard:

  – “You didn’t come back to eat beef stew yesterday. I’ll reheat it for you.”

  Charles followed her inside:

  – “Thank you very much. Last night I met some friends — they invited me to drink a few bottles, so I stayed over at their place.”

  At that moment, Mr. Tài was carrying a bag of soil to fertilize the plants. He nodded in agreement:

  – “It was right to stay over. Driving while drunk is dangerous for yourself and others.”

  The arguing from C?u D?ng’s house still echoed over. Mr. Tài shook his head:

  – “That girl Anh Th? is the most demanding of them all. She always wants the impossible. This time, she’s probably asking for something from the sky again.”

  Charles looked toward C?u D?ng’s villa, his eyes narrowing slightly:

  – “I heard her earlier — she wants wings, like a runway model.”

  Hi?u laughed openly:

  – “Good grief, she acts like her wedding is a fashion show.”

  Charles merely smiled, but inside, his thoughts were cold:

  – “So arrogant and sharp-tongued… and she still dreams of becoming an angel? Ridiculous.”

  From the kitchen, Mrs. Nga called out loudly:

  – “There’s still a whole pot of beef stew from yesterday. Come inside, everyone. I’ll reheat it — eat it with bread, it’s delicious.”