Isolde turned and looked at the platter next to the desk.
The few items she had confiscated lay there quietly.
When she looked at them earlier, they were just loot drops, but looking at them now, they were clearly an upgrade material pack prepared for Lia.
However, Isolde did not act immediately.
She had no intention of recklessly experimenting with her most important lifesaving gear.
She raised her hand, tapping her fingertips on the edge of the platter to call up the Castle Authority.
“Appraise.”
A pale red array rune lit up from the bottom of the platter, like a thin line of blood, circling each piece of loot one by one.
【Modifiable materials detected】
【Bone Blade Fragment】
【Can be used for: doll skeleton reinforcement, low-tier bone blade modification, undead weapon repair】
【Current compatible target: Soul Contractor Lia】
【Compatible application: Reinforcement of wrist, elbow, and shoulder joint connections】
Isolde's eyebrows twitched slightly after reading this.
They really were usable!
She continued to scroll down.
【Undead Afterglow】:
【Can be used for: soul core repair, undead spell fuel, low-tier soul stabilizer】
【Current compatible target: Soul Contractor Lia】
【Compatible application: Repairing remnant soul cracks, increasing soul stability】
The third item was also highlighted by the system.
【Damaged Bone Bow Accessory】:
【Salvageable materials: bone sinew, bow bone, residual tension runes】
【Current compatible target: Soul Contractor Lia】
【Compatible application: Reinforcement of shoulder, back, and arm stitches, improving limb coordination】
Finally, there was the worn silver candlestick.
【Worn Silver Candlestick】:
【Origin: Old castle property】
【Contains incomplete castle array runes】
【Not recommended for integration into the Soul Contractor's body】
【Recommended modification path: Peeping Candlestick, Soul-Luring Candlestick, Blood Banquet Signpost】
Having read the last line, Isolde knew what to do.
The Bone Blade Fragment, Undead Afterglow, and Damaged Bone Bow Accessory could be used to reinforce Lia.
As for the Worn Silver Candlestick, she would keep it for the castle...
Uh... wait, it was already the castle's property to begin with.
Well, whatever. That didn't matter. What mattered was that the system had verified it, so she wasn't just blindly messing around.
Isolde picked up the 【Bone Blade Fragment】 and held it in her hand.
【Do you wish to use materials to modify the contractor?】
【Yes】
In the next second, the item in Isolde's hand vanished, turning into a wisp of white light that sank into Lia's body.
【Bone Blade Fragment successfully fused】
【Soul Contractor: Lia】
【Skeleton Integrity: 61%→74%】
【Defense: 50→58】
Looking at the prompts, a trace of satisfaction flickered in Isolde's eyes.
Next, she picked up the 【Undead Afterglow】.
It was a ball of pale gray light, resembling a dying candle flame. As she held it between her fingertips, she could faintly hear chaotic weeping coming from within.
Isolde pressed it into Lia's chest.
The old bandages on Lia's chest silently parted, revealing a dim soul core underneath.
The soul core was very small, a dull gray color, and covered in fine cracks.
Isolde's brow twitched at the sight.
No wonder Lia always looked like she was about to fall apart.
Not only was her body broken, but her soul was too.
The original host certainly had some skill to have created her at all.
But neglecting her maintenance after making her was another story entirely.
The moment the Undead Afterglow was swallowed by the soul core, Lia's body shuddered visibly.
A gray light spread from her chest, flowing like water across her shoulders, neck, back, and limbs.
Beneath her originally withered skin, a faint luster emerged.
Though she remained pale, she no longer looked like old paper that would tear at the slightest touch.
【Undead Afterglow successfully fused】
【Soul Strength: Low→Low-Tier Stable】
【Remnant soul cracks currently repairing】
【Intelligence: 20→23】
Isolde stared at the last line and fell silent for a second.
It had increased by three points—not a lot.
But considering Lia had originally been nothing more than a "humanoid forklift that can understand basic orders," three points of Intelligence was already quite generous.
Besides, the master and servant's stats were indeed very balanced in some aspects.
One shouldn't be too greedy.
Even a villain had to understand sustainable development.
Finally, she picked up the 【Damaged Bone Bow Accessory】.
This thing looked like a broken bow, its surface wrapped in thin bone sinew that emitted a low, raspy hum when pulled.
Isolde unraveled the bone sinew, pulling them out one by one, and rethreaded them into the stitches on Lia's shoulders, back, and arms.
【Damaged Bone Bow Accessory successfully fused】
【Limb coordination improved】
【Strength: 100→112】
【Agility: 60→63】
Isolde looked at Lia, then back at her own pitiful eighteen points of Strength.
Perhaps this was the benefit of a mechanical ascension.
She picked up the last item, the 【Worn Silver Candlestick】, and turned it around.
There were still traces of Luo Qi's touch left on the candlestick.
Isolde wiped it down with a cloth in disgust.
This item wasn't suitable for integration into Lia's body for the time being.
The candlestick itself possessed castle array runes, making it suitable to be mounted back on the wall to serve as a surveillance node.
Once she modified it into a Peeping Candlestick and placed it at a corridor corner, she would be able to see exactly who entered the castle, who touched her things, and who harbored ill intentions.
Luo Qi had stolen all over the place, only to end up stealing her surveillance system. It could be considered his way of contributing even after death.
Isolde set the silver candlestick aside and looked back at Lia.
The changes in the modified Lia weren't overly dramatic.
She still wore the same tattered maid outfit, half of her face remained wrapped in bandages, and her posture was still quiet and proper.
However, her withered arms were visibly fuller, and the lines of her shoulders and back no longer resembled snapped dry twigs.
Beneath her dull gray skin, there was now a hint of extremely pale, cold white.
Like an old doll that had its dust wiped away, she barely revealed her original silhouette.
Right then, the bandages on the side of Lia's face suddenly loosened.
The yellowed fabric unraveled loop by loop and fell to the floor.
Isolde looked up and saw that Lia's left eye was exposed.
There was no eyeball there, only an empty socket.
The edges of the socket were sewn with dense black threads, as if it had once been forcibly gouged open and then crudely stitched back together.
A sharp pang of pain flashed through Isolde's mind.
She seemed to see a ghostly green lantern, countless blurry shadows.
And the original host's blood-stained fingers.
But the images flashed by too quickly—before she could grasp them, they vanished completely.
She pressed her temples, feeling a bit puzzled.
In the original host's memories, the creation process of Lia was very clear.
How to sift the remnant souls, how to connect the skeleton, how to sew the body—everything was there.
Yet, she couldn't recall why this eye was missing.
It was as if someone had forcibly gouged this memory from her brain, leaving only a vacant void.
The room fell silent.
Lia lowered her single, intact gray eye and bowed slightly.
“Does My Lady require a meal?”
Isolde snapped back to reality. She looked at Lia's empty left eye, then at her maid dress, which had been torn during the modification process.
The tattered fabric hung loose at her shoulders, revealing the newly repaired stitches underneath.
Although Lia didn't care, it was an eyesore to Isolde.
This was her most important lifesaving gear right now.
Gear could be old, but it couldn't look shabby.
“Not for now,” Isolde said, withdrawing her gaze. “Go change into a new set of clothes first.”
Lia nodded. “Yes, My Lady.”
She turned and left the room.
The moment the door closed, Isolde stared at the fallen piece of bandage on the floor, her eyes gradually darkening.
She would have to find an opportunity to replace Lia's left eye.
Rate on N.U.
