Chapter 457
"Do you want to negotiate? Right now?" Xia Er was somewhat puzzled. She had expected Charles to be angrier, perhaps even to erupt into a fight with Eleanor and Percy.
"A number of my family members serve in the Queen's Sword. I can have them withdraw directly back to our family," Charles said slowly. "But the condition is that your virus must not spread towards the Russell family's territory or Vitalis Palace. I need to ensure the Queen's safety."
Charles...
Is he seeking peace?
What has frightened him?
The Limit Breaker? Or the Crimson Bacteria?
"The Church of the God of Order and the Church of the Savior Goddess are both pulling back their defenses," Charles continued. "I have no reason to risk my life for the Strong Sound."
The Russell family has always existed in the cracks between the Church of the God of Order and the royal family. Since the Church of the God of Order has clearly indicated its intention to secretly assist this poisoner, Charles would never risk his life for the Strong Sound.
His goal seems to be merely to protect the Queen's life.
Is he trying to escape from the cracks? Does he want to replace the Strong Sound? To become the "regent" behind An Su?
Xia Er could only say that he truly deserves to be someone who can lead his entire family to survive between two great powers. He is steady yet possesses extraordinary courage.
If Xia Er were to agree to Charles's terms, he would retain his strength just like the Church of the God of Order, while the influence of the Strong Sound would undoubtedly be significantly weakened by this incident.
At that point, who would have the final say in An Su might not be something the Strong Sound could control anymore; it could be either the girl before him or the Church of the God of Order.
And the strength that Charles retains gives him the confidence to negotiate.
If he were to blindly help the Strong Sound and fight Xia Er with all his might, his family would surely suffer heavy casualties, and he might not even survive.
The Church of the God of Order, having preserved its strength, would directly consume his family... An Su might very well turn into a nation purely under religious control.
What he wants to protect has never been the Strong Sound, but the Queen, the essence of this nation.
Moreover, Charles is confident that the other side will accept his proposal.
As long as they are not people with a blood feud against the An Su royal family or madmen, no one would want to add another Level 4 enemy who could disrupt the resurrection ritual.
Xia Er looked up at Charles atop the tower and slowly said, "That's a very good proposal..."
"But I refuse."
"The Church of the God of Order is retreating, and the Church of the Savior Goddess is retreating..."
"If you all retreat as well..."
"Where am I supposed to find the death toll I need?"
Most of the Russell family members are "detectives," and Xia Er's purpose in this mission is to earn life points. Not to mention them, even members of the Church of the Savior Goddess and the Church of the God of Order are targets Xia Er would like to eliminate if given the chance.
Thus, Xia Er could never agree to Charles's proposal.
Xia Er slowly said, "Percy, go ahead, leave me a breath."
If I can't defeat you, can’t I at least deliver a finishing blow?
Xia Er felt no affection for Charles. Although he was a relative of Aivina, he treated her with no familial warmth, instead aiding the Church of the God of Order in abducting Nia.
Xia Er certainly wouldn't hold back.
Percy, receiving the order, did not hesitate and transformed into a white shadow, charging straight towards the tower. At the same time, a white celestial curtain unfolded in the shadow of the tower.
Eleanor was not idle either; she raised her hand, and a black curtain descended over the side that the white curtain did not cover, enveloping Duke Charles in a shadow of black and white.
A battle between Level 4 beings unfolded within.
Xia Er turned back.
The original group of knights and musicians had now been completely infected and assimilated by the blood-colored mycelium, transforming into grotesque high-level monsters. At Xia Er's beckoning, those creatures clad in tattered armor gathered by his side.
Where is Tara?
Xia Er searched for Tara's trace, only to find her leaning against the outer wall of the Archbishop's residence, staring blankly in Xia Er's direction, seemingly lost in thought, even oblivious to the fact that she was sitting in a puddle.
Xia Er frowned slightly.
When the Limit Breaker appeared earlier... was Tara also staring into my eyes?
Xia Er approached the broken wall and gently lifted the delicate Tara into his arms, shielding her from the aftermath of the battle.
He led the monster army away from the Archbishop's residence, preparing to quietly observe the changes over there.
Meanwhile, Tara, still in Xia Er's embrace, seemed to have regained her senses. She slowly looked up at Xia Er, and upon realizing she was being held, she panicked and tugged at his collar, her slender legs swinging restlessly.
Feeling Tara's struggle, Xia Er bent slightly and set her down, asking, "What's wrong? Are you okay?"
"I'm... I'm fine..." Tara pressed her skirt down, lowering her head, unable to meet Xia Er's gaze. "Tara is dirty and will soil Lord Xia Er's body..."
"It's just rainwater," Xia Er shrugged, seemingly unconcerned.
But Tara opened her mouth, yet ultimately dared not say anything.
Earlier, when she was staring into Lord Xia Er's eyes, that overwhelming, maddening fear had made her...
Lose control...
---
PS:
204.5 (overdue) - 2 (extra) = 202.5 (overdue)
Good night.
Chapter 242: The "Subverter" Who Loves to Play (4264 words)
Xia Er looked at Tara, who still had her head down, unaware of what she was thinking. He merely assumed she had been caught in the crossfire of the Limit Breaker.
After all, in previous simulations, Tara had been frightened by him more than once. When he had sacrificed her student, he had nearly driven Tara to madness.
It was likely that Tara was still recovering from the shock of the Limit Breaker.
But Xia Er didn't have the time to assess Tara's mental state at that moment. Defeating this knight squad did not mean he was safe—An Su's defensive forces were not limited to just this.
At least until now, the Dedton Group had made no moves, and the sounds of battle and the earlier cries for help could very well attract the Strong Sound to this location.
However, Xia Er soon realized that her worries might have been unnecessary.
Because she saw, in the distance, towards the direction of the Church of the Savior Goddess, several magnificent white light screens illuminating the sky over that area, accompanied by a continuous buzzing sound from that direction.
The Strong Sound... is fighting the Church of the Savior Goddess?
It wasn't impossible... The mark on the Strong Sound's face had already pointed the conflict towards the Keybearer and the Church of the Savior Goddess, and now the Church was clearly involved in this incident, so it was normal for the Strong Sound to deepen its suspicions.
Xia Er just didn't expect the Strong Sound to dare to engage the Church of the Savior Goddess directly at this critical moment...
Xia Er still hoped for the Strong Sound to win... If the Strong Sound were killed by the Church of the Savior Goddess, this simulation would revert to the moment she arrived, and the Strong Sound would be able to leave him information.
Although this information wouldn't directly point to Xia Er, it would lead the Strong Sound to list the Church of the Savior Goddess as a primary target for surveillance. Xia Er had been relatively close to the Church of the Savior Goddess, after all, as she had many needs that relied on them.
Of course, if both sides were to suffer heavy losses... that would be the outcome Xia Er most hoped to see.
How could he bring about the conclusion he desired?
"Tara, can you still move?" Xia Er looked down at Tara and asked.
"Um... I... can, Lord Xia Er..." Tara stood beside Xia Er, but her gaze couldn't help but drift towards his left arm.
Fortunately, it had rained today... and the weather was relatively cool... otherwise, Tara wouldn't know how to cool her face down... so embarrassing...
She had actually committed an act that sullied the body of the Mother Goddess... though it was something she couldn't control.
After all, just now, she had truly been so frightened that her mind went blank.
"Do you have a pen and notebook?" Xia Er continued to ask. She knew she didn't have any on her, but Tara always carried some supplies for Xia Er, so the chances of her having a notebook and pen were higher.
"I'll look for them..."
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