Chapter 63: Unexpected Visitor

Sakavi, who was sleeping, was suddenly awakened by a strong magical disturbance. Ever since the Harpies blocked the door at Kaduowen, Sakavi had made full preparations for such things, just so that he would have enough room to maneuver if it happened again.

The entire Viceroy's territory had been installed with detection devices by Sakavi. As long as it was above the Legendary Rank, any magical disturbance trace would be detected, no matter how deeply hidden. Although the mage tower defense system sold by Yaluuzi last time had a very high premium, the effect was not discounted at all. As long as one stayed in the mage tower's main control room, even a demigod couldn't break in.

This time, a demigod level really came, at least that's what the kobold warlock guarding the mage tower reported to Sakavi. Sakavi didn't trust anyone other than the dragon-born kobolds with the mage tower and the four defensive towers, fearing that his subordinates would be incited to rebel one day.

"Elf in front, listen, you have entered the attack range of the Aguerike defense system. Please stop immediately and report your identity and the purpose of your visit, otherwise I will attack!" Sakavi, who was already sitting in the command center of the mage tower, nervously observed every move of the other party.

He stood like an ancient silver birch tree, tall and calm. His skin was like white jade soaked in moonlight, smooth and cold. His long silver-white hair shone like liquid mithril, tied up by a simple mithril crown, with a few strands of hair hanging down, setting off his pointed ears and his well-defined cheeks.

The most heart-stirring thing was those eyes. They were like two purple lakes containing ancient wisdom, with miniature stars seemingly being born and dying in the pupils. When gazing into these eyes, Sakavi seemed to see endless compassion, and also instantly felt a depth and solemnity that spanned countless centuries.

He wore a pure white Bishop's robe; the texture of the robe was not ordinary silk, but woven from the fibers of the Moonlight Holy Tree and mithril threads, emitting a soft glow in the darkness. The edges and cuffs of the robe were embroidered with ancient elven runes in the finest gold thread, depicting the trajectories of stars and the patterns of the Eternal Forest.

A holy sash symbolizing the sun and moon shining together was draped over his shoulders, with a sun totem embroidered in gold thread on one side and a crescent moon emblem outlined in silver thread on the other. He wore a holy emblem on his chest, which was a sunstone carved into the shape of a blooming flower, absorbing sunlight during the day and emitting a warm halo at night, dispelling darkness and evil.

What he held in his hand was not a heavy scepter, but one crafted from a branch of the World Tree when it first sprouted. Suspended at the top was a slowly rotating moonstone, surrounded by several tiny, satellite-like crystal shards.

Even Sakavi, who considered himself to have seen countless people, had to sigh at his handsomeness; this appearance was simply more beautiful than Vierna's, but what was even more sigh-worthy was that kind of composure and elegance that spanned a thousand years. His movements were precise and calm, and every gesture contained ancient rhythm.

"Young black dragon, do you not intend to invite me to sit down? I can be considered a guest from afar." The voice was like the echo of distant mountains and the low murmur of a clear spring intertwined, seemingly able to soothe all restless souls.

"Elf, I am very sorry, I do not want to have any contact with anyone of unknown origin. Please state your purpose and the organization you belong to."

"I know your distrust. Over the long years, many of my comrades, those who call themselves the 'Chiguang Sect,' have turned the 'Holy Light' into a flame that burns those who are different. They view everything that is not of their sect as shadows that must be 'purified'."

"But I did not come today in the name of the 'Chiguang Sect.' My emblem is the 'Eye of Dawn,' which symbolizes insight and awakening, not the scorching sun of judgment. I belong to another branch of the Holy Light Church; we are called 'Guides,' or more commonly, the 'Chenguang Sect'."

"To us, Holy Light is a force of guidance and healing, a beacon that illuminates the path forward for the lost, not a scorching sun that burns everything. We seek understanding and coexistence, not the eradication of all forces with different concepts."

"My name is Alamier Chenhui. I have come this time to mediate the conflict between your side and the Scarlet Light Sect. I wonder if the Viceroy can give me this opportunity?"

"I welcome all friends who hold goodwill, and I am not afraid of any enemies who hold ill will. Your fellow sect members kidnapped my subordinates for no reason. Do you have any explanation for this?"

"Ah, 'kidnapping'... this is such a heavy and one-sided word, Viceroy. Please allow me to provide a perspective that better conforms to the 'law of causality.' Do you still remember, 39 years ago, on the road to the city of Kanansen, a young innocent cleric girl who was chased and killed by an evil black dragon and eventually died of exhaustion?"

His tone was as flat as if he were stating a historical fact unrelated to himself, but every word was like a precise dagger. Speaking of this, Alamier gently raised his hand, and a beam of soft light appeared in his palm, vaguely reflecting a blurred figure and a ferocious dragon-shaped shadow.

His smile now took on a trace of almost cruel rationality.

"So, the real question may not be 'why we caught people,' but whether both of us are prepared to let this cycle of revenge that began with blood and can only end with blood continue, or are we willing to take this opportunity to explore a long-term solution? My trip here is precisely to bring you the latter option."

"Elf, if you came here to settle old scores, then I can only say that I will be responsible for what I have done, but that is not now."

"Viceroy Sakavi, I remember you said at the beginning that you were just trying to climb up. If I am not mistaken, you took the soul of that cleric girl to reconcile with the Chiguang Sect one day, right? This is indeed a good choice, but I have a better proposal today."

"Elf, you have successfully aroused my interest. Can your goodwill persuade the Chiguang Sect? I don't think this is realistic."

"No, it's more attractive than this. If I say I can persuade them to release your dependents, what do you think of this condition?"

"It really makes me unable to refuse. What do you intend to get from me?"

"Bishop Ignatius, Viceroy, did you not understand before you caught someone? He is a member of our Chenguang Sect. Of course, precisely because of this, there is still room for maneuver between us. If you can release him, I can persuade my fellow sect members to release people."

"I don't think you can persuade that group of lunatics. If you really have sincerity, why not take out something practical to exchange? I might be able to agree."

The faint smile on Alamier's face suddenly became deep and concrete. He did not continue the verbal confrontation, but did something unexpected. He slowly raised his right hand, his five fingers gracefully spreading in the air, as if plucking invisible harp strings. The air around him began to ripple like water waves, and the boundary of a non-realistic domain constructed of soft holy light flashed by.

"Words are pale, Viceroy. Sincerity needs action to prove."

Following his words, a figure was gently "pushed out" from the halo; it was Gelapu, whom he hadn't seen for many years. He looked unharmed, even calmer than before he was captured. There was no fear in those muddy eyes, but rather a strange clarity. He stood respectfully beside Alamier, even bowing slightly to the shocked black dragon.

"Then do you think this sincerity is enough? Before coming to visit, I had already persuaded the Chiguang Sect."

The elderly Gelapu seemed to be verifying his words, speaking in a hoarse voice, saying words that shook Sakavi's heart: "Master, he is not a real enemy. The matter of Nuoaiter was a trap from the beginning."

"Alright, Viceroy Sakavi, let's talk about reminiscing another day. When will you release my people?"

After Sakavi waited for Gelapu to enter the defensive tower, he directly ordered the entire iron coffin to be sent over. Dealing with a person at the demigod level, no matter how careful one was, it was not too much. Before thoroughly confirming that Gelapu was fine, Sakavi could not let him come to his side, and of course, he would not let him stay outside the control range. Otherwise, if he was caught again, he would be at a loss.

"Viceroy Sakavi, you killed quite a few of my Holy Knights. This has to be calculated in money. My mediation this time also requires charging a corresponding equivalent fee."

"The wealth here is yours to choose from. As long as I have it, you can take it at will."

"Sorry, what you have here cannot be counted as wealth, and there is nothing I want. What I want is for you to help me kill someone."

"Not interested. I won't do such a high-risk thing. You'd better change to another one!"

"You have no choice, because I have already used illusion to make your dependents sign a contract. You may not know that at a higher level, a dragon's dependents can also be utilized, although the effect is not as good as the main body."

"Change to another one! People may not be able to be killed, is there anything more reliable?"

"Your efficiency in killing is obvious to all. You have no right to choose. Goodbye!"

He nodded slightly again to the suspicious Sakavi, the angle exactly the same as when he arrived, as if the negotiation that overturned all the other party's expectations was just a casual greeting in the afternoon.

His pace was still calm and unhurried, as if strolling in the corridor of his own temple. But when the first step fell, a soft and pure halo rippled around him. The second step, his figure began to become somewhat transparent, as if the physical flesh and blood body was gradually turning into pure light and shadow.

The third step was taken, and his figure was almost a hazy glowing outline. Just at this moment, the space where he had originally stood was like a water surface whose calm was broken by a pebble, rippling with starlight-like ripples.

No chanting, no formation, and no use of any scrolls or props. His departure itself was like a naturally occurring phenomenon, like morning mist dissipating in the sunlight, like starlight fading at dawn. ===== CHAPTER 64 =====