Chapter 780

Huai Yan: "What the little Star friend said is correct. This time the rebirth of the Established Tree, its roots spread and even bored through Net Float's Creation Furnace, mistakenly letting out the imprisoned Suiyang demonic fire. This can serve as corroborating evidence."

Fei Xiao nods: "Old Yan approves, I naturally have no problem."

Since these questions above can be explained, Fei Xiao's inquiries on this trip end here.

"How does General Fei Xiao feel? Have the many doubts in the report been resolved?" General Huai Yan asked.

"The two nameless guests' answers are quite frank; even if some details are hard to explain, by my intuition it seems fine. However, the three questions I just raised are not only directed at the two nameless guests, but also convey a certain sound to General Jingyuan——"

Fei Xiao's expression gradually became solemn, speaking word by word:

"First, the Medicine King's secret transmission has been growing within Net Float, while the Six Emperors remain unaware, allowing it to flourish—this is 'dereliction of duty'."

"Second, trusting the words of the Star Core Hunters without doubt and entrusting the heavy responsibility of resolving the crisis to outsiders, letting them come into contact with Shou Wen Hui Ji—this is 'dereliction of responsibility'."

"Third, after the Established Tree disaster, insisting on holding the martial ceremony, again placing Net Float at the universe's focus—this is 'folly'."

General Huai Yan raised his head and asked: "General Tianji, is this your meaning… or that of the Ten Kings?"

Fei Xiao smiled faintly: "I think, since entering the hall I've said that what I ask may not be what I think."

——

fate/the Emiya family's meal.

Although these three points make sense, I still feel sorry for Jingyuan.

Rin Tosaka looks at General Jingyuan's tightly knit brows, also unable to help sighing; the pressure of the general's position is truly too great. Simply putting oneself in his shoes: clearly he personally went into battle against Phantasma, fought to the death, still suffered heavy injuries, and after just a few months of recovery, he has to be investigated and reprimanded by the Astral Vessel's higher-ups…… Thinking about it carefully, it's really infuriating.

"The first two points I think need discussion, but the third point Jingyuan is indeed somewhat rash." Archer said calmly from the side.

"How is it rash? I think it's quite good." Lancer slipped a piece of fish meat into his mouth, chewing as he said, "Net Float Astral Vessel emerging from the disaster, doesn't it need a grand ceremony to showcase itself? Splendid and glorious, what's wrong with that?"

"Huh, trying to cover up only makes it more obvious." Archer glanced at Kubikiri Lin, gave a cold smile: "Before becoming a heroic spirit, I too had traveled the world and heard abroad a saying: 'No silver three hundred taels here.' Meaning trying to conceal something only ends up exposing it. In my view, Jingyuan's eager attempt to prove the Astral Vessel safe only raises more suspicion."

Saber also immediately understood his meaning, frowning with a worried expression: "And these step-leave people, just——"

Archer nodded: "The appearance of the step-leave people is undoubtedly proof that the Astral Vessel is still unsafe. In my view, Jingyuan should first dig out all these step-leave people before holding the ceremony, so as not to give the higher-ups any leverage."

——

"... The Medicine King's secret transmission's power is deeply entrenched, its schemes long-standing. Jingyuan's oversight is indeed a lapse." Jingyuan admitted frankly, "As for the Star Core Hunters' prophecy, I don't necessarily believe it all. But in the midst of meeting moves with countermoves, Net Float has been preserved from the Established Tree disaster, showing that Elior's prophecy of the future also has considerable merit."

"As for the martial ceremony… Jingyuan surely knows the risk of inviting thieves in? But risk is also opportunity; Net Float's pond has been still for too long, it's time to stir it up, let the sediment rise, purge the turbid and promote the clear."

Fei Xiao also couldn't help smiling upon hearing: "General Divine Strategy truly is a cultured person; a few sentences rival a whole compendium of Astral Vessel idioms—I like it."

"But unfortunately, since the report was submitted, the alliance's interior has been filled with rumors and speculation. Even within Net Float, someone has memorialized the throne, blaming the general for negligence, allowing the Established Tree to rebirth."

"So, how does General Fei Xiao think?"

Fei Xiao gradually withdrew the smile from his face, speaking solemnly: "You and I are both Heavenly Generals, naturally we both know the difficulty of holding this seat. In my view, these are all meaningless buzzing of mosquitoes and flies. Across the Star Sea, what happens on Net Float, only General Divine Strategy truly understands the hidden meaning behind its crisis…… just as the Radiant Azure Astral Vessel has recently experienced."

——

The Funeral of Frieren

"Huh? Listening to Jingyuan's words…… if I didn't misunderstand, he wants to fish?" Zan Yin stroked his chin and asked.

Haltark tilted his head: "Fishing?"

"Well, the so-called 'martial ceremony' is nothing but bait; the purpose is to fish out the 'big fish' lurking inside the Astral Vessel. Now the step-leave people have successfully taken the bait, and who remains is unknown."

"If Jingyuan's goal in holding the martial ceremony from the start was aimed at the turbidity beneath this water surface, then that would indeed be far-sighted. At first he thought it was a foolish move, but he didn't expect that the step-leave people and others intending to cause chaos are actually his true target……"

Sure enough, these generals all have a hundred little schemes.

Zan Yin couldn't help but admire Jingyuan even more, deeply feeling that Fu Xuan's ability and scheming are far distant from Jingyuan; now it seems that Jingyuan's promise to nominate Fu Xuan as general is likely nothing but lip service.

——

Jingyuan's expression tightened: "You mean, the Radiant Azure Astral Vessel also……?"

"The Qingqiu Army's scouts reported: the step-leave people are again stirring. Originally a scattered band of step-leave hunters, they have begun attacking each other, swallowing and merging, forming a larger horde. Behind them, something called Manggu Si is guiding them."

Huai Yan slowly opened his eyes: "Thing?"

"The scout's report says: that thing… is not a step-leave person. It is a woman who calls herself the 'Envoy of Eternal Life', with 'twelvefold faces, twelve fangs, cruel as deadly poison, changeable as shifting sand'. The step-leave people believe she will bring them a chance to rise again."

"It's Phantasma." Jingyuan stated firmly.

"Not bad. Fortunately, it's me who came this time; if it were General Chenming or General Rongtao, this inquiry might not have been so friendly. I've always trusted my intuition, so I naturally won't doubt you upright heroes. But the doubts facing Net Float now are indeed solid. Therefore I intend to secure the most crucial point, to give the alliance an explanation."

"How does General Fei Xiao plan to do it?"

"General Jingyuan knows full well. But since you don't want to be the villain, I'll take on the role——the Jianmu matter still needs the Ten Kings to strike the final blow, to suppress all voices. For this……"

Fei Xiao finally turned his gaze to the two nameless guests who had been standing idle beside him for a long time.

"... I will have to wrong the two nameless guests by sending them to the Hidden Prison for a trip."