Chapter 22

Azuma and Rustyrose were half-collapsed, lying on the ground.

Just now, to ensure the magic airship wouldn't be destroyed, they really risked their lives to resist the aftermath of the collision between the Deva Path of Pain and Hades. At this time, although they weren't like Ultear, who had no magic power left, they were not far off.

'If it were just the Deva Path of Pain alone, it would indeed still be lacking.'

'The A-rank puppet Nagato Uzumaki is considered a functional combat puppet; his individual combat capability is still a bit weak.'

Lin Cheng, who had read the original work, knew this very well.

The current Hades hadn't even used his true strength; if Hades really got serious, the Darkness Wave would at most be equivalent to a small skill of his.

It was just one level higher than a normal attack.

If he wanted to get serious, Lin Cheng would have to let Nagato Uzumaki descend, with all Six Paths of Pain out.

Perhaps then he could have a real fight with Hades.

However, if he wanted to retreat unscathed, Lin Cheng might also need Ace, who was also an A-rank two-star.

However, Lin Cheng was just thinking about it; for now, there was no need for Lin Cheng to provoke an existence of the same rank as himself.

Hades was almost the first BOSS in Fairy Tail set to be impossible to defeat.

Even if Lin Cheng used all his trump cards, he wasn't sure he could completely crush the entire Grimoire Heart.

You know, in Grimoire Heart, besides the powerful Seven Kin of Purgatory, there was also a deputy master who could compete with Gildarts, the strongest Class Mage in Fairy Tail.

Lin Cheng could try to wipe out Grimoire Heart, but there was no need.

That would make Lin Cheng return to the starting point overnight, and the loss would outweigh the gain.

Originally, Lin Cheng's initial goal was just to let Konan, who had long-distance flight capabilities, try to find the location of the Tower of Heaven, and prepare to go there to reasonably use the Akatsuki organization's setting to show off and gain some presence.

Now that he had shown off a wave of presence at the Grimoire Heart guild, Lin Cheng was already very satisfied.

In the short time he had just clashed with Grimoire Heart, Lin Cheng had harvested nearly two million emotional value.

It could be said to be quite good.

'Then, next, after saying some polite words, I can leave.'

'Grimoire Heart, this mine can be harvested for another wave of emotional value when the Tenrou Island arc arrives.'

"So, what is your purpose?"

"I think, suddenly running onto my ship, it probably isn't to fight me."

Hades looked at the Deva Path of Pain, his eyes narrowing slightly.

The location of the battle was indeed a bit awkward, and the strength of the opponent was also beyond Hades's expectations.

Hades never expected that in an organization he had never heard of, there would appear a guy with such terrifying strength.

Such strength probably far exceeded the scope of the regular Ten Wizard Saints.

Even if Hades was full of confidence in his own strength, and he was far from using his strongest power, Hades wasn't blind to the state of Ultear, Azuma, and Rustyrose around him.

Just the tentative exchange just now had already exhausted their magic power.

The magic airship was very important to Hades.

Or rather, on the magic airship, there was something very important to Hades.

That was the key to ensuring Hades's longevity and power, the 'Grimoire Heart'; this thing could not be easily destroyed, as it greatly affected Hades's state.

"Discovering your guild's magic airship was indeed a bit of a surprise."

At this time, Konan, who had been silent all along, spoke up.

After all, the setting for the Deva Path of Pain was to be as cold as possible, a person of few words who was ruthless.

It was more appropriate to leave this kind of negotiation and explanation to the beauty of the Akatsuki organization, Konan.

"As for clashing with your guild, that is also not a necessary thing."

Looking at everyone with their ghost-seeing expressions, Konan said faintly: "I think Master Hades, who has things on the ship that cannot be destroyed, should also have no need to continue fighting."

Hades glanced at the silent Deva Path of Pain not far away and smiled: "What an interesting statement."

"So, what is your purpose?"

"Boarding my ship, causing a scene on my ship, and then what are you planning to do?"

As his words fell, Hades's gaze became sharp.

It was clear that if he couldn't give a reasonable explanation, Hades was really going to unleash 100% of his combat power to keep the Deva Path of Pain and Konan here completely.

"Only by experiencing pain can one know the preciousness of peace."

"Our Akatsuki organization's goal is to make the whole world peaceful, without any more strife."

Looking at Hades, who seemed ready to continue fighting, Konan said calmly: "Next, perhaps we will have a chance to cooperate, but it will probably take some time."

"By then, I think Master Hades should be more patient."

As the words fell, the Deva Path of Pain and Konan disappeared from the sight of Hades and the others.

"Master."

"The other party knows too much about us."

Ultear, whose magic power was exhausted, stood up from the ground with difficulty.

Looking at Hades, who was silent for a moment, the expression on her face was somewhat ugly.

Although it was only a relatively simple contact from beginning to end, the terrifying information revealed by the other party was not small at all.

First, they knew about the Tower of Heaven plan, which was something only Ultear and Hades knew; even if there was a mole from the other party in Grimoire Heart.

Even if one of the Seven Kin of Purgatory was their person, it would be impossible to know about the Tower of Heaven plan.

Secondly, it was the other party's understanding of Hades himself.

The other party's understanding of their master was unexpectedly high; perhaps they hadn't said much from beginning to end, but anyone with a discerning eye could see that the other party didn't know Hades for the first time.

Finally, the most terrifying point.

The biggest secret of Grimoire Heart, the 'Grimoire Heart', the other party seemed to know; this was the most terrifying.

"Akatsuki organization?"

"Interesting. Since the other party said there will be a chance to meet and cooperate later, then don't worry about it."

Hades thought for a while and soon made his decision.

That was to keep everything as it was.

After all, if he really took the other party's words to heart, then Hades would be completely passive, and many things would become timid.

The asymmetry in information was simply too great.

"Everything remains according to the original plan."

"It's just that, compared to the previous plan, I will keep an extra eye out."

Hades looked at Ultear standing in front of him and said: "Don't let any accidents happen and not be able to come back."

After saying this, Hades didn't say anything more and walked slowly toward the cabin.

No matter what world it is, intelligence is the most important thing.

If there is no intelligence, it is very easy to be caught off guard.

Now that Grimoire Heart was lacking intelligence, even though they knew of the existence of the Akatsuki organization and had even clashed with its members just now, they couldn't do anything to the Akatsuki organization.

The only thing they could do was probably to do nothing.

Everything would go according to the original plan, at most keeping an extra eye out to avoid any unexpected situations.

"Yes, this subordinate understands."

Hearing Hades's answer, Ultear also nodded seriously.

'First the Whitebeard Pirates, then the Witch Cult.'

'Now there is this Akatsuki organization.'

'There are too many variables.'

Looking at the distant sky, the expression on Ultear’s face was somewhat complex.

'Hades is truly strong.'

'Fortunately, the other party was somewhat cautious this time.'

Looking at the Deva Path of Pain and Konan puppets in his system backpack, Lin Cheng let out a sigh of relief.

To ensure his presence was high enough, Lin Cheng spent 100,000 emotional value to accelerate the cooldown of the remote summoning skill.

Skills with cooldown times can be accelerated; the first acceleration consumes 100,000 emotional value, and then if you want to use it again before the next cooldown, you need to add a zero to the back, and so on.

This time Lin Cheng was indeed lucky.

Because they were at high altitude, the other party completely did not expect the descent of the Deva Path of Pain and Konan, which led to Hades being constrained everywhere in the simple exchange with the Deva Path of Pain.

Otherwise, facing Hades and all the members of Grimoire Heart under his command, Lin Cheng would also have to send out all his powerful pieces.

Only with Ace and Nagato Uzumaki both going all out could he take down Grimoire Heart with a relatively strong posture.

'However, although there are risks, the harvest is not small.'

'Adding the emotional value brushed from Grimoire Heart just now, I can perform another diamond puppet draw.'

Although it had been a while since the news report of the full-scale war between Phantom Lord and Fairy Tail broke out, Lin Cheng's emotional value hadn't accumulated much.