Chapter 72: 71. Under the Witness of the Goddess

71. Under the Witness of the Goddess

Putting the key problem on the table, the chat-like discussion temporarily stopped.

Lanslo's view was the same as Li Ang's—the black knight came specifically because they had opened up the shipping lane, and the Empire believed that the benefits gained after blocking the Ignis Airspace far exceeded the harm brought by violating the guild's laws.

"Do you have any clue what the Empire wants to do?" Li Ang looked at Dorothy.

The lady shook her head: "I only know that more than a year ago, some people in the City Hall began to mention a name called Kekrus, and then mentioned the 'current Emperor'."

Her surname, Campbell, was the ruler of another sky island in the Ignis Airspace.

Sky Knights like Li Ang didn't know the roots of many sky islands here, but as a noble of one of the islands, Dorothy was clear about it.

"Many of our islands are members of the Empire. I learned about this when I was taking tutoring classes as a child, but it was just mentioned, and there was no concrete feeling at all. Everyone just managed their own affairs."

According to Dorothy, it was precisely the suddenly appearing "Emperor" who began to reunite the islands that nominally belonged to the Empire, and indeed many people accepted the call.

"It was also half a year ago that Hof told me, and I only knew then that my father and Count Finat had decided to respond to the Emperor's call and return to the Empire's command. Therefore, the matter between me and Winders had to be settled even more."

Dorothy turned her face away, looking at the dark corners in the secret passage.

"Before blocking the shipping lane, there was no omen at all. It was just the Count suddenly giving an order, letting the city's government affairs cooperate with it, and the officials could only follow suit. I don't know anything else."

The girl only knew a limited amount, so Li Ang turned the topic to leaving the island.

"Lanslo, have you contacted the Flame Group?"

Lanslo shook his head while holding the communicator: "No, I speculate that the Empire has figured out our garrison and patrol locations. Everyone has been attacked, and the garrison is no exception, just to prevent us from uniting."

In the four relatively peaceful airspaces, as long as it didn't involve dangerous places, one elite member with a Rank 7 professional rank cooperating with a few ordinary members was enough to maintain order. But this kind of power would fall into a bitter battle when facing an Annihilation Knight.

"They definitely have a premeditated plan. It just happened that when the eldest lady left, the garrison was attacked. She doesn't know if she received the news."

"So, if we want to leave, we have to find a ship ourselves." Li Ang said: "Under these circumstances, is it legal to grab a ship of the Count?"

"In an emergency, yes." Lanslo nodded: "But they will definitely have guards there."

"I have one." Dorothy said.

The two men looked at her. The girl pursed her lips and said softly: "My family privately equipped me with a small flying boat, and it's not parked at the trade port side, but in the noble-only port on the other side of Spark Island. However..."

"However?"

"I ran out secretly now, so Hof might have people looking for me everywhere, so there are guards there too."

"The black knight can only guard one side." Lanslo said: "The most likely thing is that they are guarding the big port side, so the defense of the small port can be easily broken by me and Li Ang. It's just that we can't catch Winders and take him back."

It could be seen that Dorothy was also a bit disappointed. Li Ang said: "If you leave the island with me, you don't have to care about Winders anymore."

"So, are you willing to let me officially join?"

Li Ang didn't nod. Dorothy said again: "However, if I just leave like this, if Winders isn't caught, it will leave a troublesome mess for my father and brother."

She added: "Ah, I'm not saying you didn't do your best, it's that I was selfish. I determined to choose the life I want to live, and I want not to be blamed by them, just trying to minimize the trouble left after I leave."

"Worrying for others is a good quality, don't take it to heart. Besides, your life is yours, and you don't have to be too burdened."

Li Ang said: "In adventures, you often encounter situations that require trade-offs."

Dorothy lowered her eyes, but there was a smile on the corner of her mouth.

Looking at these two, Lanslo was a bit dumbfounded. He sighed and said: "Then it's decided, go to the noble-only port to take Ms. Dorothy's ship and leave. We must arrive before sunrise, and we still have to plan the route."

"This secret passage can probably lead to a very long position away from there."

"Really? I thought this only existed inside the Count's mansion?" The young man was stunned by the scale of the secret passage.

The three finally decided to rest and recharge for a while, and then take advantage of the time when people were sleeping the most to start breaking out.

"You rest for a while first, you've been hiding for a long time after being injured." Li Ang said to Lanslo.

The young man said that the place that seemed most dangerous was actually better to avoid the pursuit of the black knight. He chose to hide in the Count's mansion, always maintaining mobility, avoiding the patrol of the guards and the movement routes of the servants.

Plus, after being activated by Li Ang's spirituality in the morning and fighting a battle, he still had to escape from the Annihilation Knight. His energy consumption was indeed very high today.

Let Lanslo rest in the secret passage, while Li Ang intended to finish exploring the Count's mansion. In terms of efficiency, maybe he could still have two or three hours of rest time.

He also really needed to make up for sleep. After the matter here was over, he must sleep explosively.

"You go, be careful, I won't participate."

Lanslo sent Li Ang away temporarily with an expression of "I am a good brother."

There were three exits from the wall interlayer on the third floor to the outside.

The first was the observation deck on the outer wall of the mansion. There were ropes and simple climbing iron rings here, which should have been built for emergency evacuation.

Outside the second exit, the key thing was finally discovered.

This was a spacious stone room. At the end of the stone room was a metal door locked with a magic lock. Since it was built on the top floor of the mansion, this was likely the most important place for the Finat family, and the monster lying in front of the metal door also proved this point.

【Pale Dog】

【Predator wandering in ice and snow】

【Species: Wolf type】

【Combat Intelligence: Rank 2】

【Servant: None】

【Energy Source: None】

【Body Strength: Ice Beast Claws, Rank 4. Frost-covered Leather, Rank 4.】

【Special Attack: None】

【Skill: Snow Adaptation, Cold Resistance】

【Combat Power Amplification: 5%】

It was not a very strong monster, and it was captured by a Mind Suppression Scroll, so its combat intelligence was damaged. But from the surface, it was still quite majestic.

Even though it was sleeping, the texture of being able to grab steel transmitted by the sharp claws, the beast's sweat gland smell, and the low-growl-like snoring still brought it a kind of power.

Dorothy took a light breath: "Do, do we have to fight it?"

When she adventured with Li Ang before, the whole team was the most ordinary adventurers. In the Aomori Islands, they dealt with low-rank monsters like wasteland beasts, green vine snakes, and colorful claw birds, and had only encountered a wyvern once.

For her, facing a Rank 4 monster directly would be a bit nervous.

"Go on, let me see the power of your Demon Life Flower."

Dorothy's charming eyes were covered with a little moist water color, but Li Ang crossed his arms and didn't intend to do it himself.

Her appearance shocked quite a few people; they knew that Ms. Campbell, who never cared for socializing, was an extraordinary beauty, but this was the first time they had seen her truly dressed to the nines.

The warm sun rendered her pale gold hair like a silk waterfall, with the elegance of an elf as the base tone.

The extreme curves cinched by her gown and her charming features, along with the smooth back left bare by the dress, added a touch of allure to her delicate grace.

A few strands of rose-red highlights and the shifting, strange iridescent colors floating in her pupils gave her a transcendent aura, as if a legendary forest nymph had stepped out of a painting and arrived in this garden blessed by the Goddess.

Even those who had never paid any attention to this lady couldn't help but feel envious today of the person who was about to be engaged to her.

Wenders, wearing his formal attire, whispered to his brother beside him, "I suddenly feel like this marriage alliance isn't so bad."

His eldest and second brothers secretly punched him and pushed him forward.

The two walked side by side, entering the church with the crowd following behind.

Since eight hundred years ago, many of the empire's territories had believed in the Votamu Sect; beneath the stained-glass window at the far end of the church, the statue of the Goddess looked down upon the world with compassion.

The priest held the holy scripture, waiting for both parties to take their places, and recited the questions according to the classic rites.

"... Ms. Dorothy Campbell, under the witness of the Goddess and the blessings of your family and friends, are you willing to enter into a sacred marriage contract with this gentleman?"

Dorothy raised her head, and in the sight of everyone, a pair of wings covered in tiny white flowers slowly unfolded behind her.

With a flap of her wings, countless tiny flower clusters were ejected, falling onto the floor; it was as if a sea of flowers had bloomed inside the church.

The crowd gasped in amazement, thinking this was an angel descending into the world.

A smile appeared on Dorothy's stunningly beautiful face.

"Under the witness of the Goddess, I refuse."

The white flowers twisted and grew one by one, turning into individual plant monsters with white five-petaled flowers at their tips.