Chapter 72: 71. Under the Witness of the Goddess

71. Under the Witness of the Goddess

"The plan has changed? What news do you have?"

Li Ang told Lancelot about the imperial envoy and the other information he had heard.

"There’s another one of those things? That makes sense; if the numbers weren't sufficient, the other team members wouldn't have cut off contact with me."

Lancelot pondered: "There’s another one over by the shipping lane? That means if we want to run, we have to run into the interior of the Ignis airspace."

"No," Li Ang shook his head: "We can't go inward; we can only head toward the Floss airspace. The fact that the Empire dared to act at all shows that at least a significant portion of the islands are in a state like Spark Port."

"We don't know which islands have defected to the Empire, or whether there are Annihilation Knights on them."

Lancelot scratched his head: "I want to go back and support them, but this Empire’s background is truly unclear. As far as I can recall, there hasn't been such a troublesome local force causing chaos outside of the Demon Disaster Domain."

Li Ang, however, knew that as the villains standing in the way of the world's protagonist, the Empire definitely had something up its sleeve. But the current Empire wasn't yet at a level that was truly formidable. He felt that most members of the Flame Team were like Lancelot—not likely to be defeated by the Empire, just temporarily pinned down.

When there is no crisis, the elites of the Flame Team are scattered. In this way, by restricting the assembly of the Flame Team's elites and blocking the shipping lanes, the Empire can seize the opportunity to achieve its true goal.

"Breaking through the shipping lane again and bringing in reinforcements from the outside is the only way to break the deadlock," Li Ang said.

Lancelot agreed: "In that case, we have to take out that black-armored bull-man on the island first. Otherwise, if we run and get caught by him at the entrance to the shipping lane, we'll be caught in a pincer attack. In our current state, it’ll be hard for the two of us to deal with that."

"That support spell of yours is very strong. With it, I should be able to beat him."

He added: "But what about afterwards? I’ll be weak for a while after the amplification ends, and I’ll have to fight another one at the shipping lane entrance. Can your spell be cast consecutively? If not, I don't think I can beat the second one."

"Casting it a second time will consume your spirituality."

"This, this, sigh, if I can't beat them, I can only burn it all down. Anyway, living longer just means working more."

"You say that as if you aren't going to retire."

Li Ang patted his shoulder: "It shouldn't have to come to that. Where did you put that set of equipment belonging to Winders?"

"Oh, you’ve got your eye on that equipment? It’s true that I could wear it temporarily; that would provide some insurance."

While eavesdropping on the father and son of Finat and Elton discussing matters earlier, Li Ang heard that they planned to describe the Annihilation Knights to the outside world as foreign sky knights, pinning the blame for harming the Order Flame Team members on these "sky knights from who knows where."

Following standard logic, they would surely seek reinforcements from the Empire later to undo the Order Team's magic-sealing net and retrieve the equipment for Winders.

"Let me see, the current plan is: find that equipment, go to the noble port to take a ship, then kill a black-armored knight, then take the ship to the shipping lane entrance, and fight our way out, right?"

Lancelot counted off the tasks one by one.

He looked at Dorothy: "Then this lady will go to take the ship, I will go to scout the location of the black-armored knight, and Li Ang, you go find the equipment, and then we rendezvous?"

"Since the task of killing an Annihilation Knight has been added, the previous plan must be scrapped and redone," Li Ang said.

Given the Count's determination to defect to the Empire, the probability of there being a ship at the outer port is very small. The most reliable option is still Dorothy's ship, but there might be guards there looking for her.

One thing our side cannot confirm is the location of the Annihilation Knight. Creating a disturbance could draw him out, but he is capable of destroying ordinary ships. We cannot fight him at the port or on a ship; we must kill him before boarding.

In this way, we must not alert the enemy prematurely, and the action must be carried out in one go.

"There is a place that can trigger the greatest disturbance, is very close to the noble port, and can even allow you to achieve the original purpose of coming to Spark Island," Dorothy said.

It was deep into the night when Dorothy emerged from the secret passage.

Although she felt that Hofu wouldn't have someone guarding her room at all times, just in case, she returned to the street through a nearby exit and walked back toward her home.

Halfway there, she was discovered by patrolling guards and sent back to the entrance of the mansion.

"Young Lady, this is truly foolish."

The butler's tone lacked any concern; the negative emotions within it referred mainly to the potential impact she might have on the family. He was an agent of her father's will and did not care about Dorothy herself.

She had known this fact for a long time, and now, she would not feel dejected because of it.

She smiled perfectly, responding to Hofu's words, which were full of etiquette on the surface but were actually a warning.

Because Dorothy was too calm and did not resist as she had in the past, by the end, Hofu even felt that she was just venting some girlish emotions before the engagement.

Returning to her room, Leona was waiting for her at the door, looking anxious.

The half-dragon girl threw herself into her arms: "Senior! Thank goodness, I thought you had been kidnapped. Tomorrow is such an important day, after all."

"Yes, tomorrow is very important," Dorothy closed her eyes and hugged her.

"Leona, I’ve always wanted to ask, what is it that you like about me?"

"Eh? Like? No, no, wait a second..."

This question made the half-dragon girl panic instantly; a red flush rose on her bright face, and she didn't know how to conduct herself.

She shook her head, as if shaking off certain thoughts, and then adjusted her breathing: "When I was being bullied, it was Senior who stood up for me. Ever since then, I’ve been thinking about Senior. I am truly lucky to be able to become real friends with Senior."

She had said this many times. Dorothy recalled that it was also a long time ago.

She had attended the Mistream Primary Academy and did not choose to continue her cultivation after graduation. Leona, however, continued her studies after that and was now at the Advanced Academy.

Given the age gap between the two, Leona was a genius to have had any interaction with her before Dorothy graduated. Given her age and her peculiar appearance, it was perfectly normal for her to have been bullied at the time.

At that time, Dorothy had prestige among her classmates due to her experience returning from adventures and was also very confident. She actually didn't remember helping Leona; she guessed she had at most passed by and said a couple of words.

However, the half-dragon girl always remembered this, gathered the courage to contact her, starting as pen pals and developing into meeting in person.

In the past, Dorothy had always felt that this was no big deal and didn't understand why Leona cared so much about her, but her experiences over this day made her realize it in an instant.

Yes, they are so alike; both are trying to grasp a fleeting ray of light in their lives.

But both are also wishful thinking.

"Senior is also very kind-hearted, always helping up the flowers and plants on the roadside, and helping the poor. You are also poised and graceful on various grand occasions. I am completely incapable of that. Senior has such good temperament, and I can't find a second person more beautiful than you. You are really just like a goddess..."

Dorothy felt so lucky to have a second chance, but Leona... Dorothy probably knew that her "friendship" toward her wasn't quite right, but she couldn't respond to it.

Dorothy let go of the embrace and placed her hands on Leona's shoulders.

"Leona, you must find your own path."

The half-dragon girl tilted her head, not understanding, but she seemed to sense a strange feeling, and the expression on her face was unsettled.

Dorothy didn't talk to her in depth and persuaded the uneasy and reluctant half-dragon girl to go back.

She packed up important things and began to deal with the items that might cause her social death. Even if she were to become a sky knight and never return, she didn't want others to know; in the future, she would only let that one person know.

Dorothy removed her brown contact lenses and shaved off all her hair, which had been dyed ginger yellow.

The next morning, in front of the Wotam Church in Spark Port, amidst the grand music of the band, the crowd surrounded the couple who were about to enter into an engagement, walking toward each other.

It wasn't the day of the wedding yet, so the bride was not wearing a wedding dress, but a simple white formal gown.

Her appearance shocked many people. They knew that Ms. Campbell, who never liked to socialize, was a stunning beauty, but this was the first time they had seen her truly dressed up.

The warm sun rendered her silk-like pale gold hair, and the elegance of an elf became the base tone.

The extreme curves accentuated by the gown and her charming features, along with the bare, smooth back not covered by the dress, added a touch of allure to the elegance.

The few strands of rose-red highlights and the strange, shifting iridescent colors floating in her pupils gave her a transcendent feeling, 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 cared about this lady couldn't help but feel envious today of the person who was about to be engaged to her.

Winders, wearing a formal suit, whispered to his brother beside him: "I suddenly feel that this marriage alliance is not bad."

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

The two stood side by side and walked into the church, followed by the crowd.

Since eight hundred years ago, many imperial territories have believed in the Wotam religion. Under the stained-glass window at the end of the church interior, 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.

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

Dorothy raised her head. 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 in the church.

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

A smile appeared on Dorothy's beautiful face.

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

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