Chapter 76: 75. Sword of the Silver Heart

75. Sword of the Silver Heart

Aelafia raised her eyebrows slightly in surprise, listening to Li Ang earnestly.

What Li Ang mainly told her was that this was not a local disturbance like those in the past, but one involving forces he did not understand.

He hoped that while she investigated the Empire's objectives, she would not go too deep, would communicate with the outside if any situation arose, and would not think of solving unknown enemies alone.

"You really are worried about me."

A faint smile appeared on the young girl's small face.

"Alright, I've heard everything you said. Now, let me say what I need to say."

She held up a delicate finger: "First, this level of matter is already within my professional duties; there is no such thing as me owing you a favor. Save the favor for something more critical next time."

"Second, I said it before, didn't I? The legendary trial I have to face needs your help. When the time comes, I will formally issue a commission to you through the guild, but in this world, only you can help me, so I will still owe you another favor."

"You might as well keep this favor, and add it to the one from my trial. When the two are combined, I might even help you complete something a bit excessive."

"So we... so you don't need to be so polite with me. It is I who have more to ask of you."

After finishing, Aelafia held her beautiful chin high, appearing to be in a very good mood.

"Then I'll leave it to you." Li Ang nodded solemnly.

"Then, there is some more information I can provide you."

He called Dorothy over again, having her take out the records she had taken from the Count's room earlier.

A pile of record books was spread out on the deck. The scribe girl analyzed them, searching for abnormal material and capital flows in Spark Port.

After a while, the results came out.

"Are they all flowing to the island nation of Makaina?" Lancelot asked from the side.

"With this amount of capital, it could be explained on the surface as purchasing magic airships for the Empire."

Dorothy shook her head: "But from the conversation we heard earlier, perhaps more than one territory is doing similar things. If that's the case, there must be something very large being built over there."

Aelafia nodded: "After the suppression is complete, our Flame Group will focus on this place. I've heard some rumors about it before; it seems to have a long and complex history."

With that, the tasks for all parties were set.

After handing Winders over to the Order Group, Lancelot ran over to find Li Ang.

"Winders wants to talk to me?" Li Ang was surprised. At this moment, this guy should hate him to the bone; what was there to talk about?

Arriving in front of Winders, who was locked in the cabin, he saw that his formal wear was tattered and his hair was messy. Within a day, he had gone from high spirits to being completely apprehended. He was dejected and hadn't said a word the whole way.

"What do you want with me?" Li Ang sat down in front of him.

"I didn't ask you here to apologize, of course."

Winders sneered, then gave a bitter smile: "I didn't stop Soul Apex from kicking you, but it wasn't my business either. I was just spending money to tag along for the experience and credentials, thinking that if you left, it would just be a change in command and support. Although I didn't realize you had your own things going on, even if I had known, I couldn't have stopped it."

"I know that. I wasn't expecting you or anyone else to admit fault. Is that all you wanted to say?"

"I just wanted to ask, why here of all places? Saying you were deliberately retaliating earlier was just pre-battle taunting. But I'm very frustrated now—why was it such a coincidence? Without you, our family could have successfully helped the Empire's great cause!"

"I just happened to be returning to my hometown and got caught up in the Empire's affairs."

Li Ang said it very flatly.

Winders smiled bitterly: "Truly, fate."

He didn't say anything else.

Fate? Perhaps.

Along the way, Li Ang also felt as if he had been swept into some kind of world tide all by himself.

As soon as Li Ang stepped out, Aelafia, floating not far away, beckoned to him.

"I have something to say to you."

Li Ang followed her around to a secluded part of the deck.

On the other side of the deck, Dorothy caught a glimpse of this scene. She tilted her head, as if some image had flashed through her mind, so she bit her lip and crept over on tiptoe.

Halfway there, she discovered that Lancelot was already hiding there, so both of them began to eavesdrop.

Aelafia was floating on the edge of the deck, her feet stepping on flying blades. Her golden hair and skirt danced in the wind, but her expression was very calm.

"Li Ang, is it interesting for you to come here and play a raising game?"

Not sure what she wanted to express, Li Ang did not speak.

Had this little bean-person not given up on persuading him to join her group?

"You appeared here this time—I heard from Lancelot that you originally wanted to take a group of Imperial soldiers to the Order Hall? How did you encounter them?"

"I encountered them attacking innocents on the road."

"I see..." Aelafia murmured softly.

Li Ang felt as if he had been seen through a little by her.

"You've gotten yourself involved in some matters, haven't you?" the golden-haired girl asked.

Truly sharp. Li Ang sighed in his heart.

If it weren't for Zoe, he couldn't have had a conflict with the Empire.

The little girl in front of him looked young only because of her race; her strength was built on years of tempering, and she had enough experience and wisdom to grasp the clues in things.

【Name: Aelafia Elma】

【Race: Bean-person (Blade-Control Bloodline)】

【Profession: Blade-Control Master, Rank 9】

【Summon: Constructed Hundred Soldiers, Rank 8. Blade-Scale Flying Dragon, Rank 7】

【Energy Source: Weapon Race Blood, Rank 7. Metal Reconstruction Core, Rank 8】

【Equipment: Selected Treasure Arsenal (Vow-Breaking Revenge Thorn Spear, Flame Demon Chain Blade Claw, Dark Gold Ghost Face Heavy Hammer), Rank 9. Hidden Blade Silk Skirt, Rank 7. Demon-Treading Footwraps, Rank 7.】

【Ultimate: Professional Ultimate—Thousand Blade Symphony, Infinite Weapon Casting Domain, Comprehensive Ultimate—Treasure Weapon Trial, War Goddess】

【Skills: Blade-Control Master (Weapon Manipulation, Armed Analysis, Armed Construction, Arsenal Storage), Selected Treasure Arsenal (Revenge Certain-Death Piercing, Red Lotus Ravaging Destruction, Wraith Ghost Breaking Strike), Racial Bloodline (Demonized Blood, Metal Affinity)】

【Combat Power Boost: 77%】

Although he had been mentally prepared, using the system to observe her specific strength still made Li Ang sigh in his heart.

Aelafia asked: "The matter you encountered has to do with you preparing to set sail again, doesn't it?"

"More or less."

Now, if he wanted to bring the power of the world's female lead into his team, he would have to deal with the challenges that came with it.

"Hmm, if that's all it is, then I'm relieved."

Li Ang smiled: "You're just like Lancelot, afraid that my purpose for forming a group is impure?"

"No," the girl said decisively: "From my past understanding of you, you aren't someone who would want to play house, so the answer is basically that you are preparing to rise again, and it just happened to involve this matter."

She crossed her arms: "I'm mainly just a bit curious about your state after leaving Soul Apex."

Li Ang didn't take her bait.

"After being kicked, you didn't have any reaction; you acted too much like a pushover."

"Am I a pushover? Yes, it's not like no one has said that before."

Aelafia chuckled: "In our past ancient battlefield operations, your wrist could be called iron-blooded. You didn't show a hint of softness when killing enemies or issuing tasks."

"Someone like you, not taking control of the team and letting yourself be kicked—most people can't understand it. Don't pretend you couldn't do it."

"Oh my," Li Ang scratched his hair, "If I had laid it out from the beginning, there would have been a chance, I just didn't really want to."

"In others' eyes, you might not have any danger. Lancelot has a buddy mentality like a child, and that noble lady on the side is probably already so charmed by you that she'd give herself to you tonight if she could. But I'm different."

"You are a member of the Knight Resolution Council, a wielder of world power, a revered Paladin, and an Order Group leader managing the safety of large airspaces. You are also a powerhouse approaching the legendary level yourself. Can it be the same?"

Aelafia's cheeks flushed slightly from Li Ang's flattery: "Flattery won't make me dizzy and forget the original topic, you know?"

"I think it's strange that you let yourself be kicked. When we coordinated in battle before, the desire in your eyes to build a career for Soul Apex wasn't fake."

"The goal was reached, wasn't it?" Li Ang shrugged.

"Once reached, you leave. Shouldn't you have chosen to go home and retire? Why form a group again? You even want that pampered girl over there who doesn't lift a finger. Hmm, she does have an unusual magic rhythm in her. You aren't someone who picks people randomly. But you know quite a few people at the Exalted Realm, and you could summon eccentric loners. Why find her, and there's even a little swordsman elsewhere?"

"I do know some powerful eccentrics, but I crave people with high execution, calmness, and steadiness, uh..."

As Li Ang spoke, he couldn't continue.

"Those people, although eccentric, are still less effort than raising children from scratch. You doing this shows you want the team completely under your control, right?"

Li Ang did not respond.

Aelafia leaned in slightly, her doll-like face close to his.

"That's the feeling. When you don't speak, it's as if you're pondering in your heart how to kill the other person."

"You make it sound like I'm some kind of murderous maniac."

"I'm just guessing that perhaps you were already fed up with Soul Apex. Accepting being kicked so decisively—was it so you could convince yourself on a psychological level to kill them all?"

Li Ang laughed dumbly, shook his head, and remained silent.

The golden-haired girl's lips moved, and she reached out a small hand, covering Li Ang's head.

"Being forced to leave the team—this isn't your fault, you know."

She comforted him gently: "Tempering your own professional skills to a level others can't reach, yet suffering prejudice because of the specialty of your profession—none of this is your fault."

"Like you, I know what efforts I've put in to cultivate to this day, and we are proud because of it. I understand just by looking at your eyes."

"I don't want to stand on the opposite side of you. Personnel changes in teams happen often in Newbis. If you choose revenge, and your methods are too ruthless, I will have to face you in this position."

"I just asked Lancelot about the bank matter. Are you going to the Holy Capital in the short term?"

"Not for the time being."

"Then when you go next time, the bank will have been unsealed, and compensation will be offered. I said so."

"Thanks."

"If you're too depressed, talk to me more."

Aelafia reached out another hand, hugged Li Ang gently, and then pulled back.

Realizing what she had done, she turned her flushed cheeks away slightly.

"Re—revenge, I personally support you. In any case, don't get too caught up in it."

Li Ang smiled: "I know."

The girl turned her back: "Many people think my bloodline and professional power are already unrivaled in the entire sky, but that's just bragging. The importance of team combat far exceeds individual strength, but in team battles, I can't exert a greater effect through mutual cooperation. This is also caused by the characteristics of my abilities."

"In all these years, I've only met one person who could cooperate with me, and that's you, this Rank 9 Spellcraft Master. Others don't take it seriously, but I value it very much."

Lancelot, who was peeking from the side, had his mouth open wider than a howler monkey.

Dorothy bit her lip and clicked her tongue in displeasure many times.

After speaking a few more words, Li Ang and Aelafia, who was flying alongside him, walked toward the wide part of the deck.

Just as the two were about to slip away, they heard Aelafia say: "No need to run. I sensed your magic rhythms long ago."

The golden-haired girl held her chin high: "What I said isn't anything shameful; if you heard it, you heard it."

Lancelot leaned over to Li Ang: "My god, sometimes we do feel that besides her willful side, the young lady also has a side like a mother, but why is it you who gets to enjoy it? I really... Ouch! Young lady, don't!"

Lancelot was knocked a few more times by the floating small hammer.

"Are you really not considering joining the Order Group?"

Aelafia still hadn't let it go in the end.

Li Ang thought for a moment; there seemed to be a way to make her stop this topic.

He said directly: "If you want to cooperate with me in battle, why must I go to the Order Air Cavalry Group? You can come to my group."

"I, uh, I come to your..."

Aelafia seemed shocked. After adjusting her tone, she said: "As a public group leader, how could I abandon a group of members to join your private team?"

Lancelot whispered from the side: "That means she's personally willing, then... Ouch, don't hit me! I was wrong!"

"Let's not talk about this for now."

Aelafia sighed, giving up for the time being.

She pointed at Li Ang: "Take off your clothes."

"Hey!" Dorothy couldn't help but cry out. She gestured aimlessly with both hands: "You—you've already taken advantage, what else do you want to do?!"

"That set of equipment. By the rules, I can't let you wear it away."

"I know."

Li Ang took off Winders' armor and set it aside.

"You haven't put down the energy source yet."

"Hmm? What? That's an energy source?" Lancelot looked at the Wind-Chaser Holy Bell hanging on Li Ang's chest: "I thought this thing was an ornament. You, without the young lady, you really would have fooled me."

Aelafia reached out and slashed into the void beside her. Amidst the thunder of dimensional friction, a crack opened in the air out of thin air.

Li Ang knew this was her "Treasure Weapon Arsenal," a space for storing weapons and equipment opened up by a high-rank special profession. This space was located in the magic dimension.

She reached in and found a silver metal ball, covered in exquisite hollow patterns.

She held the small ball in both hands. It floated in the magic, and then flowing metal emerged from thin air around it. It looked like mercury, but in essence, it was pure magic matter created by Exalted Realm magic.

The metal circled the small ball to shape it, then turned into a streamlined short blade. Between its blade and handle was a ring filled with magic, with the patterned metal ball suspended within it.

That ball was an energy source, and Aelafia, as a Blade-Control Master, had made it into a weapon on the spot with it as the center.

"Stop looking so gloomy, this is for you."

【Sword of the Silver Heart】

【A sword composed of pure magic metal solidified in the material world with an ancient silver ball energy source as the core. It serves as both a weapon and a magic tool, filled with Aelafia Elma's heart.】

【Rank: 7】

【Category: Short Sword, Magic Wand】

【Energy Source: Silver Heart, Rank 7】

【Attack Enhancement: Pure Magic Matter Blade (+1)】

【Spell Enhancement: Adds pure magic metal blade to spell attacks】

【Equipment Skill: Silver Blade Wheel】

"I can't solidify Rank 8 pure magic matter yet, but its sharpness doesn't lose to them."

Aelafia pointed to the blade of the Sword of the Silver Heart: "If you really encounter a Rank 8 powerhouse, you can safely trade blows. It can automatically repair itself by relying on the magic I solidified. As long as my life exists in Newbis, it will always be as new." ===== CHAPTER 77 =====