Chapter 76: 75. Sword of the Silver Heart

75. Sword of the Silver Heart

Alafia raised her eyebrows in slight surprise, listening to Li Ang intently.

Li Ang mainly explained to her 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 delve too deeply, that she would communicate with the outside in a timely manner if any situation arose, and that she would not think of solving any unknown enemy alone.

"You really are worried about me."

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

"Alright, I've taken your words to heart; now let me say what I need to say."

She held up a delicate finger: "First, matters of this level are already within my professional duties; there is no such thing as owing you a favor. You should use that favor for something more critical next time."

"Second, I've said it before. The legendary trial I must face requires your help. When the time comes, I will formally submit a commission to you through the guild, but in this world, you are still the only one who can help me, so I will still owe you a favor."

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

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

After finishing, Alafia lifted her beautiful chin, seemingly in a very good mood.

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

"Next, there is some information I can provide you."

He called Dorothy over again and had her bring out the records and documents taken from the Count's room earlier.

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

After a while, the results were out.

"They are all flowing to the Makaina Island Nation?" Lancelot said from the side.

"Given this volume of funds, it makes sense on the surface to say it's for buying magic airships for the Empire."

Dorothy shook her head: "But from the conversation we overheard 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."

Alafia nodded: "Once 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 Wendes over to the Order Group, Lancelot ran over to find Li Ang.

"Wendes wants to talk to me?" Li Ang was surprised. At this moment, this guy should hate him to the bone; what could there possibly be to say?

Arriving before Wendes, who was locked in the ship's cabin, he saw that his formal attire was tattered and his hair was messy. Within a day, he had gone from high-spirited to completely defeated; he was dejected and hadn't said a word the entire way.

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

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

Wendes 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 mean a change in command and support. Although I didn't realize you had your own unique skills, 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 push forward 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.

Wendes 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 up alone into some kind of world tide.

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

"I have something to tell you."

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

On the other end of the deck, Dorothy caught a glimpse of this scene. She tilted her head, as if some image had flashed through her mind, then bit her lip and tiptoed over.

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

Alafia was floating at the edge of the deck, her feet resting on flying blades, her golden hair and skirt dancing in the wind, yet her expression was very calm.

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

Unsure of what she wanted to express, Li Ang did not speak.

Had this little bean not given up on trying to recruit him into her group?

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

"I ran into them attacking innocents on the road."

"I see..." Alafia mused softly.

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

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

Truly sharp. Li Ang sighed inwardly.

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

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

[Name: Alafia Elma]

[Race: Bean-kin (Blade-Wielding Bloodline)]

[Profession: Blade-Wielder, Rank 9]

[Summons: Constructed Hundred Weapons, Rank 8; Blade-Scale Flying Dragon, Rank 7]

[Energy Source: Weapon Race Blood, Rank 7; Metal Reconstruction Core, Rank 8]

[Equipment: Selected Treasure Arsenal (Oath-Breaking Vengeance Thorn Spear, Flame Demon Chain Blade Claws, Dark Gold Ghost Mask Heavy Hammer), Rank 9; Hidden Edge Silk Dress, Rank 7; Demon-Treading Footwraps, Rank 7.]

[Ultimate Techniques: Professional Ultimate—Symphony of a Thousand Blades, Infinite Weapon Casting Domain; Comprehensive Ultimate—Treasure Weapon Trial, War Goddess]

[Skills: Blade-Wielder (Weapon Manipulation, Armament Analysis, Armament Construction, Arsenal Storage), Selected Treasure Arsenal (Vengeance Fatal Pierce, Crimson Lotus Ravaging Destruction, Wraith Breaker Strike), Racial Bloodline (Demonized Blood, Metal Affinity)]

[Combat Power Boost: 77%]

Although he had been mentally prepared, Li Ang couldn't help but sigh inwardly when observing her specific strength with the system.

Alafia asked: "The things you've encountered, they have to do with you preparing to set sail again, right?"

"More or less."

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

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

Li Ang smiled: "Are you like Lancelot, afraid that my purpose in forming a group is impure?"

"No," the girl said decisively: "From my past understanding of you, you aren't the type of person who wants 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.

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

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

Alafia chuckled: "In our past battles on the ancient fields, your methods could be called iron-blooded. You didn't show a shred of softness when killing enemies or assigning tasks."

"A person like you, not seizing control of the team and letting yourself be kicked out—most people can't understand it. Don't pretend you couldn't have done it."

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

"In the eyes of others, you might seem harmless. Lancelot has the mindset of a childish buddy, and that noble lady on the side is probably so infatuated with you that she'd be willing to offer herself tonight, right? But I'm different."

"You are a member of the Knight's Council, a wielder of world power, a revered Paladin, an Order Group leader managing the safety of a large airspace, and a powerhouse approaching the legendary realm yourself—can it be the same?"

Alafia's cheeks flushed a slight peach color 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 out. When we coordinated in battle before, the desire in your eyes to build achievements for Soul Apex wasn't fake."

"The goal was reached." Li Ang shrugged.

"Once reached, you leave—that should mean choosing 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 rhythmic pulse of magic, so you didn't pick just anyone. But you know plenty of people at the Excellence realm, and you could recruit 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 stability, uh..."

As Li Ang spoke, he couldn't continue.

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

Li Ang did not respond.

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

"That's the feeling. When you don't speak, it's like you're calculating in your heart how to finish the other person off."

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

"I'm just guessing that perhaps you were fed up with Soul Apex yourself, and by accepting being kicked out so readily, you could convince yourself on a psychological level to kill them all."

Li Ang laughed in spite of himself, shook his head, and remained silent.

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

"Being forced to leave the team, that's not your fault."

She comforted him gently: "Honing your professional skills to a level others cannot reach, only to suffer prejudice because of the specialty of your profession—none of that is your fault."

"Like you, I know what efforts I've put in to reach where I am today, and we are proud because of it. I understand just by looking into your eyes."

"I don't want to stand on the opposite side of you. Team personnel changes 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; are you going to the Holy Capital in the short term?"

"Not for the time being."

"Then by the time you go next, the bank will have been unsealed, and they will offer compensation. I said so."

"Thanks."

"If you feel too stifled, talk to me more."

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

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

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

Li Ang smiled: "I know."

The young girl turned her back: "Many people think my bloodline and professional powers are already unrivaled in the entire sky, but that is just boasting. The importance of team combat far outweighs individual strength, but I cannot exert greater effect through mutual coordination during team battles; this is also caused by the characteristics of my abilities."

"In all these years, I have only met one person who can coordinate with me, and that is you, this 9th-rank Curse Master. Others may not take it seriously, but I value it highly."

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

Dorothy bit her lip and clicked her tongue in annoyance several times.

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

The two of them had just wanted to slip away when they heard Aelafia say: "No need to run, I sensed your mana rhythms long ago."

The blonde girl lifted her chin: "What I said isn't anything shameful, so let them hear it if they heard it."

Lancelot leaned over to Li Ang's side: "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 hit a few more times by the floating small hammer.

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

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 fight in cooperation with me, why must I go to the Order Sky Cavalry Corps? You can come to my group."

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

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

Lancelot said in a low voice from the side: "That means she is still willing personally... Ouch, don't hit me! I was wrong!"

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

Aelafia sighed and gave up for the time being.

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

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

"That set of equipment, according to the rules, I cannot let you wear it away."

"I know."

Li Ang took off the armor of Winders and set it aside.

"You haven't removed the energy source."

"Hm? 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, if not for the Young Lady, you really would have fooled me."

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

Li Ang knew this was her "Noble Phantasm Armory," a space for storing weapons and equipment opened up by a high-rank special profession, located in the mana dimension.

She reached in and found a silver metal ball, covered in intricate openwork patterns, which was very exquisite.

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

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

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

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

[Sword of the Silver Heart]

[A sword composed of pure mana metal solidified in the material world, with the ancient silver ball energy source as its core. It serves as both a weapon and a magic tool, filled with the intentions of Aelafia Elma.]

[Rank: 7]

[Category: Short Sword, Magic Wand]

[Energy Source: Silver Heart, Rank 7]

[Attack Enhancement: Pure Mana Material Blade (+1)]

[Spell Enhancement: Adds pure mana metal blade to spell attacks]

[Equipment Skill: Silver Blade Wheel]

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

Aelafia pointed at the blade of the Sword of the Silver Heart: "If you really encounter a Rank 8 powerful enemy, you can rest assured to trade blows. It can automatically repair itself by relying on the mana I solidified. As long as my life exists in Newbis, it will always be as good as new."