Chapter 116: Two Heavenly Favorites

The journey through the Underworld continues; Li En's party still marvels at the Underworld's abundance of talent and rare materials, while the Surface World has plunged into new chaos.

"There is a major problem within the Shield Emblem Church," Dai Niya said as soon as she woke up, facing this cruel reality.

Even knowing their own "Alliance" could not be counted on, Dai Niya still felt her scalp prickle upon learning that their main supporters had issues.

She could not expose this matter; instead, she had to keep it secret while secretly resolving it.

The three Shanshen Sects, centered on the Shield Emblem Church, are her most powerful supporters now and the most active among those True God Churches.

Dai Niya absolutely could not accept scandals arising within them, or even a situation where mutual suspicion arose due to a traitor.

Sitting before her dressing table, allowing her maid to attend to her, Dai Niya bit her thumb and fell into deep thought.

This matter must be handled secretly; if possible, she did not even want the church's internal members to know, yet she did not wish to interfere too obviously in church affairs, as even with valid reasons, it would cause those True God Churches to harbor hostility and suspicion toward the already weak royal family.

One could say that in the hands of the kingdom and the royal family, there are only bad cards and worse cards.

Every action must be undertaken with extreme caution, again and again.

Even those supporters are mostly not loyal out of loyalty, but only because following this fallen royal family can yield greater benefits.

This itself is not a problem; loyalty should be rewarded, and rewards should even be used to enhance it, but now the royal family's treasury is too thin to offer sufficient rewards.

This does not mean the royal family has no money; in fact, the royal family remains quite wealthy, with imperial-level accumulations from the past that would last several lifetimes, but they are truly poor, having nothing left but money.

Fiefdoms granted, permissions within the kingdom, and the knowledge and materials to shape top-tier transcendent beings—these are far more precious.

Especially for the True God Churches, many expand their influence within the kingdom under the guise of supporting the royal family.

All along, these churches have been the royal family's most steadfast external supporters, yet also the external forces most in need of vigilance.

"Seek aid from the New Capital again? No, the situation there is also dire."

Not only is there little hope for rescue, but more helplessly, once her mother deems her "unqualified," she herself will likely face further restrictions.

Dai Niya does not want to become a tool for political marriage; she wants to become the second-generation queen.

"Your Highness, there is a visitor, a mage we have not contacted before. He calls himself Shi Difen Filanchi, an alchemist and healer. Our people checked; he carries no weapons."

"It is fine; we have an appointment. Let him wait for me in the reception hall."

Amidst many bad news, there are always some good tidings.

What delighted Dai Niya most was the reopening of the Hall of Heroes.

Setting aside other matters, for her who desperately needs talent now, these "young people with potential and reliability" are extremely precious.

Soon, this initial conversation, limited to Hero Soul candidates, ended.

This alchemist Shi Difen pledged his loyalty to the future queen.

In this era, not all talents are as tough as Li En and these paladins.

In fact, most talents are typical in that they follow whoever offers milk; the more they crave progress, the more they lack money, materials, and opportunities. The Princess, who holds righteousness and money, cannot recruit noble families and large powers that demand more political concessions, but recruiting these independent talents who have not yet risen is not difficult.

The greatest difficulty actually lies in how to make these talents lower their guard and reveal their true identities to Dai Niya.

"I have given up on this inheritance..." This was the Princess's first sentence, and her choice after repeated deliberation.

She clearly saw the other party sigh with relief and become more talkative.

The Hero Soul inheritance of Kuku will definitely bring about split personality; a politically unstable figure is absolutely unacceptable, at least to a reliable nation.

Dai Niya cannot bear the cost of another "me" appearing; if another "me" truly influences her inner desires, refusing to shoulder the responsibilities of a princess to become an ordinary little girl... what would happen to this nation? Dai Niya dares not even think about it.

After giving up the competition (Dai Niya: My goal is the next candidate!), she easily gained the loyalty of this poor alchemist.

Perhaps he is worthless now, but if he truly becomes a Hero Soul candidate, he will naturally grow powerful quickly; even if he fails to be selected, his potential is certainly not low.

"I will compete; I desire higher talent and research progress... Having extra personalities and thought lines should be a good thing for me; I believe my new personality will also be an excellent researcher." The alchemist's eyes burned with a fervor for knowledge that should be genuine.

"At least, we have gained another talent." Dai Niya estimated that among the seven candidates this round, at least one or two are from the Surface World.

But the appointed time has passed, and the other party still has no intention of coming to find her on his own.

In her rational judgment, she even hopes that Li En, this special Hero Soul proxy, can continue to maintain this special status.

Li En might not be able to make the final decision directly, but judging from the situation with Miss Shaliman, he can truly influence the Hero Soul's final decision.

"I hope he still remembers he is an Ark (Beastman)," but for some reason, Dai Niya always feels Li En will not blow a racial foul whistle as she hopes.

Taking a step back, Dai Niya only expects him to remain neutral and not side with the Underworld.

She hinted to Miss Shaliman to accelerate certain progress; she is truly worried Li En might be bribed by the Dark Elves of the Underworld, especially since that Priestess actually publicly poached people.

"Shameless... that woman's clothes." Recalling the illustrations of certain equipment worn by the Priestess and Miss Shaliman's retelling, the little girl immediately blushed.

If Li En's identity were exposed, the things those Underworld candidates could offer would not be inferior.

The Princess knows that for Dark Elf family knights, the line between a guest and a lover is very thin.

"Too shameless!"

In the worst case, some among them might be similar in status to herself.

What she worries about most is always that the inheritance falls into the hands of Underworld races, especially the Dark Elves.

Not just this time, but the Hero Souls thereafter as well.

This would truly become "aiding the enemy"... She has already regarded the entire Underworld as an enemy.

In fact, Miss Shaliman's party has already completed the envoy's mission.

Through conversation with the city lord, it was confirmed that the Dark Elf city does not intend to start a war; this sudden attack should only be the act of some radicals.

This is already the best possible expectation.

And receiving the Dark Elf city lord's promise to suppress those restless radicals has already made Dai Niya quite satisfied.

She is not naive enough to form an alliance with the Underworld; Dark Elves are natural traitors and oath-breakers, and their words are completely untrustworthy.

As long as war does not break out now, giving her time to clean up the big bombs underground, that is the bottom line she can accept.

Dai Niya does not know that after falling asleep tonight, she will likely receive a big surprise: four potential Beast-style Magical Girls are not a simple matter; merely screening and controlling the deer-girls in the city will be a huge trouble.

The same thing is happening in the Underworld.

On a certain street in Mosodilka, a tiny white deer floats peacefully.

It easily bypassed the dark elves outside, slipped through the window into a room where its "maiden" should be resting.

"I have negotiated with the slave trader; tonight he will bring the deer-tribe maiden for our inspection. When the time comes, we will seize her. What are you doing?" Without sufficient necessity, beasts have no constraints whatsoever.

Keeping one's word? Oaths? Those are the thoughts of the foolish and inefficient.

The Beast's Child felt slightly puzzled; its doll-like contractor was not sitting calmly on the bed in a daze as usual.

She sat at the table, holding a dagger, comparing it to a blueprint, seemingly carving something.

"Making a weapon. I just learned."

Little Deer fell silent; it could not understand how the puppet it controlled could act on its own initiative.

But this did not matter; perhaps it had read some book.

The Beast's Prince floated up, its pitch-black pupils silently gazing at its partner, sensing that her state was fine.

It was quite satisfied to have found a suitable candidate so easily among the slaves.

"Never mind, as long as it does not affect our plans. Go meet your slave kin. If there is still none this time, remember to clean up thoroughly; do not get yourself dirty again."

"I hate red." That was not arrogance, but the Beast's Prince calmly expressing its preference; the Pure White Beast ought to be pure and white; let not inferiors soil it.

The "Puppet Maiden" trembled violently, then the next moment, she returned to calm.

"Good."

(End of this chapter)