Chapter 287

The new base of the Fallen Legion, Shamara descended in her holy armor, face concealed, flaring her signature four black light wings.

Two knights in black armor struck their chests in salute and reported: "My Lord Black Angel, His Holiness Anthony and Lord Ang are awaiting you."

Shamara nodded without expression, but her palms were already sweating—this was the first time she appeared before others as the Black Angel; pretending to be a divine entity was far too difficult for a pure maiden like her.

Fortunately, the holy armor concealed everything—even her facial expression was hidden.

"Stay calm, don't panic, go," Luna's voice echoed in Shamara's ear.

Shamara stepped forward into the camp, passed through several checkpoints, received over a dozen salutes, and finally arrived at the main tent, where Ang and Anthony had already been waiting.

After dismissing all outsiders and leaving only the few of them, Shamara lifted her mask and exhaled deeply: "I nearly suffocated, His Holiness Anthony—can I stop pretending to be the Black Angel? I'm terrible at this. I'm afraid someone will find out."

Shamara had agreed to Anthony's plan to rebuild the Fallen Legion, but now she felt it was impossible—she had never lied in her life, yet now she had to operate under a false identity, every word a lie—it was unbearable. She'd rather face a dragon alone.

"Oh?" Anthony narrowed his eyes and smiled: "If it's truly too difficult, then don't do it. Someone as pure, honest, and upright as you shouldn't be forced to deceive others."

Anthony's words struck straight to her heart—she was the kind who'd rather suffer herself than tell a lie.

Anthony frowned: "But Luna isn't human. Sometimes she overlooks basic needs—for example, when it's too hot, she won't think to shade herself, she'll just say, 'Fifty degrees? What's that? Keep moving,' and then everyone dies of heatstroke."

Luna's phantom flickered out and snapped: "I'm not that stupid."

"Metaphor, metaphor—I'll rephrase. Like when women are unwell, she certainly wouldn't be as thoughtful as Lord Negrilis and arrange absorbent cloth for everyone." Anthony said.

Shamara's face flushed, yet she understood perfectly—back when she hid in the Shadow City, it was thanks to Negrilis's absorbent cloth that she didn't have to run around naked. She couldn't help saying: "Lord Negrilis truly is a friend to women."

Negrilis, projected onto Ang, was stunned—just a few words and he'd earned the title "Friend of Women"?

"Most of these people were corrupted by you," Anthony said solemnly. "They can't return to their homes or the Church. Some were even taken in by Meishencheng, yet they fled back—they still long for the Light. These people need care."

Negrilis couldn't help cursing: "Long for the Light? Pfft. Aren't these all the ones you deliberately picked? Even that castrato singer Sandli, Anthony's loyalist, you dragged over too."

Negrilis was furious—this man could turn black into white, death into life. He'd turned a scheme of sabotage into a noble yearning for Light. Nothing he said could be trusted—he'd sell you your own soul and make you count the coins.

Yet these words struck Shamara's heart.

She herself was a maiden who longed for the Light, steadfast in her convictions, unwilling to lie or compromise, convinced the gods had vanished, and expelled by Gurianni for failing to be possessed by a Holy Spirit.

In the end, her longing for the Holy Light was so intense it awakened her Fallen Power—by any measure, she was more of a true maiden than those who had surrendered under pressure.

To steal Holy Light, she had corrupted these people. Now, because of Anthony's words, she felt responsible for them—failing them would mean betraying these believers who still longed for the Light.

Coupled with Luna's inhuman nature—just as Anthony said, she wouldn't even think to add a tampon when bleeding.

Compared to these matters, her own small reluctance seemed insignificant.

Seeing her expression, Anthony knew she was wavering and pressed on: "Luna is a Holy Spirit—her limits are fixed. But you're different. You're a God Thief. Steal enough believers, and the Holy Light becomes yours."

"Holy… Holy Light is mine," Shamara murmured, a spark flashing in her eyes.

She pulled the mask back down. From now on, Shamara was the true Black Angel.

Anthony smiled faintly. Though Shamara was already in her fifties, to him—a thousand-year-old undead—she was as innocent as an infant. He saw instantly what she feared.

A few words about duty and longing, and her hesitation vanished like smoke.

After easing Shamara's mind, Anthony quickly revealed his purpose and recounted the situation regarding the Insect God Ma Disi.

"That insect handler only said one word—'Jing.' I don't know what it means. I've compiled every place name in this plane starting with 'Jing.' Look and see which one feels right." Anthony handed her a sheet of paper.

Shamara took it and saw a long list: Jingling Forest, Jingling Gorge, Jingling Island, Jing City, Jing Shen Institute… and so on.

"Ma Disi? Jingling Forest—I have a bad feeling." Shamara immediately pointed to Jingling Forest.

Anthony agreed—he'd placed Jingling Forest first because, for insects, it was the most valuable. The other 'Jing'-named places were unsuitable for mass insect reproduction.

If so, the God of Life would have a headache—a Bug God hiding in his own forest, and he hadn't noticed?

Shamara returned the paper. Anthony took it, then calmly pulled out another sheet covered in symbols. "Lu Se asked me to ask you—these are the symbols from the Gnome Merchants' Guild's third lucky charm set this year. Which ones feel lucky to you?"

"Lucky charms? Lu Se? What's this?" Negrilis was baffled—Gnome Merchants' Guild lucky charms? When did gnomes gain the power to bless people?

Shamara took the slip, glanced at it, and looked up at Anthony: "How much is the prize?"

"Two hundred thousand magic crystals," Anthony replied, feeling exposed.

Shamara nodded: "I don't think Lu Se asked this. I won't tell you—but thanks. Now I know a way to make money. If I'd known this was possible, I wouldn't have joined the laundry crew."

The laundry crew referred to how she'd infiltrated the Sleepland—she'd been harassed by the foreman. If she'd had two hundred thousand magic crystals, she'd never needed such a method.

Anthony sighed without changing expression: "Ah, you saw through me. The disaster relief drained every resource I could mobilize, and I owe the Silver Coin Guild a huge debt. I hoped to use the Gnome Merchants' lucky draw to pay off some interest. Never mind—I'll think of another way."

Anthony sighed heavily and turned to leave.

Shamara grabbed his sleeve tightly, moved: "You are a noble person. This one, this one, and this one—I feel lucky. Take them quickly to pay off your interest."

Negrilis roared inside Ang's soul: "Ku Ba Da! You've misjudged him! He's lying to you! How can you not sense it? Your premonitions are so accurate for everything else—why not for people?!"

Negrilis was frantic—Anthony, the deceitful schemer, was called noble? Then she, the God of Knowledge, was a pure dragon!

Ang tilted his head and sent an idea to her: "He didn't lie."

Negrilis froze, then understood, stunned: "Ku Ba Da—can you even cheat a premonition?"

Anthony hadn't lied—he truly intended to use the money to pay interest. That's why Shamara sensed no deception. But the money was his own illusion—he was just repaying himself.

With the lucky symbols Shamara had circled, the group left the Fallen Legion's base.

Once aboard the carriage, Negrilis couldn't wait: "What are these lucky charms? How do they work? And why is the prize two hundred thousand magic crystals?"

Anthony explained: "Each set has three symbols. One gold coin per set. Buy unlimited sets. Draw once per quarter. If all three symbols match, you're the Extra Lucky Winner—win two hundred thousand magic crystals."

Negrilis was stunned—this actually worked? It was perfect for Shamara's premonition ability.

In the thousand years she'd been sealed, mortal ingenuity had grown ever more elaborate.

Whatever. Without Shamara's premonition, she couldn't play such low-probability games anyway. She quickly changed the subject: "If the Insect God is hiding in Jingling Forest, what now? Do we head there?"

Anthony shook his head: "No need. Do we even need to go to Jingling Forest? Just notify the God of Life and the elves—they'll turn the forest upside down."

Negrilis nodded: "True. Alright, Ang, notify the elves and the Tree of Life."

Ang nodded, pulled out a jade-green core resembling a jade gem, and a wooden tablet.

Anthony's eyes bulged at the green core: "This… this… is that legendary thing? How could it be with you?"

"You know what this is?" Negrilis asked, puzzled.

"The Heart of Life! Is it? Is it the Heart of Life? The legendary thing that grants eternal life?" Anthony asked, excited.

Negrilis rolled her eyes: "The Tree of Life itself can't achieve eternal life—how could it grant it to others? But yes, it's the Heart of Life. But how do you know about it? The Old World Tree never gave it to anyone."

"Huh? Never given to anyone?" Anthony was confused. "But everyone says it—get the Heart of Life, gain eternal life. Even the elves believe it."

"That's nonsense. It's just the core of the Tree of Life. It never claimed other powers—only that holding it lets you communicate with it. Eternal life? Pure fiction. The World Tree itself doesn't live forever—it's not even as long-lived as we are."

Anthony realized—he was right. Undead were immortal. Did the Tree of Life plan to turn people into undead?

Ang communicated with the Heart of Life via thought, then spoke a few words to the wooden tablet. Soon, Galard's voice came through:

"Thank you, Lord Ang. We've sensed something, but can't pinpoint the location. The God of Life refuses to speak to us. Lord Ang, could you…"

Before Galard finished, Ang cut the communication.

Anthony blinked, then laughed: "Ha! Galard finally got what she deserves. You're probably the first person to treat the Elven Queen so disrespectfully."

"Forget the Elven Queen—what about you?" Negrilis asked. "Ang abandoned his land to come help you. What's your equivalent payment?"

The insect plague in the settlement was now mostly contained. Critical cases were treated; mild and moderate cases only needed medicine to recover.

Even the few who worsened were handled by Anthony's healers—no need for Ang to act personally anymore.

The job was done. Time to settle accounts.

Anthony sighed: "My Lord, could you wait? Or… pay with people? Or let you farm some land?"

Anthony had been pondering this—Ang always demanded equivalent exchange. He'd been searching for what Ang needed. The problem? He didn't know.

He believed people were more valuable than money, but Ang didn't care for population. And he had no money. He'd have to wait until autumn for religious taxes—but if the disaster continued, who would he tax?

Ang shook his head: "I took it."

He raised a finger. A plump little wisp emerged—after some time apart, it had grown fat, now round as a ball.

"Took it? A little wisp? You didn't steal all the faith networks of those hundreds of thousands?" Negrilis gasped.

Ang nodded.

When Meishencheng accepted those tens of thousands of Fallen, Ang had already seized their faith network and linked it to the wisp. Now he'd stolen another few hundred thousand. Soon, the Church of Light would be completely drained.

Hundreds of thousands of believers were worth far more than magic crystals or treasure. Anthony had always urged Ang to seize people—this method of stealing faith was far superior.

"My Lord, should we arrange more prayer gatherings? You steal their faith networks entirely?" Anthony said eagerly.

Ang shook his head listlessly. Stealing believers was less fun than planting crops. No.

Here, Ang suddenly tilted his head and pulled out the wooden tablet again.

The tablet emitted urgent beeping. Ang activated it and heard the Elven Queen's panicked voice: "Lord Ang, countless insects have suddenly emerged! We can't kill them fast enough! Their numbers keep growing—they're devouring the forest! If this continues, the God of Life and the forest will be completely eaten!"

Ang immediately pulled out the Heart of Life—its core sent a single thought: Save me…