162. The Group's Actions
Before entrusting the task to them, Xiling seemed to have overlooked one thing—when it came to finding specific items or completing designated tasks, the Savior's abilities were far more convenient than his.
On the streets of Aurum Alley, four girls stood in the bustling crowd, their gazes fixed on a furtive-looking man.
This mission was unbelievably easy.
"Is that the guy? The one from the Medicine King's Secret Sect?" March 7th lowered her voice, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
Houraiji Kyuushou nodded slightly, a confident smile playing on her lips:
"The savior's revelation guides me constantly; he is the target we seek."
Stelle rubbed her chin: "So what do we do now? Just go over and smash him in?"
"No need for that." Luo Tianyi gently raised her hand.
"I have a faster way."
The three exchanged glances, immediately understanding her meaning, and simultaneously gave her a thumbs up:
"Then it's up to you, Tianyi!"
"Don't worry!" Luo Tianyi revealed a sweet smile. After this period of battle, she had gained a deeper understanding of her abilities.
Although the Immortal Ship was mired in some unknown crisis, Aurum Alley remained bustling with activity. Using the crowd as cover, Luo Tianyi quietly approached the furtive man.
Her steps were light, as if she were a girl taking a casual stroll, yet in the instant they brushed past each other, she whispered:
"Be quiet, and submit to me."
The man's pupils contracted sharply, the tension on his face vanishing instantly, replaced by emptiness. He nodded mechanically, then, as if drawn by invisible threads, silently followed Luo Tianyi to a secluded corner.
There, Kyuushou, Stelle, and March 7th had been waiting for a long time.
March 7th looked at the man following Luo Tianyi and couldn't help but gasp:
"Although I knew Tianyi could do this, seeing it with my own eyes still feels...a little scary."
Kyuushou crossed her arms and nodded earnestly:
"A seemingly fragile little girl, yet possessing the power to manipulate hearts, is practically the big boss of a villainous organization."
"I'm not a villain!" Luo Tianyi puffed out her cheeks, retorting indignantly.
The three couldn't help but laugh.
Under Luo Tianyi's influence, the man revealed everything without reservation—he was indeed a member of the Medicine King's Secret Sect, and he detailed the location and organizational structure of the Aurum Alley stronghold.
"This is too easy..." March 7th, mumbled, chewing on a pastry from Xianzhou Loufu.
Recalling her experience in Belobog, she had to admit that with Kyuushou and Luo Tianyi joining them, their pioneering journey was like having a cheat code—Kyuushou could precisely lock onto targets through her "Revelation", while Luo Tianyi could instantly turn anyone into her "puppet."
"I suddenly feel like I can't live without you two!" March 7th suddenly opened her arms and hugged Luo Tianyi, who was showing off her snacks, and Kyuushou, who was curiously looking around.
Seeing this, Stelle, who had been excluded, pounced on her without hesitation:
"Count me in!"
"Hey! Don't suddenly pounce on me!" March 7th protested.
"It's more fun with more people, right?" Stelle chuckled, nuzzling against her.
"I'm going to fall! I'm going to fall!" Kyuushou struggled to steady herself.
Meanwhile, Luo Tianyi... remained focused on eating.
The noisy group of four followed the manipulated members of the Medicine King's secret sect, weaving through the streets and alleys of Aurum Alley. Before long, they arrived at a hidden stronghold.
"Is this it?" March 7th peeked out cautiously.
"Yes, the Savior's revelation tells me there are at least twenty people inside." Kyuushou closed her eyes slightly, seemingly sensing something.
"Twenty people? That means..." Stelle rubbed her hands together, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
Suddenly, a terrifying magical power erupted, an invisible gravity sweeping across the entire stronghold like a tidal wave.
Followed by screams, pleas for mercy, and bursts of laughter.
Finally, a clear and melodious voice rang out—
"Submit to me."
The Secret Lineage of the Medicine King in the Aurum Alley region was utterly annihilated.
The entire process took less than half a day.
----------
Strategist Chief—Qing Xiang.
Looking at the report in his hand, he felt somewhat incredulous. Even Jing Yuan, who received the report, couldn't help but laugh.
"What a bunch of remarkable people."
However, after the laughter subsided, his gaze gradually deepened, even revealing a hint of helplessness.
The current situation was completely unexpected, but in this unexpected turn of events, he had made an unspoken deal with some people in his original plan. Now, theoretically, that deal was null and void.
"But they did bring the Astral Express. Let them go this time." As if speaking to himself, Jing Yuan covered his eyes with one hand and murmured softly within the Seat of Divine Foresight.
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Somewhere on the Xianzhou Loufu, a beautiful woman with purple hair sat on a wooden box, her long legs gently swinging. The communicator in her hand flickered faintly.
"Elio's script… has changed," Kafka murmured softly, her red lips slightly pursed.
There was a long silence on the other end of the communicator before a deep reply came through:
"Yes, the script has changed."
"So, what is the new script?" Even knowing the future had deviated, Kafka's tone remained calm.
The other party fell silent again, before finally speaking slowly:
"Three people who are not Emanators, yet possess Emanator-level power… have descended upon Luofu."
A strange light flashed in Kaffa's eyes.
"Three… Emanator-level combatants?" she repeated softly, her fingertips unconsciously rubbing the communicator.
"Yes."
After a brief silence, Kafka suddenly chuckled, regaining her composed demeanor.
"What will happen to her?"
"She'll still do as the script says."
"That's good." Kafka nodded slightly, then changed the subject, "By the way, can Blade be retrieved?"
"That general… will let him go."
"Alright, then I won't bother you any longer." She hung up the communication crisply, her gaze fixed on the distance, lost in thought.
On the other end of the communication, a being who observes fate fell into a long silence.
It recalled everything it had seen in the "script"—unlike before, this time, it clearly sensed that two of the three figures seemed to have transcended time and space, watching it.
"Those who don't belong in the script…" it murmured to itself, its voice filled with unprecedented solemnity.
"Where did you all come from?"
"Are the changes you've brought good or bad?"
"Can our long-cherished wish... still be fulfilled?"
-------------
Inside the accommodations arranged for everyone by the Xianzhou Loufu, Kevin sat in a chair, hands clasped under his chin, striking the classic "commander's pose," his face grave.
"Dan Heng, Mr. Welt, I have a friend... who's encountered some emotional problems, and I'd like to ask both of you for advice for him."
Hearing this classic opening, Dan Heng and Welt exchanged a knowing glance and silently walked to the chair opposite him.
Welt adjusted his glasses, the lenses reflecting a wise glint:
"Go ahead and ask."
"This friend is probably himself," Welt thought. As a mature and reliable elder, he decided to play along with the young man's tactful explanation.
"It's probably about Xiling," Danheng guessed to himself.
Kevin coughed lightly. Xiling was currently being dragged out shopping by Elaina, but some things needed to be done.
Knowing he shouldn't interfere, he couldn't stand idly by as a friend.
He felt it necessary to let Elaina know that Xiling was already "taken"—and not just by one person.
But relationships are private matters, and it seemed inappropriate for him, an outsider, to intervene rashly…
Torn, he sought the opinions of two reliable people.
"It's like this," Kevin carefully chose his words, "If someone is too outstanding and is admired by three women. Two of them have confessed and been accepted, but the third is unaware, still secretly in love, and even hoping for a confession. As a friend, should I point this out?"
Welt was respectful. What was his situation? He'd never encountered this before… While somewhat rare, he felt he could handle it.
He stroked his chin, carefully choosing his words.
"Your 'friend' is interested in all three girls?"
"The situation is a bit complicated." Kevin's expression became even more complex.
"While you might think this is a bit far-fetched, I'd say that guy's understanding is somewhat different from ours. He might not quite grasp the difference between like and affection or love, which leads to his feelings for those around him being largely uniform."
Are you even conscious? Are you even speaking human language?
Welt stiffly adjusted his glasses.
Forgive his limited experience, but he'd never encountered anything like this before.
Emotional cognitive impairment?
"Just tell the girl the truth," Dan Heng suggested decisively.
Kevin immediately shook his head.
"No, no, the girl's been hiding it so well; we have no reason to expose her."
"Actually, I don't think you need to worry about this." Having never been in a relationship, Dan Heng offered his rational perspective.
"Given enough time, the girl will definitely find out about your friend's situation."
Kevin: "But I think we can tell her in advance, giving her some buffer time. What do you think?"
Watching Dan Heng and Kevin chat like this, Welt felt he was truly getting old, unable to keep up with the conversations of young people.
------------
Setting down the documents in her hands, Lemuen breathed a sigh of relief. As the Cardinal of the Seventh Hall of Laterano, her work was indeed extremely busy, but fortunately, her work efficiency was unmatched by ordinary people.
Taking a sip of coffee, Lemuen smiled as she looked at the messages exchanged in the chat group.
"Looks like everyone's having a pretty good time in Dan Heng's world."
After closing the chat panel, Lemuen turned her desk slightly to look out the window, unable to help but ponder.
"Does he miss me?"
She quickly chuckled again.
If that guy missed her, he would have come over already. Why would he even think about her?
That means he doesn't miss her at all right now, even though she misses him so much.
"What a heartless hero."
Lemuen gently closed her eyes, but after a short while, she suddenly opened them, realizing something.
She opened the Contract Summoning System.
Looking at the avatar that appeared on her panel.
"That Xiling guy couldn't have already summoned her, could he?"
Lemuen wondered, then directly tapped on the avatar.
Not long after.
Kiana appeared in the world of Arknights, hugging Lemuen with a beaming smile.
"I didn't know you guys had this kind of summoning system! I worried for nothing!" Kiana lifted her head from Lemuen's embrace, her azure eyes sparkling.
"By the way..." Her expression suddenly turned sly, "Is Xiling there?"
Lemuen's face instantly darkened. She reached out and pinched Kiana's soft cheeks, pulling them forcefully to either side.
"Still eyeing my man, huh?"
"Didn't Sister Lemuen agree to us being together?" Kiana protested indistinctly, her cheeks distorted by the pulling, but her bright smile remained undiminished.
"Besides, we've done 'that' together, haven't we?"
These words were like a switch being flipped; Lemuen's grip tightened immediately.
"You have the nerve to bring that up? You used the Herrscher of the Void's power to get me so much alcohol to make me drunk; I can't remember anything that happened that night!" Her earlobes flushed slightly with recollection.
Lemuen had forgotten, but Kiana hadn't forgotten that night; she'd opened her eyes wide, and every detail had been witnessed.
When Lemuen finally let go, Kiana immediately clung to her like a koala again:
"Strictly speaking, it's all thanks to me for helping you take the last step, isn't it?" She whispered in Lemuen's ear, "It's okay if you forgot, we can do it again, right?"
Lemuen glanced at the girl in her arms with a hint of disdain.
"Don't you feel embarrassed saying things like that?"
"There's no one else here?" Kiana snuggled against her shoulder affectionately, then suddenly changed the subject, "Speaking of which, Sister Lemuen, it seems you've accepted me? You were so resistant at first..."
The office suddenly fell silent. Lemuen looked out the window, sunlight casting soft shadows on her profile.
After a long while, she sighed softly, "Because he won't reject the people around him." Her voice was very soft, as if she were talking to herself, "But no matter what, I should be the first... Otherwise, wouldn't all these years of waiting be a joke?"
Kiana paused, then gave a knowing smile. She tightened her arms around Lemuen: "So it's food possessiveness, Sister Lemuen..."
"...Stop nagging."
-------------
"The reason I've gathered you all here today is that Xiling has a favor to ask of you." The Tarnished stood on the podium, his voice amplified by magic, reaching every corner of the meeting room.
Radagon and his children, Fortissax, and several skilled knights, mages, and those with technical expertise filled the entire meeting room. Upon hearing one name from the Tarnished, their eyes visibly lit up.
The Silver King—their faith, the being they were willing to dedicate everything to.
Facing the gazes of everyone, the Tarnished stated Xiling's request.
"Perhaps in a few days, Xiling will be traveling to a completely new and unknown world, and in that unknown world, Xiling may need your help."
A moment of silence fell over the meeting room, but then erupted in a thunderous roar.
"We swear to follow the Silver King to the death!"
The voice echoed repeatedly, completely ignoring the words of the Tarnished about danger, risk, and the need for careful consideration. If they could contribute to the Silver King, even death would be worthwhile!
Seeing the excited expressions on everyone's faces, the Tarnished rubbed his temples and said one last thing.
"The number of people will probably be no more than a few dozen. Please make the arrangements, and I'll prepare a list for Xiling."
At this moment, the meeting room fell silent again, and the gazes people exchanged changed.
This was the scene before the first Elden Ring Tournament was about to begin.