Elvia reacted with lightning speed, rolling to the side toward the wall.
She grabbed her honorary saber and pulled it out with a sharp shing.
The tip of the blade pointed straight toward the balcony, her entire body tensed.
However.
When she clearly saw the person standing on the balcony, the color instantly drained from her face.
Her pupils constricted with fear, and her lips trembled slightly.
The hand holding the sword shook uncontrollably, almost losing its grip on the hilt.
The person standing on the balcony was none other than Caleb.
Caleb’s cloudy, old eyes swept across the room, paying no attention to Elvia.
He casually tossed a staff toward Lin Gui.
Lin Gui caught it reflexively.
The staff was an azure-green throughout, the wood smooth and warm, with a massive wind-attribute magic crystal embedded at the top.
Air currents seemed to swirl inside the crystal, emitting extraordinary magical undulations.
Lin Gui’s eyes were filled with doubt, feeling as though this item looked somewhat familiar.
Behind him, however, Elvia recognized it at a glance and gasped, “That is the grand finale of the Royal Auction, the Staff of the Windwhisperer!”
“Warren bid ninety million gold coins for it!”
Lin Gui raised an eyebrow and looked at Caleb in confusion.
Caleb spoke indifferently:
“This is a gift from my Master.”
“She also asked me to bring you a message.”
“If you want to live, do not return to the Carter Royal Capital again.”
“Take the long way around the Blackwater Corridor and return to New Covenant City.”
After saying this, Caleb smiled.
“Alright, the message has been delivered.”
“Kid, don’t forget our agreement.”
His gaze swept covertly over Eve.
Then, his figure seemed to melt into the air, vanishing from the balcony.
Lin Gui held the Staff of the Windwhisperer, his mind sinking into deep bewilderment.
Master? A High-tier Legendary assassin has a Master?
And she told him to bring a message to him?
For some reason, Lin Gui’s heart suddenly sank.
These words didn’t sound like they were merely a warning not to bring the Saintess back.
Instead, they sounded more like... a life-and-death warning specifically targeted at him personally.
He whirled around and stared at Saintess Eve.
“What exactly did the future of the Carter Royal Capital that you saw in your prophecy look like?”
The Saintess also had a hint of confusion on her face. She answered softly:
“The Carter Royal Capital does indeed exist in the future.”
She walked to the edge of the balcony and pointed into the distance.
“But...”
She recalled the scenes from her prophecy.
Her finger traced the refugee district below, those crooked, low, and filthy buildings.
“Here, here, and here...”
“In the future of the Carter Royal Capital I saw, they do not exist.”
Her finger moved toward the peak where the palace nestled.
“That also includes Stellar Mountain, where the Carter Palace is located.”
“But the city-state of the Carter Royal Capital does indeed exist.”
She pointed out many iconic buildings of the capital.
Although their forms differed somewhat from now and were a bit damaged, they all remained standing.
They hadn't changed much.
However, many small street buildings seemed to have major discrepancies.
Eve wasn't very certain.
After all, the Divine Prophecy was too brief; it disappeared after just a few seconds.
Eve could only pick out the important locations to look at.
Lin Gui pressed further, “What is the accuracy rate of your Prophecy?”
The Saintess paused for a moment and replied with certainty:
“When it comes to predicting the rise and fall of a city, Divine Prophecy has never been wrong.”
Lin Gui’s confusion deepened.
Since the Carter Royal Capital was not destroyed,
it meant that the Dark Tide really hadn't been born in the borderlands.
So why did Caleb’s warning carry a sense of impending doom?
Beside them, Elvia finally couldn't hold it in any longer.
She cried out, “Wait! What did you just say was gone?!”
Her voice rose extremely high due to shock.
Lin Gui’s train of thought was instantly interrupted.
He looked at Elvia wordlessly.
“It’s just the palace being gone. Do you need such a big reaction?”
As for how it disappeared, Lin Gui could guess a few things.
It seemed that letting Caesar go was a very good decision.
“Not a big reaction?? How could that be not a big reaction?!”
Elvia nearly jumped up, pointing at Stellar Mountain in the distance.
“That goddamn place is my royal family's home!!”
...
Outside the gates of the Carter Royal Capital.
A disguised Saintess sat on the floating raft.
Elvia had followed them out to see them off.
Not far away, Betty was practicing magic on the grass with a focused expression.
Sensing something, she opened her eyes and walked toward Lin Gui.
Lin Gui knew it was time to say goodbye.
Elvia looked at Lin Gui, appearing somewhat awkward.
This princess, who had always been skilled at socializing, was holding the messenger bag and didn't know how to bid farewell.
She tried to squeeze out a few parting tears like in stories, but after trying for a long time, she still failed.
Lin Gui watched her wordlessly.
Remembering Caleb’s warning, his expression grew serious.
“Elvia, do you remember what happened at Eagle Fortress?”
Elvia was taken aback, then she realized what he meant.
Lin Gui was referring to the scheme he set up for her,
asking her to tell the Banshee Queen about what happened in the Whispering Forest.
If the Dark Tide was truly born in the borderlands,
then the movements of the banshees at Eagle Fortress would become Elvia’s alarm to flee for her life.
Elvia laughed and joked, “No way, right? Don't worry, you should trust the Saintess’s prophecy.”
Lin Gui didn't laugh; he looked at her seriously.
“If... if the banshees of Eagle Fortress leave,”
“Elvia, do not have any lingering hopes.”
“Abandon everything you own and flee toward anywhere you think will keep you alive.”
Seeing Elvia’s stunned expression, Lin Gui smiled again.
“Of course, hopefully I’m just overthinking it.”
“Is there anything you want me to tell Theia?”
At the mention of that half-demon, Elvia thought about it.
Finally, she took a letter from her bosom, handed it to Lin Gui, and warned him,
“No peeking, got it?”
Lin Gui felt it was strange, but he still accepted the letter.
Then Elvia looked at Lin Gui and said seriously:
“Tell her for me that if she really finds Avalon...”
Elvia’s expression turned cold.
“Then absolutely do not come out again.”
“The Alliance Council’s Inspectors are not to be trifled with.”
Lin Gui nodded.
“That is also what I want to say to her.”
“Alright, farewell, Cowardly Princess.”
Elvia’s mouth twitched, and she finally shot back.
“Goodbye, Messenger Raven.”
The raft slowly started and took to the sky.
Under Lin Gui’s control, it flew toward Betty.
Elvia stood in place, watching the direction where the raft disappeared, not moving for a long time.
On the raft, Lin Gui called the system in his heart.
“System, end retrieval.”
[Retrieval ended.]
[Weekly Commission updated!]
[Destination: Shield City]
[Letters collected: 154 (from the Carter Royal Capital), 45 (from Caran City), 1 (from New Covenant City)]
[Total escorted letters: 200]
[Time limit: 31 calendar days]
[Route: Carter Royal Capital → Twilight Fortress → Silent Sea (Forbidden Zone) → Blackwater Port → Shield City]
[Completion conditions: Sign-off rate above 70%]
[Basic Reward: For every letter delivered, reward x1 random Novice Magic]
[Extra Reward: Moderately increase Mana capacity and magic control precision]
[Risk Tip: The Silent Sea is a known Forbidden Zone; there are unknown magic creatures and disordered laws.]
[Demon activity is frequent in the Blackwater Corridor; choose your path carefully.]
------ "May every trace of longing pierce through the darkness and reach the other shore." ------
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