The Second Outpost Battle

Shortly after the meeting ended, a young man in black with lake-blue eyes approached the two. Before he could introduce himself, Xu Xiaoyou spoke up.

"President Perseus."

"Your Excellency Dark Gold Rose."

Seeing that she recognized him, Perseus nodded in greeting. He didn't beat around the bush and stated his purpose directly.

"On behalf of the Winter family, I wish to know the relationship between Your Excellency Dark Gold Rose and the Starry Singer?"

"Before you decline to answer, please know that Winter Dawn is ready to become your most loyal ally at any time."

Xu Xiaoyou pondered for a moment before nodding, tacitly allowing Perseus to continue his questioning.

"Is it a subordinate relationship similar to yours with the Abyssal White Flower, or perhaps..."

Akabane Tsubaki blinked, her ears practically perking up.

She had long been curious about the relationships between the many girls around Yuzu.

"She is very important to me," Xu Xiaoyou said briefly, adding after a pause, "The Abyssal White Flower is also very important to me."

Akabane Tsubaki's mouth twitched.

Was it her imagination, or did this Pomelo Pest seem a bit... fickle, even if they were all just good friends?

"I see," Perseus nodded. "To be honest, after what happened, our Winter family naturally has to give an explanation to the outside world. We are currently tracking Sevia's whereabouts. At least on this point, we can reach a consensus, Your Excellency Dark Gold Rose."

"We know of your relationship with the Dawn Society and hope to reach a temporary cooperation with you."

"We are willing to share all the intelligence we obtain with you, and we ask that you do not be stingy with the influence of the Dawn Society in this world."

"And once she is found?" Xu Xiaoyou asked calmly.

"Our Winter family will do whatever it takes," Perseus replied without concealment, "To kill the Starry Singer."

At those words, Akabane Tsubaki was momentarily stunned and subconsciously observed Xu Xiaoyou's expression. The latter didn't seem surprised and merely nodded.

"If I find her before you do, will you become my enemies?"

Perseus was silent for a moment, then shook his head.

"I apologize, but I cannot answer on behalf of the family's Council of Elders."

"However, we can clearly tell you that on the matter of the Starry Singer, the White-Night family of Universal Heavy Industries has reached a consensus with us."

"White-Night..."

Xu Xiaoyou's face remained unchanged, but her heart stirred slightly.

As the most mysterious family within Universal Heavy Industries, the White-Night family had existed for the longest time and possessed the deepest foundations among the Five Great Families. The fact that Universal Heavy Industries could develop to its current scale was inseparable from the influence of the Sin-Thorn-Redemption miracle.

That miracle was the manifestation of the mysteries of 'Sin, Punishment, Thorns, and Redemption' from above the Eternal Garden. Beyond the name, the people of the current world knew nothing of these mysteries; they only knew that the physical bodies of every member of the White-Night family were tightly integrated with the mystery, and their spirits resonated highly with the Eternal Garden.

This reclusive family had only one member who had ever shown his true face to the world, named Elias White-Night—though he was perhaps better known by a more famous title: 'Deep White Midnight'.

Setting aside her current self's ability to confront the White-Night family, even as 'Dark Gold Rose', it would likely be difficult to contend with such a mysterious titan.

Xu Xiaoyou suppressed her thoughts, appearing unmoved on the surface.

"I can agree to a cooperation, up until the point the Starry Singer is found."

"After that, it will be a different matter."

"No problem." Perseus looked much more relaxed. "I will send the cooperation details to your mailbox later."

His final words made Xu Xiaoyou's eyes flicker.

"Oh, right, a reminder for you."

"Right here in Pangard, not long ago, someone personally witnessed the Starry Singer's silhouette."

Long after watching the young man walk away, Xu Xiaoyou lowered her eyes in thought.

It seemed that everything before hadn't been an illusion; Tang Xin truly was here.

At nine o'clock in the evening, night fell.

A group of people climbed onto the hundred-meter-high stone city walls. From here, they could just manage to take in the entire city, overlooking the scattered, flickering lights below where lone wolf players were fighting monsters.

The sounds of movement echoed in the dark night. Xu Xiaoyou looked back as another forty or fifty people used grappling hooks to scale the high walls, landing lightly behind her.

"It seems we aren't the only ones planning to make a move early." A youth wearing the team badge of the King's Clan gazed into the distance.

On the other side of the city, under the low-hanging black sky, the firelight of explosions flickered continuously, followed by the rumbling of distant sounds.

"Getting a bunch of people with their own ulterior motives to behave is something only the Queen's Arms can do."

"Unfortunately, the Queen's Arms isn't participating in this world event. I kind of miss them," another little girl said.

"Let's start our attack quickly too. We can't fall behind them," a cat-person suggested, raising a hand.

The burly Golden Beetle walked among these youths, his broad shoulders looking particularly prominent. He held his hands up and walked carefully forward, trying to avoid stepping on players who barely reached his waist.

"I've long heard that the average height of the King's Clan is less than 1.6 meters. I didn't expect it to be true; they really are so tiny," Wanwan said.

"Don't say it so loudly!" Xixi hurriedly covered the girl's mouth.

"Don't look down on us just because we aren't tall. Our combat power isn't weak!" a member of the King's Clan protested, throwing a punch that looked entirely unconvincing.

"Being this short, do they really have combat power?" Shadow Weaver Poem snorted, crossing her arms.

Without anyone noticing, several 'veins' of irritation appeared on the forehead of the golden-haired girl walking at the very front.

"Hey, hey, hey, what do you mean? Stop slandering our President!" someone shouted in accusation.

Xu Xiaoyou's fists clenched. She turned back with a stern face: "Are you all just dying to let those monsters know the enemy has arrived?"

Everyone stifled their laughter.

Xu Xiaoyou clicked her tongue inwardly.

One day, she was going to chop off the ankles of everyone taller than 1.6 meters.

Staring straight ahead, the strength of all the enemy guards on the Bastion entered her vision.

The city wall was wide enough for five carriages to drive side-by-side, extending into the distance until it vanished into the thick night. In the towering wall, small spaces had been carved out at regular intervals, where candlelight flickered. From afar, the candles formed a line, representing the last light of hope for this kingdom.

An uninfected army was stationed here, making their final stand before the kingdom's fall.

Aside from the routine patrols, there were countless resting monsters inside the Bastion, totaling over three thousand.

At the slightest disturbance, they would swarm out like sharks sensing blood to tear the intruders apart.

The prison was embedded inside the Bastion. To get to the prison, one had to go deep beneath the Bastion. Thus, she chose to unite with the King's Clan, planning to clear both outposts in one go.

"Well then, the command for this operation is in your hands." Yan'an, the vice president of the King's Clan, looked at Xu Xiaoyou and wagged the tail behind him.