Deceived

The situation became incredibly awkward.

No one spoke, including the members of the Garnet family and the knights.

Everyone's gaze was focused on Nader.

In the midst of this dead silence, a light breeze blew past, carrying with it a burst of hearty laughter.

"Heh... Hahaha~"

Nader seemed to be genuinely amused, even clutching his stomach as he laughed out loud.

After he finished laughing, he cast a faint glance at the white-robed girl standing on the carriage.

"Very interesting. Luo Li, I will remember you."

"Oh? Does that mean you are refusing?"

"Yes. I am sorry, but I do not plan to join any faction. This time, I was simply repaying a favor."

Saying this, Nader turned his head toward Fitch Garnet.

"Mr. Fitch, I have done everything I can. Your plan to lure the Saintess out of the city was a complete success. This time, our debt is settled."

Nader suddenly turned back to the Saint's Carriage.

"Your Highness Luo Li, I am sorry, but I must bid you farewell. I hope we can meet again."

In the next second, he raised his hand with a wave, and his figure abruptly vanished into the night.

At that same moment, directly behind the Saint's Carriage... a burst of fire suddenly shot into the sky, heading straight for the vehicle.

"Great fire elements, show your wrath—Super Explosive Fireball!"

"Your Highness, watch out!!"

Accompanied by a chant, the flames violently coalesced, forming a massive sphere nearly thirty meters in diameter that flew down toward the Saint's Carriage!

"Barrier! Reinforce! Delay! Reduce!"

Four spells were cast in instant succession, and a barrier rose behind the Saint's Carriage.

Simultaneously, the speed at which the massive fireball descended suddenly changed, and the fireball itself began to shrink at a visible rate.

Without wasting any words, I raised the banner pole in my hand and faced the fireball.

Clang!

The pole was planted firmly on the Saint's Carriage. In an incomparably devout posture, I chanted the prayer.

However, the moment the first word of the prayer left my mouth, the skill had already spread to the entire army!

"Protect the Brilliant Night with My Moon Banner—O Saint, protect me and my people!"

Boom—!

The fireball crashed into the air above the carriage. The moment it collided with the barrier, it turned into a ball of raging flames that soared into the sky!

The flames ascended, and the ground melted into lava from the scorching heat. Even the Saint's Carriage beneath my feet began to sink into the magma.

The white horses neighed, trying to break free, causing the entire carriage to shake incessantly.

Fortunately, from the beginning, I had included the white horses in the list of allies.

No one was harmed by this strike.

As the smoke and dust slowly dissipated under the moonlight, a troop of several hundred people quickly closed in from behind, completely sealing off the path of retreat.

Among this troop of hundreds, a familiar figure entered my sight.

"We meet again, Your Highness Luo Li."

Looking at Victor, who wore a mage's robe and a smile on his face, I realized at this moment without needing any further reminders that I had fallen into a trap.

"I never thought we would meet under such circumstances, Lord Victor. I must say... this is the scene I least wanted to see."

From the beginning, Victor's stance had been very strange.

When I first tried to recruit him, although he agreed to everything, he seemed very hesitant when it came to offending the nobles.

Although I had a slight sense of caution toward him since then, the things he said were also very reasonable.

As a result, since the start of this battle, I had not factored him into my calculations.

Because the Mage Association had been almost invisible during this coup.

I thought he was just observing, but I was wrong.

He was not observing; he was lurking in the shadows!

Now, this wolf that had been hiding in the grass had finally revealed its fangs.

This Victor had rejected my strategy for customized slave-sealing shackles back then.

I should have been more wary of him.

As expected, was I still too naive?

Looking at the distant Brilliant City, where flames were soaring into the sky, it was clear that the city was currently in total chaos.

It seemed the other side had calculated every possibility, even the chance that I might return to Brilliant City in a powerful state.

They had deliberately guided me here for the purpose of isolating me.

The city was in chaos. Hilda, Nar, and Camilla were all busy dealing with matters inside the city. Even if they realized what was happening and wanted to send troops, it would already be extremely difficult.

I was still a bit too naive. I never thought I would fall into a trap so easily.

"Victor, I must say, you hid it very well. At least from the beginning, you did not reveal any flaws. But I am curious, Victor... were you on the side of the nobles from the very start?"

I looked directly at Victor. Among the people behind him, some were mages, and the others were clearly mercenaries with messy, non-uniform attire.

It seemed that the Adventurers' Association was likely involved in this as well.

Victor smiled slightly.

"Respected Your Highness Luo Li, you are actually mistaken about that. From the beginning, I did not plan to take a side. However, when you informed me of the changes to the slave system, I made my preparations."

"Why?"

Even though I knew why, I still wanted to ask.

Victor remained all smiles, looking directly at me while maintaining a very humble posture.

"Because your strategy does not only affect the nobles; it also affects us. Even the Alchemists' Association and the Adventurers' Association were affected by you. It is just that... Lady Camilla has very strong control over the Alchemists' Association, so many voices of opposition were suppressed."

"What do you mean?"

I was somewhat surprised. Victor continued to smile, but at this moment, a hint of cruelty flashed in his eyes.

"Your Highness, you hold a high position and have lived in the Temple for a long time. You know far too little about the world outside."

His next sentence made my entire body crawl with fear!!

"Do the potions developed by the Alchemists' Association not need test subjects? Did you think that we mages do not need a target when researching magic? Do you think those violent adventurers do not need a way to vent?"

In this moment, it all became clear!

I stared at Victor with gritted teeth, spitting out a single word from between them.

"Slaves...?"

"Yes. And not just as test subjects; we also need slaves for our daily lives. This is what we deserve. I must say, you truly do have the bearing of a Saint."

"At least I think so. After all, not everyone would feel pity for slaves. But... the world is not as beautiful as you imagine it to be~"

Victor was still smiling, but at this moment... I felt that beneath his pleasant, spring-breeze-like smile, there was a face more terrifying than a demon's!!

"Hell is empty, and the devils are among us?"

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, murmuring to myself.

These words echoed in my ears, making me understand the cruelty of this world even more clearly.

"Victor, since you have said this much, then I can also tell you clearly. Yes... I am going to reform things, and not just the slave system."

I slowly opened my eyes. At this moment, I became even more certain of my convictions.

This world... must change!

If the world is unwilling to change, then I will change it personally with my own two hands!!

"However, those beautiful futures no longer have anything to do with any of you."

I slowly lowered my head and looked at Victor.

Behind him, people also began jumping out of the dozen or so carriages belonging to the Garnet family.

It seemed that from the start, what was hidden in those carriages was not gold and silver treasures, but an ambush!

Ligeia's expression was grave. Even she felt that the situation was getting tricky as she looked around.

Victor's strength was not inferior to hers. In terms of actual combat, how could a mage who stayed at home all year round compare to a mage who specialized in fighting?

"Your Highness, the situation is unfavorable. How about I take you away from here? With the skysoar dragons, they will not be able to stop us."

Ligeia whispered softly into my ear, but I did not answer her. Instead, I asked a question.

"Ligeia... are you willing to share your body with someone for once?"

"???"

Ligeia was slightly stunned.

"Your Highness... what do you mean by..."

I said nothing more, only smiling at Ligeia. She froze for a moment, seemingly understanding what I was saying.

Suddenly, she laughed, her smile carrying a hint of playfulness and helplessness.

"Your Highness... just this once, okay~"

"Yes, just this once."

I returned the smile. At this moment, I truly believed that Ligeia intended to assist me with her whole heart.

Anyone with a second heart would never allow the Hero Creation skill to be cast upon them.

After all, once a soul entered their body, they would share memories and could even examine certain thoughts.

If Ligeia did not intend to help me sincerely, she would never have agreed.

I gripped the Sword of Fidelity and held it high over my head!

"O sleeping hero..."

"Oh no, it is Hero Creation! Kill her quickly!!"

Fitch Garnet recognized the skill in an instant.

Clearly, he had learned about this skill of mine through some channel.

Of course, this was unavoidable. After all, I had used this skill on the battlefield the first time.

Ordinary citizens might not have seen the details, but there were certainly members of the Garnet family within the Temple knights.

They were not like those ignorant commoners. After some analysis, they could easily understand what I had done.

The moonlight in the sky became pure and bright in this instant, as if the atmosphere had lost all its obstructions in a single breath.

The entire sky became incredibly luminous!

"Bursting Fire—!" Victor roared furiously, his hands suddenly raising two flames and aiming them in my direction.

The fire headed straight for me like a whirlwind.

At the same time, the people behind Victor also began to use their ranged skills.

"Sky-Piercing Arrow!"

"Crescent Slash!"

"Cross Slash!"

"Bursting Flame!"

"Flowing Wind Blade!"

"Water Arrow!"