What in the world? Now it's about cheating?
When Mephistopheles's cold voice rang out in his mind, Faust couldn't help but get goosebumps.
He subconsciously wanted to snap back with a retort like "So what if I'm cheating?" but as the words reached his lips, a powerful survival instinct inexplicably surged within him, desperately stopping him from courting death.
He and Mephistopheles usually spoke about anything—they were irreverent, playing and bickering as if it were the most natural thing in the world. But right now... Mephistopheles didn't seem to be joking.
Faust swallowed the words that were about to come out, reorganized his thoughts, and said with righteous indignation:
"There's no such thing! If it's not Mephistopheles's dragon blood, I don't want a single drop! Drinking anything else makes me cough!"
【Hmm, as long as you understand. The dragon that Lian transformed into is too young and immature. The immortality she grants is, in the end, of inferior quality. How could it ever compare to a perfect dragon?】
Following Mephistopheles's satisfied reply, the prickly sense of crisis receded like the tide. Faust wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
What... What was that about? Why did Mephistopheles suddenly get so serious?
Before, the contract fairy would casually observe the Qingxi prince's private life without ever interfering. Not only that, she had actively encouraged Faust to spread his seed across the world, clearly enjoying the chaos and showing no sense of possessiveness whatsoever.
Was this an ecological niche conflict? Did she forbid it because they were both fairies?
While Faust was still pondering the reason, Mephistopheles had already moved on lightly to discuss business:
【The Azure Maiden will not give up so easily. She has her eyes on you now. Whether it's to get revenge or to satisfy her desire for collection, she will spare no effort to bring you under her command.】
Faust smiled. "To be remembered by a Lady of the Lake, my fortune is truly not small."
【There's no need to be too nervous. This might not be a bad thing. If the Azure Maiden continues to pester you, you can turn the tables and control her instead... I recall the Azure Maiden should still have 'Great Thunder' in her possession...】
While chatting with Mephistopheles, Faust doubled back to find his mount.
Having carried the Lady of the Lake so far just now, Faust had left the white horse behind. Given the mount's habits, the horse should have gone to find the nearest river for water.
However, as he neared the riverbank, Faust suddenly caught a strange scent.
It was the smell of blood.
Faust's cheerful mood immediately turned heavy. The prince pushed aside the bushes, and the scene that met his eyes left him stunned where he stood.
By the river, he saw a severed horse head.
...............
Rewinding time slightly, while Faust and the Lady of the Lake were playing their games of wit, in a forest not far from them.
Snow White was walking at a leisurely pace with her 'executioner'.
"Whew—the weather is getting cold again. Yeah, it feels like it's going to snow heavily."
Selena exhaled a breath of mist into her palms and looked up at the sky, speaking calmly.
Frost clung to her thick cloak. Even though it didn't touch her skin, a bone-chilling cold still seeped through.
"According to calculations, the probability of heavy snowfall in the next period is eighty-seven percent. It is expected to last for one to three months."
The executioner leading the way spoke with a flat, synthesized mechanical voice.
Selena touched her forehead and sighed.
"I wasn't really asking you. Why are you answering so eagerly?"
The executioner replied immediately:
"Apologies, Your Highness. I failed to understand your meaning. Please repeat your request, and I will further correct my response."
"Forget it. No matter what, I wouldn't go so far as to blame a frost-walker."
Selena waved her hand, her clear, silver eyes watching her executioner.
The one escorting Snow White and tasked with her execution was not a 'human' at all.
Its entire body was covered in mithril armor, each piece inscribed with eerie blue sigils. Behind the inverted-triangle helmet was a pale plume that draped over the shoulders like long hair.
A heavy tactical box hung at its waist, fully stocked with various weapons and equipment.
It looked like an elite imperial guard, armed to the teeth.
But Selena knew that there was no living thing inside, let alone flesh and blood. This was a piece of mobile metal.
A frost-walker, a legacy inherited by the Midwinter Kingdom from their ancient ancestors.
To foreigners, the Midwinter Kingdom possessed a peerless super-legion capable of halting the empire's iron cavalry and beating surrounding nations into submission. It was truly unfathomable.
But only the high-ranking officials of the kingdom knew that Midwinter's overwhelming strength relied entirely on the grace of their ancestors.
These miracle-like autonomous intelligent constructs had forged an iron bulwark that allowed the kingdom to sleep soundly.
Normally, frost-walkers were only activated during wartime. However, to ensure the stability of the execution, Arcturus had made an exception and used Midwinter Kingdom's signature weapon.
Selena asked, "By the way, do you have a name?"
Even though they were her kingdom's trump card, Selena had rarely seen frost-walkers as a princess. This journey was her first time getting such a deep understanding of these autonomous constructs.
The tall silver-blue armor immediately struck its chestplate with a fist:
"I am an anti-beast specialized frost-walker, designation 73657 XII, 'Hunter.' I have been in service for three thousand six hundred sixty years and nine months."
"That really is a long time. Hmm, compared to modern dolls, how much of a difference is there in intelligence for an ancient weapon?"
Selena wanted to investigate further, but then it occurred to her that she was about to die. It was better not to stir up a curiosity that was destined never to be satisfied.
They walked for a while longer. Suddenly, Selena saw the 'executioner' walking ahead of her stop.
"Is this far enough?"
The frost-walker replied, "This is the border of the kingdom. Even if His Majesty has supreme authority, he cannot sense this place."
Snow White looked around. This was an ordinary, sparse forest. The bushes were dotted with bright red berries, and a clear river flowed gently nearby.
Selena shrugged helplessly.
"To be honest, this isn't exactly a poignantly beautiful place to be buried. But there's no time to pick and choose. Just as long as my mother doesn't see it."
Snow White took a step forward and threw off the cloak from her shoulders, as if stepping onto a stage for a play watched by millions, where she was the absolute lead:
"Let my death add a touch of legendary color to this place. Such a beautiful fading will become a story of sorrowful sighs for poets, even a thousand years from now."
Selena spread her arms and closed her eyes. Although she wore a confident smile, her slightly trembling eyelashes betrayed her true feelings.
After all, Snow White was still just a young girl. It was unrealistic to expect her to have no fear of death at all.
However, after waiting for a long time, the executioner's blade never came.
Instead, Selena heard the dull thud of metal hitting the dirt.
"Your... Your Highness, I cannot do it."
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