«Your Majesty…» Upon hearing Viscount
She couldn’t understand why Sherman had deliberately gotten close to this Captain of the Palace Guard just to find out who he was really loyal to—it didn’t seem that important or valuable.
And Viscount Stratford’s answer was perfectly conventional, impossible to find fault with.
Sherman had given her life just to get such an answer? Xio wanted to ask further why Sherman had been investigating that trivial matter, but then she thought it might be too quick to touch on more central information, causing resistance from Viscount Stratford, who had not yet fully entered the «state.» So she temporarily subdued her impulse.
After a brief deliberation, Xio asked: «Do you know
«Yes.» Viscount Stratford replied with a blank expression.
Xio Dilcha continued with simpler, less important questions: «Who is he?»
«He is the former Captain of the Palace Guard,» Viscount Stratford answered simply, without elaboration.
At this moment, Fors, not listening to the superficial mind-reading, took out the pure crystal ball and placed it in Xio’s pocket.
After transferring the item, she bent down again and cautiously tried to pick up the copper-green cross.
This time, despite the slight trembling of her fingers, the soul-burning sensation did not come from the touch, and she easily picked up the item with several spikes.
Indeed, this cross repels all other magical items, refusing to tolerate their existence… Hmm, I’m still carrying the «Moon Paper Figure» and the residual spirituality of the ancient malevolent spirit, but the cross doesn’t react… This means it doesn’t reject things that don’t contain Beyonder characteristics, and it doesn’t resist spirituality and power? If so, would it similarly reject the Beyonder characteristics inside me, but less obviously… Is this another negative effect that will manifest over time? Fors roughly understood the ancient copper-green cross and cautiously placed it in the dark pocket containing various ritual materials.
Having done that, Fors lowered her head to look at the silver bracelet on her wrist, confirming it was now empty, with no decorations dangling.
Her five stones allowing «teleportation» were now all used up.
However, Fors wasn’t as panicked as before. Although she was convinced that with each use of the stones, the «Full Moon Whispers» would become clearer and more terrifying, she also knew that with Mr. Fool’s help, this was not a problem. For nearly the past year, if not for having to spend a short time above the
I hope one day this curse will completely fade away… After withdrawing her gaze from the gradually dimming silver bracelet, Fors couldn’t help but sigh.
Then she sincerely thanked Mr. Fool in her heart: «…Whatever His true purpose is, He has at least saved me time and again, not just from the ‘Full Moon Whispers’…
«This cross seems to be of a high level; I wonder if Mr. Fool would be interested and willing to accept my offering… Before, I had no good items or information to repay that kindness, but now I finally see a possibility…
«Uh… this is common loot; I only own half. I don’t know if Mr. Fool would accept an offering with only half ownership… No, Xio has also been saved by Mr. Fool…
«Hehe, maybe this can even please Mr. Fool… If He is satisfied, He might bestow some Beyonder powers for me to record in ‘Leymano’s Travel Notes.’ No, ‘Leymano’s Travel Notes’ certainly cannot record a deity’s abilities; it cannot bear Mr. Fool’s power… Well, the abilities of His Angels would also do. No, no, I mustn’t be too greedy. Even if I could ask Mr. World to copy a few abilities, I would be very satisfied…»
Fors’s thoughts wandered, and she indulged in dreamy expectations.
It was the instinct of a best-selling author.
As for why she expected nothing else but the recording of Beyonder powers, it was because today she had deeply realized the importance and horror of demigod-level Beyonder powers.
If that «Tornado» had not been recorded in «Leymano’s Travel Notes,» she and Xio would not have been able to capture Viscount Stratford tonight, and even escaping might not have succeeded.
—Even without counting that copper-green cross, Viscount Stratford himself was a fairly powerful Beyonder. If he hadn’t been injured by the «Tornado» from the start, crashing and dizzying his head, their ambush would most likely not have achieved the expected effect and could have been countered.
Of course, separating the terrifying «Radiant Cross» from Viscount Stratford was the key to victory in that short battle tonight, and that was also due to the «Tornado.»
«Thinking carefully, in a less urgent environment, with the copper-green cross and the demigod-level ability from the travel notes separately eliminated, Xio and I joining hands against Viscount Stratford wouldn’t be impossible to win, and the odds would even be high…
«The variety and reasonable combination of Beyonder powers in the travel notes is really strong, coupled with the supplement of Xio’s ‘Spirit Piercing’ ability and the ‘Icy Blade’ effect, and the front-line combat distraction. If Viscount Stratford didn’t have special magical items, losing would be the reasonable outcome…
«An experienced and still living ‘Recorder’ turns out to be this strong…» Fors felt an increasingly strange sensation.
That is, she seemed to have become a bit formidable herself!