“The question now is, when should we take action?”
Miss Bei Ya Si got straight to the point. In this bright lounge, a preliminary action plan had already been formed after only a few tens of minutes of planning.
Before tonight, they never imagined things would go so smoothly, but all three of them had their own unique qualities and were legitimate Ring術士 trained by the Church and the Academy. Although the Silver-Eyed One was a Nine Ring, he came from an illegal organization and was severely injured. Even though the combined ring levels of the three of them only equaled the Silver-Eyed One's ring level after his injury, the struggle between Ring術士 was far from being determined by level alone.
“The sooner the better. The Blood Spirit School has dispatched an Eight Ring and a Nine Ring Ring術士 to assist Mercury Blood, and they are expected to arrive by next weekend. Therefore, we must act within a week.”
Xia De provided another key piece of information. The information about the Blood Spirit School was heard from Miss Jialinna at Yodel Palace on Wednesday.
“Preferably before Thursday. The Church has decided to take action on Thursday night to eradicate the Cultists who worship the evil god Blood Feast Lord. The Thirteen Ring Sorcerer 'Sunlight Greatsword' will lead the team. After this, Mercury Blood will also raise their vigilance.”
Miss Bei Ya Si also provided the intelligence she possessed.
“How about another Diviner?”
Miss Bei Ya Si said, picking up the last blood money, but Miss Annette shook her head:
“Just now was only for gathering information, which can be Diviner. But if we try to deliberately use fate to peek into the best future, it might put us in a more dangerous situation.”
The Dean of the Astronomical Academy had Diviner similar things for Xia De, but that only provided a vague glimpse of the future. If he wanted to use Diviner to determine exact future events, Xia De was very worried that the three of them would suffer the same hardships and misfortunes that the Heart Collector and Xia De suffered after his foolish “manipulation of fate” on Wednesday.
So he agreed with Miss Annette's caution.
“Moreover, we need to leave the last blood money to find other blood money... What time is the Church planning to act on Thursday?”
Miss Annette asked.
“Thursday night, exact time and location unknown.”
“Then we will also act on Thursday night, letting the Church tie up more manpower. It's the weekend now, so we have half a week to prepare, but don't involve unnecessary people in this matter. It's enough for the three of us to know the full details.”
This was to keep the matter of The Chosen a secret.
Xia De also agreed to act at night, as he could still use illusions at night.
Miss Annette continued to arrange:
“Miss Bei Ya Si, during this half-week, try your best to scout out the Church's upcoming action plan. After the Church takes action, the people of Mercury Blood will definitely go to support those Cultists, and we can take this opportunity to enter the relic.”
“No problem.”
Miss Bei Ya Si nodded, and Miss Annette reminded her again:
“To become a true The Chosen, you must also understand the meaning of Balance. As for understanding, there is no rigid numerical indicator; you need to ponder, to ponder how you can interpret this concept. Xia De and I cannot help you with this; please work hard on your own.”
The young Sorceress was a little worried, but compared to the eye she was about to offer, this was nothing, so she nodded:
“I understand.”
Miss Annette then pointed to herself:
“I will use the next four days to investigate the situation near the relic entrance, which is that printing factory, as much as possible to ensure there are no too many unexpected events. As for you, Xia De...”
Her purple eyes scrutinized Xia De, as if thinking about what to assign him to do, but Xia De already had a plan:
“Miss Annette, I'll probably be going on a long trip.”
“Where to?”
“I don't know either. Maybe very far, maybe very close, but most likely there will be great gains.”
This answer made Miss Annette frown, but Xia De was willing to trust Miss Daniste's Diviner, especially after her Diviner, Xia De encountered something that required more power:
“Don't worry, no matter what, I will be back before Thursday.”
As he spoke, he took out the folded keeper-level relic witch's copy paper from his pocket and handed it to Miss Bei Ya Si:
“This can't be kept. Miss Bei Ya Si, I want to copy the Miracle ‘Sunlight Greatsword’. Can you help me?”
That was the powerful Miracle that the Church's Thirteen Ring Sorcerer was famous for. He had originally been choosing between Sunlight Greatsword and time-space Miracles, but now it was time to make a decision.
“No problem, that's very simple.”
The seventeen-year-old girl immediately agreed:
“When I was trained at the Papacy, I had a good relationship with Mr. Hogg Lundell. Finding an excuse to ask him to demonstrate a Miracle is no trouble.”
This way, once a similar Miracle was obtained from “Sunlight Greatsword,” Xia De's “Chaotic Time Blade” could also be used.
“Alright then.”
Miss Annette looked at the young Detective and the Church's Sorceress. The former was frowning as if deep in thought, while the latter had a serious expression, realizing that half a week would determine her life's fate.
“We'll act on Thursday night, so we'll meet at Xia De's house on Wednesday night to discuss the final plan.”
“No problem, I'll bring the copy paper to the Detective then.”
“I'm fine too, I hope everything goes smoothly.”
He spoke, looking towards the window. Heavy curtains were drawn indoors, and outside was the quiet night of the Northern Pearl. On this seemingly ordinary night, Xia De understood that perhaps the decisions made by the three of them would affect decades, even centuries, of history to come.
“Outsider, you are, after all, involved in the epic of the sixth epoch.”
“Since I've already come here, no one can escape. Rather than being passively drawn in, actively participating will probably give me more initiative.”
A smile appeared on his lips as he watched Miss Bei Ya Si and Miss Annette quietly discuss going to retrieve that bell later.
Miss Bei Ya Si's face flushed slightly, feeling a bit embarrassed after learning that the female Diviner was going to give her a very powerful relic.
“You don't seem nervous about what's happening four days from now.”
“My companions all have their own strengths, and we even Diviner possible troubles in advance and can prepare four days ahead. In this situation, the Silver-Eyed One is the one who needs to be nervous.”
“So if it comes to the most dangerous moment, will you use that drop of divinity?”
Xia De smiled and did not answer.
He relaxed his body and leaned on the sofa, hearing the melodious and soothing dance music coming from the banquet hall outside. It seemed the ball had begun.
Xia De could hear it, and of course, the two ladies could as well. Miss Bei Ya Si, who was talking to Miss Annette, glanced at Xia De and suddenly asked:
“Does anyone want to dance with me?”
She asked both of them simultaneously.
“Who do you want to invite?”
Miss Annette asked.
“Since it's so rare to be able to attend such a banquet, it would be a pity not to dance.”
Only at this moment did the seventeen-year-old girl show an attitude befitting her age.
She stood up and looked at Xia De and Miss Annette, her eyes sparkling and her face slightly red:
“Let's go dance together. I've always wanted to try dancing at such a high-class banquet. Let's just consider it a way to relax before the big event on Thursday.”
“But I don't know how to dance.”
Xia De said, a little embarrassed.
“It's okay, I can dance, we can teach you. Iluna is right, since we're at a banquet, how can we not dance?”
Miss Annette said, also standing up and handing the last blood money on the table to Xia De for him to keep:
“It's also good to relax before the final battle.”
She straightened her skirt, which was a bit wrinkled from sitting for a long time, while Miss Bei Ya Si used the hair tie on her wrist to tie up her brown long hair.
Xia De could only get up, very worried that he would step on the girls' feet later. He hesitated and repeated:
“I really don't know how to dance. This isn't modesty, I truly don't know at all.”
“It's okay, I do. Oh, Detective, the girls are inviting you to dance, and your attitude right now is not good.”
Miss Bei Ya Si said with a slightly reproachful tone, then spun around in place, making her skirt twirl like an opening flower.
After turning, her slightly red face looked at Xia De, while Miss Annette reminded:
“But we can only dance in the corner for a while, after all, you are the protagonist tonight. We don't want to be noticed, so...”
The female Diviner adjusted her expression and asked with a smile, in an operatic tone:
“Sir Hamilton of Thunder Jeed, would you be willing to invite the two ladies in front of you, who snuck into this banquet, to dance?”
Miss Bei Ya Si chuckled, covering her mouth. The room seemed to be enveloped in a strange halo at this moment, and the two ladies under the light were so shy and charming.
“You should now...”
She chuckled, reminding him.
“No need to remind me of that. I'm not like my slow-witted old friend.”
Xia De knew what he should do now. He puffed out his chest, raised his head, and then said in a pretentious tone:
“Yes, beautiful ladies... it is my honor.”
He himself laughed, then extended his hand to the girls.
Inviting two pretty girls to dance at the same time was probably strange, but they had no other option.
The two girls didn't take his hand, but instead smiled and patted him, then walked out of the room shoulder to shoulder first, seemingly to the restroom to touch up their makeup.
Xia De slowly followed them out of the room, and then touched the small box in his pocket containing the “Delarion Honorary Knight Medal.” A month ago, when he first walked out of Saint Delan Square Six with trepidation, he never thought this day would come:
“I knew it, life always gets better day by day.”
“Will it be better in the future?”
“That depends on me.”
He also walked out of the room. The ball was about to begin, and there were quite a few people in this bright corridor leading to the restroom. Everyone recognized Xia De, greeting him politely, and Xia De responded to each of them.
No matter what stories would unfold in the days to come, at least tonight, at this knight's investiture banquet, the young Outsider would have a pleasant time.
Of course, it would be even better if he didn't step on Miss Bei Ya Si's feet twice and Miss Annette's once later.
